PRAYER
One topic that is close to my heart is Prayer. The following series is gleaned from my many years of teaching our Novices and Seminarians in Africa. There are many styles and ways that we can pray and it is good to be informed of them, since these different styles and ways may or may not appeal to us, depending on our personalities. But before I begin I will explain the difference in Public prayer and Private prayer. Then I will further explain the differences between Meditation, Affectation and Contemplation types of praying. But all of this depends on our personal relationship with God through knowing and being aware of God”s attributes of goodness, beauty, truth, and love! Now we are ready to talk about Myers-Briggs Personality Inventory and all the distractions that get between us and God…of course, I offer some suggestions. (Continue below.)
PRAYER 8 final
PRAYER 7
PRAYER 6
PRAYER 5
PRAYER 4
PRAYER 3
PRAYER 2
PRAYER 1
THE PRODIGAL SONS
Part Two
“I have always enjoyed our walks, Abe!” Michael said with excitement.
“It brings back memories…,” said Abe.
“…Of our Father…,” Michael continued.
“…Who absolutely enjoyed…” Abe continued.
“…His walks with us!” Michael ends.
“How we have changed, my brother,” Abe reminisces.
“Yes, we have,” Michael takes up the drift. “You have grown so loving, especially as a
father!”
“And my wife would say, as a lover!” Abe grows a little embarrassed when he realized
he had shared such an intimate thought.
“Speaking of Miriam, how is she doing?” Michaels asks.
“She was in the kitchen when we met,” Abe revealed. “That is why I picked the time to
meet with you. I knew she would be busy, very busy.”
“I am sure she loves it,” Michael teased. “You both have such confidence that they will
return, today!”
“We know our sons,” Abe said proudly. “If they said that they are returning today, then
they will return today.”
“You know brother,” Michael begins to reveal, “that every time we walk down this road,
I always get in the mood to travel somewhere, anywhere.”
“Like before,” Abe teases gently.
“Yes, like before,” Michael goes along. “It wasn’t all bad, you know.”
“Just until the money ran out,” Abe teases a little harder.
“Yes, brother, after I ran out of money,” Michael admits honestly. “That’s when I
learned who my real friends were, but mostly, that is when I found out how much I
missed home and was loved at home by my family.”
“I wish that I could have been part of that, brother,” Abe admits, “but my own
blindness from jealousy kept me from seeing that truth also.”
“But unlike me, your wife gave you the greatest gift of all, that even I am envious!”
Michael admits.
“And what is that?” Abe asks.
“She watered the seed of love that was already there, just waiting to sprout,” Michael
said lovingly, “A seed that our parents had planted.”
“Yes, that is true,” he said. “I have told you many times how her love finally removed
the blinders covering my eyes. From that moment on I never doubted the love our
parents had for us!”
“And you have passed that love on to your sons,” Michael said proudly. “Look what
wonderful men they have become! Yahweh, be praised!”
“…Through all generations!” Abe responded. “But what about you? Tell me more of
your own encounter with the Lord, Adonai. You said that God whispered to you.”
“I didn’t say that!” Michael exclaimed rather excitedly. “By the way, we are turning
around at that point there, or you will have to carry me back.”
“Me carry you?” Abe exclaimed. “You are the one in the best shape, though looking like
a skeleton!”
“And if you would take care of yourself and not eat so much,” Michael returned.
“This mound is the sure sign of my love for my wife,” he said, patting his stomach.
“…A sure sign of your love for her cooking,” Michael teased.
“That too!” he returned. “You are avoiding my question about your vision of Yahweh.”
“You’ll be adding a burning bush next,” Michael said laughing.
“Seriously,” Abe pleaded, “I am interested.”
“Well, it is simply that there are times when I almost can feel the presence of God all
around me, covering me, protecting me,” Michael tries to explain. “It is like a blanket
of love enveloping me. Sometimes it is so intense that I could almost beg to die! Take
me Lord, now! Let me experience your presence, even though I know it will kill me. At
least I will die in love for you, my God!”
“Wow! Michael, how special,” Abe exclaimed. “You are well named, ‘God-like’.”
“Oh, brother, you should experience the feeling I get when I come and visit here! It is
like Yahweh finds such delight in your family and feels at home here. You and your
family are pleasing to the Lord, brother!”
“Oh?” Abe responds almost speechless. “I wonder if He would mind if my wife and I
take a little trip?”
“You seem to be getting a little wanderlust also,” Michael said laughing.
“That is why your idea to travel together may not be such a bad idea after all.”
