Praying Scripture

The Psalms is the Old Testament book that is most quoted by New Testament authors and in many cases these passages are revealing, reflecting, and finding their ultimate fulfillment in the person of Jesus. We're going to step inside the Psalms in this series and meet Jesus there. Personal Update: Ever have “one fo those days?” Well, last week I had 7 of them! It seemed as if nothing went right. And I started to let my circumstances influence how I felt about myself. But our circumstances don't define us, God does.  About Prayer The fact that God wants us to talk to him, that he listens and responds…that should spark awe in us and bring forth worship. Weekly Prayer Focus & Today's Verses Worship:  1 John 4:10 & Romans 8:35, 38-39 Prayer:  Psalm 132:11-12 & Matthew 22:41-46 My evening Facebook posts focus on praying scripture. I'd love you to join the conversation there:  https://www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad/?eid=ARCg61S6YS1PwfD3586KvFAKYejoFjUYR51xO_BHv9xbo9L2063w_hFGdXmlNnjJV3qQ_nvmesJFJ9He (www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad) Or, connect with Grace & the Gravel Road out on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad (www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad) If you're interested in how to meditate on scripture, check out this link: https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate (https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate) http://www.graceandthegravelroad.com (www.graceandthegravelroad.com)

“Indeed, the practices of Christian spirituality, which we often treat as mini accomplishments, are meant to undo our fixation on accomplishment. They are meant to remind us how to live by grace rather than performance.” - Justin Ariel Bailey Today we're praying about what we pursue and how we pursue it. Personal Update: Last week, we spent a day sorting through the belongings of my ex-husband after his death.It was a difficult, sweaty job and it really got me thinking about the “stuff” I have accumulated over the years. About the story my possessions would tell if a stranger were going through them. About Prayer Our lives and our relationships all experience “seasons.” Let's talk about what that means for our prayer lives. Weekly Prayer Focus & Today's Verses Worship:  Psalm 90:1-4 Prayer:  Ephesians 2:8-10 and Philippians 3:10-14 My evening Facebook posts focus on praying scripture. I'd love you to join the conversation there:  https://www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad/?eid=ARCg61S6YS1PwfD3586KvFAKYejoFjUYR51xO_BHv9xbo9L2063w_hFGdXmlNnjJV3qQ_nvmesJFJ9He (www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad) Or, connect with Grace & the Gravel Road out on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad (www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad) If you're interested in how to meditate on scripture, check out this link: https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate (https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate) http://www.graceandthegravelroad.com (www.graceandthegravelroad.com)

In a 2013 blog post, Seth Godin, marketing and thinker extraordinaire, has said this, “Measurement is fabulous. Unless you're busy measuring what's easy to measure as opposed to what's important.” He wasn't talking about spiritual things. But he was talking about the results of measuring the wrong things and the importance of measuring the important things. Exactly what we're going to pray about today. Personal Update: We have a new family member in the house, my mom got a dog! And, oh boy, had we forgotten what it's like to have a toddler, I mean, puppy, around! About Prayer We've been talking about our postures in prayer, how we use our body to communicate. Today we're going to look at a related topic: how we use our voice. How can we bring our full selves to prayer in an emotionally authentic way? Weekly Prayer Focus & Today's Verses Worship:  Zephaniah 3:17 Prayer:  John 12:42-43 and Mark 12:28-33 My evening Facebook posts focus on praying scripture. I'd love you to join the conversation there:  https://www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad/?eid=ARCg61S6YS1PwfD3586KvFAKYejoFjUYR51xO_BHv9xbo9L2063w_hFGdXmlNnjJV3qQ_nvmesJFJ9He (www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad) Or, connect with Grace & the Gravel Road out on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad (www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad) If you're interested in how to meditate on scripture, check out this link: https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate (https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate) http://www.graceandthegravelroad.com (www.graceandthegravelroad.com)

I was looking at quotes about success and it was really interesting how different they are, how many mention failure, and how many list different requirements to succeed. But I thought this was interesting: Kevin Spacey said, “Success is like death. The more successful you become, the higher the houses in the hills get and the higher the fences get.” Success is something that isolates us, he says. It separates us from all the things that really matter - community. Not a common perspective but interesting as we're talking today about the kind of success we chase after. Personal Update: A late-night rescue of my teenage son reminds me of the importance of gratitude in all circumstances. About Prayer You were probably familiar with the other prayer postures we've talked about in previous episodes, but this week we're going to talk about one less familiar–lying prostrate before God. Weekly Prayer Focus & Today's Verses Worship:  1 Peter 1:18-19 Prayer:  Luke 12:13-21 My evening Facebook posts focus on praying scripture. I'd love you to join the conversation there:  https://www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad/?eid=ARCg61S6YS1PwfD3586KvFAKYejoFjUYR51xO_BHv9xbo9L2063w_hFGdXmlNnjJV3qQ_nvmesJFJ9He (www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad) Or, connect with Grace & the Gravel Road out on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad (www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad) If you're interested in how to meditate on scripture, check out this link: https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate (https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate) http://www.graceandthegravelroad.com (www.graceandthegravelroad.com)

Many of us have canisters on our kitchen counters that hold utensils. Right now I have too many utensils and I have two canisters near my oven. One of them is simply a bronze metal one. The other I ran across about 5 years ago and it screamed at me from the shelf, “Take me home with you.” So, I did. It's white ceramic with text on it that says, “Measure your life in love.” And that's what we're going to explore in this new series. How do we measure our lives? What is success? Personal Update: A month or two ago, I promised a periodic studio update, so today I let you know what's been happening with my creative practice. About Prayer Are you someone who “talks with your hands”? Hands are an expressive part of all conversations and we talk about what to do with them in prayer. Weekly Prayer Focus & Today's Verses Worship:  Isaiah 45:5-7 Prayer:  Jeremiah 33:1-3, Psalm 139:1-5, 23-24, and Psalm 5:12 My evening Facebook posts focus on praying scripture. I'd love you to join the conversation there:  https://www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad/?eid=ARCg61S6YS1PwfD3586KvFAKYejoFjUYR51xO_BHv9xbo9L2063w_hFGdXmlNnjJV3qQ_nvmesJFJ9He (www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad) Or, connect with Grace & the Gravel Road out on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad (www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad) If you're interested in how to meditate on scripture, check out this link: https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate (https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate) http://www.graceandthegravelroad.com (www.graceandthegravelroad.com)

