Joy Lutheran Church Ocala, Florida

I thought I knew a lot about prayer, but then I came across this in C. S. Lewis’s book, Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly about Prayer. “In fact, I tried to pray without words at all–not to verbalize the mental acts. Even in praying for others I believe I tended to avoid their names and substituted images of them” (p. 11). I never thought about praying that way. I sometimes have a list of people that I want to pray for, but it’s usually just a name I say. It’s different to pray for a person only with an image of them in your mind.

This reminds be of the practice of the Orthodox church to use icons in prayer. I’ve heard icons called idolatrous by some Protestants. It isn’t. The Orthodox don’t worship the physical icon. They think of icons as windows: we are looking into heaven where the holy ones are, and they are looking back at us. It’s a sign of the Communion of Saints.

I’m going to try praying not with words, but just by looking at a picture of someone I want to pray for. First, though, I’ll my mind to God, allowing myself to be aware of the divine presence.

Days later: Well, I tried, without much success. I had the problem I often have in prayer: my mind gets distracted. I have a few moments of concentration, then some irrelevant thought pops on. However, I’m still sharing with you Lewis’s wordless approach in case it might benefit you.

Blessings in your prayer life.

Read Colossians 4:2 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne

I’ve been doing some genealogy research for a friend who has many Quakers among her ancestors.  I’m finding people who truly put their beliefs into action.  They strongly opposed slavery, and because of this they were instrumental in initiating and operating the Underground Railroad.  The lives of black men and families mattered to them.  They were willing to put their own at risk to help.

I’ve often thought of the Quakers more in terms of what they would not do.  They would not take an oath or serve in the military.   They were seen as “different.”   But I’m finding they were also “different”  in terms of what they would do.  Originally called the Society of Friends, a key Quaker belief is that the presence of God exists in every person, man or woman.  They would play a key role in both the abolitionist and women’s rights movements.  Theirs was a faith in action.

It made me think deeply about my personal faith.  Is it a faith in action?  Does it linger within the walls of my church?  Does it dally among folks that look like me and act like I do?  Or does it extend to those who do not look like me? Is it open to those who do not think like me or do I turn to being judgemental?  It’s food for thought.

This beautiful hymn seems to express it well.

Judy

An advanced degree, it is called. Going beyond, almost all the way in academia. The Masters. When sportscaster on CBS Jim Nantz says those words, it sounds like paradise opened up. One of pro golf’s majors, played on the beautiful, full of spring bloom Augusta National Golf Club course in April.

The Masters degree is one I hold with deep humility. I was never very scholarly, never made Dean’s List, only the honor roll a couple of times. Maybe it was pressure or nerves or barely-tapped-into psychological stuff.

Associate’s degree? Not much to it. I commuted daily from home for twenty-one months. My Bachelor’s was earned through three years of night school.

Master of Divinity, says the title.

Perhaps an achievement more of survival than of brains.

Our Great Teacher showed (shows) us a more excellent way, which is to be a master of living. Jesus worked a carpenter trade, but when he fished for and then shaped men, He became the Master Builder. No room for personal goals or egos. No Pharisaical judgment or Essene isolation. Not the violent approach of the Zealots.

Yes, the Great Teacher. He who puts us in the classroom, the laboratory of life. We are in constant training mode, involving our physical, intelligent, and mental capacities. Lessons taught in confirmation class. The SAT. Myers-Briggs. Seminary approval panel. Spiritual Gifts questionaire. All of it put into practice in  the ongoing life experiment of trying, failing, then succeeding. All by God’s grace.

Whether it’s the SAT, seminary approval panel, or Myers-Briggs, or spiritual gifts questionaire. God will continue molding us, unconditionally loving us,and, when we one day die in faith, we will become Masters of Living.

