SOTP-Logo     SOTP-Logo-Words
Shepherd of the Prairie
Lutheran Church

12101 Regency Sq. Pkwy.
Huntley, IL 60142
847-515-3711
Fax: 847-669-8725

Sunday Services
Traditional - 9:00 am
Contemporary - 10:30 am
more

Worshiping at:
Cosman Cultural Center
12015 Mill Street
Huntley, IL 60142

Google map


Shepherd of the Prairie
Lutheran Church

is affiliated with the
Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America
(ELCA)


A Note from Pastor Mark

A few weeks ago, a young man in our congregation asked me, “Pastor, what do you do when you don’t know how to pray?”

Try this. Take a deep breath, inhaling, then blowing it out slowly. That breath may have seemed like any old collecting of nitrogen and oxygen and expelling of carbon dioxide, but it was the breath of life.

Prayer, too, is the very breath of life.

When you don’t know how to pray, hold your Bible and breath meditatively. There is the breath-giving truth of aliveness within its pages. When you don’t know how to pray, read a Psalm or a verse from this book of life and breath it in. Jesus is the word that became flesh and dwelt among us and now lives among us. Romans 8:26 says this “the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit intercedes for us…” Breathe and let the Spirit pray for you!

At times, however, we are just called to listen and hear what God has to say. Through listening, we want to develop a hearing heart that discerns God’s voice. Prayer has as much to do with hearing God’s voice as it does with speaking our own voices. In times of trouble or worry, sit in silence and let your heart listen. Clear the other “stuff” off you plate and from your mind...and wait. Listen.

God speaks through the Word, through people, and through direct leading of the Spirit. People who are really interested in hearing from God learn to discipline themselves to be still before God (Psalm 46:10).

That wonderful song of faith shares “what a privilege it is to carry everything to God in prayer.” It is an honor to be able to speak to God. We don’t have to go through an intermediary. We don’t have to follow prescribed rituals. We don’t have to wait for an appointment. We don’t have to use fancy words. Just talk to Him. Anytime, anywhere under any circumstance, we can come to God in prayer.

Just some thoughts from one brother in Christ to another that might be helpful to us all. Blessings on your journey of faith!!!!

I’ll see you Sunday,

Blessings,
Pastor Mark
(July, 2008)












This section is to help search engines find our site:
Shepherd of the Prairie
Shepherd of the Prairie Church
Shepherd of the Prairie Lutheran Church
Lutheran Church Huntley IL
ELCA Lutheran Church Huntley IL
ELCA Church Huntley IL
ELCA Church McHenry County
Lutheran Church McHenry County
Church McHenry County
Church Huntley IL