What are a few things that you know exist…but you cannot see? You might answer the wind. Love. Or anger. We know these things exist because we see their effects in the world. That's a bit like one of the themes we'll be praying through today. God is not mentioned in the book of Esther, but he is very present. Personal Update: A month or two ago, I promised a periodic studio update, so today I let you know what's been happening with my creative practice. About Prayer Sitting or standing during prayer is common in our churches, but many potestant churches do not practice kneeling during prayer. Today we talk about the origins of kneeling and what it means in prayer. Weekly Prayer Focus & Today's Verses Worship:  Nehemiah 9:6 Prayer:  Romans 8:28 and Matthew 28:20b My evening Facebook posts focus on praying scripture. I'd love you to join the conversation there:  https://www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad/?eid=ARCg61S6YS1PwfD3586KvFAKYejoFjUYR51xO_BHv9xbo9L2063w_hFGdXmlNnjJV3qQ_nvmesJFJ9He (www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad) Or, connect with Grace & the Gravel Road out on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad (www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad) If you're interested in how to meditate on scripture, check out this link: https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate (https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate) http://www.graceandthegravelroad.com (www.graceandthegravelroad.com)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has said, “It's hard for young players to see the big picture. They just see three or four years down the road.” Now, if I asked you to think about where you'll be in 5 years, you most likely consider that to be big picture thinking. But that quote shifts our perspective. We need to draw back from the immediacy of the every day and think longer term at times. And as we look at scripture, we need to keep in mind the big picture too, not only thinking verse by verse. So that's what we're doing today, looking at a few big picture themes from the book of Esther. Personal Update: After a few weeks of personal issues interrupting the podcast, I'm back today and catch you up on what's been happening. About Prayer We open a small series talking about prayer postures today with the question, “Do we need to close our eyes during prayer?” Weekly Prayer Focus & Today's Verses Worship:  Psalm 145:9 Prayer: Esther 1:3-4, 4:16, and 9:1 My evening Facebook posts focus on praying scripture. I'd love you to join the conversation there:  https://www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad/?eid=ARCg61S6YS1PwfD3586KvFAKYejoFjUYR51xO_BHv9xbo9L2063w_hFGdXmlNnjJV3qQ_nvmesJFJ9He (www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad) Or, connect with Grace & the Gravel Road out on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad (www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad) If you're interested in how to meditate on scripture, check out this link: https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate (https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate) http://www.graceandthegravelroad.com (www.graceandthegravelroad.com)

Charles Ketttering said, “It is the ‘follow thought' that makes the difference between ultimate success and failure, because it is so easy to stop.” We have a few examples of follow through today, both human and holy as well as the conclusion of Esther's story. Personal Update: I spent part of my Saturday working on a quilt project for a friend. I finished a handful of blocks, but it was a struggle. I spent much of the work time unpicking and re-making. It was a reminder about why process is as or more important than product. About Prayer The way we teach and talk about prayer often puts it squarely in the “obligation” category. It becomes a to do list item to check off, something we develop elaborate systems or routines to maintain, or something to feel guilty about. Is prayer an obligation? Speaking to the ones we love happens naturally and so should talking to God. Sometimes we schedule important conversations, but that's the exception rather than the rule. How does this apply to your prayer life. Weekly Prayer Focus & Today's Verses Worship:  Psalm 147:5 Prayer: Esther 8:1-3, 8:15-17, 9:1-2, and 10:1-3 My evening Facebook posts focus on praying scripture. I'd love you to join the conversation there:  https://www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad/?eid=ARCg61S6YS1PwfD3586KvFAKYejoFjUYR51xO_BHv9xbo9L2063w_hFGdXmlNnjJV3qQ_nvmesJFJ9He (www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad) Or, connect with Grace & the Gravel Road out on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad (www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad) If you're interested in how to meditate on scripture, check out this link: https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate (https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate) http://www.graceandthegravelroad.com (www.graceandthegravelroad.com)

We often think that last week's verses –Esther's decision–are the highlight of the action in this book–the main event. It's certainly the part that we remember and talk about most often. But, this week's chapters have as much drama as any Hollywood movie and a big dose of poetic justice. Personal Update A conversation over a congratulatory dinner out reminded me just how important our words are. About Prayer Boredom and a lack of focus are often listed as common struggles in our modern-day prayer lives. While it's true that culturally, we're losing the ability to focus, maybe if we don't treat our prayer life as a laundry list of requests, we can bypass some of those issues. We talk about another way to think about our prayer life today. Weekly Prayer Focus & Today's Verses Worship:  Psalm 150:2 Prayer: Esther 5:1-2, 5:9-13, 6:6, and 7:3-9 My evening Facebook posts focus on praying scripture. I'd love you to join the conversation there:  https://www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad/?eid=ARCg61S6YS1PwfD3586KvFAKYejoFjUYR51xO_BHv9xbo9L2063w_hFGdXmlNnjJV3qQ_nvmesJFJ9He (www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad) Or, connect with Grace & the Gravel Road out on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad (www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad) If you're interested in how to meditate on scripture, check out this link: https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate (https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate) http://www.graceandthegravelroad.com (www.graceandthegravelroad.com)

Are you an overpacker? The kind who has to sit on their suitcase to get it to close? Or get help to zip the zipper on their bag shut? Well, I'm not usually an over packer, but I think I've done that with this episode! We get into the part of Esther today that everyone knows and loves! Personal Update There are times in our lives when we need to reevaluate our won mental, emotional, physical, or spiritual capacities. In those times, pay close attention to what your body, mind, and spirit need and do what you need to do to be healthy. About Prayer The words we use in prayer should be respectful and reverent, but also authentic and honest. God is more concerned with the state of our heart than the formality or form of our speech. Weekly Prayer Focus & Today's Verses Worship:  Psalm 34:1-9 Prayer: Esther 2:15-17, 3:5-6, and 4:10-16 My evening Facebook posts focus on praying scripture. I'd love you to join the conversation there:  https://www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad/?eid=ARCg61S6YS1PwfD3586KvFAKYejoFjUYR51xO_BHv9xbo9L2063w_hFGdXmlNnjJV3qQ_nvmesJFJ9He (www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad) Or, connect with Grace & the Gravel Road out on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad (www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad) If you're interested in how to meditate on scripture, check out this link: https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate (https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate) http://www.graceandthegravelroad.com (www.graceandthegravelroad.com)

