Tend to Me: Devotions for Mothers

I just received an email from Emily Cook to let all know that her second book, Tend to Me: Devotions for Mothers, is now available!

Emily is a pastor's wife and mother of six. She knows sin and God's Grace and always points her readers to Christ, so I'm really looking forward to this book.

I was blessed by and recommend reading her previous book, Weak and Loved: A Mother-Daughter Love Story also Ifind much wisdom and encouragement through her blog, Weak and Loved.

And to let you know, Emily will be giving all the profits from her book to the ministry she writes about below:

I am excited to announce that all profits from this book of devotions will be given to Project 24, a mercy project helping orphans in Kenya.  Read why here, and learn more about Project 24 here.  This project is near and dear to my heart. 

Writing is one of my joys, as you know.  

I write because the flowers grow,

because grace showers down on me

and I am compelled to gather it up in words.

Weak and Loved

 “People say be strong. I say be weak and be loved.” Emily Cook

Emily Cook is the author of Weak and Loved: A Mother Daughter Love Story about her daughter's struggle with epilepsy. She writes:

"In October 2008, shortly after her fourth birthday, my daughter Aggie was diagnosed with epilepsy.  The year that followed was one of the most difficult years of our lives."

Right now you can get a copy of the eBook for Free HERE. I don't have an eReader but I just bought a copy of the book and can't wait to read it.

And she keeps a blog, Weak And Loved, if you haven't been there you should check it out. I've been blessed by her words many times.

"Emily Cook is a mother of six, a sinner, a child, covered in the blood of Christ, and freed from the burden of pretending she is strong. She s a woman growing backward, a mother-child, messy with sin, but rejoicing in the constant love of her Heavenly Father. She lives with her husband and their six children, including now-healthy Aggie, in the arms of the church where he is a pastor." from Amazon Bio

Dort Preus posting on Steadfast Lutherans

I'm happy to learn that Dort Preus is posting on Steadfast Lutherans. Her first post can be found here. Also last summer I posted a link to a wonderful paper she wrote here. I think we can all be blessed by her wisdom and experience as a wife and mother.

A little about Mrs. Preus from Steadfast Lutherans:

Associate Editor’s Note:  With this post we introduce Dort Preus as the regular writer for “Steadfast Moms”.  She will be contributing much from her years of experience in raising children in the fear of the Lord.  This post is to be paired up with her husband Pastor Rolf Preus’ posts under “Steadfast Dads”.  

  

We are glad to have their valuable experience to provide good resources to our readers.  A little more about Rev. & Mrs. Preus:

Rolf and Dorothy (Dort) Preus met at Concordia Lutheran Junior College nearly forty years ago, fell in love, got married, and were blessed by God with twelve children and twenty two grandchildren (so far).  Pastor Preus was ordained in 1979 and has been a Lutheran pastor in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and North Dakota.  He received his STM from CTS in Ft. Wayne in 1987.  Dort received her B.A. in elementary education from Concordia, St. Paul in 1975, and learned how to teach from teaching her children at home.  The Preuses presently live in Mayville, North Dakota.  Pastor Preus serves First American Lutheran Church in Mayville, First Evanger Lutheran Church in Fertile, Minnesota and Grace Lutheran Church in Crookston, Minnesota.

Her husband, Rev. Rolf Preus is posting there as well, his post can be found here.

They Will See His Face – Chapters 6, 7, and Conclusion

Kristi writes:

True healing comes to us in the Divine Service.  Here God gives to us His Holy Word and His Holy Sacraments.  In the divine service, we hear of our sin and our salvation.  In the divine service, we see the body and blood of Christ and the cleansing water.  In the divine service, we touch and taste the body and blood of Christ for our forgiveness.  It’s all there in the divine service.  Christ comes to us and heals us.

Chapter 6 focuses on the prayers of the church and the healing of sickness.  Make no mistake – God heals the believer and the nonbeliever.  Our prayers do not change God’s mind as to whether or not to provide healing.  Our prayers are based upon our faith in God, who will do as He deems best.  We sinners like to think that our prayers are what heal people.  Rather, it is God who heals.  That’s why our prayers always include the phrase, “Thy will be done.”

