Christian Reflection and Prayer

The Will of God

Remember. The Will of God will never take you...
Where the grace of God cannot keep you,
Where the arms of God cannot support you,
Where the hands of God cannot mold you.
Where the power of God cannot endow you.

The will of God will never take you...
Where the spirit of God cannot work through you,
Where the riches of God cannot supply you,
Where the wisdom of God cannot teach you,
Where the army of God cannot protect you.

The will of God will never take you...
Where the love of God cannot enfold you,
Where the mercy of God cannot sustain you,
Where the Word of God cannot feed you,
Where the authority of God cannot overrule for you.

The will of God will never take you...
Where the comfort of God cannot dry your tears,
Where the peace of God cannot calm your fears,
Where the miracles of God cannot be done for you,
Where the omnipresence of God cannot find you.

(GodVine)

Living on less than $2 a day in America --
that sounds impossible.

But right now some people in the U.S.
have to do exactly that, and the numbers
are growing. According to a new study,
the number of Americans living on less than
$2 a day has doubled in the past 15 years.

That’s right -- nearly 1.5 million Americans
are living in the kind of extreme poverty that,
until now, has been associated with
developing countries.[i]

Instead of addressing the issue of extreme
poverty in America, lawmakers are turning
their backs on the poor and refusing to
listen to what the Bible teaches us about
caring for those in need. Just this month,
the House voted for major cuts to food
stamps, Medicaid, and other programs
that help Americans living in extreme
poverty.

From now until the November elections,
many in power will continue to use rhetoric
about the federal deficit to attack those
in poverty.

(Some information  from Sojourners)

Reflection:

It is very hard for me to believe that there are
actually people in this country who are trying
to live on less than two dollars a day. This is
not a political discussion, it makes no difference
whether you are Republican, Democrat, Independent,
or what you're political persuasion may be. It does
make a difference on what you are as a person.
Do you care about others do you feel compassion
about those who are in need.
This situation that we're facing in this country
CANNOT BE TOLERATED. If you want to talk
about un-American this is un-American, if you
want to talk about Christian this is unchristian.
How long, as a people, are we going to let this
situation go on.
Elections are approaching and we are going to
have to make decisions. Please... Please...
Take in consideration that many of our
friends, neighbors, fellow Americans, fellow
human beings, NEED OUR HELP! I am
asking you not to consider anyone who
supports cutting food stamps, Medicaid, and
other programs that help those in need.

Remember these words from Psalm:

Psalm 12: 5-8

“Because the poor are plundered  and the needy groan,
    I will now arise, ” says the Lord.
    “I will protect them from those who malign them.”
6 And the words of the Lord are flawless,
    like silver purified in a crucible,
    like gold[c] refined seven times.

7 You, Lord, will keep the needy safe
    and will protect us forever from the wicked,
8 who freely strut about
    while depravity is honored by the human race.

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.

Scripture:

Psalm 30

Reflection:

Today's Psalm contains one of my favorite biblical passages.
I prefer the King James Version of the conclusion of verse five:
"weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning."

How many sleepless nights have I spent worrying over the unfair,
the unbearable, the insurmountable? In the darkness, worries take on
a life of their own, growing more oppressive by the minute.
"God, are you there?" I ask. But then, just before dawn, rest comes.
And when my eyes open to let in the morning light, I feel lighter.
Relief floods over me; the oppressiveness of the previous night lifted.

That's why I so appreciate the resolution of this verse. No matter how
hopeless life seems in the dark of night, each day brings a new
morning. It is a gentle reminder that God hears our weeping and
offers the possibility for joy each new morning.

Prayer:

Thank you, God, for not turning away from our weeping and
worrying but offering instead joy each new morning, Amen

(From Covenant Home Altar, July 7, 2012)