Prayers and Thoughts

for Reflection

Lenton Devotional

2007

March 20

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes.
Proverbs 3: 5 – 7

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."
Isaiah 30:21

A philosophy professor stood before his class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly he picked up a large empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks, rocks about 2" in diameter. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the rocks. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was. The students laughed. The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else.

"Now," said the professor, "I want you to recognize that this is your life. The rocks are the important things – your family, your partner, your health, and your children - things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, your car. The sand is everything else, the small stuff.  If you put the sand into the jar first, there is no room for the pebbles or the rocks. The same goes for your life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out dancing. There will always be time to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party and fix the disposal. Take care of the rocks first - the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

Author Unknown

Jesus said, "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock."
Matthew 7:24 - 25

You will never be sorry –

            for thinking before acting,

            for hearing before judging,

            for forgiving your enemies,

            for being candid and frank,

            for helping a fallen brother,

            for being honest in business,

            for thinking before speaking,

            for being loyal to your church,

            for standing by your principles,

            for stopping your ears to gossip,

            for bridling a slanderous tongue,

            for harboring only pure thoughts,

            for sympathizing with the afflicted,

            for being courteous and kind to all.

Author Unknown

"Whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm," says the Lord.
Proverbs 1:33

Lord, might I be but as a saw,

A plane, a chisel in thy hand.

No, Lord, I take it back in awe;

Such prayer for me is far too grand.

I pray thee, rather let me lie

As on thy bench the favored wood;

Thy saw, thy plane, thy chisel ply

And work me into something good.  Amen.

George MacDonald

Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly; if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

Romans 12:6 - 8

Dear Lord.  Help me to take care of the rocks first and to not fill my life with sand.  Remind me to study the map before me each day. Help me to follow your direction and to greet those you have sent across my path. Make me a stone in your temple of love.  Give me eyes to see and hands to work for you and the faith to do it. Thank you for your word. Amen.