Christian Reflection and Prayer

Scripture:

Luke 2: 1-20

"Glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace good will towards me."
(Luke 2:14)

Reflection:

The Christmas season is a time for happiness and joy.
But I find myself feeling kind of sad. Especially during
this time of year, I am reminded of human suffering in
our world. There are so many diverse groups who
are looking for donations and that reminds me how
much pain there is in the world. I don't have money
so I really have very little to donate. But there is one
very important thing that you and I can donate. We
can offer them our prayers. I am a very big believer
in the power of prayer. I know for a fact that prayer
works because it works in my life. We need to pray
for peace and good will towards men, especially this
year. Brothers and sisters, there is a great deal of
suffering in God's world, and we need to pray for
help for the poor and suffering, for guidance for how
we can help. We need to ask our Lord and Savior
for His strength to help alleviate this suffering and pain.
We need to remember for over 2/3 of the population
of the earth, this is not a time of happiness and joy,
but a time of real pain. I really believe that if enough
of us pray, there will be a change. Let us all pray
together, so that next year will be a Merry
Christmas.

Prayer:

Lord, make me an instrument of thy 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
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,
It is in dying . . . that we are born to eternal life.

Dear Loved Ones
As you well know, we are getting closer to my birthday. Every
year there is a celebration in my honor and I think that this year the
celebration will be repeated. During this time there are many people
shopping for gifts, there are many radio announcements, TV commercials,
and in every part of the world everyone is talking that my birthday is
getting closer and closer.

It is really very nice to know, that at least once a year, some
people think of me. As you know, the celebration of my birthday began
many years ago. At first people seemed to understand and be thankful of
all that I did for them, but in these times, no one seems to know the
reason for the celebration. Family and friends get together and have a
lot of fun, but they don't know the meaning of the celebration.

I remember that last year there was a great feast in my honor.
The dinner table was full of delicious foods, pastries, fruits, assorted
nuts and chocolates. The decorations were exquisite and there were many,
many beautifully wrapped gifts. But, do you want to know something? I
wasn't invited. I was the guest of honor and they didn't remember to
send me an invitation. The party was for me, but when that great day
came, I was left outside, they closed the door in my face .... and I
wanted to be with them and share their table.

In truth, that didn't surprise me because in the last few years
all close their doors to me. Since I wasn't invited, I decided to enter
the party without making any noise. I went in and stood in a corner.
They were all drinking; there were some who were drunk and telling jokes
and laughing at everything. They were having a grand time. To top it
all, this big fat man all dressed in red wearing a long white beard
entered the room yelling Ho-Ho-Ho! He seemed drunk. He sat on the sofa
and all the children ran to him, saying: "Santa Claus, Santa Claus" ..
as if the party were in his honor!

At 12 Midnight all the people began to hug each other; I
extended my arms waiting for someone to hug me and ... do you know .. no
one hugged me. Suddenly they all began to share gifts. They opened them
one by one with great expectation. When all had been opened, I looked
to see if, maybe, there was one for me.
What would you feel if on your birthday everybody shared gifts
and you did not get one? I then understood that I was unwanted at that
party and quietly left.

Every year it gets worse. People only remember to eat and drink,
the gifts, the parties and nobody remembers me. I would like this
Christmas that you allow me to enter into your life. I would like that
you recognize the fact that almost two thousand years ago I came to this
world to give my life for you, on the cross, to save you. Today, I only
want that you believe this with all your heart.

I want to share something with you. As many didn't invite me to
their party, I will have my own celebration, a grandiose party that no
one has ever imagined, a spectacular party.
I'm still making the final arrangements. Today I am sending out
many invitations and there is an invitation for you. I want to know if
you wish to attend and I will make a reservation for you and write your
name with golden letters in my great guest book. Only those on the guest
list will be invited to the party. Those who don't answer the invite,
will be left outside.
Be prepared because when all is ready you will be part of my
great party.

See you soon.
I Love you!
Jesus
P.S. Please share this message with your loved ones, before
Christmas

Scripture:

"Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy.
They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing
as they return with the harvest." Psalm 126:5-6 NLT

"For he has not ignored the suffering of the needy. He has not turned and walked away. He has listened to their cries
for help". Psalm 22:24 NLT
"
Reflection:

You know, I believe one of the worse things about televangelists talking about being born again, is that they give the distinct impression that if you accept Jesus Christ as your Savior, there will be no more suffering, and that your life will be filled with
joy. I do agree there is a great deal of joy in your life, I disagree about the suffering. The Bible does not promise that we as Christians won't suffer. Actually we can expect to suffer. As Christians we will be persecuted and suffer. We are surrounded by evil, I really believe this. The world
is full of evil, and the good do suffer from the evil.But what God promises us that our suffering will bring new growth. As I look back in my life, I see that many of the things that I truly suffered from has
made me a better person and, without a doubt, a better Christian. You know the worst kind of suffering is the suffering we experience alone. It helps when we have another
person who is sympathetic with our problem, the suffering is much easier to bear. God is not only our Father, He is our partner. Jesus Christ hears our cries. I am totally convinced that my Savior Jesus Christ has never failed to respond to my pain
and suffering. You see thats the beauty of having Jesus Christ in my life, I still suffer in my life but I'm never alone, I never suffer alone, Jesus Christ is always there for me. He is there for you.

Prayer:

Oh Jesus, thank you for always being there. You are my Savior and my companion. You take the pain away. Since You have come in to my life I grown, I turn my suffering over to You. THANK YOU GOD FOR BEING GOD!