In order to study for the final big test in AP chemistry, my son was teaching what he knew to me. So, I got a crash course in Chemistry yesterday. He was explaining solutions to me and said, I'm going to give you the basics like we learned in middle school, but then I'll tell you why that's not exactly true. That's the way I feel about the book of Esther. We learn one fact from the book–particularly if we've grown up in the church and the fact we learned is probably sort of right, plus there's So much more to it. So, I'm excited to dig into this book with you this month! Personal Update Is there something God has called you to, whispered you toward, or keeps pulling you back to? Something that you need to pay attention to and obey? For me that thing is art. A trip last week to a quilt show reminded me of that calling. About Prayer We kick off this new segment with a question: How does your prayer life indicate what you believe about prayer? About God? And about your relationship? Weekly Prayer Focus & Today's Verses Worship:  Matthew 19:26 Prayer: Esther 1:1-8, Esther 2:1-4 and 12-14 My evening Facebook posts focus on praying scripture. I'd love you to join the conversation there:  https://www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad/?eid=ARCg61S6YS1PwfD3586KvFAKYejoFjUYR51xO_BHv9xbo9L2063w_hFGdXmlNnjJV3qQ_nvmesJFJ9He (www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad) Or, connect with Grace & the Gravel Road out on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad (www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad) If you're interested in how to meditate on scripture, check out this link: https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate (https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate) http://www.graceandthegravelroad.com (www.graceandthegravelroad.com)

“Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.” – Martin Luther King, Jr. Today we're going to pray through some best-loved verses, one of which is specifically about faith, but all of them–by meditating on them, knowing them, and reminding yourself of their truths–will build your faith. Weekly Prayer Focus & Today's Verses Worship:  Mark 12:41-44 Prayer: Ephesians 2:10, 1 Corinthians 10:13, Matthew 11:28, Hebrews 11:1, and 2 Corinthians 5:17 My evening Facebook posts focus on praying scripture. I'd love you to join the conversation there:  https://www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad/?eid=ARCg61S6YS1PwfD3586KvFAKYejoFjUYR51xO_BHv9xbo9L2063w_hFGdXmlNnjJV3qQ_nvmesJFJ9He (www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad) Or, connect with Grace & the Gravel Road out on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad (www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad) If you're interested in how to meditate on scripture, check out this link: https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate (https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate) http://www.graceandthegravelroad.com (www.graceandthegravelroad.com)

“Lent is not an effort to save ourselves.. we have been saved by Jesus' ONE and PERFECT sacrifice. Rather, it is part of our journey, the continuum, the falling in love, staying in love, growing in love with God.” - anonymous Today we're praying through the most important week of this season. The most important week of the life of the most important person who ever lived. Weekly Prayer Focus & Today's Verses Worship:  Acts 17:24-25 Prayer: Matthew 21:10-17, John 13:3-5, Matthew 26:50, John 19:28-30, Matthew 28:5-9  My evening Facebook posts focus on praying scripture. I'd love you to join the conversation there:  https://www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad/?eid=ARCg61S6YS1PwfD3586KvFAKYejoFjUYR51xO_BHv9xbo9L2063w_hFGdXmlNnjJV3qQ_nvmesJFJ9He (www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad) Or, connect with Grace & the Gravel Road out on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad (www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad) If you're interested in how to meditate on scripture, check out this link: https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate (https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate) http://www.graceandthegravelroad.com (www.graceandthegravelroad.com)

Viggo Mortensen said, “A lot of times, movies that are in the top 10 lists or maybe even win Baftas or Oscars, you then watch them a year later and you go, ‘Maybe it wasn't so great.'” Today we reach the very top of our list of Best Loved Bible verse…and I don't think you're going to react that way! Weekly Prayer Focus & Today's Verses Worship:  Acts 17:24-25 Prayer: John 3:16, Jeremiah 29:11-13, Romans 8:28, and Phillippians 4:13 My evening Facebook posts focus on praying scripture. I'd love you to join the conversation there:  https://www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad/?eid=ARCg61S6YS1PwfD3586KvFAKYejoFjUYR51xO_BHv9xbo9L2063w_hFGdXmlNnjJV3qQ_nvmesJFJ9He (www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad) Or, connect with Grace & the Gravel Road out on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad (www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad) If you're interested in how to meditate on scripture, check out this link: https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate (https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate) http://www.graceandthegravelroad.com (www.graceandthegravelroad.com)

Bill Bryson said, “To my mind, the greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time, to be in a position in which almost nothing is so familiar it is taken for granted.” This is the experience I hope we have each time we look at these familiar verses–to feel as if we experience them for the first time and not to let their familiarity cause us to take them for granted. We;re praying through more of the best-loved verses in the Bible today! Weekly Prayer Focus & Today's Verses Worship: 1 Samuel 16:7 Prayer: Genesis 1:1, Proverbs 3:5-6, and Romans 12:2 My evening Facebook posts focus on praying scripture. I'd love you to join the conversation there:  https://www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad/?eid=ARCg61S6YS1PwfD3586KvFAKYejoFjUYR51xO_BHv9xbo9L2063w_hFGdXmlNnjJV3qQ_nvmesJFJ9He (www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad) Or, connect with Grace & the Gravel Road out on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad (www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad) If you're interested in how to meditate on scripture, check out this link: https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate (https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate) http://www.graceandthegravelroad.com (www.graceandthegravelroad.com)

If you google Quotes about favorite things–which I do not recommend unless you have time to waste–you'll come up with the most widely random set of things you can imagine. From jicama to, according to Dale Earnhardt, his steering wheel and  Remington rifle. It's fascinating to see what people have said publicly that they love. For those of you who don't know, jicama is a root vegetable that has been said to taste like a cross between an apple, a potato, a water chestnut, and a pear. The verses we have today have that complex a flavor but are far more familiar to those of you who don't have Mexican or Central American roots. Weekly Prayer Focus & Today's Verses Worship: Genesis 18:13-14 Prayer: Ephesians 2:8-9, Galatians 5:22-23, and Romans 12:1 My evening Facebook posts focus on praying scripture. I'd love you to join the conversation there:  https://www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad/?eid=ARCg61S6YS1PwfD3586KvFAKYejoFjUYR51xO_BHv9xbo9L2063w_hFGdXmlNnjJV3qQ_nvmesJFJ9He (www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad) Or, connect with Grace & the Gravel Road out on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad (www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad) If you're interested in how to meditate on scripture, check out this link: https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate (https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate) http://www.graceandthegravelroad.com (www.graceandthegravelroad.com)

