Christian Reflection and Prayer

Scripture:

" As we know Jesus better, His divine power gives us
everything we need for living a godly life. He has called us
to receive His own glory and goodness! And by that same
mighty power, He has given us all of His rich and wonderful
promises. He has promised that you will escape the
decadence all around you caused by evil desires and that
you will share in His divine nature. NLT (II Peter 1:3,4)

Reflection:

What a powerful statement this is. God has called us to
receive His own glory and goodness. Man what a gift.
You know I look around me and I see some unbelievably
terrible things. "This world is going to hell in a hand basket".
Armed with His glory and goodness, I don't have to be a part
of all the sin that surrounds me. I can fight that sin, it does
not have to overpower me. You see because of God I am an
individual, I am not a part of that sin. Thats a great feeling,
I don't have to judge others, I can be me, because of God's
glory and goodness. I am good because God is good. An
unfortunately, in the world today, that makes me different.
I am different, I love to be different, I want to be different,
because of God I live in that difference. God thank You
for that difference, I look forward to sharing with You in Your
divine nature.

Prayer:

Thank you God for making me different!

Prayer for Yom HaShoah
(Holocaust Remembrance Day)

Lord, remember not only the men of good will, but also
those of ill will. But do not remember all the suffering
they have inflicted upon us. Remember rather the fruits
we have brought, thanks to this suffering: our comradeship,
our loyalty, our humility, the courage, the generosity,
the greatness of heart that has grown out of this.
And when they come to judgment, let all the fruits
we have bourne be their forgiveness.
Appropriate for many faiths
source: Found on a scrap of paper at the liberation
of Ravensbruck Concentration Camp in Germany

"Father forgive them for they know not what they have
done" Amen

Scripture: Ruth 1:1-16

Reflection:

Today I began yet another study of one
of my favorite books of the Bible, the
book of Ruth. This book is a true love
story, it is a book that shows true
dedication and love. Ruth, the
foreigner; Ruth, the poor widow who
had nothing, ended up marrying a
wonderful Israelite. In doing so, she
became an ancestor of King David and
of Jesus the Messiah. But it all began
with a commitment: "Where you go I will
go......Your people will be my people and
your God my God" (v.16). This is a story
of real honest commitment, to Ruth's
mother-in-law and to God. Whenever
I loose my way in life, whenever I feel a
real need to fill a void in my life, I read
this short book in the Old Testament, the
book of Ruth. Because of Ruth, I have
experienced and learned the meaning of
commitment. Have you made a real
commitment to God? Please renew that
commitment today, right now. Strengthen
your ties to the Lord. I know that He desires
to do much good through you. Blessings so
wonderful that you cannot imagine, await you.
But it all starts with commitment: "Lord, take
control of all of my life, I give myself to you.
Have you done this? If not will you do it
today, right now. PLEASE MAKE THAT
COMMITMENT!!!

Prayer:

My Heavenly Father I commit my life to You.
Give me the strength to live for You daily. May
what I do honor You and bring glory to You. And
may I never forget Your love for me and my
commitment to You. In Jesus Name Amen.

(excerpts taken from the devotional "Still Gods
Man by Don M. Aycock & Mark Sutton) in
connection with my own thoughts and prayers.