Christian Reflection and Prayer

Scripture:
"I can do all things through Christ, because he
gives me strength". (Philippians 4:13)

Reflections:

This verse, taken from Philippians, is a verse
that I wish I could keep in my head at all times.
I need to remember in my life there is nothing I
can’t do because Jesus Christ gives me strength.

I believe when God gives us physical and spiritual
strength, there is absolutely nothing that we
cannot do through him. I know everything can be
achieved by God, there is nothing He cannot do in
us, through us, or for us. In my mind I need to
keep this, I need to remember this, I need to
repeat this over and over again. There is nothing
he cannot do in us, through us, or for us.

You need to keep this in mind the next time you
are struggling. The next time you have a problem
that seems insurmountable. The next time that
relationship that you have depended upon for so
long suddenly seems to fail. You need to remember
there is nothing He cannot do in us through us or for
us. Go to God, believe in Him, it will work out, it will
be okay, because you see there is nothing
insurmountable in our lives that with God we
will prevail

Prayer:

Lord I know this is all true. Then why is it so difficult
for me to accept this? Why do I have to try everything
else before I realize that there is nothing you cannot
do in us through us or for us. Oh Lord help me to keep
this in my mind, help me to remember this. I know
that you are there for me and through you there will be
the answer. AMEN

Sojourners (Faith in Action for Social Justice)

William McCormick is a 70-year-old disabled retiree who
lives alone and gets by on $100 a month after he pays
all his bills. After recently learning that his local Meals on
Wheels chapter would have to put applicants on a waiting
list because of cuts to the program that resulted from
sequestration, he made a stunning sacrifice. He
voluntarily gave up his Meals on Wheels service.

"I just couldn't bear the thought of me having something to
eat and maybe somebody else needing it," he says.
Though confident in his decision, he misses the hot meals
and visits from delivery volunteers. He now relies on a pile
of canned food and hopes for an occasional ride to the
grocery store from his isolated apartment complex. [1]

William is just one example of the many ways vulnerable
people across the country have been hurt by the federal
budget cuts known as “sequestration.” Will you join with
other faith leaders in asking Congress to end the
economic brinksmanship and responsibly address
sequestration?

While the quiet sacrifices of people like William receive
little or no attention, Congress quickly responded to the
outcry from those affected by flight delays, altering the
cuts that had been made to the Federal Aviation
Administration. Our leaders listened to those with the
money to travel, but have ignored the voices of those
who are losing the assistance offered by vital programs
like Meals on Wheels.

A federal budget that prioritizes the wealthy while
ignoring the poor has the moral calculus all wrong.
Please urge Congress to prioritize our sisters and
brothers who are sacrificing and struggling to get by.

Faith leaders offer a moral voice on public policy issues
that is often missing in Washington. William’s story
reminds us that budgets are moral documents that have
real consequences. Thanks for joining with us to make
sure that as leaders in Congress fly around the country,
they don’t forget people like William.

Please go to:

https://secure3.convio.net/sojo/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&cmd=display&page=ActionAlertTakenPage&id=629

In faith,
Tim, Beau, Janelle, and the rest of the Sojourners team

[1] “Meals On Wheels Sequestration Cuts Taking Effect.”
The Huffington Post.

Scripture:
"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with
good." - Romans 12:21

Reflection:

There are two simple truths that I believe I should live
by. One is that I can, and should, overcome evil with
good. And the other truth is that my faith can get me
through anything I need to overcome. So if I have faith
good things will happen!

I think it's interesting that people have such different
reactions to the word "evil". To many people the word
evil is rather archaic and it conjures up all kinds of
definitions. Some people believe that evil is too
subjective to talk about, what evil is for one person is
not evil to another. Some people just think it's a silly
word and therefore they don't want to deal with it.

I'm kind of a bottom line person and to me there is a
bottom line here, and that is when you strip it all down
and get beyond all the various definitions, there is evil
 in this world and in our lives. You see I think evil thrives
when we do not care about other people. I think evil
flourishes when we put our faith and trust in the world
and not in God. I think that evil gains strength when we
don't care, the favorite byproduct of evil is apathy.
Evil surrounds me every day it is constantly trying to
gain power over me.

Where does all this evil come from, I believe evil comes
from Satan. There I said it, I can hear it now, "is this guy
an idiot he actually believes in the devil". "This man is
supposed to be an educated person, he is supposed to
be fairly bright, and he's telling me he believes in this
mystical being called Satan". "Next he'll be telling me the
devil made him do it". Well I do believe in Satan I believe
he is alive and well and he is constantly at work in our world.
I believe that I look at the power of evil a little differently
than most people. I really do believe that the strongest
weapon of Satan is apathy which gives power to evil.
The more apathetic, the more people don't care, the
stronger evil gets. I think it's evil to be apathetic, I think
it's evil not to care.

Just as there's evil in the world, there is goodness.
And I earnestly believe with all my heart that true
goodness comes from God. Satan is evil, God is good,
that's my bottom line. My faith comes from God! My
caring and service to others comes from my faith in
Jesus Christ. When I have this faith "absolutely",
good things happen.

HAVE FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST, CARE FOR OTHERS,
AND GOOD THINGS HAPPEN!