Abraham Lincoln said, “I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given to man. All the good from The Savior of the world is communicated to us through this Book.” We're praying through some of our culture's very favorite parts of this “best gift God has ever given to man” today. Weekly Prayer Focus & Today's Verses Worship: Ezra 3:11 Prayer: 1 John 1:9, Galatians 2:20, Acts 18:9-11, and John 10:10 My evening Facebook posts focus on praying scripture. I'd love you to join the conversation there:  https://www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad/?eid=ARCg61S6YS1PwfD3586KvFAKYejoFjUYR51xO_BHv9xbo9L2063w_hFGdXmlNnjJV3qQ_nvmesJFJ9He (www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad) Or, connect with Grace & the Gravel Road out on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad (www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad) If you're interested in how to meditate on scripture, check out this link: https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate (https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate) http://www.graceandthegravelroad.com (www.graceandthegravelroad.com)

Blaise Pascal was a French mathematician, physicist, inventor, philosopher, writer, and Catholic theologian in the 1600s. He said, “The gospel to me is simply irresistible.” And today we're praying through verses intimately connected to the gospel. I hope your heart finds it irresistible too.  Weekly Prayer Focus & Today's Verses Worship: 1 John 14:9-10 and Psalm 136:26 Prayer: Romans 5:8, Matthew 28:19-20, Romans 3:23, and John 14:6 My evening Facebook posts focus on praying scripture. I'd love you to join the conversation there:  https://www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad/?eid=ARCg61S6YS1PwfD3586KvFAKYejoFjUYR51xO_BHv9xbo9L2063w_hFGdXmlNnjJV3qQ_nvmesJFJ9He (www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad) Or, connect with Grace & the Gravel Road out on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad (www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad) If you're interested in how to meditate on scripture, check out this link: https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate (https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate) http://www.graceandthegravelroad.com (www.graceandthegravelroad.com)

Andy Rooney said, “Familiar things are a comfort to us all.” And he's right. I think that's human nature. But Tierney Gearon said, “Even in the familiar, there can be surprise and wonder.” This month we're taking some very familiar verses and looking for them to reawaken wonder in us. Weekly Prayer Focus & Today's Verses Worship: Daniel 2:20 Prayer: Philippians 4:6-7, Philippians 4:8, Joshua 1:9, and Isaiah 40:31 My evening Facebook posts focus on praying scripture. I'd love you to join the conversation there:  https://www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad/?eid=ARCg61S6YS1PwfD3586KvFAKYejoFjUYR51xO_BHv9xbo9L2063w_hFGdXmlNnjJV3qQ_nvmesJFJ9He (www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad) Or, connect with Grace & the Gravel Road out on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad (www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad) If you're interested in how to meditate on scripture, check out this link: https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate (https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate) http://www.graceandthegravelroad.com (www.graceandthegravelroad.com)

Taking a break from our topical series to pray for Ukraine. Weekly Prayer Focus & Today's Verses Worship: Psalm 125:2 and Isaiah 7:14 Prayer:  Daniel 2:21, Psalm 75:7, Job 42:2, Psalm 37:27-29, Deuteronomy 31:8, Micah 6:8,  My evening Facebook posts focus on praying scripture. I'd love you to join the conversation there:  https://www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad/?eid=ARCg61S6YS1PwfD3586KvFAKYejoFjUYR51xO_BHv9xbo9L2063w_hFGdXmlNnjJV3qQ_nvmesJFJ9He (www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad) Or, connect with Grace & the Gravel Road out on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad (www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad) If you're interested in how to meditate on scripture, check out this link: https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate (https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate) http://www.graceandthegravelroad.com (www.graceandthegravelroad.com)

Holocaust survivor Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, "God does not give us everything we want, but He does fulfill His promises, leading us along the best and straightest paths to Himself.” We're going to pray about being in that place today when what we want doesn't align with what God has for us in that moment. Weekly Prayer F:ocus & Today's Verses Worship: Psalm 18:30 and Numbers 23:19 Prayer:  Ecclesiastes 3:1, 2 Peter 3:8, Acts 1:7, Isaiah 55:8-9, Galatians 6:9 My evening Facebook posts focus on praying scripture. I'd love you to join the conversation there:  https://www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad/?eid=ARCg61S6YS1PwfD3586KvFAKYejoFjUYR51xO_BHv9xbo9L2063w_hFGdXmlNnjJV3qQ_nvmesJFJ9He (www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad) Or, connect with Grace & the Gravel Road out on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad (www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad) If you're interested in how to meditate on scripture, check out this link: https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate (https://gracean andthegravelroad.link/meditate) http://www.graceandthegravelroad.com (www.graceandthegravelroad.com)

“Waiting for God is not laziness. Waiting for God is not the abandonment of effort. Waiting for God means, first, activity under command; second, readiness for any new command that may come; third, the ability to do nothing until the command is given.” that's a quote from G. Campbell Morgan We think of waiting as a time of doing nothing, as wasted time. But as this quote and an army of coffee mugs across the world tell us, waiting is not wasted time. “God is working while we're waiting,” say the coffee mugs. And I'm certain he is. But waiting isn't the passive experience we think it to be. God is not the only one “doing” while we wait. At least he shouldn't be. He cares about both what we do while we wait and how we do it. That's what we're here to pray about today, how we wait. Weekly Prayer Focus & Today's Verses Worship: Psalm 33:4 and Deuteronomy 32:4 Prayer:  Isaiah 40:31, Psalm 27:14, Lamentations 3:25, Psalm 33:20-22, Psalm 37:7, Micah 7:7 My evening Facebook posts focus on praying scripture. I'd love you to join the conversation there:  https://www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad/?eid=ARCg61S6YS1PwfD3586KvFAKYejoFjUYR51xO_BHv9xbo9L2063w_hFGdXmlNnjJV3qQ_nvmesJFJ9He (www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad) Or, connect with Grace & the Gravel Road out on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad (www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad) If you're interested in how to meditate on scripture, check out this link: https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate (https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate) http://www.graceandthegravelroad.com (www.graceandthegravelroad.com)

Benjamin Franklin said, “Success is the residue of planning.” And while planning doesn't guarantee success, it's certainly a factor. Franklin gave us lots of non-Biblical proverbs like this. A proverb is just a short, memorable saying that speaks of general truth.  This proverb tells us that planning is really important when we're talking about stewarding our time with intention for God's purposes. Franklin has also been quoted as saying, “Well done is better than well said.”  Planning without action Is useless, we need both. So we're going to pray about both this morning Weekly Prayer Focus & Today's Verses Worship: 1 Peter 1:3-5 Prayer:  James 1:5, 1 Corinthians 9:26-27, Colossians 3:23, Proverbs 16:9, Hebrews 12:1-2 My evening Facebook posts focus on praying scripture. I'd love you to join the conversation there:  https://www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad/?eid=ARCg61S6YS1PwfD3586KvFAKYejoFjUYR51xO_BHv9xbo9L2063w_hFGdXmlNnjJV3qQ_nvmesJFJ9He (www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad) Or, connect with Grace & the Gravel Road out on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad (www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad) If you're interested in how to meditate on scripture, check out this link: https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate (https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate) http://www.graceandthegravelroad.com (www.graceandthegravelroad.com)

