Christian Reflection and Prayer

Scripture:

"He has saved us and called us to a holy life -
not because of anything we have done but because
of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given
us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time..."
- 2 Timothy 1:9


 "Before I pray, I have to reject that prayer, which is
a statement of a philosophy that I don't adhere to. I
don't think God sends AIDS, hunger, or punishment.
I think that the glory of God is not found in AIDS, loss,
or disease, but the glory of God is found when empty
stomachs are filled! The glory of God is found when
AIDS is healed! The glory of God is found when
suffering ends! The glory of God shines brightest in
the darkness. When people suffer and find themselves
in places from which they think they cannot escape,
God shines brighter than all of the darkness."

In the midst of suffering, we can grow and be happy
and be filled with joy, for God is bigger than all things.
In the end, Jesus saves everything.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, when darkness is all around, when hope
has dimmed, you shine your light on my life, and I am
filled with joy. Amen.

Reflection: Describe the darkest time you have
experienced in your life. How did the Lord lift you out
of that darkness and into the light?

Bobby Schuller

(excerpts from Positive Minute from Hour of Power)

Scripture:
Psalm 8
O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!
    Your glory is higher than the heavens.
2 You have taught children and infants
    to tell of your strength,[b]
silencing your enemies
    and all who oppose you.
3 When I look at the night sky and see the work of your
fingers— the moon and the stars you set in place—
4 what are mere mortals that you should think about them,
    human beings that you should care for them?[c]
5 Yet you made them only a little lower than God[d]
    and crowned them[e] with glory and honor.
6 You gave them charge of everything you made,
    putting all things under their authority—
,    and all the wild animals,
8 the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea,
    and everything that swims the ocean currents.
9 O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!

Reflection:

I've got to tell you that I really love this Psalm. I think one
of the reasons that I am so impressed by this Psalm is that
this same God, this magnificent God, this all-powerful God,
this creative God, is the same God that we pray to every day.
It is the same God that I trust, it is the same God that
protects me every day. It is this same God through all
creation LOVES ME.

This same God whose very name fills all the earth cares
about us. That is what's so wonderful about our faith, that the
God who created the world loves us. You know I like that
question in verse four that askes what are mere mortals that
you should think about them? And then verse five answers that
question. It tells us that we are just a little bit lower than God
and he crowned us with glory and honor. Now here's the
important thing that God did for us. He put us in charge of
everything He made. In other words He loves us so much and
He loves His creation so much that He made us His caretakers
of His creation. I got ask the question, "How are we doing as
God's caretakers".

This is quite a Psalm isn't it. This is why I love it so much
because what it tells us is that this Majestic God loves us
so much that He trusted us to be His caretakers.
Can you believe it, that this is the same God that we pray to
and communicate with every day!

Prayer:

Almighty God, God of heaven and earth, thank you for loving
me so much, thank you for trusting me that you crowned me
with glory and honor and you trusted me with your creation.
Lord give me the strength to do a better job. Amen

Scripture:

15: ":But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you,
then choose for yourselves the day whom you will
serve, whether the gods you ancestors served
beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites,
in whose land you are living.  BUT AS FOR ME AND
MY HOUSEHOLD, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD."
(Joshua 24:15)

Reflection:

We must work to make our homes a place that, little
by little, can change the entire world for good. What
we share in our homes eventually makes its way out
into the world. The people who we love, shape, and
nurture in our homes go out to be the future parents
and leaders of the next generation.

Make your home a place where God’s Word is studied
and honored, a space where the culture is kindness.
Make your home warm, inviting, and comforting. Let
prayers be heard throughout our homes, day and night.
When we create homes that are filled with godliness
and goodness, eventually the world will be that way, too.