What is prayer?

The word Psalms comes from a Greek word which means, "a song sung to the accompaniment of a musical instrument." 

On rainy days my mood becomes somber and calmed, while on sunny days my mood seems to lift. I like to think of a soundtrack playing in the background of my life...on good days, I walk with a pep in my step and its almost like I'm dancing to jazz or skipping to some folk music, but on rainy days, my head hangs lower and I love my slow chill Josh Garrels music. Every day, the songs I sing to God change with the music playing in the background of my life. While we cannot always control our circumstances or what weather comes, we can control how we respond to what comes our way every day.

The Psalms are prayers; David's intimate and personal response to the different seasons in his life. Sometimes he sings praises, while in others I cannot find apparent joy but only remorse or pain. I love the authenticity of the psalms, they make me feel like I am not alone in the way I feel sometimes. I realize it is okay to be mad or upset or in pain or confused, and then there are days when things make complete sense and all I can do is praise Him with a smile. The most valuable thing we can begin to learn about prayer is God just wants us to come exactly how we are; in honesty and truth.  

"The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life; whom shall I be afraid?"

                          –Psalm 27: 1

Light exposes us, it exposes the darkness in our lives and makes us recognize how hopeless and helpless we are without Jesus. When we finally begin to see how deeply Jesus loves us, we begin to see how near he is to us even on the days it may not feel like it.

Prayer is really just the realization we need Jesus and we just want to be with Him. The true meaning of prayer comes upon us when we finally become fully conscious of our brokenness.

What does prayer mean to you?

"I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage. Wait for the Lord."

                     –Psalms 27:13-14

I smile when I look up

Its been quite difficult to grasp one of the thousands of thoughts constantly racing through my head before it disappears into the fleeting abyss of my mind. But, I have managed to find rest in simply living in moments of clarity, moments of joy, moment upon moment of truly accepting life for what it brings.

This is a new season for me, its a season of truly living out faith in a new and unfamiliar place. I no longer have hours of college-life to sit still, read, write and absorb the beauty of music, language and art. A bud can only absorb so much from its source before it must burst with color and life. Its time to open up to a new place in the world and share the shades of color I have conjured up to this point. 

Charleston, SC 

I am about to begin teaching 6th grade social stuides at a school in Holly Hill, South Carolina. I have few memories about what it was like to be in middle school, but from what I remember, its not easy. Hormones are raging and its that time in your life when you have little idea of who you are or what you aspire to become. These kiddos just need direction as I needed then and continue to need now. As their teacher, I really just want to serve as a source of inspiration and hope for them.

Coming from a entirely different society and culture this rural school is unfamiliar and the people are intriguingly different. I am nervous of the change coming, but also eagerly anticipating a new perspective and clearer understanding of the world I live in.

As all things with Him turn out to be–all things work for the good of those who love Him. I believe and know He is with me and guiding me down this twisting and turning path. I smile when I look up because there I see peace and gentle rest. Creation echos a reminder that even when we are frustrated by our inability to understand circumstance, manifestations of divine comfort cushion the harsh realities around us. Our only reasonable option is to rely on the Word and the promises of God. 

“I may repeat "Do as you would be done by" till I am black in the fact, but I cannot really carry it out till I love my neighbour as myself: and I cannot learn to love my neighbour as myself till I learn to love God: and I cannot learn to love God except by learning to obey Him. And so, as I warned you, we are driven on to something more inward - driven on from social matters to religious matters. For the longest way round is the shortest way home." 

–C.S. Lewis