Pray As You Go (PAYG) is a nice combination of music, leading thoughts, scripture with plenty of time allowed for prayer. We can listen to PAYG directly at their website and/or using an app for “smart devices.” Details are HERE for both options. Today (or in the week ahead), when you have 10-15 minutes available maybe it’ll be worth a listen?

“The Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.”

Romans 8:26-28 is the PAYG reading for October 13/14 and the quote above is a focus of some of the 12 minutes of audio. We count on intercession of the Spirit on a periodic basis; perhaps even more so as we grow in our faith?

PRAYER: Creator God, strengthen us in the days ahead so we will allow the Spirit more impact in our lives. Amen

POTENTIAL ACTIONS:

• Bookmark this website for future use if you like it
• Do you have a favorite website for prayer that you haven’t seen mentioned in the Christian Playbook? If so, please send us an email at salong_now@yahoo.com

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, October 14, 2018:

• Job 23:1-9, 16-17 and Psalm 22:1-15
• Amos 5:6-7, 10-15 and Psalm 90:12-17
• Hebrews 4:12-16
• Mark 10:17-31

The Guideposts Daily Devotional HERE by Sue Monk Kidd shares a wonderful message about transition. Her walk and experiencing the changing colors of leaves helped provide a new satori (“aha” moment.) Such visits to nature can do exactly that, allowing one openness to that still, small voice.

ACTION: take a few minutes and find yourself in nature, even if it’s examining a planter or tree in/near your home or office! 🙂

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, October 14, 2018:

• Job 23:1-9, 16-17 and Psalm 22:1-15
• Amos 5:6-7, 10-15 and Psalm 90:12-17
• Hebrews 4:12-16
• Mark 10:17-31

In his book A Spirituality of Homecoming, Henri J. M. Nouwen says “Following Jesus means that we have to keep walking on the ground, keep struggling.” [if you have time, take a few minutes now and read the rest of the paragraph and following commentary  HERE***]

How can each of us do some small effort to help stem the issues in our communities? Among these in our area are climate change, opioid epidemic, tempering the vitriol surrounding our politics, embracing immigrants in our country, health care, etc.

One step at a time! ACTIONS may include: smiling to the Muslim wearing a head scarf, having civil conversations even when disagreeing with another’s political views, encouraging use of a church building as host for an NA meeting and more.

Kris Kristoferson co-developed the song “One Day At A Time” in the 1970s and it’s still popular today.** A lyric in that song rings true here: “help me to be all I can be, and all that I am.” Each of us has a part to play in this world, so let’s go out and help make this a better place to live!

May the Spirit move you to walk in new and exciting ways in the upcoming days!

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

** in fact, friends Bill & Bill heard it on the radio on the way to getting donuts this past weekend for our men’s retreat participants!

***

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, October 7, 2018:

• Job 1:1, 2:1-10 and Psalm 26
• Genesis 2:18-24 and Psalm 8
• Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:5-12
• Mark 10:2-16

Media exposure  is not always so Christian-friendly and morally uplifting these days. Guideposts in this posting (HERE) suggests that these upcoming “TV shows” may be of interest for believers

• The Good Cop
• Manifest
• A Million Little Things
• God Friended Me
• The Kids are Alright

The old Andy Griffith Show was one filled with Christian messages. In fact, several churches have enjoyed using “The Gospel According to Andy” Christian Education materials**.  In case you’re interested, here is a snippet of the Man in a Hurry episode where Andy and Barney sing “Church in the Wildwood,” helping a busy businessman slow down a little.

May your day be a little more “Mayberry-like” in its pace. Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit …

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, October 7, 2018:

• Job 1:1, 2:1-10 and Psalm 26
• Genesis 2:18-24 and Psalm 8
• Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:5-12
• Mark 10:2-16

Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. ~ James 5:16

Going on in James 5, verses 19 and 20 are good reminders about prayer for wanderers. This reminds me that jail ministry colleagues will be headed into the jail this Sunday morning for worship, and that some of the people they will worship with may have been part of recent violent and/or hateful acts where they have moved from the path Jesus would encourage.

May the peace of receiving prayers and mercy transform many of us, including those in jails (both those jailed and those caring for the jailed.)

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit and knowledge that God’s mercy is available to us all…

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, September 30, 2018:

• Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22 and Psalm 124
• Numbers 11:4-6, 10-16, 24-29 and Psalm 19:7-14
• James 5:13-20
• Mark 9:38-50

“And every tear I’ve cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise you in this storm”

The lines above from the song I Will Praise You in This Storm by Casting Crowns are especially meaningful for me. Our family has been through some health and family passing storms lately.

