Hello friends and family.  My prayer for you this week has been for health, and that we all grow in our relationship with the Lord such that we can see His goodness even when our circumstances tempt us to question.

I am happy to report that Ruth did not have the virus and is doing much better now.  Edith is doing fine and plans to be back at work on Monday.  Pris and Kimi are still struggling but showing signs of improvement.  I apparently developed bronchitis but have medication now and seem to be improving.  From what I could gather, Don is also getting better.

Anita became ill with Covid-19 last Tuesday and has been in the hospital.  She was hoping to go home today when I spoke to her.  She sounded good.  Cathy’s x-mother-in-law has passed away and she is asking that we pray for the Kilgore family.

We emphasize prayer a lot here.  Each week I type up the requests that come out of our Sunday services so that we can remember them throughout the week.  We believe in prayer.  We believe we have a God who can and does answer prayer.  But is that all prayer is?  What are we to think when the prayers seem to go unanswered?  I’m sure I’m not the only one who has asked at some point in his journey why we pray at all.  God is sovereign and is going to do what He is going to do.

What is prayer really?  Is it simply the means by which we express our wish list for God, or is it meant to be something more?  It will always have the aspect of supplication, since we are in communication with the Creator of all things, infinitely greater than ourselves.  Thus it will also involve worship and submission to His will.  But I haven’t mentioned the most wonders characteristic of prayer.  It is an open door to a relationship with this almighty being who greatly desires that we enter in.  He knows us, loves us anyway, and wants us to know Him; truly know Him.

During this time of trouble, I imagine many of us have put in more prayer time than we might have in happier days, but has it been quality time?  Have we left space amidst our cries of pain to hear the still small voice speaking to us?  Are we so focused on our troubles that we cannot hear the very words that would comfort and bring healing?

we know that Jesus Himself spent a lot of time in prayer.  On one such occasion, His disciples asked that He teach them how to pray.  His answer is notable for its brevity.  We know from examples of Jesus’ own prayers as well as those of his followers recorded elsewhere in scripture that Jesus is not setting down a liturgy to be repeated.  Rather He is describing the attitudes with which we approach God in prayer.  He then follows up with assurances that our Heavenly Father is ready and waiting for us to come to Him, and faithful to answer.  Our text will be from Luke 11:1-13.

I hope you can join us.  I’ll send out a reminder via text to the regular attendees with the dial-in number.  If you would like to be included, please contact us via the web site or on Facebook.  We will not be doing a live online session, but the message will be uploaded later.

Love y’all!

Larry