Can You Hear Me Now?
Devotional Reflections on prayer, with thanks to Verizon Wireless
“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for God;
do not fret over those who prosper in their way,
but take delight in the Lord,
and God will grant you the desires of your heart.”
--An ancient Hebrew song (Psalm 37, selected verses)
NOTE: You probably remember the Verizon Wireless commercial with the young man walking into all sorts of places to check on the “power supply” for communicating with “the person” on the other end of the line. Today is Friday and we dare to explore that question one more time as we look at another wireless connection.
Learning to let life come to us can be a challenge. The longer I live, the more I realize that I don’t need to be “doing” nearly as much as I need to be “listening”. When I listen well, many opportunities will come my way. Here is a little teaching that might be helpful as you work on listening to the Holy One.
Our true home is in the present moment.
To live in the present moment is a miracle.
The miracle is not to walk on water.
The miracle is to walk on the green Earth in the present moment,
To appreciate the peace and beauty that are available now.
Peace is all around us – in the world and in nature.
And peace is within us –
In our bodies and in our spirits.
When we are in touch with this peace,
we will sense healing and transformation.
Peace is not a matter of faith; it is a matter of practice.
A prayer: Holy God, guide me no further than this very moment. Amen.
--Ben Keckler
01.21.11
Friday, January 21, 2011
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Daily Devotion - Thursday, January 20
Can You Hear Me Now?
Devotional Reflections on prayer, with thanks to Verizon Wireless
“Give ear to my prayer, O God;
do not hide yourself from my supplication.
Attend to me, and answer me; I am troubled in my complaint.”
--An ancient Hebrew song (Psalm 55:1, 2)
NOTE: You probably remember the Verizon Wireless commercial with the young man walking into all sorts of places to check on the “power supply” for communicating with “the person” on the other end of the line. This week we explore that question as we look at another wireless connection.
Today’s opening verses sound like the writer isn’t quite sure if God is paying attention. Truly life is filled with many moments like this. If you listen to some of the ways we talk in our religious circles, it sounds like God is always paying attention and doing exactly what we hope God will do. Each day I encounter a number of people who feel like the person who penned the opening words in Psalm 55. The following prayer expresses my heart desires and I pray it regularly. Sometimes when I offer this prayer I’m tempted to be the Verizon wireless guy asking, “Can You Hear Me Now?”
God,
Lead us from death to life, from falsehood to truth.
Lead us from despair to hope, from fear to trust.
I pray for peace to fill my heart, this world, and our universe.
I pray that we might dream together, pray together,
and work together,
Building one world filled with peace and justice for all. Amen.
--Ben Keckler
01.20.11
Devotional Reflections on prayer, with thanks to Verizon Wireless
“Give ear to my prayer, O God;
do not hide yourself from my supplication.
Attend to me, and answer me; I am troubled in my complaint.”
--An ancient Hebrew song (Psalm 55:1, 2)
NOTE: You probably remember the Verizon Wireless commercial with the young man walking into all sorts of places to check on the “power supply” for communicating with “the person” on the other end of the line. This week we explore that question as we look at another wireless connection.
Today’s opening verses sound like the writer isn’t quite sure if God is paying attention. Truly life is filled with many moments like this. If you listen to some of the ways we talk in our religious circles, it sounds like God is always paying attention and doing exactly what we hope God will do. Each day I encounter a number of people who feel like the person who penned the opening words in Psalm 55. The following prayer expresses my heart desires and I pray it regularly. Sometimes when I offer this prayer I’m tempted to be the Verizon wireless guy asking, “Can You Hear Me Now?”
God,
Lead us from death to life, from falsehood to truth.
Lead us from despair to hope, from fear to trust.
I pray for peace to fill my heart, this world, and our universe.
I pray that we might dream together, pray together,
and work together,
Building one world filled with peace and justice for all. Amen.
--Ben Keckler
01.20.11
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Daily Devotion - Wednesday, January 19
Can You Hear Me Now?
Devotional Reflections on prayer, with thanks to Verizon Wireless
“To you, O Lord, I call;
my rock, do not refuse to hear me,
for if you are silent to me,
I shall be like those who go down to the Pit.”
--An ancient Hebrew song (Psalm 28:1)
NOTE: You may remember the Verizon Wireless commercial with the young man walking into all sorts of places to check on the “power supply” for communicating with “the person” on the other end of the line. This week we dare to explore that question as we look at another wireless connection.
One day, not all that long ago, I faced a most challenging day. A funeral for a 16-year old young man who died from a cancer; a support group for cancer survivors, knowing that three of them decided to participate in hospice care since our last meeting; visitation requests as per the normal day; and spending a few minutes with our new associates. There was a lot on the schedule that day and it felt pretty overwhelming. My insides echoed the writer of the old Hebrew psalm. Here is the prayer that I wrote for that day:
Holy God,
I know you are strong and willing to grant me strength for my day.
Help me to feel your presence and trust in your promises.
I really do believe, for I have felt your amazing grace.
Since you already know about the challenges of my day,
forgive me for checking, but
CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
--Ben Keckler
01.19.11
Devotional Reflections on prayer, with thanks to Verizon Wireless
“To you, O Lord, I call;
my rock, do not refuse to hear me,
for if you are silent to me,
I shall be like those who go down to the Pit.”
