PRAYER LIST
Each week as I preview the bulletin and then on Sunday mornings during the prayer concerns, I look at the long list of people requesting prayers.
I wonder at times what good my prayers do. I don’t pretend to understand the power and effect of prayer. Its workings remain a mystery to me. I have however, come to understand that there are two types of prayer – the prayers of the lips and the prayers of the hands.
Prayers of the hands are when we help meet the daily needs of those that are ill or going through treatment of some sort so they can focus their energies on getting well and recovering. These acts of kindness are prayers of action, not mere words.
I don’t know the effect my prayers have on the lives of people listed weekly at church. Perhaps it is the collective power of our congregational ‘Pastoral Prayer’ that brings healing, if not to the body, then to the soul.
I do know that the weekly list does have an effect on me when I am open to its call. Sometimes it’s a simple prod to offer a ride to church, make a phone call, make a casserole or mail a card.
One day my name will be on that list. Which type of prayer will be most meaningful to me then?

Pastor Lynette

On praying to God and wondering when or if there will be a response:
Pastor David Jeremiah, Shadow Mountain Community Church, El Cajon, CA.
(Submitted by Lauralee Grabe)

When the prayer request is wrong — God says “no”.
If the timing is wrong — the answer is slow. –
If you need something to fix — God will say “grow”.
If your prayer request is good — God will say “Go”.

Pray every day — if you ask not, there will be no response.
God knows better than you do.

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Always pray to have:
Eyes that see the best in people.
A heart that forgives the worst.
A mind that forgets the bad,
And a soul that never loses faith in God.