Prayer is Powerful

Posted on by Rev. Cleo Graham

Prayer is powerful. It’s a treasured investment. It’s free, available to everyone and useful. You can freely give it to anyone and freely receive it without conditions. The rewards are greater than we can imagine. When we park and pray at 1:11 pm, we set aside a time and place to intentionally enter into God’s presence.  We knock on God’s door with wonder and expectation. God knows our name, understands our desires, hears our prayers, and fulfills our needs according to God’s will and promises. We set ourselves up for heartache when we schedule God’s response to our prayer. Our internal alarm clock rings and we expect God to disregard divine time and immediately obey our timed commands. Anxious and discouraged, we let go of our prayers and praying. We experiment with other ways to fill the void. Finally, we lament, “Lord have mercy!”  It’s 1:11 pm, let’s pause, rest, stop, PARK and PRAY at 1:11 pm:

Awesome God, forgive us for worrying about matters that seem to make us more anxious. Thank you for reminding us that “truly you know the plans you have for us, to prosper and to give us a future and a hope.”(Jeremiah 29:11) God, you know what we need for today and tomorrow. Make your presence known to us all. Comfort all who are afflicted. Heal all who are wounded and brokenhearted., Satisfy our hunger and thirst for your grace, righteousness, goodness, and mercy.  Bring relief to all who are without shelter and loving support.
We pray in Thy Holy Name. Amen.

The R.I Promise

Posted on by Rev. Cleo Graham

I believe the R.I. Promise opens the doors to a better future for Rhode Islanders. 
Please visit http://www.RIpromise.com
Please join me in a virtual prayer for divine intervention. “Park and Pray at 1:11 pm” Wherever you are and whatever you’re doing at 1:11 pm please stop, park and pray:

Holy One, we give thanks to you for your infinite power and unconditional love. Bless us with wisdom to overcome our limitations and nurture our gifts. Bless the RI Promise, as a way that many may achieve a fulfilling life. Bless us with these and other seeds to grow our society. Bless our present and future generations with a future that holds your promises for us. Amen.

To learn more about the Rhode Island Promise Scholarship proposal, please visit http://www.RIpromise.com

Reverent Submission

Posted on by Rev. Cleo Graham

img_1413-1Friends, I am convinced that when we park and pray at 1:11 pm we engage in reverent submission. When we practice reverent submission we release our hands and our hold on our lives. We surrender our will and allow space for God’s will to manifest in our lives.

When we say the Lord’s Prayer, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” What is God’s will for us and for our situations? We often believe our will is not satisfied when God’s will, different from our will, prevails.

Friends, trust God to hear your fervent prayers and petitions. Depend on God to do whatever is best in your life. Pray, asking in Christ’s name. Just as Jesus’ prayers were heard you will be heard because of your reverent submission.

Prayer

Dear God, we long to do your will. Thank you for teaching us how to pray through lessons on Jesus’ prayer life. Help us to release our will, which holds us back from discerning your will. May the righteous desires of our hearts be fulfilled. In Christ name, we pray. Amen.

Biologist affirms Park and Pray at 1:11 pm

Posted on by Rev. Cleo Graham

matsumoto-700

“Everyday prayer is a cleansing and healing spiritual experience” Dr. Lloyd Matsumoto
http://www.ric.edu/biology/Pages/newsMatsumoto.aspx

Several months ago, Dr. Lloyd Matsumoto, a renowned RI College Professor of Biology, sent the following Blog for Park and Pray affirming it as an everyday prayer that “is a cleansing and healing spiritual practice.”  He retired, June 2017 after 34 years of service. Dr. Matsumoto is a remarkable liver transplant recipient, whose method of transplant contributed to the advancement of science. Matsumoto joined a clinical trial at Massachusetts General Hospital, and he became one of three patients to participate in an experimental method of organ transport.  Lloyd and his wife Terry are members of Beneficent Congregational Church United Church of Christ. IMG_1361Dr. Lloyd Matsumoto appreciates the power of prayer through his own personal experiences and relationship with God. His high risk surgeries and significant medical and surgical challenges didn’t change his commitment to pray daily. Lloyd believes God’s grace and his faith in the Divine saved his life. Prayer is a staple in his life.