So then why pray for the sick?  As one who has been prayed for, it is comforting to know that others are praying for the Lord’s will to be done in my life.  In prayer, we also acknowledge that true healing will come from God alone.  It is He who enables the medical workers to diagnose correctly.  True healing is not of man’s accord but of God’s design.  And, finally, we pray for the ultimate cure of our sin-sickness: the God-man Christ Jesus.  We are healed of our illness through the cleansing blood of Jesus.

Chapter 7 continues with more healing, this time the healing of our intellect.  In our sinful nature, we claim to know all.  We are in constant conflict with the will of God because we sin.  It is important to remember that man’s intellect is subjective; Jesus Christ is the only absolute Truth.  In the Divine Service we confess our sin of self-idolatry; we are thick with sin and need cleansing.

The Creeds do a beautiful job of reminding us that we are created, redeemed, and sanctified.  We humans can accomplish none of those things on our own; it’s impossible.  God the Father creates us; God the Son redeems us; God the Holy Spirit sanctifies us.

Eyer wraps up the book with a packed conclusion.  He gives us good reason to continue using the liturgy in the Divine Service.  He says: Liturgy conveys the essence and meaning of our worship of God.  Worship is more than personal piety and personal expressions of faith.  It is the experience of God’s acting in our behalf so that we might act in His behalf in this world. [page 117]  The Divine Service is all about what God does for us.

Another awesome quote from Eyer: Liturgy may change over the centuries, but the change is in the matter of detail, not of substance.  [page 116]  These words comfort me.  When people change the substance of the liturgy to fit their “personal style,” then other groups of people are abandoned.  When we stay true to the Word of God within the liturgy, God’s Law and Gospel is clearly presented for all.

I highly recommend Eyer’s book.  The Divine Service is a gift to God’s people from God Himself.  Thanks be to God for His grace and healing presence among us.

They Will See His Face by Richard Eyer – Preface

They Will See His Face by Richard Eyer – Chapters 1 and 2

 
They Will See His Face by Richard Eyer – Chapter 3

They Will See His Face by Richard Eyer – Chapters 4 and 5

Book: They Will See His Face – Part 4, Chapters 4-5

Kristi writes:

Eyer spends Chapter 4 sharing some wisdom regarding depression and the healing Word of God.

He identifies the difference between moments of depression and clinical depression.  I will not go into detail here lest I lead you astray with my minimal knowledge of the subject.  Know this: depression is not easily explained away.  Healing from depression must come from outside ourselves.  We, of our own accord, cannot walk away from depression or escape its claws.  The liturgy gives voice to our depression, expressing our grief and sorrow.  In the same way, the liturgy also brings healing.  The blessed and comforting Word of God is spoken in its truth and purity to our hurting souls.  The Holy Spirit works faith in us and shows us that Christ brings healing.

No matter how depressed or low I might feel, I have the solid Word of God that reminds me I am God’s child.  Whether or not I feel like being in church, I know that God’s Word is there FOR ME.  When I doubt whether God loves me, I know with 100% certainty that He does.  He tells me so in His Word, and He gives me the sacraments as tangible proof of His love.  When my feelings cause me to doubt God’s love, I cling to His Word and can be confident that He knows me.  What a blessed comfort.

Chapter 5 focuses on grief and the peace that only God gives.  Death is a reality.  I’ve been to numerous funerals, and it’s not easy to say good-bye to those we love.  However, for those who die in faith, death is not a permanent good-bye.  Rather, we can rejoice in the promise of a blessed reunion in heaven.  I am given the peace of God that is spoken at the funeral of a loved one.  The funeral service reminds me of the blessings given to all believers; that promise is sure and certain.

Eyer reminds all believers that we have life in Christ.  Knowing this, it is easier to face death.  There is a beginning after the end.  Christ conquered death, and now eternal life is ours.  Alleluia!

