Christian Reflection and Prayer

 

 

THE PRAYER:

 

Dear Lord, "Oh, blest the house, whate'er befall, where
Jesus Christ is all in all! Yea, if He were not dwelling
there, how dark and poor and void it were! Oh, blest
that house where faith ye find, and all within have set
their mind, to trust their God and serve Him still, and
do in all His holy will! Oh, blest the parents who give
heed unto their children's foremost need, and weary
not of care or cost! May none to them and heaven be
lost! Blest such a house, it prospers well. In peace
and joy the parents dwell, and in their children's lot is
shown how richly God can bless His own. Then here
will I and mine today a solemn covenant make and
say: Though all the world forsake Thy Word, I and
my house will serve the Lord!"  In Jesus' Name may
it be so. Amen.

 

(The Lutheran Hymnal, pg. 625).

Wandering dejectedly in The Garden of Eden, Eve
told God, “I’m lonely I’m tired of eating apples by
myself.”

 

“Okay,” God said, “I’ll create a man for you.”

 

Eve said, “A man! What’s that?” “He’s a creature
with aggressive tendencies and an enormous ego.
He won’t listen very well, he’ll get lost easily, but
never stop to ask for directions. However, he is
big and strong, he can open jars and hunt animals.
And he’ll be fun in bed.”

 

“Sounds great!” said Eve.

 

“Oh, and one more thing,” God said. “He will want
to believe that I made HIM first.”

Scripture:

 

Isaiah 10:1-4
Woe to those who make unjust laws,
    to those who issue oppressive decrees,
2
to deprive the poor of their rights
    and withhold justice from the oppressed of
my people,making widows their prey
    and robbing the fatherless.
3
What will you do on the day of reckoning,
    when disaster comes from afar?
To whom will you run for help?
    Where will you leave your riches?
4
Nothing will remain but to cringe among the
captives or fall among the slain.

 

Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away,
    his hand is still upraised.(NIV)

 

Reflection:

 

How often do I turn on the news and see people who are
suffering because of unjust government officials, merciless
warlords, terrifying gangs, and corrupt companies?  But in
a time of 200-plus cable stations, I can easily change the
channel and block out the pain of others to search of my
entertainment. After all, what can I really do about any of
that anyway?
     In our text today, Isaiah offers a stinging indictment of
those who abuse the poor, hold back justice,and persecute
the marginalized (v.2).  For them a day of reckoning is
coming.  Their suffering has not gone unnoticed, for a King
is coming and there will be no hiding (v.3).  God did not
forget them, and he stirred Isaiah's heart to remember them
and cry out on their behalf (v.4)

 

Prayer:

 

Dear Lord, forgive us where we forget the suffering of others.
Stir us to cry our for your Justice in this world, for your
kingdom to reign, heal and save.  Amen

 

(Covenant Home Alter author, Quaime Lee)