Sara
Snow, sleet, high winds, tornadoes and rain in many places. A great day for Thanksgiving, Gratitude, Praise and much Prayer! Many have to be on the roads for our health and safety. And, many of us have the rare option of taking extra time to commune with Our Creator.
Fiscal Cliff is back headlining the news. News is just that; much division, sorrow and woe from every corner of the world. I seem to remember somewhere in my past there was a news read called; The Good News.
Let us see if on this so called; dark, depressed day, December 26, 2012, when magic left and reality set in we can make our headlines by sharing; “The Good News!”
Not our brag power of gifts and babies, kids and movies, family and friends, money and power, but the power of The Good News. Or, is it so ancient that it has run out of power like an old broken toy? Fun to look at and enjoy but not the modern day hype like our iPhones, iPads and other gadgets galore.
What story have we left to tell?
thedailylily.com 
Philippians 4:8 NLT “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”
I can only image the wonder of my living such a good life that I could change the way a unbeliever thinks? 1 Peter 2:12 NIV “Live such good lives among the pagans, (unbelievers) that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits (judges) us.”
I am using The Good News writings to begin my New Year’s Resolutions for 2013. It looks easy in writing. But, when I think what do I need to do to get my good thinking under control so my good living becomes divine living. I have too much good living that would not cause unbelievers to glorify God. What makes me think this? Sometimes I think I alter my good living to hot spots or topics so I can make them feel good now and not later. I have a lot of soul searching to do within a few days to begin my 2013 journey…..
A lot for us to think on from the Pope’s HOMILY AT CHRISTMAS EVE.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_VATICAN_CHRISTMAS_EVE_TEXT?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-12-24-17-40-28
Gary, it, Pope’s message) is a beautiful message from the Good News text! I just love the way he begins; “Again and again the beauty of this Gospel touches our hearts: a beauty that is the splendour of truth.” He goes on to give us an open window into the no room in the end by saying, “The great moral question of our attitude towards the homeless, towards refugees and migrants, takes on a deeper dimension: do we really have room for God when he seeks to enter under our roof? Do we have time and space for him? Do we not actually turn away God himself?”
A great reflection to help me set my goals. Thanks!
Sara, that is what I took away from the Pope’s message, too. Some of the several quotes that touched my heart were:
“In our case, it is probably not very often that we make haste [like the Shepherds] for the things of God. God does not feature among the things that require haste. The things of God can wait, we think and we say.”
And included in the one you have quoted concerning making “room” for Christ; ” There is no room for Him. Not even in our feelings and desires is there any room for Him.” AND THIS….” We want ourselves” Wow. He goes on to say (paraphrased) we want what we can get and hang onto and our own success. “We are so full of ourselves that there is no room left for God.”
The Pope describes the ultimate selfishness of the human condition….i.e.
No room for God; no room for anyone else except us & ours, so to speak.
This is a challenge to us who think we are soooo close to the Lord and give Him a few minutes of our time, daily, in a prayer and a devotional and a Bible verse. I had better wake up along with other Christians in the pew. ‘God is not mocked. ‘
Thank you, Pope Benedict, for the early warning, [ or maybe latter day warning]. Thanks JEEPGARY for posting this link for us to read and ponder, seriously.
James 5:16 NLT points us to a power connection of healing; “Confess your sins (faults) to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.”
Righteous person has great power; that is what is being said of the quarterback for the Redskins; RG3….he lifts his hand and power ensues regardless of the act or deed. He is a Christian and shows his hand….He gave out Christmas messages of give; “Give just as much as you receive & create memories that will last forever.” RG3, thats a tall command but you proved that it works. He also said about his Dad; “My Dad never smiles when he gets gifts. But yours truly got him to smile this time. Mission Accomplished.”
Sara, that quote from R G III about getting his dad to smile puts me in remembrance of a short phrase I read in “The Irrational Season” as she Madeleine L’Engle, walked her dog… encountered a dour-looking workman. She smiled but got no response. Each day, the same exercise. Then one morning, the sad looking fellow smiled back. The next time “he smiled first”.
Mission accomplished. God’s people can persevere.
I like that story, MG. Thanks. I will try to practice. I sure have plenty of opportunities daily….
As I read one thing the Pope said, “Does God actually have a place in our thinking? ” I thought about Sara’s question above, ‘What story have we left to tell?” It seems that if God really has a place in our thinking moment to moment that we would be able to have astory to tell of Him that could link to every conversation we have with others. This is part of my own soul searching.
I tried to make my story above how we have power to see healing in our lives and those we pray for!
Here we are, December 29,2012 in Leesburg, Va./DC and all around, SNOW and more fear of Fiscal Clift. We got to get it done now or else, etc etc. etc. Almost funny to hear the politicians and that includes the White House…..
Well, Dallas/Redskin game Sunday Night might be more important. Maybe a call to prayer would be just the right touch for the answers we need as a Nation. Let us pray. Tomorrow is Sunday and should be an easy day for each one to breathe a prayer of praise, thanksgiving, hope, and mercy for the nations of this world. All God’s children everywhere.