E-Minute by Allen Bridgman

August 5, 2007

When I was asked to talk about what the church means to me, the first thing that came to my mind was about how much my prayer life has grown since I began attending here. Before I came to this church back in 1994, I had read some books about prayer. But as one might guess, reading instead of doing those ideas, did not make much of an impact on my prayer life at that time. Listening to and participating in the Joys and Concerns times in our services, since that time, however, has made real many of the sayings of a particular prayer book and so much more!  My prayer life has become very multi-dimensional to say the least because of our Joys and Concerns time!

I would like to share some of these quotes from the prayer book I referred to above in hopes of putting some words to and giving inspiration to some or all of you experiencing the Joys and Concerns time here at Crescent Hill Presbyterian Church. The book is called Prayer Therapy, written by Keith McClellan. There are more quotes in this book, but I chose the ones most relevant to my growth here at CHPC due to time constraints. If anyone is interested in seeing the rest, let me know!

1) Prayer begins in a restless heart. Listen to its stirring.

2) Prayer is a yearning for one’s true home. Follow its lead.

3) Don’t worry about words or formulas. Prayer is a listening.

4) Prayer has many methods. Do it your own way.

5) Pray always, but schedule special times too. The spirit like the body, needs formal exercise too.

6) Prayers can be short because love needs few words.

7) If you need something, pray for it. God desires your good.

8) Remember: your work and your struggles are not unholy. Pray and God will come to you just as you are.

9) When your praying becomes dry and routine, keep at it. Parched earth welcomes the rain.

10) Bring your anger to prayer. Hot metal can be molded.

11) When God seems far away, keep praying. Light can be blinding.

12) When you sin and continue to fail, pray anyway. God keeps on loving you.

13) If for any reason, you cannot pray, relax. The desire to pray is already a prayer.

14) When prayer invites you to take risks, have courage. God will uphold you.

15) When you feel sad or sorry, weep. Tears are a prayer of the heart.

16) If you don’t like somebody, pray for them. Prayer reveals the hidden God.

17) When you receive bad news, take heart. Praying uncovers the spark in the cinders.

18) When sickness, age, pain or worry steals your concentration, relax.  God is an understanding friend.

19) If you begin to feel advanced in the ways of prayer, think again.  God’s life runs deeper than your feelings or experiences.

20) If prayer makes you passive and indifferent, it isn’t prayer. True prayer will bear fruit in care and service.

21) When life is cruel and unjust, keep praying. God is the victim, not the cause.

22) Touch the joys and troubles of your friends and neighbors. Shared life is a shared prayer.

23) Embrace the whole world in your prayer. Peace depends on it.

24) To pray is to breathe. Do it deeply and you will be filled with life!

Thank you to God for putting so many people in my path who have attended here in the past and present to share their prayer life with me.