Christian Reflection and Prayer

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!!!!!!!!!!!!

The wicked band together against the righteous
     and condemn the innocent to death.
But the LORD has become my fortress,
     and my God the rock in whom I take refuge.
     — Psalm 94:21–22

 

It’s one thing to have faith when everything is
going well in our lives. Sure, things can change
on a dime, but who stays up at night worrying
about putting food on the table, when they have
a stable job? It’s another thing to have faith in
God when there is no money in the bank and
no bread in the basket. This psalm reminds us
that in even the most hopeless of situations,
we are not allowed to lose our faith in God. In
fact, it is our very faith that has the power to
turn around the worst situation and to bring
about the greatest miracles.

 

Let our faith be our fortress. When life rains
down all kinds of problems on us, when it
thunders and pours, let us take refuge in our
faith. We don’t need to know how God will take
care of us; we only need to believe that He can.

 

With prayers for shalom, peace,
Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein

(section taken from Holy Land Moments)