One of my favorite parts in the liturgy is the singing of the “Holy, holy, holy.”  I love that we are singing with “angels and archangels and all the company of heaven.”  I’m singing with loved ones who are enjoying the presence of Christ in its fullness.  As an organist, I play this portion of the liturgy quite triumphantly.  It’s a joining of heaven and earth – how glorious!  I can hardly wait to join that heavenly chorus.

They Will See His Face by Richard Eyer – Preface
They Will See His Face by Richard Eyer – Chapters 1 and 2

They Will See His Face by Richard Eyer – Chapter 3

Book Review from Jenny

 Jenny writes:

I'm reading Grace Upon Grace right now, by John Kleinig.

I find it a wonderfully peace-filled book.  It is easy to understand and so full of gems.  I'm reading through it slowly because of that.  Because of the gems.  Kleinig repeats himself often and I find that helpful.  His repetitious intent is, I'm sure, to drive his points home.  If the reader doesn't understand it on page 12, maybe he will on page 15. 

Some of those gems: 

receptive spirituality - "...it was Christ in the water and the Word of Baptism that worked in me faith and salvation.  And it was the faith of my parents and of the faithful people in my congregation that carried me along spiritually."  "Receptive spirituality embeds the life of the believer in the family of God and the Church."

poor in spirit- the Greek word for "poor" is also a term for beggar.  We are beggars before Christ, asking for what we do not have, and receiving the Holy Spirit.  "Yet that is only half the story.  We may be beggars, but, paradoxically, we also associate with the holy angels.  In the Kyrie,...we join the company of beggars who all appeal for mercy from Jesus as our advocate before the Father.  In the Gloria we join with the angels who stand in adoration and joy before God the Father as they glorify Him."

gradual demolition - I am being demolished, gradually and painfully , by God in order to receive all He has for me.  "He takes away everything that we have in order to give us everything He has in store for us."  "Our whole life as disciples is a process of receiving grace upon grace from God the Father."

meditation - This is what I am reading and digesting right now.  There is so much about meditation.  Kleinig starts by talking about Solomon and having a "hearing" heart.  And then there is Mary who "treasured these things up in her heart."  Right now Kleinig is teaching about the Psalms being the "best practical book on Christian meditation."  Most of the psalms are ones of lament.  We cry out against God along with the Psalmist.  But this crying out turns us right back to the One who can comfort.  Right back to receptive spirituality, back to grace upon grace.

Add this to your "I must read this soon" list.  I highly recommend it.

 Jenny

They Will See His Face – Part 3

Kristi writes:

Richard Eyer's book They Will See His Face continues to impress me.  Here are some thoughts on Chapter 3 - Liturgical Prayer and the Healing of Our Loneliness.

Eyer points out the difference between loneliness and solitude: Loneliness is painful; solitude is peaceful.  I've experienced loneliness and solitude.  Eyer gets the definition right on both accounts.  Loneliness is a place where you are turned in on yourself.  Solitude is a state that comes from outside yourself.

This leads me to wonder how so many people can be content with "worshiping" at home by themselves.  I am so tired of hearing the question, "Pastor, is it better to be fishing on Sunday morning, thinking about God; or being in church on Sunday morning, wishing I was fishing?"  Sin grabs hold and wants me to plot my own chart, do my own thing, and tell God how to run the show.  It's all about me.  This is sin, and I know it.  I am driven to my knees, begging God to forgive me of breaking the First Commandment yet again.

I like Eyer's thoughts regarding public and private prayer. They are two different things and should not be compared side-by-side in their purpose.  He reminds us that private prayer gives us the opportunity to share with God our deepest thoughts and desires.  Yet there is much to be gleaned by participating in public prayer.  In this way, our thoughts are not on ourselves only, but on the needs of the whole body of Christ.  Yes, sometimes it does get tiring repeating the phrase, "Hear our prayer."  However, this repetition points me to the object of my faith - Jesus Christ.  The focus is Christ, not me.  In the Divine Service, God gives good things to me immediately.  To that I can say, "Amen!"

