Christian Reflection and Prayer

Scripture:

1 Samuel 31-2 Samuel 2:7

Reflection:

Do you try to play God?
"Of course not" , you reply, "I know my place,
And besides, what little I know of God shows me
I'm not up to His job."
But take a minute and think again.  Do you look
at another person, perhaps a person in your family,
and try to manipulate that person into the shape
he or she should become?
Do you set a goal for yourself even one that you
believe is God's will and go towards that goal with
full force and purpose closing your eyes to
people who might brush you aside in your wake?
Do you view someone else actions through
your very narrow eyes and say, " I know that;s sin",
and then purposely avoid that person?

You see I have come to believe that there is a
very fine line between using the abilities that God
has given us to bring structure in our lives and
rushing ahead trying to do what only God should
do. I have come to learn in my life that it is hard
enough to learn to be myself let alone trying to
play God.  

Just how much of our money will go to the military
next year?

Military (Dept of Defense, War, Veterans Affairs,
and Nuclear Weapons Programs=60%

Health and Human Services=7%
Education=6%
State=5%
Other Programs=4%
Dept. of Homeland Security=3.5%
Housing and Urban Development=3%
Justice=2%
Agriculture=2%
NASA=1.5%
Energy (excludes nuclear weapons programs)=1%
Labor=1%
Treasury=1%
Interior=1%
Environmental Protection Agency=1%
Transportation=1%
(this budget will be sent to Congress February 2012)

QUOTE:
EVERY GUN that is made, EVERY WARSHIP launched,
EVERY ROCKET fired, signifies in the final sense a THEFT
from those who HUNGER AND ARE NOT FED, those who
are COLD AND ARE NOT CLOTHED.  (Dwight D. Eisenhower)

THINK ABOUT THIS:
"Reducing the military budget is the best legacy we can
leave for coming generations"
PEACE TO ALL OF YOU IN 2012

By Rev. Wayne Palmer

Scripture

Read Matthew 2:9-11.

And going into the house they saw the child
with Mary His mother, and they fell down and
worshiped Him... (Matthew 2:11a)

Reflection

Few people enjoy Christmas more than children.
Simply recall their unbridled enthusiasm and the
wonder and jubilation beaming from their faces
as they rush down the stairs on Christmas
morning. The joy of the wise men might have
actually topped theirs. Matthew says, "When
they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly
with great joy."

The Magi travelled a long way to see Jesus.
They heard God's Word telling them where His
Son would be born. They saw the star go ahead
of them until it stood over the house, and they
saw the King of Israel-probably only a toddler at
the time. They fell before Him and presented Him
their precious gifts.

What an amazing picture! These weren't children
running down the hall to see the presents waiting
for them under the tree. These were grown men-
important, dignified, well-educated men. Yet they
were gripped by an incredible joy impossible for
them to contain.

We know so many things they didn't know. We
know this was God's eternal Son. We know He
came to live the perfect life we can't. We know He
grew up to heal the blind, deaf and lame, to drive
out demons and raise the dead. We know He died
on the cross and rose again to give us eternal life.
But with all of that, do we share their overwhelming
joy at our Savior's birth, life, death and resurrection
for us?

PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, fill me with joy at Your first coming to
save us from our sins. Then on the Day You return
to judge the living and the dead fill me with
overwhelming joy to worship and praise You forever.
Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)