Who are You!

Scripture:

"Then He asked them, " Who do you say I am?
Simon Peter answered, ' You are the Messiah (Christ),
the Son of the living God." (Matthew 16: 15,16) NLT

Reflection:

That is quit an answer to an obviously important question.
The power that this Christ has had for over 2,000 years
is unbelievable. The belief in Jesus has withstood
that same question all this time. And we still ask the
question "Who is Jesus of Nazareth?", and you know
something, everything, I mean everything, depends
on our answer!
Peter didn't leave the answer that Jesus is the Messiah,
he further stated that Jesus the Messiah is the Son
of the living God! In a world which asks the question
is God alive or dead, this is quit a response. Peter
certainly didn't try to give a water downed answer.
He answered a direct question with a direct answer.
"You are Christ the Son of the living God." Peter
really didn't understand the whole meaning of his
statement, But I think he certainly made a great start.
Please know this, that if you love Him with all your being,
you will not lose in the end, but will receive a great
gain. Are you ready to make that start in your life,
to give your entire being to Jesus the Christ the Son
of the living God. I hope so, because you are in for
the greatest experience of life, the experience of
Jesus Christ.

Prayer:

Father God thank you for your Son, Jesus Christ.
I want Jesus in my life, I want to experience the
fullness of Christ. I want to experience Jesus
Christ the Son of the living God. THANK YOU
GOD FOR BEING GOD in the name of Jesus
Christ the Son of the living God AMEN!

Quote:
Jane Addams Advocate for the Poor and Homeless
Recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize (1860-1935)
"The good we secure for ourselves is precarious and uncertain...
until it is secured for all of us and incorporated into our common life."

In Remembrance of Martin Luther King, Jr.

O Guardian of Israel,
Our shelter and shade,
Stir up in us that flame of justice
That Jesus incited on this earth,
That rages in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.

O arouse in us
That very flame of righteousness
That enticed Martin
To be a living sacrifice of praise,
To seek freedom for all God's children.

O to you, God, ever faithful and true,
Be glory for ever and ever.
Amen.

- Attributed to J. Glenn Murray, SJ

EPIPHANY SUNDAY

Gospel
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”
When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

“‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.’“

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”
After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
—Matthew 2:1-12, NIV


Give the gift of wise rule to the king, O God,
the gift of just rule to the crown prince. Maye he
judge your people rightly, be honorable to your
meek and lowly. Let the mountains give exuberant
witness; shape the hills with the contour of right
living. Please stand up for the poor, help the
children of the needy, come down hard on the
cruel tyrants. Out last the sun, outlive the moon-
age after age after age. Be rainfall on cut grass,
earth refreshing rain showers. Let righteousness
burst into blossom and peace abound until the
moon fades to nothing.
kings remote and legendary will pay homage,
kings rich and resplendent will turn over their
wealth. All kings will fall down and worship, and
godless nations sign up to serve him, Because
he rescues the poor at the first sign of need,
the destitute who have run out of luck. He
opens a place in his heart for the down-and-out,
he restores the wretched of the earth. He frees
them from tyranny and torture- when they bleed;
when they die, he dies. (Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14}

Prayer of Adoration:

O God, the source of eternal light:
Let you unending day open upon
all of us who watch for you, that our
lips may praise you, or lives may bless you and
our worship glorify you. Through Jesus Christ
our Lord, Amen.

Wow! What a Statement.

Scripture:

"Jesus said to her, I am the One Who raises the
dead and gives them life. Anyone who puts his
trust in Me will live again, even if he dies. Anyone
who lives and has put his trust in Me will never
die. Do you believe this?" (John 11:25, 26) NLT

Reflection:

Wow! what a statement, can you believe the arrogance.
To actually tell people that if you trust in Me you will
live forever. How can the man expect me to believe
something like that? Well I do. You see I trust Jesus
Christ. It's hard not to believe in the Son of God. As
you read the scripture you begin to realize that
this Jesus was not just a prophet, not just a teacher,
not just a priest. He was God incarnate. We just
celebrated Christmas, when God became man.
Maybe it's time to sit back and really think about
what we believe. It seems to me that belief is
centered around trust. I really can't believe unless
I can trust. Well I put my trust in God. I trust
God's Son, Who died for me so that I now will
live forever. How about you do you trust in God,
do you trust His son, Will you live forever?
These are important questions. I really hope
and pray that you believe. Because I want to meet
you in heaven!!!!!'

