tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-944958670766129557.post7027480978498440556..comments2023-11-02T08:25:05.425-05:00Comments on Just Another Ragamuffin: My PrayerCarolyn Evaine Countermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05955241245087668308noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-944958670766129557.post-60674916392324537522011-11-16T04:13:12.653-06:002011-11-16T04:13:12.653-06:00@Pat, I am so glad that you came by!
@Jennifer, ...@Pat, I am so glad that you came by! <br /><br />@Jennifer, thank you for the lovely words. I'm you got something from the post.Carolyn Evaine Countermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05955241245087668308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-944958670766129557.post-68923988957882758662011-11-15T21:44:03.791-06:002011-11-15T21:44:03.791-06:00Oh my goodness, girl. This is a rich post on praye...Oh my goodness, girl. This is a rich post on prayer -- covering everything from liturgy to unedited prayer to doesn't-God-know-it-already-anyway? to the importance of listening to those Spirit nudges to do things like anoint a friend. Wow. <br /><br />Rich, this post. I thank you for it.Jennifer @ JenniferDukesLee.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15934656581948719407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-944958670766129557.post-53921241245105103672011-11-15T21:36:37.218-06:002011-11-15T21:36:37.218-06:00Thanks for stopping by Carolyn... and for your kin...Thanks for stopping by Carolyn... and for your kind words. I so appreciate your thoughts on prayer, especially from your POV. Wonderful insight you have gained. Thank you for sharing it!Patriciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00991524097486901864noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-944958670766129557.post-44084620843574241492011-11-15T18:05:48.111-06:002011-11-15T18:05:48.111-06:00I am so glad you have all come by and shared. It i...I am so glad you have all come by and shared. It is wonderful to have a safe place to ask questions and get feedback from sincere, thoughtful people. <br /><br />@RB, it never occurred to me that composing some pretty words might be a love gift to God. I'll have to think about that some more.<br /><br />@Jen, it is very important to bless when you have been asked to speak words over someone. I try to be as mindful of that as I can.<br /><br />@Sheila, I know He is not setting out to judge how I compose my thoughts for Him, but you know I like to chase my tail with questions, right? :)<br /><br />@Ells, I'm so glad you stopped by! I have never heard that quote before, but I like it! I'm not sure why, but journaling has never given me the relief it gives to others.<br /><br />@Grams, that is quite a background you have there. I always have wondered if that made your faith deeper or if it made it more confusing. I know you might have told me, but I cannot remember if you converted before you met Pat or if you converted when you got married. And yes, we have to make sure to get out of the way enough to be able to hear that still, small voice. I am guilty of listening to the louder noises in my world.Carolyn Evaine Countermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05955241245087668308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-944958670766129557.post-35133247487152368542011-11-15T17:48:55.809-06:002011-11-15T17:48:55.809-06:00Great post, Carolyn. I have thought a lot about th...Great post, Carolyn. I have thought a lot about this topic and the language of prayers. It has interested me for quite a while, probably because I was raised in the Southern Baptist tradition of spontaneous prayer and converted to the Roman Catholic tradition of "pre-fab" prayers. <br /><br />I believe there is a time and place for all kinds of prayer. At first I had a lot of trouble learning to pray the Catholic way. Honestly, repeating the Hail Mary and the Our Father when saying a rosary just seemed repetitive and pointless. Over time I have come to understand the power of meditative prayer. The repition clears my mind and makes me more of a listener. <br /><br />But I still often pray in the more conversational style that I learned as I was growing up. While I know that God knows my needs before I even know them myself, sometimes I need to tell him. But then, I need to remember, that I have to listen to his response. Sometimes that "still, small voice" gets drowned out by what I want. <br /><br />Again, great post.Vicki @ Grams Made Ithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14830960886130900689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-944958670766129557.post-12709634229563639762011-11-15T08:14:20.604-06:002011-11-15T08:14:20.604-06:00stopping by from Jen's...I find for me...writi...stopping by from Jen's...I find for me...writing my heart...my prayers to God helps me get to the deepest part of me....John piper said.."pens have eyes"...when I write in my journal...all the mixed up thoughts and feelings seem so clear...when I am burdened...I pour it out on paper...when I am done...I feel lighter and have more clarity...<br />Blessings as you journey in prayer...