Prayer: An Attitude of the Heart

Be joyful always: pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 

If asked to define prayer, most of us would quickly say, "Something expressed in words." Prayer is really an attitude of the heart. I see it more fundamentally as our being in God's presence. Sometimes words are appropriate and sometimes they get in the way. Often, they simply do not matter. Let prayer become the breath of your spirit. Let it be the beating of your heart. Where our whole selves are engaged in relationship with God, there prayer will be, even if words are not used.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for the opportunity to pray without ceasing. Help us to make room in our hearts to place you first in our hearts. Amen.

Peggy Olmsted (shared today in memory of Peggy, originally printed in the 2008 Eastridge Devotional.)

Sweet, Sweet Spirit

I will remember the deeds of the LORD;

yes, I will remember your wonders of old.

I will ponder all your work,

and meditate on your mighty deeds.

Your way, O God, is holy.

What god is great like our God?

You are the God who works wonders;

you have made known your might among the peoples.

You with your arm redeemed your people,

the children of Jacob and Joseph. Selah Psalm 77:11-15 (ESV)

I am remembering the history of a church that has voted to close its ministry. I have served that congregation as moderator and supply for approximately 7 years. Their last service will be in July. One of the things that the church will give to Presbytery is a record of her history, the minutes and record book, and any remaining funds. Among the history is a list of pastors who have served Hebron Presbyterian Church, including Pastor Tom Huxtable from September 1950 to August 1953. It was not much longer than that when Pastor Huxtable became pastor at Eastridge. Yes, Hebron PC has a history to remember and a legacy of pastors who have gone on to serve other congregations. Memory will be a great friend and consoler for the remaining members of Hebron for their legacy and witness will continue. 

I use another memory that helps me with another former church I pastored 41 years ago. I was asked to preach and give communion at their concluding service. Members of the church told stories. I recall seeing kids who were in the youth group who were now grandparents. The service ended with everyone getting a candle like those given on Christmas Eve. Candles were lit as we sang our concluding hymn “Sweet, Sweet Spirit.” As we left, candles were still lit as we went outside. Oddly enough, the wind was rather strong and blew the candles out! One person immediately said something most profound – that the wind was the Holy Spirit continuing the witness - where and how? Only God would know. Indeed, it was a sweet, sweet Spirit moment!

We remember and the Holy Spirit helps us and ministers in that memory. It need not be a memory as much as a symbol, a hymn, a scripture, devotional, sermon, conversation or a prayer. It could be a stained-glass window or whatever unlocks the memory which I believe will be a ministry of memory that the psalmist offers from Psalm 77. So, affirm, “I will remember the deeds of the Lord!” Amen. 

Prayer: Almighty God, unlock our memory when an event, anniversary, or conclusion of life happens. Help us with Your Spirit to minister in that memory.  May we be open to whatever would unlock that memory in a stain glass window, a hymn, a prayer, a sermon, or a devotion. Let that Sweet, Sweet Spirit never leave in Jesus’ name. Amen

Rev. Dr. John Duling

A God Who Knows Us

 

"O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether." Psalm 139:1-4

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations." Jeremiah 1:5

Words from Psalm 90

So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Psalm 90:12 

Tell Me the Stories of Jesus, Write on my Heart Every Word

Tell me a story about when you were little – a small voice would say and either Gramma or Papa would comply. It was fun for both of us.

Now, these small people are grown, and they can tell me stories about their work and their travels and their lives. They still remember our stories but now they are all woven together in family lore. Jesus also used stories (parables) to make his points. They were probably hard to understand for the followers but how wonderful they are to us. Reading the Bible, we read the stories of Jesus and they are never old to us as we enjoy them over and over.

As a child, living in the country, my father would take me to town on Sunday morning to go to Sunday school. We would arrive early and I would take the long stairs to the basement of the church. The teacher would not always be there yet but the lights were on and the janitor was kind. 

One Sunday, the teacher used the part of the Bible about Jesus welcoming little children and what he said to his followers when they chided Him. “Suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them not for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” I was overjoyed. There were a lot of children in my family. Yes, I was the youngest of the first branch but my brothers and sisters were already having children of their own. It was wonderful to know that Jesus welcomed us all. My little washed-out cotton dress didn’t matter. I had found a place where I was welcome in the town church. A little country girl welcome in a big church in town. God welcomed me. 

Church was never the same after that. I entered into the discussions and continued to attend that same church until I graduated from high school and then returned six years later to marry. Jesus had welcomed me.

Carolyn Olsen

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day on Sunday, June 21!

"Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you." Exodus 20:12

"As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him." Psalm 103:13

"Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6

God-Given Brain

For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:30 

He has filled the hungry with good things. Luke 1:53 

The Spirit of God has made me: the breath of the Almighty gives me life. Job 33:4

Marie Chapian says in Quiet Prayer, 31 Days of Meditation For Women that everything you think and do in your daily life is in response to what you tell yourself. When you consider how busy your mind is with all of its clutter, as well as all of its brilliance, it’s easy to become impatient with silence. The impatience comes from what you’re telling yourself. It’s your unruly thinking that will defeat you.

Have you ever thought about how many thoughts you have in a day? I certainly never did until I read Tame Your Thoughts by Max Lucado. He has written a lot of very good Bible Studies I have used and many books. On page 3 of this book he states: "Thoughts. They heckle; they help. They remind us of regrets. They convene committee meetings in the middle of the night. Like a swarm of bees, they buzz about, some making honey, others inflicting pain. No way could I count them. The researchers at the Laboratory of Neuro Imaging, University of Southern California, did, however. According to them, your brain is a three-pound computer that processes seventy thousand thoughts each day."

SEVENTY THOUSAND? That is an unbelievable number! But I thought about it for a while and realized my brain continues on and on from one thing to another. Think about it. You can be busy getting done what was scheduled for the day and zoom, you realize you hadn’t done something very important. Sometimes you cannot get certain things out of your mind. You try and try, but they keep coming up. Where do they come from? How have they changed over the years? 

Romans chapter 12 says: "Conversion and sanctification are the renewing of the mind; a change, not of the substance, but of the qualities of the soul. The progress of sanctification, dying to sin more and more, is the carrying on this renewing work, till it is perfected in glory. The great enemy to this renewal is conformity to this world. Take heed of forming plans for happiness, as though it lay in the things of this world, which soon pass away." Max Lucado says we can change our thoughts. These verses from Romans say we can change our thoughts.

What do you suppose would happen if we remove the unhappy thoughts and replace them with happy thoughts? I am going to try to do this and hope you join me.

Prayer: Dear Father in Heaven, open our minds to only good thoughts, teach us to control our thoughts before we speak. Help us to use our speech to guide others. Make us aware each day to think well of others and pray for them. Amen.

Sandra Hilsabeck