How do you pray?

The evolution of a prayer.

Depending on what or who you read, there are over 650 prayers in the Bible. Twenty five of those are recorded from Jesus.  

How do we pray? Finding a spouse is going to be our example. “Dear Lord, bring me a spouse. Here is my list of requirements; must have a job. Good teeth, dentures are okay. Treats me good. Great sense of humor. Must be a Christian. Must love my pet. Not as much as I do just he can’t be mean to my pet. If he is retired, willingness to be a house husband. I know no spouse is going to look like Hugh Jackman, but he needs to at least be conscious of his health.” Insert more requirements as you see fit.

Let’s assume you pray this prayer every night for 5 years and nothing happens. Then you tweek it a little. You still want a Christian spouse. Who know’s if your pet is still living? You don’t want an animal hater. How has the political climate changed? Maybe you can’t be attached to someone that voted a certain way. Or thinks (for example) women’s rights are unimportant. You pray your revised prayer every night for another 5 years. 

You revise your prayer again. You still want a spouse. One that is kind. One with a great sense of humor that alines with yours. But it’s okay if he’s not a Christian as long as he supports your faith. Maybe he can even help you learn more and you can both grow together?

Maybe you pray this prayer for a while. Or you just all together stop. Prayer is stupid. You’ve been alone for at least 12 years now. Prayed every night and nothing! Oh, there have been a few dates here and there. But nothing you can really sink your emotions into. You feel like God isn’t listening to you. You are no better off today than you were 12 years ago. This doesn’t have to be about a spouse. Your prayer can be for a home, a child, a new career. Whatever you might be praying about or for. 

You hear a story on the news about a woman and her 3 children that were killed by her husband, the children’s father and you say a quick prayer, ‘thank you God for not bringing a man like that into my life. If that is all there is left out there, I’ll just stay single’.

When the disciples asked Jesus how to pray, he answered them saying; Matthew 6: 5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” ESV

Luke 11: 1-13, he tought them the Lords Prayer, 2 He said to them, “When you pray, say: “‘Father, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread.4 Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’” ESV

Ephesians 3:12 “12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.” ESV We are encouraged to be bold when we pray. There is a saying, “the answer is always no until you ask.” Asked God boldly. 

Jesus did, he asked God boldly to take this cup from me. Luke 22: 42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” 43 And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. ESV

Have you ever prayed so hard that your sweat became like blood? I haven’t. We think we pray in earnest. The way our human brains understand how to be earnest. 

God the father told Jesus no. We know from Bible stories that Jesus was crucified. We know the cup was not removed from Jesus. Doesn’t that just smack you in the face? God told Jesus, his beloved son (Matthew 3:17) no. 

We have the pleasure of knowing why. Jesus died on the cross to atone for humanity’s sins. He paid the price so we wouldn’t have to. For the wages of sin are death. Romans 6:23. ESV

God told Jesus no. How much better are we than Jesus? Let’s stick to our singles prayer. What have you been doing in all this time that you are single? Have you been working for God’s kingdom? Have you been able to work out why you are still single? 

Jesus Christ, the Apostle Paul, Jeremiah, John the Baptist, Mary Magdalene, Martha, and Lydia, Miriam, Lazarus, Phoebe and Timothy; are all examples of single people in the Bible. Read about all the amazing things they did for the Kingdom of God using their singleness. 

What big prayer have you been praying for or about? Can you find someone in the Bible that God said no to that you completely understand how they must have felt?

We want our answers to be yes. Or to swing in our favor. We don’t want to live through the pain that being told no creates. As for being single, society puts so much pressure on us to find a spouse. After all, it’s more profitable for everyone. From contractors to lawyers; from a bigger home to getting a divorce, there be money in them there emotions. 

Answers are hard. Especially answers we don’t want to hear. Keep your prayer line open. Keep talking to God. We may never know the answers on this side of Heaven. I do know, that when you stop talking to God, Satan is licking his lips. 

334 days of photos

Recently; while scrolling through WordPress, I came across a blogger who was doing 365 days of photos. Love, love, love the idea. Sadly, I’ve missed a month; hence the 334 days. Starting Feb. 1 through the end of the year, I’m going to do 2 post per day. One will be my normal writing themes. And one will just be a photo.

Taken with an iPhone.

It’s story time!

Your story or poem can be as long or as short as you want it to be. All four pieces below have to be used. Go wild. 

The only thing is, you can’t kill your main character. 

