Christian Reflection and Prayer

Scripture:

"The Lord has heard my supplication: the Lord accepts
my prayer. (Psalm 6:9)

Reflection:

Do you pray?  I mean do you talk with God?  It's an honest
question isn't it?  First there has to be a premise here that
you believe in God.  For this reflections sake I am assuming
that you do.  

Then again I'm asking you this question, Do you pray?  It's
not difficult to answer, either you do or you don't. If you do
talk with God, Do you think that God accepts what you have
to say. Do you really think He cares?

Now I know that your not going to be surprised at what I'm
about to say, but I really and truly believe that God really
cares about our prayers. Out of all His creation and all the
billions of people on this earth, GOD LISTENS TO ME AND
HE LISTENS TO YOU! Now my more cynical friends would
ask me to prove it.  Well to be really honest I can't.  But
there's something I know, something I feel, something
that is within me, it's called "Faith". I can't explain it and I
can't see it, but I know my faith is there.  And through my
faith I know God hears and accepts what I have to say to
Him. And yes God answers me, no He does not whisper in
my ear, or appear before me in the darkness of night. But
I know He answers my prayers. You know how I know,
because whatever my conversation with God is, it comes
out in my life. Whether it is request, a word of praise and
thanksgiving, or a concern for someone else, it always
becomes apparant in my life. It always makes my life
better and so much happier even when it's not what I
thought I wanted for my life. It's what God wants, and
that's what makes my life better.  And when I don't pray,
when I try to do things on my own without talking with
God, my life is miserable.

So I guess I'm one of those "cornball" Christians that
believe that God hears and He anwsers prayer. But I'm a
happy "cornball" Christian.  How about you?

Prayer:

Thanks God for the conversation, I love You! Amen

“What I feared has come upon me;
     what I dreaded has happened to me.” — Job 3:25

I once read about an interesting phenomenon. A certain
kind of bird dwells on high trees, and there is a particular
kind of snake that feeds on these birds. How does the
lowly snake catch the bird? It makes a sound, and when
the bird looks, it bares its fangs in a show of rage. The
bird gets so frightened that instead of flying away, it
freezes and falls over like a stone directly into the
snake’s mouth.

This is the danger of fear. I want to encourage us all to
rise above fear and choose faith instead. Faith is the set
of wings that can get us out of any dangerous situation.
Let us not waste our days in empty worry but instead trust
God for safety and prosperity.

With prayers for shalom, peace,
Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein

Scripture:

"Love your enemies! Do good to them! Lend to them! And
don't be concerned that they might not repay. Then your
reward from heaven will be great, and will truly be acting
as children of the Most High, for he is kind to the
unthankful and to those who are wicked! You must be
compassionate, just as the Father is compassionate."
(Luke 6: 35-36 NLT)

Reflection:

Our enemies are definitely out to hurt us.  They want to steal
from us, cheat us, murder us, and do all kinds of evil against us.
Yet Jesus says we are to be kind to them. Tell me whats the point?

One important thing that I have discovered in reading the Word is
that "God is kind" even to the unkind, the ungrateful, the lowest
of low, and those whom we consider to be "hopeless" cases. We
need to remember that kindness is based on the love we have for
others, not the love others deserve.

Believe me I know this sounds unrealistic, a little crazy, some say
"Utopian". Especially during this time of terrorism and murder,
and evilness.  I think it's important to remember that kindness is
the sign of a loving heart, one of the greatest of all virtues. God is
our model for kindness. The kindess act ever committed was
God's sending His own Son, Jesus to die for our sins so that we
might live forever in heaven.  I think this is a good time to
remember that God showers us with kindness each day, sending
sunshine and rain, food and friends, comfort and encouragement,
boundless love and wisdom.

This is not a solution that I present to all the evil that is in this
world. I'm not quit that unrealistic. It is simply a reminder that
there is good in this world, and that good is the result of kindest.
GODS KINDNESS TO MAN AND MAN'S KINDNESS TO EACH OTHER

Prayer:

Lord I pray for a loving heart and that I be a kind person pleasant,
good and gracious. I thank you for your ultimate act of kindness
sending Your Son Jesus to die for our sins.
In Your Holy and Blessed Name Amen