John Maxwell has said, “Most people want to hear or tell a good story. But they don't realize they can and should be the good story. That requires intentional living.” If we want to live the story that God wants to write with our lives we need to be intentional about it. That's what we're praying about today…becoming intentional with the use of our time. Weekly Prayer Focus & Today's Verses Worship: Psalm 68:19 Prayer:  Psalm 90:12, Proverbs 4:26, Proverbs 4:26 My evening Facebook posts focus on praying scripture. I'd love you to join the conversation there:  https://www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad/?eid=ARCg61S6YS1PwfD3586KvFAKYejoFjUYR51xO_BHv9xbo9L2063w_hFGdXmlNnjJV3qQ_nvmesJFJ9He (www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad) Or, connect with Grace & the Gravel Road out on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad (www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad) If you're interested in how to meditate on scripture, check out this link: https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate (https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate) http://www.graceandthegravelroad.com (www.graceandthegravelroad.com)

For many of us, time causes us stress. Looking at our calendars puts us into overwhelm. I admit, I'm there today. My commitments are out of control right now. I need to sit for a few minutes and soak in the reminder that God owns my time. Weekly Prayer Focus & Today's Verses Worship: Psalm 139:1-6 Prayer:  Proverbs 3:5-6, Ephesians 2:10, Isaiah 64:8 My evening Facebook posts focus on praying scripture. I'd love you to join the conversation there:  https://www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad/?eid=ARCg61S6YS1PwfD3586KvFAKYejoFjUYR51xO_BHv9xbo9L2063w_hFGdXmlNnjJV3qQ_nvmesJFJ9He (www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad) Or, connect with Grace & the Gravel Road out on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad (www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad) If you're interested in how to meditate on scripture, check out this link: https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate (https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate) http://www.graceandthegravelroad.com (www.graceandthegravelroad.com)

The world tells you that productivity is working better, smarter, faster so that you can be successful and make all your dreams come true. But our dreams are different. My prayer is that we dream the same dreams as God does for us and that we all would see how to be truly productive. We're praying today for our productivity to be characterized by a Christ-like attitude, godly motivations, and dependence on God. Weekly Prayer Focus & Today's Verses Worship: Psalm 100:4-5 Prayer: Philippians 2:3-4, 1 Samuel 12:24, Philippians 4:11–12, Romans 12:1, Proverbs 3:5-6 My evening Facebook posts focus on praying scripture. I'd love you to join the conversation there:  https://www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad/?eid=ARCg61S6YS1PwfD3586KvFAKYejoFjUYR51xO_BHv9xbo9L2063w_hFGdXmlNnjJV3qQ_nvmesJFJ9He (www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad) Or, connect with Grace & the Gravel Road out on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad (www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad) If you're interested in how to meditate on scripture, check out this link: https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate (https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate) http://www.graceandthegravelroad.com (www.graceandthegravelroad.com)

Reagan Rose said “You cannot deal with topics so basic to the human soul like motivation, morality, or ultimate purpose without touching upon religion. These themes are the core of human existence—these are religious themes. This is why, whether presented overtly or not, all productivity books have a theology, and this by necessity.” And, “There are…foundational aspects of the Christian's understanding of productivity which are not shared by the world.” So, what is a Christian's understanding of productivity? That's what we're talking about In both of this week's episodes. Weekly Prayer Focus & Today's Verses Worship: 1 Chronicles 16:31 and Revelation 4:11 Prayer: Jeremiah 29:4-7, 1 Peter 4:10, Malachi 3:10, Psalm 84:2, Deuteronomy 6:5, Psalm 63:1 My evening Facebook posts focus on praying scripture. I'd love you to join the conversation there:  https://www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad/?eid=ARCg61S6YS1PwfD3586KvFAKYejoFjUYR51xO_BHv9xbo9L2063w_hFGdXmlNnjJV3qQ_nvmesJFJ9He (www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad) Or, connect with Grace & the Gravel Road out on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad (www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad) If you're interested in how to meditate on scripture, check out this link: https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate (https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate) http://www.graceandthegravelroad.com (www.graceandthegravelroad.com)

In the book, Do More Better, Tim Challies defines productivity this way, “Productivity is effectively stewarding your gifts, talents, time, energy, and enthusiasm for the good of others and the glory of God.” If that's not how you think about productivity, you're not alone! Many, if not most, of us think that being productive is getting more done. Let's pray about that today. Weekly Prayer Focus & Today's Verses Worship:  Psalm 63:3 Prayer: Psalm 139:23-24, 1 Corinthians 10:31, Matthew 6:33, and 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 My evening Facebook posts focus on praying scripture. I'd love you to join the conversation there:  https://www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad/?eid=ARCg61S6YS1PwfD3586KvFAKYejoFjUYR51xO_BHv9xbo9L2063w_hFGdXmlNnjJV3qQ_nvmesJFJ9He (www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad) Or, connect with Grace & the Gravel Road out on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad (www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad) If you're interested in how to meditate on scripture, check out this link: https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate (https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate) http://www.graceandthegravelroad.com (www.graceandthegravelroad.com)

Jon Dyer said, “ God not only created time, he actually owns time.” We're going to be praying scripture about that ownership today. Weekly Prayer Focus & Today's Verses Worship:  Exodus 15:2 Prayer: Psalm 31:15, Proverbs 27:1, and James 4:13-17 My evening Facebook posts focus on praying scripture. I'd love you to join the conversation there:  https://www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad/?eid=ARCg61S6YS1PwfD3586KvFAKYejoFjUYR51xO_BHv9xbo9L2063w_hFGdXmlNnjJV3qQ_nvmesJFJ9He (www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad) Or, connect with Grace & the Gravel Road out on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad (www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad) If you're interested in how to meditate on scripture, check out this link: https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate (https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate) http://www.graceandthegravelroad.com (www.graceandthegravelroad.com)

