Christian Reflection and Prayer

Gracious Lord, heavenly Father, on this day the
minds of men are turned in memory to those who
have laid down their lives in defense of our country.
We indeed owe a debt of gratitude to them who
gave their all that we as a nation may continue
our way of life.. Grant that we worthily carry on
where they have left off that our country may
enjoy for generation to come peace and
freedom. May we honor them by bringing the
tribute of a ready heart, an obedient life, a
worthy citizenship, to our country. Guide the
counsels of government. Strengthen the bonds
of true loyalty. Let the ideals of liberty and
peace prevail. Above all, grant that we, Thy
children by faith in Christ, find a field of service
in which we, as a salt and leaven, uphold
righteousness, order, and peace, In Jesus'
name I ask it. Amen!
(Taken from Lutheran Book of Prayer)

At the Outbreak of War

O lord God Almighty, who from Thy throne dost
behold all the nations of the earth, look down with
pity upon our country and those nations who are
now at war. I confess that, because of our sins,
we have deserved Thy chastening; and I pray
Thy forgiveness through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
I entreat Thee, O God of our salvation, make
war to cease, and give peace in our time, that
we and all Thy children everywhere may serve
Thee with a quiet mind, through Christ Jesus,
our Lord. Grant, heavenly Father, that hourly
the nation's leaders strive to bring bloodshed
to a conclusion. Hold Thy hand over women
and children. Check the hatred and cruelty
of mankind. Direct the counsels of neighbor
nations to overtures of peace. Instill in us all
a horror of war and grant us a mighty spirit
of prayer to intercede with Thee against all
bloodshed and destruction. O lord, Thou art
Master of the world, put an end to these
horrors. Bring peace to the people of the
earth, and use us to that end. I ask it for
Jesus' sake. Amen
(Taken from Lutheran Book of Prayer)

AMEN..................AMEN!

Quote:
"I think that people want peace so much that
one of these days government had better
get out of their way and let them have it."
(Dwight D. Eisenhower)

Scripture:

"But I say to you, do not resist him who is
evil: but whoever slaps you on your right
cheek, turn to him the other also"
(Matthew 5:39)

"Jesus said: Ye have heard, it was said of
old, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
But I say unto you RESIST NOT EVIL. But
if one smites thee on the right cheek, turn
him the other also; and if one will go to law
thee to take thy coat from thee, give him thy
cloak also." (Matthew 5:38-40 KJV)

Reflection:

These two verses are my favorite two verses
in the whole of Scriptures. They are also
the most difficult to live by. Turning the other
cheek is very, very, hard to do. Your not only to
turn the other cheek, your supposed to give him
the other one. Give....Me....A....Break! Who in
the world can do that? Well apparently we can.
I think we need to remember a few things here.
Evil will win some battles, but it will not win the
war. You know why? Because our faith in
Jesus Christ tells us not to resist evil but to
be better than evil.Thats right! EVIL CANNOT
SURVIVE GOD;S GOODNESS. and God's
goodness is in us. Also remember that when
you violently resist evil, often you become like
evil. Evil often time lies in the violence. Goodness
cannot become evil, then evil does win. I know
how hard it is, but we must keep turning the other
cheek. The more we turn the other cheek, the
more God's goodness shines. Do me a favor will
you? The next time we hear rumors of a war, let's
remember these two verses. And let's remember
one more thing, Jesus tells us to take care of
the logs in our own eyes before we look for the
specks in others.

Prayer:

Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.
Where there is hatred . . . let me sow love
Where there is injury . . . pardon
Where there is doubt . . . faith
Where there is despair . . . hope
Where there is darkness . . . light
Where there is sadness . . . joy
O, Divine Master,
Grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled . . . as to console
To be understood . . . as to understand,
To be loved . . . as to love
For it is in giving . . . that we receive,
It is in pardoning, that we are pardoned,
It is in dying . . . that we are born to eternal life.

Scripture:

" As we know Jesus better, His divine power gives us
everything we need for living a godly life. He has called us
to receive His own glory and goodness! And by that same
mighty power, He has given us all of His rich and wonderful
promises. He has promised that you will escape the
decadence all around you caused by evil desires and that
you will share in His divine nature. NLT (II Peter 1:3,4)

Reflection:

What a powerful statement this is. God has called us to
receive His own glory and goodness. Man what a gift.
You know I look around me and I see some unbelievably
terrible things. "This world is going to hell in a hand basket".
Armed with His glory and goodness, I don't have to be a part
of all the sin that surrounds me. I can fight that sin, it does
not have to overpower me. You see because of God I am an
individual, I am not a part of that sin. Thats a great feeling,
I don't have to judge others, I can be me, because of God's
glory and goodness. I am good because God is good. An
unfortunately, in the world today, that makes me different.
I am different, I love to be different, I want to be different,
because of God I live in that difference. God thank You
for that difference, I look forward to sharing with You in Your
divine nature.

Prayer:

Thank you God for making me different!