Christian Reflection and Prayer

Scripture:

"Today a Savior has been born to you;
He is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:11).

At Christmas time, a school teacher in England
supervised the construction of a manger scene
in a corner of the classroom. It delighted her
pupils to set up the model barn and cover the
floor with real straw and then arrange the clay
figures of Mary and Joseph and the shepherds
and the Wise Men and the animals, all facing
a little crib in which a tiny doll represented the
Infant Jesus. One lad simply could not tear
himself away from it. He kept returning to it,
and each time stood there completely
engrossed and wearing a puzzled expression
on his face. The teacher noticed him and asked,
"Is anything bothering you? Do you have a
question to ask? What would you like to know?"
With his eyes still glued to the manger scene,
the boy said slowly, "What I'd like to know is,
where does God fit in?"

Reflection:

Are you asking that question? I know I am.
Where does God fit in all this? I look around
and I am amazed at what I see. I see Christmas
starting in October, I am saddened by Xmas.
Christ has been eliminated from His own birthday.
There is very little celebration, only sellabration.
We are expected to buy, buy, and buy some
more. I don't want to be cynical only happy.
Where does Jesus Christ fit in all of this.
Well if you got just a minute I like to tell you
where I think Christ fits in all this. First I
would remind myself and you that we are
celebrating "A Savior has been born to us,
He is Christ the Lord". That's right Almighty
God became one of us, in all His perfection
He was still one of us. He didn't come here to
rule, He didn't come here to conquer. He came
on this earth to serve, to sacrifice, and to save.
He served us through His teachings of love and
peace, His miracles, and all His deeds. He came
here to sacrifice, as matter of fact He gave the
ultimate sacrifice, He died on the cross for you
and me. Through His service and sacrifice, He was
resurrected and is alive, and through the Holy
Spirit He is with us now. He is here for me and He
is here for you. You see Christ doesn't fit in,
He is in, He is right here. He is in my mind,
He is in my heart and He is in my soul. That's
what I'm celebrating, the birth of all of this,
and much much more is still to come. IS JESUS
CHRIST IN YOU LIFE?

Prayer:

Thank you God for Your Son Jesus Christ.
Thank your service, thank You for Your
sacrifice, thank You for Your salvation.
I LOVE YOU GOD!

Scripture:

And she brought
forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling
clothes, and laid him in a manger; (Luke 2: 7a) KJV

Reflection:

Stop and think for a minute, what was
in store for Christ when He became man
and was born on Christmas Day.
First, being born in not the greatest of
surroundings and conditions. The knowledge
of being a king and treated as a lowly
servant. Ridiculed in His Father's house
of worship. Seen by many, not as a
miracle worker but as a worker of evil.
Ridiculed and denigrated in almost
every town He visited. Constantly being
called upon to defend His beliefs. Put
down by current rulers as an enemy of
the state and a traitor. Put down by
church leaders as an enemy of the faith.
Being forced to always be on the move.
Never having the means to make a living.
Constantly living with death threats. On
"Good Friday," Jesus was a swollen,
bloody mess. Most of his friends had
hightailed it hours before, leaving him
alone to face the physical agony of crucifixion,
the emotional anguish of a jeering crowd,
and the spiritual horror of separation from God the Father.

Christ was born into all of this yet look how He
responded: On the way to his execution,
he paused to console a group of
grief-stricken women. He used what little
breath he was able to catch to pray for those
who were so merciless to him. He demonstrated
compassion and forgiveness to a criminal dying
at his side. And he took pains, literally, to see
that his grief-stricken mother below him would
be cared for by a friend.

Christ had the ultimate
"tough time," in life Yet He oozed kindness and goodness.
And because his Spirit lives in us, we also have the
capacity to take our lives, often filled with
tragedy, as an opportunity to care for others.

Prayer:

Cause your kindness and goodness to flow
through me, Lord. It is not natural for me to
think of others or to think of glorifying you,
especially when my own life is filled with pain.
Teach me to live supernaturally. I want to be
selfless like you, Jesus, always looking for
opportunities to bless others.

SECOND WEEK OF ADVENT

Scripture:

Luke 21:25-36 (New International Version)

25"There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars.
On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity
at the roaring and tossing of the sea. 26Men will
faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming
on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken.
27At that time they will see the Son of Man coming
in a cloud with power and great glory. 28When these
things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your
heads, because your redemption is drawing near."
29He told them this parable: "Look at the fig tree
and all the trees. 30When they sprout leaves,
you can see for yourselves and know that summer
is near. 31Even so, when you see these things
happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.
32"I tell you the truth, this generation[a] will certainly
not pass away until all these things have happened.
33Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words
will never pass away. 34"Be careful, or your hearts
will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness
and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on
you unexpectedly like a trap. 35For it will come
upon all those who live on the face of the whole
earth. 36Be always on the watch, and pray that
you may be able to escape all that is about to
happen, and that you may be able to stand
before the Son of Man."

Reflections:

In this Scripture passage, Christ cautions us
not to become to safe or to secure because
at His 2nd coming we cannot be unaware.
We have to stay alert and prepared.
Christ also comforts us so that we will not
be afraid of the signs which will come to
this world prior to judgment day. We need
to rejoice that our redemption is drawing
near.
There are 2 things that we need to learn.
Be strong in our faith, and be prepared and
comforted in our anticipation of His coming.
We are surrounded by the world's problems,
and we need to be on guard of those who
follow blindly along. God's wrath will
suddenly come. But we can rejoice and
wait for the Lord, Who will come in the
clouds with His angels and deliver us from
all this world's misery. This is the message
Christ leaves us today. Rejoice and be
faithful in it.

Prayer

God grant me Your grace so that I can
be prepared and comforted in Your message.
I am waiting for You Lord my heart is filled
with joy.