Grace and Peace to you from the Holy Trinity: Father, Son and Spirit. Good morning. 

I pray that you all continue to have a place to pray. 

A place that can be as simple as the bow of a canoe. 

A hammock between some trees. 

A comfy chair on the deck. 

These are all places to pray, in fact you can pray anywhere you choose. My prayer is also that I continue to pray, with persistence and purpose. Even with prayers I may not completely understand what I am praying for. Prayers become possibilities through the loving kindness of God’s promise. 

God loves you and as we heard from Genesis, “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.” 

Even in the worst situations that we can live through God is there with us. “I will give thanks to you, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will sing your praise.” Sitting in the bow of a canoe offers many opportunities for thought and prayer. There is freedom to simply enjoy the view and paddle. 

Always paddle, no matter what. 

Jesus likes to pray, it seems he’s either eating, sleeping, or praying. Sounds like pretty basic stuff.

Kind of like paddling. 

I believe that Jesus prays just like you and I, perhaps even praying for the same things. 

Peace, compassion, understanding; the prayers are forever. 

Yet the disciples are excited to learn how to pray. 

How does Jesus sustain and carry on, knowing that he will eventually die for us. The one God will have the power to die and be raised on the third day, to glory. To die for us, to live. 

As a Pastor you would expect I know how to pray, and I do, and that is the beauty of prayer that it is easily taught. 

Prayer can be as simple as, “Hey God it’s me Michael, and I’m doing okay today,” 

Let’s give it a try, only use your name, “Hey God it me —--- , and I'm doing okay today.” 

You can even throw in an Amen, “So be it.” 

I don’t know about you but it feels good to talk to God. 

God is listening. 

The disciples with Jesus have seen the power of prayer. 

But there are those who don’t believe in God, don’t pray, and think that they can do whatever it is they please. 

Those may be the ones mentioned by Paul in the reading from Colossians, “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit,

according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ.” 

Learning how to pray is just as important as praying. 

All of our prayers are directed to God, our maker and creator. Believe that we have been given everything that we need. 

On Wednesday morning it began to rain on our trip. 

While not wanting to spend the day soaking wet in camp we decided to move on. 

Full of pancakes, drenched in real maple syrup, made by the organizer of the group we packed up with all of our things weighing about twice as much. 

The skies were heavy with rain, but occasionally lit up with a blast of lightning and the distant rumble of thunder. 

Perhaps those of old might have thought the gods were angry but I was assured that my God loves me, I felt comfortable although wet. 

We paddled slowly along the shore, where the trees stood much higher than us and offered a quick escape should the rain or lighting become too much. 

We made it to our next portage and prepared to carry our gear. It didn’t seem possible but it began to rain even harder. 

Carrying the canoe kept the rain off of me, but having to steading the canoe with a hand up only allowed the water to run down my hand, past my wrist, left down my elbow, chilling my armpit, racing down my side, negotiating my tightly belted pants, turning to flow down each leg. 

I don’t know if I could have felt more wet if I was standing in the water.

Yet I was warm, wearing my life jacket keeps me warm and lives up to it’s name as a life preserver. 

Serving double duty as floatation and heat conservation. 

Yes, as dangerous as it is canoeing in a thunderstorm, I do wear my personal floatation device on land. 

Yet only when it is raining heavily or portaging. 

I looked at my long-time canoe partner and said, “This is fantastic, this is why I go on these trips.” 

He smiled and that said it all. 

Unfortunately for our new companion he didn’t find this situation to be enjoyable. Kind of like the shock of fishing and you catch an eel. 

Why did God make those things anyway, or if I wonder further, mosquitoes? Seeing our companion shivering, soaked and sad we knew just what to do. 

Again breaking canoe etiquette, we propped the canoe up against some trees on the portage into Wind Bay of Basswood Lake and proceeded to light the stove, heat water and make hot soup and cocoa. 

As the hot liquids warmed and nourished the body the rain began to wane and the sky was brightening. 

God had been there with us all along, listening and loving us. The persistence of the rain got us to stop and provide what we needed. I believe that the companionship provided as much as the soup and cocoa.

Like the man persistent to get bread for his guest our need was met was knowing our ability to be persistent to how those in our group were feeling. 

I felt God’s love, a love that comes through persistence and prayer. Prayer propels you forward like the pull and push that propels a canoe. 

In the Lord’s prayer that Jesus teaches us we are blessed to love the name of God, ask for the glorious kingdom in heaven that we prepare on earth, for daily bread and all that we have been given, the gift of forgiveness to share with others forgiving, finally that we are not led to trial but triumph in heaven. 

God talks with you through your prayers. 

Pray often without ceasing. 

I am excited to hear what your new life of prayer will be like. 

Will you feel more calm, at peace, in tune with God? 

Will doors open, questions answered? 

Will you be given the, “ Holy Spirit like those who ask him?” 

With confidence will you pray, 

“Father Hallowed be your name, Your kingdom come, 

Give us each day our daily bread. 

And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial.” 

Amen