tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692156614069531903.post7889107184152508076..comments2024-03-22T04:39:49.538-07:00Comments on Stone Soup for Five: Book Club { The Hidden Life of Prayer } Week 2Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692156614069531903.post-54571443916733290462019-02-23T19:37:22.386-08:002019-02-23T19:37:22.386-08:00I have always struggled with worshiping God - not ...I have always struggled with worshiping God - not wanting to be too limited, too repetitive or not awestruck enough. I have never been short on gratitude though! How liberating to discover my gratitude is worship!mama johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06819636137249108943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692156614069531903.post-12858624475440533892019-02-20T09:43:42.746-08:002019-02-20T09:43:42.746-08:00Praise God for that wonderful insight He showed yo...Praise God for that wonderful insight He showed you! You are exactly right. It is so easy to focus on what irritates us and not on love! No wonder John stressed that so much in 1 John!Karihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03085814755648021148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692156614069531903.post-66982968552897453462019-02-20T09:42:04.766-08:002019-02-20T09:42:04.766-08:00I love the idea of starting a new section for grat...I love the idea of starting a new section for gratitude and mercies! So, so good!Karihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03085814755648021148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692156614069531903.post-57036322740112003162019-02-20T09:41:31.755-08:002019-02-20T09:41:31.755-08:00I love LOVE that first quote "how rare it is ...I love LOVE that first quote "how rare it is to find a soul quiet enough to hear God speak!" I need to read that every day!Karihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03085814755648021148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692156614069531903.post-56812213786788447622019-02-20T09:40:41.284-08:002019-02-20T09:40:41.284-08:00Wow. So much truth here. I, too, never prayed on...Wow. So much truth here. I, too, never prayed on my knees, and over the last couple of years (it started when we entered into a big trial) I've prayed more and more on my knees too. It definitely helps me remember what I'm doing and stay more focused. Thank you so much for sharing!Karihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03085814755648021148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692156614069531903.post-81908238551825687422019-02-20T09:35:51.211-08:002019-02-20T09:35:51.211-08:00Yes! Me too!Yes! Me too!Karihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03085814755648021148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692156614069531903.post-37894959024492113392019-02-19T14:33:12.589-08:002019-02-19T14:33:12.589-08:00Thank you to Kari and all those who commented. Th...Thank you to Kari and all those who commented. This has been a great session with a lot to think about. Most of us have an idea about what our prayers should be and we try to conform to that ideal, but honesty in prayer requires a whole different thought process. I have noticed that my work adds a level of anger into my heart. I am often disappointed in the choices other people make. It does not occur to me to think on them as someone who is loved so dearly by Jesus. I need to work on this. I usually see only one side of that person--that side that is causing a problem and making more work for me. There is more that is required of me. Forgiveness is so hard, but so necessary and I can get help with this from the Lord.Bonnie Tylerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13172515606626130846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692156614069531903.post-57778516765392295182019-02-17T15:19:37.967-08:002019-02-17T15:19:37.967-08:00I was impressed by chapter 4 a) where he says &quo...I was impressed by chapter 4 a) where he says "Let us take trouble to observe and consider the Lord's dealings with us" and where he says "Those benefits which recur with so much regularity that they seem to us "common" and "ordinary" which penetrate with golden threads the homespun vesture of our daily life, ought to be most lovingly commemorated". Because of this I think I will start a section in my prayer binder for Gratitude and Mercies, where I can begin listing these in the back of my Worship section.Lisa Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15777905435472488770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692156614069531903.post-33401862307054644132019-02-17T12:42:55.813-08:002019-02-17T12:42:55.813-08:00In Chapter 3 I was directed to “But, oh how rare i...In Chapter 3 I was directed to “But, oh how rare it is!” cries Fénelon, “How rare it is to find a soul quiet enough to hear God speak!” and then “So many of us have mistrained ears.” That is me—getting up in the wee hours of the morning for my “quiet” time only to hear what our Lord spoke loud and clear to me the day before. <br />I was led to affirmation in Chapter 4 with “Let us thank God for our trials.” and Chrysostom’s “Thank God for everything.” and “If we imitate him we shall never have a bad day.” I have been redirecting my thankfulness in my prayer binder to first recall a trial to be thankful for and this has had a profound outlook toward trials as they arise in my day. The trials no longer color my day!<br />Again, thank you for taking your time to share with us. Donna Mariahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11860899836573497755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692156614069531903.post-8281944370212734032019-02-16T22:18:25.783-08:002019-02-16T22:18:25.783-08:00As I sat and read through these two chapters this ...As I sat and read through these two chapters this week I was constantly reminded of how I got started praying on my knees. I had been reading the book of Daniel (chapter 6) and it stated "Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down upon his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days." I remembered pausing and thinking "Wow! Why am I not doing this, too? I know that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow (Heb. 13:8). If Daniel was honored by God would He not do the same for me as well? (See Prov.3:3-6 and Matt.6:6) For a while I struggled with the very thought AND action of doing this very simple thing...getting on my knees. Prayer had always seemed to be somewhat easy for me, but getting on my knees seemed to strip my mind of thoughts for it was rather awkward. After trying this for a few days my honesty came out..."Why? Why God did You reveal this to me and now I struggle? I am fully content with what we have had all these years." It wasn't a hard request to fulfill nor was it burdensome. But boy did I struggle. I must say when one asks in true honesty God does reveal! First I was given Romans 14:10-12 with the key being "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God." And secondly, (now that some time has passed) I have found that my heart pours out more. My praises, thanksgivings, and burdens for self and others are lifted off my shoulders for I know in my heart I have truly and completely humbled myself before Him. Don't get me wrong, I still pray while doing housework and home-schooling my children, while I lie on my bed at night and in the mornings. There’s just something very special about my prayer time during those "on my knees" quiet moments. In the darkness of trials, hardships, and streams of tears God reveals Himself so that I may know Him better, how He works, how much He loves me (and others), and constantly how much He gave up for me. <br />These chapters were a reminder for me to become more consistent in my boldness (honesty) when approaching the throne of God through Jesus Christ my Savior. To let my fear of the Lord be with reverence and not with intimidation. James 1:5 tells us (in faith) "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him." And in Hebrews 4:16 “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in the time of need.” <br />sarrahnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3692156614069531903.post-45568994744359676792019-02-16T12:38:17.885-08:002019-02-16T12:38:17.885-08:00I loved the reminder that we are to be honest in p...I loved the reminder that we are to be honest in prayer, as were the psalmists. God does not want us to merely show up in our best clothes with our fancy words. He values our true selves. I also like that he begins with adoration in our prayers. I got a lot out of the discussion of the three areas where the saints can render praise. I need to work on all three!Marylouhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02670854511299380154noreply@blogger.com