'The Hush of a Thousand Prayers'

Remember the actress June Lockhart of "Lassie" and "Petticoat Junction" fame?

Well, June Lockhart wrote an extremely lovely piece for Guideposts in May 1958. Apparently, she had also worked for Guideposts early in her career.

I stumbled upon her essay quite by accident one day while searching online for something else. In this piece, she eloquently sums up why people pray in church when God hears prayer anywhere. 

And she finishes with this paragraph: 

That is what I feel, whenever I enter a church. I feel the hush of thousands of prayers steal over me. I feel the impact of the words of Christ. "It is written," He said long ago, "My house shall be called the house of prayer." (Matthew 21:13).

"The hush of a thousand prayers." I had never thought of church as a place where thousands of prayers had been said.

People refer to certain spaces as holy places. And it's true that God hears prayers anywhere, that one doesn't need to go to church to prayer.

But...

Think of it...

An ordinary church building, any ordinary church building, is a place where fallible people like us stood and sent up, over time, thousands or prayers.

Incredible.

The link to the full piece is below. May it inspire you this day.

https://guideposts.org/prayer/how-to-pray/guideposts-classics-june-lockhart-where-to-pray/

From One Heart to Another

I met Holly Coop when she joined WriteOn Joliet, at least eight years ago, maybe more. 

Holly writes inspirational poetry from her heart. Topics include love, encouragement, grief, forgiveness, and so forth. 

What makes Holly's poems so relatable is that she expresses emotions in a personal, but universal, way, so just about any reader will resonate with them.

She was very surprised when I offered to buy nine copies of one poem and one couple of a second.

I wanted to give my nine children a copy of the first for Christmas with a gift card for a frame, for that poem perfectly summed up the year 2023 was for us. "Oh, wow!" best sums up the comments from my kids as they read it.

The second poem, which dealt with self-esteem and inner beauty, was to be a birthday present for Rebekah.

Holly insisted on matting and framing the poem for Rebekah herself. So I never saw the finished product until Rebekah opened it on January 7, her birthday and our family Christmas.

If you scroll past this first photo, you'll see the Christmas poem in a frame. My son found the perfect one in a thrift store a few days later and was eager to show it off.

For more information about Holly Coop, visit hollycoopbooks.com.

Happy Thursday!

THANKSGIVING CLASSICS: "Prayer of Thanksgiving" by Perry Como

The Right Kind of Day

For the first time in a very long time, I came into Saturday with an entire day off, and I relished it, especially since I knew most of Sunday would be a working day.

I usually have a few hours of work on weekends, but this Sunday was different. I have a doctor's appointment today, so I had some of Monday's work to do, too.

But Sunday's work was followed by a thirty-seventh birthday celebration (and chilly cookout) for my oldest son at his house some forty-five minutes away. With all the health issues he's had, it felt great to celebrate his birthday with our still growing family.

So an entire Saturday to read and rest felt so appealing and enticing.

Then an opportunity for service arose, and I chose that type of Saturday instead.

I have to admit, I was a little disappointed to let the first Saturday go. But I since I try to live by this motto - "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good" (Galatians 6:10) - the first Saturday lost its appeal.

I'm reasonably certain another will "free" Saturday will roll around. Not next weekend, because I already have some interviews scheduled and I'll be working a fundraiser.

But another one. 

In God's time.

"Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke?" Isaiah 58:6

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage." Follow him at www.facebook.com/artbymattcoundiff 

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, Dec. 24 through Dec. 29

One more week of holiday deadlines culminating in working the holiday and then a little time off the following weekend for our family's Christmas and Rebekah's birthday, followed by a day off a week later in honor of my anniversary with the company (going into my fifth year, how about it?).

A quick look ahead: I do have several events scheduled into 2018 and will share those here soon. If you'd like a sneak peak, visit the Fetes and Feasts page at www.bryonyseries.com and the events page at www.facebook.com/BryonySeries.

Also in 2018, I'll be starting a newsletter. I'm giving away the first chapter of one of the books in the Before the Blood prequel as a "thank you" for signing up. Want to be included? Drop me a line at bryonyseries@gmail.com.

And some quick information before the stories:

Non-bylined features:

Monday through Saturday I assembled my non-bylined works - brief posts and calendar listings - into one convenient file and posting them on Facebook in the evening, so readers can easily choose the ones they want to read.

