Eating our Prayers

OK, so we are not really EATING them...

We recently sponsored a child from Kenya through World Vision as all of us have been touched/convicted about the poverty in the world and our ability to do something about it. Sponsoring one child is a little, little thing in the scope of such massive, global need, but it is a small step in an every widening journey.

So, in order to consistently pray for our child (and others - including a little orphan in China that will one day soon be added to our extended family) we have set a place at the dinner table for him/them. Because it remains empty, we are reminded to pray that God would fill up the emptiness of those in need. Because we set it on our table, we are reminded that all (no matter their station in life) are invited to come as guests...as family. Because we are using the red "you are special today" plate, it reminds us of God's heart for all.

Lord, we rarely know hunger
we have clean water to drink
and we have families to live in

You use all these metaphors in relation to Yourself and Your Kingdom...

But how will a world who does not know these things
see You and know You and understand You?
Father, stir our hearts to pray for those around the world
and then give us some small thing to do to relieve their suffering.

Caedmon's Prayer

As I read this, it resonated with my heart...

I cannot speak,
unless You loose my tongue;
I only stammer,
and I speak uncertainly;
but if You touch my mouth,
my Lord,
then I will sing the story
of Your wonders!

Teach me to hear that story,
through each person,
to cradle a sense of wonder
in their life,
to honor the hard-earned wisdom
of their sufferings,
to waken their joy
that the King of all kings
stoops down
to wash their feet,
and looking up
into their face
says,
'I know - I understand'

This world has become
a world of broken dreams
where dreamers are hard to find
and friends are few.

Lord, be the gatherer of our dreams
You set the countless stars in place,
and found room for each of them to shine.
You listen for us in Your heaven-bright hall.
Open our mouths to tell our tales of wonder...

I have a dream
that all the world will meet You,
and know You, Jesus,
in Your living power,
that someday soon
all people everywhere will hear Your story
and hear it in a way they understand.

Wearing my Prayers

This is not a new concept to me, as I have often worn a huge nut (as in nut and bolt bought at Home Depot) around my neck at times when I want to remember to pray for something that is heavy on my heart or God's heart. The nut, hanging around my neck, is heavy enough to clunk me in the chest many times a day and bring the thing(s) back to remembrance.

Lately, God has led me to a form of prayer, from the Celtic tradition, that seems to overlap with this wearing of my prayers...

Traditional Caim prayer or circle prayer looks like this: "When words get in the way , the caim or “encircling” prayer can often be helpful. Draw a circle clockwise around yourself, using the right index finger as you say this prayer; this symbolizes the encircling love of God. (The situation may make this physical action impractical; in which case see the action in your mind’s eye as you pray.) See yourself and others encircled and be aware that the living God surrounds and encloses with His love, care and protection."

Wearing the Caim prayer - I have a necklace that is simply a circle, made of some shimmering substance (almost looks like the inside of seashell), that I always get comments about. I have started wearing it as a form of prayer...when I put it on I say a caim prayer, when people comment on it, I smile and ask God to encircle them or me or both, when I reach up and touch it, it reminds me to be grateful for God's encircling love and to remember that I bind myself to this encircling, Three in One.

Crazy perhaps, but it helps me to live in the rhythm of prayer as I live out my life. It is a constant reminder of being surrounded by my King and being allowed the privilege to embrace others in His name.

I bind myself today
The power of God to hold and lead
His eye to watch, His might to stay
His ear to hearken to my need
The wisdom of my God to teach
His hand to guide
His shield to ward
The word of God to give me speech
His Heavenly Host to be my guard.

The Mighty Three
My protection be
Encircling me
You are around
My life, my home
Encircling me
O Sacred Three
The Mighty Three

Ventures

Lord God,
you have called your servants
to ventures of which we cannot see the ending,
by paths as yet untrodden,
through perils unknown.
Give us faith to go out with good courage,
not knowing where we go,
but only that your hand is leading us
and your love supporting us;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

The Rhythm of the Offices

I'm sure I've blogged about this before, but God has brought me back to this place. It is amazing how an "ending" place comes back to the beginning...

I like the idea of praying the offices. As Phylllis Tickle says, "The offices open to me four times a day and call me to remember Who owns time and why. All that means really is that four times a day the Watchmaker and I have conversation about the clock and my place as a nano-second in it."

The offices create a rhythm for me, a place where I am not driven by the clock and daily life, but by God's story. But they also pose a challenge. I find it, quite frankly, hard to STOP whatever it is that I am doing.

So I am a learner...maybe a wanderer... in this land of prayer. I usually pray the morning office and frequently the evening office too. Beyond that, I try...I forget...I let time run my life...I make excuses. But I want to learn to live by the rhythm of the offices, so I don't give up.

(I really like the daily offices at www.northumbriacommunity.org)

Silence and Stillness

I am lead more and more to believe that Silence and doing nothing is the place to begin to learn to pray. It is the place of "be still and know that I am God".

I am trying to quiet my environment and quiet my thoughts and come before God in a waiting position. Lord, teach me to do nothing....