I love my church. It’s not very big but it’s just full of caring, wonderful people. Since it is small, everyone pretty much knows everyone else’s family, friends, and neighbors. It’s community oriented and tries to help anyone in the area that needs help.
But, I’ve got a problem.
We have a prayer chain and I’ve been on it for several years. No biggie. Someone calls me and tells me who and what needs prayer. This was a piece of cake for a long time. I would immediately get off of the phone and pray. However, lately, it’s become a little complicated for me. First, the person who calls me has changed. The lady that calls me now is a fantastic woman. I wish that I was more like her. She is always doing some kind of ministry, either at nursing homes or with children. BUT, if I’m not at home when she calls, she leaves a message and I cannot understand what she is saying. And, I’ve gotten lazy about praying immediately upon hanging up the phone. I use to keep a notepad by the phone and write the prayer requests down. Some times, there would be several and I didn’t wanna leave anyone out. Now, since I can’t understand the lady (it’s really because she’s talking too fast), I’m not sure for whom I’m suppose to be praying. The messages sound kinda like this….
“Oh, hello…this Pansy (named changed) with a prayer chain. Mr. “mumblemumble” needs prayer for “mumblemumble” and”can’tquitemakeitout’s” niece is having surgery for “mumblemumble”. Get the idea? I can’t make out the names or details.
To make matters worse, I am becoming very guilty of prayer procrastination. I fully intend to do it but lately, it slips my mind.
So, I’ve been trying to do One Big Combined Prayer and it goes something like this…
Dear Lord,
I’m sorry that I didn’t do this when I was suppose to do it. But, I guess it’s better late than never, right, God? So, please take care of Mr. “mumblemumble”. And, please be with “mumblemumble”‘s neice while she is going thur “mumblemumble”. (I don’t actually say “mumblemumble”, I really just mumble cause I figure that God knows who they are). And, Lord, in case I didn’t get this prayer in on time and they died or something, please bring comfort to the family of the deceased. And, if they are still alive and have recovered, Lord, thank you for your blessings on them. I will try to do better with this prayer chain in the future…..Amen!”
I’m just wondering if this is a bad thing to do? Should I just forget about praying or continue to do an umbrella prayer for I don’t know who? I’m just not sure.
I would go for the umbrella prayer. You might not know who you are praying for, and the person you are praying for might not know you are praying for him or her, but it’s a good karma point and you’ve done your good deed for the day.
AH..ya know, WE could use this in your campaign. I mean, who would not vote for a platform that includes an “umbrella prayer”? Think about it!
That is just amazing lol. You always have interesting things to say.
So what do think of pot and the whole “war on drugs”dealie? is an article I hope you write sometime. Me, Id think a war on drugs sounds more fun and possibly more terrifying…but yeah
I liked the articfle ya did on spanking.
Vanessa…..Oh, yeah. I do have an opinion on the war on drugs. I agree with you…a war on drugs would be a lot more fun if the warriors were ON DRUGS!
hahaha…..seriously, I think that pot should be legalized for medicinal uses in all 50 states. It would be better than all the prescription drugs with their horrible side effects. For example….don’tch think I would have been 1000 percent better off smoking a joint in the evening for arthritis and fibromyalgia than be dealing with life long side effects from drugs that were prescribed? I wouldn’t have to be spending a buttload of dough on dental work now…thanks to Actenol and Fosamax and their cousin, Boniva who’s pusher is The Flying Nun.
It’s not that I’m any more interesting than most people but I am opinionated and have a “manic mind”. My thoughts are constantly racing and sometimes, I feel like my brain is going to burst open if I don’t get some of them out by writing them down or something. It’s kinda like vomiting….you have something inside that keeps pushing to get out. Sometimes, it makes you feel really sick (as in the case of bad memories) and you know that you just gotta puke it out! So, I vomit it up and then there it is for anybody and their mamas to look at.
Unlike vomit, though, I don’t bother to go back and clean it up.
Once in a while, I’ll think….”Hmmm, maybe I shouldn’t have written that. I think I’ll go back and delete it. But, I don’t. Not because I didn’t have real intentions of doing that, I’m just a bigass procrastinator.
I think that you are coming out of your shell and you have been writing some great comments. You should consider starting a regular blog.
The comment about your grandma was both touching and very damn funny. I am still laughing over it. You certainly painted a clear picture with that.
If you ever would like to give regular blogging a try, you can be my guest blogger. Just let me know so I can enter you as a blogger here. I’m serious. I’ll bet you’d write something really interesting!
I believe in good intentions.
You can pray for me.
I will. But, it might be part of The One Big Combined Prayer. Hope that is OK with you!
Ive been blogging more regularly on my deviant art. I have yet to back and read whatever it was I wrote the other night in a race of my finger tips vs thoughts. And wow do I make some weirdo typos.
Haha…Vanessa…me, too. I’m guilty of not proofreading! I do spellcheck but that doesn’t help if you spelled a word right BUT it was the wrong word. Later today, I’ll go over to your deviant art page and read some more. Right now, gotta do payroll and taxes. Blech!
http://twitter.com/shitmydadsays
This guy^ is how I kind of hope I am when Im his age. Everything posted is just a gem.
gonna go check him out.
Check out Crabby Old Fart in my friend’s list. He has me rolling everytime I read his blog.
Bwahahaha….Vanessa…he is hilarious! I’m following him.
On Twitter…I am LifeInAStupor
I’d not despair over mishearing at all but instead as soon as you hear your message start your prayer with an intro to send special blessings/healing/ help to (Then play message) and trust that God with his almighty ears can make out exactly who it has been asked for.
I give you an A for effort, because I would just say something like “Yeah, what she said. Amen.”
bwahahahaha…..that’s funny!
Hey, you do what you can do. At least you are a part of a prayer chain!
Actually, GG, I’m in NEED of a prayer chain. I’ve spent most of today thinking about what a soul sucker my husband has become.
Gonna write a post about all the “soul suckers” in my life.
I’ve not been worth crap lately. I need to write here and also spend some time reading my friends’ (such as yourself) blogs! I’m not a soul sucker but lately I just plain suck as a buddy.
The good news is that God knows the needs that were listed. The important part is truly just the intercession.
That is true, UP!
You KNOW that God understands the situation, and that he doesn’t really mind the umbrella;)
That’s true, BHE…This week I have done better. I wrote the names down as soon as she told me.
You’re talking to the Almighty! He knows and He loves you for caring enough to pray. You can blanket pray for me ANYTIME!
I think I’d just say, “God, could you please make sense out of what that lady is saying and do something about it if you want to.” Umbrella for sure but God understands all manners of speech.