Some days are dark with hatred, discrimination and violence.  We feel overwhelmed and helpless.  We watch as some speak out, some engage in non-violent protests, and some are actively calling their congressmen to express their opinions.   All are good things.   But here in this community of the retired and elderly, some of us wonder if there’s anything WE can do that would “calm the waters” so to speak

I recently read a posting by Anne Lamott, an American novelist, nonfiction writer, speaker and activist who is known for blending humor with spiritual reflection.   Posing the question, “What can one do to help hold back the darkness?”  She answered, “We can shine a little brighter.” 

Like the lighthouse that shines through the storms to save the ships at sea, we can let our light shine a little brighter.  How?  We could start with gratitude for all the good that remains in our lives: our friends, the good people of America, the beauty of our land.  We can be happier if we take care of ourselves and help to care for the poor and suffering in any way that we can.  Maybe it’s donating food, maybe a phone call to someone who is lonely, even a troublesome family member who is really just a lonely soul.   As we appreciate God’s blessings we find joy.   Joy that can shine through us.

Our individual contribution of light may seem insignificant, but we can only do what we can do.  Together these rays of light do shine.  A small spirit of thanks to the God who loves each us of unconditionally.

Judy

Psalm 68: 1-4 (The Message version): “Up with God! Down with his enemies! Adversaries, run for the hills! Gone like a puff of smoke, like a blob of wax in the fire—one look at God and the wicked vanish. When the righteous see God in action they’ll laugh, they’ll sing, they’ll laugh and sing for joy. Sing hymns to God; all heaven, sing out; clear the way for the coming of Cloud-Rider.
Enjoy God, cheer when you see him!“

I love this good news! When the righteous see God “they will laugh and they will sing!” This is so exciting to me.  I love to laugh and I love to sing. When it is my time to leave, I will be smiling because I know laughter is ahead for me and singing too. If our Lord returns now, we can be the cheering squad. Looking back through history, we know from Biblical times there have been horrific wars. Not only wars but horrible atrocities. History seems to repeat itself. WWI, WWII, the holocaust and certainly our current times of turmoil and wars and unrest and troubling discord for so many nations.

At our arrival to meet our Most Holy Father, we will be pain-free. We can become cheerleaders for our Heavenly Host. The turmoil of earthly times, the worries, the issues we cannot tolerate, the drama and agony of seeing pain and suffering for many, will no longer lay heavy on our hearts. We can laugh and sing hymns to God as we cheer our Savior. Stay strong in the Lord, dear friends. Anticipate the pain-free, worry-free reunion. Meanwhile, you are HIS! Go ahead, smile!

Jill

I came across this blessing by Susie Larson recently and I thought it was a nice message to share as we continue our journey through Lent. 

When Jesus came to earth, times were tough, futures seemed uncertain and the world was in a fragile state-of-affairs. (Does this sound familiar?) Yet, He came and changed everything.

May you-amidst these unsettling times-recapture the wonder of Christ’s gift to the world.  Maybe you need to fast from the bad news so you can once again be awakened and refreshed by the Good News. Jesus had you on his mind when He came to earth. Redemption was on His heart. Picture it.

What if you created time and space to actually hear the voice of God? What if you opened your hands and sowed generously to those around you? What if you stopped numbing your pain so Jesus could actually heal your pain? Joy would strengthen you. Hope would overwhelm you. Love would heal you.

Paul shares these words with a young pastor and his mentee, Timothy.

You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Jesus Christ. 2 Timothy 3:15.

Most of us have also been taught through the holy scriptures, but sometimes we need to be reminded of God’s unconditional love for us. May God’s peace rule and as we continue our preparation for Easter, reign in you this Lenten season. May His Kingdom come and His will be done, in and through you. Thanks be to God!

Patty

This verse was written eons of years ago-eons! Yet I have still to come to accept it unconditionally. I can put my family into God’s care and accept that He will provide. I can put friends’ problems into God’s care and accept that He will provide. I can even put myself into His care, however, I tend to want to direct that outcome, so I end up taking back control before I see a result. Why do I do that? 

I have seen the results of unconditional trust in God’s love and mercy. I have seen people flourish and grow from that trust. I have also experienced that feeling of euphoria that comes when the Holy Spirit intervenes and helps me in a difficult situation. However, I want to make the surrender to His will ONCE and have it stay forever.  