Miles Davis once said, “Time isn't the main thing, it's the only thing.” Many of us as believers would respond, “of course not…that “only thing” in our lives is God. But, we often live as if time is the only thing. Weekly Prayer Focus & Today's Verses Worship:  2 Peter 3:8, Psalm 90:1-4, and Psalm 34:1-3 Prayer: Ecclesiastes 3:11, 1 John 2:17, and John 3:16 My evening Facebook posts focus on praying scripture. I'd love you to join the conversation there:  https://www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad/?eid=ARCg61S6YS1PwfD3586KvFAKYejoFjUYR51xO_BHv9xbo9L2063w_hFGdXmlNnjJV3qQ_nvmesJFJ9He (www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad) Or, connect with Grace & the Gravel Road out on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad (www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad) If you're interested in how to meditate on scripture, check out this link: https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate (https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate) http://www.graceandthegravelroad.com (www.graceandthegravelroad.com)

One thing that every single person shares–no matter where they live or what circumstances they live in–is the experience of time. From the moment of our conception, we feel the pull of time. It is all we know. And yet God does not share that perception or experience of time. Weekly Prayer Focus & Today's Verses Worship:  2 Peter 3:8, Psalm 90:1-4, and Psalm 34:1-3 Prayer: Ecclesiastes 3:11, 1 John 2:17, and John 3:16 My evening Facebook posts focus on praying scripture. I'd love you to join the conversation there:  https://www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad/?eid=ARCg61S6YS1PwfD3586KvFAKYejoFjUYR51xO_BHv9xbo9L2063w_hFGdXmlNnjJV3qQ_nvmesJFJ9He (www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad) Or, connect with Grace & the Gravel Road out on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad (www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad) If you're interested in how to meditate on scripture, check out this link: https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate (https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate) http://www.graceandthegravelroad.com (www.graceandthegravelroad.com)

C.S. Lewis said, "Once in our world, a stable had something in it that was bigger than our whole world." Today we're praying about that miracle–that God would, could, and did come to us as an infant child. Weekly Prayer Focus & Today's Verses Worship:  Isaiah 9:6 Prayer: Philippians 2:6-7, Galatians 4:4-5, John 1:14, Hebrews 2:14-18, John 3:16 My evening Facebook posts focus on praying scripture. I'd love you to join the conversation there:  https://www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad/?eid=ARCg61S6YS1PwfD3586KvFAKYejoFjUYR51xO_BHv9xbo9L2063w_hFGdXmlNnjJV3qQ_nvmesJFJ9He (www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad) Or, connect with Grace & the Gravel Road out on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad (www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad) If you're interested in how to meditate on scripture, check out this link: https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate (https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate) http://www.graceandthegravelroad.com (www.graceandthegravelroad.com)

Today we're celebrating God with us - Immanuel and soaking in the presence of God. Weekly Prayer Focus & Today's Verses Worship:  Matthew 1:22-23 Prayer: Matthew 1:22-23 My evening Facebook posts focus on praying scripture. I'd love you to join the conversation there:  https://www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad/?eid=ARCg61S6YS1PwfD3586KvFAKYejoFjUYR51xO_BHv9xbo9L2063w_hFGdXmlNnjJV3qQ_nvmesJFJ9He (www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad) Or, connect with Grace & the Gravel Road out on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad (www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad) If you're interested in how to meditate on scripture, check out this link: https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate (https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate) http://www.graceandthegravelroad.com (www.graceandthegravelroad.com)

We love to wait, right? Not so much! How would you like to spend your whole life in humble service anticipating an event that never came? That's the story of generations of Israelites as they waited for the messiah, But today we're praying through the story of two people whose waiting ended in the event they waited for even when everyone around them missed it. Weekly Prayer Focus & Today's Verses Worship:  Nehemiah 9:6 and Revelation 4:11 Prayer: Luke 2:21-38 My evening Facebook posts focus on praying scripture. I'd love you to join the conversation there:  https://www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad/?eid=ARCg61S6YS1PwfD3586KvFAKYejoFjUYR51xO_BHv9xbo9L2063w_hFGdXmlNnjJV3qQ_nvmesJFJ9He (www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad) Or, connect with Grace & the Gravel Road out on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad (www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad) If you're interested in how to meditate on scripture, check out this link: https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate (https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate) http://www.graceandthegravelroad.com (www.graceandthegravelroad.com)

I was looking at a number of different quotes about Mary, the mother of Jesus, and began to see this massive set of beliefs that have grown up around her. I imagined her surrounded by this whole scaffold of theology and iconography and ritual, and belief. And at the center of that is a remarkable-yes-but ultimately a very human girl who became a very human mother of the most extraordinary child ever born. Let's try to strip away the scaffolding today and look at Mary, pregnant with Jesus. Weekly Prayer Focus & Today's Verses Worship:  Luke 1:46-56 Prayer: Luke 1:26-45 My evening Facebook posts focus on praying scripture. I'd love you to join the conversation there:  https://www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad/?eid=ARCg61S6YS1PwfD3586KvFAKYejoFjUYR51xO_BHv9xbo9L2063w_hFGdXmlNnjJV3qQ_nvmesJFJ9He (www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad) Or, connect with Grace & the Gravel Road out on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad (www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad) If you're interested in how to meditate on scripture, check out this link: https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate (https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate) http://www.graceandthegravelroad.com (www.graceandthegravelroad.com)

Jean-Michel Hansen said, “Advent is the gentle nudge that invites me to remember that the truth most worth knowing is that Jesus Christ is the only way Home. It is also a gentle reminder that I ought to keep my eyes upon Him all year long.” Join me to pray about what Advent invites us to celebrate. Weekly Prayer Focus & Today's Verses Worship:  Isaiah 45:5 Prayer: Galatians 4:4-5, Matthew 1:21-23, John 1:14, Hebrews 9:28, John 14:3, Titus 2:11-14  My evening Facebook posts focus on praying scripture. I'd love you to join the conversation there:  https://www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad/?eid=ARCg61S6YS1PwfD3586KvFAKYejoFjUYR51xO_BHv9xbo9L2063w_hFGdXmlNnjJV3qQ_nvmesJFJ9He (www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad) Or, connect with Grace & the Gravel Road out on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad (www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad) If you're interested in how to meditate on scripture, check out this link: https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate (https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate) http://www.graceandthegravelroad.com (www.graceandthegravelroad.com)

“People don't buy what you do; they buy why you do it. And what you do simply proves what you believe”  ― Simon Sinek, Start with Why That's a secular book that has nothing to do with our discussion of preparing for Christmas. Or…does it? We're praying about our motivations this morning. Weekly Prayer Focus & Today's Verses Worship:  Psalm 113:3 Prayer: Proverbs 16:2, Jeremiah 17:10, and 1 Chronicles 8:9 My evening Facebook posts focus on praying scripture. I'd love you to join the conversation there:  https://www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad/?eid=ARCg61S6YS1PwfD3586KvFAKYejoFjUYR51xO_BHv9xbo9L2063w_hFGdXmlNnjJV3qQ_nvmesJFJ9He (www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad) Or, connect with Grace & the Gravel Road out on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad (www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad) If you're interested in how to meditate on scripture, check out this link: https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate (https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate) http://www.graceandthegravelroad.com (www.graceandthegravelroad.com)

