Christian Reflection and Prayer

Scripture:

"…we who are still alive and remain
on earth will be caught up in the clouds t
o meet the Lord in the air and remain
with him forever."
1 Thessalonians 4:17 NLT

Awaiting our day

"The story is told of an old missionary
couple returning to the States after
many years of thankless service in Africa.
They happened to be on the same ship to
New York as President Theodore Roosevelt,
who was returning from a big game hunt in
Africa. As the ship pulled past the Statue of
Liberty and into the dock, huge crowds were
gathered to welcome him home. The press
was out in full force, and thousands of people
had come to get a glimpse of the president.

In the middle of the chaos, the aged
missionary couple fought their way through
the crowds with their large suitcases in tow.
Silently they hailed a cab and made their
way to a cheap hotel. The missionary sat
on the bed and said to his wife, "It just
doesn't seem right. We gave our lives to
Christ to win souls for the Kingdom in
Africa, and when we arrive home there
is no one here to meet us. The president
shoots a few animals and receives a royal
welcome."

His wife sat beside him on the bed and said
softly, "That's because we're not home yet, dear."

It may seem at times as if our work for Christ
is going unnoticed. Faith doesn't bring a lot
of praise on this earth. But that's only because
our trip is not yet over.

Our day will come, you can be sure. And when
it does, the ceremony will last for an eternity.

from Embracing Eternity by Tim LaHaye,
Jerry B. Jenkins and Frank M. Martin
(Tyndale) p 346

PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD
JESUS CHRIST IS COMING !

Scripture:

Jeremiah 33:14-16

Psalm 25:1-10

1 Thessalonians 3:9-13

Luke 21:25-36

The Christmas and Advent seasons uphold
so many precious realities presently endangered:
birth, children, family, the earth itself. In
celebrating Christmas and Advent, keep
their message for today in mind.

Prayer:

Adult:
O Jesus Christ,
Emmanuel, come and dwell with us.
Desire of all nations;
Gift to every generation,
Come, make your home with us.

Child:
All nations, everybody,
is waiting for you,
Indians and Esquimos
are waiting for you,
People in New York
are waiting for you.
People in Beijing
are waiting for you.
Jesus, come to us.

"O Lord, I am calling to you. Please
hurry! Listen when I cry to you for help!
Accept my prayer as incense offered
to you, and my upraised hands as an
evening offering." Psalm 141:1-2 NLT

The Second Thanksgiving

"The year was 1623. The Pilgrims had
been in the New World for two and half
years. The first Thanksgiving of 1621
was only a memory by this time because
this summer's drought was jeopardizing
everything. Not even the Indians could
remember anything like it. The settlers
had planted more corn than before, but
without any rainfall, there would be no
harvest. Daily they had prayed that God
would send rain, but he hadn't answered.
As the psalmist did in Psalm 141:1, they
were begging God to hurry.

Finally, the settlers set aside an entire
day for prayer and worship. As they went
for worship, the "heavens were as clear
and the drought as like to continue as
it ever was," yet when they left the meeting,
"the weather was overcast, the clouds
gathered on all sides." For the next 14 days
there were "moderate showers of rain,"
according to Edward Winslow, one of the
Pilgrims.

The Indians watched and were amazed at
how the God of the new settlers had
answered their prayers, and that year,
after the harvest, a second Thanksgiving
was celebrated with the Indians joining in
as well.

"Hurry up, Lord," we often prod, wondering
why the Almighty doesn't seem to be in as
much of a rush as we are. Sometimes we
need to set our watches to his clock.

from The One Year® Book of Psalms with
devotionals by William J. Petersen and
Randy Petersen (Tyndale) entry for
November 22