Here’s something I’ve been thinking about lately. Does prayer exist primarily to teach us to love? If so, it’s our means to keeping the two great commandments Christ gave in Mark 12:30-31: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.

The different forms of prayer: blessing (Eph 1:3), adoration (Ps 95:6), petition (Col 4:12), asking forgiveness (Lk 18:13), intercession (1 Tm 2:1), thanksgiving (1 Thes 5:18) and praise (Eph 3:20),
should all help us love God more. What about the second commandment? Intercession covers that, right? We pray for loved ones and friends, strangers and world situations that arouse our compassion like the recent earthquake in China, and the other disasters we’ve been plagued with recently.

So, here’s my question for you and for myself: who do you exclude from your prayers? In all honesty, just between you and God; who do you not want to pray for? Could this be the reason for the miserable state of our world? In the great commandment Jesus says love your neighbor, at other times he said love your enemies. He’s trying to stretch the boundaries of our love. Are we listening, are we trying?

Here’s my challenge: put your problems and loved ones in God’s hands and spend a few days or a week praying for people you usually don’t pray for. Start small with someone you’re ambivalent about, a neighbor you neither like nor dislike, a co-worker you barely know, the person you’re not going to vote for in November. Then take it up a notch and pray for someone who annoys you or sets your teeth on edge, the braggart or gossip, or the lousy driver who cut you off at a stop sign, the relative who let you down. If you get that far, pray for the people you judge and despise, the corrupt cop or politician, the illegal alien, the rapist, the child abusers, the terrorists, the gang members, the murderers.

Can you do it? Can I? Jesus did.

Most of us write to-do lists, daily lists of chores, appointments, business or personal projects, people to call, medicine to take. Usually the day is interrupted or we get sidetracked and the list isn’t completed. Some things, meds to take, a trip to the bank or doctor, etc. get first priority and are accomplished, others are put off or permanently discarded. Too busy to call a friend—or she can’t be reached. Can’t read the Bible right now, the repair man’s due or the cat needs to go to the vet. So we choose, prioritize, move items up or down according to situations, time, likes, dislikes.

Last week Pastor Ken asked us to put faith first. So, do I write God at the top of a to-do list? That doesn’t seem to work, you know, scheduling God, as if He’s a chore, or something to get out of the way so I can go on to the next “thing” on my list. In the past, I’ve listed Bible study or a devotion and then rushed through it at the end of the day, when I was sleepy and my energy depleted. Not good.

I can’t “tack” God onto a list, or squeeze Him into my day as though He’s an appointment I’d rather avoid. This God, who as a Christian I claim to love, should be my all and all, not part of, but the source and essence of every thought, and every deed—waking or sleeping. He isn’t. Yet. But I’m working on it and so when I write my to-do list, I also pray it.

Lord, send me your Spirit of truth as I write the Pop Corner, instill gratitude and generosity in my heart when I check my pantry and order groceries. Smile with me as I talk to friends and acquaintances and restrain my tongue from complaining and gossip. Raise my eyes from this screen to praise you for a sunny day, keep me from cynicism as I listen to the news and help me to offer sincere prayers for all who serve in politics. Grant me wisdom and a sense of playfulness when I mind the children tonight. Lord open me to change. Keep me from rigid thinking and outdated opinions. Help me to live attentively in the moment and bless me with a sense of your Will and presence. Remind me to listen. This list, this tiny scrap of my life is yours Lord. May it be pleasing to you. Amen.

Easter words–resurrection, renewal and rebirth. Awe. Salvation. Eternity. Easter prayers.

Jesus came to give us abundant life, but how often we get bogged down in personal troubles, in the troubles of the world, the troubles of our Church. We forget the glory and promise of Easter. It would be easy to dwell on loss and fear, but we need to remember God’s Easter words and promises: resurrection, renewal and rebirth, awe, salvation, eternity.

What has God planned for our church? How many seeds planted by Pastor will take root this spring and begin to grow now and into the future; seeds of faith preached in sermons, seeds of compassion in his ministry to the congregation, seeds of worship and hope through Taize and Bible study, seeds of encouragement to become missionaries here in our community, outreach seeds planted in the police department and NJ Waterways, seeds of kindness in the streets and homes of our city?

