Roy’s Ramblings…

I was praying today. I know that sounds pretty shallow considering I’m a pastor; I mean, that’s what we do right? We read a lot of Scripture we pray and we drink a lot of coffee. It is our way. But today, I was praying. I walked around town praying for shops and shopkeepers, I walked past the now closed Hob Nob and I prayed for the changes that are coming – for things that will be new and different. I walked through antique ally and saw a … er … very unique woman … sitting at a table. I asked if I may sit with her and we sat and talked and we prayed. I walked to the toy store where the artists that paint in our building on Tuesdays and Thursdays had painted a nutcracker on the front steps. I gave thanks to God for these talented ladies and the work they do and I prayed for them. I put out the gift tags for the Blessing Tree ministry that the Salvation Army folks brought to us today and for each tag I put on the tree I prayed for that child … that family. I set out a new set of cards to be sent and for each person represented I prayed for them. It seems that every single thing I did today brought me to prayer. Some of my prayers were simple: “Bless Them” – others were much more in-depth, personal, emotional, and lengthy. But I prayed today.

Scripture tells us that we are to “pray continuously” and to “pray with purpose” … sometimes I don’t have big words, or deep thoughts; but, I figure that God understands. I got home today and was reading my current book of choice: Kissing Fish: Christianity for people who don’t like Christianity by Roger Wolsey. And with my focus on prayer today I looked at Appendix V in the back of his book titled: Ways to Pray: A Common Christian approach; he writes:

• Give thanks for things in your life and in the world that are going well.
• Ask for God’s involvement in the lives of other people who need God’s healing.
• Ask God how you might be able to make a difference by letting God work thorough you.
• Boldly ask for forgiveness for doing what you shouldn’t do and for failing to do what you should. Accept God’s assurance of pardon and ask God to help you repent and reorient your mindset and your life toward healthier ways of living.
• Ask for God’s assistance in your own life and circumstances.
• Talk to God as you would an intimately close friend.
• Thank God for spending this time with you.
• Say Amen! – it literally means “May It Be So!

So if you ever have thoughts toward prayer you might try this set of prayer helps and if you can’t remember what these all are: The Lords Prayer works just fine. Oh and if you can’t seem to even get those words out … a simple: God Help! or God I Love You! Is pretty cool too.

Oh – By the Way – I prayed for you today too … just thought you might want to know.

Blessings my Friends – Pastor Roy