Post your work in the comments below. Feel free to tag and share. 

Here are your story lines:

1. Person who never gives up

2. Plastic surgeon

3. Secret meeting

4. library

Coreopsis 10 – C

   The streets of Saltora were filled with people. “Sarah!” She heard her name being called. When she looked over her right shoulder she saw Fred. He ran across the street to greet her. She wiped frantically at her face to hide her tears.

   “What are you doing here?” He huffed.

   “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.” She looked around. Music filled the air; people were dancing and carrying on. “What is going on here?” They walked down the street together.

   “This is the Festival Saltora. They are celebrating the founding of the city.”

   “Oh, isn’t that special.” She hissed. “I’m sorry. I have to get in a better mood.”

   “Well, since I have found you out of the office, I will make sure you have a great time while you are here.” 

   “Right,” She laughed.

   “Shirley told me you were going out of town for a while to see a friend.”

   “Yes, I am. Where are you going?”

   “I’m not quite there yet.”

   They walked upon a group of people dancing. “I love Selira music.” He started to sway against the music. 

   “You are doing that all wrong. You have to sway with the music not against it.”

   “What would you know about it?”

   “Listen to the music. Listen to what it is saying.” She closed her eyes and started swaying her hips. It was like she was in a trance. The music over took her. This was a side to her that Fred had never seen before; a side that he really liked. Before long a little circle cleared out around her. People where hooting and hollering. A strange fellow joined her. It was as if they had dance together all their lives.

   “I had no idea she could do that,” Fred spoke aloud.

   He hadn’t noticed Orion standing beside of him. Orion thought he would play it cool, “who is she?”

   “Co-worker and a friend,” Fred smiled. He still didn’t turn to look at Orion. 

   “She seems talented.”

   “She is amazing.” He started wiggling to the music. 

   “Have you ever asked her out?”

   “Yeah, but I work with her. She will not date co-workers.” Fred finally turned to see the man he was talking to. Orion stood like a tower over him. “What business is it of yours?” Fred snapped.

   “None what so ever.”

   Sarah stopped dancing and everyone applauded.

   “Hi bro.” Juliah stood beside of Orion. “She was great wasn’t she?” Orion put his arm around Juliah’s shoulder.

  “What are you doing here?”  

   “I am the Grand Marshalette of the parade tomorrow.” She giggled. 

   “I thirst.” Sarah panted as she joined Fred. She glared at Orion.

   “Let’s all go get something to drink.” Orion offered. 

   They found a quiet little restaurant in the mist of the bustling festival. 

   “So,” Juliah started the conversation. “This excellent dancer is Dr. Carter’s guest?”

   “Yes, I am.”

   “Sarah, this is my sister Juliah.” Orion introduced her.

   “A pleasure,” She nodded. “Orion, Juliah, this is my co-worker and friend Fred.” 

   Fred nodded. 

   The waiter came over to take their order. “Oh my, this is my lucky day. What can I get everyone?”

   Juliah ordered water as did Orion. Sarah ordered unsweet tea and Fred ordered sweet tea.

   “Sarah, you need to contact the office.” Fred filled her in on the events since she had been away. “Shirley is driving everyone crazy.”

   “How so?”

   “Oh man, were do I start. Dr. Finch is getting Dr. French’s messages and vis versa. Dr. Hamm is about to kill her because she isn’t filing things the way he wants them done.” 

   The waiter brought their drinks. “Can I get anyone anything else?”

   Everyone nodded no. 

   “The office will not fall apart while I am gone. What is everyone doing to help Shirley?”

   “Nothing except dumping more work on her.”

   “And you?”

   “I have helped her do some filing and answering the phone. But I have my own job to do.”

   “Good, I am glad to hear that you are trying to help her.” She took a drink of her tea.

   “Why is this your responsibility?” Orion asked.

   “It’s my business.”

   “Oh, I see.”

   “So tell me,” Fred asked. “Where did you learn to dance like that?” 

   “My uncle taught me.”

   “What an uncle?” He smiled.

   “That was great. Can you teach me how to do that?” Juliah asked.

   “I can try.” 

   “You teach someone how to do something?” Fred joked.

   “You be still, I taught you everything you know. You couldn’t even dress yourself until you came to work for me.” 

   “That lavender shirt looks like one of your creations.” He nodded at Orion.

   “What is wrong with his lavender shirt?” The waiter blushed filling up the water glasses. “That color looks great.”

