Some friends and I were asked to serve as pallbearers for a graveside memorial. It was as if the weather took a cue from the circumstance and became damp, dark and grim. We were all unaware that the thunderous torrent had caused some erosion around the already fragile graveside

Recently I’ve noticed some benevolence fatigue. A lot of folk are tired of serving, tired of giving, tired of bending. After all it’s a big burden being like Jesus! Right? Some of us are “sucking for air” so to speak. Why? Perhaps because we’ve been trying to resource what has not been sourced. The demand from everyone and everywhere is high, and the supply is low.

Revelation 21:3-5 I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” 5 And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.”

During this season of quarantine, I’ve been taking a new look at prayer. Prayer is essentially “communication with God”.

I’ve looked back at several Old Testament references when God and man converse. Here are a couple of things that I’ve discovered:

1. God initiates the conversation.

2. He starts with a question.

I love Christmas! Along with Andy Williams, I too think, “It's the most wonderful time of the year—With the kids jingle belling—And everyone telling you be of good cheer—It's the most wonderful time of the year!” However, in all its busyness, Christmas has the potential to be so chaotic that we miss the calm it actually represents. We have a choice; we can be part of the monster or the moment.

Being a preacher’s kid, I heard a lot of stories. Many of them made an indelible impression on my life. Sometimes it wouldn’t be a full story but instead would be a quip or quote that my dad would use. One of those he always used in his sermon around Thanksgiving was the quote credited to Helen Keller— “I complained because I had no shoes until I met a man who had no feet.” I’m not sure if she actually said that or not, but it sure sounded like a mantra that would fit a woman of such resolve.