A Night of Prayer

And it came to pass in those days, that He went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

~Luke 6:12

When I was growing up within the Seventh-day Adventist Church, I was taught in Sabbath School that the proper way to pray was to get down on my knees, fold my hands, close my eyes, and then pray.  Doing it some other way seemed to be reserved for emergencies.  When I was a teenager, I didn’t feel that I had the time for all the formalities, and I’m sure there was a time when I didn’t pray much at all. 

College brought a new perspective:  one of my professors called it “Instantaneous Prayer.”  As soon as you had a need, a thought, or an impression to do so, you prayed immediately, regardless of where you were.  “Talking with God as to a friend…” took on a new meaning for me.  If something great happened, I thanked Him immediately.  If I walked into danger or fear, prayers flew out of mind or mouth – which ever was working clearly.  Anywhere, anytime I could speak to God, and He was eagerly waiting to listen.

This verse has always made me feel very inadequate in my prayer life.  There is no way I could pray all night – I would be asleep in 5 minutes [not unlike the disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane], and the Lord and I both know that.  I also know that He is happy to hear from me whenever I lift my heart to Him.

Do you have a special time, place, or discipline that works well for you in your prayer experience?  If you do, please share it with me and the others who read this blog.  Helping each other can bring special blessings to all of us.

What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and grief to bear.

What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer.

Glee? Fame? What???

Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium

Fame is a vapor, popularity an accident, and riches take wings.  Only one thing endures and that is character.

~Horace Greeley

Yesterday started off with intensity from the very get-go.  My middle daughter called to say her car quit abruptly on the Rockville Parkway off 495.  She was in the middle of the road and didn’t quite know what to do.  I advised her to stop crying, call the police and call me back. The next phone call revealed that her oil light had come on while on 495, and she had driven another 2-3 miles to find an exit.  Ah – Lesson #1: When the oil light comes on, stop in your tracks.  Suffice it to say that she had: a) blow a seal, then b) blown her engine.  Much trauma ensued.  It was time to play musical cars with yet another of my children, and it took most of the day to accomplish it.  This morning, my trusty red truck sits in my driveway, and the Blue Bomb [affectionately so-called by some members of my BUMC choir] is in Maryland.

My daughter finally got on the road back home around 6:00pm, and I came in the house determined to relax and spend a little time on the computer.  When I opened my Facebook page, I noticed that I had an invitation to visit a new page.  I usually ignore and delete such requests, but this time I clicked on it to view the page.  I don’t believe I have ever been so shocked in my life.  The face staring back at me was my own.  The title of the page was “Ms. Liz Fan Club.”  

I realize that I am an old-fashioned teacher – one who believes that an educator must invest themselves, heart and soul, in the lives of their students.  I know no other way to do my job.  I do not do it, however, for accolades; I do it for the kids.  I am, and always have been, a Martha – one who prefers to be busy in the background.  I have never learned the art of graciously accepting praise.  This was not, however, an individual spouting empty words.  This came from my students – my kids – and I honor them for so honoring me.  An honor such as this comes with tremendous responsibility.  Any time someone puts you on a pedestal, it is so very easy to fall off.  I pray that God will keep me from disappointing them in any way.

Good leadership is a channel of water controlled by God;

He directs it to whatever end He chooses.

Proverbs 21:1 [The Message]

Abide with Me

Abide with me, fast falls the eventide.

The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide.

  When other helpers fail and comforts flee

Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

Hear my words, O Lord, I pray,

For my strength has gone away.

I must know that You still care,

That in times of deep despair

I can reach my hand to You

And You’ll be there.

Guide my steps when I can’t see,

Help me learn to trust in Thee.

Be my shelter on the way,

As I struggle toward the day.

For the strength of Your good hand,

Will direct me toward the land.

And the promises You made

Will lead me home.

~ Kevin Winkel

Have I not commanded thee?  Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

Joshua 1:9