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Pray

January 17, 2022 By Juanita Ryan Leave a Comment

Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. Psalm 62:8 When we are faced with difficulties in life, we need support from friends and family. We also need God’s help. Perhaps the most direct way to open ourselves to God is through prayer. Prayer can be many things. Prayer does not need to be long or complicated. When we are afraid or distressed we … [Read more...] about Pray

Take in Support

January 10, 2022 By Juanita Ryan 3 Comments

Two are better than one, because they have good return for their work. If one falls down, his friend can help him up. Ecclesiastes 4:9, 10 On the evening of September 11, 2001 my husband and I watched Gwen Ifill of PBS interview Mr. Rogers. Gwen was asking Mr. Rogers to give people advice about how to talk with their children about what had just happened. That day we had watched images of … [Read more...] about Take in Support

Feel What You Feel

January 3, 2022 By Juanita Ryan 2 Comments

Whoever humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:4 After I was diagnosed with cancer I felt everything. I felt fear. I felt shock. I felt grief. I felt shame. I felt numbness. I felt resentment. I felt jealousy. I felt anger. I felt gratitude. I felt peace. These feelings seemed to come and go of their own volition. Sometimes the feelings were … [Read more...] about Feel What You Feel

Gather Information

December 27, 2021 By Juanita Ryan Leave a Comment

Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise. Proverbs 19:20 Knowledge is power. That is what I was taught as a twenty year old nursing student. We learned to empower our patients wherever we worked by sharing information with them. Whether we were preparing people for a procedure, or for a surgery, or for having a baby, or for living with a chronic illness, one of our … [Read more...] about Gather Information

Keep Breathing

December 20, 2021 By Juanita Ryan Leave a Comment

The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. Genesis 2:7 Keep Breathing. These words stood in bold lettering on a card I gave a close friend. She had just received some painful news and was very distressed. She told me several days later that she carried that card with her everywhere she went so she would be reminded to take a few … [Read more...] about Keep Breathing

Stay Grounded

December 14, 2021 By Juanita Ryan Leave a Comment

The truth will set you free. John 8: 23 Four days before Christmas in 2006 I had a phone appointment with my doctor. I was expecting to get the results of a breast biopsy that had been done a week earlier. At the time of the biopsy, I had been assured by the radiologist that everything looked normal, but as I sat down at the desk in my office and picked up the phone to call the doctor, adrenaline … [Read more...] about Stay Grounded

Celebrating as Prayer

November 29, 2021 By Juanita Ryan Leave a Comment

Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them. Nehemiah 8:12 The context of this text is that the people of Israel had been released from captivity. They have just listened together to words from Scripture. They have listened to words inviting them into a … [Read more...] about Celebrating as Prayer

Singing Love Songs to God as Prayer

November 22, 2021 By Juanita Ryan 2 Comments

I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live. The Lord is gracious and righteous, our God is full of compassion. Psalm 116:1,2,9 Sometimes prayer is a love song to God. It may be a song we sing, or words of gratitude we speak, or deep unspoken joy. As our eyes open to God's faithful love, as our … [Read more...] about Singing Love Songs to God as Prayer

Being Open to Joy as Prayer

November 15, 2021 By Juanita Ryan 2 Comments

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My commandment is this, love each other as I have loved you. John 15: 9-12 Jesus told his followers … [Read more...] about Being Open to Joy as Prayer

Experiencing Glory as Prayer

November 8, 2021 By Juanita Ryan 1 Comment

O Lord, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me! Many are saying of me, "God will not deliver him." But you are a shield around me, O Lord, you bestow glory on me and lift up my head. Psalm 3:1-3 We all know what it is like to feel judged by others. And what it is like when we judge ourselves. We know how painful it is to feel like we are defective. We know what it is like to be … [Read more...] about Experiencing Glory as Prayer

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