Christian Reflection and Prayer

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.

It was the day before Thanksgiving ­ the first one
my three children and I would be spending without
their father, who had left several months before.
Now the two older children were very sick with the
flu, and the eldest had just been prescribed bed
rest for a week.

It was a cool, gray day outside, and a light rain
was falling. I grew wearier as I scurried around,
trying to care for each child: thermometers, juice,
diapers. And I was fast running out of liquids for
the children. But when I checked my purse, all
I found was about $2.50 ­ and this was supposed
to last me until the end of the month. That's when
I heard the phone ring.

It was the secretary from our former church, and
she told me that they had been thinking about us
and had something to give us from the
congregation. I told her that I was going out to
pick up some more juice and soup for the children,
and I would drop by the church on my way to the
market.

I arrived at the church just before lunch. The church
secretary met me at the door and handed me a
special gift envelope. "We think of you and the kids
often," she said, "and you are in our hearts and
prayers. We love you." When I opened the envelope,
I found two grocery certificates inside. Each was
worth $20. I was so touched and moved, I broke
down and cried.

"Thank you very much," I said, as we hugged each
other. "Please give our love and thanks to the
church." Then I drove to a store near our home and
purchased some much-needed items for the children.

At the check-out counter I had a little over $14.00
worth of groceries, and I handed the cashier one of
the gift certificates. She took it, then turned her back
for what seemed like a very long time. I thought
something might be wrong. Finally I said, "This gift
certificate is a real blessing. Our former church gave
it to our family, knowing I'm a single patent trying to
make ends meet."

The cashier then turned around, with tears in her
loving eyes, and replied, "Honey, that's wonderful!
Do you have a turkey?"

"No. It's okay because my children are sick anyway."

She then asked, "Do you have anything else for
Thanksgiving dinner?"

Again I replied, "No."

After handing me the change from the certificate,
she looked at my face and said, "Honey, I can't tell
you exactly why right now, but I want you to go back
into the store and buy a turkey, cranberry sauce,
pumpkin pie or anything else you need for a
Thanksgiving dinner."

I was shocked, and humbled to tears. "Are you
sure?" I asked.

"Yes! Get whatever you want. And get some
Gatorade for the kids."

I felt awkward as I went back to do more shopping,
but I selected a fresh turkey, a few yams and
potatoes, and some juices for the children. Then I
wheeled the shopping cart up to the same cashier
as before. As I placed my groceries on the counter,
she looked at me once more with giant tears in her
kind eyes and began to speak.

"Now I can tell you. This morning I prayed that I
could help someone today, and you walked through
my line." She reached under the counter for her
purse and took out a $20 bill. She paid for my
groceries and then handed me the change. Once
more I was moved to tears.

The sweet cashier then said, "I am a Christian.
Here is my phone number if you ever need anything.
" She then took my head in her hands, kissed my
cheek and said, "God bless you, honey."

As I walked to my car, I was overwhelmed by this
stranger's love and by the realization that God loves
my family too, and shows us his love through this
stranger's and my church's kind deeds.

The children were supposed to have spent
Thanksgiving with their father that year, but
because of the flu they were home with me, for a
very special Thanksgiving Day. They were feeling
better, and we all ate the goodness of the Lord's
bounty ­ and our community's love. Our hearts
were truly filled with thanks.