Christian Reflection and Prayer

"…you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted
mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
Colossians 3:12 NLT

2 Corinthians 6:4,6

4 In everything we do, we show that we are true
ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles
and hardships and calamities of every kind.
6 We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding,
our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within
us,[a] and by our sincere love.(NLT)

AN ACT OF KINDNESS

Despite his busy schedule during the Civil War,
Abraham Lincoln often visited the hospitals to
cheer the wounded. On one occasion he saw
a young fellow who was near death. “Is there
anything I can do for you?” asked the
compassionate President. “Please write a
letter to my mother,” came the reply.
Unrecognized by the soldier, the Chief Executive
sat down and wrote as the youth told him
what to say.

The letter read, “My Dearest Mother, I was
badly hurt while doing my duty, and I won’t
recover. Don’t sorrow too much for me. May
God bless you and Father. Kiss Mary and
John for me.” The young man was too weak
to go on, so Lincoln signed the letter for him
and then added this postscript: “Written for
your son by Abraham Lincoln.”

Asking to see the note, the soldier was
astonished to discover who had shown him
such kindness. “Are you really our President?”
he asked. “Yes,” was the quiet answer. “Now,
is there anything else I can do?” The lad
feebly replied, “Will you please hold my hand?
I think it would help to see me through to the
end.” The tall, gaunt man granted his request,
offering warm words of encouragement until
death stole in with the dawn.

Reflection:

An act of great Kindness. Not seen very often
in this world of ours. 

I am a Believer, I am a member of the "Way",
I am follower of Jesus Christ, I am a "Red
Letter" Christian.
Kindness should flow out of my life.  The world
has an excuse to be angry, but I don't.
I am a sinner who is redeemed, I should be
happy to be redeemed. 
This is what separates me from those who
haven't discovered the goodness of Christ.
I have a reason to rejoice, a standard to
uphold, and a Savior to pattern my life
after. 

Scripture:

Jesus said…"I came to bring truth to the
world. All who love the truth recognize
that what I say is true."
John 18:37 NLT

(from God's Daily Promises)

A wife prays for her husband's salvation

After a rather gentle talk [one evening]
about Christianity, [my wife Davy] went to
bed, leaving me lying upon the sofa in
front of the fire reading.…A half hour
passed. I let the book fall and switched
off the lamp. Gazing upon the glowing coals,
I wondered with a strange mixture of hope
and fear whether Christ might be in very truth
my God. Suddenly I became aware that Davy
was praying beside me—she had stolen into
the room in her nightgown and knelt down by
the sofa. I looked at the quiet figure for a few
moments. I have never seen her pray. Then
she spoke.

"When I was in bed," she said very softly,
"it seemed to me that God was telling me to
come to you. I have prayed to God to fulfill
your soul."

She paused a moment, and then she
whispered: "Oh, my dearest—please believe!"

Moved almost to tears, I whispered back—
a broken whisper, she wrote in the Journal
[the book we both kept of our searching for
God and truth]—I whispered, "Oh, I do believe.
" I was shaken by the affirmation that swept
over me."Hold to this moment," she murmured.
"Hold to it when doubts come. This is the
truth—I know it it."

(Sheldon Vanauken in A Severe Mercy
Adapted from The Prayer Bible Jean E.
Syswerda, general editor, Tyndale House
Publishers (2003), p 1657.

Scripture:

1 Thessalonians 2:19 (Today's
New International Version)

19 For what is our hope, our joy,
or the crown in which we will glory
in the presence of our Lord Jesus
when he comes? Is it not you?

Reflection:

When God comes will it be
day or night?
When God comes will you
be in His sight?
When God comes will you
be prepared?
When God comes will you
even care?
When God comes the two
shall be as one.
When God comes there will
be nothing left undone.
When God comes the
mystery will be revealed.
When God comes lives will
be unsealed.

COME LORD JESUS!