|
preacher31
A STORY OF CHRISTIANITY DEFINED - Subscribe
|
|
Scripture: (Read Ruth 2:14-20) "Blessed be he of the Lord, who has not forsaken His kindness to the living and the dead!" Ruth 2:20 Reflection: , This reflection is not a story found in the Holy Scriptures, or even a "Christian" story. But yet is really defines the meaning of Christianity. The Story: "At one end of the truck terminal where H. H. Lee worked years ago was a coal company. Nearby was a railroad, and each day several freight trains passed by. Lee often noticed that the owner of the company, who was a Christian, threw chunks of coal over the fence at various places along the track. One day Lee asked the man why he did this. The man replied, An elderly woman lives across the street, and I know that her pension is inadequate to buy enough coal. After the trains go by, she walks along and picks up the pieces she thinks have fallen from the coal car behind the engine. She doesn't realize that diesels have replaced steam locomotives. I don't want to disappoint her so I just throw some pieces over the fence." Now that's Christianity Defined: GIVING TOTAL UNCONDITIONAL GIVING, its Christianity in action. In the book of Ruth we saw Ruth giving to her mother in law, and Boaz giving to Ruth. In the Gospels, Jesus Christ gave everything, even His life, all unconditionally. In the same way, the people whose lives we touch need to experience God's love through our compassion and generosity. Remember, CHRISTIANITY MEANS GIVING! Prayer: Thank You oh Jesus for giving me Your life. Quote: Albert Schweitzer Physician, Missionary, Author, Activist, Ethical Vegetarian (1875-1965) "The power of ideals is incalculable. We see no power in a drop of water. But let it get into a crack in the rock and be turned into ice ... it splits the rock." |
|
preacher31
PRAYER FOR THE UNEMPLOYED 10/03/2008 06:06 - Subscribe
|
|
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, You wanted all who are weary to come to You for support. Lord, I am worn out by my inability to find wage-earning work. Day after day, my worry and fear grows as the rejections of my applications mount. I am able and willing to work---but I cannot find a worthwhile job. Please help me to obtain one soon so that I can support myself and my family in a decent way. However, if it is your will that I wait longer, enable me to worry less and to be able to take advantage of the time available to get closer to You. Let me realize that there are other ways to bring about your kingdom on earth besides salaried work. Help me to make use of them for the time being so that I may continue to grow as a person for your greater glory. Amen. (From New Saint Joseph People's Prayer Book, Catholic Book Publishing.) |
|
preacher31
WHO DO YOU WANT TO PLEASE 10/10/2008 07:16 - Subscribe
|
|
Scripture: "Do you think I am trying to make people accept me? No, God is the one I am trying to please. Am I trying to please people? If I still wanted to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. (Galatians 1:10) NCV Reflection: Everybody wants to be loved, everybody wants to be accepted, everybody cares what other people think of them. I have a hard time accepting statements like "I don't care what anybody thinks", or "I don't try to please anybody". As I have experienced life, i've discovered these statements are just not true. I have never met anybody, in my 60 years on this earth, that absolutely did not want to be accepted, or did not have someone they wanted to please in their life. I think the question that begs to be answered is "who". Who are you trying to please? Who do you want to accept you? As for me it is God. I already know that my God accepts me, His Son's death and resurrection proves that. Therefore if I believe God accepts me, then I certainly want to please Him. I want to please Him in every way. I do this through my faith in God and His Son, through my study of His Word, through living my life as His child, and loving my neighbors and loving my enemies as He love's me. Boy to tell the truth my life is so much happier, and much better, when I try to please God. How about you? Be honest with yourself. Who are you trying to please? Prayer: Oh mighty God, Thank You for Your grace and love. Thank You that You have accepted me. I want to please You God and only You. You are the meaning of my life, You are my savior, and the giver of eternal life. THANK YOU GOD FOR BEING GOD In Jesus Name Amen |
|
preacher31
TO BE LIKE NOAH 10/17/2008 07:58 - Subscribe
|
|
Scripture: Genesis 6:11-22 (New International Version) New International Version (NIV) Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society [NIV at IBS] [International Bible Society] [NIV at Zondervan] [Zondervan] 11 Now the earth was corrupt in God's sight and was full of violence. 12 God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways. 13 So God said to Noah, "I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth. 14 So make yourself an ark of cypress [a] wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out. 15 This is how you are to build it: The ark is to be 450 feet long, 75 feet wide and 45 feet high. 16 Make a roof for it and finish [c] the ark to within 18 inches [d] of the top. Put a door in the side of the ark and make lower, middle and upper decks. 17 I am going to bring flood waters on the earth to destroy all life under the heavens, every creature that has the breath of life in it. Everything on earth will perish. 18 But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark—you and your sons and your wife and your sons' wives with you. 19 You are to bring into the ark two of all living creatures, male and female, to keep them alive with you. 20 Two of every kind of bird, of every kind of animal and of every kind of creature that moves along the ground will come to you to be kept alive. 21 You are to take every kind of food that is to be eaten and store it away as food for you and for them." 22 Noah did everything just as God commanded him. Reflection: I got to admit it, after reading Genesis 6:11-22, I wish I was Noah. This beautiful man did everything God commanded. You know, I wish I did that. Wouldn't it be great to hit a bulls eye every time you had to make a decision. Wouldn't be great to get our God's approval on every decision. I mean look at Noah. He worked, and worked, on that ark, while all the time being scoffed and laughed at by his neighbors. And through it all, Noah's sole concern was God. Why can't I be more like that? My life is pulled in so many different directions that I don't have enough time for my God. What does that say about me? I have to slow down, give my time to God and try to do everything God commands. It's hard but I can do it. Can You? Prayer: I love you God, and I need to slow down. I need your help in making my priorities and decisions. I need to make you my priority. Oh God give me strength to do what you command. In Christ's Holy Name Amen. |
|
preacher31
WHEN WE NEED PATIENCE 10/26/2008 02:12 - Subscribe
|
|
Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:14-15 (New International Version) 14And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. Reflection: You know it's really hard to deal with people who are trying our patience. I have discovered that I can relate and cope with people who make me sad, who can make me angry, who even make me feel a little less than good. But having people around me who are trying my patience is difficult. Do you have someone like that in your life, I know I do. When someone is in the wrong, we have to struggle with our desire to answer wrong with wrong. This is actually the easiest thing for us to do. But we have received mercy from God, and He wants us to pass it on. That's right pass it on. Be patient with everyone, make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. IN OTHER WORDS PASS IT ON. Prayer: Heavenly Father, Help us remember that the jerk who cut us off in traffic last night is a single mother who worked nine hours that day and is rushing home to cook dinner, help with homework, do the laundry and spend a few precious moments with her children. Give me patience Oh Lord Help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man who can’t make change correctly is a worried 19-year-old college student, balancing his apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting his student loans for next semester. Give me patience Oh Lord Remind us, Lord, that the scary looking bum, begging for money in the same spot every day (who really ought to get a job!) is a slave to addictions that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares. Give me patience Oh Lord Help us to remember that the old couple walking annoyingly slow through the store aisles and blocking our shopping progress are savoring this moment, knowing that, based on the biopsy report she got back last week, this will be the last year that they go shopping together. Give me patience Oh Lord Heavenly Father, remind us each day that, of all the gifts you give us, the greatest gift is love. It is not enough to share that love with those we hold dear. Open our hearts not to just those who are close to us, but to all humanity. Let us be slow to judge and quick to forgive, show patience, empathy and love GIVE ME LOVE OH LORD! In Jesus Name Amen. |