So where will our prayers take us now? It’s Easter, the heart, soul and very meaning of our faith as Christians. Despite the tragedies of this world and our personal sorrows, we are heirs to God’s Kingdom; in our hearts we witness with awe the resurrection of Christ, in our souls we experience renewal and rebirth, we thank and praise Him for salvation through Jesus Christ and we look with hope to the fulfillment of God’s beautiful and mysterious Will.

Pray in joy and with thanksgiving for Grove’s past, present and future! Pray to never forget the precious gift of Easter faith! Pray a joyous Easter prayer for Pastor, his family and our two congregations, now linked forever in faith and friendship!

Having been brought up by a Catholic mother, while also being instructed in the basics of Protestantism by my father, the season of Lent has always been a time of decision. How shall I observe Lent this year, by giving something up, or by giving of myself? Quite a dilemma and fraught with confusion and a fair share of guilt. As an adult I’ve studied the differing ways these two denominations “do” Lent and discovered both the value, as well as, the pitfalls of “giving up” versus “giving of”.

Pointing a finger squarely at myself, I can honestly admit I have committed each denominations mistakes. As a youngster, pride reared its head if my sacrifice for Lent seemed greater than my best friend’s. The problem of coming out ahead through sacrifice (if I give up chocolate, I might lose a couple of pounds) was and still is present. The difficulties of a basically self-centered, loner-personality are hard to overcome. As an adult in a reformed church I’ve felt slightly smug when giving of myself.

Protestants, I think, underestimate the value of giving something up for Lent. When you forfeit chocolate or TV for Lent, you are aware many times a day of your sacrifice. Each time you long for that cookie you realize how small your offering is compared to Christ’s sacrifice. Each time you wish you could satisfy your habit, you remember God. That is no small thing. The time isn’t meant for wallowing in sin, but in acknowledging the immense love God had for us and how infrequently we return that love or even think of Him.

Giving of ourselves brings us closer to the “what would Jesus do?” question. How can we bring His Kingdom closer, how do we show our love and tolerance for those around us and especially for those who are different from us. But if it’s a one shot deal during the 40 days, is it really effective? If it is a daily “offering” of ourselves for 40 days, that is indeed, a fitting gift to our Lord, but how to accomplish it takes great dedication and thought.

The questions I ask myself, are — What can I do that will bring me a greater awareness of God’s nearness and keep me in His presence? What can I offer to show my love for Him? How can I bring about His Kingdom in some small way?

There is no best way to observe Lent. Each of the two ways, and there are many others, I’m sure, are valid, if done with love. Isn’t that what Lent, faith and Christianity all boil down to; God’s tremendous love for us and our half-hearted attempts to love Him back? So, standing before God’s love, as if it were the world’s tallest mountain, I come with a tiny pebble, no bigger than a grain of sand, and I offer it to Him in complete humility, knowing He sees it and understands. It’s the only thing I can do.

I said a prayer this morning for the members of Grove church. I prayed that you would each discover the things in your life that bring you close to God

To do that, I’d like to suggest that you spend as much time choosing the perfect gift for yourself as you would for a friend. Make a Christmas gift list to determine what triggers that moment of perfect faith when you know you are loved by God, when you love Him back, when you connect with everyone and everything else in His creation. There are times, places, situations unique to each of us that expand our hearts enough for God’s love to enter. It’s a blessing when they occur unexpectedly, but if you want to encourage them to happen more frequently, you need to know yourself.

Open wide your five senses and begin to write. What do you see that brings you to Him? Sunsets, grandchildren, fine artwork? What do you hear? Chirping sparrows? Music by the Gaithers? Touch? The miracle of cat fur, the softness of flower petals? Don’t forget smell and taste. True gratitude for a sweet, juicy orange or a memory evoked by the scent of pine needles may lead you straight to His side.

God has already given us the perfect gift, His infinite love come down to us in Jesus Christ. We know it, we believe it, but to live it, we need to remember. And to remember His love we need to notice daily the things that trigger our love.