   “Yeah, I was going to ask you about that.” Juliah spoke. “I think it looks great. It takes a real man to wear pastels.”

   “See, smarty pants. How many dates have you had since you started dressing like you have half a working brain?”

   “You got me there.” Fred laughed.

   “There,” she nodded.

   “There is nothing better than a sharp dressed man.” Juliah smiled patting Orion on the shoulder.

   “Perhaps one that smells good.” Sarah laughed.

   “Right on sister.” Juliah cheered.

   They toasted their glasses. 

   “You are right Orion, your sister would be better suited as an escort.” Sarah growled.

   “I am sure she would have helped you eat your bagels as well.”

   “I had help.”

   “Oh yes, the porter. What’s his name?”

   Juliah and Fred glanced at each other then at Sarah and Orion. 

   “He is a really nice fellow. And his name is Josh. Have you ever tried to get to know the people around you or do you just order them around like slaves?”

   “When the occasion calls for me to ask?”

   “Oh, I see. The occasion calls for you to be put up with me. Well, let me tell you what, once we get to Castle Morian,” she sourly reported, “You will not have to be put up with me any longer.”

   She moved to leave. Orion was sitting in the corner and couldn’t get out. At that moment, the waiter stepped behind her. “Don’t let her leave,” Orion wiggled out of his corner. 

   “Get out of my way.” She hissed at the waiter, “or this will not be your lucky day.”

   “Now who do you think I am going to obey?” The waiter scoffed.

   “I know 20 pressure points just by looking at you that I can touch and make you fall down.”

   “Right lady.”

   Orion was now standing beside of the waiter. “Leave.”

   “Yes sir.”

   As soon as the waiter left, she headed for the street. Orion didn’t have the strength to hold her on his own.

   “Man what have you said to her?” Fred went after her.

   “What did you say to her?” Juliah asked.

   

    Orion sat down in the seat where Fred had been setting. “I don’t know.”

   “This has really messed you up.” 

   “What makes you say that?”

   “You are acting differently.”

   “Last time anyone said that to me, I developed some horrible illness.”

   “Well, not that you asked, but you can either make her talk about it. Or move on.” Juliah smiled.

   He closed his eyes. 

   “The lavender really does look good on you. You know I wouldn’t lie to you. I haven’t yet.” 

   “Walk back to the train with me, help me figure out what I said wrong.”

   “Of course.”

Claustrophobia

     Kathy was rewarding herself with the vacation of a life time. 50. She made it to 50. And it was time to celebrate. Her best friend had talked her into going on a singles cruise. It didn’t have to be a singles cruise but she had always wanted to take one. So away she went. Nerves in tow. This trip would help her overcome her debilitating claustrophobia. 

     Everything was going along well. Calm water. Blue sky’s. Valium just incase. And social mixers galore. She almost felt like a wallflower. The more the alcohol flowed; the wilder the party got. The more she backed away. Day 2 into the cruise left her thinking, ‘maybe this was a mistake’. 

     She walked up to a balcony. Being a country girl, she had seen her share of stars. These stars were different. Brighter. Closer than they had ever seemed. Maybe, she could reach up and touch one? Pluck it out of the sky and hold it in her hand. She pulled her shawl tighter around her shoulders. The air was getting colder. It wasn’t so cold that it would chase her inside. The stars had her captivated. Mindlessly, she caressed the cross hanging from her neck. God’s stars in God’s sky. 

     This was something else. She had never seen this much water in her whole life. If you could take all the drops of water from the rain, creeks, lakes, and rivers, they would never amount to the volume of water all around her. God’s water. 

      Though it looked black, she daydreamed about all the animals that lived under there. At one point in her life, she had played with the idea of being a marine biologist. How amazing it would be to hire a submarine and watch them in their world. 

     Kathy was violently thrown from her bed. Waking just before she hit the floor. When she stepped into the hall, she was swept up in the mass of screaming bodies. Pushed up to an upper deck. Crammed into a life vest, before being physically thrown on a life boat. 

     “Damn!” A man sitting beside her hissed under his breath as the huge ship groaned, as it rolled in the water. The screams had long since died down. The cold was setting in. The people in the small life boat started to huddle together to stay warm. Many of them in nothing but their p.j.s. 

      “How many of us do you think made it?” A small feminine voice asked.

     “We haven’t made it yet.” A husky masculine voice growled. 

     Cold silence filled the space once again. 

