Tag Archives: prayer

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on May 25, 2015
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Worth Troubling About — Rev. David J. Schreffler

May 25, 2015

“Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father’s will. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.” Matthew 10:28 – 30

“So long as we are hated, we are worth troubling about. The church that would give only a moral tone to secular movements can die of its own inanition. If the pagan forces of the world left us untouched, if they did not calumniate (defame) us, seek to destroy us, set up rival claimants to the soul, it would mean that we would have lost our influence, that our touch was gone, our stars did no longer shine.” Fulton J. Sheen (1895 – 1979) “For All The Saints” volume IV (p. 27-27)

Fulton J. Sheen – Venerable Fulton John Sheen (born Peter John Sheen, May 8, 1895 – December 9, 1979) was an American bishop (later archbishop) of the Roman Catholic Church known for his preaching and especially his work on television and radio. “So long as we are hated, we are worth troubling about.” Fulton Sheen goes on to say “The Church can still make the evil forces of the world angry.” One way that we know that we are making a difference in spreading the Gospel of Jesus is how much evil tries to slow us down if not try to entirely knock us off course. Jesus is teaching his disciples the fact that being people of “the way” is not going to be easy sailing. And yet, the Father does not forsake us or forget about us. Now that does not mean that in the midst of the storms of our lives we may feel as if we are sailing all alone. But Christ is always with us – and when evil forces step forward to try to sink us, we have the pleasure of knowing that Christ has won the battle already.

Recently my wife and I experienced the presence of evil in the midst of a family emergency. The effect and the presence of evil was so noticeable we knew what was facing us in the process of trying to seek help for this family member. But as we persevered, we found that evil was defeated through the presence of peace, prayer, and love. Evil does not like peace, prayer and love. Be an agent of peace, prayer and love today and make evil angry.

Pastor Dave

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on May 8, 2015
Tags: prayer   

Prayer – Rev. David J. Schreffler

May 8, 2015 – “P” is for Prayer

The Lutheran Book of Prayer is a great resource for any Lutheran, if not anyone looking for assistance with their prayer life. Here is a quote from the opening pages of the newest edition of the LBP:

“…prayers of Christians are not futile gestures or mere pious exercises but mighty means by which we call upon G*d for help and strength for the various needs of faith and life. Many Christians, when meditating on the situation in which they are placed, desire to have some thoughts, words and phrases suggested in which their inmost longing can become definite and articulate.”

Prayers come in many different types. There are prayers for others, or intercessory prayers. There are prayers of Thanksgiving, thanking G*d for the many blessings we or others have received. There are prayers for healing – prayers for guidance – prayers for understanding – prayers used in worship – prayers that open or close meetings, dinners, and special events. There are so many prayers, written, spoken, and prayed in our lives we could not keep them in a book that we can carry around. And yet there are prayer books that exist that we can carry around. The joke has been told that if you ask a Lutheran to say a prayer, you need to give them long enough to write it out. We are good at praying to ourselves, and not so good at saying prayers at congregational dinners. All prayer takes practice, patience, persistence, and takes perseverance. Your prayer life will blossom the more you pray, and the more you sit listening for G*d to answer your prayers.

We need to be careful that our prayers do not become “To Do” lists for G*d – or become demands for G*d. I believe that all prayer needs to begin with this statement: “Heavenly Father thank you for the blessings you have heaped upon us…” No matter if you are praying for healing, for help with spiritual warfare, or praying for guidance and understanding, we need to be thankful for all that G*d has blessed us.

Pastor Dave