TEACH ME TO PRAY, LORD!

I learned my first lessons in prayer from my mother.  She would kneel with me at my bedside every night and help me recite my bedtime prayer:

Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep.

God, bless Mommy and Daddy,

Grandma, Jeannette and Lib,

Tommy and Bobby,

Beverly and Ira,

and everybody in the world.

Keep Harold be a good boy.

Amen. 

Mealtimes were always prayer times as well.

God is good.  God is great!

And we thank Him for this food.

For love and friends,

And all things good.  Amen.

For many years, my mother kept a small plastic loaf of bread in the center of our table that was filled with small cards that included verses of scripture.  She would have Beverly or me pull out a card and read it.  Maybe we would even try to memorize it.

She was a good teacher and a good example!  I still have two of her Bibles.  She created duct-tape envelopes in the front and back to hold her many prayer lists. 

When I went to college, I immediately began getting up around 5:30 AM to read my Bible and pray.  When my roommate protested, I quietly slipped out and went to a rather cold kitchen area to have my devotions.  Eventually, I was joined by a number of other fellows who had a common desire to start the day with God! 

In reflection, I believe my most effective praying has taken place while walking.  I’ve walked miles and miles around the various sanctuaries where I’ve pastored.  In Harrison City, I walked the fields behind the brand new church I was appointed to serve.  In McClellandtown, I walked a lot in the fields behind the church property.  In East Liverpool, I walked in Thompson Park.  In Spencerville, MD, the church had twelve acres with a very private little cove on the back corner.  In Akron, I prayer-walked in Goodyear Park almost every day.  In New Middletown, I walked in Poland Forest.  In China, I walked nearly every day at the Yitong River Park which was two light rail stations away.  Here in Enon Valley I walk our little village.  As a hiker/backpacker, it’s been a most natural way for me to pray.  

[Caveat:  For the last several years I have been suffering from a sciatic nerve problem that severely limits my ability to walk.  This has clearly affected my prayer life as well.]

Yet, I’ve rarely been satisfied with my prayer life.  Too often it has been too self-centered.  Thankfully though, there have been seasons in which I have been outreaching in prayer.  For several years I set my phone alarm for 10:02 AM.  When it went off, I would take several moments to pray Luke 10:2, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore, beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” 

My three-year China journal [which I’ve been reviewing this morning] is full of scriptures and quotes from books I was reading during that time.  Living in a spiritually lost and confused culture heightened my awareness of sharing my faith and praying for God’s direction in my life.  I needed Him more as a result! 

But, I must confess that many days my prayer life is anemic.  It feels rote and repetitive.  It seems unproductive and ineffective.  I want it to be different, but don’t always know how to get there.  I’m impatient and not always willing to invest the time and focus that is sometimes required to make prayer effective. I get distracted.  I'm too conscious of the time.

I’m so grateful for God’s patience with me!  He doesn’t write me off.  And I’m especially grateful for those rare times when His presence invades my space and my heart.  Old-timers used to refer to those times as ‘praying through’.  I need to explore that concept.  I need to be more persistent in prayer. 

I recently did a seven-day fast.  My prayer life spiked during those days.  Fasting and prayer have always been great partners in drawing near to God! 

I spend a lot of time discouraged because of the deteriorating conditions in our country.  I’ve recently begun limiting my exposure to the news because of the depressing effect it has on me.  I’ve come to the conclusion that I need to watch less news and spend more time interceding for our nation.  I have no doubt that we could turn our nation around if we would invest more in prayer!  The phrase has been around for ages:  PRAYER CHANGES THINGS!  It also changes people! 

Lord,

My mom helped me get started right!  Thank You for her influence.

Throughout my life I’ve had a desire to serve and please You.

At times I’ve felt in stride with You;

other times, I’ve failed You miserably by my inconsistency and rebellion.

I’m getting down to the last years of my life and I want them to count for You and Your Kingdom!

Help me to be willing to make the necessary sacrifices to be a truly godly man.

Teach me to pray, Lord!

For Your Kingdom’s sake.  Amen.

NEW BRIGHTON THANKSGIVINGS

 As I lay in the dark this morning, I found myself remembering Thanksgivings from my early years in New Brighton, PA.  [Feel free to add your thoughts, memories or corrections in the 'comments' section.]

I was born in 1952, so my recollections are primarily from the mid-1950's and through the 1960's.  My home church was the New Brighton Free Methodist Church, which - at that time - was a large church that ran three buses that brought mostly children to Sunday School.  

My primary memory of Thanksgiving revolves around the Thanksgiving Community Worship that took place in the morning around 10:00 AM.  This was surely an awkward time for women who were preparing large meals for their families.  There may have been some years that my mom didn't go.  But my dad and I would still go (it was one of the rare things that the two of us did together).  

The service was moved to various churches that participated in the protestant ministerial group.  That was part of the fun and excitement:  seeing the insides of some of the other churches!  When the service was held at various Presbyterian or Lutheran churches, we would be exposed to remarkable pipe organ music!  Singing the great Thanksgiving hymns like

• "Come, Ye Thankful People, Come"
• "We Plow the Fields and Scatter"
• "For the Beauty of the Earth"
• "Now Thank We All Our God"

took on a whole new dynamic when sung to the accompaniment of these grand instruments and a full sanctuary of worshippers!  

We saw many of our neighbors at this community service.  We would always greet Dr. and Mrs. Phillips and others from our William Penn Way neighborhood.  All men wore suits and women were dressed in their Sunday best clothing.  Appropriate scriptures would be read by various community pastors.  A Thanksgiving message would be delivered by the host pastor.  

During this time period, the local ministerial group had considerable influence!  When they spoke out on issues relevant to the community, their words had significant impact.  Certain clergy members who had stayed in the community and gained considerable trust over the years were especially authoritative.  I only remember one name:  Rev. Matchett.  The Ministerial Association had clout in those days!  

There were other times that we gathered to worship, such as Good Friday, but none seemed to garner the community's support like Thanksgiving Day!  It was a celebrative time;  a joyful time;  a reflective time.  

We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing;

He chastens and hastens His will to make known;

The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing,

Sing praises to His name:  He forgets not His own.

Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,

Ordaining, maintaining His kingdom divine.

So from the beginning the fight we were winning:

Thou, Lord, wast at our side, all glory be Thine!

[And now, with all the organ stops open:]

We all do extoll Thee, thou Leader triumphant,

And pray that Thou still our Defender wilt be.

Let Thy congregation escape tribulation:

Thy name be ever praised!  O Lord, make us free!

And ALL God's people said:  AMEN!