Christian Reflection and Prayer

Songwriters: HEATH, BRANDON

I wish you could see me now
I wish I could show you how
I'm not who I was
I used to be mad at you
A little on the hurt side too
But I'm not who I was

I found my way around
To forgiving you
Some time ago
But I never got to tell you so

I found us in a photograph
I saw me and I had to laugh
You know, I'm not who I was
You were there, you were right above me
And I wonder if you ever loved me
Just for who I was

When the pain came back again
Like a bitter friend
It was all that I could do
To keep myself from blaming you

I reckon it's a funny thing
I figured out I can sing
Now I'm not who I was
I write about love and such
Maybe 'cause I want it so much
I'm not who I was

I was thinking maybe I
I should let you know
I am not the same
But I never did forget your name
Hello

Well the thing I find most amazing
In amazing grace
Is the chance to give it out
Maybe that's what love is all about

I wish you could see me now
I wish I could show you how
I'm not who I was

There is a story told about a boy who didn’t behave
very well. In fact, this boy was a bully in every way –
constantly hurting others with words and with blows.
One day, his mother got advice and put it into action.
That day she told her son that every time he hurt
another person, she would put a nail in the wall of his
bedroom. At first the boy was pleased – what a
lenient punishment! But after time, as the wall grew
covered with ugly nails, he started to feel bad about
himself and his deeds.

What could he do to get those nails out, he asked
his mother. She explained that for every good thing
he did, such as apologies or kind deeds, she would
take one nail out of his wall. The boy began and was
encouraged as the nails slowly disappeared. Finally
the last nail came out.

But the boy was still sad. After all that hard work,
there were still holes in the wall. The nails could be
removed, but there was nothing to hide the holes
that remained.

The lesson of this story, is that while second chances
are nice, they are not always possible. Sometimes we
make poor choices that are irreversible. We can repent
and we can be forgiven, but consequences remain. So
count to ten when you get angry or find other ways to
vent your frustrations before lashing out. There are
things in life that we can change, but there are
consequences that we can’t.

With prayers for shalom, peace,
Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein

(excerpts taken from Holy Land Moments)

"The purpose of prayer is to bring us to an understanding
of the Fathers heart. Prayer does not always lead us to
an answer that satisfied our wants and desires, nor an
answer that solves our problems. But prayer does lead
us to except the fact that such answers are not necessary
to accept the vast and mysterious purpose of the Father.

"Prayer is absolutely necessary in the interchange of
one's heart with the Father. That is what of faith relationship
with the Father is all about. "This is what we all long for,
and Jesus has made it possible. Prayer is all about
fellowship with the Father--the true expression of a living
faith relationship. Without prayer, without talking to the
Father and listening to Him, what kind of relationship is it?
How can we claim to have faith in God while failing to
communicate with Him.

(Talking with My Father: Jesus Teaches on Prayer by
Ray C. Stedman)