Christian Reflection and Prayer

Scripture:

"Because of the tender mercy of
our God". (Luke 1: 78)

Reflection:

You know its an odd thing about "mercy",
everyone wants mercy when he or she least
deserves it.  And we most hesitate to give
it when another person asks for it.
In Luke chapter 1 mercy is mentioned 5
times.  In this case, God is the One giving
mercy to those who don't deserve it.
What does this mercy consist of?
The gift of Jesus Christ to all sinners,
which includes you & me.  Christ is an
incomparable gift of mercy.  You will find
none equal in all the universe.  God's
gift of mercy and Jesus Christ's act of mercy
to us, was His life, death, and resurrection.
Justice is receiving what you deserve,
Mercy is not receiving what you deserve.
Grace is receiving what you do not deserve.
ALL 3, JUSTICE, MERCY, AND GRACE,
COME TRUE FOR YOU AND ME, IN
JESUS CHRIST!  (Luke 1: 68,69,77)
It seems to me giving others whats coming
to them, is natural, but treating others
with mercy they don't deserve, now that's
supernatural.  The questions are:  DO YOU
PASS ALONG CHRIST'S MERCY TO
OTHERS? DO YOU DO WHAT'S
NATURAL OR SUPERNATURAL?

Prayer:

Oh God, apart from Your Son Jesus Christ,
I stand helpless before You, deserving only
judgment.  Thank you Oh God for offering
me forgiveness and mercy.  Through the
strength and power of the Holy Spirit, May
I show mercy and kindness, to who may
only deserve Your anger.  In the name of
Your merciful Son Jesus Christ AMEN!

by Rev. Greg Asimakoupoulos

Inauguration Day revealed
that campaign wounds may soon be healed
as hopes for the economy
inspire common goals.

While millions paused to take a look,
our brand new leader palmed a book
and swore that he would execute
his job with faithfulness.

And so we pledge to pray for him
as he preserves, protects, defends
a Constitution that in turn
defines what’s just and true.
__________________________________________

I urge you to pray that requests, prayers,
intercession and thanksgiving be made for
everyone—for kings and all those in authority,
that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in
all godliness and holiness. This is good, and
pleases God our Savior, who wants all men
to be saved and to come to a knowledge of
the truth.—The Bible, I Timothy 2:1-4 (NIV)

Love never fails. But where there are
prophecies, they will cease; where there
are tongues, they will be stilled; where
there is knowledge, it will pass away.
For we know in part and we prophesy
in part, but when perfection comes, the
imperfect disappears. When I was a
child, I talked like a child, I thought like
a child, I reasoned like a child. When I
became a man, I put childish ways behind me.
—The Bible, I Corinthians 13:8-11(NIV)

We remain a young nation, but in the words
of Scripture, the time has come to set aside
childish things. The time has come to reaffirm
our enduring spirit; to choose our better history;
to carry forward that precious gift, that noble
idea, passed on from generation to generation:
the God-given promise that all are equal, all
are free and all deserve a chance to pursue
their full measure of happiness...
—Barack Obama, January 20, 2009  

PRESIDENTIAL QUOTE
FOR THE WEEK

"I have been driven many times upon my
knees by the overwhelming conviction that
I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom,
and that of all about me, seemed insufficient
for the day."
—Abraham Lincoln

“The Christian religion, then, is not an affair of
preaching, or prating, or ranting, but of taking
care of the bodies as well as the souls of people;
not an affair of belief and of faith and of professions,
but an affair of doing good, and especially to those
who are in want; not an affair of fire and brimstone,
but an affair of bacon and read, beer and a bed.”
William Cobbett quotes (Pseudonym Peter Porcupine,
English popular journalist, champion of traditional rural
England against the Industrial Revolution, 1763-1835)

Read the rest of this entry ... (38 words left)

Scripture:

1 Timothy 2

 1I urge, then, first of all, that requests,
prayers, intercession and thanksgiving
be made for everyone— 2for kings and
all those in authority, that we may live
peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness
and holiness.

