The tension was beginning to build for Jesus.  The Pharisees followed his every move, waiting to pounce in public. Jesus was becoming too popular with the people.  That always riles those who think they are in charge. To make matters worse, Jesus was getting away with...

The New Year, with its blank slate, is both intimidating and exhilarating.  This year I am borrowing one of my favorite prayers from Philippians as my compass.  I call it “The More of What Counts” prayer. 

And this is my prayer: 

that . . . love may abound more...

If I could only pray one prayer for the rest of my life, I would choose this prayer!

Search me . . . know my heart

Test me . . . know my anxious thoughts.

Point out anything . . . that offends you,

Lead me along the path of everlasting life.

Psalm 139:23-24, NLT

This prayer...

Can prayer make dreams come true? 

It depends on whose dreams they are!

I discovered this prayer when I was single for longer than my dream had provided.  I thought I had found my formula for making dreams come true. Just pray what I wanted and if my faith was big enough...

How do you decide what is best? 

Flip a coin?  Make a pro and con list?  By what “feels” best? Pray about it?

Of course we know the “right” answer is to pray about it.  But I have listened to many people who thought they were letting prayer direct them when they wer...

What prayers have shaped your life? 

How did you learn them? 

What happens when you pray them?

In the next months, I want to share ten prayers from scripture that have shaped my life as well as my understanding of what true prayer is.  They help me know how to pray and...

God,

Only you

are over all kingdoms and their leaders.

Only you

know every heart and motive.

Only you

can weave your will

using people and processes we protest.

We pray that you will again

use current complexities and divisions

in ways that surprise and humble us.

To be known a...