Do you have a pillow? How about a favorite pillow? There are lots of things you can do with a pillow.

I heard about a man who dreamed he was eating a giant marshmallow. When he woke up there were chunks out of his pillow and his mouth was full of feathers!

You can use pillows between furniture items in a moving van to keep them from being scratched. Kids can have a pillow fight in their cabin at Bible Camp. And their counselor can bridge the gap between himself and the kids by joining in. Pillows can help the generation gap!

Younger children can booooost their Halloween trick or treating experience by taking a pillowcase, cutting two holes in it for their eyes, and going as a ghost. One precaution kids: ask your mother before you start cutting holes in her pillowcases.

But for this article I'd like to invite you to consider your pillow as a place of reflection and projections for the evenings and mornings of your life. Now some people have times of anxiety and worry when they lay their heads on their pillows, but I'd like to suggest some options that I've been cultivating in my own life.

First of all, taking a word from those who study such things, try and separate yourself from all the electronic noise in your life by at least a half hour before you lay your head on your pillow at night. Some "experts" recommend an hour. Don't go to bed with TV brain or even the latest Facebook or YouTube declaration of what's going to happen to America. By the way, I recommend asking yourself, "What's the source?" or "Who's being quoted?" by those seeking a piece of your brain. I am frequently reminded of two verses in the book of Proverbs concerning brain invasion. First of all, Proverbs 18: 7: "What dainty morsels rumors are – but they sink deep into one's heart." And then down in verse 18: "Any story sounds good until someone sets the record straight."

OK. For what it may be worth, here are the pillow pursuits I'm working on in my own life. Maybe it's my age, but when I lay down and pull the covers over me, I thank the Lord that I can now do this whatever the past day's brought forth. I need a break before tomorrow pries me out from under the covers. Have you ever noticed that the hardest part of getting up in the morning is separating yourself from those nice warm covers (at least up here in the North land during winter)?

The next thing I do is thank the Lord for "My Pillow". Have you ever thanked the Lord for your pillow? It sure beats a rock. Now you may have noticed that I capitalized, "My Pillow." It reminds me to pray for Mike Lindell who's a born again Christian laying his life on the line every day against the evil that's attempting to bring America down. I pray for strength through the Holy Spirit, a continuing uncovering against fraud and deceit propagated during the last election. I pray for God's protection over Mike and against those who are seeking to take him out. I pray each night that as Mike and his wife lay their heads on their pillows that God's peace will come upon them through the Holy Spirit and give them a restful night in preparation for the next day. I am also praying against the alleged billion dollar law suit against him in an attempt to bring down his business. I pray that it will come to nothing and that these big buck "Revengers" will not get their way.

That's how I begin my current pillow talk prayer each night. Maybe as you lay your head on your pillow God will bring someone to mind whom you can begin praying for before you go to sleep.

I take a few moments to reflect on my past day and what I'm still able to do like take my three one mile prayer and trash walks. I hurt for those who can no longer walk or who can only walk with assistance. I pray about my writing and God's faithfulness to me in this. David prayed in Psalm 92: 2: "It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning, and your faithfulness at night." That can be pillow talk, especially in the evening.

Each night as I lay my head on my pillow I ask the Holy Spirit to Come upon Julie and I in quietness, and quiet us in body (helping us to relax), soul (particularly our minds) and spirit. I want to submit our night's rest to God. The business and anxiousness of our day may wear us out, but as we lay our heads on our pillows we may want to make the end of Psalm 127:2 a part of our pillow talk: "..for God gives rest to his loved ones." Thank you Lord!

I ask God to help me to be sleeping within a short time after my pillow talk prayer time. OK. I also take extra strength Tylenol P.M. I don't view this as a lack of faith as some Christians might want to accuse me of.

Before my pillow talk turns to sleep I continue to pray for some families who have gone through major losses from the death of loved ones. It can be hard to go to sleep with these losses heavy on your heart. I ask God to help them lay their heads on their pillows in quiet rest and the comforting presence of the Holy Spirit.

I am also praying for some people who have a special place in Julie's and my hearts, that they will come to know Jesus Christ as their personal savior. I ask God, without manipulation, of course, to send his Holy Spirit deep into their sub-conscious and conscious minds as they lay their heads on their pillows for the night, and speak to them about his love for them and calling them by name, invite them to give their lives to Jesus.

Then when morning comes and it's time to pull back the covers and lift my head from "My Pillow" (thank you Mike) I peak over the side of my bed at my empty sandals, and pray, "Lord this day I want to put my feet on the floor for you." Frequently in the morning Julie and I commit ourselves to the Psalmist's words in Psalm 118: 14: "This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it." Then we pray it this way: "This is a day you have made, Lord, and you've invited us to be a part of it. We will rejoice and be glad in it." That kind of sets the tone for my evening pillow talk.

Pillow Talk. I'd like to invite you to give it a try and see what you think.

Until next time,

Pastor Joe