Author Archives: Rev. Cleo Graham

Unexpected Guests

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I struggled with naming the title of this Reflection but writing the Prayer was a breeze.

Remember the movie, “Guess Whose Coming to Dinner?”

Do you remember the guest, the handsome Sydney Poitier, a poised, smooth, and debonair Black man who won the hearts of many?

Yes, but, it didn’t happen without a struggle.

Someone boldly invited him to dinner. Eventually others welcomed him.

He wasn’t the boogeyman or the big bad wolf who planned to “huff and puff and blow your house down.”

The guest was already equipped to be a friend, a neighbor, a worker and lover. The folks around the dinner table had to change their perceptions and ways.

Today, we are faced with unexpected guests.

We are challenged to reach across our tables and invite an immigrant father, mother, child and family to dinner. Pray with them and for them.

We are called to do our best.

Trust God will do the rest.

Let us Park and Pray at 1:11 pm

Almighty God we look to You for guidance as we struggle with a humanitarian crises involving guests who are seeking a refuge from life threatening situations.

We are grounded by Your Spirit, Word and Love. Bless us with the means and ways to honor justice and welcome our guests to a bountiful table.

Inspire us to welcome an asylum seeking immigrant family. Equip us with the tools to address their most urgent needs. Bless them with the righteous desires of their hearts.

Gracious and Merciful God we thank you for making room for us at your table. We are grateful to be Your guests and servants. Feed all who hunger and thirst for righteousness.

O Holy One feed us until we want no more. Until we can say and believe that, ” The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want.”

We Park and Pray at 1:11 pm

In our Savior’s name. Amen

Falling Upward

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Falling Upwards

What is it?
Is there such a thing as falling upward?
Is it something you plan to do or is it an accident? What is it that pulls you upwards? What pulls you out of the weeds and close to the clouds?

You’re far away from whatever holds you down. Enjoy it!
Hang in there! Hold on!
You’re standing on tree limbs of a sturdy tree. Look around you and now look 👀 up. It feels amazing!

Do you wonder how you will get down? Do you care? What if you just stay up there for a while?
How does it feel to fall upwards?
It defies gravity.
But, it does not defy God.

Let’s Park and Pray at 1:11

Almighty God, so great is your power, magnificent is your strength and awesome your wisdom. You are amazing!

Gracious God, help me to find your peace in the midst of the weeds, the trees, the dark clouds and raindrops. Help me to feel your peace especially when I’ve fallen and I struggle to get up. May I hold and share your peace at all times.

Thank you for the blessed assurance of your presence. Holy One, I give myself to you, to safeguard, protect, build and lead as you please.

In Your Holy Name. Amen.

Let It Begin With Me

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The Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama is a place where I found this peace sign. Our prayers this month will focus on peace in our lives, our homes, our communities and in our world.

Park and Pray at 1:11 pm

Holy One, thank you for “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding.” I pray that I may have an appreciation of the peace that you offer me. Bless me with an awareness of your peace so that I may receive it and share it with others. Guard my heart and my mind in Christ, the Prince of Peace.

I Can’t Help Myself!

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It’s a habit, reflexive, ingrained, intuitive and spontaneous.

It’s 1:11 and it’s time to 🙏🏾.

Time to press the reset button in my day and in my life.

Reset back to a peaceful time. Yes, it’s time to get centered. Time to connect with the Holy. Praying renews my strength.

One day while shopping at 🛌 🛀 and Beyond I parked my 🛒 in a quiet corner of the store. I leaned forward and rested on my 🛒.

I parked and 🙏🏾 at 1:11pm.

Holy One, thank you for watching and waiting for us to call you. O God, we need you. We need you to shine your Light in the darkest places in our society. Destroy hatred and injustice. It’s evil, contagious and it’s killing your people.

“Let the wicked abandon their way of life and the evil their way of thinking. Let them come back to you O God, who is merciful.” Isaiah 55:7

Gracious God, “deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.” In Our Savior’s Name. Amen

A Mother’s Day Prayer at 1:11

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Holy One we give thanks for those who serve as mothers in our lives.
For mothers whose loving arms nurture, protect and support us.
For mothers whose footsteps we follow and shoulders we lean on.
For mothers who are shepherds of your people.
For mothers whose spirit continues to feed us.
We give thanks and praise in Your Holy name we pray. Amen

It’s My Birthday!

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I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14

Today is my birthday! I wonder about my birth day. You know, the day that I was born. So, I Call the Almighty One who was present at my birth.
O God, You are Great! You are Good! You are here!
All the time and everywhere!
Gracious God, I park and pray early this morning before the birds awaken, spread their wings and utter their first breath tones. O God, I am in awe of your presence and power as I hear rhythmic pulsations.

It’s my birth day, my first breath, the Ruah breath that breathed life within me. Loving God, your breath is like a slow wind entering my nose and moving down to the soles of my feet. I am awakened by the fresh sounds of a primal cry and joyful musical strings. I see a bright light. I feel my life awaken to your presence and welcoming me to this new day. “I am fearfully and wonderfully made!” I am a nameless baby girl until someone said, “Cleo,” and I smiled.

Today, O God, I give thanks for the blessings of a new day as I celebrate my birthday. I eat Your daily bread. I drink from Your cup of blessings made from pressed grapes. Its the salvation that quenches my spiritual thirst. I bear witness to Your presence and glorify You in word and deed. Still, I am a work in progress. I celebrate the gift of prayer each day at 1:11 pm. I thank You O God, for Your grace, love, Spirit and so much more. Your grace is the gas in my tank. Your love is the life blood flowing through my body. Your Spirit is the seed of my contentment. Thank God, for another birthday celebration of life!

O God, You are Great! You are Good! You are here! All the time and everywhere! Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow! Amen.

Christ is Risen!

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May, our spirit rise, walk and pray each day while carrying our cross, enduring its burden until injustice and oppression are dismantled, righteousness, peace, equity, and prosperity are real for all..

May we embrace the Light of God’s Holy presence, Christ’s ways, redemption and salvation, and the power of the Holy Spirit that inspires us to declare and share love. In our Savior’s Name. Amen