On a personal note ...

I've just had a few days away, at an annual Christian conference called Spring Harvest.  It was a fabulously, marvellously, wonderful time of physical, emotional and spiritual renewal.

This year's theme was entitled 'UNLIMITED' and was all about prayer. The Bible study teacher for the week, Pete Grieg, was excellent. I appreciated not only his wisdom on the topic of prayer but also his humility and vulnerability.

Here are just a few snippets of what I learned about prayer ...
1. Keep it simple  -  learned to pray about the small things continually, and not just the big things occasionally.
2. Keep it real  -  be honest with God in the place of prayer, be real about your pain and your disappointments.

This photo has absolutely nothing
to do with prayer  ...  I'm simply
enjoying a hot air machine

3. Keep it up  -  be persistent in the place of prayer. 
Matthew 7 encourages us to 'Ask, Seek and Knock', this is all in the present continuous tense, not just a one off act.

Pause  -  acknowledge the presence of God
Rejoice  -  give thanks, count your blessings (for they are many)
Ask  -  to pray in the name of Jesus is to pray in line with his character and his purposes
Yield  -  truly surrender yourself to God

NOW is the moment for prayer and participation!!