Our Father, who art in Heaven...

It seems like every time I turn around this week, I'm having a conversation with someone about the subject of prayer.  I even wrote a shortened version about this subject for our church newsletter this week.  I think I know why...

I'm a minister, so prayer is something that I do often, but I think that it's an area of my own life that I need to be more deliberate about. 

Our grade school kids will be learning about the life and calling of Samuel this week in Sunday School.  Hannah (Samuel's mother) was greatly troubled because she had no children.  What troubles you?  At what point do you turn to God for help in dealing with an issue?  I know for me personally, it's easy to ask a bunch of people--staff, friends, family--to pray for a situation, and then I forget to lift my need up to God myself!

Have you ever come to someone with a need or concern and received an "I'll pray about it" response?  Or have you ever promised someone that you would pray about something...then promptly forget to?  Imagine how life would be different if people said, "I'll pray about it," and they actually did.  Even better, when someone comes to you with a need, maybe instead of telling them that you will pray for them, maybe you need to stop right there and pray WITH them.  That's something that for some reason is uncomfortable for me to do, but I've started doing it, and I think it makes a difference. 

Here's why I think praying with others often is important...On Mondays, I'm a part of a great group of women who get together to pray in a group called Moms in Prayer.  I'm not a mom, but because I have a burden for the children in my life, they have welcomed me into their group.  It has been a wonderful way to start my week each week.  Yesterday, after praying for each of the children of the women in the group, they began to lift ME up in prayer asking God to equip and strengthen me and to give me wisdom in my ministry.  I was unbelievably humbled by their prayers...and it has connected me to those women in a very amazing way.  Rather than just telling me they were praying for me...they were actually praying for me right then and there.  Hearing those prayers was so encouraging and really made my day better for it. 


Because I'm single and have to take care of a lot of things in my life by myself, I tend to be TOO independent.  I tend to not to want to bother others with my problems, but that is something that I am trying to change.  I don't believe God intends me to live my Christian life on an island all by myself.  Yes, He is all that I need, and where I find the strength and courage to live my life, but as Christians, we are meant to be part of a community.  We share the most important thing in common and that binds us in way that nothing can.  Because of that, I need to invest in others and allow them to invest for me.  And I'm noticing that prayer is a huge part of that.

The Silly Duck Story

The Duck Church Parable

There is an old story about a church of ducks. Every week they would waddle to Sunday services, open the duck book, sing duck songs, and listen to the duck preacher expound on the meaning of being a duck.

One particular Sunday all of the ducks waddled in and the service began. Shortly after, the duck preacher opened the duck book and began to preach. This Sunday, however, the message was different. With a new determination and fire in his eyes, the duck preacher began to convey a new message.

“We are ducks!” he said with confidence.

“Amen!” said all of the ducks.

“We have waddled too long!” he continued. “We have wings! We can fly!” he shouted as all of the ducks joined together in a resounding “amen!” The service came alive as all of the ducks began to see their potential. “We have been confined to this mundane existence of waddling for far too long!” exclaimed the duck preacher. “We can spread our wings and fly!” The service continued with enthusiasm for over an hour as shouts of “amen” filled the duck church.

When the duck preacher concluded the service, the congregation of ducks applauded and closed their duck books. Then they all waddled home.


"Quack!  Quack!"  Isn't it funny how God chooses to work things in our lives.  Kyle brought me that silly duck story on Sunday morning and asked me if I could incorporate it into my Children's sermon.  Although it was silly and made the kids laugh, it was also a good reminder to everyone about how we view church sometimes.  We come in, sit down, and say our "Amens!"  We like (or don't like) the music.  We laugh at the cute children's sermon.  We like the sermon and think that the pastor did a good job, but do we allow God to speak to us and mold our lives based on His Word spoken to us through every aspect of the service. 

I went home after church, and as is my routine, changed out of my "Sunday morning clothes" and into my "hang out around the house clothes".  I started to laugh, because the clothes I pulled out of the top of my drawer to change into had...you guessed it...DUCKS on them!  And then I realized how quickly I had already forgotten about the message and time of worship I had just been a part of.  Like those silly ducks who were told they could fly and then waddled home, it is so easy to go back and settle into our mediocre routines. 

John 10:10 tells us that "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."  Life...but not just life...life ABUNDANTLY!  This doesn't mean a life of fame or fortune or easy living, but a life that is fulfilling because we are becoming more like Jesus.  We can only do this by continuing to allow God to mold and shape and change us.

So, the question is...Are you a silly duck?