“Were you thinking of any place in particular, brother?” Michael asks.
“You know we have relatives in Egypt,” Abe states.
“Yes, I know, and that would be ideal, since it would give us a place to stay after a long
journey, and with someone we know,” Michael said excitedly.
“Father mentioned it several times,” Abe said, “like he was strongly hinting at
something.”
“Maybe he was hinting that you should find wives for your sons there,” Michael offers.
“I was thinking the same thing,” he said. “I also think that Father knew that I had a
little of the wanderlust in me too, and this would give me a somewhat safe destination
far enough to satisfy that urge.”
“When I suggested that your sons go for a long business trip,” Michael mentioned, “it
was with the purpose of getting the young men out of the house and getting
experience in the world, especially in business.”
“Yes, I know, and I supported it wholeheartedly,” Abe returned. “But I also saw it as a
chance for them to get away from under us and give them a more controlled chance of
“seeing” the world like you did!”
“Ha! I knew it!” Michael laughed. “I was wondering why you went along so easily.”
“It was Miriam that I had to convince in the end,” Abe added.
“Abe! Look! I see a caravan approaching!” Michael said, pointing.
“What a crowd! I wonder what that is all about,” he said excitedly. “Do you think it is
them”
“It could be,” Michael suggested. “I did give them a sizable amount of money to
bargain with.” He noticed Abe’s disapproving look, but added, “They may not have
another chance like this again in a long time.”
“I also gave them a big chunk of money,” Abe confessed, “for the same reason.” Both
men laughed. “I think those are the boys riding in front together!”
“Inseparable!” Michael added. “Looks like they are ready to race ahead!”
“I wonder what is holding them back.” Abe asked almost to himself. “It is so unlike
them!”
“Maybe their precious cargo,” Michael began to figure it out. “Look at the two wagons
behind them!”
“What about them?” Abe asked.
“They’re covered…” Michael started to explain.
“…And only women,” Abe added.
“…Ride in covered wagons,” Michael ended.
“No! You don’t think so?” Abe interjected excitedly.
“They could have,” Michael suggested, “Since we did give them a lot of money! But we
should wait until they get closer!”
“Grandchild!” Abe started to tear up.
“Maybe we should wait until they get closer,” Michael suggested again. “It may be
something else.”
“Oh, Miriam!” Abe was ecstatic by now, even though his wife couldn’t hear him.
“Trip to Egypt?” Michael mumbles
The Prodigal Sons Two
The Prodigal Sons One
***If you have your favorite prophet/s, and I have several, you will enjoy these series. This present series, The Prophet’s Wife, Isaiah’s wife tells her side of the story.
THE PROPHET’S WIFE
Part One: In The Courtyard, The Visions
“Miriam,” Isaiah calls out to her from across their courtyard.
“Ishi! *” Miriam answers and waves.
“I waited until they were gone,” Isaiah said, looking exhausted.
“Sorry, they talked so long. I’m sure you must be tired after a long day,” Miriam looked concerned.
“What were they talking about?” Isaiah was interested.
“Come inside, my husband, and let me wash your feet,” she said, gently guiding him inside, “then I will tell you.”
“Ishti*, you are too good to me,” Isaiah said to her with love. “A good wife is a true blessing from the Lord.”
“The women came because your visions,” Miriam said. “They were offended. I tried to calm them and tell that if they didn’t apply to them, why get offended?”
“They used to come to you for advice and your instructions on the way of the Lord,” Isaiah said sadly. “Now they come to complain about the burden of the law and instead seek the soothsayer and fortune-tellers for advice.”
“They were strong words,” Miriam said, trying to be diplomatic about it all. “The daughters of Zion are haughty and walk with necks outstretched ogling and mincing as they go, their anklets tinkling with every step,” didn’t help.”
“They did sound like the cows of Bashan heading out to the fields,” Isaiah said countering, “tinkling and jingling in the street as they left.”
Miriam couldn’t help laughing at his accurate description. “Your many years of teaching and writing have only improved your skills of description, Ishi,” Miriam said affectionately.
“That is what first attracted me to you, Ahuvati*,” Isaiah said, looking into her eyes. “You were always different from the rest. How much I have appreciated your support and understanding over the years.” He paused, and then said, “I have a secret that I want to share with you,” Isaiah said softly.
“Yes, Ishi?” he had her attention now.
“I had revelation in the Temple today,” Isaiah began.
“Is this like your wonderful vision of Lord God Sabaoth from before?” she asked.
“No,” Isaiah said a little worried and sad. “That was wonderful and terrible! This is terrible and sad.”