Scientific Evidence Suggests Prayers Positive Effect

In 1988, Cardiologist Randolph Byrd conducted a landmark study at San Francisco General Hospital on the positive therapeutic effects of intercessory prayer on cardiac care patients.  The control group or patients who did not receive intercessory prayer required ventilator assistance, antibiotics, and diuretics more frequently than patients in the Intercessory Prayer group. This study and other data suggest that a prayer mediator or intercessory prayer to the Judeo-Christian God has a beneficial therapeutic effect in patients admitted to a CCU. This study laid the ground work for other related studies.  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3393937

Try the A-C-T-S Prayer Method 

Adoration Loving God you're amazing!
Confession Merciful God I confess my sins and ask forgiveness.
Thanks Lord I come before you with praise and thanksgiving 
Supplication Almighty God help, save, heal and bless me.
I ask in the powerful name of my Savior, the Christ. Amen.

Prayer Chants (spoken repeatedly):

The Jesus Prayer – “Jesus Christ, Son of God have mercy on me.”

A Prayer for Mercy & Thanks – “Lord have mercy.” and “God, we thank you.”

God Is Able

Posted on by Rev. Cleo Graham

Are you able to ask God to supply your needs?

You’re invited to “Park and Pray at 1:11” pm in spirit with us.

God is awesome and radically able to do more than we imagine.  image

The One Who Made a Cross

Posted on by Rev. Cleo Graham

The hidden cross is not hiding from us. It’s offering us the naked truth about the Resurrection. He’s no longer here. Christ is risen, indeed he’s risen.

The naked cross is not naked. It is only stripped of the crucified one. It’s smooth brown satin finish reminds us that God can wash all our sins away. We are set free.

The cross, the nails and a stand holds us upright. The cross shields us from the intersection of life and death. Oh cross stay with us while we catch our breath.

The cross leads us, guide us and walks with us all the way. Show us how to care for you cross. Should we carry our burdens on our shoulders?

Breath on me, oh lovely cross. Fall down on my knees. Teach me to seek forgiveness. Oh cross that I may forgive all this day and always. In the name of one who bore the Cross. Amen.

Have You a Zechariah Moment?

Posted on by Rev. Cleo Graham

“Let the trees of the forest sing for joy.” Ps 96:17      Artist Barbara Whatmough

“Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John.”  Luke 1:11-13 NIV

Reflection

How often have you prayed and wondered if your prayers have been heard? Maybe the answer to your prayer is not what you expected to hear. Maybe fear stands in the way of you knowing your prayer has been heard and already answered. In a figurative sense try meeting God at the right side of the altar. Breathe deep and release all fears. Receive the assurance that your prayer has been heard. Now boldly go forth and testify. Thank the Still Hearing and Speaking God for hearing and answering all prayers.

Let us pray

Spirit of the Living God fall fresh on me. Call my attention to the many ways you speak to me. Open my ears so I will hear you. Help me to know that you answered my prayer. Open my eyes so I will see the path forward and move according to your will.  I release all fear and I celebrate the joy of your presence in my life. In praise and thanks I pray in my Savior’s name. Amen

 

Just Pull Over

Posted on by Rev. Cleo Graham

It’s hard to drive while having a conversation with God.Sometimes we have to just stop and pull over. It takes all the strength left within to say “Lord have mercy!” Some things make us want to holler and throw up both our hands. What we see and what we hear these days troubles our thoughts. Then once and a while a sweet current blows our way and reminds us that we are not alone. God is present in the midst of changes, chaos, surprises, blessings and more. Sometimes we come face to face with a Stop sign that we ought to obey. It nudges us to stop, park and pray at 1:11 pm because we can make a difference in our lives and their lives.