I awoke Sunday Morning with a new attitude.  I got out of bed right away, washed my face, fixed my hair, put on lipstick, and got dressed.  I have been malingering a lot and not getting dressed and not much caring how my hair looks, and lipstick is a rarity. But this day I was going to church -Not the building, but the church service on my computer.  I began to wonder why I felt so different. Was it the prospect of hearing the music and the sermon?

I think there was a bigger reason and it soon dawned on me. Someone had sent me a gift. Someone had prayed for me. I know that there are those who pray for me and I am thankful and those prayers help me immensely,  but this time I felt the prayer, I was aware of the prayer, I felt the uplifting power of the prayer, I felt the gift of the prayer, I felt the love expressed in the prayer.  I do not know who it was, or why they felt me on their heart, but I know as surely as I know my name, that someone took me to God in their prayer. Whoever it was, I thank you. You gave me purpose, you gave me confidence, you gave me your caring, and in the process, you gave me back who I am. I am open with my problems dealing with my Husband’s illness; it was taking a toll on me. There was more than one person that I talked with that knows this and I suspect they gave me to God; they gave me their prayer. Now this was a gift. Thank you for all who hold me up in prayer!  Thank you for the gift!

James 5:13-16a Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up.  If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so you may be healed.

Lord, we thank you for the gift of prayer.  We come to you today with our gratitude and our concerns and petitions.  Please Lord, be with those who fight this pandemic both here and all over the world, the nurses, the doctors, the aids, the paramedics and the people who work in the grocery stores and pharmacies, the people who work to provide the equipment needed, the mask makers, the food providers and all who seek to find a vaccine and a cure, and be with our Leaders as they make decisions that will keep us safe.  Bless them. Be with our Pastor and his family, bless his ministry and guide him as he travels a path so unexpected. Be with those who are grieving and are alone without the comfort of a funeral or gathering.  Be with our staff as they find new ways to serve their church. Be with our congregation as they are the church. We thank you Lord for each day and as you give us the opportunity to show your love to each other. Amen

Grace Epperson