President Barack Obama now steps up to lead
our nation into a historic new era. The challenges
and demands he will face are daunting at the
least and overwhelming at most. Yet, in his
Inaugural Address, he invoked the good will of
the American people and our willingness to
roll up our sleeves and work hard.

    “Every so often,” the President said, “the oath
is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging
storms. At these moments, America has carried
on not simply because of the skill or vision of
those in high office, but because we, the people,
have remained faithful to the ideals of our forebears
and true to our founding documents. So it has been.
So it must be with this generation of Americans.”

This is a time to pray! The new administration will
grapple with the challenges of a struggling economy,
active wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and energy and
environmental concerns—all unprecedented in this
generation. With I Timothy 2:1-2 as our biblical
mandate,pray for our new president’s wisdom,
protection and success as he faces these issues,
and many more, over the next four years.

Let us join together and uphold him as the Israelites
of old did for their leader Moses. Please, invite your
friends and family to pray for President Obama and
the new administration.
Your prayers will work powerfully in our nation.

Prayer:

King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Lord of life and
death, protect our nation in our crisis, and our
needs.  Turn our hearts to You, and let us find
strength and encouragement in You and peace
of heart and mind through the cleansing power
of You, Jesus Christ.  Throughout the nation let wise
counsel, calm thinking, unselfish aims prevail.  
With singleness of purpose let one and all
support all just measures.  In Jesus' name
Amen.

Day Seventy-Six: January 20, 2009

For God’s anointing to be on President Obama
and Vice President Biden and every member of
their administration as they step up to unite and
serve our nation But from everlasting to everlasting
the LORD's love is with those who fear Him, and
His righteousness with their children's children—
with those who keep His covenant and remember
to obey His precepts.
—Psalm 103:17-18

O Awesome God, I exalt and praise You in
gratitude for the covenant You promise and
keep with those who love and honor You. All
praise and glory and honor to You, O God.
You are love and light, and there is no evil or
darkness in You! You show us the way You
want us to walk because of Your love and kindness.

As President Elect Obama and Vice President
Elect Biden are sworn into office, I ask Your great
blessing on both of them in humility and love. May
their hearts long and yearn for righteousness and
holiness. As they serve our nation, may they
understand that they are serving You and their
calling is from You and You alone. Keep them
humble; give them strength O holy and wonderful
God. In Jesus’ holy name, amen.

Day Seventy-Six: January 19, 2009
1 days.

Read the rest of this entry ... (203 words left)

Scripture:

"Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life.
He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;"
(John 11:25) NIV

Reflection:

This is, what I consider, one of the
strongest statements made by
Jesus Christ in the Holy Scriptures.
He is stating that He is the very life
and if you believe even though you
die you will live forever.  In other
words even when you die an
earthly death, you will live forever
in heaven.  I really don't see how
you can pass that up.  I really do
believe there is more to life than
what this world seems to offer.  
There simply has to be!  I
couldn't live in this world if I
didn't know there wasn't some-
thing better.  What I have discovered
in my life is Jesus Christ.  He
brings me joy, love, peace, and
service.  He died and rose again to
life and now, because I believe,
He is my life forever.  What better
life is there.  THIS CAN BE YOUR
LIFE JUST BELIEVE!

Prayer:

Oh Lord thank You for being my
Life, I do believe, and I know that
you will be my eternal reward.
Thank You for being there now
and forever.  In Jesus Name Amen.

Day Seventy-Three: January 16, 2009
    4 days, left until inauguration day.

Read the rest of this entry ... (159 words left)

To all who believed him and accepted
him, he gave the right to become
children of God.  John 1:12 NLT

Read the rest of this entry ... (291 words left)

Matthew 19:13-15  (NCV)

Jesus Welcomes Children
 13 Then the people brought their little children to
Jesus so he could put his hands on them[a] and
pray for them. His followers told them to stop,
14 but Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me.
Don't stop them, because the kingdom of heaven
belongs to people who are like these children." 1
5 After Jesus put his hands on the children, he left there.

