Scripture:

"Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the
Father may be glorified in the Son. (John 14:13)

Reflection:

Over the years of prayer in my life, I have caught myself
doing something in my prayers to God that really isn't
to smart. Often in my prayers I kind of give God some
advice. I have found myself making a request to God
and then immediately telling Him how to answer that
request. In other words I expect God to answer my
request the way I want it answered. What a total lack
of faith, not to mention a waste of time. I don't have
enough faith in God to expect Him to do what's best
for me. I have to keep in mind and heart that God
always answers my prayers and always does what's
best for me. It may not always be the answer that I
want, but it is the answer that is best for me. I also
must remember that God answer's my prayer in His
time not mine. Let's you and I do something, the
next time we have a request to God, in total
commitment of faith, let Him answer the request
not us.

Prayer:

I praise and honor You oh Lord. Thanks you for your
commitment to me. THANK YOU GOD FOR BEING
GOD!

Quote:

St. Claire of Assisi
Spiritual Teacher and Guide, Political and Religious
Peacemaker (1193-1223)

"Go forth in peace, for you have followed the good road.
Go forth without fear, for He that created you has sanctified
you, has always protected you, and loves you as a mother."

Does Heaven Fill Your Thoughts?

Scripture:

"Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits at God's right hand in the place of honor and power. Let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things down here on earth.
For you died when Christ died, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your real life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all the glory." (Colossians 3:1)

Reflection:

What a weird question to ask, "Does Heaven Fill Your Thoughts?" I don't know about you but I have a lot of thoughts during the day, some good and some not so good. It sometimes seems that it is true I only think of things here on earth.And it is sad to say that a lot of my thoughts are surrounded by things that I desire for my own pleasure and the evilness for the world. I hate to watch tv because of the news, then my thoughts are on the decadent way we treat each
other, on a senseless war, on crime, and all the inhumanity that is so prevalent in our world. I also noticed, as I look back at my thoughts, a lot of which are centered around me, of what I want and not what others need. You know it is so very true that when Christ died so did I, and I need to focus on who is my real life. My real life is Jesus Christ and one big part of heaven will be serving my Lord and serving others. And thats where my thoughts and actions should be, WITH MY LORD. You see when my thoughts are on the Lord and upon
heaven, then my actions become my service to the Lord and my helping of others.
Do me a favor will you and at the end of the day take a look at what your thoughts were, and the next day start thinking about Jesus Christ and thoughts of heaven.You will be surprised at how your life will change, and how you will find a new compassion for others. Let's you and I share in all His glory!

Prayer:

Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.
Where there is hatred . . . let me sow love
Where there is injury . . . pardon
Where there is doubt . . . faith
Where there is despair . . . hope
Where there is darkness . . . light
Where there is sadness . . . joy
O, Divine Master,
Grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled . . . as to console
To be understood . . . as to understand,
To be loved . . . as to love
For it is in giving . . . that we receive,
It is in pardoning, that we are pardoned,
It is in dying . . . that we are born to eternal life.

Quote for the Day

Samantha Smith
Ambassador of Peace and Goodwill
(1972-1985)

"If we could be friends just by getting to know
each other better, then what are our two
countries really arguing about? Nothing could
be more important than not having a war if war
would kill everything."

Scripture:

"The good soil represents the hearts of those who truly accept
God's message and produce a huge harvest--thirty, sixty, or even
a hundred times as much as had been planted". (Matthew 13:23)

Reflection:

In the parable of the farmer sowing seeds, we see the farmer
planting seeds on several types of soil. The last of the seeds
are sowed in good soil. This soil represents the hearts of those who
truly accept God's message and produce a huge harvest.
Well of course this all begs a question. Are you producing a huge
harvest? I know I ask this question often. I first have to ask what
constitutes a harvest? a lot of money, power, control, station in life,
or maybe lots of material things. If these things are a harvest then
I want out of the garden. I think a harvest is, after I have accepted
God's message, I mean truly accepted His message, I produce a
result received from acceptance of His message. In other words I
produce a harvest. What I produce is exciting because I am excited
about God's message. This harvest is rich and full of joy, this harvest
is full of love and acceptance, this harvest is from God and it brings
true joy in my life. The soil is good and I am good. I have a
suggestion for you, plant your seed on good soil and you will
receive the richest of harvest, you will receive a joy in God's
message.

Prayer:

Thank you good that I am able to plant my seed on good soil.
Thank you for the Joy I receive from Your message. THANK YOU
GOD FOR BEING GOD!!!!!!!

Quote:

Lucretia Mott
Quaker, Pacifist Abolitionist, Feminist
(1793-1880)

"Let it be called the Great Spirit of the Indian, the Quaker
‘Inward Light' of George Fox, the ‘Blessed Mary,' Mother
of Jesus of the Catholics, or Brahman, the Hindu's God -
they will be one, and there will come to be such a faith a
and liberty as shall redeem the world."

Jesus is There for Me

Scripture:

"He was despised and rejected---a man of sorrows, acquainted
with bitterest grief. We turned our backs on Him and looked
the other way when He went by. He was despised, and we
did not care". (Isaiah 53: 3)

Reflection:

You know its hard to believe when you look at this verse
and chapters 52 and 53 it would be fulfilled over a thousand
years later in Jesus Christ. This verse and several others in
Isaiah are the verses that Mel Gibson used as background
for his movie "The Passion". I got to be honest with you
this verse haunts me. It is personal and it hits close to
home for me. I have often struggled with the fact that I
often turn my back on my Savior. Whats interesting is He
never turns His back on me. When I reflect at the end of the
day, I am often dismayed that I didn't even think about going
to Jesus when I really should have, I didn't even think of Him.
I ask myself, "How can I call myself a Christian, on top of that
a minister, and not think of Jesus Christ". Thank God He
doesn't turn His back on me. He is there for me, doing for me,
even at the times when I am not even thinking about Him. And
you know something He is there for you, I promise that Jesus will
never turn His back on you.

Prayer:

I praise and honor you oh Lord. Thank for being there for me
and forgive for not being there with you. THANK YOU GOD
FOR BEING GOD!

Quote:

Abigail Kelley Foster
Pacifist Abolitionist
(1811-1877)

"Go where you are least wanted, for there you are most needed."

Scripture:

"A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for
adversity." (Proverbs 17:17)

Reflection:

Friendship is very important to me. My life would
not be complete without my friends. I have all kinds
of friends, I have friends who are Christians, An Atheist
who always states "I swear to God I'm an Atheist," a
close friend who is a Muslim. I have friends of all colors,
creeds, and nationalities. I don't expect my friends to
love me, adore me, or even agree with me. I do expect
from myself and from them, one very important
characteristic, and thats loyalty. My friends are all
deeply loyal and I am loyal to them. So the question
remains to be asked, "What Kind of friend are you?"
Are you like the friends of Job: Eliphaz, Bildad, and
Zophar who were disloyal and even intensified Job's
pain. Or are you like the friends of Daniel: Shadrach,
Meshach, Abed-Nego who were loyal to Daniel,
and stood with him. Remember very important thing,
you and I share one friend. This friend was so loyal to
you and I, that He gave His life for us. That friend
is Jesus Christ.

Prayer:

Quote for the Day


Mother Jones
Advocate for Social Justice,
Union Organizer
(1830-1930)

"I am in favor of the ballot, and in all my career I have never
advocated violence. I want to give the nation a more highly
developed citizenship."