Christian Reflection and Prayer

SCRIPTURE

It was almost time for the Jewish Passover. So Jesus went to
Jerusalem. In Jerusalem Jesus went to the temple. In the
temple area Jesus saw men selling cattle, sheep, and doves.
Jesus saw other men sitting at tables. These men were
exchanging and trading people's money. Jesus made a whip with
some pieces of rope. Then Jesus forced all these men and the
sheep and cattle to leave the temple area. Jesus turned over
the tables and scattered the money of the men that exchange
money. Then Jesus said to the men that were selling pigeons,
"Take these things out of here! Don't make my Father's house
a place for buying and selling!"

-- John 2:13-16 (ERV)

REFLECTION:

This is a passage in scripture that has always intrigued me. I mean the son of
God is really mad here, He's really angry. Why? I think its a question that
needs an answer. I never really understood how Jesus Christ could loose
His temper like this at the church, until I felt the same way. When I was an
active minister, I found myself becoming so angry and so dissapointed in
the church. Many of the churches I served were no longer interested in serving
God through serving our community. As brothers and sisters in Christ, they
were no longer concerned with poverty, hunger, they no longer showed
compassion to others. They became more interested in the business of the
church and sadly how they could take advantage of their brothers and sisters
in Christ. Jesus Christ wants the church to be a fellowship of His people to be
a place of deliverance, grace and prayer! A church is a place where we worship
God and a place where we serve others.

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, as a Christian I pray for compassion for others. Let me live a life
of servitude, Let this be my worship to You. You are a loving and
compassionate God, I pray that I display that love and compassion to all
others. THANK YOU GOD FOR BEING GOD
In Jesus Name Amen.

Saint Francis of Assisi Prayer:

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.
Where there is hatred let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair. Hope.
Where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born
to eternal life.

Reflection:

This is my favorite prayer. I call it the Christian Creed. This is why I am a Christian.
Here Saint Francis of Assisi tells us how to be a Christian. Outside of the Holy Scriptures
these are the most important words ever written. We are called upon to be God's
instruments of: peace, love, pardon, faith, hope, light, joy, counseling, understanding,
giving, pardoning, and eternal life. What a precious life that would be. This is it
brothers and sisters, this is what its all about. This is our commission from our
Savior Jesus Christ. Ask yourself this question every day, Are you God's
instrument?

Prayer:

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.
Where there is hatred let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair. Hope.
Where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born
to eternal life.
THANK YOU GOD FOR BEING GOD!

Scripture:

The Lord repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge." Ruth 2:12


Reflection:

This Scripture has a very important message for us. God never abandons His own. God
is always with us. It doesn't make any difference what is going on in our lives, He is
always there. In times of danger and distress, He spreads His wings of protection and
comfort over us. We have to always keep in mind that we need not fear anything,
because God protects us.
I remember when I was a kid and living in the midwest in the middle of tornado alley.
I recall when I was about ten years old watching in my living room through a big
picture window a tornado coming towards our home. I remember my father picking
me up and caring me to the basement, I never felt so protected in my life.
This is how I feel with God, His wings are there to protect me, I am safe under
the canopy of God's constant care. "He shall cover you with His feathers, and
under His wings you shall take refuge:|" (Ps. 91:4)

Prayer:

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.
Where there is hatred let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair. Hope.
Where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born
to eternal life.
THANK YOU GOD FOR BEING GOD!