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-944958670766129557.post-55193300947168984542011-11-14T22:07:15.487-06:002011-11-14T22:07:15.487-06:00I grew up in a tradition where the only person who...I grew up in a tradition where the only person who prayed aloud was the pastor---the rest of us bowed our heads. <br /><br />I wing it. Some days I listen a lot more than I speak. And I'm okay with it. Of all the things He could judge me on, how I form my thoughts, which He already knows, is WAY down my list. :) <br /><br />Thanks for inviting me to think about this, Carolyn!Sheilahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03048851144169610362noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-944958670766129557.post-21647563891301529912011-11-14T21:16:55.811-06:002011-11-14T21:16:55.811-06:00You know, editing doesn't always insure that t...You know, editing doesn't always insure that the "me" gets taken out. For me, it would be another way for me to edit "me" back in.<br /><br />I'm raised Episcopalian, but I've had to learn to love those prayers. I'm much more comfortable saying my own words. I've also had to learn not to pray out loud for the sake of hearing my own voice or for impressing others. It's that pride thing that I've struggled with.<br /><br />Now, I try to pray authentically and to bless when I'm praying out loud.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14701362919026534336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-944958670766129557.post-14526935463496786072011-11-14T12:55:08.389-06:002011-11-14T12:55:08.389-06:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.jannet watsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12523785879543385310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-944958670766129557.post-91191425226272902072011-11-14T08:56:19.545-06:002011-11-14T08:56:19.545-06:00Good questions Carolyn. Here's my tuppencewort...Good questions Carolyn. Here's my tuppenceworth (I am on the east side of the Pond!). Prayer is mostly conversation with someone I love and most of the time spontaneous is good.<br /><br />I trust that my wife will hear not only my words, but my tone as well; she will also see my expressions and body language as I speak - all of which convey important information about what I am trying to say.<br /><br />BUT, if I have something really important to say then I take time to think about it. I try to find just the right words, and to think about how she might respond to those words. And sometimes that helps to avoid misunderstandings.<br /><br />Prayer is conversation with God. Sometimes what I want to say to Him is so important to me that I take time to make sure that I have it worked out in my own mind, that I am expressing to the best of my ability (God given)the things that are on my heart. And having done that, I offer it all to God as a love gift - the words, the preparation, everything.<br /><br />Other times He and I just chew the fat - although I've not been turning up as often as I should for that :-(Radical Believerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13300295316861209409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-944958670766129557.post-30434350436215760372011-11-14T08:32:37.844-06:002011-11-14T08:32:37.844-06:00@angeladowns That is awesome! Good to hear the per...@<a href="#c1234872725569012820" rel="nofollow">angeladowns</a> That is awesome! Good to hear the perspective of one who did not grow up with a tradition to cling to. I understand the anxiety - I feel it sometimes too, even though I have some of that "prayer language" in my repertoire. Love you much!Carolyn Evaine Countermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05955241245087668308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-944958670766129557.post-12348727255690128202011-11-14T07:56:03.679-06:002011-11-14T07:56:03.679-06:00I talk to God frequently throughout my day. While...I talk to God frequently throughout my day. While I'm putting on my makeup for the day, driving to work in the car, on break while at work, on the way home, before bed, etc. These conversations sound much like conversations with anyone else I am close to...sometimes eloquent, sometimes rambling, always from the heart. Sometimes, I even get off the praise-or-petition track altogether and just start ranting about one situation or another. It's always just Him and me, so it doesn't matter if I lose focus or ramble a bit. <br /><br />HOWEVER...when asked to pray aloud in a group, or before a meal...I FREEZE. I have no idea how to do that. I did not grow up in church at all...I don't know that flowery, pretty prayer language that so many people I surround myself with know...I don't know how to keep from rambling, and "just"-ing, and pausing when praying in a group of people who can *actually hear me.* It's maddening. <br /><br />Those folks who know that "prayer language" that I am so envious of always tell me that it doesn't matter how I say it...that God understands and gets the point...the important thing is just to *pray.* And I get that. I do. But I will honestly tell you that when I am asked to pray in front of other people - or even just another single person - I experience anxiety. <br /><br />That, my friend, is where I currently am with prayer. And I just wrote another whole blog post in your comments to tell you that. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com