Christian Reflection and Prayer

Scripture:

"Are (angels) not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those
who will inherit salvation?  (Hebrews 1:14)

Reflection:

My beloved mother, who is 91 years old and is ready to go home to Jesus,
said something the other day that got me thinking.  She told me that when
she goes home to Jesus she hopes that she comes back as a guardian
angel so she can help and protect someone.  Do you believe in angels?
I do.  When Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane, knowing the pain
that He was about to endure, was visited by an angel from heaven
strengthening Him. (Luke 22:43)  I don't think i've ever seen an angel,
although I'm not sure,  and i don't really need too. It's enough for me
to know and believe that they are there, quietly delivering work beyond
the realm of physical sight (Psalm 34:7), actually calling no attention
to themselves. I believe their protection is real. I believe I have an
angel who is there protecting me and strengthening my trust in
the God they so faithfully serve.

"What ready help our Father gives
   To struggling saints below!
 He sends His heavenly messengers
His power and grace to show."  (D. De Haan)

Prayer:

Dear God thank you for sending me Your angel to watch over
and protect me.  I often feel his/her presence and I know
they strengthen my life so I can continue to trust in my
Savior Jesus Christ.  THANK YOU GOD FOR BEING GOD

SCRIPTURE:

    When Jesus arrived in Galilee, the people there welcomed him.
    These people had seen all the things Jesus did at the
    {Passover } festival in Jerusalem. These people had been at
    the festival too. Jesus went to visit Cana in Galilee again.
    Cana is where Jesus had changed the water into wine. One of
    the king's important officials lived in the city of
    Capernaum. This man's son was sick. The man heard that Jesus
    had come from Judea and was now in Galilee. So the man went
    to Jesus {in Cana}. He begged Jesus to come to Capernaum and
    heal his son. His son was almost dead.

                            -- John 4:45-47 (ERV)

 REFLECTION:

What is your reason for seeking out Jesus?  You know some try to
find Jesus in their lives because they heard He was a great teacher,
or prophet, or miracle worker, or a host of other reasons. Or maybe
you look for Jesus just because your curious.  I know that when I am
in so deep, or I'm in a situation in my life much to big and to grave
to overcome myself.  I know that I need my Savior.  Look at our
scripture for today.  This big powerful political official, found himself
powerless. And what did he do?  He went to Jesus for help,he
not only went to Jesus, he begged Jesus for help.  Why? Because
he knew Christ could provide that help, he knew that for sure.  He
did not hesitate for one minute to call on his Savior.  
WHAT ABOUT YOU?  Do you find yourself in situations that are much
to difficult to overcome.  I suggest you call upon your Savior for help,
let Him into your life, let Him be your Lord and Savior.  I promise your
life will be a whole lot better, and your life will be much, much
happier.

PRAYER:

Jesus, I admit that often in my life, when faced with problems, I
fail to call upon You.  Help me to recognize that You are my
foundation, You are my strength, You are my help, You and You alone are my
help.

Scripture:

"I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who
believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile."  Romans 1:15 (NIV)

Reflection:

I read the book, it is a fictional novel, thats all.  It is not historically accurate in any sense of
the word.  I do not need to defend the Holy Scriptures or the Son of God.  I'll put my faith
in the Bible, Christ's teachings, and the predominate message of peace, love, and service,
and not in The Da Vinci Code.  Please don't worry, Jesus is with us until the end of time,
long after all this is forgotten.  This fiction will not shake your faith, it may even make some
people's faith stronger.  Remember like the Scripture says its through the gospel that we
receive the power of God for our salvation.  I just received an email from my nephew and
I don't think he would mine if i quoted him.  This is really a good thing to remember,
"I wonder, if I wrote a book and then a movie entitled the "The Dome of
the Rock Code" and portrayed the prophet Muhammad as false and having
created Islam as a scam for his own benefit, do you think my life would be in
danger?  Fortunately for Hollywood and Mr. Hanks, they picked Christ
rather than Muhammad…"
Remember Jesus is the power and the glory forever and ever.

