PRAY

[Rev. Gregory Isaacson]

Sunday, Sept. 27
“Be still, and know that I am God.” The primary goal of prayer is to be in communion with God. We value the work of prayer networks and petitions in worship and faith gatherings. The wider dimension of prayer is to quiet the mind and the body in order to hear God’s still and quiet voice. Prayer teachers understand this and try to instill in their students the importance of a practice that separates us from the demands of the day and has us focus on our oneness with God. We are called to practice prayer because this is often more times more difficult than we realize.

For this week I recommend you listen to a soothing piece of music to transition into a devotion that focuses on prayer. I suggest using from Deb Clayton’s Silhouette CD, “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.” Play this music first and let the music guide you into a prayerful state focusing on the blessings that God bestows on all people.
You can click on this as a video under Pastor Isaacson's Page.

[Rev. Gregory Isaacson]

Monday, Sept. 28, "...and the LORD will raise them up."
What I notice about myself is that when I am stressed and holding on to control/emotions/plans, my entire body is tense. I have come to rely on my prayer practice to help me relax and to let go and let God. For me, music helps coax me out of my tension and into a loving embrace of God that wants me to release my concerns, my cares, my worries.
Prayer practice can be viewed much like an athlete training for an event. There is a regular disciplined approach to achieving a certain state of preparedness. Then on the competition day, the athletes that excel are those who are able to rest in that preparedness - who can relax and focus their minds and bodies on the competition and simply trust the training and let their bodies do what they were trained to do.

[Rev. Gregory Isaacson]

This from Bruce Metcalf's blog on Book of Faith:

I get 2 online daily devotionals plus I have a yearly daily devotional from guidepost. I get something nearly everyday from each but somedays one touchs me more then others,,, today Guidepost did that for me !!! A devotional from Mary Lou Carney really hit home and I felt I needed to share it !!
She writes
I had been out of town for several days ,so it had been a while since I'd seen my three year old grandson Drake . Now he and I were setting at my kitchen table late in the afternoon ,eating apple slices. Since I have only 2 chairs at my table ,we were setting across from each other . drake paused as he reached for an apple. "I want to set over there",he pointed across the table to the place nearest to me. Oh no sweetie , you're fine over where you are, I said ,,,besides there's no chair over here !! Without hesitation ,Drake climbed down and with great care and effert moved his heavy chair to my side of the table. Now our elbows were almost touching. Drake didn't say a word. He just munched loudly on his apple slice and smiled !! Being near to me ,,,really near me ,,was important to Drake !! I thought about that when I read my Bible that night. I want to be nearer to God!! I closed my eyes and pictured myself climbing out of my chair and into the arms of my heavenly father. LETS TALK ABOUT HOW TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN MORE OFTEN, he said. And I resolved to listen closely.
Draw me nearer ,nearer Precious Lord !!

While reading this and letting the message connect to me I realised how many times I have asked God to be in my life ,,but expected him to come to me,,, when all I needed to do was slide my chair around the table to him !!!
and a child will lead them ,,,or in my case ,,will teach them !!!
bruce

Rev. Gregory Isaacson said:

Monday, Sept. 28, "...and the LORD will raise them up."
What I notice about myself is that when I am stressed and holding on to control/emotions/plans, my entire body is tense. I have come to rely on my prayer practice to help me relax and to let go and let God. For me, music helps coax me out of my tension and into a loving embrace of God that wants me to release my concerns, my cares, my worries.
Prayer practice can be viewed much like an athlete training for an event. There is a regular disciplined approach to achieving a certain state of preparedness. Then on the competition day, the athletes that excel are those who are able to rest in that preparedness - who can relax and focus their minds and bodies on the competition and simply trust the training and let their bodies do what they were trained to do.

