Christian Reflection and Prayer

Scripture:

"Anyone who listens to my teachings and obeys me
is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid
rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the flood
waters rise and the winds beat against that house,
it won't collapses because it is built on a rock. But
anyone who hears my teaching and ignores it is
foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand.
When the rain floods come and the winds beat
against the house, it will fall with a mighty crash."
(Matthew 7:24-27) NLT

Reflection:

You know everytime I hear the expression
"Solid as a Rock", I think of these four verses in
chapter 7 of Matthew. I was looking at this
verse this past week, thinking about Christ's
teachings and how important it is to me not
only to listen to his teachings but obey them.
So many of Christ's specific teachings are
centered around four very important themes,
Faith,Love, Peace, and Service to God and to Man.
If you focus your life on these four themes, you will
hear and obey His teachings. I would like you to
try something for me and specifically for you. This
week when you wake up in the morning, pray and
think about these themes and how you will incorperate
them in your life that day. How are you going to draw
upon your faith and show your faith to others. Try
loving that person, that is so very hard for you to even like
let alone love. Who knows you might get up enough
courage to tell them you love them. How are you going
to remain at peace when all else is in turmoil. And finally
see if you can think of something specific you can do to
serve someone else. It doesn't have to be anything big,
just do some small thing to help someone else. Guess
what, I just defined "Christian". That's what it means to
be a follower of Jesus Christ. No arguments, no gossip,
no attitude, no anger, no apathy, Just Plain Love. Please
try it, I think you'll like it. That's where my house is, right
there built on solid rock, JESUS CHRIST!

Prayer:

CHRIST THE SOLID ROCK I STAND ALL OTHER IS
SINKING SAND, ALL OTHER NOW IS SINKING SAND!
Thank you God for that solid rock foundation. In Jesus
Name Amen!

Quote:

Emily Greene Balch
Leader of The Women's International League for Peace and Freedom,
Recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize (1867-1961)

"We have a long way to go. So let us hasten along the road,
the road of human tenderness and generosity. Groping,
we may find one another's hands in the dark."

Scripture:

"Produce fruit in keeping with repentance"...."What
should we do then? the crowd asked John."
(Luke 3: 8, 10)

Reflection:

The verse today is what I call a "thinker verse".
It really makes me think. I find myself often
asking for God's forgiveness and repenting
my sins to my Lord. But I've learned something,
these many years of being a Christian, God wants
some proof of my repentance. Like they say,
"It is far easier to say than to do." Mark 1:15
tells us, "Repent and believe the Good News".
It seems to me repentance means changing
your mind about sin......seeing it as God sees
it.....and turning from it, (the proof). A
"straight" life is evidence of a mind and heart
"straightened out" about sin. Anything less
than that is not what Jesus or John preached.
You know really when it comes right down to it
righteousness is really proof of true rependance.
If that is true I would like to ask you this question:
If you had to convince a jury that you were serious
about repentance, would there be enough evidence
in your life to do it? Please think about will you?

Prayer:

Lord, let me keep in my heart and mind that
true repentance produces fruit.THANK YOU GOD
FOR BEING MY GOD!

St. Catherine of Siena
Political and Religious Peacemaker
(1347-1380)

"In mercy you have seen fit today to show me,
poor as I am, how we can in no way pass judgment
on other people's intentions. Indeed, by sending
people in an endless variety of paths, you give
an example for myself, and for this I thank you."

Scripture:

"This then is how you pray: Our Father Who art in Heaven."
(Matthew 6:9) (Lords Prayer)

Reflection:

Do you pray a lot? I really hope so, believe me it helps.
I often pray and I always begin my prayers with the Lord's
Prayer. Mainly because this is how He taught us to pray.
I keep the following in mind when I pray, I use the Lord's
Prayer as my guide and example:

1- The OBJECT of my prayer (Our Father in Heaven)
My Father God is always the object of my prayer,
no one else.

2- The PRIVILEGE of my prayer (Hallowed be Your
Name). It is my privilege to be talking with my
God.

3- The POWER of my prayer (Your Kingdom come)
There is no greater power than God's Kingdom.

4- The PROVISION of my prayer (Give us this day
our daily bread) My God does provide.

5- The PROJECT of my prayer ( Deliver us from evil)
My God is there for me always to deliver me from
the evil one.

I really attempt to keep these things in mine when
I pray. They help me to remember that God is there
for me, loving and caring for me. You see prayer, to
me, is not only an act of communication with God,
it is an act of worship. Now there is only one thing
left to do, PRAY.

Our Father Who art in heaven
Hallowed be Thy name.
Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven,
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our sins as we forgive those who
sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from
evil
For thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the
Glory forever and ever. Amen

AND THEY ALL SAID AMEN, AMEN