REFLECTING CHRIST

"…you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted
mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
Colossians 3:12 NLT

2 Corinthians 6:4,6

4 In everything we do, we show that we are true
ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles
and hardships and calamities of every kind.
6 We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding,
our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within
us,[a] and by our sincere love.(NLT)

AN ACT OF KINDNESS

Despite his busy schedule during the Civil War,
Abraham Lincoln often visited the hospitals to
cheer the wounded. On one occasion he saw
a young fellow who was near death. “Is there
anything I can do for you?” asked the
compassionate President. “Please write a
letter to my mother,” came the reply.
Unrecognized by the soldier, the Chief Executive
sat down and wrote as the youth told him
what to say.

The letter read, “My Dearest Mother, I was
badly hurt while doing my duty, and I won’t
recover. Don’t sorrow too much for me. May
God bless you and Father. Kiss Mary and
John for me.” The young man was too weak
to go on, so Lincoln signed the letter for him
and then added this postscript: “Written for
your son by Abraham Lincoln.”

Asking to see the note, the soldier was
astonished to discover who had shown him
such kindness. “Are you really our President?”
he asked. “Yes,” was the quiet answer. “Now,
is there anything else I can do?” The lad
feebly replied, “Will you please hold my hand?
I think it would help to see me through to the
end.” The tall, gaunt man granted his request,
offering warm words of encouragement until
death stole in with the dawn.

Reflection:

An act of great Kindness. Not seen very often
in this world of ours.

I am a Believer, I am a member of the "Way",
I am follower of Jesus Christ, I am a "Red
Letter" Christian.
Kindness should flow out of my life. The world
has an excuse to be angry, but I don't.
I am a sinner who is redeemed, I should be
happy to be redeemed.
This is what separates me from those who
haven't discovered the goodness of Christ.
I have a reason to rejoice, a standard to
uphold, and a Savior to pattern my life
after.

THE LIVING TRUTH

Scripture:

Jesus said…"I came to bring truth to the
world. All who love the truth recognize
that what I say is true."
John 18:37 NLT

(from God's Daily Promises)

A wife prays for her husband's salvation

After a rather gentle talk [one evening]
about Christianity, [my wife Davy] went to
bed, leaving me lying upon the sofa in
front of the fire reading.…A half hour
passed. I let the book fall and switched
off the lamp. Gazing upon the glowing coals,
I wondered with a strange mixture of hope
and fear whether Christ might be in very truth
my God. Suddenly I became aware that Davy
was praying beside me—she had stolen into
the room in her nightgown and knelt down by
the sofa. I looked at the quiet figure for a few
moments. I have never seen her pray. Then
she spoke.

"When I was in bed," she said very softly,
"it seemed to me that God was telling me to
come to you. I have prayed to God to fulfill
your soul."

She paused a moment, and then she
whispered: "Oh, my dearest—please believe!"

Moved almost to tears, I whispered back—
a broken whisper, she wrote in the Journal
[the book we both kept of our searching for
God and truth]—I whispered, "Oh, I do believe.
" I was shaken by the affirmation that swept
over me."Hold to this moment," she murmured.
"Hold to it when doubts come. This is the
truth—I know it it."

(Sheldon Vanauken in A Severe Mercy
Adapted from The Prayer Bible Jean E.
Syswerda, general editor, Tyndale House
Publishers (2003), p 1657.

WHEN GOD COMES!

Scripture:

1 Thessalonians 2:19 (Today's
New International Version)

19 For what is our hope, our joy,
or the crown in which we will glory
in the presence of our Lord Jesus
when he comes? Is it not you?

Reflection:

When God comes will it be
day or night?
When God comes will you
be in His sight?
When God comes will you
be prepared?
When God comes will you
even care?
When God comes the two
shall be as one.
When God comes there will
be nothing left undone.
When God comes the
mystery will be revealed.
When God comes lives will
be unsealed.

COME LORD JESUS!

A DAD IS

Scripture:

Psalm 103:13

As a father has compassion on his
children, so the LORD has
compassion on those who fear him;


Happy Father's Day

A Dad is a person
who is loving and kind,
And often he knows
what you have on your mind.

He's someone who listens,
suggests, and defends
A dad can be one
of your very best friends!

He's proud of your triumphs
but when things go wrong
A dad can be patient
and helpful and strong.

In all that you do,
a dad's love plays a part
There's always a place for him
deep in your heart.

And each year that passes
You're even more glad,
More grateful and proud
just to call him your dad!

Thank you, Dad .
for listening and caring
for giving and sharing
but, especially, for just being you!
Happy Father's Day
- Author Unknown

REMEMBERING YOU DAD

I miss you, oh so much, I long
to feel, you're gentle touch! To
hear your voice, just once more,
is what, I'm really longing for! It's
been so very long, that you've
been gone, but this feeling, still
lingers on! Whenever I look at
your picture, I pick it up and hold
it tight. I gaze at you, with loving
eyes, be it day, or night! What a
handsome man you were,
everyone, has said so. I keep the
same picture, in my wallet and
show you off, wherever I go! The
minute they look at your picture,
then look at me, they'll remark
how much we look alike, for it's
very plain to see! I'm proud, to
say the least and honored too.
That I was very lucky, to resemble,
you!
- Audrey Heller

WHAT IS A FATHER?

In honor of Father's Day this coming Sunday,
I am posting a piece by Paul Harvey.

What Is a Father?

A father is a person who is forced to endure
childbirth without an anesthetic. He growls
when he feels good and laughs very loud
when he is scared half-to-death.

