Invitation to Prayer

Faces of Children is an ecumenical prayer ministry under the auspices of First Presbyterian Church of Midland, Texas. Our mission is to initiate ministries of prayer for children in churches, communities, and neighborhoods. In doing so, we seek to provide an opportunity for people of God to join together, learn about children and their needs throughout the world, and celebrate Christ's love (especially as it relates to children).

Daily Renewal

"Each morning, or any time you are about to go anywhere or do anything, go over the scenario in your mind. Pray, consciously, that the circumstance in question be used for the purposes of love, that God's rays of light might shine upon it.

Part of our mind is bent on love, and part of it is bent on fear. That is how consciousness operates. The loving mind is called the spirit of God, the Holy Spirit ... it is the holy Self that lies potential within all of us, the mystical drive to return home. We always have the choice to align ourselves with its presence and act accordingly in the world or give in to fear and, on some level, die.

The problem is that the voice of the spirit is not the dominant voice of the world. Fear is louder than love here. It takes conscious effort, therefore, to go against the voices of the world and to actualize our spiritual nature.

The fearful mind, or the negative ego, is alive and well within us and around us, but darkness disappears in the presence of light. Fear has no ultimate power in a situation dedicated through prayer to God.

The purpose of daily prayer is the cultivation of a sense of the sacred. Sacred energy renews us. Lives with no more sense of spiritual meaning than that provided by shopping malls, ordinary television, and stagnant workplaces are barren lives indeed. Spirituality enriches culture. Prayer enables us to transform the world, because it transforms us. From the moment we awaken each morning, our minds are at work in one direction or the other. Either we are slaves to the fearful mental habit patterns that dominate our world, or we are consciously taking part in the counterforce to the world's despair."
Illuminata: A Return to Prayer, by Marianne Williamson

A message from Chris Laufer, Coordinator, Faces of Children

Greetings, Faces of Children Prayer Partner,

When reading Marianne Williamson's thoughts on love and fear, on light overcoming darkness, on the transformative power of prayer in our lives, one verse from the New Testament kept surfacing in my memory.

"... for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control."
2 Timothy 1:7 (English Standard Version)

There is much to be afraid of in this world, isn't there? Just reading through the Faces of Children prayer list confirms that for me. However, it didn't really sink in until now that if I listen to the fear mongers of the world and the fearful voice in my head instead of the Voice of love, a little part of me dies a quiet death. No funeral, no memorial service, no celebration of life ... just death. That's not the way I really want to live. How about you?

The Midland Faces of Children prayer group will meet on Wednesday, May 25, 2011 at 11:30 a.m. in the Bride's room at First Presbyterian Church-Midland to pray for children ... to take part in the "counterforce to the world's despair." I hope you will be able to join us. Lunch ($5) and a time of fellowship will follow.

If you have requests about children, those who care for them, those who have authority over them, or those who harm them (the really hard prayers to say sometimes), please send them to me at at claufer@facesofchildren.net, or give me a call.

Claiming the spirit of love,

Chris