Written prayer is a gift.  Written prayer comes from the Scriptures.  These are words that get us outside ourselves.  It is so easy for me to become focused on my needs, my wants, my sinful desires.  Written prayer reminds me of what God gives, purely out of His divine goodness and mercy; He gives me Himself.  Nothing could be better.

Finally, Eyer encourages a specific time and place for personal devotions.  This is a personal struggle.  It is quite easy for me to say that I'll get to my devotions later in the day.  I need to attend to schooling, cooking, laundry, fill in the blank.   When that happens, trouble is bound to occur.  By making time in the Word a priority, I receive Christ.

They Will See His Face – Part 2

Kristi writes:

I’m continuing to read the book titled They Will See His Face by Richard Eyer.  The topic is worship and healing.  Today I’ll share some thoughts on chapters 1 and 2.

Chapter 1:  The General Confession and the Healing of Our Guilt – Confession is a hard thing for me to do.  It means an acknowledgement that I have done something wrong, and I despise being wrong.  When I have sinned against Jerome or Joanna, it is quite difficult for me to swallow my pride and apologize.  It’s also humbling to hear the absolution that is given to me after I make that confession.  The Confession and Absolution in church works the same way.  I make a general confession, but so often I don’t want to reflect on those specific sins.  Then I miss out on the sweet Gospel of forgiveness.

Eyer points out the joy in hearing the absolution. We leave behind our guilt, and we move on to the worship of God with "angels and archangels and all the company off heaven.” We are free to leave our sins at the altar and walk with the host of believers.   Having been cleansed and absolved, I now receive receive the body and blood of my Lord with fellow believers.  That drives me to my knees.

Eyer goes on to share the joy that comes from private confession.  The Lutheran church has not mandated this but is becoming more vocal in sharing the relief that comes from such.  A sin that burdens us is like a cancer.  It continues to grow and fester and cause us more problems.  Jesus is the cure; He removes all of the cancer and renews us by His Word and Sacraments.

We truly are sick with sin.  Eyer writes: In private Confession and Absolution the hand of God rests on us more specifically as a healing presence when the pastor makes the sign of the cross on us and assures us that our sins are forgiven… Confession, also the work of the Holy Spirit within us, is the surgery God performs that removes the cancerous condition that kills.  Absolution, the work of Jesus Christ, is the new life that gives us hope and a future.  Jesus is the only one who can heal us.  I am now beginning to understand the connection between worship and healing.

Chapter 2: The Name of God and the Healing of Our Anxiety –  I could spend a lot of time worrying.  Even worse, though, is being anxious.  I think of worry as a short-term phrase.  If I am anxious, it continues to plague me.    When I turn in on myself, I see only problems that need fixing.  I cannot correct these issues by myself, though.  That only provides short-term relief.  Rather, I need fixing that comes from outside myself.  I am so sick with sin that I have no idea how to fix it.  I do know that God can provide healing of the mind.  He takes my burdens and grants me peace.

When I sit in the church pew (or on the organ bench), I pray that I remain focused on the gifts that are being given to me.  So often, though, I am tempted to let my mind drift to the activities yet to follow.  I start to think about the events yet to come and my involvement in them.  I forget my reason for coming to church.  This is where Eyer gives us the “password” to entering the presence of God.  He writes: God’s response to our drifting is dealt with in the liturgy of public worship, and He begins by giving us a password by which to enter into His presence.  That password, given us in the Invocation, is His holy name of “Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.”  God’s name slams the door on my sins and brings me back to the gifts that are right in front of me.  I have been forgiven of my sins and now I receive Christ’s body and blood.  I am now in the presence of God, where He desires to give me only good things.

When I enter the house of the Lord, I know that something special is happening.  The worldly values are not on display here.  God’s Word and Sacraments are here FOR ME.  I am comforted each week when I sit in the pew because I know what is coming.  There are no huge surprises or new teachings.  They are the truths that my forefathers were taught and passed along to their children.  The Church sings together – those seated beside me and those already singing praises in heaven.  It is in church that I know WHO I am and WHOSE I am.  That brings true joy and comfort.