Reflection:

One of the most difficult tasks of any adult is to
bring up a child.  This by no means is a easy task.
It involves a great deal of patience, love, discipline,
and understanding.  Lets face it, we need help.
This is one road we cannot face alone.  We as
parents must realize that there is someone with
us all the way.  This teacher, this counselor, this
lord and master is the parent of all parents. HE IS
GOD!.  HE IS OUR SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST!
We need to bring our children to Jesus, because
He wants to heal and bless them.  So it is our
privilege and responsibility as parents to talk to Jesus
about them daily, whether they are sick, rebellious,
or they are doing well.  We need our Savior to
give our children all that they need to get a long
in this life.  Please parents always remember
that Jesus is there for you to make a task into
joy.

Prayer:

Oh mighty God my Lord and Savior, I need
Your help.  My child needs Your help. This
world is not child friendly.  Help me oh God
to be a parent like you, patient, loving, kind,
and understanding.  In Jesus name Amen .

Scripture:

"These people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are from me." (Mark 7:6)

Reflection:

When I was active in the ministry, I can't
tell you how many times this verse came
to my mind.  I had plenty of people who
could gave lip service in my congregation.
But I just knew their hearts were far from
God.  They could do all the "right" things
but their hearts weren't in it.  Doing whats
right in the eyes of God certainly requires
a lot more than performing certain
activities. It seems to me that God sets
a standard, through the power of both
the Holy Scriptures, and the Holy Spirit.
God's standard's are very simple to
remember, and very important to be
a part of your heart.  God's standard's
are simply to Love God and to Love
Others.  We should praise God that
His promise is that He will surround
our hearts with love which will enable
us to reach out to others with that
love.  Guess what, that's right, ALL
YOU HAVE TO DO IS BELIEVE!

Prayer:

Oh God, I want to, right now accept
you with all my heart. I realize that's
what counts.  I can give lip service
always, but now that you are in my
heart, my heart is Your, my lips are
Yours and now my service is Yours.
I praise and honor You, in the name
of Jesus Christ Amen.

Do you sense that God is on your side?

On the very day I call to you for help,
my enemies will retreat. This I know:
God is on my side. O God, I praise
your word. Yes, Lord, I praise your word.
I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?
What can mere mortals do to me?
I will fulfill my vows to you, O God,
and offer a sacrifice of thanks for your help.
For you have rescued me from death;
you have kept my feet from slipping.
So now I can walk in your presence,
O God, in your life-giving light.
Psalm 56:9-13 NLT

Praise for God's Rescue

77 Days of Prayer for our New President
      
Day Fifty-Eight: January 1, 2009   19 days,
   
For faithfulness as we pray for President-Elect
Barack Obama, the Vice President-Elect and
other leaders For this reason, since the day
we heard about you, we have not stopped
praying for you and asking God to fill you
with the knowledge of His will through all
spiritual wisdom and understanding.
—Colossians 1:9

Read the rest of this entry ... (122 words left)

Scripture:

O God, you will keep in perfect peace
those whose minds are fixed
on you; for in returning and rest we
shall be saved; in quietness and
trust shall be our strength.
(Isaiah 26:3; 30:15)


Prayer for Peace

Heal my wounded heart.
Grant me the courage to change my heart.
Let Peace live in my heart.

Fill me with compassion for those suffering in war.
Help me care for those in war.
Help me bring Peace to those in war.

Help me stop wars.
Help soldiers stop wars.
Help leaders stop wars.

Fill me with Peace and Justice.
Help me to work for Peace with Justice.
Let there be Peace with Justice among all peoples.
In the name of the one who is Peace, In Jesus
Name Amen.

HAVE A BLESSED AND PEACE FILLED NEW YEAR