The way Kathy Lee needs Regis, that’s the way I need Jesus

My keyboard is missing two buttons, the “shift” key and the “z” key (thanks to Zoe).  She might have done this on purpose knowing that if I do actually blog about anything lately, it tends to be her.  Without those two keys, it makes typing more of a challenge.  Oh well.  This only adds to the  charm of my laptop.  Did I mention it’s been buzzing like a weed whacker since October and I still haven’t fixed it yet (it’s the fan).  I plan on repairing it soon.  Also, the battery no longer works. So the charge is in a constant state of dire need.  You know, I think my laptop and I have a lot in common these days – we both need some work.

If only I could pour coffee into my laptop the way I’ve been pouring it down my throat,  the performance might improve.

It’s served me well.  The coffee and also my laptop.  Especially this past month while I’ve been putting away a major book project.  It’s finally complete with all the last files proofed and ready for print today.  Thank God.  I need that paycheck the way I need that coffee in the morning.  Or, to quote what’s his name, “The way Kathy Lee needs Regis, that’s the way I need Jesus.”

I need Jesus too, it’s just coffee is a little less complicated sometimes.

Speaking of Jesus, it’s Lent, which lends my heart towards more contemplation.  I have had a lot of it lately.  My Lent decision was not to give up anything, but rather pray more.  Adding prayer is much better than say taking away Tequila.

A couple of months ago, I read a book called:  The Unlikely Disciple: A Sinner’s Semester at America’s Holiest University. One of the ideas that challenged me how the writer of this book, afer his experience at Liberty left with a habit of praying.  Everyday, he prays.  If he can pray, (even after his Liberty experience) well, so can I.

Oh, trust me, I pray.  I squeak out sighs and whispered pleas to God constantly.  But, during Lent I wanted to make real effort to pray.  So, these days I make more of a point to pray in common ways, like Brother Lawrence.  I pray while I wash the dishes, or when rocking Zoe in my arms, or when I’m working late at night, or while Telegraph Canyon is playing and I look out the window and see Texas winter basked in sun.

It seems though, I ran out of words about ten days ago.  The truth is, I’m all out of words.  Wrung out, already. When I look at all the tragedy in the world words seems pretty futile.

The good thing about prayer is that it doesn’t always require words:   If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans.  Romans 8:26a  The Message

Bethany, I am praying…