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Prayer |
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Location: Blogs Brad's BlogMid-Week Missive |
 | | Posted by: Brad Miller | 8/20/2009 12:46 PM | Greetings!
A while back I was talking with a friend who was going through a particularly tough time when he said, “I’m finding it difficult to even pray right now.”
It is a place that I have been, and maybe you have been there, too. Overwhelmed with what is going on around us, we sometimes find this simple act too difficult to contemplate. Sometimes it is because we are angry and we feel that God is not listening. Sometimes just coming up with words to describe our situation is just too much. Sometimes we are not even sure what we need to be praying for. And so, in that time when we need prayer the most, we find it impossible to pray. At the time when we would be most comforted by being alone in conversation with God, we are too discomforted to even begin.
Prayer is an awesome thing. But it can be an intimidating thing, too. When we petition God, how do we know God hears us? When we ask for something to be done in our life, is that too pushy or self-centered? Should we only ask for things for other people? Should we only ask that God’s will be carried out….but what if our will wants something completely different? And what about public prayer? How many of us have struggled with the words to use when asked to pray out loud, for and with other people? So many questions.
A few weeks ago, during our Praise on Peachtree service, people “voted” for the things they need help with by placing a vial of sand in different vases marked with things like “worship”, “service”, Bible study and “prayer”, among others. You know what the two biggest responses were? Bible Study and Prayer. In an odd coincidence – are there really any coincidences? – I mentioned to Rev. Jennifer about that time that I thought I would like to have a Bible study on prayer offered at the church! So, to that end, I would like to invite any who can attend to join us for a Brown Bag Bible Study on Prayer at the church on Thursdays at noon. This will begin Thursday September 17 in the conference/adult education classroom. Bring a lunch and we will spend about 45 minutes eating, studying, sharing and delving into this important issue of prayer.
As we move into the program year, I look forward to repeating this study as a Sunday morning or a week night offering. And if you have a topic you would like to see offered as a study, let me know and we will see what we can work out.
Recently I ran into my friend again, and he is doing better. He said that he is even praying again. “But you know,” he told me, “the fact that I couldn’t pray wasn’t so bad, because I knew that there were lots of people praying for me.” And that, friends, is the church in action.
For an updated list of prayer concerns and upcoming events, please go to www.brookhavenchristian.org
For your prayer list:
Please keep Janis Cannon and her whole family in your prayers following the loss of Janis’ father, Herman Harpe. The visitation of Mr. Harpe will be this Saturday, August 22nd from 5-7 p.m. at Carson McLane Funeral Home in Valdosta Georgia and the funeral will be at 2 p.m. on Sunday August 23rd at First Baptist Church of Valdosta. For those wishing to memorialize Mr. Harpe, the family suggests donation to the Benevolence Fund of First Baptist Church of Valdosta, in lieu of flowers. The address is: First Baptist Church, 200 W. Central Avenue, Valdosta, GA 31601
Prayers are requested for surgeons’ skills and full recovery for Nicole Ducols, 23 year old daughter of a friend of Linda Minor, who will be undergoing brain surgery on Monday for the removal of multiple brain tumors.
Upcoming Events:
Mark your calendar now for the 3rd Annual “More Hands For God Day” at the City of Refuge. On Saturday October 31, we will gather with other congregations of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Georgia for a day of service and fellowship. Look for more information soon!
I hope to see you Sunday as we once again celebrate the Lord’s Day together. The sermon is titled “Where God Lives” and the scripture is Psalm 84. Have a great rest of the week.
Be peaceful,
Brad | | | Permalink | Trackback |
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