They Will See His Face – Part 1

Kristi L. writes:

I’m starting to read a book titled They Will See His Face by Richard Eyer.  The topic is worship and healing.  I don’t know anything else about the book, other than it has been recommended to me by several people.  Last night I read the Preface and was blown away by all of the good theology in it. This was just the preface, people.
 

I love what Eyer says regarding one’s personal tastes about church.  He writes:

I may not like to wear a hat in the winter, but I know from experience as I grow older and lose more hair that I am likely to regret it later if I don’t.  I wear a hat not because I feel like it, but because it is a good thing for me to do.  In worship, some things may seem strange and even feel awkward until we come to understand the truth and benefit that result from doing things that way.  It is important to remember that worship is not what we like to do, but what God has chosen to do for our benefit.  Worship is primarily God’s action in our lives through Word and Sacraments and only secondarily our action in response to that as prayer, praise, and thanksgiving.  (pages 8-9)

In our sinful nature, we think that worship should be what we give to God, rather than what He receive what He gives to us.  Formal worship also helps us to see that something special is happening here; the world would have everything be casual and laid back.  I love formal worship; it helps me stay focused on the Word and all that the Lord is giving to me.

Eyer also writes beautifully on the reasons we attend church.  He states: 

There are times when the only thing that carries my tired body from bed to pew is the thought of seeing friends and the social interaction that the fellowship of the congregation provides.  But I am also aware that when I am focused on friends or the expectation of finding the church a friendly place to be, I am not as focused on God as I need to be and I miss the thing needed most. (page 11)  

I have been guilty of this very thing so many times.  And then, while sitting in the pews, admiring the neighbor’s new clothing or hairstyle, I realize my sin.  I’m here to receive Christ’s blessings, not fulfill a social obligation. 

I’d love to have a conversation with you regarding this book.  I’ve only gotten as far as the Preface, and I’m eager to delve into more of it.  The book is quite inexpensive.  

You can order one through Amazon (new) or (used).  I’m hoping that your pastor would also have this book on his shelf, and he’d be delighted to share it with you.  Will you join me and read They Will See His Face?  It only has 119 pages.  Let’s read some good theology together.

Kristi

Read A Good Book Lately?

Kristi L. writes:

I’m always looking for a good book or two to read. Not that I have tons of leisure time, but it’s nice to have a book or two on hand when those rare moments appear.

Would you, ladies, please share some good suggestions? I’m thinking of several categories: best sellers, fiction, nonfiction, classical, biography, theology.

He Remembers the Barren

Kristi L. writes:

Katie Schuermann – a dear friend of mine – has written and published a book. It is entitled He Remembers the Barren and is published by Lutheran Legacy. I have read the book and am ordering more copies to share with others. The subject of barrenness has long been a dark topic for women and married couples. Katie has brought the subject to light and addressed it beautifully. She talks about the issue of control in one’s fertility, as well as the decisions to be made when barren, and also reminds the reader of the blessings God has already given.

Dear friends, If you know someone who is barren, this book will be a source of encouragement and comfort to her. Katie’s book shares stories of women who struggle with barrenness and how God still cares for her. Also, what do you say to someone who is barren? This book will help you comfort your loved one. Your pastor will appreciate this book as a resource for barren couples, to whom he gives counsel. Your OB/GYN will benefit from reading this book as well, helping the barren woman to rejoice in the blessings already given to her. You can order a copy of the book here - http://heremembersthebarren.com/book/

Katie is also the administrator of the website He Remembers the Barren, and I am privileged to be one of the web-hosts with Katie. This site is for the barren woman. Please consider sharing this website with your loved ones. http://heremembersthebarren.com/

Katie will also be doing a book tour this fall. You can find out more about Caring for the Barren Woman here - http://www.katieschuermann.com/Events/Entries/2011/9/8_Illinois_Book_Tour.html

If you know of people in those areas who might benefit from hearing Katie and Rebecca, please encourage them to attend. Katie is also in the process of organizing a similar tour for parts of Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, and South Dakota in early November, and I’ll be joining her on that tour.

Most of all, I would beg your prayers for the barren woman. She hurts deeply and carries a heavy burden. May she receive comfort from Jesus Christ, her Lord and Savior.