So make your list, find those people, situations, books, memories and dreams, and surround yourself with them. Make a favorite chair your sanctuary, gift yourself this Christmas with a spiritual book from the Upper Room, immerse yourself in the glory of God’s creation through nature, art, music, friendship, pour your heart into kindness and generosity, encircle yourself with loved ones, rejoice in memories, and dive headfirst into a prayer of thanksgiving for your past, present and future with the Lord God Almighty, the King of Kings, the One who loved you first, and who will forever love you more than the world can ever know!

For my recent move to an apartment, I decided to have a small corner chair reupholstered. I was immediately charmed, when the young man giving the estimate asked, with a slight Turkish accent, “What do we name dis tiny tink?”

My church’s Friday evening Taize service consists mostly of tiny tinks–simple melodies with brief lyrics repeated several times in between prayers and Scripture. This morning the beginning notes of a song playing on the radio reminded me of one. The hymn’s words, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom,” came to mind and prompted this piece.

Our world is so big, so full of sad news and tragedy that it’s easy to become overwhelmed or cynical. Count your blessings, be grateful for the small things, we’ve always been urged, and it’s still excellent advice. God continually sends little things to help us recall his love. If we are attuned to his gifts, He surrounds us with constant reminders but, in order to grow spiritually, we need to take them a step further and connect them to prayer.

With prayer we refine our focus, which has become so scattered by constant multi-tasking. With prayer we calm our minds. Short prayers bring our attention to God more frequently and are easy to remember. The prayer of St. Francis is an easy way to begin praying without ceasing.

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood, as to understand; to be loved, as to love; for it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life. Amen.

It’s a beautiful prayer to memorize in its entirety, and living it would bring one close to perfection, but for now, choose one “tiny tink” and think or say it whenever it comes to mind. Modify the words until they’re comfortable and fit your speech pattern, for instance: Lord, where there’s sadness, let me sow joy; Father, help me try to understand rather than be understood.

Put your faith into action and listen closely to those around you. You’ll begin to tune in and hear the “lacking” word from your chosen prayer. Can you (honestly) offer hope, joy, or consolation ? If not, you may need to fill yourself first. Learning what you lack can be a blessing and I will write more about that another time. For now, look back at the Francis Prayer, see where your strength lies and choose the corresponding couplet. Think it, speak it, and let it flow from your mind and heart to bless others through your conversations and actions.

If I were to take a survey, I suspect many of you would admit that hymn singing is one of your favorite aspects of a worship service. There’s something wonderful about singing a hymn we’re familiar with and letting our imperfect voices soar toward heaven. Individually we may not sound great, but together we make a joyful noise!

When our organist changes the pace or does this little bent-note thing he does, we sing in a brand new way with our feet tapping and smiles on our faces, but new hymns make us nervous. We’re unsure of the melody and stumble along tentatively until the final chorus when we finally get it together and go out in style.

So what’s this got to do with prayer? Everything! Hymn singing is simply a different form of prayer and there’s a great deal you can do with it to further your spiritual life. Notice which verses pop out at you. Write the phrase in your bulletin, or if you own a hymnal or have Internet access, reread the hymn when you get home. Pay particular attention to your emotional reaction when you get to the specific verse that called to you at church.

Here’s where a previous suggestion to keep a prayer journal comes in handy. The verse that called to you is God’s whisper that you have work to do. Copy it down and let it tumble about in your mind for a moment, then write whatever you’re thinking. You never know where this will lead and it’s not for you to say. Is God asking you to trust Him more, confide in Him, repent, rest in His care? Maybe He just longs for a little more of your time. Don’t worry about grammar, spelling or penmanship. If thoughts come too fast for full sentences, write fragments. Don’t censor your thoughts or your words. This is called “free-writing” and your inner critic gets the day off.

If you tire of writing or just stop, rest in the thoughts you’ve been given and ponder them. Frequently this is where prayer begins. It may be mental, verbal, or you may wish to continue writing if it doesn’t distract you too much. You will know when you are finished. A simple prayer of thanksgiving or praise is in order if you haven’t already done this, then you can reread what you’ve written or close your journal and save it for another day.

