{"id":6647,"date":"2018-12-31T15:25:18","date_gmt":"2018-12-31T14:25:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/?p=6647"},"modified":"2018-12-31T15:25:18","modified_gmt":"2018-12-31T14:25:18","slug":"looking-forward-looking-back","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2018\/12\/31\/looking-forward-looking-back\/","title":{"rendered":"Looking forward looking back"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

 
\nWith 2019 around the corner, let me share an overview of the posts that attracted the most visits to the Prayer Matters<\/strong> website over the past year. <\/p>\n

For some reason, these blog posts keep on giving.<\/p>\n

Top 10<\/h3>\n
    \n
  1. 3 Prayers for endings and beginnings<\/a><\/li>\n
  2. Give me a heart of flesh<\/a><\/li>\n
  3. Theme: God makes all things new<\/a><\/li>\n
  4. Circle me, Lord<\/a><\/li>\n
  5. In the school of prayer with Ann Lewin<\/a><\/li>\n
  6. In the school of prayer with Eddie Askew<\/a><\/li>\n
  7. Theme for January 2018: Heart<\/a><\/li>\n
  8. 3 Prayers for Wayfarers<\/a><\/li>\n
  9. Theme: Shelter under his wings<\/a><\/li>\n
  10. Theme: Ever sustaining<\/a>
     <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Hopes for the new year<\/h3>\n

    I hope for more regular subscribers in the new year, and for the blog to continue to minister to our Presbytery and beyond.<\/p>\n

     
    \nIn closing, a powerful blessing by Joyce Rupp<\/strong>, originally published in 2004, and as inspiring as ever. <\/p>\n

    Feel free to pass the blessing on.  Maybe this post will reach the top 10 in 2019, just as the final post in 2017 made the No. 1 spot in 2018.
    \n <\/p>\n\n

    Blessing for the New Year<\/h3>\n

     
    \nI hope for you in this new year <\/p>\n

    … that the single, most significant dimension of life
    \nis your relationship with the Source of Goodness
    \nwho never ceases to sing love songs to your soul<\/p>\n

    … that you find meaning, purpose, and vitality
    \nin what you do daily<\/p>\n

    … that you treasure your loved ones
    \nand let them know how dear they are to you<\/p>\n

    … that you make choices and decisions
    \nthat reflect your truest self<\/p>\n

    … that you look in the mirror at least once a day
    \nand smile in happy amazement<\/p>\n

    … that you remember relationships are what count above all else \u2013
    \nmore than work or money,
    \nor all the material things we spend so much time tending<\/p>\n

    … that you live in an uncluttered manner,
    \nenjoying the freedom to be content<\/p>\n

    … that you keep your sense of humor
    \nwhen things don\u2019t go the way you want<\/p>\n

    … that you find adventure in each new day
    \nand marvel at the wonders of creation
    \nwhich constantly present themselves to you<\/p>\n

    … that you never give up on yourself
    \nwhen others turn away or do not understand<\/p>\n

    … that you are attentive to the health
    \nof your body, mind and spirit<\/p>\n

    … that you take risks and accept
    \nthe growth-full challenges that come to you<\/p>\n

    … that you draw on your inner strength and resiliency
    \nwhen you are in need<\/p>\n

    … that you carry peace within yourself,
    \nallowing it to slip into the hearts of others
    \nso our planet becomes a place
    \nwhere violence, division, and war are no more<\/p>\n

     
    \nby Joyce Rupp<\/strong>. Posted on     Joyce Rupp’s website<\/a>.
    \n <\/p>\n\n

     
    \nP.S. “Looking forward looking back” is also the title of the Anniversary booklet we published this year, celebrating the 375th anniversary of the Scots Church in Rotterdam.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      With 2019 around the corner, let me share an overview of the posts that attracted the most visits to the Prayer Matters website over the past year. For some reason, these blog posts keep on giving. Top 10 3 Prayers for endings and beginnings Give me a heart of flesh Theme: God makes all … Continue reading “Looking forward looking back”<\/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":[3,150],"tags":[102,145],"class_list":["post-6647","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-prayer","category-review","tag-new-year","tag-prepare"],"yoast_head":"\nLooking forward looking back - 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The blogs posts are by Susanna from the UK. She writes, This blog exists to inspire you and I to play\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "creativity"","block_context":{"text":"creativity","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/creativity\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/playful_prayer2.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/playful_prayer2.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/playful_prayer2.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/playful_prayer2.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5060,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2018\/05\/20\/the-gift-revisited\/","url_meta":{"origin":6647,"position":3},"title":"The Gift revisited","author":"Irene Bom","date":"May 20, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 This blog usually features the prayerful writings of others. One major exception is the series, \"The Gift\": 12 meditations with readings and original prayer poems on the Holy Spirit that I published between Ascension Day and Pentecost last year. As a gift to you for Pentecost 2018, I've repackaged\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "creativity"","block_context":{"text":"creativity","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/creativity\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"The Gift","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/the_gift.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/the_gift.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/the_gift.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/the_gift.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10652,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2021\/01\/06\/first-things-first\/","url_meta":{"origin":6647,"position":4},"title":"First things first","author":"Irene Bom","date":"January 6, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Spotted outside Rotterdam Central Station \u00a0(Photo: Irene Bom) \u00a0 Living alone during a pandemic, working from home since March 2020, one of the ways I stay alive is to be creative and share my work online. Through this blog, for example. Thank you. Another creative outlet in 2020 was the\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\/2021\/01\/staying_alive.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/staying_alive.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/staying_alive.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/staying_alive.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5981,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2018\/09\/21\/in-the-school-of-prayer-with-brother-lawrence\/","url_meta":{"origin":6647,"position":5},"title":"In the school of prayer with Brother Lawrence","author":"Irene Bom","date":"September 21, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Roof garden in inner city Rotterdam \u00a0(Photo: Irene Bom) \u00a0 While reflecting on the theme of work, I was reminded of Brother Lawrence - a role model for us (as for previous generations) of what it means to \"make your life a prayer\" (1 Thessalonians 5:17, The Passion Translation). Brother\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "benediction"","block_context":{"text":"benediction","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/benediction\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/roofgarden_innercity_rotterdam.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/roofgarden_innercity_rotterdam.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/roofgarden_innercity_rotterdam.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/roofgarden_innercity_rotterdam.png?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> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/review\/\" rel=\"category tag\">review<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"  With 2019 around the corner, let me share an overview of the posts that attracted the most visits to the Prayer Matters website over the past year. For some reason, these blog posts keep on giving. Top 10 3 Prayers for endings and beginnings Give me a heart of flesh Theme: God makes all…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6647","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=6647"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6647\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6647"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6647"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6647"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}