prayer – Page 11 – 300 words a day

Way to listen

(Paul Merrill writes here every First Friday.) “My heart has heard you say, ‘Come and talk with me.’ And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.’ ” (Psalm 20:7) That’s a great way to start a day. Or end a day. David, the guy who wrote those words, preceded those thoughts by saying, “Hear me […]

by Jon Swanson

Nonsensical peace

God gives peace at moments that make no sense. At times when by every right, everything emotionally should be cascading in, there can be peace. Not a denial, but an acknowledgment that yes, indeed, there is cancer, but God has a clue. Not a denial but an acknowledgment that yes, that casket holds the body […]

by Jon Swanson

If it may please you.

Yesterday morning I sent a sentence from the Bible to a friend. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. It’s from Psalm 19. a prayer that David wrote out. I sent it to someone who was speaking somewhere […]

by Jon Swanson

too many words about

You know what I’d love to give you? Some silence. I’d love to give you some time to stop and think and be still. I’d love to give me that, too. You are probably better than I am at stopping. Me? When I sit down to be still, it allows me to remember the things […]

by Jon Swanson

Sometimes you talk for an audience.

Nancy and I talk quite a bit. We walk and talk. We text. We tweet. We email. Sometimes, when we are out for supper, we probably look like the couples who never talk. We eat. We listen. We look sideways at the people who are talking loudly at adjacent tables. We feel no need to […]