     Kathy touched her neck to stroke her cross. Shock overtook her. She didn’t have her necklace on. Then she remembered, she never slept in her jewelry. A wave of sadness overtook her. That necklace had been a gift. A gift from a fellow Christian friend. In a lot of cases it was her worry stone. She would rub it as a silent prayer to God. How was she going to be able to tell her friend she lost this gift? This would devastate her friend. It was such a precious gift. Panic rippled through her. The night closed in. She had to get off this boat! Now! She had to get off now!

     Kathy woke in a dark, cold environment. “Next.” She heard from somewhere. Before being pulled back to sleep. 

     “Hey, hey,” a small voice shook her. “Wake up lady.”

     “Leave me the fuck alone.” Kathy instantly regretted using that word. 

     The shocked lady that she was abrasive toward, held up her hands as she backed away. 

    Sleep took her again, she woke in that dark cold environment. “Dear God, would someone please bring me someone interesting.” A voice rang out in the dark. “I’m so sick of studying claustrophobics. Bring me someone with a better phobia to do these experiments on!”

*I finally got to write to my own prompt. 🤣

It’s story time!

Lost Past; A Star Trek Story

Paramount Global owns the Star Trek franchise. This is a piece of fan fiction based on Star Trek the Next Generation.

Really awake

    Data drew a sharp breath as those soft hands slid around his waist. There was the slightest amount of pressure as she laid her head on his back. “Hello there.”

    “Hmm, hi.” She snuggled against him.  “What do you call this room?”

     “It is our arboretum.”

     “Do you spend a lot of time in here?”

     “More recently than I ever have.”

      “I understand why.”

     “Tell me because I do not understand. I am drawn to this room all of a sudden.”

     “It looks like my suite in the palace.”

     “Was I there?”

     “Yes, we were there a year.”

     “I cannot remember it.”

     “It will come back to you.”

     “You keep saying that. I keep trying.”

     “Don’t push it. Learn as you go.

     “It hurts, Sher.”

     “How?”

     “If I had a heart, it would be heavy. I feel like I want to cry without knowing why.”

     “Then cry, work out your feelings.”

He fell to his knees. “You have all of your memories in tact. You know what we had. I cannot share in that rapture. It is tearing me apart inside.” He turned toward her. She sat beside of him. Her hair was growing. It looked like an extremely short haircut now.

     “I’m not sure which way to help you. There are so many of ways.”

      “What is the best way?”

     “To let you remember things in your own time.”

     “I was afraid you were going to say that.”

     “I know. You want to know everything and know it now. Think of your past as a research project. Make every new thing you learn one more piece to the overall puzzle.”

     “That is easier said than done.”

     “It always is.” She kissed him. He couldn’t breathe. He held her closer. He wouldn’t let the kiss end.

     “I do not ever want to lose you again.” His eyes were heavy with tears.

     “That, my love, is entirely up to you.”

     “What does that mean?” He sniffed.

     “There is no hidden meaning to it. No riddles.”

     “You know about Tasha?”

     “Of course.” She smiled.

     “And you are not upset.”

     “Should I be?”

     Data thought for a moment. “That is up to you.”

     “Well then, no, I am not. I am glad you experimented. Plus, you never knew we existed. I would have gotten upset if you had remembered me.”

     He caressed her face. She closed her eyes allowing her sense of touch to absorb his fingers. When he kissed her, goose bumps danced across her skin.

     “Do you promise I will remember everything?”

     “It will take time. Perhaps more time than you are willing to allow but it will all come back to you.” He recaptured her lips. “What are you thinking right now?” She whispered.

     “How well I know those soft lips. How delicate your touch is. I am enjoying this feeling I feel.”

     “What feeling is that?”

     “All of my emotions are alert. Most of all I feel vulnerable.”

     “Vulnerable? I never would have imagined that.”

     “I feel like anything you want, I will do it. I am completely at your mercy.”

     “I like that.” She smiled. He laid his head in her lap.

     “I enjoy being with you.”

     “As do I.” She stroked his hair. “I feel at peace to be near you. I have a sense of overwhelming love. Why is that?”

     “I invoke in you what you want most. With you peace, you have struggled for so long to want to be human that peace with your desires is what you crave. That overwhelming sense of love is two fold.”

     “Because we love each other we both feel it?”

     “Correct, my Prince.” She continued to play with his hair. “When did you start weighing your hair down with gel?”

     “I have always fixed it this way.”

     “Have you?”

     He smiled, “I assume not.” He released a long sigh. “I could go to sleep with

you doing that.”

