Christian Reflection and Prayer

Scripture:

The LORD is just! He is my rock!
There is nothing but goodness in him!
(Psalm 92:15)

Reflection:

You know there are a lot people,
right now, that are going through
a lot of pain.  You might be one of
them. I don't know about you, but
I'm in the midst of a difficult
situation right now in my life.  If I may,
there is something that I would like
to pass along to you. I've
discovered that when I have my
doubts or fears, when I am feeling
completely surrounded with problems,
there is one thing that I must remember.
GOD IS FILLED WITH GOODNESS. It's
hard to explain, but I do know that if I
open my heart and I take this heartache
to God, He will fill me with His goodness.
He does that with me, and I know that He
will do that with you. I can't explain it,
I just feel His goodness.  Please open your
heart to God and He will fill YOU with His
goodness.  

Prayer:

Oh Lord I'm having some real problems
right now, It's really getting to me God.
Lord You are my rock, fill me with Your
goodness, right now in my life.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.
Psalm 136:1 NLT

The unforgettable responsive reading

It was midnight on Thursday, February 8, A.D. 356, and Athanasius, a leader in the early Christian church and passionate defender of the deity of Jesus Christ, was leading a worship service. Suddenly loud shouts and clashing armor could be heard outside the church. Soldiers had come to arrest him.

But Athanasius said, "I didn't think it right, at such a time, to leave my people," so he continued the service. He asked a deacon to read Psalm 136 and then requested the congregation to respond with the refrain, "His faithful love endures forever," which they did twenty-six times over the din of the soldiers outside.

Just as the final verse was completed, the soldiers rushed into the church, brandishing their swords and spears and crowding forward up the nave toward Anthanasius. The people yelled for Athanasius to run, but he refused to go until he had given a benediction. Then some of his assistants gathered tightly around him, and, as he recounts it, "I passed through the crowd of people unseen and escaped, giving thanks to God that I had not betrayed my people, but had seen to their safety before I thought of my own."

Athanasius was portraying to his people God's love, which endures forever. He was willing to lay down his life for his flock—just as Jesus had laid down his life for his flock a few centuries earlier.

Since God's "faithful love endures forever," why is there ever any need to worry?

adapted from The One Year® Book of Psalms with devotionals by William J. Petersen and Randy Petersen (Tyndale) entry for November 8

Content is derived from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation and other publications of Tyndale Publishing House

Scripture:

"Your children shall be like
olive plants all around your
table."  (Psalm 128:3)

Reflection:

After helping to raise 4 teenagers,
things I have learned:

1.  Some teens follow life in a straight
line, while others zig-zag along life's
pathway.  It's absolutely best to "zig"
with them in love and courage.

2.  All teenagers need unconditional love
because they live in a conditional world.

3.  A love of God's Word is vital to
successfully transferring faith from one
generation to the next.

4.  Teens need to develop a relationship
with Christ that is based not on rules but
on a deep love of Jesus.

Here's where I need to ask a question;
Has God placed any young people in
your life.  If He has, if you are privileged
enough to have a young person in your life,
Remember this!   WHATEVER THEIR AGE
LOVE THEM UNCONDITIONALLY.  HELP
THEM TO LEARN GOD'S WORD.  SHOW
THEM HOW TO HAVE A DEEP LOVE FOR
JESUS.        AND BABY HOLD ON!!!!!!!!!!!

Please Keep in Mind:

Parents give your children guidance and
instruction from God's Word;  Then with
wisdom and compassion teach them how
to love the Lord.

Now ask yourself this question;
Do you now how to Love the Lord?