Christian Reflection and Prayer

Scripture:

34Jesus said, "Father, forgive them,
for they do not know what they are
doing."[a] And they divided up his
clothes by casting lots.
Luke 23:34 (New International Version)


Reflection:

You know forgiveness is really, really,
hard.  As a matter of fact forgiveness
is impossible.  When we are on our
own, when we are what we term
"Being Human", when we continue
to do "what comes naturally", we
will dream of paying back those who
have hurt us. But with the power of
the Holy Spirit, with the empowering
Spirit of Jesus Christ, we can follow
His example.  When on the cross,
not only did our Savior forgive the
whole world but also forgave the
people who were killing Him. 
FORGIVENESS IS AN ACT OF GOD.
If Jesus Christ lives in you, YOU CAN
FORGIVE, AND YOU MUST FORGIVE!

Prayer

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

Begin by standing on a comfortable surface, where you have plenty of room at
each side.

With a 5-lb potato bag in each hand, extend your arms straight out from your
sides and hold them there as long as you can. Try to reach a full minute, and
then relax.

Each day you'll find that you can hold this position for just a bit longer.
After a couple of weeks, move up to 10-lb potato bags.

Then try 50-lb potato bags and then eventually try to get to where you can lift
a 100-lb potato bag in each hand and hold your arms straight for more than a
full minute. (I'm at this level.)

After you feel confident at that level, put a potato in each bag.

I would never trade my amazing friends,
my  wonderful life, my loving family for
less gray hair or a flatter belly.  As I've
aged, I've become kinder to myself, and
less critical of  myself. I've become my
own friend.. I don't chide myself for eating 
that extra cookie, or for not making my
bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko
that I didn't need, but  looks so avante
garde on my patio. I am entitled to a treat,
to be  messy, to be extravagant.

I have seen too many dear friends leave
this world too soon; before  they understood
the great freedom that comes with aging.

Whose business is it if I choose to read
or play on the computer  until 4 AM and
sleep until noon? I will dance with myself
to those wonderful tunes of the 60 &70's,
and if I, at the same time, wish  to weep
over a lost love ... I will.

I will walk the beach in a swim suit that
is stretched over a bulging body, and will
dive into the waves with  abandon if I
choose to, despite the pitying glances
from the jet set.

They, too, will get old.

I know I am sometimes forgetful.  But
there again, some of life is just as well
forgotten. And I  eventually remember
the important things.

Sure, over the years my heart has been
broken. How can your heart not  break
when you lose a loved one, or when a child
suffers, or even when somebody's beloved
pet gets hit by a car? But broken  hearts
are what give us strength and understanding
and compassion. A heart never broken is
pristine and sterile and will  never know the
joy of being imperfect.

I am so blessed to have lived long enough
to have  my hair turning gray, and to have
my youthful laughs be forever etched into
deep grooves on my face.

So many have never laughed, and so many
have died before their hair could turn silver.

As you get older, it is easier to be positive.
You care less about  what other people think.
I don't question myself anymore..
I've even earned the right to be wrong.

I like being old. It has set me free. I  like the
person I have become. I am not going to live
forever, but while I am still here, I will not
waste time lamenting what could  have been,
or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat
dessert  every single day(if I feel like it).

AS I HAVE AGED