Category: First Steps

Prayer Requests:

For all those who have influenced your life – Give thanks.
For the St. Paul Community and the loss of many loved ones.

In 1952, Florence Chadwick attempted to become the first woman to swim the twenty plus miles of the Catalina Channel (from Catalina Island to the Palos Verde Peninsula).  Due to the threat of sharks, cold water, and a blanket of fog, she gave up with only 1 mile to go.  Why did she give up?  She couldn’t tell if she was making any progress.  Afterwards she told reporters, “Look I’m not excusing myself, but if I could have seen land, I know I could have made it.”  Two months later, she competed the journey because she could see land.

We are called to be an enduring people.  Often, when we lose hope, we can’t see the finish line.  The fog rolls in.  When that happens remind yourself of the finish line.   We want to keep our eyes on the end—the majestic vision of God dwelling with his people—our eternal home.  Romans 5:3-5 states, “…but we also glory in our suffering, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”

This week’s reading:

For all those who have influenced your life – Give thanks.
For the St. Paul Community and the loss of many loved ones.

God Bless,

Are you familiar with Breath Prayers?  This type of prayer seeks to keep the person focused on the presence of God. Take a moment to give your undivided attention to God.  Then follow these steps:

1. Close your eyes and remind yourself that God loves you.  Recall a favorite passage like 1 Peter 5:7, “Cast your cares on him, he cares for you.”
2. Keeping your eyes closed, imagine God calling your name and asking you what it is you desire most.
3. Answer God. It could be a single word or a sentence.  “Lord, I want…”  There are no wrong answers because the answer rises out of your concerns.
4. Now, focus on an image of God:  Teacher, Lord, King, Healer, Creator, Shepherd, etc.
5. You now have your Breath Prayer.  For Instance:

Throughout this day and the week to come, constantly pray your prayer.

This week’s reading:

Prayer Requests:
For all those who have influenced your life – Give thanks.
For the St. Paul Community and the loss of many loved ones.

God Bless,

“It is good to renew ourselves from time to time by closely examining the state of our souls, as if we had never done it before. For nothing tends more to the full assurance of faith than to keep ourselves by this means in humility and the exercise of all good works” (John Wesley).

To examine your soul is to reflect upon:

1. How do you speak?  Do they need to change?
2. What actions need to change?
3. What are the intentions behind your words and your actions?

In the end, the hope is that all three answers are infused and bathed in Christ.  If for some reason we have a little bit more to do, invite the Holy Spirit to change your heart so that all things belong to him.

This week’s reading:

Prayer Request:
St. Paul Community and the families who have lost loved ones over the last few weeks.

God Bless,

Steve Harper, former President of Asbury Seminary (Orlando), said that “mysteries do not yield to quick fixes and simple formulas, and sometimes they never yield at all. Prayer is no different. You can have a prayer life and choose to avoid the mysteries. Or you can include the mysteries in your praying, knowing that even when you do, some will remain.” Often we need the complexity of mystery when life doesn’t make sense.

We long for certainty that is why we crave control.  Therefore, when we can’t control our life, we struggle.  Learning to hover in the midst of mystery can lead to acceptance of things we can’t change or control.  It is here that prayer can be our biggest friend.

This week, allow God to envelop you.  Center yourself—and the things you can’t control nor understand—in the presence of the one who can.  You don’t have to understand it all to believe.  You don’t have be in control to be at peace.

This week’s reading:

Prayer Requests:
Those affected by wildfires in California
Upcoming All Saints Sunday Service, November 5, 2017

God Bless,

One of the questions I get asked often is “Is there a right or wrong way to pray?”  The short answer is “No.”  Though words are important for they convey meaning, give expression, and provide communication, when it comes to prayer, they are only part of the story.  For instance, we pray more unspoken prayers than we realize.  There are also times our words don’t match our heart’s desire.  In those cases, what is more important:  the words or our heart’s desire?  The Apostle Paul even said when words fail us, the Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf (Romans 8:26-27).

Countless times when I have received horrible news about a friend, a church member, or an acquaintance, and my first thought was, “God, how can I help this person?”  Not knowing what to pray, my thoughts were only for their strength to endure.  As quick as I said, “Lord, I don’t know where to begin,” I perceived God to say, “I already know.”

Words are important but don’t get hung up on them. Eventually the words will come. Focus on your own heart—just express it to God and that will be enough.

This week’s reading:

Prayer Requests:
All those affected by the mass shooting in Las Vegas.
Hurricane relief efforts to continue
Our Country and Our Leaders
Phase I of our Building Campaign