Do you keep a prayer or faith journal? I can see many of you putting this down right now. “Don’t have time.” “Hate to write.” “Not creative.” “Can’t bare to mess up a journal with my atrocious handwriting.” “Tried once; couldn’t do it every day.” “Don’t see the point.”

Well, you don’t have to like to write, be creative, do it every day, have
beautiful handwriting, or lots of time. As for not seeing the point, let me try to explain.

Our thinking determines what we believe; it’s what forms our faith in God, and it certainly determines how often we think about Him. Thinking is how we tackle life’s problems. The trouble is our mind often has a mind of its own and chugs along without us, like a printer churning out pages no one bothers to read.

To know what we think and believe, it’s necessary to examine our thoughts and mull them over. Is the idea we had when we were twenty still valid? Are we making any spiritual progress? Is that annoying relative really always wrong?

Store bought journals unnerve me. They’re perfect—and I’m not, so my prayer journal has a picture from a magazine glued onto the cover of a wire bound school notebook. Dates show gaps of weeks with no entries. Prayers from worship bulletins are pasted in, snips from the Internet are hand copied or printed and pasted. It’s a mishmash of Bible studies, random verses, and quotations. A Christmas card proclaims the names of God in calligraphy. My journal contains questions and plenty of complaints. It’s repetitive, badly written and seldom profound. It’s proof that I’m not a very nice person.

But once in the while the “aha!” moment arrives when God opens the door and something clicks, His Word becomes clear, a secret sin is revealed or a problem is solved. I understand why someone irritates me. I acknowledge my anger. I stop making excuses. I accept His forgiveness.

Prayer comes in many forms; a journal is just one. It helps you get unstuck. You reread it and discover answered prayers, reminders of God’s infinite love and forgiveness. You find the best of yourself in the midst of all the messy bits that make you want to hide or run away.

I am a prayer coordinator for my church but that doesn’t make me an expert on prayer.

But, oh, how I long to be!

The thought of communicating with the Creator of the universe knocks me flat! Not just to “pray,” but to praise, beg, question, worship, pour out my heart, plead, cry, rejoice, share my day, complain, laugh and wonder. This enthusiasm for prayer is what I offer you, plus the resources that come from that enthusiasm.

Pray without ceasing we’re told—but when is it prayer and when is it “us talking to us,” or holy noise as Thomas Merton called it? It’s a good question. When we’re little, clasped hands begin, while Amen ends and defines the perimeters of prayer. As adults it isn’t nearly as clear. So, you’ll be reading more questions than answers, but it’s in searching that we find out about ourselves, our world and, above all, about God.

Questions, quotes to ponder, prompts to help you look at your faith and prayer in a slightly different way will be part of these “letters,” as well as suggestions on how to practice new ways of thinking and praying. One way to practice being a person of prayer (POP) is to send “popcorn” or flash prayers or blessings to friends, relatives, or strangers. You’re checking out at the supermarket and the cashier looks unhappy; silently pop a prayer or blessing that God will hear her need; you hear a giggly child and pop a prayer for safety; a man looks down and out, send a pop prayer that he has that mustard seed of faith to give him strength.

Popcorn prayers, especially for strangers, are completely unselfish and un-self-centered. You have no stake in the outcome, you will probably never see the person again, but you give them your blessing, at the same time as you wish them God’s blessing. You can even do this with places or groups. I’ve prayed on bus rides for the folks living in a dilapidated house, for workers in a factory who are in debt, for honesty in office buildings, for churches to have full pews come Sunday morning. Praying specifically feels wonderful and stretches your compassion. Those kernels of love shooting out in all directions can bring a smile to your face—and who knows—may make God smile, too.

Write the first faint line,
unlock the door
to your mind,
memory,
and heart.

Sketch shadows
in a darkened room,
resolve questions
of a forgotten past,
explore dreams. .

Persist diligently
in practice, day after day,
pursue wisdom,
ponder truth,
awaken your universe.

This is part of a challenge on the Squidoo lens Il Postino. The title of the lens is Poetry Come in Search of You and it’s one of hundreds of prompts from Heather Blakey, the owner of Soul Food Cafe. This particular squidoo is devoted to Pablo Neruda the Chilean poet. My first line is taken from his “La Poesia”.