Christian Reflection and Prayer

Scripture:

"For if you forgive men for their transgressions, your heavenly
Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive me, then
your Father will not forgive your transgressions."
(Matthew 6: 14,15)


Reflections:

Forgiveness, this is not an easy thing for us to do. One of the
most meaningful passages in the Holy Scriptures is after being
whipped, brutally beaten, stabbed, nails driven through his hands,
taunted, belittled, spat upon, and placed on a a cross to die.
Jesus Christ asks His Father in heaven to forgive them. WOW!
thats powerful. I mean thats forgiveness. Instead of wanting revenge
He forgives them. There have been times in my life when I have had
to ask God for strength to forgive, I mean real forgiveness. I walked
around for a long time with revenge in my heart it dominated my life.
When my best friend was killed in Vietnam, I not only felt sadness,
I felt real, powerful anger and yes hate. We had grown up together,
we did everything together, he was like my brother. I was so angry,
upon his death, I just wanted revenge. It dominated my life. I was
angry at the government, I was angry at the president, I was angry
at the military, I was angry at everyone. Then one evening my pastor
came and talked to me about forgiveness, you see he was aware of
my anger also. Together we prayed and asked God to give me strength,
and to experience forgiveness in my heart. And you know something
it worked. Even though those who I was angry at never sought forgiveness,
I forgave them anyway, and my whole life changed. Finally one very
important thing I have discovered about forgiveness, when I forgive I feel
forgiveness.

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 debts,
As we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. For thine
is the kingdom and the power and
the glory forever. Amen THANK YOU GOD FOR BEING GOD

Scripture:

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where
moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither
moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and
steal. For where your treasure is there will your heart also be."
(Matthew 6:19-21)

Reflection:

Well I have to be honest with myself, I ain't rich. I'm not rich now
as a matter of fact I'll never be rich. But I do desire and posess some things
that I do not need. And I'm certainly rich compared to many others in
this world. I do have treasures, and you know something its wrong. This
verse reminded me of that. But I do have other treasures stored up.
I have the treasures of love, compassion, forgiveness, grace, and happiness,
and you know those treasures are from heaven.

Prayer:

Dear lord, thank you for my heavenly treasures that I also enjoy on earth.
I am rich with your love and compassion and grace. THANK YOU GOD FOR
BEING GOD.

Scripture:

"Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find;
knock and it shall be opened to you. For everyone who asks
receives, and who seeks finds and to him wh knocks it shall
be opened" (Matthew 7: 7,8)

Reflection:

Come on do you really believe this verse. All you have to do is
ask, seek, and knock, and it's yours,,,,,come on! You know
something it's true, no lie, its really true. The first thing that I
really wanted of God was His Son to be in my life. There was
a point in my life that I needed someone, and I
needed help. I asked for Jesus to come into
my life, I sought after him and I found Him and knocked and He
opened the door. This works in reverse. Jesus asks, seeks and
knocks for you. Have you ever seen the picture of Christ standing
before a door knocking. That door is the door to your heart.
Notice one important thing about the door, there is no door knob.
You see you have to open the door to let Jesus in.

Prayer:

Thank you lord for coming into my heart. I asked, sought, and knocked
and You came in. Thank you for being my life. THANK YOU GOD FOR
BEING GOD.