Preserving a Christian Home

I wanted to share a wonderful paper with you all by Dorothy (Dort) Preus on how to preserve a Christian family. Dorothy is married to Rev. Rolf Preus. They have 12 children.

You can read it HERE.

An excerpt:

The reality is the world is cursed against man and it is full of sin. The reality is our children are sinners. The reality is that parents are sinners. The reality is that women marry sinful men and that men marry sinful women. Comfort is the reality that God forgives us all our sins for Christ's sake. We can cling to the cross and praise God for his love and mercy in the death of His dear Son and our precious Savior. We can’t do anything right! But God looks at us through Jesus and is well pleased. We humbly look to our Heavenly Father through our brother and His dear Son Jesus knowing He loves us as a loving Father. The reality is our children will sooner or later see us as sinners. In preserving the Christian family for Jesus’ sake, we must teach them that we live under God's grace. It is by God’s grace we are saints who are washed in the blood of the Lamb in Holy Baptism. We must teach our children to treasure the Bible, the historic liturgies, the Catechism, the hymns that confess and comfort, and to boldly pray to our heavenly Father in order to preserve the Christian family. In doing this we preserve our children from their flesh, the devil, and the world.

Perfection: Real or a figment of my imagination?

Jenny S. writes:

I bought a book for myself a while back. The title caught my eye and I said, “Yes! That’s for me!” It’s called Life’s Too Short to Fold Fitted Sheets: Your Ultimate Guide to Domestic Liberation, by Lisa Quinn.

It turned out to be more than I expected. It’s full of great little tips and funny stories, but it’s also a thinker because it challenges perfection. Feminist and editor Helen Gurley Brown stated that women could do it all and have it all. Then Martha Stewart stepped in, adding crafting to the list of things the perfect woman does. Lisa, the author, says,

“What was once this ideal of empowerment and creativity for women quickly morphed into an evil, unrealistic standard for us all….Women everywhere are racing around, hot-gluing and glittering like drunk monkeys.”

Now if that doesn’t add a giggle to your day, you need to go back and reread! She also says,

“The whole idea of perfectionism if fundamentally flawed. Perfection doesn’t even exist. It’s a purely mental, alienating, and unnatural state. It just causes judgment and makes people feel bad, so stop it.”

And this got me to thinking about whether or not I expect perfection of myself. I never considered myself a perfectionist because I’m not a Martha addict. My house is totally cluttered. I’m behind in my scrapbooking. I hate to iron. So how can I possibly be a perfectionist? But I am. I’m a perfectionist because I think it all has to be done perfectly. I have this idea that all horizontal spaces need to be clutter free; that all laundry must be done, folded, ironed and put away on the same day; that photos should be printed, cropped, scrapped and beautiful within one week of taking them; that I need to provide homemade food and snacks for my kids every single day; that if I drop the ball on any number of these or other duties, it means I’m losing my control of being a good housewife.

Those kind of ideas are embedded deep in my subconscious. I know they are because when I think really hard about where my feelings of guilt come from as far as my success at home goes, lack of perfection is what I come up with. And I can’t possibly be alone in this one. Here’s another idea from Lisa, the author.

“The media bombards us with images of Supermom: this chic Amazon in Jimmy Choos, a baby in one arm, a frying pan full of money in the other."

I don’t know what Jimmy Choos are but I’m sure I can’t afford them. Other than that, she makes a good point. How can we not struggle with guilt feelings over our success at home when we are bombarded with evil lies? More from Lisa:

“Back when I was in the depths of my own perfectionism, people would marvel at my efficiency and attention to detail. That’s the thing about this type of obsessive behavior: you build a façade of productivity. I appeared to have it all together. For years, I found comfort in the image that I had created for myself: this never-fail, every-ready mom. HOW COULD THAT BE WRONG? What people couldn’t see was that I was doing it for all the wrong reasons, and I was starting to come apart at the seams.”

Lisa’s “wrong reasons” were other moms. She was trying to live up her preconceived ideas of their expectations. It had become a competition. But I think we just end up competing with ourselves.

