Christian Reflection and Prayer

It seemed good to me … to write an orderly account for
you … that you may have certainty concerning the things
you have been taught (see Luke 1:3-4).

 

Are you dreaming of a white Christmas this year? I always
did. I’d hope and pray, but most years I’d look out the
window and only see the same old, brown grass and bare
trees. Sometimes we feel that same disappointment in our
Christmases. We get our hopes up; we make all our
preparations, but then we feel disappointed when the day
rolls around.

 

Maybe our problem is building our Christmas excitement
on uncertain things—a white Christmas, the perfect presents,
everyone getting along at Christmas time. Luke had
something different in mind when he wrote about the first
Christmas. 

 

Luke wasn’t your typical writer in the Bible though.
Unlike Matthew he wasn’t one of Jesus’ 12 disciples; he
never met Jesus face-to-face. He wasn’t even Jewish; he
was a Gentile physician from Antioch in Syria. He joined
Paul in his later missionary journeys. In Acts 16 notice
Luke’s commentary changes from “they went” in verse
six to “we went” in verse 11.

 

To write his Gospel and the earlier chapters of the book of
Acts, Luke gathered his information from interviews he had
with people who saw and heard Jesus, people who lived with
Him, ate and drank with Him. Being an educated man, Luke
didn’t get swept away by the ramblings of dreamy-eyed
followers of Jesus. He made sure to ask for historical
details and evidence from his witnesses—including Jesus’
mother Mary.

 

THE PRAYER:

 

Almighty God, I want to learn more about that first Christmas.
Thank You for leaving us a record in the words of Jesus’
own mother Mary. Help me learn why Jesus was born and
why that matters for my life now. I pray in Jesus’ Name.
Amen.

 

(Advent Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries)

Sarah lived to be a hundred and twenty-seven years
old. — Genesis 23:1

 

I was once in the home of a woman who is an art
professor in New York City. I couldn’t help but notice
a very unusual piece among her drawings and
paintings. The “work of art” was a single cigarette butt,
mounted onto a piece of black velvet, enclosed in a
beautiful golden frame. When I asked the woman what
inspired the art piece, she chuckled and explained
that she made it in order to teach her students about
the value of a frame. Anything can become beautiful –
even an ugly cigarette butt – when placed in the right
surroundings.

 

What the art professor said is true about art, and it is
also true about life. How we judge the content of our
life is determined by how we frame it. Do we view our
lives in the context of how much we grow? Or do we
see it in terms of how much we gain? The context we
give our lives will determine how we see its contents.

Try this: Reframe your life. Try to see everything that
has happened so far and everything that you hope for
the future in terms of how much you have learned and
how much you will continue to grow.

When you start with a beautiful frame, your life will be
the masterpiece!

 

With prayers for shalom, peace,

Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein

I am thankful for God's
Grace.  The Lord has been so good to me. As I
participate in Thanksgiving there is something I
want to keep in mind.

 

I must remember, especially today, that there are
over 492 billionaires living in this country.  There are over
16 million children living in poverty.  THAT IS NOT RIGHT!
No matter what your faith is, no matter what your
politics are, even if you don't have any faith, even
if you don't claim any politics, THAT IS NOT RIGHT!

This Thanksgiving Day let me remember that there
are over 16 million children who have nothing to be
thankful for, that's right nothing.  Tomorrow as
I sit in front of a wonderful meal, with the family I
Love, let me ask myself "What am I going to do
about all those children"?

 

WHAT ARE YOU AND I GOING TO DO!!!!!

 

PUT YOUR FAITH INTO ACTION!!!!!!!!!

 

MAKE YOUR THANKSGIVING COUNT DO WHAT'S
RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!