Prayers from others, music and inspirational stories can help when passing through stormy times. Family and friends have been strengthening and guiding our family in many ways, including with cards, emails, phone calls and in person. They have been some of God’s ambassadors, pulling for us in the midst of the tears and hurts. God never leaves our sides, as the Footprints story and song reminds us.

POTENTIAL ACTIONS:

• listen to the lyrics and melody of I Will Praise You in This Storm on YouTube HERE (the video includes scrolling lyrics.)
• think about a friend going through one of life’s storms right now. Pray for that friend and consider whether he/she might appreciate hearing I Will Praise You in This Storm and/or Footprints messages right now

PRAYERS: God, thanks for holding our tears in your hand, walking aside us and carrying us. Strengthen us when life gets so difficult that it becomes hard to feel your presence. Help me to be your ambassador to another person today in word and deed. Amen

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, September 30, 2018:

• Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22 and Psalm 124
• Numbers 11:4-6, 10-16, 24-29 and Psalm 19:7-14
• James 5:13-20
• Mark 9:38-50

Rick Hamlin’s recent Guideposts article (HERE) highlights three prayer tips he attributes to Mister Rogers:

• Give Up All Judgments
• Honor Silence
• Your Own Pain Can Be Your Strength

ACTION: sometime today, go to a quiet place and pray. Consider praying for someone you may be judging.

PRAYER: God in us, move through me today to brighten the lives of others the way Mister Rogers so regularly did – – by judging less, honoring silence and allowing for vulnerability. We pray for strength and for mindfulness of such practices. Amen.

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, September 23, 2018:

• Proverbs 1:20-33 and Psalm 19 or Wisdom of Solomon 7:26 – 8:1
• Isaiah 50:4-9a and Psalm 116:1-9
• James 3:1-12
• Mark 8:27-38

Train children in the right way, and when old, they will not stray. ~ Proverbs 22:1–21

HERE is  “Go and see: a better peace for our children,“  yesterday’s  devotional from the PCUSA Missions team. Embedded within the article are action items and a prayer.

Here’s hoping you enjoy the article as much as I did and can find in the actions and prayer something that will move you to a more peaceful day.

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, September 23, 2018:

• Proverbs 1:20-33 and Psalm 19 or Wisdom of Solomon 7:26 – 8:1
• Isaiah 50:4-9a and Psalm 116:1-9
• James 3:1-12
• Mark 8:27-38

Richard Rohr’s article on Taoism and Buddhism (quoting Paul Knitter heavily) is informative for Christians like me who know relatively little about Buddhism. This distinction is helpful:

“If Christians insist that “if you want peace, work for justice,” the Buddhists would counter-insist, “if you want peace, be peace.”  ”  ~ Richard Rohr’s Daily Meditation article

The contrast – work vs. be – was particularly apparent when my mom and I were in Myanmar where contemplative influences were much more evident. That highly Buddhist culture teemed with spiritual influence, highlighted for tourists by the visibility, reverence for, and number of monks and nuns.

ACTION: The article emphasizes creating/finding peace in your heart. Spend a few minutes with a peace-enhancing approach you already practice periodically (or maybe look for a new one like contemplative prayer, if you don’t already do that?)

PRAYER: God, in this day ahead, help me to look more and more through a lens as you would have me do. May I find the peace that passeth all understanding through contemplation, action and closer union with you…

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, September 16, 2018:

• Proverbs 1:20-33 and Psalm 19 or Wisdom of Solomon 7:26 – 8:1
• Isaiah 50:4-9a and Psalm 116:1-9
• James 3:1-12
• Mark 8:27-38

One periodical I read pretty much cover-to-cover every month is Guideposts. It’s been a gift to me from my mom for many years and a gift I’ve given to others since.

This nice article written by Jim Gash on A Spiritual Adventure comes from Guideposts. Just after his article, Jim also shares these suggestions. I really like the one

“Take a leap of faith. … What are you doing right now that requires faith?” 

ACTION: Does the quote above trigger a response? If so, what’s holding you back?

PRAYER: God, empower me to act with a mindset of Jesus and renewable energy of the Spirit.

Enjoy the day, filled with the Spirit!

Lectionary Texts for Sunday, September 16, 2018:

• Proverbs 1:20-33 and Psalm 19 or Wisdom of Solomon 7:26 – 8:1
• Isaiah 50:4-9a and Psalm 116:1-9
• James 3:1-12
• Mark 8:27-38