Christian Reflection and Prayer

Scripture:

1 Thessalonians 5:14-15 (New International Version)
14And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle,
encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.
15Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong,
but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.

Reflection:

You know it's really hard to deal with people who are
trying our patience. I have discovered that I can
relate and cope with people who make me sad,
who can make me angry, who even make me feel
a little less than good. But having people around me
who are trying my patience is difficult. Do you have
someone like that in your life, I know I do. When
someone is in the wrong, we have to struggle with
our desire to answer wrong with wrong. This is
actually the easiest thing for us to do. But we
have received mercy from God, and He wants us
to pass it on. That's right pass it on. Be patient
with everyone, make sure that nobody pays back
wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each
other and to everyone else. IN OTHER WORDS
PASS IT ON.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Help us remember that the jerk
who cut us off in traffic last night is a single mother
who worked nine hours that day and is rushing home
to cook dinner, help with homework, do the laundry
and spend a few precious moments with her children.
Give me patience Oh Lord
Help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed,
disinterested young man who can’t make change
correctly is a worried 19-year-old college student,
balancing his apprehension over final exams with
his fear of not getting his student loans for next semester.
Give me patience Oh Lord
Remind us, Lord, that the scary looking bum, begging
for money in the same spot every day
(who really ought to get a job!) is a slave to addictions
that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares.
Give me patience Oh Lord
Help us to remember that the old couple walking
annoyingly slow through the store aisles and blocking
our shopping progress are savoring this moment,
knowing that, based on the biopsy report she got
back last week, this will be the last year that they
go shopping together.
Give me patience Oh Lord
Heavenly Father, remind us each day that, of all the
gifts you give us, the greatest gift is love. It is not
enough to share that love with those we hold dear.
Open our hearts not to just those who are close to us,
but to all humanity. Let us be slow to judge and quick
to forgive, show patience, empathy and love
GIVE ME LOVE OH LORD! In Jesus Name Amen.

Scripture:

Genesis 6:11-22 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)

Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
[NIV at IBS] [International Bible Society] [NIV at Zondervan] [Zondervan]

11 Now the earth was corrupt in God's sight and
was full of violence. 12 God saw how corrupt the
earth had become, for all the people on earth had
corrupted their ways. 13 So God said to Noah,
"I am going to put an end to all people, for the
earth is filled with violence because of them.
I am surely going to destroy both them and
the earth. 14 So make yourself an ark of
cypress [a] wood; make rooms in it and coat
it with pitch inside and out. 15 This is how you
are to build it: The ark is to be 450 feet long,
75 feet wide and 45 feet high. [b] 16 Make a
roof for it and finish [c] the ark to within 18 inches
[d] of the top. Put a door in the side of the ark
and make lower, middle and upper decks.
17 I am going to bring flood waters on the
earth to destroy all life under the heavens,
every creature that has the breath of life in it.
Everything on earth will perish. 18 But I will
establish my covenant with you, and you will
enter the ark—you and your sons and your wife
and your sons' wives with you. 19 You are to
bring into the ark two of all living creatures,
male and female, to keep them alive with you.
20 Two of every kind of bird, of every kind of
animal and of every kind of creature that moves
along the ground will come to you to be kept alive.
21 You are to take every kind of food that is to be
eaten and store it away as food for you and for them."

22 Noah did everything just as God commanded him.

Reflection:

I got to admit it, after reading Genesis 6:11-22, I wish
I was Noah. This beautiful man did everything God
commanded. You know, I wish I did that. Wouldn't
it be great to hit a bulls eye every time you had to make a
decision. Wouldn't be great to get our God's
approval on every decision. I mean look at Noah.
He worked, and worked, on that ark, while all the time
being scoffed and laughed at by his neighbors. And
through it all, Noah's sole concern was God. Why
can't I be more like that? My life is pulled in so many
different directions that I don't have enough time for
my God. What does that say about me? I have to
slow down, give my time to God and try to do
everything God commands. It's hard but I can do
it. Can You?

Prayer:

I love you God, and I need to slow down. I need
your help in making my priorities and decisions.
I need to make you my priority. Oh God give me
strength to do what you command. In Christ's
Holy Name Amen.

Who Do You Want To Please

Scripture:

"Do you think I am trying to make people
accept me? No, God is the one I am
trying to please. Am I trying to please
people? If I still wanted to please people,
I would not be a servant of Christ.
(Galatians 1:10) NCV

Reflection:

Everybody wants to be loved, everybody wants
to be accepted, everybody cares what other
people think of them. I have a hard time
accepting statements like "I don't care what
anybody thinks", or "I don't try to please
anybody". As I have experienced life, i've
discovered these statements are just not true.
I have never met anybody, in my 60 years on
this earth, that absolutely did not want to be
accepted, or did not have someone they wanted
to please in their life. I think the question
that begs to be answered is "who". Who are you
trying to please? Who do you want to accept you?
As for me it is God. I already know that my God
accepts me, His Son's death and resurrection proves
that. Therefore if I believe God accepts me, then I
certainly want to please Him. I want to please Him
in every way. I do this through my faith in God and
His Son, through my study of His Word, through
living my life as His child, and loving my neighbors
and loving my enemies as He love's me. Boy to
tell the truth my life is so much happier, and much
better, when I try to please God. How about you?
Be honest with yourself. Who are you trying to
please?

Prayer:

Oh mighty God, Thank You for Your grace and love.
Thank You that You have accepted me. I want to
please You God and only You. You are the meaning
of my life, You are my savior, and the giver of eternal
life. THANK YOU GOD FOR BEING GOD
In Jesus Name Amen