A father never feels entirely worthy of the
worship in a child's eyes. He is never quite
the hero his daughter thinks. Never quite the man
his son believes him to be. And this worries him
sometimes. (So he works too hard to try to
smooth the rough places in the road of those
of his own who will follow him.)

A father is a person who goes to war sometimes
...and would run the other way, except that war
is part of an important job in his life (which is
making the world better for his child than it has
been for him).

Fathers grow older faster than other people,
because they, in other wars, have to stand at the
train station and wave goodbye to the uniform that
climbs on board. And, while mothers cry where it
shows, fathers stand and beam ... outside ...
and die inside.

Fathers are men who give daughters away to other
men who aren't nearly good enough, so that they
can have children that are smarter than anybody's.

Fathers fight dragons almost daily. They hurry
away from the breakfast table off to the arena,
which is sometimes called an office or a workshop.
There they tackle the dragon with three heads —
Weariness, Work, and Monotony. And they never
quite win the fight, but they never give up.

Knights in shining armor; fathers in shiny trousers.
There's little difference as they march away each
workday.


I trust that you will be able to honor your father,
either in person or as you share with others what's
in your memory about your dad.

I hope you dads out there will be a blessing to
your families and that you will be blessed by
your families.

REMEMBER:

By the time a man realizes that his father was
usually right, he has a son who thinks he's usually
wrong.

ASSUMPTIONS

Scripture:

2 Peter 1:20 (Today's New International Version)

20 Above all, you must understand that
no prophecy of Scripture came about by
the prophet’s own interpretation of things.
2 Peter 1:20 (Today's New International
Version)

Reflection:

I have talked in the past about my
up bringing within the church. Because
of the example and influence of my
mother, the church became a vital
part of my life. Through the church I was
presented with certain facts and from
these facts I made assumptions, and
here is where my problem begins.

As a Christian and Believer of the Holy
Scriptures, I become an interpreter of
God's Word. There is a danger in my
interpretation. That danger is reading
the text to fit my assumptions, In
other words instead of my assumptions
being influenced by my reading, my
reading is influenced by my
preconceived assumptions.

There are 3 things that I have learned to
remember when I read God's Word.

1st= The Holy Scriptures are "God
Breathed" and is perfect in every way.
It is my interpretation that is not.

2nd= I read the Holy Scriptures through
the power of the Holy Spirit.

3rd= Finally when we read together as
a church, as a community, we are
promised, by the grace of God, God's
won Spirit.

"When we submit together to it's truth,
live in it's hope, and rest in the love of
God Whose presence infuses it's
pages. WITH THAT POWER, WE FIND
LIFE!

CREATION EXPLAINED

On the first day, God created the dog
and said, "Sit all day by the door of your
house and bark at anyone who comes
in or walks past. For this, I will give you
a life span of twenty years."

The dog said, "That's a long time to be
barking. How about only ten years and
I'll give you back the other ten?"
So God agreed......

On the second day, God created the
monkey and said, "Entertain people,
do tricks, and make them laugh.
For this, I'll give you a twenty-year
life span."

The monkey said, "Monkey tricks for
twenty years? That's a pretty long time
to perform. How about I give you back
ten like the dog did?"
And God agreed......

On the third day, God created the cow
and said, "You must go into the field
with the farmer all day long and suffer
under the sun, have calves and give milk
to support the farmer's family. For this,
I will give you a life span of sixty years."

The cow said, "That's kind of a tough life
you want me to live for sixty years. How
about twenty and I'll give back the other
forty?"
And God agreed again......

On the fourth day, God created humans
and said, "Eat, sleep, play, marry and
enjoy your life. For this, I'll give you twenty
years."

But the human said, "Only twenty years?
Could you possibly give me my twenty, the
forty the cow gave back, the ten the monkey
gave back, and the ten the dog gave back;
that makes eighty, okay?"

"Okay," said God. "You asked for it."

So that is why for our first twenty years, we
eat, sleep, play and enjoy ourselves. For the
next forty years, we slave in the sun to
support our family.. For the next ten years,
we do monkey tricks to entertain the
grandchildren. And for the last ten years, we
sit on the front porch and bark at everyone.

Life has now been explained to you.

There is no need to thank me for this valuable
information. I'm doing it as a public service.
If you are looking for me I will be on the front
porch.

THE REALITY OF GOD

God is not a concept,
God is not a simple truth,
God is not a dream,
God is not simply divine.

God is a reality!
If you reject the reality of
God, your life is doomed.
If you accept the reality of
God, your life is eternal!

REJECT OR ACCEPT

THE CHOICE IS YOURS!

GOING HOME

Scripture:

166 I wait for your salvation, LORD,
and I follow your commands.
Psalm 119:166 (New International Version)

Romans 13:11
[ The Day Is Near ] And do this,
understanding the present time: The hour
has already come for you to wake up from
your slumber, because our salvation is
nearer now than when we first believed.


Reflection:

Jesus came to my home the other day.
He was a welcomed guest.
I said to Jesus, "I know that You are my
Lord and Savior. I know that you are my
Creator and Father. Lord when can I
come home?"
He said, "My child, My son, you may come
home when your done visiting here. You
were created to serve God and humankind
with all the love I have given you. That
service is still not done. There are still
those, around you, who are poor, hungry
and in need. Many, around you, are sad
and depressed. Many are at war within
themselves and with others. I know that
you need Me and you are anxious to to
be with Me. But remember I AM ALWAYS
WITH YOU, I AM HERE FOR YOU. This
is your house, I AM YOUR HOME.
Expand Our home to include and serve
others, in the name of God. In His time
He will call you to His House and you will
truly be home."

OUR FATHER IS WAITING, SERVE
OTHERS, AND COME HOME!