“Gratitude is a special gift given to us by God. Gratitude is fundamentally about not taking things for granted. It is being thankful for what we have and receive. Thankfulness is a powerful means of drawing near to God...As Christians, we have a double benefit from gratitude. Firstly, research shows that gratitude makes us happier even if we aren't Christians, but secondly, as Christians, gratitude strengthens our relationship with God.” That's a quote from Lindy Pegler and as we wrap up our series on gratitude we're reminding ourselves today about just how important this practice is and praying for it to become a lifestyle. Weekly Prayer Focus & Today's Verses Worship:  Daniel 4:37 Prayer: Luke 17:11-19 My evening Facebook posts focus on praying scripture. I'd love you to join the conversation there:  https://www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad/?eid=ARCg61S6YS1PwfD3586KvFAKYejoFjUYR51xO_BHv9xbo9L2063w_hFGdXmlNnjJV3qQ_nvmesJFJ9He (www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad) Or, connect with Grace & the Gravel Road out on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad (www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad) If you're interested in how to meditate on scripture, check out this link: https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate (https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate) http://www.graceandthegravelroad.com (www.graceandthegravelroad.com)

“The more I look at the times "thanks" is mentioned in God's Word - the more I notice. . . This giving of thanks has nothing to do with my circumstances and everything to do with my God.” That's a quote from Jenni Hunt...and exactly what we're praying about today! Weekly Prayer Focus & Today's Verses Worship:  Psalm 7:17 Prayer: John 16:33, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Psalm 34:1, Habakkuk 3:17-18 My evening Facebook posts focus on praying scripture. I'd love you to join the conversation there:  https://www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad/?eid=ARCg61S6YS1PwfD3586KvFAKYejoFjUYR51xO_BHv9xbo9L2063w_hFGdXmlNnjJV3qQ_nvmesJFJ9He (www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad) Or, connect with Grace & the Gravel Road out on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad (www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad) If you're interested in how to meditate on scripture, check out this link: https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate (https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate) http://www.graceandthegravelroad.com (www.graceandthegravelroad.com)

“Because of what the Shepherd has done for His sheep, death does not win; even though, for now, we stand in the valley of its dark shadow and often, like Jesus, weep at a graveside feeling as though the hole in our heart inside us is bigger than the hole in the earth in front of us. Even in that hard place — and especially there — the Lord is with us; our Shepherd has gone before us and opened up the way for us to follow. Jesus said, ‘I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.' (John 10:11, 27-28)” -- Robert Emberley Today we're looking at Psalm 23 through the lens of gratitude. Weekly Prayer Focus & Today's Verses Worship:  Isaiah 25:1 Prayer: Psalm 23 My evening Facebook posts focus on praying scripture. I'd love you to join the conversation there:  https://www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad/?eid=ARCg61S6YS1PwfD3586KvFAKYejoFjUYR51xO_BHv9xbo9L2063w_hFGdXmlNnjJV3qQ_nvmesJFJ9He (www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad) Or, connect with Grace & the Gravel Road out on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad (www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad) If you're interested in how to meditate on scripture, check out this link: https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate (https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate) http://www.graceandthegravelroad.com (www.graceandthegravelroad.com)

Jared Brock tells us to, “Rest in the knowledge that God is both abundantly gracious and ridiculously generous.” and that's what we're doing today, resting in the gratitude for God's abundant grace and unmatched generosity. Weekly Prayer Focus & Today's Verses Worship:  Psalm 2:11 Prayer: Numbers 6:26, Psalm 29:11, 2 Timothy 4:8, and Ephesians 1:3-6 My evening Facebook posts focus on praying scripture. I'd love you to join the conversation there:  https://www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad/?eid=ARCg61S6YS1PwfD3586KvFAKYejoFjUYR51xO_BHv9xbo9L2063w_hFGdXmlNnjJV3qQ_nvmesJFJ9He (www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad) Or, connect with Grace & the Gravel Road out on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad (www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad) If you're interested in how to meditate on scripture, check out this link: https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate (https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate) http://www.graceandthegravelroad.com (www.graceandthegravelroad.com)

Catholic theologian Megan McKenna says, “Human generosity is possible only because at the center of the solar system a magnificent stellar generosity pours forth free energy day and night without stop and without complaint and without the slightest hesitation.” What a beautiful way to imagine the generosity of God! We're praying today about some of the results of that generosity. Weekly Prayer Focus & Today's Verses Worship:  Exodus 15:11 Prayer: James 4:6, Psalm 84:11, Proverbs 29:13, Jeremiah 31:35, and Psalm 146:7 My evening Facebook posts focus on praying scripture. I'd love you to join the conversation there:  https://www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad/?eid=ARCg61S6YS1PwfD3586KvFAKYejoFjUYR51xO_BHv9xbo9L2063w_hFGdXmlNnjJV3qQ_nvmesJFJ9He (www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad) Or, connect with Grace & the Gravel Road out on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad (www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad) If you're interested in how to meditate on scripture, check out this link: https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate (https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate) http://www.graceandthegravelroad.com (www.graceandthegravelroad.com)

Ann Voscamp said, “We give thanks to God not because of how we feel but because of who He is.” Today we're starting a mini-series within our gratitude focus thanking God for many of the gifts he's give us, not because they make us feel good (though they may), but because of who it is that gives. Weekly Prayer Focus & Today's Verses Worship:  Psalm 100:5 Prayer: John 3:16, 1 Thessalonians 4:8, Jeremiah 24:7, Ezekial 36:26, Job 33:4, and John 6:33 My evening Facebook posts focus on praying scripture. I'd love you to join the conversation there:  https://www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad/?eid=ARCg61S6YS1PwfD3586KvFAKYejoFjUYR51xO_BHv9xbo9L2063w_hFGdXmlNnjJV3qQ_nvmesJFJ9He (www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad) Or, connect with Grace & the Gravel Road out on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad (www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad) If you're interested in how to meditate on scripture, check out this link: https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate (https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate) http://www.graceandthegravelroad.com (www.graceandthegravelroad.com)

