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View this email in your browser A daily Lenten e-mail with lessons of hope and courage, inspired by a variety of resources to encourage us in these confusing and turbulent times from St. Luke’s Church, Lebanon. Tuesday - First Week in Lent Prayer is a popular theme during Lent. We pay closer attention to in this season, sort of like we tend to watch our weight and tune-up our exercise routines as swimsuit season draws near. The odd thing about prayer is that, like in many things, less is more. Less verbalizing, that is. We are an awfully talky people when it comes to prayer. Some have offered a criticism that the Book of Common Prayer is way too wordy. We might be reminded of the criticism offered by Emperor Franz Josef about Mozart's work, "Too many notes." There is some truth to it though . . .we tend to talk more when we are not quite sure what to say. If prayer is not a regular pattern for us, we tend to "talk God up" thinking that maybe the more we talk, the greater the odds he will hear - or at least mistake us for someone who knows what they are doing. The truth is, prayer is more like the conversation of two people who have been married a long, long time. Long moments go by without words being spoke but with clear communication. We find proof of that when people can end each other's sentences! Once we are talked out, being together quietly is not only enough, it brings great comfort - and a sense of peace. Maybe that is what this Lent should teach us: that we do not need to inundate God with our words. Instead we need to spend enough time together that we begin to know God's heart and God knows ours. Long periods of quiet presence can pass and we are closer at the end that when we began. Today, practice being quiet in the presence of God. Scripture Lessons appointed for the day (Click on the lesson for the text) Isaiah 55:6–11 Matthew 6:7–15 Psalm 34:15–22 Prayer is not asking - it is the longing of the soul. Mahatma Ghandi   Conversing with God . . . Am I shouting too loud to hear God speak to me? Do I want God or only his gifts? Have I really heard what God is saying to me? O Lord Hear My Prayer - Taize Jaques Bethier                                                                       Matthew 5 Jesus said, “When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. “Pray then in this way: Our Father in heaven, . . .  Copyright © *|CURRENT_YEAR|* *|LIST:COMPANY|*, All rights reserved. *|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|* Our mailing address is: *|HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|* *|END:IF|* Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.