Many of us feel intimidated about our prayer life--we look at other Christians, and prayer seems to come naturally to them. But somehow we feel that we just don't "get it." Author Mary Lou Redding reminds us that the disciples were with Jesus continually, and still they had to ask him for help in learning how to pray. That should reassure us, she says. Because the Lord's Prayer is so familiar, we run the risk of praying it by rote without really thinking about the meaning of the words. Redding explores this ancient prayer phrase by phrase and helps us see how it can be a model for all of our praying. This insightful, practical study of the Lord's Prayer features six brief chapters that can be read in 10 to 15 minutes brief daily scripture passages reflection questions for each chapter suggestions for weekly group meetings Rather than approaching scripture from a scholarly standpoint, Redding invites us to consider passages with our hearts. She encourages us to make connections between the scriptures and our daily lives. As an added benefit, Redding leads us through several classic Christian spiritual practices, such as examen, journaling, and reflective reading of scripture. This book is a great resource for a congregational study on the Lord's Prayer. It will help anyone enrich their faith and deepen their relationship with God. 6 weeks • Includes Leader's Guide This book helps us discover new depths of our own souls as we allow Jesus to teach us to pray. Mary Lou Redding invites us to experience the most familiar prayer in the world in a fresh way by linking biblical study of the prayer with some of the ancient (and yet new) forms of spiritual discipline. The daily readings invite us to enter into the Lord's Prayer at a personal level, while the small-group guide leads us in sharing our journey with others. James A. Harnish, senior pastor Hyde Park United Methodist Church, Tampa, FL Mary Lou Redding's prose is always comfort food for the soul. Her down-to-earth style is both reassuring and biblically sound. Thoroughly grounding her study of Jesus' words in the world of Jewish prayer he inhabited, she invites us to benefit from understanding our forebears as well as listening to the experiences of our small-group partners. Frank Ramirez, author and pastor Everett Church of the Brethren, Everett, PA Approaching the Lord's Prayer as an invitation to true discipleship, Redding's heartfelt insight into the taken-for-granted meaning in this beloved prayer challenges readers to become more reflective about the words they are praying. Study groups will appreciate discovering classic Christian practices that enhance their prayer life and deepen their walk with God. Ruth Givens, associate professor, School of Education Azusa Pacific University Those who pray the Lord's Prayer from their heart in the spirit of the prayer will find a deeper relationship with God, promises Mary Lou Redding in this 6-week study of Jesus' model prayer. And those who wonder how to pray can take comfort from the fact that even Jesus' disciples were puzzled about prayer. The Lord's Prayer was Jesus' response to a disciple who asked him, "Lord, teach us to pray." So what sets Mary Lou Redding's book apart from the many books that have been written on the Lord's Prayer? First, it examines each phrase of the Lord's Prayer and explores how we can use this ancient prayer as a model for deepening our prayer today. Second, in this practical study, Redding threads her personal experiences with prayer using a warm, encouraging tone and helps readers feel "I can do this." 6 weeks - Leader's Guide Included UNIQUE SELLING POINT A 6-week exploration of the Lord's Prayer that shows readers how this ancient prayer can serve as a model for their prayers today. Mary Lou Redding is interested in many disciplines -- art, literature, music, science, philosophy, religion, politics. She is a writer, a thinker, a feminist, a loving mother and grandmother, an outspoken and direct person. She loves to bake and cook, creating her own recipes. She designs and sews clothes, watches Star Trek in all its versions, roots for the Atlanta Braves, and plays word games at every opportunity. From hardy, hillbilly stock, Mary Lou is in the first generation of her family to be born outside Kentucky since her great- [x 20] grandfather George Gideon Ison came to Letcher County in the early 1700s. Her hillbilly heritage of fierce independence and hard work is sometimes evident in negative ways. She is one of seven children and has over 50 first cousins. Mary Lou's only child, an adult daughter, is the mother of her two nearly perfect granddaughters, Rosalie and Arianwyn. Spending time with them and with other younger members of her huge extended family brings Mary Lou great joy. Before becoming an editor and writer, Mary Lou taught basic and advanced prose writing and business communication on the college level. Teaching -- both writing and the Bible --