Search

prayer encounters

changing the world one prayer at a time

Open Search
Author

Paul Burns

Hubby, daddy, pastor, author, singer, cook, who believes that mesquite smoke and prayer can make the world a better place.

A Prayer for Citizenship

A couple of months ago I ran into a neighbor of mine as I was walking Chuy.  Dylan has a couple of Brittany spaniels that he walks regularly.  This was the first time I had seen him in front of his house.

I stopped and we chatted for a bit.  As I was leaving he said, “Keep me in your prayers tomorrow.  I’m taking my citizenship exam.”  He is from Ireland.  He explained that he could not find fulltime work if this happened and would likely have to leave the country.

I remembered my resolution to never delay to pray.  I said, “Would it be ok if I just prayed right now so I don’t forget to do it later.”  He looked at me like that was the most novel and surprising idea he had ever heard.  “Absolutely!” he responded.

I prayed for a good night sleep, confidence, and clarity of mind for his exam.  He thanked me and wished me a good day.

In the following days and weeks when I walked down his street I hoped to see him to hear the news, but I did not find him.  A few months passed and I begin to worry that the test did not work out and perhaps he had to go home.  But yesterday there he was walking his spaniels and talking to some other neighbors.

He hailed me from a few houses down, “Your prayer worked!  I passed the exam AND I got a job!”  He was beaming and his neighbors smiled as he recounted the experience and his extraordinary knowledge of the history of the U.S. Constitution.  I congratulated him and told him how good this news was to hear.  I was glad I would still see my fellow dog walker on this side of the pond.

Chuy and I left with joy and gratitude in our hearts.

As I walked down the street I thought about how much my view of neighborhood had changed from my days in Manhattan.  Neighbors were to be avoided no matter what country they were from.  After all you might be living beside a nut-job.  Best not to know.  Now I look for my neighbors.  I want to hear their news and celebrate with them when it is good.  It sure makes walking the dog much more enjoyable.

I am so glad to be a fellow citizen with Dylan.

0

A Prayer Father

I did not invent prayer encounters.  People have been praying with each other for who knows how long.

Prayer has been a part of my life since before I could remember.  However, yesterday I was reminded of one of the prayer inspirers of my life.

My dad’s best friend from college and a close friend to this day is Bill.  I grew up knowing Bill and his family all my life.  His children were cousins to me.  There is a lot I could write about this remarkable man, but not today.  He has had and continues to have a great spiritual influence on my life.

Yesterday, Jennifer, Nelson (our 4 month old son), and I were driving from Dallas to Houston on our Nelson 2012 whirlwind tour of Texas.  We stopped on the way to visit Bill and Pam, his wife.  Per usual we talked non-stop for an hour which could have easily become 6 had we not had a schedule to keep.

As we were leaving, while I was starting up the car, Bill took my hand and smiled broadly, “Let’s have a prayer before you leave.”  We all joined hands and he prayed for us and our new family.  It occurred to me in that moment, that he had always done this for me.  He never misses an opportunity to pray with others.

Thinking back through my life, Bill has shown up at random times with a word of guidance and a prayer that lifts me toward my ultimate Father.

Without a doubt Bill is one of my prayer fathers.  That I pray with others is in no small part because he prayed with me.

0

Paul Burns's avatarprayer encounters

In the past year, a member of our church was diagnosed with dementia and was placed in a nursing home. Mike still has a fair amount of awareness.  He knows his wife and he still knows me, but otherwise he lives in an alternate reality.  

The dementia has been coming on for a while, but he has suffered from other mental conditions for years.  He has an amazing mind, though.  He can still quote much of the Bible verbatim. 

Over the years I have prayed with him many times.  While he always asks for prayer he never really seems to be praying with me.  He doesn’t even close his eyes for Heaven’s sake! 

Today I went visit him at the nursing home.  I had my Ethiopian pastor friend Dereje with me.  Having just finished our pastors’ prayer group we were on our way to a committee meeting for a non-profit…

View original post 187 more words

0

Love to hear any observances of people praying with each other!

tsuLife's avatartsuLife

 

My friend was in the city the other day, when she saw a girl praying over another girl that she didn’t know. What an encouragement it was, to see someone so bold just to walk up ask if they needed prayer. Be bold today! Ask someone if they want prayer. If they say no, no worries cause the next yes can be life changing. -tsuLife Author

View original post

0

Why Eat Alone?

On Monday, I meet with fellow Presbyterians to study
the scriptures for the week. On Thursdays, I meet with pastors of
the Antioch/Priest Lake area of all kinds of denominational
variety to pray for the area and each other. I share a meal with
both groups.

I suppose I don’t need other pastors to study the Bible and
to pray. I could just lock myself up in my office, take the phone
of the hook, and do both in solitude. Certainly, solitude is
necessary at times in the week. However, I have found that
studying with others and praying with others yields much greater
results. It gets me beyond myself and my own experience. It
stretches me as a pastor and as a disciple.

I often imagine the disciples and Jesus sitting in a circle in
prayer and study and sharing some food and drink. I suppose
Jesus could have called his disciples and then told them to simply
stay at home and do homework, but that’s not how Jesus works.
Jesus and his band of disciples were a road show. They
didn’t stay anywhere for very long. Their environment changed
from day-to-day. They didn’t do anything on their own. They
did just about everything in community with each other and with
Jesus.

I believe that the Bible was meant to be read as a
community. The Spirit works through and among each of the
members and the fullness of the Word shines forth. When we
pray in community we hear a greater breadth of need and joy. It
takes us out of our own little ruts.

Consider expanding your circles of study and prayer. Allow the Spirit to shape you through community
that is available to us all!

Why eat alone when you could eat with
someone else?

0

Blog at WordPress.com.

Up ↑