This I Believe.

If you're following the news these days, you know there are plenty of people out there who need prayer. In times of trouble many of us turn to prayer for comfort, to help, and to ask to see God's intention for our needs and the needs of the world.
Here's a beautiful audio piece that contains some reminders of why we pray. It's from the radio series "This I Believe." What do you believe about prayer?

Welcome back!

Our prayers go out to all who are returning to school, or starting school, this week! Here's a prayer for the new school year:

Spirit of God, fill our hearts with a desire to seek truth and rejoice in beauty.

Help us to know what is pleasing to you and to understand what is right and good in your sight.

Give us the spirit of learning that we may please you by our thoughts and love you in your creation.

Give all teachers your constant encouragement and guide them in their good work.

Spirit of God, make us effective witnesses of your truth to all whose lives we touch. We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.
Amen.

H/T to: http://www.amm.org/prayers/prysch.asp
-MM

Prayer In New Places

Paul told his followers (and thereby, us) to "pray without ceasing (1 Thess. 5:17)." That sounds like kind of a tall order, doesn't it? In fact, it's been bothering me, that encouragement from Paul, for years- since I first read it. Pray unceasingly? Who can do that, outside of people cloistered in monasteries? (And for goodness sake, even there... seems impossible to me.)
But although so far I haven't figured out how to pray unceasingly, I have been inspired to look for more places in my day that I can get in touch with God. Lately I've been doing this new practice that has really made a difference in my daily prayer life.
Have you heard that to get your hands really clean, you're supposed to wash them for as long as it takes to sing the Happy Birthday song twice? It's a trick that kids are taught nowadays to help them know how long it takes to get really clean.
I've commandeered this idea, and now when I wash my hands periodically through the day, I say the Hail Mary. But to make it really prayerful, I pray for a specific intention, usually a person I know in need of prayer. To make the prayer personal, I add the name of the person to it: "Holy Mary,Mother of God, pray for Scott, now and at the hour of his death."
I am really loving this new practice of prayer, and am grateful to take advantage of the opportunity to pray for the people in my life throughout my day, something I had trouble scheduling in, in the past.
When do you pray? What opportunities do you take throughout the day to connect with God?
-MM