{"id":4376,"date":"2018-03-04T13:40:18","date_gmt":"2018-03-04T12:40:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/?p=4376"},"modified":"2025-08-25T20:07:04","modified_gmt":"2025-08-25T18:07:04","slug":"prepare-a-way","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2018\/03\/04\/prepare-a-way\/","title":{"rendered":"Prepare a way"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"
\n(Photo: Lindy Twaddle)<\/span>
\n <\/p>\n

This is the first post in our March series, “Wilderness”.<\/p>\n

In this short, but evocative litany John Birch<\/strong> captures some of the atmospherics of the wilderness as physical and emotional terrain.<\/p>\n

Prepare a way<\/h3>\n

(referencing Isaiah 40:3-5, Mark 1:3, Matthew 3:3, Luke 3:4<\/a>)<\/p>\n

In the lonely places
\nThe wilderness
\nWhere we stand forlorn
\nWindswept and alone
\nYour voice calls out
\nPrepare a way for the Lord<\/span><\/p>\n

In the dark places
\nThe shadows
\nWhere we hide our fears
\nEmbrace our tears
\nYour voice calls out
\nPrepare a way for the Lord<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 
\nwritten by John Birch<\/strong> and posted on the Faith and Worship<\/a> website <\/p>\n\n

see also People of the way<\/a>
\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(Photo: Lindy Twaddle)   This is the first post in our March series, “Wilderness”. In this short, but evocative litany John Birch captures some of the atmospherics of the wilderness as physical and emotional terrain. Prepare a way (referencing Isaiah 40:3-5, Mark 1:3, Matthew 3:3, Luke 3:4) In the lonely places The wilderness Where we … Continue reading “Prepare a way”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3],"tags":[124],"class_list":["post-4376","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-prayer","tag-wilderness"],"yoast_head":"\nPrepare a way - Prayer matters<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"This is the first post in our March series, "Wilderness". 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Make us count Lord, we have pulled out the Advent wreath, the Christmas tree, the poinsettias. We dusted off the hymns, unsung for a year, and unearthed the words of your prophets. Yet, in your eyes,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "prayer"","block_context":{"text":"prayer","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/prayer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/building_site.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/building_site.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/building_site.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/building_site.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4392,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2018\/03\/08\/wilderness-woes\/","url_meta":{"origin":4376,"position":1},"title":"Wilderness woes","author":"Irene Bom","date":"March 8, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"(Photo: Lindy Twaddle) \u00a0 While searching for 'dry wilderness' on my go-to online prayer resource - the treasure trove, re-worship.blogspot.com - I found this call to worship by Rev. Nathan Decker. It is inspired by Isaiah 35 and recognizes both the reality and pain of the wilderness experience and our\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "call to worship"","block_context":{"text":"call to worship","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/call-to-worship\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/antelope.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/antelope.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/antelope.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/antelope.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4519,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2018\/03\/18\/wilderness-encouragement\/","url_meta":{"origin":4376,"position":2},"title":"Wilderness encouragement","author":"Irene Bom","date":"March 18, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 Three short pieces, by way of encouragement. #1 God did not say, \u201cYou shall not be tempted; you shall not be troubled; you shall not be distressed.\u201d \u00a0 God did say, \u201cYou shall not be overcome.\u201d \u00a0 from the United Church of Christ\u2019s Worship Ways Archive and posted on\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "bible"","block_context":{"text":"bible","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/bible\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/crocusses.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/crocusses.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/crocusses.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/crocusses.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4471,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2018\/03\/13\/testing-ground\/","url_meta":{"origin":4376,"position":3},"title":"Testing ground","author":"Irene Bom","date":"March 13, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"(Photo: Lindy Twaddle) \u00a0 The Dictionary of Biblical Imagery has a lengthy entry on Wilderness, ending with the following summary: \"... the wilderness is an ambivalent image in the Bible. If it is a place of deprivation, danger, attack and punishment, it is also the place where God delivers his\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "bible"","block_context":{"text":"bible","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/bible\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/sun_in_the_woods.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/sun_in_the_woods.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/sun_in_the_woods.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/sun_in_the_woods.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4646,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2018\/03\/23\/precious-dust\/","url_meta":{"origin":4376,"position":4},"title":"Precious dust","author":"Irene Bom","date":"March 23, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Tramstop outside Rotterdam Central Station \u00a0(Photo: Irene Bom) \u00a0 A prayer by Paul Sauer that mentions God's presence with us in \"our wilderness journeys\" and reminds us we are dust - God's \"precious dust\". Prayers of the People (based on Numbers 21:4-9, Psalm 107, Ephesians 2:1-10, John 3:14-21) Heavenly Father,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "prayer"","block_context":{"text":"prayer","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/prayer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/hello_beautiful.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/hello_beautiful.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/hello_beautiful.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/hello_beautiful.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":14250,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2023\/07\/11\/blossom-and-flourish\/","url_meta":{"origin":4376,"position":5},"title":"Blossom and flourish","author":"Irene Bom","date":"July 11, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Call to Worship inspired by Psalm 42:1-2, Psalm 63:1-2, Isaiah 55:1-5, John 4:13-15, John 7:37-39, Rev 21:6 \u00a0 We\u2019ve come to worship God, who makes streams flow from rock, who turns the parched earth into springs of water, who sends the rain from heaven and makes the wilderness blossom and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "call to worship"","block_context":{"text":"call to worship","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/call-to-worship\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/dandelion_car_park.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/dandelion_car_park.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/dandelion_car_park.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/dandelion_car_park.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"rttpg_featured_image_url":null,"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"Irene Bom","author_link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/author\/irenebom-com\/"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/prayer\/\" rel=\"category tag\">prayer<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"(Photo: Lindy Twaddle)   This is the first post in our March series, “Wilderness”. In this short, but evocative litany John Birch captures some of the atmospherics of the wilderness as physical and emotional terrain. Prepare a way (referencing Isaiah 40:3-5, Mark 1:3, Matthew 3:3, Luke 3:4) In the lonely places The wilderness Where we…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4376","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4376"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4376\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4376"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4376"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4376"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}