HD Prayer

I have learned through my own personal experience that prayer is an essential part of being a Christian and actually, just living in this world. It is something that takes on many different forms based on who we are and what we’re dealing with at the moment. I know that our Father in Heaven listens to our prayers and answers them. He may not answer the way we want but he does answer. How we pray can look like so many different things—it may be spent in a quiet moment, in a frantic situation where we’re crying out to the Lord, or anything in between.

Personally, there were times when I felt like everything was crumbling down around me and things were happening around me that I had no control over and it seemed like I could do nothing. That is when I felt the true power of prayer. It didn’t make everything go away—the problems were still there but it changed me. I was what changed.

Specifically, I was driving to work and feeling very overwhelmed by some things going on in my life. I began to cry out and talk to the Lord. I was angry, I was sad, and I was lost all at the same time. Finally, I finished my prayers, I wiped away my tears, and finished my commute to work. It wasn’t until later that morning that I realized—I was at peace. I was calmer. I realized that the burdens on my heart were lifted. That is when I truly realized the power of prayer.

Melissa Lee

If I had three weeks to live…(part IV)

I would talk to my father about Jesus.

I would take my parents and the rest of my family on a cruise to thank them and get to know them better.

I would ask for forgiveness of friends and family for all I have done and all I have failed to do.

I would spend more time with family that lives far away, my mother, brother, nieces and nephew.

Gather children and family to talk about spiritual health, what God has done through Jesus Christ, and how God has seen me through the trials of my life.

Prayer, meditation, family, and friends.

I would encourage more people to know Jesus.

I would pray to God for the forgiveness of my sins and the bad things I’ve done. I’d also spend the three weeks with my mom, dad, and Daisy (my dog). I love my family more then money, but God is also my family! I am a true believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. J

I would make sure all my family and friends know how much I love them.

I would spend every possible moment with my grandchildren, watching the joy of life in their eyes, appreciating their innocence, and praying for them to live and grow in a Christ-like way, being kind and loving to all whose paths cross theirs in life.

If I had three weeks to live I would pray, praise Him, take communion, gather with family and friends, and tell them I love them. I would thank God for a good life, thank Christ for dying to remove my sins, and ask Him to show his love for my wife and family.

If I knew I had a short time on this earth, I would reach out to family, friends, and those I don’t even know to tell them about Jesus Christ, so as to try and reach the hearts of others. I would pray for the Lord to use me here in my last days to do his work.

If I only had 3 weeks, I would be sure to tell everyone I love them and use time left to be a witness to those who are left and be sure they know this is only the beginning.

If I had three weeks to live…(part III)

I’d look harder for Christ in my neighbors, family, and friends.

I would live life and proclaim the hope of resurrection.

I would quit my job to spend more time with family, and I would clean out stuff so my family members would not have to.

I would write a statement of faith to be read at my funeral.

If I had three weeks to live, I would donate all I have to those who need it.

I would put aside my “busy work,” including housework, and spend as much time as possible with my family and friends enjoying life together with those I love.

I would bring a friend to faith and tell someone through my actions that I love them even if no one else seems to.

I would want all my family, niece, nephews ect. around me the whole time, we would play cards, eat, laugh, and talk all hours of the night.

Share my faith more and call family members.

Pray for and share Christ’s grace with those who do not know Him – especially family members.

Respect, pray, and give thanks.

If I had three weeks to live, I would apologize to everyone I’ve hurt and forgive those who hurt me.

I would hold my daughter and husband and not let go. Telling how much I love them.

If I had three weeks to live, I would continue to love Jesus and worship him. I would spend as much time with all my family members. I would tell my non-believing family members about Jesus and his great love. I would take all my clothes to a homeless shelter so someone could use them. All my money I would give to my family.

Pray and listen for God’s instruction.

I would live in such a way that people would ask me why I was so happy when I was going to die. Then I could tell them of God’s love and salvation through Jesus Christ.

If I had three weeks to live, I would rejoice in so great a salvation I have by the grace of God and look forward to my eternal destiny. I would, boldly continue to share Jesus Christ with all who do not yet know Him as Lord and Savior.

Gather my children and share with them how God has been with me throughout my life, and pray with them.

Spend every second enjoying and praying with my son.

Tell more people about Jesus. Talk to all my kids and tell them how much I love them.

Forgive other that have hurt me.

If I had three weeks to live I would share my faith with all the people in my life and tell them how important they are and thank them for being in my life and blessing me.

If I had three weeks to live… (part II)

If I had three weeks to live, I would turn off the TV and spend every waking hour in prayer and the Word. Telling my husband children and grandchildren all of my friends and neighbors I do not yet know – that we are here on earth to know God’s love and reconciliation to us through the road Jesus His Son and experience the Holy Spirit of God in our life.

