Praying

What Matters: Music That Inspires Prayer

Do you listen to music when you pray? There are many songs and melodies that inspire prayer, some conventional...some not. This week, Twana plays a few selections that inspire her own prayer life and talks about the encouragement music gives....if we only listen.What Matters: Music that Inspires Prayer

Prayer Beads and Me

Prayer Beads and Me Crisis. Crisis. Crisis. That pretty much sums up the past week. Blessedly, they weren't technically my crises, but you know how it goes. Trying to convince the bill collector that, while Kelly's nonpayment is an issue, you are not Kelly . . . let's just call it fruitless and leave it at that. I really needed some...

Hanukkah

Hanukkah and Other Memories In my time working at Temple Beth Israel, I enjoyed three years of High Holy Days, Confirmations, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs and Hanukkahs. Even though Hanukkah is not a High Holy Day, it's a special time, and it was one of my favorite seasons there. The Temple gift shop was heavily promoted this time of the year.

Into the Light: Resolution Revolution

Into the Light: Resolution Revolution Resolved: I will not be making any New Year's resolutions this year. When you think about it, it makes sense. Why should a tick in the calendar make any difference in our lives? If it wasn't a priority yesterday, what makes it one today? Besides, how many resolutions really get, well, resolved? Not many. After week two, it's back to our old...

Planting the Seed of Prayer

Planting the Seed of Prayer I don't remember a whole lot of vocal praying going on in my house growing up, but I knew my mother was a prayerful woman. With seven children, born in a sixteen-year span, you'd have to be, wouldn't you? Then I got married, and we lived with my mother-in-law for 21 years.

New Years Traditions Largely Faith-Based

New Years Traditions Largely Faith-Based Happy new year! How will you celebrate? Fancy parties? Bubbling champagne? Short-lived resolutions? If you're in line with the majority of Americans, that won't be the case. You'll celebrate with prayer. A 

One People, One Purpose, One Prayer for Unity

One People, One Purpose, One Prayer for Unity Jews are very clannish people. I know; I am one. I got confirmation from a welcome source this past Sabbath. Rabbi Michael Melchior was a guest Rabbi at the

Priceless Gifts

Priceless Gifts         

The Best Way to Pray

The Best Way to Pray A priest, a minister and a guru sat discussing the best positions for prayer, while a telephone repairman worked nearby. "Kneeling is definitely the best way to pray," the priest said. "No," said the minister. "I get the best results standing with my hands outstretched to Heaven." "You're both wrong," the guru said. "The most effective prayer position is lying down on the floor." The repairman could contain himself no longer. "Hey, fellas," he interrupted. "The best prayin' I ever did was when I was hangin' upside down from a telephone pole."

Poultice for the Soul

Poultice for the Soul Nobody reads the newspaperthe next day because,well it’s old news.Please help me find a wayto put these things behind me...yesterday’s ways,old habits,antique relationships,limited mind-set.Clear the decks for meto make way forthe bounty,the beauty,the...

The Shoemaker

The Shoemaker  You craft for us the most incredible pair of shoes,to help us walk through valleys,make our way along dark cavesor even the steepest of terrain.Our soles are made to withstandall the storms, fires and adversitythat gets placed in our path.One size does not fit all, for each is ...

Peace After Loss

Peace After Loss: Part Two "You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you stop to look fear in the face...you must do the thing you think you cannot do." -Eleanor Roosevelt That last line hits me and gives me strength every time I think about it. And even though it wasn't a conscious quote on my mind in those months after Denny...

Holy Shmoly

Holy Shmoly I was recently explaining my work at Prayables to a friend of mine, and he asked a question that I'm finding is surprisingly common. "You can write prayers?" I assured him that you could. "I thought you were supposed to just read prayers. Like from scripture or whatever."

Prescription? Prayer

Prescription? Prayer In the midst of criminal charges against parents for embracing faith-based healing methods, what role should prayer play in medical treatment? William Standish Reed was not your typical doctor. If you were suffering from an ear infection, he would likely prescribe you some penicillin... and a healthy dose of prayer.

What Matters: Prayers of a Recovering Addict

Alfred Lee is a recovering drug addict who says that prayer was the weapon in his battle against addiction. After 25 years in a downward spiral, he admits that his prayers early on were not always sincere. He talks about the prayer that changed his life and how is his faith has carried him through. As a part of his recovery, he encourages others who struggle with alcohol and drugs. He's also written a song about how faith and prayer has changed his life. When the flesh is weak, and the spirit is strong....addiction to drugs can be conquered. Alfred Lee shares his testimony with host Twana James and listeners.

Bathroom Prayer

Bathroom Prayer It started out innocently enough, a question about prayer from our Prayables Facebook page. “Where’s the strangest place you pray?” It was our biggest flurry of comments so far. And the winner is… the bathroom! Not a big surprise to me. In this era of multi-tasking and luxurious bathrooms, it stands to reason that the place to pray is the place we...

The Reason

The Reason Prayer is a gift I give myself.I turn to You,because then I am not alone.I give You my troubles:You can bear them.I give You my thanks:You grant me all my needs.I give You my praise:You give me more to admire.I get more than I can ever give.And that is why I pray.  

Six Ways to Pray

Six Ways to Pray HOLY COW - I have been running with the buffaloes and it’s a stampede! It started out innocently enough. Prayables ran an ad through the Moms Network. It’s a very nice group of ladies who blog about mommy life, coupons, crafts and just about anything else you can think of, that...

Transparency

Transparency I am not perfect.I want to be able to discoverthe needs and wants of others.I should not have feltthose things in my heartor said the wrong thing.I have demonstratedthat I am not transparentand I don't listen.I am not perfect. You created me to...

Really? Powered by God

Really? Powered by God

Our Connection

Our Connection I grew up with prayeras a quiet quick few seconds before bed,but that's no longer enough.Adoration,praise,supplication,and pleas for intervention.They may not have been part of my past,but maybe they will be part of our future,Your's and mine, together.   

Portion Control

Portion Control I would pay a lot of money for a little amount of caramel corn. I was cutting through the food court, when my nose took me past

Motivation

Motivation from Miley The last place I expected to receive spiritual inspiration is in the songs of Miley Cyrus. Love her? Hate her? She's a pop princess, a product of Disney, and ready to make her own mark. At 18, she's already achieved massive fame and her dose of scandal. Whether you deem her as a role model or parenting nightmare, set aside what you know of Miley Cyrus.

Daughter of the Woods

Daughter of the Woods I go to the woods, for You are there.You, fully in attendancein every leaf and bough,replenish my soulwith the sigh of the wind. I come here to be with You,where You dwell most presently,to spin out the content of my heart,and be regaledwith green-black silencesand the living canopyof nature's...

Pray in Many Ways

Pray in Many Ways I pray when I am fearful.I pray when I am in need.I sing praise to You.I lift up my hands, my heart, my soul. Please take me beyond myselfand help me recognize the prayers of others,from eyes raised skywardto heads humbly bowed,from whispers in quiet cornersto voices spiraling...

Walking with You

Walking with You For now, I'm in the ante-room of life, waiting,perusing month-old magazines,fully expecting You to wave that flag when the race begins.Little do I know, it's already fully underway.Motivate me to see beyond the confines of faithand to move from waiting on You to walking with You.I ask that You...