Christian Reflection and Prayer

Scripture:

"... Follow Me" (John 21:19).

Reflection:

There is the wonderful story of an elderly
woman in a nursing home who was faced
with a very hard choice. Being a rabid baseball fan,
she had been following the World Series then
in progress, and on Sunday morning she was
happy to learn that the deciding game would be
televised at three p.m. However, three p.m. also
was the time scheduled for Church Services, to
be conducted by an as yet unidentified clergyman
from a neighboring community. Consequently, the
elderly baseball fan was faced with an extremely
hard choice because she was a deeply religious
woman too. Finally, the moment of decision arrived.
"Are you going to attend Church Services or watch
the World Series game on T.V.?" she was asked.
"I haven't decided yet," she replied. "It all depends
on who's pitching and who's preaching."

"Follow Me!" the Risen Christ says to Peter.
In themselves, good resolutions and intentions
in the area of faith will not do us much good.
If we want to grow as individuals we need to
follow Jesus in acting out those good resolutions
and good intentions.

WHAT'S YOUR INTENTION?
WHO ARE YOU GOING TO FOLLOW?

I was shocked, confused, bewildered
As I entered Heaven's door,
Not by the beauty of it all,
Nor the lights or its decor.
But it was the folks in Heaven
Who made me sputter and gasp--
The thieves, the liars, the sinners,
The alcoholics and the trash.
There stood the kid from seventh grade
Who swiped my lunch money twice.
Next to him was my old neighbor
Who never said anything nice.
Herb, who I always thought
Was rotting away in hell,
Was sitting pretty on cloud nine,
Looking incredibly well..
I nudged Jesus, 'What's the deal?
I would love to hear Your take.
How'd all these sinners get up here?'
God surely must've made a mistake.
'And why is everyone so quiet,
So somber - give me a clue.'
'Hush, child,' He said, 'they're all in shock.
No one thought they'd be seeing you.'

JUDGE NOT!!!!

Remember....Just going to church
doesn't make you a
Christian any more than standing in
your garage makes you a car.
Every saint has a PAST...
Every sinner has a FUTURE!

Made you smile, didn't it?!!!

Scripture:

For the word of God is living and active,
sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing
to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints
and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts
and intentions of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12

Reflection:

SOME PEOPLE TREAT THE BIBLE AS AN
HORS D'OEUVRES TRAY

Many people pick and choose Bible passages
based on what suits their taste:
The Bible is not your authority as long as
you're picking and choosing what you accept.

SOME PEOPLE TREAT THE BIBLE LIKE
RENTAL CAR INSURANCE;

I would guess that most people waive the
extra rental car insurance.
The costs are plenty already.
A lot of people treat the Bible like that. In
an emergency I need the Bible,
but I doubt I'll have a crisis today, so I
think I'll pass.

SOME PEOPLE TREAT THE BIBLE
LIKE A SEAT BELT

Of course you wear a seatbelt-but only
because it's the law. And that crazy bell
won't quit ringing until you click it.
Some people treat the Bible like that.
Yeah, I read the Bible because it's the law.
And also because I can't get the guilt to
quit ringing in my ears if I don't. So to silence
the alarm, you spend a few minutes perusing
it every day.

Ask yourself, right now, What does the Bible
mean to Me?

PLEASE COME BACK TO THE PRIORITY
OF GOD'S WORD IN YOUR LIFE AND LET
IT BE YOUR AUTHORITY.