I have found that it doesn’t work that way. Surrender to God’s will is a daily action. A daily practice of contacting God and asking for help. I don’t need to ask for love; God’s love is unconditional and always present. Even when I feel lost and alone. There for you, also. 

So, here’s a little prayer that I found to assist me with this daily meeting. It comes from a Christmas present that Rich gave me called “Daily Prayers for Women” published by Chartwell Books in 2024. (Day 3) 

“God, I rejoice in my salvation and your strength. There 
is nothing that I can’t do with you by my side. Let my fear subside 
as I worship and praise you. Amen” 

Terri

Have you ever been inside a church sanctuary as the sun is going down? How did it make you feel? I’ve been in University Auditorium (a very church-like building) at the University of Florida a number of times for organ concerts at sundown. While you’re concentrating on the music you are aware of darkening windows. It feels as if the darkness is enveloping you.

From early times in the Christian church people gathered for worship in the evening. In the middle ages it was common for regular folks to join the monks at a monastery for vespers or evening prayer.

There is a very nice evening hymn by Sabine Barring-Gould:

Now the day is over; night is drawing nigh;
Shadows of the evening steal across the sky.

Jesus, give the weary calm and sweet repose;
With your tend’rest blessing may our eyelids close.

In our modern times with electric lights and prime-time TV evening doesn’t have the same sense of a time of winding down that it generations ago. Evening has lost its place as a time of prayer, of placing ourselves in the arms of Jesus. I think that’s a mistake.

I pray the Jesus prayer, a practice from the Orthodox church before bed. I repeat the prayer “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner,” around 250 times. I don’t do it to make Jesus see how pious I am, but to remind myself of his presence and my human condition.

I encourage people to find their own way to pray in the evening.

Read Psalms 4:8 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne

No matter how many times I turn my will over to God, I find myself taking it back again. And I struggle. I struggle with simple things like cooking and doing the dishes. I struggle with tasks that I have committed to completing. I struggle with faith and doubt. I struggle with God.

The term “reached the end of my rope” may describe that feeling of frustration that finally causes me to give up the struggle and surrender. However, I want to do this act of submission only once. Not every day. Not every hour. Not every minute.

Yet, I have found that surrender to the fact that I will have to surrender frequently makes this act more automatic and a part of me. I can laugh about it. I have learned from experience that the act of surrender works. God is always there.

The act of surrender to God is one of courage and bravery. It demonstrates the strength of practiced faith. It says, “I love you, Lord, and I trust that You will hold me in Your hands and guide my actions.”

And, God says back to me and to you, “I love you more than the sun and stars! I love you unconditionally.”

Terri

Isaiah 42:6 “I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles,”

Valentines Day has become a source of consternation to me.

Why do I need a commercially contrived, random date on the calendar to guilt me into its’ observance?
Please forgive the cynic in me.

Isn’t a lifetime of love just that – a continual commitment to the ups and downs, the happies and the crappies, the worsts and betters? I stink at gift-giving badly enough as it is. I can never come to the right decision.

Maybe I shouldn’t be so jaded about the memory-joggers. Maybe there is value in having certain days set aside for special attention and remembrance. From holidays to Sundays, it is helpful to focus our attention on specific events or people. Easter and Christmas: definitely significant. Sunday: the day of the week set aside for the very health of our body and spirit. (realizing that in some faith traditions, it’s a different day of the week).

We get, on average, about 25,000. Days, that is. Most come and go with little if any acclaim. I simply submit that if a Valentine’s Day gets past someone in a loving relationship, that their life as they know it is not over. Christians, after all, are in the forgiveness way of living. Life IS short and time IS limited.

So focus on the art of being, what it is you desire your legacy to be. Monday through Saturday can also be days of holiness, service, or just re-charging. We can live confidently, knowing that a God who loves us unconditionally, will strengthen and keep us in His grace.

Pastor Art