--An ancient Hebrew song (Psalm 28:1)
NOTE: You may remember the Verizon Wireless commercial with the young man walking into all sorts of places to check on the “power supply” for communicating with “the person” on the other end of the line. This week we dare to explore that question as we look at another wireless connection.
One day, not all that long ago, I faced a most challenging day. A funeral for a 16-year old young man who died from a cancer; a support group for cancer survivors, knowing that three of them decided to participate in hospice care since our last meeting; visitation requests as per the normal day; and spending a few minutes with our new associates. There was a lot on the schedule that day and it felt pretty overwhelming. My insides echoed the writer of the old Hebrew psalm. Here is the prayer that I wrote for that day:
Holy God,
I know you are strong and willing to grant me strength for my day.
Help me to feel your presence and trust in your promises.
I really do believe, for I have felt your amazing grace.
Since you already know about the challenges of my day,
forgive me for checking, but
CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
--Ben Keckler
01.19.11
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Daily Devotion - Tuesday, January 18
Can You Hear Me Now?
Devotional Reflections on prayer, with thanks to Verizon Wireless
“How long, O Lord?
Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?”
--An ancient Hebrew song (Psalm 13:1)
NOTE: You may remember the Verizon Wireless commercial with the young man walking into all sorts of places to check on the “power supply” for communicating with “the person” on the other end of the line. The rest of this week we dare to explore that question as we look at another wireless connection.
A few years ago I developed a presentation, “Tell Me Your Heart Song”, I included one of my favorite stories about prayer. It is a story about Dan Rather interviewing Mother Teresa. My paraphrase follows:
Rather: “So what do you say when you pray to God?”
Mother Teresa: “Nothing, I just listen.”
Struggling quickly to come up with the next question, probably believing that the answer would be longer,
Rather: “Well, what does God say to you?”
Mother Teresa: “Nothing. He just listens too!”
The Psalmist was feeling silence from the Divine and could keep quiet no longer. The three quick questions that begin this devotional seem to cry out, “Can you hear me now?”
Sometimes prayer is like that.
--Ben Keckler
01.18.11
Devotional Reflections on prayer, with thanks to Verizon Wireless
“How long, O Lord?
Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?”
--An ancient Hebrew song (Psalm 13:1)
NOTE: You may remember the Verizon Wireless commercial with the young man walking into all sorts of places to check on the “power supply” for communicating with “the person” on the other end of the line. The rest of this week we dare to explore that question as we look at another wireless connection.
A few years ago I developed a presentation, “Tell Me Your Heart Song”, I included one of my favorite stories about prayer. It is a story about Dan Rather interviewing Mother Teresa. My paraphrase follows:
Rather: “So what do you say when you pray to God?”
Mother Teresa: “Nothing, I just listen.”
Struggling quickly to come up with the next question, probably believing that the answer would be longer,
Rather: “Well, what does God say to you?”
Mother Teresa: “Nothing. He just listens too!”
The Psalmist was feeling silence from the Divine and could keep quiet no longer. The three quick questions that begin this devotional seem to cry out, “Can you hear me now?”
Sometimes prayer is like that.
--Ben Keckler
01.18.11
Monday, January 17, 2011
Daily Devotion - Monday, January 17
N or V?
“Let your steadfast love come to me, O Lord,
Then I shall have an answer for those who taunt me,
for I trust in your word.”
--Psalm 119: 41, 42
Today is set aside as a day to remember a faith-filled leader who became a voice of the people during the Civil Rights turmoil several decades ago. Martin Luther King, Jr. did not dream of a day set aside as a holiday in his name. He did dream of a nation, this country we love, living the principles of liberty and justice for all. We’ve made some strides, but we have a long way to go!
King’s boldness was strengthened by his unwavering faith. He was aware that God would not turn against him. He went about his work with this inner confidence. Max Lucado writes:
“Your family may turn against you, but God won’t.
Your friends may betray you, but God won’t.
You may feel alone in the wilderness, but you’re not.
God is with you. And because God is with you,
everything is different.
You are different. God changes your n into a v.
So go from lonely to lovely.”
Have a good day and a good week. Bask in the sunshine of an eternal, steadfast love embracing you.
Prayer for today:
Grant wisdom and courage for the facing of each hour, O God. Amen.
--Ben Keckler
01.17.11
“Let your steadfast love come to me, O Lord,
Then I shall have an answer for those who taunt me,
for I trust in your word.”
--Psalm 119: 41, 42
Today is set aside as a day to remember a faith-filled leader who became a voice of the people during the Civil Rights turmoil several decades ago. Martin Luther King, Jr. did not dream of a day set aside as a holiday in his name. He did dream of a nation, this country we love, living the principles of liberty and justice for all. We’ve made some strides, but we have a long way to go!
King’s boldness was strengthened by his unwavering faith. He was aware that God would not turn against him. He went about his work with this inner confidence. Max Lucado writes:
“Your family may turn against you, but God won’t.
Your friends may betray you, but God won’t.
You may feel alone in the wilderness, but you’re not.
God is with you. And because God is with you,
everything is different.
You are different. God changes your n into a v.
So go from lonely to lovely.”
Have a good day and a good week. Bask in the sunshine of an eternal, steadfast love embracing you.
Prayer for today:
Grant wisdom and courage for the facing of each hour, O God. Amen.
--Ben Keckler
01.17.11
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