If I had three weeks to live, I would write a letter to my husband and children and tell them what Jesus means to me, and what they mean to me.

If I had three weeks to live, I would tell each person in my life how much they mean to me.

If I had three weeks to live, I would spend time with family and spend time with God.

I would spend time with my son, brother, and friends and share the message of hope for eternal life. We would laugh, pray, and remember our lives together.

I am not sure I would change anything if give only three weeks more. I would continue to give thanks for what I have been given and pray for the wisdom to use those gifts in a way the gives glory to him, that others may know Him. This I do already, by God’s grace.

I would want my children to know Jesus is my Lord.

If I had three weeks to live, I would tell praise the Lord for the life He has given me ant that I look forward to eternity in his presence.

If I had three weeks to live, I would try to forgive people who are mean to me and ask for forgiveness as well as say goodbye to everyone I love and then I would spend my every last moments with them.

If I had three weeks to live, I would quit my job and travel to Europe with my husband.

If I had three weeks to live, I would spend time with my family.

If I had three weeks to live, I would   more intentionally ask God how to spend time.

I would treat every conversation, as it might be my last with that person, leaving nothing significant unsaid.

I would try to help other people to believe, and visit people in nursing home during the short amount of time I had left to live.

I would visit people in the hospital and help them feel better.

If I had three weeks to live I would…  1) Read the bible. 2)Pray, pray, pray. 3) Plan a big family reunion, and call everyone to invite them. 4)Sing every hymn I have sung all my life. 5) Visit my home church. 6)Sit outside as much as I could and enjoy God’s handiwork and look forward.

I would post on facebook and send an e-mail to everyone in my address book: the Lord had numbered my days to three more weeks and I want you to know that I’m OK with that. I trust in his love, promises, and great mercy. He sees the big picture and knows the end of the story – what do I have to fear?

I would go enjoy God’s creation, and bring my loved ones with me. I would reassure them of my faith in God, my love for them, and remind them that we will meet again.

I would ask my brother to be obedient to God’s Word, and examine his choices in that light.

I would spend more time with family, and sell and give away everything.

With three more weeks to live, the Lord willing, I would pray more, praise more, and listen more.

I would spend time with my family and friends.

I would tell my husband and children how proud I am of them, and that I love them.

I would spend time in prayer with God, and spend time with loves ones.

Pray for forgiveness of past sins.

If I had three weeks to live…

The sermon theme this past weekend was, “If I had three weeks to live.” During worship, those attending Prince of Peace wrote down the answer to this question, and here are some of the responses. More responses will be added this week. Feel free to add a comment with what you would do if you had three weeks to live.

 

I would try to live my life as Jesus taught me – to love others and give totally of myself. I would look forward to meeting my Father but that wouldn’t mean I would check out before God called me home.  I would hope that my faith would shine through me to give those left behind hope and promote an even closer relationship with our Savior.

Encourage those in my life to turn to Jesus.

One thing – talk continuously to God and ask Him, the Holy Spirit, to guide me in all my ways.

If I had three weeks to live, I would gather my family close and pray for their forgiveness of my transgressions.

Pray a lot, spend time with children, family and friends, and plan my “going home” celebration.

Pray for boldness to tell as many people as possible the plan of salvation and for the Holy Spirit to bring them to faith.

If I had three weeks to live, I would want to witness to my mom and brothers to help them return to faith in Jesus as their Savior.

Ask for forgiveness from God, Family, and Friends.

Talk to my grandchildren so they will come to God and believe. I will be happy and count my blessings.

Thank as many people as I could in my family and friends to let them know how much they mean to me. Prepare for going home. I’m not sure exactly how to do this, but I would prepare my children and family for my “going home.”

Apologize to those I love, have hurt, or wronged.

Thank the Lord for stopping this “merry go round” so I can finally get off and go home. Then hope my family would find faith at my funeral. Spend as much time with my wonderful wife – who has been the light of my life.

Affirm my family every day, five times.

If I had three weeks to live, I’d go skydiving. I’d help abandoned Orangutans in Africa. Tell people to live within their means and remind them they can’t take it with them.

I would forgive everyone who has sinned against me or someone else.

If I had three weeks to live… thanks for the opportunity to reflect of that question, as I have no idea! I hope I would celebrate my faith with my family and look forward to entering God’s kingdom. I hope I would give the gift of peace and faith to those I leave behind through my comfort in His Word.

I would ask for forgiveness for everything I have done wrong.

I would gather my family around to confess my faith and trust in Jesus. So they know that only our faith in Him is what saves us. I want them to remember this whenever they remember me.

If I had three weeks to live, I would spend more time in prayer.

Sunrise over Whitney Pond

Solomon in all his glory….couldn’t match the magnificence of God.