One can also find those event listings, the Gotta Do It calendar, as well as the pets, health, faith, and arts and entertainment calendars, under the sections tab on the left hand side of http://www.theherald-news.com/. Click on "features" and the topics drop down.  Gotta Do It runs under "people."

Community news? Again, under the sections tab, under features, and by topic. Updates are posted on these days in print and web and in web on other days as I have the time: Monday (pets), Tuesday (health), Thursday (faith), Friday (arts and entertainment), and Sunday (people).

Social media:

Daily updates: I do post the briefs and calendars on Twitter during the week, so you're welcome to follow me at @Denise_Unland61.

BryonySeries stuff: I post curated content relating to the BryonySeries at @BryonySeries. And assorted related content at www.facebook.com/BryonySeries. And of course, please follow the adventures of Bertrand the Mouse on Instagram at bertrand_bryonyseries.

Thank you for reading The Herald-News. And for reading this blog. Your support is greatly appreciated.

Channahon man has an answer for those with hurting hearts

Last spring, Brian Birkey stepped out in faith and sent one of his poems to The Herald-News, hoping someone would publish it, saying it would “be a dream come true.” This why.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2017/12/15/channahon-man-has-an-answer-for-those-with-hurting-hearts/ama5hsv/

'That spells Christmas to me'

Three weeks ago, Bobby, who has autism, told his parents Robert and Nora Thiesen that he planned on keeping only one present from Santa this year, that he wanted poor children and sick children in hospitals to have the rest.

"I wanted to do this," Bobby said, "Because all these kids don't have any toys."

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2017/12/22/e76c4ded7fb54897ab9bd235de2bcc65/index.xml?page=1

Born on Christmas Day, Karl Henning of Joliet had unlimited love for all people

"I rubbed some water on his head," said Eric Postulek, pastor of Harvest Bible Chapel in Joliet, where Karl belonged. "Two or three hours later, he went to be with the Lord."

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2017/12/23/409da6fc6f894144961a92d094001ad7/index.xml

Pets of the Week

Read the caption of each photo to find out about that pet, including where he or she can be adopted.

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2017/12/16/6465161bd8674fe49d364954c808521a/index.xml

Joliet experts help Santa get fit with routines for seniors

In an email, Matt Mickas, certified strength and conditioning specialist at facility manager at Athletico Joliet, explained why.

“Santa has the challenging task of delivering presents to families across the whole world in one night,” Mickas wrote, “which puts his body at risk for overuse injuries and could prevent him from making next year’s Christmas deliveries.”

http://www.theherald-news.com/2017/12/23/joliet-experts-help-santa-get-fit-with-routines-for-seniors/atmmceh/

Public Landing in Lockport: quality comfort food and premium service in an upscale atmosphere

The Public Landing website said this about itself: "Located on the old I&M Canal in the historic district of downtown Lockport, our family of service professionals bring their combined knowledge, talent, and hearts to ensure a memorable dining experience for each and every guest."

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2017/12/18/b62c331eb4b442c180016ab9754d0779/index.xml

Good reasons to pray

Earlier this month, the media reported that a new drug, although in the early clinical trial stages, just might slow the disease’s progression.

Unfortunately, Beverly Sliepka won’t live to see it and her family isn’t expecting it, even if I prayed 100 times for that miracle.

So why pray?

http://www.theherald-news.com/2017/12/26/good-reasons-to-pray/a4nzn90/

Looking ahead to the new year

Lots of fun planned in Will, Grundy counties

Post-holiday blues already getting you down? Spirits feeling as droopy as old tinsel?

Take heart. The fun hasn’t ended; it’s only beginning. Check out some of what the area’s venues have in store the January.

 http://www.theherald-news.com/2017/12/23/looking-ahead-to-the-new-year/acfo8i3

Artworks: Illness doesn't stop Seneca senior from writing poetry

Now 85 years old, Burden, of Seneca, estimates he's written 200 poems over the years. He wrote a poem when his daughter was born, and he's written poems to honor people he admires and the work they do.

"It's an old man's way of saying 'Thank you' to a lot of people," Burden said.

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2017/12/28/4c2745c82be64f9bb4a9b767a0d00d2f/index.xml?page=1