Christian Reflection and Prayer

by Rev. Greg Asimakoupoulos

Inauguration Day revealed
that campaign wounds may soon be healed
as hopes for the economy
inspire common goals.

While millions paused to take a look,
our brand new leader palmed a book
and swore that he would execute
his job with faithfulness.

And so we pledge to pray for him
as he preserves, protects, defends
a Constitution that in turn
defines what’s just and true.
__________________________________________

I urge you to pray that requests, prayers,
intercession and thanksgiving be made for
everyone—for kings and all those in authority,
that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in
all godliness and holiness. This is good, and
pleases God our Savior, who wants all men
to be saved and to come to a knowledge of
the truth.—The Bible, I Timothy 2:1-4 (NIV)

Love never fails. But where there are
prophecies, they will cease; where there
are tongues, they will be stilled; where
there is knowledge, it will pass away.
For we know in part and we prophesy
in part, but when perfection comes, the
imperfect disappears. When I was a
child, I talked like a child, I thought like
a child, I reasoned like a child. When I
became a man, I put childish ways behind me.
—The Bible, I Corinthians 13:8-11(NIV)

We remain a young nation, but in the words
of Scripture, the time has come to set aside
childish things. The time has come to reaffirm
our enduring spirit; to choose our better history;
to carry forward that precious gift, that noble
idea, passed on from generation to generation:
the God-given promise that all are equal, all
are free and all deserve a chance to pursue
their full measure of happiness...
—Barack Obama, January 20, 2009

PRESIDENTIAL QUOTE
FOR THE WEEK

"I have been driven many times upon my
knees by the overwhelming conviction that
I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom,
and that of all about me, seemed insufficient
for the day."
—Abraham Lincoln

“The Christian religion, then, is not an affair of
preaching, or prating, or ranting, but of taking
care of the bodies as well as the souls of people;
not an affair of belief and of faith and of professions,
but an affair of doing good, and especially to those
who are in want; not an affair of fire and brimstone,
but an affair of bacon and read, beer and a bed.”
William Cobbett quotes (Pseudonym Peter Porcupine,
English popular journalist, champion of traditional rural
England against the Industrial Revolution, 1763-1835)

“Faith makes a Christian. Life proves a Christian.
Trial confirms a Christian. Death crowns a Christian.”

Quote:
“The whole being of any Christian is faith and love.
Faith brings the man to God, love brings him to men.”
Martin Luther (1483-1546)

PRAY FOR OUR NEW PRESIDENT

Scripture:

1 Timothy 2

1I urge, then, first of all, that requests,
prayers, intercession and thanksgiving
be made for everyone— 2for kings and
all those in authority, that we may live
peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness
and holiness.

President Barack Obama now steps up to lead
our nation into a historic new era. The challenges
and demands he will face are daunting at the
least and overwhelming at most. Yet, in his
Inaugural Address, he invoked the good will of
the American people and our willingness to
roll up our sleeves and work hard.

“Every so often,” the President said, “the oath
is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging
storms. At these moments, America has carried
on not simply because of the skill or vision of
those in high office, but because we, the people,
have remained faithful to the ideals of our forebears
and true to our founding documents. So it has been.
So it must be with this generation of Americans.”

This is a time to pray! The new administration will
grapple with the challenges of a struggling economy,
active wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and energy and
environmental concerns—all unprecedented in this
generation. With I Timothy 2:1-2 as our biblical
mandate,pray for our new president’s wisdom,
protection and success as he faces these issues,
and many more, over the next four years.

Let us join together and uphold him as the Israelites
of old did for their leader Moses. Please, invite your
friends and family to pray for President Obama and
the new administration.
Your prayers will work powerfully in our nation.

Prayer:

King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Lord of life and
death, protect our nation in our crisis, and our
needs. Turn our hearts to You, and let us find
strength and encouragement in You and peace
of heart and mind through the cleansing power
of You, Jesus Christ. Throughout the nation let wise
counsel, calm thinking, unselfish aims prevail.
With singleness of purpose let one and all
support all just measures. In Jesus' name
Amen.