Christian Reflection and Prayer

Scripture:

Isaiah 66:10-14; Psalms 66:1-7,16,20;
Galatians 6:14-18; Luke 10:1-12,17-20 

"Cure those in it who are sick, and say,
The Kingdom of God is very near to you"    
(Luke 10:9).  

Reflection:

Let freedom ring! On "Independence Day,"
the American people celebrate the great
gift of freedom they have received as a
nation. Even so, in many of the most
popular American songs we hear repeated
over-and-over again, in so many words,
the familiar refrain: "I want to be free! I've
got be free."

To attain real freedom, you must be right
with God.

To be right with God we must, first of all,
live in faith. That is the basic premise of the
whole Gospel Message. We cannot be right
with God merely by obeying holy, just, and
good laws. We cannot be right with God
merely by disciplining ourselves. We
cannot be right with God merely by being
as good as the next person. We can be
right with God only with a faith which informs
us that God is a gracious God; that God
is good; that God is not only the Source
of life but also the Source of our right way
of life; that God wants us to be kind,
compassionate and merciful persons.

GET RIGHT WITH GOD, ATTAIN FREEDOM!
FREEDOM FROM SIN, FROM BONDAGE, FROM
OPPRESSION, FROM DEATH
BE KIND, COMPASSIONATE, AND MERCIFUL,
BE FREE

Happy 4th of July!

1.... God won't ask what kind of car you drove.
He'll ask how many people you drove who didn't
have transportation..

2.. God won't ask the square footage of your
house, He'll ask how many people you welcomed
into your home.

3... God won't ask about the clothes you had
in your closet, He'll ask how many you helped
to clothe.

4... God won't ask what your highest salary was.
He'll ask if you compromised your character to
obtain it.

5... God won't ask what your job title was. He'll
ask if you performed your job to the best of your
ability.

6.. God won't ask how many friends you had.
He'll ask how many people to whom you were
a friend.

7... God won't ask in what neighborhood you
lived, He'll ask how you treated your neighbors.

8.... God won't ask about the color of your skin,
He'll ask about the content of your character.

9... God won't ask where you prayed. He'll
lovingly take you to your mansion in heaven.

10... God won't have to ask if you love Him
as your father He already knows your
decision.

IN GOD WE TRUST!

(Thanks Fred!)

Scripture:

5When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up
and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down
immediately. I must stay at your house today."
Luke 19:5 (New International Version)

Reflection:

One of the greatest things about Jesus Christ
was His constant encounters with notorious
sinners as well as the most pious religious
rulers of the day.  That really speaks to me.
Jesus broke through many of the culture's social,
racial, and religious barriers.  He talked with tax
collectors and accepted an invitation to a party
at a tax collectors home and even made him
one the twelve disciples.
Jesus went to sinners and ate, drank, and
fellowshipped with them. He didn't condone or
participate in their lifestyle, but He reached
out to them where they were.
Christ completely ignored the prejudice of the
day.  He dined with Zacchaeus, a virtual
outcast, He exonerated women who were
considered the lowest of low, and used
the love and acceptance of children to gain
entrance into eternity.
There is this one imperative truth that Christ
gave to you and me.  That while being
religious won't get you into heaven, neither
will being a sinner or a social outcast keep
you out.

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU BUT THAT'S
ONE TRUTH THAT HAS SET ME FREE!