Christian Reflection and Prayer

Scripture:

14As he walked along, he saw Levi
son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax
collector's booth. "Follow me," Jesus
told him, and Levi got up and followed him.

15While Jesus was having dinner
at Levi's house, many tax collectors
and "sinners" were eating with him
and his disciples, for there were many
who followed him. 16When the teachers
of the law who were Pharisees saw him
eating with the "sinners" and tax collectors,
they asked his disciples: "Why does he eat
with tax collectors and 'sinners'?"

17On hearing this, Jesus said to them,
"It is not the healthy who need a doctor,
but the sick. I have not come to call the
righteous, but sinners."
Mark 2:14-17 (New International Version)

Reflection:

Boy what an account for us to read.  It speaks directly
to each one of us. 
Here we see Christ having contact with a person who
was considered to be the lowest of lows, a tax collector.
Can you even imagine the "King of Kings" associating
with such an individual.  
What does that tell you and I when the one we choose to
follow in our life, the one who is our mentor, the one who
gave us life, chooses to connect with the lowly? 
It tells us that Jesus Christ does not worry about what we
have done in the past, that all is forgiven. He just wants
us to follow Him.  Levi (Matthew) became one of His
apostles.  He had a very sad and sinful past.  He robbed
from others, he cheated others.  But Jesus wanted him
anyway, because Christ had faith in him.
Matthew went on to tell many people about this man
called Jesus who had such faith in him, Matthew the
lowest of low. 
IF JESUS CHRIST CAN HAVE FAITH IN MATTHEW,
HE CAN HAVE FAITH IN YOU!
CHRIST LOVES YOU MY FRIENDS, JUST FOLLOW
HIM.

This is very up lifiting!  It blessed me.
I am sure you, to will be blessed.

A member of a certain church, who previously
had been attending services regularly, stopped
going.  After a few weeks, the pastor decided
to visit him.

It was a chilly evening.  The pastor found the
man at home alone, sitting before a blazing
fire.  Guessing the reason for his pastor's visit,
the man welcomed him, led him to comfortable
chair near the fireplace and waited.

The pastor made himself at home but said
nothing.  In the grave silence, he contemplated
the dance of the flames around the burning logs.
After some minutes, the pastor took the fire
tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning
ember and placed it to one side of the hearth
all alone then he sat back in his chair, still silent.

The host watched all this in quiet contemplation.
As the one lone ember's flame flickered and
diminished, there was a momentary glow and
its fire was no more.  Soon it was cold and dead.

Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting.
The pastor glanced at his watch and realized it was time
to leave.  He slowly stood up, picked up the cold, dead
ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. 
Immediately it began to glow, once more with the light
and warmth of the burning coals around it.

As the pastor reached the door to leave, his host said
with a tear running down his cheek, 'Thank you so
much for your visit and especially for the firey sermon.
I will be back in church next Sunday'.

We live in a world today, which tries to say to much
with too little.  Consequently, few listen.  Sometimes
the best sermons are the ones left unspoken.

The Lord is my Shepherd---------that's a Relationship!
I shall not want---------that's Supply!
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures---that's Rest
He leadeth me beside the still waters----that's Refreshment!
He restoreth my soul----------that's Healing!
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness---that's Guidance!
For His name sake--------that's Purpose!
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death---that's Testing!
I will fear no evil---------that's Protection!
For Thou are with me--------that's Faithfulness!
Thy rod and Thy staff comfort me--------that's Discipline!
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies----That's Hope!
Thou annointest my head with oil-------that's Consecration!
My cup runneth over-------that's Abundance!
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life---that's Blessing!
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord-----that's Security!
Forever----------that's Eternity!

FACE IT, GOD IS CRAZY ABOUT YOU!

Three Men on a Hike

Three men were hiking through a forest
when they came upon a large raging,
violent river. Needing to get to the
other side, The first man prayed:

'God, please give me the strength to
cross the river.'

Poof! .. God gave him big arms and strong legs
And he was able to swim
Across in about 2 hours, having almost drowned twice.

After witnessing that, the second man prayed:
'God, please give me
Strength and the tools to cross the river'

Poof! .. God gave him a rowboat and strong arms
And strong legs and he
Was able to row across in about an hour
After almost capsizing once.

Seeing what happened to the first two men,
The third man prayed:
'God,please give me the strength,
The tools and the intelligence
To cross the river'

Poof! .. He was turned into a woman.
She checked the map,
Hiked one Hundred yards up stream
And walked across the bridge.

'If at first you don't succeed, do it the way your wife told you!'

AMEN