     “Then go. I have fallen asleep on you before.”

     He stared deep into her eyes. In the recesses of her mind, he knew she was weak. He could see it. Outwardly she was trying to be strong. She was doing the bare minimum of what her body would allow her to do. He did fall asleep on her lap: a true genuine sleep.

Coreopsis 10 – b

   Sarah had only eaten half of her bagel. Orion just stared at it. “That looks so good. But I know what is going to happen if I try it.” He closed his eyes. She didn’t say a word. “If I hang around you, I am going to be around food?”

   “What was your first clue?” She snapped. 

   He stared at her in amazement, studying her face. She didn’t at all look happy about his comment. Angry in fact. It was a different anger than what he saw before. Okay, he thought, where do I go from here? 

   She left. 

   God what did I do? He watched her walk away. She had the roundest butt he had ever watched. 

   There was nowhere on this stupid train to hide. She just wanted to run away. Instead she found comfort sitting on the stairs watching the gravels blur past. 

   He turned back around stretching his long jean clad legs out into her chair. The bagel was still lying on the table. Before long, it had transformed into her butt. There it was, her perfectly round butt was staring back at him. The light brown bagel with dots of blueberries scattered throughout; smother with cream cheese transformed itself into a flowing light brown skirt adorned with large white flowers. The flowers had delicate blue centers. All he wanted to do was set there and stare at her. 

   How did he know this was going to happen? This couldn’t happen. In the middle of his vision, he heard Floria’s voice. “I loath you?” She hissed. Her face then appeared. “You are not the man of my dreams.” The image of her face became distorted. “I will make sure this marriage doesn’t work.” Her voice became indistinct, almost robotic laughing at him. “Eat this.” Her laughing became hysterical. 

   “Oh dear God.” He moaned, sinking down in the chair. Finally, he got up. He didn’t know what he did but he had to make it right. 

   The car door behind Sarah slid open. “Child, what are you doing out here?” an older female voice call to her. 

   “Just watching.” She pointed out the door. 

   The lady sat down beside of her. She was someone’s grandmother. Sarah longed for a grandmother. “What did he do?”

   Sarah stared at her for a moment. This lady had kind green eyes. “Excuse me?”

   “Honey,” she flopped her hand back and forth. “He always does something. They say the wrong thing. They make funny noises. They wear weird clothing. They try to order for us. They never, never, never, get it right. You will be lucky if once in your life he gets it right.”

   “What makes you think a man is at the root of my problem?”

   “Aren’t they always child?”

   “80% of the time.”

   “No, 99% of the time.” She corrected Sarah.

   The door slid open again. “Norma! Norma! Where are you woman?”

   “I am sitting down here Edgar.” She hissed, “What do you want?”

   A stately gentleman leaned out the door. “Who is she?”

   “What business is it of yours Edgar, go eat your soup.”

   “Woman, stop telling me what to do.” He stepped out into the corridor. “Honey, don’t listen to a thing this bat tells you. It’s a bunch of hooey.” He snorted. 

   Sarah couldn’t help but smile.

   “What are you doing sitting out here?” Norma asked.

   “A product of my own design.”

   “Nonsense.” Edgar rattled. “Nonsense.” He banged on the door to the car Sarah and Orion were sharing.

   The train whistle blew bringing Orion out of his stupor. He might have fallen asleep but he wasn’t sure. When he looked around him, he was very much aware that Sarah wasn’t there. A trimmer of panic rumbled through his head. He heard a knock from the corridor. When he opened the door, he found an elderly gentleman standing there with his back to Orion. “May I help you?”

    “Young man.” He turned to face Orion. “Norma!” He directed his attention toward his wife but his eyes were transfixed on Orion.

   “What Edgar?” She looked up. Neither of them knew what to say.

   “Count, Countess,” Orion greeted them.

   That figures, Sarah thought. Everyone is someone. 

   “We are sorry, sir.”

   The train was slowing down. 

   “This is awkward,” Norma blushed. She stood up, glancing at Edgar.

   The train gave a jerk as it continued to slow down. “I guess we should go.” Edgar cleared his throat.

   The train jerked again as it came to a complete stop. The retractable doors slid open. Everyone heard the conductor say, “Saltora!”

   Sarah litterly jumped to the platform. 

   Orion took a deep breath. “Not only is she a doctor, she’s a woman.” He went back into their car to put on a pair of shoes.

   Norma and Edgar where still standing in the corridor in shock. Orion walked past them off the train.