Tag Archives: prayer

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on September 9, 2015
Tags: , prayer   

Prayer of Anguish — Rev. David J. Schreffler

 

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September 9, 2015

And Jesus said to them, “You will all become deserters; for it is written,
‘I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep will be scattered.’
But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” Peter said to him, “Even though all become deserters, I will not.” Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, this day, this very night, before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.” But he said vehemently, “Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And all of them said the same. And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. He said, “Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want.” He came and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep awake one hour? Keep awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Mark 14:27-31, 35-38

“It is clear from many of His sayings that Our Lord had long foreseen His death. Does not every movement in the Passion write large some common element in the sufferings of our race? First, the prayer of anguish; not granted. Then He turns to His friends. They are asleep–as ours, or we, are so often, or busy, or away, or preoccupied. Then He faces the Church; the very Church that He brought into existence. It condemns Him.” C.S. Lewis (1898 – 1963) Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer, “For All The Saints” volume II (p. 805, 806)

The prayer of anguish is a prayer we all have prayed, at least one time in our lives. I find it funny that most people, when confronted with a life or death situation, find themselves praying to G*d — even if prayer is not a part of their daily existence. The old saying goes “There are no atheists in fox holes”. When our lives are flashing in front of our eyes, prayers are being muttered from our lips — as if almost instinctual. Wouldn’t it be great if prayer became more of daily routine and less of a “my G*d I might die today” response. Have you prayed today?

Pastor Dave

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on September 4, 2015
Tags: , , prayer   

“Is There Anybody Out There?” — Rev. David J. Schreffler

 

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September 4, 2015

“Then they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling and those who were buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves; and he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple.   He was teaching and saying, “Is it not written,
‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’?” Mark 11:15-17

“Prayers are not always — in the crude, factual sense of the word — “granted”. This is not because prayer is a weaker kind of causality, but because it is a stronger kind. When it “works” at all it works unlimited by space and time. That is why G*d has retained a discretionary power of granting or refusing it; except on that condition prayer would destroy us.” C.S. Lewis (1898 – 1963) G*d In the Dock “For All The Saints” volume II (p. 489)

Let it be said, Prayer is so hard. Period, end of statement. How easy is it for you to talk to yourself? Some are good at it, others think only crazy people talk to themselves. But, did you ever realize that prayer, from the outsiders point of view, is just you talking to yourself.

Has this ever happened to you: you are alone with someone in an elevator, and they say something like “Hey, how’s it going?” You do not know this person – never have seen them before – and, wondering why they are talking to you, you respond “I’m fine. How are you?” They look at you strangely, and turn their head to reveal they have one of those “blue tooth devices” in their ear for their phone, revealing that they are talking on the phone, not talking to you. There was a time, not so long ago, when you saw someone walking down the street talking to themselves you thought the person may need some “help”. Now, we just ignore them because most likely they are talking on a device.

Remember, when you pray you are not “talking to yourself” — you are talking to the ever present G*d. And you will find that your prayer life goes through periods of abundance, and periods of lacking. But, the more you pray, the more people may wonder what you are doing. It may give you the opportunity to talk to them about prayer….

Pastor Dave