Lois Snell
PRAYER IN THE WORKPLACE
One of the things I enjoy is leisurably strolling through thrift shops. Recently, I visited one in my area, arriving just as they were opening. When I walked in, the employees were all holding hands in a circle and each pouring out praises and prayers to God, our Heavenly Father. I was shocked and humbled at the cite, knowing I'd stumbled in on something both beautiful and sacred. Lingering in the background, I was blessed by their prayers, their openess, sincerity and honesty.
I'd frequented this thrift shop before and had always experienced a sense of calm there. Gospel music filtered the air and I'd equated that to the niceness of the employees. But, when I'd invaded their prayer session, I realized that it wasn't simply the music being fed into their spirits all day. They had a genuine respect for each other and people in general. They knew where their blessings came from. They respected, honored and placed their trust in Jesus, the Christ. It's seldom you see 12-15 people speaking on one accord uplifting the name of Jesus when not at church.
This was prayer in the workplace.
Yes, the workplace where it's often taboo to mention prayer, much less to openly offer it. In my working years, I'd been called in on the red carpet for my committment to prayer, not that I openly offered it in the workplace. But others recognized me as a woman of prayer and often came to me unexpectedly asking that I pray for them for one reason or another. I was only too happy to oblidge and promised that I'd pray for them that night. When time permitted, I'd pray for their situations in the privacy of my mind so as not to forget.
This was prayer in the workplace--in private.
Both prayer in the workplace and prayer in the workplace--in private are important. But, what a joy and a blessing to see prayer in the workplace. We've strayed too far from God's teaching. Jesus was always found in prayer. He often slipped away to a quiet place so He could converse with his Father in private. This is the preferred method of prayer--you and the Father. Yet, Jesus prayed openly for his disciples and men of all times, which includes you and me.
Remember where your blessings come from. Remember to pray without ceasing, that includes in the workplace.
I'd frequented this thrift shop before and had always experienced a sense of calm there. Gospel music filtered the air and I'd equated that to the niceness of the employees. But, when I'd invaded their prayer session, I realized that it wasn't simply the music being fed into their spirits all day. They had a genuine respect for each other and people in general. They knew where their blessings came from. They respected, honored and placed their trust in Jesus, the Christ. It's seldom you see 12-15 people speaking on one accord uplifting the name of Jesus when not at church.
This was prayer in the workplace.
Yes, the workplace where it's often taboo to mention prayer, much less to openly offer it. In my working years, I'd been called in on the red carpet for my committment to prayer, not that I openly offered it in the workplace. But others recognized me as a woman of prayer and often came to me unexpectedly asking that I pray for them for one reason or another. I was only too happy to oblidge and promised that I'd pray for them that night. When time permitted, I'd pray for their situations in the privacy of my mind so as not to forget.
This was prayer in the workplace--in private.
Both prayer in the workplace and prayer in the workplace--in private are important. But, what a joy and a blessing to see prayer in the workplace. We've strayed too far from God's teaching. Jesus was always found in prayer. He often slipped away to a quiet place so He could converse with his Father in private. This is the preferred method of prayer--you and the Father. Yet, Jesus prayed openly for his disciples and men of all times, which includes you and me.
Remember where your blessings come from. Remember to pray without ceasing, that includes in the workplace.
ON CHRISTMAS
As long as I can remember, Christmas has always been my favorite season. As a child, our home was filled with laughter and love and smelled of the sweets of many cakes and pies that Mama baked. The table and side tables were filled with several different varieties of sweets ranging from tea cakes to gingerbread to apple and sweet potato pies. In addition, there were the huge boxes filled with red-ripe apples, huge oranges and various nuts in glass bowls. Cases of soda pop sit on the floor and I'd pick out my alloted three, watching daily to make sure no one had mistakenly laid hands on mine. At school, we'd happily cheered when the train carrying Santa Claus passed through town and he waived at us. This made us feel quite special and we knew we'd be getting wonderful toys.
It was nearly impossible to go to sleep, the excitement of Christmas was almost too much for a youngster to bear. The thing that weighed heavily on our minds was that Santa would sprinkle pepper in our eyes should he catch us awake and there'd be no toys for us. Therefore, we forced our eyes closed until sleep came to visit. And, we were never dissappointed the next morning. I never understood how Mama and Daddy were up and cheery before we went to sleep and up and cherrier the following morning. Did they not need sleep on Christmas Eve? We were never disappointed on Christmas morning. Santa had delivered.
Years passed before I realized that Santa Claus was fictional, that my toys, gifts and clothing had come from Mama and Daddy. I don't recall being too disappointed--after all, my gifts were real. The cakes, pies and fruits were real--their taste still sweet and delicious. Then, the realization came that Christmas was not about sweets and toys. Christmas is the birthday of Jesus, the Christ. Christmas represents the greatest gift ever given--the gift of salvation, of forgiveness of sin, from the True and Living God to man.
Christmas is still my favorite season. Viewing it through eyes of an adult rather than eyes of a child allows me to appreciate it more. My gifts to my children and others reflects the love I feel for them; but, they can never compare to the gift Jesus gave to the world.
It was nearly impossible to go to sleep, the excitement of Christmas was almost too much for a youngster to bear. The thing that weighed heavily on our minds was that Santa would sprinkle pepper in our eyes should he catch us awake and there'd be no toys for us. Therefore, we forced our eyes closed until sleep came to visit. And, we were never dissappointed the next morning. I never understood how Mama and Daddy were up and cheery before we went to sleep and up and cherrier the following morning. Did they not need sleep on Christmas Eve? We were never disappointed on Christmas morning. Santa had delivered.
Years passed before I realized that Santa Claus was fictional, that my toys, gifts and clothing had come from Mama and Daddy. I don't recall being too disappointed--after all, my gifts were real. The cakes, pies and fruits were real--their taste still sweet and delicious. Then, the realization came that Christmas was not about sweets and toys. Christmas is the birthday of Jesus, the Christ. Christmas represents the greatest gift ever given--the gift of salvation, of forgiveness of sin, from the True and Living God to man.
Christmas is still my favorite season. Viewing it through eyes of an adult rather than eyes of a child allows me to appreciate it more. My gifts to my children and others reflects the love I feel for them; but, they can never compare to the gift Jesus gave to the world.
