ponder-and-pray.com

Author: Marie Proctor

  • Friday after Ash Wednesday

    ‭‭Matthew 11:20 MSG‬‬Jesus unleashed on the cities ‭‭Matthew 11:25 MSG‬‬ Abruptly, Jesus broke into prayer… ‭‭Matthew 11:27 MSG‬‬ Jesus resumed talking to the people, but now tenderly. ‭‭Matthew 11:28-30 MSG‬‬ “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how…

  • Thursday after Ash Wednesday

    “Still, I know that God lives—the One who gives me back my life…” Job 19:25 MSG It is God who gave me my life back! Low places have the potential to give life back. It may feel more like loss and even death than life, but over time, one may slowly begin to feel alive…

  • Ash Wednesday

    ‭“A human would do anything to save his life….” Job 2:4 MSG Satan wasn’t all wrong. Most of us would do anything to save our lives. But have you ever been so low that even death felt like it would bring relief? There was this one time. Thankfully, it did not last long. Maybe it…

  • Sharing Stories – Hercules

    This dog. He smiles and brightens a room. Like most of us, he snaps, too. I met him about 18 months ago during one of the worst times of my life. We were gathered at my mom’s house, devastated about the news of my oldest sister. We were numb, in shock, angry, heartbroken,  and unsure…

  • Book: Praying like Monks Living like Fools

  • Spring is coming

    This may be the first year I feel pulled between two seasons. Winter is my least favorite season. I love the fireplace, the snow (when we do get it in the south), and the fresh crisp air, but I tend to get restless waiting for spring. This year, I can actually feel (in my body)…

  • Book: Cradled in the Arms of Compassion, by Frank Rogers Jr.

    This book has been a God-send. Frank tells his story about childhood sexual abuse and the long, difficult journey to healing and hope. Whether you are a survivor of childhood sexual abuse or not, there is much wisdom within the pages of this book. It is raw, real, and yet full of hope. From the…

  • Contemplative Prayer Group

    If you are interested in joining a prayer group, you may want to try this one. We meet monthly and have volunteers who rotate in facilitating. Every meeting is unique, and God meets us where we are! Monthly Contemplative Prayer

  • Book: Two Steps Forward, by Sharon Garlough Brown

    ❤️2nd book in rhe Sensible Shoes Series

  • When Darkness Lifts

    I’ve been down physically this month, more than normal. Today is the first day I have felt like my normal self. Despite the physical limitations, I have been able to enjoy my family during their winter break and all of our holiday festivities, including celebrating Kali’s seventh birthday. I have thought of family and friends…

  • Book: Sensible Shoes, by Sharon Garlough Brown

    ❤️1st book in the Sensible Shoes Series

  • Sharing Stories – Ivy

    Ivy has been such an example of God’s love in my life. I’ve never been able to fully understand/believe that God could love me so much, despite all the times I’ve gone against what He would want me to do. I guess it’s hard to comprehend “unconditional” when most things in life are very conditional.…

  • Sharing Stories – Does God Control Us?

    It was nighttime, and Kali had just gone to bed. I went upstairs to kiss her goodnight and lay with her for just a moment.  She said, “My belly hurts.” I placed my hand on her belly and prayed, “Oh God, help Kali’s belly feel better.” And this is the conversation that followed, Kali: Does…

  • Sharing Stories – Macie and Ivy

    Oftentimes, I find Ivy staring outside. For having a dog, most of us would think this means she needs to potty, but not exactly. When I open the back door, during these times, she sticks her nose through the mosquito net or sits on the back patio. She sits, in what seems to be pure…

  • Sharing Stories – Kali

    Most of the time, when my children begin horsing around, it usually turns into someone getting upset. This time, it was my sweet Kali who ended up angry and upset even though she was the one who started it. When she had had enough, she ran to me, buried her face into my stomach, and…