Christian Reflection and Prayer

A STORY ABOUT HUMILITY AND PRIDE
FROM ROBERT SCHULLER SR. 10/12/08

Read the rest of this entry ... (362 words left)

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. [b] 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.

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

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.)

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."