Christian Reflection and Prayer

Scripture:

Read:  2 Timothy 2:1-10

"I suffer trouble... Even to the point of chains; but the
Word of God is not chained". 2 Timothy 2:9

Reflection:

Jean- Dominique Bauby’s memoir, "The Diving Bell and
the Butterfly", describes his life after a massive stroke
left him with a condition called "Locked-In Syndrome."
Although he was almost completely paralyzed, Bauby
was able to write his book by blinking his left eyelid. An
aide would recite a coded alphabet, until Bauby blinked
to choose the letter of the word he was dictating. The
book required about 200,000 blinks to write Bauby used
the only physical ability left him to communicate with
others.

For some of us, circumstances may have isolated us
from others. Lying in a hospital bed, serving time in a
prison, or being a shut-in can make us feel that we are
experiencing our own "locked-in syndrome." If this is
true for you, why not prayerfully reflect on some ways
you can still reach out to others.

As many of you know, I am a retired pastor and I am
also disabled. I am what they term “Homebound”. In
my thinking while I'm at home I am reminded of
2 Timothy 2:1-10. I especially think of verse nine,
"I suffer trouble... Even to the point of chains; but the
Word of God is not chained”. I am not chained, I find
freedom in thinking and doing ways that I can still
reach out to others. These reflections are but one way.
I am not isolated from others because through the power
of Jesus Christ I choose not to be. I choose the
freedom of Jesus Christ over the imprisonment of my
body.

Whether you are abled or disabled always reach out
to others don't experience the "locked-in syndrome",
experience the "live-free syndrome" through the power
and the love of Jesus Christ!

Prayer:

Almighty God I thank You for making me free. I thank
You through the power of Your word through the power
of the Holy Spirit through Your love I can reach out to
other that makes me free Lord. I pray that I can take
Your example of service and serve others in your name.  
In Your Holy Name       Amen

“Take a census of the whole Israelite community
by their clans and families, listing every man by name,
one by one.”—Numbers 1:2

God counts the children of Israel. Of course, He already
knew how many there were, but He wanted them to
know that each one mattered and that each one counted.
If someone was missing, God would notice and God
would care.

It’s like that with us today as well. There are more than
seven billion people in the world today. There are more
than a billion people in China alone! With all the people
sharing this planet with us, it’s easy to think that God
doesn’t notice us. We could make the mistake thinking
that we don’t matter much or that we aren’t loved very
much.

But nothing could be further from the truth. It doesn’t
matter if we are the only human being on Earth or if we
are one in ten billion, or a billion billion – to God we are
like an only child. He loves us and cares for us just as
He would if we were the only one. Not a single one of
us is dispensable and each of us is so very precious
to God.

God sees us as invaluable; it’s time for us to see
ourselves – and each other – that way also.

With prayers for shalom, peace,

Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein

"Peace I bequeath to you, My own peace I
give to you, a peace which the world cannot
give, this is My gift to you" (John 14:27).

One morning in 1888, Alfred Nobel, inventor of
dynamite, awoke to read his own obituary. The
notice was printed as a result of a simple
journalistic error -- it was Alfred's brother that had
died and the reporter carelessly reported the death
of the wrong Nobel.

To Alfred, the shock was overwhelming because
he saw himself as the world saw him. The "Dynamite
King" -- the great industrialist who had made an
immense fortune from explosives. This, as far as the
general public was concerned, was the entire purpose
of Alfred's life. None of his true intentions to break
down the barriers that separated men and ideas for
peace were recognized or given serious consideration.
He was simply a merchant of death. And for that alone
he would be remembered. As he read the obituary with
horror, he resolved to make clear to the world the true
meaning and purpose of his life. This could be done
through the final disposition of his fortune. His last will
and testament would be the expression of his life's
ideals and ultimately would be why we would remember
him today. The result was the most valuable of prizes
given to those who had done the most for the cause of
world peace. It is called, of course, the "Nobel Peace
Prize."

The Biblical word for peace is "Wholeness." There is a
kind of peace that can be achieved by isolating ourselves
from conflict or by deceiving ourselves about the world
and our own condition. Such a peace is an achievement;
the Peace of Christ is a gift. Such a peace is precarious;
the Peace of Christ is everlastingly triumphant. Such a
peace is the peace of a fragmented person who has
become detached from the unpleasant; the Peace of
Christ is the peace of the whole person -- the "whole"
person who is reconciled to God, to himself or herself,
and to the world. The true "pursuit of happiness" is the
"pursuit of peace of mind and heart and soul." And Jesus
makes it crystal clear, that only those who are wiling to
accept the healing, saving presence of God at the center
of their being -- and day-by-day, live accordingly -- can
achieve it.

CAN YOU ACHIEVE IT?

( some from Sermons on Line)
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