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  A Prayer Diary

Survivor prayer~

10/28/2011

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What about "OUTPRAY"?
     I thought long and hard before posting the following on my www.acottagebythesea.net blog, but finally decided that my comments were inclusive enough for the intention of the blog. I repeat it here, but first, a few specific thoughts for prayer diary readers.

     As you know. I grapple with all possible prayer issues, kinds of prayer situations, etc., etc.. I’m not averse to praying for particular things (best word I can come up with), things that seem too mundane for a God who is beyond human understanding, as well as things that might resonate with a personal God. When I am stressed I pray in simple, to-the-point ways. At other times I can be rather intellectual about it all, trying to find just the right words. No question, prayer isn’t simple, nor can it be summed up in one succinct  definition.

     As a person who takes prayer seriously, the exclusiveness of the situation in the Survivor vignette continues to offend me; but it also it shows me the log in my own eye, and that has got to be a good thing. The Survivor scene brings to mind how throughout history, and that includes now, Christians have adopted privilege and favored status for their own selfish benefits. Sometimes it is just inconvenient to believe that everyone is a child of God! But that’s Just what “the Lord is requiring of us’ in the twenty-first century.

The cottage by the sea post~
      Having watched all twenty-three seasons of Survivor, I have experienced the many twists and turns the game has taken over the last eleven or so years.  Nothing really surprises me,  but I was taken aback the other night when one of the teams gathered in a circle and asked Jesus to help them win the challenge; then when it was over, they thanked God for being on their side.  Here was the “just war” theory in action, along with all the exclusiveness that accompanies it.

        I trust that the scene might be offensive to many people of faith, be they Christian, Jew, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, agnostic…; in fact to all of us sitting in the mystery of faith. I can understand individuals privately praying for guidance and wisdom to do their best; but I can’t get my head around the idea of a God who could possibly care who wins Survivor South Pacific. And what about the woman, who later  “on camera”, but not to the group, admitted she didn’t believe in the prayer and felt uncomfortable being part of the scene, but because of the dynamics of the game, chose to remain silent?  

      I could go on and on but I won’t. This sure gets in the way of silence, solitude and simplicity.

What does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God?  Micah 6:8


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Living through the lens of gratitude~

10/25/2011

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I’m taking four days of solitude after a month and a half of intense activity, which included my trip to Scotland, being with Mom during her last eight days, the two weeks leading up to the memorial service, and then the busyness of last weekend.

     I’m quite sure that everyone present on Saturday left the service knowing deep in their hearts that gratitude guided Mom’s life. Gratitude was the catalyst for how she led her life. Through the lens of gratitude Mom honestly and thoroughly examined and responded to every situation in her life, both the commonplace and eventful; and then she would end with gratitude for how God had worked for the good. The important point here is that Mom’s gratitude was not for any particular outcome, but for the very fact, which for Mom was faith and knowing, that God was always there with her in both the good times and the tough ones. 


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Janet Ross Eberman 1910-2011

10/25/2011

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Mom on her 101st birthday.
My mom’s memorial service was on Saturday. We celebrated the life of this fabulous woman, who lived every one of her 101 years to the fullest, full of grace, love and gratitude.


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Is there anyone up there?

10/17/2011

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This story from Celtic Daily Prayer has remained with me long after I first read it.  I offer it without comment.

       The story is told of a man who tripped and fell off a cliff. Clutching at the grasses on the edge of the cliff he found himself for a moment or two able to hang on and delay his fall.

     ‘Is there anyone up there?’ he cried out desperately. ‘Yes,’ came the reply, but no further response. ‘Who are you? Why don’t you help me?’ shouted the man. ‘I’m God,’ said the Voice, ‘and I will help you. But you must do exactly as I say.’ ‘OK,” whispered the man, ’what have I to do?’ ‘First, let go!’ ‘is there anybody else up there?’ called out the man.


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I believe~ Day 8

10/15/2011

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I BELIEVE in the Eternal Good Will; that there is a Spirit in this universe which prompts, inspires and sustains men who make life an adventure in brotherhood; and I trust that Spirit.

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I believe~ Day 7

10/14/2011

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 Mom wanted the best for everyone, but she never thought that we all needed the same particulars for happiness and success. She had a knack for responding in just the right way to someone in need. I can’t begin to count the number of people who have told me stories of something special Mom said or did for them that made them feel happy and successful.

 

I believe that the happiness and success of my neighbor are as important as my own. Therefore, I will seek in behalf of others the same things that I see and ask for myself.


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I believe~ Day 6

10/13/2011

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I BELIEVE that I have more defects in manner, speech, disposition and temperament than I can detect or am willing to admit. Therefore it ill becomes me to be too sharp a critic of my fellows.

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I believe~ Day 5

10/11/2011

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Mom didn’t tell jokes nor did she entertain or take center stage. Instead, her smile would put everyone else in the best lime light. She was serious but never took herself too seriously. Her humor was in her smile

I BELIEVE that humor is one of the major gifts of God. I hope for my sake that my neighbor possesses it; I pray for his sake that I may have enough of it to laugh at myself.


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I believe~ Day 4

10/10/2011

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Everyone, and I mean everyone, has only positive things to say about my mom. You might think that would be hard to live up to, but you see, I’m not trying to live up to my mother; she would never have wanted that. That was her gift to me.
       Mom was humble. She knew she wasn’t always open-minded, but with the help of God, she believed that she could she come close at times. And she believed in that possibility for everyone. God's grace was available for all. The message of that possibility was her gift to everyone who knew her.

I BELIEVE that I see some truths which my neighbor may not see, and to which I must be true. I believe equally that my neighbor sees some truth which I may not see, so I must be not only open-minded, but sympathetic—because I want to know his truth, too.



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I believe~ Day 3

10/9/2011

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I BELIEVE in the good-will of my neighbor; I believe that he is trying, according to his lights, as I am trying according to mine, to do what is right and good, even when we do not agree.
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