Christian Reflection and Prayer

Please remember as you celebrate
a day off from work, there are many
in this country who do not have work.

Let us pray:

My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
hold close to your heart those who are
searching for work. Encourage their
spirits to persevere. Soothe tense
relationships that threaten to tear their
families apart.
Turn our hearts toward them in
compassion, generous support, and
efforts to open doors of opportunity,
through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
(Adapted from Daniel Benedict Copyright © 2003
The General Board of Discipleship)

GOD LOVES YOU!

Scripture:

"In Christ we are set free by the blood of death,
and so we have forgiveness of sins. How rich
is God's grace." (Ephesians 1:7) NCV

Reflection:

When is the last time you felt the need to
confess a sin. I really don't think most
people feel the need, or rather they feel the
need but just don't do it. I know you have
heard the old expression, "Confession is
good for the soul". Guess what it is true!
You see that is the real beauty of being a
Christian. When we are believers in
Christ there is forgiveness of sins. It is
as simple as asking God to forgive us.
Thats what the killing of Christ was all about.
As He forgave all for His death, He will
forgive you for your sins all you have to do
is believe and repent. Remember
"Repentance is good for the soul".

Prayer:

My father, I call to you and name you as eternal,
ever-present, and boundless in love. Yet there
are times, O God, when I fail to recognize you
in my daily life. Sometimes shame clenches
tightly around my heart, and I hide my true feelings.
Sometimes fear makes me small, and I miss the
chance to speak from my strength. Sometimes
doubt invades my hopefulness, and I degrade my own
wisdom.
Holy God, in the daily round from sunrise to sunset,
remind me again of your holy presence hovering near
me and in me. Free me from shame and self-doubt.
Help me to see you in the moment-by-moment
possibilities to live honestly, to act courageously,
and to speak from my wisdom.
Hear this prayer oh God as I confess my sins.
(confession)
I thank You for Your forgiveness in Jesus Name
AMEN!

Scripture:

2 Corinthians 4:7-12 (New Century Version)

7 We have this treasure from God, but we are like clay
jars that hold the treasure. This shows that the great
power is from God, not from us.8 We have troubles
all around us, but we are not defeated. We do not
know what to do, but we do not give up the hope of
living.9 We are persecuted, but God does not leave us.
We are hurt sometimes, but we are not destroyed.
10 We carry the death of Jesus in our own bodies so
that the life of Jesus can also be seen in our bodies.11
We are alive, but for Jesus we are always in danger of
death so that the life of Jesus can be seen in our bodies
that die.12 So death is working in us, but life is working in you.

Reflection:

Do you ever feel trapped, I mean really trapped.
I know I do. It seems like sometimes my problems
are surrounding me even to the point that I see no
way out. There are a lot of people who feel that way.
It's like I'm in a trash compactor, and my problems
keep closing in on me, to the point of crushing
me. I feel defeated by all my problems.
This is how it was before I became a Christian. I
was defeated, I was in a constant depression.
I felt so worthless and so afraid of my problems,
I refused to get out of bed. Unfortunately this
happens to a lot of people, and it is a very real
problem in many families. How did I over come
this depression? In my bed I discovered life and
true victory through what Jesus Christ has done for me
by dying on the cross and rising again. That's
right through prayer, study, and meditation, I found
victory in Jesus. Just believe, and He stands
victorious for you!!!!!

Prayer:

Oh God I Believe!