The Five Finger Prayer

This is so neat. This is beautiful - and it is surely worth making the 5 finger prayer a part of our lives. What a lovely way to pray when we're not sure where to begin.

1. Your thumb is nearest you. So begin your prayers by praying for those closest to you. They are the easiest to remember. To pray for our loved ones is, as C. S. Lewis once said, a "sweet duty."

2. The next finger is the pointing finger. Pray for those who teach, instruct and heal. This includes teachers, doctors, and ministers. They need support and wisdom in pointing others in the right direction. Keep them in your prayers.

3. The next finger is the tallest finger. It reminds us of our leaders. Pray for the president, leaders in business and industry, and administrators. These people shape our nation and guide public opinion. They need God's guidance.

4. The fourth finger is our ring finger. Surprising to many is the fact that this is our weakest finger; as any piano teacher will testify. It should remind us to pray for those who are weak, in trouble or in pain. They need your prayers day and night. You cannot pray too much for them.

5. And lastly comes our little finger ; the smallest finger of all which is where we should place ourselves in relation to God and others. As the Bible says, "The least shall be the greatest among you." Your pinkie should remind you to pray for yourself. By the time you have prayed for the other four groups, your own needs will be put into proper perspective and you will be able to pray for yourself more effectively.

Trust - in HIS timing
Rely - on HIS promises
Wait - for HIS answers
Believe - in HIS miracles
Rejoice - in HIS goodness
and relax - in HIS presence.
Submitted by: Donna Koehler

Paul Harvey and Prayer

I don't believe in Santa Claus, but I'm not going to sue somebody for singing a Ho-Ho-Ho song in December. I don't agree with Darwin, but I didn't go out and hire a lawyer when my high school teacher taught his theory of evolution.

Life, liberty or your pursuit of happiness will not be endangered because someone says a 30-second prayer before a football game.

So what's the big deal? It's not like somebody is up there reading the entire book of Acts. They're just talking to a God they believe in and asking him to grant safety to the players on the field and the fans going home from the game.

"But it's a Christian prayer," some will argue.

Yes, and this is the United States of America, a country founded on Christian principles. According to our very own phone book, Christian churches outnumber all others better than 200-to-1. So what would you expect-somebody chanting Hare Krishna?

If I went to a football game in Jerusalem, I would expect to hear a Jewish prayer.

If I went to a soccer game in Baghdad, I would expect to hear a Muslim prayer.

If I went to a ping pong match in China, I would expect to hear someone pray to Buddha.

And I wouldn't be offended.
It wouldn't bother me one bit.
When in Rome ..

"But what about the atheists?" is another argument.

What about them?
Nobody is asking them to be baptized. We're not going to pass the collection plate. Just humor us for 30 seconds. If that's asking too much, bring a Walkman or a pair of ear plugs. Go to the bathroom. Visit the concession stand. Call your lawyer!

Unfortunately, one or two will make that call. One or two will tell thousands what they can and cannot do. I don't think a short prayer at a football game is going to shake the world's foundations.

Christians are just sick and tired of turning the other cheek while our courts strip us of all our rights. Our parents and grandparents taught us to pray before eating; to pray before we go to sleep.

Our Bible tells us to pray without ceasing. Now a handful of people and their lawyers are telling us to cease praying.

God, help us.
And if that last sentence offends you, well ... just sue me.

The silent majority has been silent too long. It's time we let that one or two who scream loud enough to be heard .... that the vast majority don't care what they want. It is time the majority rules! It's time we tell them, you don't have to pray; you don't have to say the pledge of allegiance; you don't have to believe in God or attend services that honor Him. That is your right, and we will honor your right. But by golly, you are no longer going to take our rights away. We are fighting back .
and we WILL WIN!

God bless us one and all . especially those who denounce Him. God bless America, despite all her faults. She is still the greatest nation of all.

God bless our service men who are fighting to protect our right to pray and worship God.

May 2005 be the year the silent majority is heard and we put God back as the foundation of our families and institutions.

Keep looking up.

Remind us, Lord, that the scary looking bum, begging for money in the same spot every day (who really ought to get a job) is a slave to addictions that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares.

Help us to remember that the old couple walking annoyingly slow through the store aisles and blocking our shopping progress are savoring this moment, knowing that, based on the biopsy report she got back last week, this will be the last year that they go shopping together.

Heavenly Father, remind us each day that, of all the gifts you give us, the greatest gift is love. It is not enough to share that love with those we hold dear. Open our hearts not to just those who are close to us, but to all humanity. Let us be slow to judge and quick to forgive, show patience, empathy and love.

Amen

"Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. I ask this in the name of our Lord and Savior. Amen."

Prayer Wheel: When you receive this, please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our troops around the world.

There is nothing attached.... This can be very powerful.... Just send this to all the
people in your address book. Do not stop the wheel, please.... Of all the gifts you could give a US Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Marine & others deployed in harm's way, Prayer is the very best one.

Oh, Great Spirit
Whose voice I hear in the winds,
And whose breath gives life to all the world,
hear me, I am small and weak,
I need your strength and wisdom.

Let me walk in beauty
and make my eyes ever behold the red and purple sunset.
Make my hands respect the things yours have made
and my ears sharp to hear your voice.
Make me wise so that I may understand
the things you have taught my people.
Let me learn the lessons you have
hidden in every leaf and rock.

I seek strength, not to be greater than my brother,
but to fight my greatest enemy - myself.
Make me always ready to come to you
with clean hands and straight eyes.
So when life fades, as the fading sunset,
my Spirit may come to you without shame.

- Chief Yellow Lark, Lakota -

(submitted by: Debbie Devore)

Father we thank you for our president and we ask your hand of safety around him,.. we ask for your guidance and your wisdom,.. that he may make the hard decisions,... as you would have him do. Father,... the weight upon his shoulders is great,... and he is undoubtedly weary,... we ask for you to strengthen him,... and to grant him peace in your arms during this time of chaos and second guessing. Father,... we ask that you not only place a hedge of protection around him,... but also for those in Iraq whose very lives are on the line,... protect them,... For the innocent Iraqis whom have suffered under the regime of a cruel dictator,.. grant them wisdom,... grant them strength and grant them your protection as well. Help them to accept and act on their own behalf to help overturn an evil regime,.. that they may take ownership of their future.

Father,... we ask for a hedge of protection around this great land that you have blessed us with,.... may we never take her for granted,.... keep our citizens safe and bring to justice those that would do her harm. As we approach Baghdad Lord,... I ask that you belay the command for Chemical weapons,... place it on the hearts of those in control the magnitude of what they are ordered to do,... especially to their own people. Give them a heart of compassion and let them think for themselves.

Father,... help us to remember that when we lend a hand to those whom have fallen,.. are oppressed,... to those that live in fear,... that we offer our hand to you. Let us never look at the world with eyes that only focus upon ourselves,.. for we know that you love them as much as you do us and we know that their suffering is also your own. That as your children,.. we have an obligation to reach out and help them,.. for those who have been blessed with much,.. much is also required.

Father I thank you and I praise you and I ask that Your will be done,... in each of us,.. in our world,.. and on this earth as it is done in heaven. Amen.
(submitted by: Donna Koehler Apr. 4, 03)

Psalm 1121:1-2 "I lift up my eyes to the hills---where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth." (submitted by: Larry Pedersen 2/18/03)