Thomas a Kempis, a medieval author, teacher, and thinker said, “He who loves with purity considers not the gift of the lover, but the love of the giver.” That's our focus today,  God the Giver Weekly Prayer Focus & Today's Verses Worship:  John 3:16 Prayer: James 1:16-17, James 1:5, 1 Timothy 6:17, Psalm 84:11, Romans 8:32 My evening Facebook posts focus on praying scripture. I'd love you to join the conversation there:  https://www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad/?eid=ARCg61S6YS1PwfD3586KvFAKYejoFjUYR51xO_BHv9xbo9L2063w_hFGdXmlNnjJV3qQ_nvmesJFJ9He (www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad) Or, connect with Grace & the Gravel Road out on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad (www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad) If you're interested in how to meditate on scripture, check out this link: https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate (https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate) http://www.graceandthegravelroad.com (www.graceandthegravelroad.com)

John F. Kennedy said, “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words but to live by them.” We're praying today about daily living out our appreciation to the one who's given us all we have. Weekly Prayer Focus & Today's Verses Worship:  Psalm 28:7 Prayer: Philippians 4:6-7, Thessalonians 5:16-18 & Colossians 2:6-7 My evening Facebook posts focus on praying scripture. I'd love you to join the conversation there:  https://www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad/?eid=ARCg61S6YS1PwfD3586KvFAKYejoFjUYR51xO_BHv9xbo9L2063w_hFGdXmlNnjJV3qQ_nvmesJFJ9He (www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad) Or, connect with Grace & the Gravel Road out on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad (www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad) If you're interested in how to meditate on scripture, check out this link: https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate (https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate) http://www.graceandthegravelroad.com (www.graceandthegravelroad.com)

When you begin to build a house, you don't start with the foundation. When you begin to plant a garden, you don't begin with the seeds. You begin with the ground. So, today, we're doing some groundwork, preparing the soil for this month's focus on growing gratitude in our lives. Weekly Prayer Focus & Today's Verses Worship:  Psalm 28:7 Prayer: Colossians 4:2 & 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 My evening Facebook posts focus on praying scripture. I'd love you to join the conversation there:  https://www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad/?eid=ARCg61S6YS1PwfD3586KvFAKYejoFjUYR51xO_BHv9xbo9L2063w_hFGdXmlNnjJV3qQ_nvmesJFJ9He (www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad) Or, connect with Grace & the Gravel Road out on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad (www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad) If you're interested in how to meditate on scripture, check out this link: https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate (https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate) http://www.graceandthegravelroad.com (www.graceandthegravelroad.com)

He's told us what Jesus has done. He's told us what our behavior should look like because of Jesus' actions. And now Paul gives us some help with how. Today we have a much-loved, much-quoted, and much-studied passage: the armor of God.  Weekly Prayer Focus & Today's Verses Worship:  Ephesians 6:10 & Ephesians 6:23-24 Prayer: Ephesians 6:10-24 My evening Facebook posts focus on praying scripture. I'd love you to join the conversation there:  https://www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad/?eid=ARCg61S6YS1PwfD3586KvFAKYejoFjUYR51xO_BHv9xbo9L2063w_hFGdXmlNnjJV3qQ_nvmesJFJ9He (www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad) Or, connect with Grace & the Gravel Road out on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad (www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad) If you're interested in how to meditate on scripture, check out this link: https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate (https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate) http://www.graceandthegravelroad.com (www.graceandthegravelroad.com)

Paul continues to talk about how a Spirit-filled life should manifest in our relationships and life circumstances. In today's passage he speaks into two cultural categories: children and parents and slaves and masters. Weekly Prayer Focus & Today's Verses Worship:  Ephesians 6:9 Prayer: Ephesians 6:1-9 My evening Facebook posts focus on praying scripture. I'd love you to join the conversation there:  https://www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad/?eid=ARCg61S6YS1PwfD3586KvFAKYejoFjUYR51xO_BHv9xbo9L2063w_hFGdXmlNnjJV3qQ_nvmesJFJ9He (www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad) Or, connect with Grace & the Gravel Road out on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad (www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad) If you're interested in how to meditate on scripture, check out this link: https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate (https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate) http://www.graceandthegravelroad.com (www.graceandthegravelroad.com)

First today, Paul tells us to pay attention to our living and don't be foolish. Then he talks about both human and divine submission in a passage that has a difficult reputation. Weekly Prayer Focus & Today's Verses Worship:  Ephesians 5:25-27 Prayer: Ephesians 5:15-33 My evening Facebook posts focus on praying scripture. I'd love you to join the conversation there:  https://www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad/?eid=ARCg61S6YS1PwfD3586KvFAKYejoFjUYR51xO_BHv9xbo9L2063w_hFGdXmlNnjJV3qQ_nvmesJFJ9He (www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad) Or, connect with Grace & the Gravel Road out on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad (www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad) If you're interested in how to meditate on scripture, check out this link: https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate (https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate) http://www.graceandthegravelroad.com (www.graceandthegravelroad.com)

If we took today's passage seriously, our lives might look very different. Paul opens with a few verses calling us to sacrificial love and if that wasn't enough then gives us more instruction in how we should live.  Weekly Prayer Focus & Today's Verses Worship:  Ephesians 5:1-2 Prayer: Ephesians 5:1-14 My evening Facebook posts focus on praying scripture. I'd love you to join the conversation there:  https://www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad/?eid=ARCg61S6YS1PwfD3586KvFAKYejoFjUYR51xO_BHv9xbo9L2063w_hFGdXmlNnjJV3qQ_nvmesJFJ9He (www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad) Or, connect with Grace & the Gravel Road out on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad (www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad) If you're interested in how to meditate on scripture, check out this link: https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate (https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate) http://www.graceandthegravelroad.com (www.graceandthegravelroad.com)

Paul gives a pretty clear list of to-do's and not to-do's today. It's about to get personal in here! Weekly Prayer Focus & Today's Verses Worship:  Ephesians 4:30 Prayer: Ephesians 4:25-32 My evening Facebook posts focus on praying scripture. I'd love you to join the conversation there:  https://www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad/?eid=ARCg61S6YS1PwfD3586KvFAKYejoFjUYR51xO_BHv9xbo9L2063w_hFGdXmlNnjJV3qQ_nvmesJFJ9He (www.facebook.com/graceandthegravelroad) Or, connect with Grace & the Gravel Road out on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad (www.instagram.com/graceandthegravelroad) If you're interested in how to meditate on scripture, check out this link: https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate (https://graceandthegravelroad.link/meditate) http://www.graceandthegravelroad.com (www.graceandthegravelroad.co)m