your prayers matter
and other reminders for your calendar
Some days just sing. Everything is vibrant and pulsating with life. The breeze hits the gardenias—in bloom this week—just right, and the scent of all that is good in the world comes round right to you.
The other day I found out someone I’ve been praying for for years—years—often with tears, has come back to Jesus with a hunger for the Word. I put my head in my hands and cried, this time tears of thanks and awe.
It all matters. Words matter. Prayer matters.
Don’t give up.
I recently heard a testimony from a man who died but then came back to life. He shared about being out of his body and seeing people pray for him after his accident. Their words were like structures, cathedrals reaching up to heaven and making a way for answers to come back down.
I know there are many times when the prayers aren’t answered the way we want. I don’t understand it all. But He is good. And our words and prayers matter—I know this. I can tell a lifetime of stories on this.
This week we got to experience a holy interruption, one of those “suddenlies” you pray for as you carry on in the mundane of your long road of “constantlies.” And it was all Him. We couldn’t have planned it or produced it. But we could have missed the opportunity to take part in it by not showing up, by not saying yes to the little things.
“Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” - Psalm 37:3-4
Reminder about a few things coming up…
Communion America Summit (TONIGHT!) hosted by Awaken the Dawn // May 28 - 30 // I’m thankful for these folks and their raw passion; we can’t go to all of this, but we’re going to go to what we can.
Celebration Night at the Prayer Room // Sunday, May 31 // Shaping up to be a sweet night. Join us. Register! Bonus, you get to meet the gem that is Chris Westhoff!
Speak Up Writing Workshops // We now have them every Tuesday (Rock Hill library) and every Wednesday (the Mercantile) from 9:30 to 11 AM. They’re special. Come!
A Speak Up gathering last winter at the Mercantile Art Collective // Every Tuesday at the Prayer Room 12:30 - 2 PM. God shows up.
Online Prayer Vigil in campaign against human trafficking // Saturday, June 6 at 7 PM // join us as we pray for an end to this and protection for the vulnerable as we approach the World Cup.
Debbie Baumgart’s Saturday “Crafternoon” Class // Saturday, June 13 from 2 - 4:30 PM // Come and learn how to make your own treasure book/journal. All supplies are included. $25. Reach out for how to RSVP with Debbie.
Hope to see some of you soon!
What am I listening to lately?
Songs.
Mourning to Dancing, Jenn Johnson (also Happy is just so sweet)
Whole Heart, Eliza King
She Waits, SMYL
Reckoner, Jon Guerra
In the Stillness, the new collab with Stephen George Williams & Taylor Leonhardt
Albums.
Prizefighter, Mumford & Sons (can’t pick a favorite song, still months later loving it all, but Conversations With My Son has so so much in it, and that outro…!)
In Returning and Rest, Doyina (a different sound, take it in like you would a Terrence Malick film)