Prayer:

Thank you God for the God breathed Holy Scriptures.  Let the power of the Holy Spirt
be at work and heal all wounds.  Glory be to God the Father, the Son and the Holy
Spirit, as it was in the beginning it is now and ever shall be world with end Amen.
THANK YOU GOD FOR BEING GOD.

SCRIPTURE:

    It was almost time for the Jewish Passover. So Jesus went to
    Jerusalem. In Jerusalem Jesus went to the temple. In the
    temple area Jesus saw men selling cattle, sheep, and doves.
    Jesus saw other men sitting at tables. These men were
    exchanging and trading people's money. Jesus made a whip with
    some pieces of rope. Then Jesus forced all these men and the
    sheep and cattle to leave the temple area. Jesus turned over
    the tables and scattered the money of the men that exchange
    money. Then Jesus said to the men that were selling pigeons,
    "Take these things out of here! Don't make my Father's house
    a place for buying and selling!"

                            -- John 2:13-16 (ERV)

 REFLECTION:

This is a passage in scripture that has always intrigued me.  I mean the son of
God is really mad here, He's really angry.  Why?  I think its a question that
needs an answer.  I never really understood how Jesus Christ could loose
His temper like this at the church, until I felt the same way.  When I was an
active minister, I found myself becoming so angry and so dissapointed in
the church.  Many of the churches I served were no longer interested in serving
God through serving our community.  As brothers and sisters in Christ, they
were no longer concerned with poverty, hunger, they no longer showed
compassion to others.  They became more interested in the business of the
church and sadly how they could take advantage of their brothers and sisters
in Christ.  Jesus Christ wants the church to be a fellowship of His people to be
a place of deliverance, grace and prayer!  A church is a place where we worship
God and a place where we serve others.

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, as a Christian I pray for compassion for others.  Let me live a life
of servitude,   Let this be my worship to You.  You are a loving and
compassionate God, I pray that I display that love and compassion to all
others.  THANK YOU GOD FOR BEING GOD
In Jesus Name Amen.

Saint Francis of Assisi Prayer:

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.
Where there is hatred let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair. Hope.
Where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born
to eternal life.

Reflection:

This is my favorite prayer.  I call it the Christian Creed.  This is why I am a Christian.
Here Saint Francis of Assisi tells us how to be a Christian.  Outside of the Holy Scriptures
these are the most important words ever written.  We are called upon to be God's
instruments of: peace, love, pardon, faith, hope, light, joy, counseling, understanding,
giving, pardoning, and eternal life.  What a precious life that would be.  This is it
brothers and sisters, this is what its all about.  This is our commission from our
Savior Jesus Christ.  Ask yourself this question every day, Are you God's
instrument?

Prayer:

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.
Where there is hatred let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair. Hope.
Where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born
to eternal life.
THANK YOU GOD FOR BEING GOD!

Scripture:

The Lord repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge." Ruth 2:12
 

Reflection:

This Scripture has a very important message for us.  God never abandons His own.  God
is always with us.  It doesn't make any difference what is going on in our lives, He is
always there.  In times of danger and distress, He spreads His wings of protection and
comfort over us.  We have to always keep in mind that we need not fear anything,
because God protects us. 
I remember when I was a kid and living in the midwest in the middle of tornado alley.
I recall when I was about ten years old watching in my living room through a big
picture window a tornado coming towards our home.  I remember my father picking
me up and caring me to the basement, I never felt so protected in my life.
This is how I feel with God, His wings are there to protect me, I am safe under
the canopy of God's constant care.  "He shall cover you with His feathers, and
under His wings you shall take refuge:|" (Ps. 91:4)

Prayer:

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.
Where there is hatred let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair. Hope.
Where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born
to eternal life.
THANK YOU GOD FOR BEING GOD!