Plowshare Prayer Lyrics & Song by Spencer LaJoie

Posted on by Rev. Cleo Graham

Have you ever heard or read prayers that speak to your heart and soul? I’ve written many prayers that soothed my aches and strengthened my relationship with the Holy One. Many of those prayers I haven’t shared with you. Those prayers are like lyrics associated with music I imagine. Lately, I have listened to prayers that are also songs. I feel as if I receive a double blessing. It soothes my heart and soul. I hope the Plowshare Prayer by Spencer LaJoie does the same for you too!

Let us park and pray this prayer at 1:11 pm. Listen and/or Read the Plowshare Prayer. Tap this link for the YouTube video.Let us pray and/or hear this prayer: https://youtu.be/MhOZv5i7CHY

Dear blessed creator, dear mother, dear savior
Dear father, dear brother, dear holy other
Dear sibling, dear baby, dear patiently waiting
Dear sad and confused, dear stuck and abused
Dear end-of-your-rope, dear worn out and broke,
Dear go-it-alone, dear running from home
Dear righteously angry, forsaken by family
Dear jaded and quiet, dear tough and defiant
I pray that I’m heard
And I pray that this works
I pray if a prayer has been used as a sword against you and your heart, against you and your word
I pray that this prayer is a plowshare, of sorts that it might break you open, it might help you grow
I pray that your body gets all that it needs
and if you don’t want healing, I just pray for peace
I pray that your burden gets lighter each day
I pray the mean voice in your head goes away
I pray that you honor the grief as it comes
I pray you can feel all the life in your lungs
I pray that if you go all day being brave
that you can go home, go to bed feeling safe
I pray you’re forgiven, I pray you forgive
I pray you set boundaries and openly live
I pray that you feel you are worth never leaving I pray that you know I will always believe you
I pray that you’re heard
and I pray that this works
Amen on behalf of the last and the least
On behalf of the anxious, depressed, and unseen
Amen for the workers, the hungry, the houseless
Amen for the lonely and recently spouseless
Amen for the queers and their closeted peers
Amen for the bullied who hold in their tears
Amen for the mothers of little Black sons
Amen for the kids who grow up scared of guns
Amen for the addicts, the ashamed and hungover
Amen for the calloused, the wisened, the sober
Amen for the ones who want life to be over Amen for the leaders who lose their composure
Amen for the parents who just lost their baby
Amen for the chronically ill and disabled
Amen for the children down at the border
Amen for the victims of our law and order
I pray that you’re heard
and I pray that this works
I pray if a prayer has been used as a sword against you and your heart, against you and your
word
I pray that this prayer is a plowshare, of sorts.

It’s 1:11 p.m! Where Are You?

Posted on by Rev. Cleo Graham

It’s 1:11 p.m! Where are you praying?

It was a sunny day when I parked under this tree to pray at 1:11 p.m. Here’s what happened.

After praying I looked down and the ground was covered with blackberries!

I looked up at the trees above my head and I snatched a handful of this sweet fruit.

I looked up at the trees above my head and I snatched a handful of this sweet fruit.

I stayed under the covering of these beautiful trees and I enjoyed these gifts.

I embraced the sunlight that pierced through the branches. I stayed and prayed.

Lord, I give thanks with a grateful heart for our time together. Thank you for your grace. Your blessings are unconditional and your love is boundless. Your Fruits of the Spirit nourishes the body, mind and spirit. Lord help your spiritually malnourished children receive you and use your food according to your will. Bless all with a constant flow of compassion for all your children. May serving you with passion be our first and last meal of each day.

Parking and Praying at 1:11 p.m. in our Savior’s name. Amen

Why Park and Pray at 1:11 pm?

Posted on by Rev. Cleo Graham

I needed a time to press the reset button. There are days when I need to restore the Peace that God gives us early, just before we’re awake. Sometimes in my haste to start the day, I forget to receive the gift of God’s Peace. Prayer is a way to receive the Peace.