Christian Reflection and Prayer

Scripture:

"Jesus said to her, I am the One Who raises the
dead and gives them life. Anyone who puts his
trust in Me will live again, even if he dies. Anyone
who lives and has put his trust in Me will never
die. Do you believe this?" (John 11:25, 26) NLT

Reflection:

Wow! what a statement, can you believe the arrogance.
To actually tell people that if you trust in Me you will
live forever. How can the man expect me to believe
something like that? Well I do. You see I trust Jesus
Christ. It's hard not to believe in the Son of God. As
you read the scripture you begin to realize that
this Jesus was not just a prophet, not just a teacher,
not just a priest. He was God incarnate. We just
celebrated Christmas, when God became man.
Maybe it's time to sit back and really think about
what we believe. It seems to me that belief is
centered around trust. I really can't believe unless
I can trust. Well I put my trust in God. I trust
God's Son, Who died for me so that I now will
live forever. How about you do you trust in God,
do you trust His son, Will you live forever?
These are important questions. I really hope
and pray that you believe. Because I want to meet
you in heaven!!!!!'

Prayer:

Oh God my Father thank You for Your Son, I trust
You and I believe. Thank You for eternal life. THANK
YOU GOD FOR BEING GOD!

Quote-

"War may sometimes be a necessary evil. but no matter
how necessary, it is always an evil, never a good"

Jimmy Carter

Prayer

God of our forebears and our God, who has summoned women and men throughout the ages to be thy witnesses and sometimes martyrs for thee, we bow before thee this day in remembrance and thanksgiving for the life and legacy of thy servant, witness and martyr, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. We thank thee for his time among us, for his words and for his deeds, and for the quality of his living witness which eases the pain of recalling the brevity of his years. We rejoice in his example of obedient faith and the scenes and stations of his life which inform and enrich our own faith journeys. And we beseech thee this day for the strength, steadfastness and courage not only to remember but also to obey.
- Dr. Randolph Nugent Christian
source: United Methodist Church
At the age of thirty-five, Martin Luther King, Jr., was the youngest man to have received the Nobel Peace Prize. When notified of his selection, he announced that he would turn over the prize money of $54,123 to the furtherance of the civil rights movement.

On the evening of April 4, 1968, while standing on the balcony of his motel room in Memphis, Tennessee, where he was to lead a protest march in sympathy with striking garbage workers of that city, he was assassinated.

"I love to tell the story of unseen things above,
Of Jesus and His glory, of Jesus and His Love:
I love to tell the story because I know ' tis true,
It satisfies my longings as nothing else can do.

I love to tell the story!
Twill be my theme in glory-
To tell the old, old story
Of Jesus and His love.

I love to tell the story; more wonderful it seems
Than all the golden fancies of all our golden dreams.
I love to tell the story, it did so much for me;
And that is just the reason I tell it now to thee.

I love to tell the story-'tis pleasant to repeat
What seems, each time I tell it, more wonderfully
sweet;
I love to tell the story, for some have ever heard
The message of salvation from God's own
holy Word.

I love to tell the story, for those who know it best
Seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest;
And when in scenes of glory I sing the new,
new song,
'Twill be the old, old story that I have loved so long.
(Words: Arabella K Hankey (1834-1911)
Music: William G. Fischer (1835-1913)

Reflection:

This beautiful, wonderful hymn brings back memories.
It reminds me of the old Swedish Mission Church that
I grew up in. These were wonderful people, many of
whom were Swedish immigrants, who loved to worship
their God. This hymn was sung at one function or another,
in our church every week.
Through the words the singer tells why he/she loves
to tell the story. The story is the "Good News",
the Holy Scripture, The Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Why does he/she love to tell this story, first "because
I know its true". Contrary to some opinions, this is
not a fiction, it's not just another history book. It is
the true story of God the Father's relationship with
His children. It is the true account of God's love for
His children whom He gave, to them, His son. Secondly
because "it satisfies my longings as nothing else can do".
This true story satisfies my every need, like nothing else.
Thirdly I love to tell this story because "some have never
heard the message of salvation from God's own Holy Word".
You see because I believe this story I have received eternal
salvation. And there are a lot of people who have not really
heard this story, and I know that I must tell them, because
I love to tell the story. And finally I love to tell the story
because "those who know it best seem hungering and
thirsting to hear it like the rest". Even I know this story
I can't get enough, I hunger and thirst for the story of
Jesus love and glory. Do you love to tell the story?

Prayer:

Thank you for the old, old, story God, help me to tell
it so all may know, all may believe. THANK YOU GOD
FOR BEING GOD!

Samantha Smith
Ambassador of Peace and Goodwill
(1972-1985)
"If we could be friends just by getting to know each
other better, then what are our two countries really
arguing about? Nothing could be more important
than not having a war if war would kill everything."