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Why I join in the effort to pray this Sunday for #BlackLivesMatter
This Sunday has been a day set aside for prayer. The request has come from two significant places that affect my own ministry: the Church of God in Christ and then the General Council of the Assemblies of God. Together they are asking for churches to pray this Sunday for racial reconciliation and justice. We will pray for justice. We…
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Thoughts on Prayer — Henri Nouwen
Praying means to stop expecting from God that same small-mindedness which you discover in yourself. To pray is to walk in the full light of God, and to say simply without holding back, “I am a man [or a woman] and you are God.” At that moment, conversion occurs, the restoration of the true relationship. Man is not the one…
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Thought for the day — Henri Nouwen
Through the Spirit we have an opportunity in this moment to see something powerful happen. May we hear the Spirit and act accordingly.
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Advent, Longing, Justice, and Ferguson
We come to the first Sunday of Advent. It is a season of longing. We think of the longing in Israel as they wanted Messiah to come. We also reflect on the desire we need in our own lives to anticipate Jesus and his return. It is in that sense of longing we also need to reflect on what we…
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Meaningful moments, meaningful songs
I was on my way to a pastors’ meeting in 2008. My soul was dying. I was trying to “fix things” in my own way with my church and ministry and while I had the best intentions, it was failing miserably. I was dying inside a little more every day. I had a Christian station on that morning and this…
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Intrepid warriors
Many years ago I received a letter that began, “Dear Intrepid Warrior…” Al Gore hadn’t quite perfected the internet at that time, so I had to look up intrepid in a dictionary. An actual book. And it took time. Wow. I don’t miss the old days! So this is the definition I find online: feeling no fear : very bold or…
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Lord, help us grieve
“The Jesus-hearted person is not someone who longs to escape a doomed planet. The Jesus-hearted person is someone who longs for all things to be restored.” — Dick Brogden, Live Dead Joy
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The World on Edge
Massacre in a place of worship (AGAIN). Ferguson, MO on edge. As we ramp up to take sides on social media and NOT listen to each other yet again… A prayer. A prayer for peace in our communities Gracious God, We pray for peace in our communities this day. We commit to you all who work for peace and an…
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Question of the day — A sustained “move of God”
My study in the life of Moses (looking at his prayer life) takes me to Numbers 10. It is Israel just before they are “ready” to move toward the Promised Land. They are truly people of the presence. When the cloud moves, they follow. When the cloud stops, they camp. The feasts are in place. Israel is paying attention. Of…
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A fresh touch
Sometimes it’s the weariness of allowing too much in. My thinking gets clouded. Mostly, it is not being as much in the presence of God as I need. There are those wonderful times when someone says a prayer, gives an encouraging word, and then clarity returns. The discipline is then to listen to the voice of the Spirit and make…
Tag: Prayer