So are the other ladies really as put together as they seem? Are they as perfect as we think they are? Or are they feeling the same way Lisa was?

“Be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect.” Jesus has fulfilled this for us! Hallelujah! So my need to be perfect is not a realistic need. I can’t be perfect. I don’t HAVE to be perfect. Jesus is perfection for me. I say it again, hallelujah! I’m free!

How about you? What are some of the perfect ideals you have stuck in your craw? The ones that keep coming up to haunt and taunt you? Do you find that dwelling on them makes you feel anxious or depressed? It’s common. Prayers of confession and thanksgiving help me. What helps you pull out of that?

-Jenny

Kristi: What I'm Reading

Harold Senkbeil’s book Dying to Live

All of our discussion on prayer and the amount of prayer and how to pray has prompted me to re-read Senkbeil’s section on private prayer. Allow me to share several excerpts from the book...

With Heart and Mouth – These are the two focal points of prayer. We would do well to keep our mouths linked with our hearts when we pray; private prayer works best when it is oral prayer... While the silent meditation of our heart is just as pleasing to God as the words of our mouth, we would do well to seek out places for private prayer where we can speak out loud... We’re not pure spirits, after all; God has given us bodies as well as souls. And so when we as the children of God come to our Father in heaven it’s natural that we form our words with our lips as well as our hearts... Not only is it the most natural way for us to say what’s on our heart, but it is also the natural way for our hearts to listen to the Word of God.

I prayed aloud as a child as my parents taught me the words and rhythm of prayer. Somewhere along the way I abandoned that practice and became a silent pray-er. Why? I have no idea. Singing the word of God is one way to hear the Word of God, as well as pray it.

Dr. Senkbeil writes these words regarding song. When we’re alone at prayer singing reminds us that we are not really alone. The unseen fellowship of the entire church is with us in that prayer; we hear it in the church’s song placed on our lips to sing. In either public or private, singing adds a third dimension to prayer. The mouth and the heart are involved in all prayer. But in singing, the whole body gets to join in; the prayers and praises originating from the heart reverberate through muscle, bone, and cartilage.

What should I use to help form my prayer life? I’ve seen some wonderful suggestions from our ladies. Which one to choose?

Hear Dr. Senkbeil once more. This is where prayer books come in handy. They provide a framework for prayer that can see us through the thick and thin of our spiritual lives. The idea of using a prayer book might seem artificial at first but there’s a lot of wisdom in it. No one would seriously think about taking a trip through unknown territory without consulting a map. Why shouldn’t we consult a spiritual guide when we set out to pray? Please don’t be concerned that the use of “set prayers” will stifle the prayers of your heart. Properly used, you’ll find that prayer books actually prompt the heart to greater depth of prayer.

Anyone who wants to get in shape physically gets set for a regimen. Physical conditioning demands discipline; muscles must be exercised in order to gain tone and strength. But muscles don’t exercise themselves; bodies would rather sit than get up to run or life weights. You know the old saying: “No pain, no gain.” Why should it be any different with our spirits than with our bodies?

He goes on to suggest the Prayer Office. He also reminds the reader that Jesus is ALWAYS praying for us. That is probably my greatest comfort as I struggle with prayer.

Ladies, you encourage me. Just yesterday I began my spring training regimen for my own physical health. I did some exercising. Perhaps this is a good time for me to also work on my spiritual health.

What I'm Reading: Kristi

Kristi writes:

I just finished reading the book Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo. Todd’s son had a near-death experience and over the course of several years, the boy reveals things he saw, heard, and experienced while in heaven. The boy is able to share things that neither parent had given him as previous information. It’s an interesting read. Of course, there’s the regular decision theology woven into it. Thankfully, you’re not asked to make the altar call. I don’t know what this boy really saw. Throughout the book, the parents ask their son to look at various drawings and paintings of Jesus, wondering if that’s what Jesus looked like. In the end, there is one painting that captures who the boy says that Jesus looks like. After reading it, I do wonder what heaven really will look like.

Have you read the book? What do you think of it?