Miriam got up from the floor and took a seat next to her husband. She recognized the look in his face…seen it before. All she could do now was to listen and support him. “Tell me.”
He began with a poetic cadence, “Speedily and promptly they will come. None of them will stumble with weariness,” Isaiah said, then continued with more confidence. “Their arrows are sharp and all their bows are bent. The hoofs of their horses seem like flint, and their chariot wheels like the hurricane. Their roar is that of the lion, like the lion’s whelps they roar; they growl and seize the prey, they carry it off and none will rescue it.” He felt exhausted, but a weight was lifted from his shoulders.
“The Assyrians,” was all Miriam said.
Isaiah nodded. “I am certain now that is what the revelation means, that Yahweh’s patience with our people is at an end.”
Miriam shook a little at what her husband had just revealed. Isaiah thought she would cry. So he held her.
“I have a secret, too,” Miriam whispered.
Isaiah held her tighter, “Tell me, my love.”
“I am with child,” was all she could say.
He whispered more to himself than to Miriam, “And his name shall be Shear-Jashub!” *
*Ishi – my husband
*Ishti – my wife
*Ahuvati – my beloved
*Shear-Jashub – A Remnant-Will-Return
Isaiah is the first of three larger prophetic volumes sometimes referred to as Major Prophets because of their size. The other two are Jeremiah and Ezekiel. The reason for this, in the case of Jeremiah and Ezekiel, was the extraordinary length of their prophetic careers and the unusually large legacy of words and stories they left behind.
This is not why the Book of Isaiah is as large as it is. Its size is more a product of the influence Isaiah had on subsequent generations and the way those who preserved his oracles were challenged to supplement them with yet additional words from later prophets.
The book, therefore, as a whole can be divided into three parts, Chapters 1-39 is called Isaiah of Jerusalem, and characterize this collection as a vision or revelation which Isaiah received in the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. With these references to certain kings we encounter the handiwork of those anonymous Deuteronomists who have given us the Books of Joshua through Kings. One division that immediately stands out is the rather extensive historical narrative in Isaiah 36-39. Strange to say, this section of the book is almost identical to 2 Kings 18:13-20:19, and indeed may have been copied from there.
Chapters 40-55, most scholars are convinced, are virtually all from the hand of a single prophet who lived in Babylon in the immediate aftermath of the first wave of Persian conquests in that region in 546. His prophecies have been added to those of the eighth century Isaiah of Jerusalem, and have come to refer to him as Deutero-Isaiah. Chapters 56-66 seems to reflect the activity of still another prophet, even though his message is quite similar to that of Deutero-Isaiah but no longer in Babylon. He is among those who returned to the land of Israel when the Persian conquered Babylon in 539 and released captive people there and is referred to as Third-Isaiah.
Isaiah in Hebrew is a compound of two words, one meaning ‘save’ or ‘salvation’ and the other a shortened form of Yahweh—the two together meaning: “Yahweh Saves”. His father’s name was Amos (not to be confused with the Prophet Amos).
Although it is nowhere stated in so many words, there are few things more certain about Isaiah than that he lived and prophesied in Jerusalem, capital city of the southern kingdom of Judah. Jerusalem is the target of virtually all of his criticisms, warnings and hopes. The Davidic kings in Jerusalem, as well as their advisors, appear to have been well known to him.
Neither Isaiah nor his disciples and editors of his book, tell us what his occupation was prior to his becoming a prophet. The fact that his wife is called a prophetess and that Isaiah himself is accorded an unusual degree of respect and protection by kings and officials in Jerusalem has suggested that he might have been a state appointed “Seer”.
At some point it had become clear to Isaiah that Yahweh’s patience with Israel was at an end, that his people’s moral condition was beyond converting or healing—consequently a terrible catastrophe lay ahead. This terrible truth also had earlier broken upon the consciousness of Amos during his third vision, and upon the mind of Hosea at the birth of his children. An invasion was imminent from which only a splintered stump of the tree of Judah would survive!
Not all was lost, however, for had he not heard Yahweh say that a stock of the blasted stump of his people would remain. Soon after this vision Isaiah had a son whom he named “Shear-Jashub” (A Remnant-Will-Return).
SUGGESTED READINGS:
Especially for this six part series, Isaiah, chapters 1-39, called “Isaiah of Jerusalem,” also known as Proto-Isaiah, or First Isaiah.
2 Kings 18:13 to 20:19, since this book is almost identical to Isaiah 36-39.
THE PROPHET’S WIFE Part One