Christian Reflection and Prayer

“He spent the night there, and from what he had
with him he selected a gift for his brother Esau:
two hundred female goats and twenty male goats,
two hundred ewes and twenty rams, thirty female
camels with their young, forty cows and ten bulls,
and twenty female donkeys and ten male donkeys.”
Genesis 32:13–15

There was once a man who learned a valuable
lesson while waiting in an airport. The man had
checked his bags, bought himself a snack and a
magazine, and sat down to wait. As he opened his
magazine and reached for a cookie, he was
surprised to find another hand in the bag. The
woman sitting next to him was eating his food!

He was too polite to say anything and so he kept
quiet even though the woman continued to help
herself to his snack. She didn’t even leave him the
last cookie – instead, she broke it in half, smiled,
and kept half for herself. How rude! Just then, the
man’s flight was called. As he prepared to board
the plane, he opened up his bag to get his boarding
pass – and found his bag of cookies, unopened and
untouched. He had been eating the woman’s cookies
all along, while she had kindly shared!

There are many lessons to be learned from this story.
One of them is that knowing who the owner is makes
all of the difference! If we see ourselves as the true
owners of our assets, then we may resist sharing
them with God – and others. But when we realize that
everything belongs to Him, we will jump at the
opportunity to share.

With prayers for shalom, peace,
Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein

I Cannot Pray If...

I CANNOT SAY
OUR ; if my religion has no room for others
and their needs.

I CANNOT SAY
FATHER ; if I do not demonstrate this
relationship in my daily life.

I CANNOT SAY
WHO ART IN HEAVEN ; if all my interests
and pursuits are in earthly things.

I CANNOT SAY
HALLOWED BE THY NAME ; if I, who am
called by His name am not holy.

I CANNOT SAY
THY KINGDOM COME ; if I am unwilling to
give up my own sovereignty and accept the
righteous reign of God.

I CANNOT SAY
THY WILL BE DONE ; if I am unwilling or
resentful of having it in my life.

I CANNOT SAY
ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN ; if I am not
truly ready to give myself to his service here
and now.

I CANNOT SAY
GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD ; if
I am not expending an honest effort for it or by
ignoring the genuine needs of my fellow man.

I CANNOT SAY
FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES AS WE
FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST
US ; if I continue to harbor a grudge against anyone.

I CANNOT SAY
LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION ; if I deliberately
choose to remain in a situation where I am likely to
be tempted.

I CANNOT SAY
DELIVER US FROM EVIL ; if I am not prepared to
fight in the spiritual realm with the weapon of prayer.

I CANNOT SAY
THINE IS THE KINGDOM ; if I do not give the King
the disciplined obedience of a loyal subject.

I CANNOT SAY
THINE IS THE POWER ; if I fear what my neighbors
do or say to me.

I CANNOT SAY
THINE IS THE GLORY ; if I am seeking my own
glory first.

I CANNOT SAY
FOREVER ; if I am anxious about each day's events.

I CANNOT SAY
AMEN ; if i don't honestly say "cost what it may,
this is my prayer.".

Heavenly Father, on Thanksgiving Day
We bow our hearts to You and pray.
We give You thanks for all You've done
Especially for the gift of Jesus, Your Son.
For beauty in nature, Your glory we see
For joy and health, friends and family,
For daily provision, Your mercy and care
These are the blessings You graciously share.
So today we offer this response of praise
With a promise to follow You all of our days.