Photo taken by Rick Kimball

Prayer Walking

Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I have ever done.” So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word.                                                                                          John 4:39-41

We saw many children hanging on to their moms as we walked along path just outside the garden apartments. Smiling, waving and greeting men who peered from terraces, the two of us asked God for protection, provision and peace for the people.

As we turned the corner, Naylah pursued us and asked for help in broken English. She was looking for a white building to get a reading of her blood pressure. Apparently she was diabetic and she was lost. It was chilly, but the white building she described we knew would be adjacent to a well-known hardware store.

As the three of us now walked together, Naylah told us how she left Baghdad and lived in Jordan before she came to the States. She took comfort in the fact that my partner and I had visited the Hashemite Kingdom. Her son lives in France and she was staying with her mom but not for long. In a month, she would lose her home.

We asked if she was a widow; she said no, but pulled her hands apart. Separated? No. Divorce? Yes, a new word we had to spell for Naylah. As a Muslim woman, she was very alone and without provision. Asked if she worshiped God. She said she was visiting a Catholic church as Jesus was a great prophet. I gave her an Arabic Bible tract and invited her to call.

My prayer partner and I both hugged Naylah. She asked us when we would return. We told her to look for us on Saturday mornings. We would not to forget her.

Loving Lord, we ask you to be present with Naylah and provide her with shelter and comfort in this foreign land. May she come to know you as more than a prophet but as Living Water, from whom she will never thirst again.

By Yvette Moy

Christians Among Neighbors

A co-worker of mine is a documented immigrant from Israel. Often she shows me photos of her homeland, but she really doesn’t understand why I consider it to be a sacred space (so much so that I made my pilgrimage in 2008). Back then, her sister met and took me and my traveling companion to the marketplace in the old portion of Jerusalem.

Upon my return she expressed her curiosity about my prayer life but asked what kind of a God would allow the Holocaust to happen? Evil exists on this earth, but God wants every good thing for his creation. This was something my co-worker could not understand – especially with her aging mom and sister soon diagnosed with an aggressive cancer.

“Think good thoughts, for me,” she always asks instead of directly requesting prayers for her loved ones. So many times she would explain to me the cultural significance of the prophet Elijah or the Hebrew words of Psalm 23. But she dared not speak about God.

Our conversations continued even during this spring as her sister, a devout Jew, began to fade. Before her flight to Israel in June, something changed. She told me she actually prayed, beginning her relationship with God. What a great blessing!

A month after mourning her sister’s death, we met for dinner in Washington, D.C. She was still searching for peace, but now through painting. Shared with her about the Christian art exhibit we had had at Prince of Peace and Sybil MacBeth’s Praying in Color. She was curious. So afterwards I sent her the book . . . she said her children loved it and her walk with God began.

Praise God for how the Spirit is working with Christians Among Neighbors!

By Yvette Moy

Please share your story about being a Christian Among Neighbors.

By Faith

By Connie Denninger

I Choose Him

Religion, faith, God. Words known to all, but to each a different a meaning.
Muslim, Buddhist, Atheist, Jew, Allah, Buddha, no one, who?
It’s your choice but I choose Him, Jesus Christ the one who lived.

So what do these words mean to me? Well, I actually have no clue.
I’d like to think I do, but in reality I’m just confused.

At times I don’t feel your presence, is it my fault I don’t feel our connection?
I question, I struggle, I hurt. Am I being tested to see what I’m worth?

Yes I believe in the Christian faith, but do I have faith in what I believe?
I know you’re there God so help me through.
I pray for answers to all my question I’ll wait for them and your suggestions.

I don’t feel your presence in all that I do, so I wonder, is it really you?
Are you the God that’s up above? The one who came forgave and saved?
The God of mercy, love, and trust. The one who gave his son because he thought saving me was a must?

But I know you are him, the god of these things, for I see you in daily life happenings.
You took Abe and I don’t know why, but I’ll still try to see the bright side.
You hurt my sister and my best friend so how are you a God of mercy and love?

But once again you prove me wrong, my sins have been forgiven all along.
I saw you in Haiti and the people I met there.
They praise and love you with all their hearts, you could feel the joy everywhere.

But it’s a push and pull battle I try to fight through. I see good and bad, is it all from you?
I see such strong faith rise from pain and wreckage, do I need a tragedy to understand your message?

As the Haitians say, you don’t know how much you need God until God is all you have, so I ask for your help putting aside my worldly possessions, to see how much I need you.

I love to worship you by song whether listening or singing it’s where I belong.
Himnals is such a safe haven, praising you there all night long.
Harmonizing with my sister is so much fun, we sing joyous music to you and your son.

And lastly I’ll say confirmation’s not the end, my faith’s a journey that will continue to transcend.
God’s on my side so nothing can stop me, I love you Lord, my God Almighty.

-Michelle Heinitz (from her confirmation faith statement)