Christian Reflection and Prayer

Scripture:

[The Lord said,] "I have made you a light to
the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the furthest
corners of the earth." When the Gentiles heard
this, they were very glad and thanked the Lord
for his message; and all who were appointed
to eternal life became believers.
Acts 13:47-48 NLT

Reflection:

Jesus want's us to see, I mean to really see.
He wants us to see that neighbor next door, or
even the person that is sitting next to us on
the plane.  He wants us to see them, not
just as interruptions in our daily lives, but He
wants us to see their needs, their unhappiness,
their loneliness, the dreams they long for.
Jesus wants us to have the courage to
reach out to them.

When I read this verse in Acts, I am reminded
that there are a lot of people around us whom
God wants us to see.  It could be that aged lady
who lives down the street, or a very lonely co-
worker, a very tired single parent, a teenager
who is struggling for acceptance, or even some
one standing next to us in the grocery line.

God wants us to see that the world is full of men,
women and children who have been literally crying
out to God in the quiet desperation of their hearts.
GOD WANTS TO USE US TO BE A LIGHT TO THEM
AND BRING THEM THE GOOD NEWS OF HOPE IN
JESUS CHRIST!

Prayer:

Lord help me to see the needs of others.
Equip me to be a light to those who don't know you
and to love them for Christ's sake.  Lord help me to
see their needs through your eyes.
In Your Name    AMEN

Remember  Marcus Welby the TV show?
Well their running reruns right now, and
I've really gotten into the old doctor.
The episode I'm watching now is about
an alcoholic doctor.  Immediately, it was
brought home to me as a reminder that
I'm an alcoholic.  I'm a recovering drunk.
I can now add a very important word to
that phrase, I'm a "Christian" alcoholic.
That's right, I'm a Christian and I'm a
drunk.
The oldest rivalry in the world, saint
vs. sinner, and praise the Lord, the saint
is winning.  The saint won yesterday, the
saint is winning today, and God willing the
saint will win in the future.  Saint vs.sinner
and in my life God is winning.  PRAISE BE
TO GOD!
They call me a dry drunk, in other words,
I'm a drunk who is not drinking at least
not now.  I could be a wet drunk tomorrow,
accept for one very important reason, my
higher power, my only power, my God.
God gives me a future, and that future is
WITHOUT  alcohol  or drugs and WITH GOD!
ARE YOU WITH OR WITHOUT GOD?

Prayer

God, grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change;
The courage to change the things that I can;
And the wisdom to know the difference. AMEN.

There were 3 good arguments that Jesus was Black: 
1. He called everyone brother
2. He liked Gospel
3. He didn't get a fair trial

But then there were 3 equally good arguments
that Jesus was Jewish:
1. He went into His Father's business
2. He lived at home until he was 33
3. He was sure his Mother was a virgin and
his Mother was sure He was God

But then there were 3 equally good arguments
that Jesus was Italian:
1. He talked with His hands
2. He had wine with His meals
3. He used olive oil

But then there were 3 equally good arguments
that Jesus was a Californian:
1. He never cut His hair
2. He walked around barefoot all the time
3. He started a new religion

But then there were 3 equally good arguments
that Jesus was an American Indian:
1. He was at peace with nature
2. He ate a lot of fish
3. He talked about the Great Spirit

But then there were 3 equally good arguments
that Jesus was Irish:
1. He never got married..
2. He was always telling stories.
3. He loved green pastures.

But the most compelling evidence of all 
3 proofs that Jesus was a woman:
1. He fed a crowd at a moment's notice
when there was virtually no food
2. He kept trying to get a message across
to a bunch of men who just didn't get it
3. And even when He was dead, He had
to get up because there was still work to do

CAN I GET AN AMEN!!