Author Archives: Rev. Cleo Graham

The Bus Stop

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Psalm 121:8

What if you’re on your way to an unfamiliar destination. Maybe you’re fearful about getting lost, being alone and abandoned.

Do you feel like you are under watchful eyes?

The Psalmist reminds us:

“The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” Psalms 121:8

Prayer is a way to acknowledge and accept the Lord’s help.

There are many ways to Park and Pray. You may find yourself parked or sitting on a bench at a bus stop. Maybe you’re willing to stop wherever you may be at 1:11 pm.

At the bus stop you see bystanders, strangers and an onslaught of traffic racing around a rotary. You hear a melody of horns, tires screeching, babies crying and a host of multilingual conversations. You are distracted and confused by the commotion. Your peace of mind diminishes.

Yet, Spirit calls you to mindfully withdraw from the crowds and enter into a sacred space where God waits for you.

You lift up your eyes to the hills and you ask, “Where will my help come?” You are reminded that your help comes from the Lord. (Ps121:1)

So, you to embrace the Light and you feel the presence of the Divine. It’s as if a breeze gently touches and guides you. Feel the raindrops extinguish your doubts and shower you with calmness.

You’re on your way and you’re not alone.

“The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” Psalms 121:8

Let’s Park and Pray

Almighty God, thank you for waiting and watching over me.

Thank you for awakening me to your presence and for walking with me.

Forgive me for doubting your presence and your promises to love me and never leave me.

Lord, strengthen my faith and renew my hope. Help me to discern your voice, your messages and your will.

Holy Spirit inspire me with passion and patience to prayerfully watch, wait and walk with You always.

Holy one, may I always know your presence, especially when I am lost, feeling hopeless and abandoned at the crowded bus stops in our lives.

Receive my prayer in the powerful name of my Savior. Amen.

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Friends, no matter where you are along life’s journey join us in spirit. Park and Pray at 1:11 pm with us.

Check the menu tab for your name on the prayer list and for additional prayers.

A Fresh Start

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Dear God,

As we prepare for a new school year, may it be a fresh start for all.

We give you thanks for those who have the gifts to teach, preach, reach out, encourage and grow leaders.

We pray for all children, students, teachers, administrators and all who promote and support the learning experience. Keep us safe and bless us with your Peace daily.

We praise you Almighty God, for in the midst of fear and brokenness there is the Light of your presence shining on and through us.

Give us eyes to see your work, ears to hear your still speaking voice, hands and feet to spread your Love, Joy and Peace.

Give us each day our daily bread as a fresh start and renewed strength for our journey.

Receive our prayers O God in our Savior’s name. Amen 🙏🏾.

Drawing by Adelya who hears through her eyes, hands and heart.

Praying the Psalms with Maren

God Help Us

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O God, I hear you speak through the message in 1 Thessalonians 5:12-24.

You call us to do better and to be better people. To unite in Spirit and to be mindful of your holy presence. Boldly, we lift our eyes to the hills, the heavens, and beyond. Our help comes from you, O God.
O God Help Us!
Recognize those who work hard on our behalf. Those who encourage and guide us to do your will. May we appreciate and share our loving affection for them.
O God Help Us!
Get along with one another. Inspire us to do our part to help our neighbors in need.
O God Help Us!
Be patient with each person, attentive to individual needs, and to be careful that we don’t snap at each other. Help us to look for the best in each other, and do our best to bring it out.
O God Help Us!
Pray without ceasing; giving thanks to You, O God in times of troubles and blessings.
O God Help Us!
To embrace your Spirit, Words and Love. To go where You lead us and spread your Peace.
O God, the Almighty One who makes us holy and whole, unite us in body, mind, spirit and soul.
In Christ’s Name. Amen

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