Prayer:

Oh God my Father thank You for Your Son, I trust
You and I believe. Thank You for eternal life. THANK
YOU GOD FOR BEING GOD!

Quote-

"War may sometimes be a necessary evil. but no matter
how necessary, it is always an evil, never a good"

Jimmy Carter

I LOVE TO TELL THE STORY

"I love to tell the story of unseen things above,
Of Jesus and His glory, of Jesus and His Love:
I love to tell the story because I know ' tis true,
It satisfies my longings as nothing else can do.

I love to tell the story!
Twill be my theme in glory-
To tell the old, old story
Of Jesus and His love.

I love to tell the story; more wonderful it seems
Than all the golden fancies of all our golden dreams.
I love to tell the story, it did so much for me;
And that is just the reason I tell it now to thee.

I love to tell the story-'tis pleasant to repeat
What seems, each time I tell it, more wonderfully
sweet;
I love to tell the story, for some have ever heard
The message of salvation from God's own
holy Word.

I love to tell the story, for those who know it best
Seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest;
And when in scenes of glory I sing the new,
new song,
'Twill be the old, old story that I have loved so long.
(Words: Arabella K Hankey (1834-1911)
Music: William G. Fischer (1835-1913)

Reflection:

This beautiful, wonderful hymn brings back memories.
It reminds me of the old Swedish Mission Church that
I grew up in. These were wonderful people, many of
whom were Swedish immigrants, who loved to worship
their God. This hymn was sung at one function or another,
in our church every week.
Through the words the singer tells why he/she loves
to tell the story. The story is the "Good News",
the Holy Scripture, The Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Why does he/she love to tell this story, first "because
I know its true". Contrary to some opinions, this is
not a fiction, it's not just another history book. It is
the true story of God the Father's relationship with
His children. It is the true account of God's love for
His children whom He gave, to them, His son. Secondly
because "it satisfies my longings as nothing else can do".
This true story satisfies my every need, like nothing else.
Thirdly I love to tell this story because "some have never
heard the message of salvation from God's own Holy Word".
You see because I believe this story I have received eternal
salvation. And there are a lot of people who have not really
heard this story, and I know that I must tell them, because
I love to tell the story. And finally I love to tell the story
because "those who know it best seem hungering and
thirsting to hear it like the rest". Even I know this story
I can't get enough, I hunger and thirst for the story of
Jesus love and glory. Do you love to tell the story?

Prayer:

Thank you for the old, old, story God, help me to tell
it so all may know, all may believe. THANK YOU GOD
FOR BEING GOD!

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."

AMAZING GRACE

Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound)
That sav’d a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears reliev’d;
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believ’d!
Thro’ many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promis’d good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.
Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease;
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who call’d me here below,
Will be forever mine.

While Amazing Grace has a reference to 1Chronicles 17:16-17 in the Onley hymnal (see below for that Scripture), it is more likely to be based on Ephesians 2:4-9, Paul's great treatise on Grace, which says:
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. [NIV]

HAVING GOD AS YOUR FRIEND

Scripture:

"So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship making
us friends of God." (Romans 5: 11) NLT

Reflection:

You know all through the Holy Scriptures, it talks about us being
the children of God. God is portrayed as our father, our creator
our king, our Savior. But here Paul talks about God being our
friend. Isn't that beautiful, my Father and Creator is my friend.
What a wonderful feeling to know that my heavenly Father is
my friend. What does it mean to be a friend? It means=
Love, Closeness, Dependable, Loyal, Kind, Understanding,
Compassionate, Counciler, Leader, and Sacrifice. Think about
it, This is God, and much much more. When I accepted Jesus
Christ into my life, I found a new friend, my best friend in God.
Do you want a friend in God all you have to do is BELIEVE!

Prayer:

Father God thank you for being my friend, because of my new
life in Christ, I now have a new friend, my best friend. THANK
GOD FOR BEING GOD AND BEING MY FRIEND

Enjoy this ONE

A very good friend emailed me this, I thought
you would enjoy reading this inspiring message:


What a difference a sad event in someone's life makes.

GEORGE CARLIN (His wife recently died...)

Isn't it amazing that George Carlin - comedian of the 70's and 80's - could write something so very eloquent...and so very appropriate.

A Message by George Carlin:

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up to o tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. W e plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete...

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that litt le person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, 'I love you' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

If you don't send this to at least 8 people....Who cares?

George Carlin