[Rev. Gregory Isaacson]

Tuesday, Sept. 29, pray for one aother.
I must admit, I'm still growing in this practice of praying WITH another. As a minister I often lead prayers with another or group of people. Perhaps because of my vocation, when I am not in the role of pastor I treasure that "sacred space" of being alone with God. But this intimacy with God is not meant to be exclusive. I do believe that closeness with God is meant to be like an ever expanding circle including more and more people to share in this intimacy of a close relationship. Again, this is why we are called to practice prayer. The healing that comes in prayer is the openness to simply be who we are as a child of God without fear of judgment or criticism. Centered in this grace given to us in Christ, we expand our prayer circle to include, at first one, then another, and eventually as many as God seems fit. A trusting circle of prayer friends brings comfort, wholeness, and healing.

[Rev. Gregory Isaacson]

Wednesday, Sept. 30, I have asked...
The story of Hannah's prayer for a son enlightens us as to what we bring/give to our prayer life. Giving oneself, totally, to God is more difficult than we may think. Having never traveled to a third-world country I was a bit nervous about entering into our sister relationship with Santa Elena in Guatemala. I had always prayed for opportunities to experience Christ in another part of the world - but couldn't I do it in a comfortable way where I could stay in a hotel, eat food I enjoy, and say I had a nice trip.
My experience with Guatemala was phenomenal and hard. Traveling over planks for bridges, sweating in 100 percent humidity, sleeping on boards, eating piles of plain tortillas - all helped me to see the risen Christ in a new way as I got to know people who carry on in faith under very difficult circumstances. My prayer was answered and, in giving of myself totally, I trusted God to bring about a transformation that continues to give me hope and life and faith.

[Lisa Boe]

I had never thought of prayer as something where we should be LISTENING. Often times prayer is something on remote control, or something where we talk to God and ask for things. But, I love the thought that prayer can/should be something where we quiet ourselves and truly focus on our closeness with God and that it is a time for a 2-way "conversation". And I agree, music can be a great tool in creating calmness in the whirlwind of our lives! I will try and focus and LISTEN more as I pray!

[Rev. Gregory Isaacson]

Thursday, Oct. 1, Mark 9:42, Stumbling Blocks
As I prepare for Sunday's sermon I am in prayer because of the Gospel text. Jesus is asked by a Pharisee about divorce and Jesus gives a pretty clear statement about divorce. Today as I reflect on Jesus' words about stumbling blocks I'm very conscious about how to bring a gospel word that gives life to people, especially those who have gone through a divorce and those who have remarried.
My time in prayer lifts up for me those people who have grieved the loss of a marriage, those who feel betrayed by a spouse, those living in loveless marriages, and those trying to carry out a new dynamic of 'family' in the aftermath of divorce. Prayer sensitizes me to all these many dynamics and moves me to a message that brings healing, wholeness, forgiveness, and hope. Prayer also keeps me aware of words that might become 'stumbling blocks' that might keep people from hearing the Good News that Jesus shares. Today I pray for all relationships as we navigate the challenges this world places upon them.

[Rev. Gregory Isaacson]

Friday, Oct. 2, Psalm 19:14, 'the meditation of my heart.'
Many pastors dealing with conflict and stress in a congregation understand the rising anxiety that arises within themselves and others. I have heard this word of advise, "Practice being a non-anxious presence in the midst of conflict and stress." Of course, this is easier said than done. But these have been very powerful words for me in my years of ministry. When my heart is racing because of unrest, it is meditation that calms my mind and my heart. A calm heart listens more carefully. A calm heart uses words more intentionally. A calm heart is open to seeing more possibilities. A calm heart rests in the presence and trust that God is at work in our midst, especially when there is much unrest.

[Claudia Josephson]

Focusing on prayer and ONLY prayer is one of the most difficult practices for me, personally. I find myself in the middle of prayer thinking about all the things I have to do the next day. I think that listening to music would be a very good way to block out the inner distractions that interfere with prayer and meditation. Music never fails to evoke an emotional response from me, and this would probably be a very good way to prepare for prayer. I'll try it and see if it will calm my mind and take me away from this world so I can be more effective in my praying.