Prayers and Thoughts

for Reflection

Lenton Devotional

2007

February 22

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Ephesians 2:10

The greatest disease is not TB or leprosy; it is being unwanted, unloved, and uncared for. We can cure physical diseases with medicine, but the only cure for loneliness, despair and hopelessness is love. There are many in the world who are dying for a piece of bread, but there are many more dying for a little love.

Mother Teresa

Christ’s command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this—that he lay down his life for his friends.

John 15:12-13

Love is an attempt to change a piece of a dream world into reality.

Theodor Reik

Lord, I need your help today.

I want to care for those you’ve sent into my life,

To help them grow in body, mind, and spirit,

To help them develop the special gifts you’ve given them.

But I also want to free them to follow their own paths

And bring their loving wisdom to the world.

Help me to embrace them without clutching,

To support them, without suffocating,

To correct them without crushing.

And help me to live joyfully and playfully myself

So they can see your life in me

And find their way to you.

Author Unknown

No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.

Aesop

Love is like the moon.  When it doesn't increase, it decreases.

Portuguese Proverb

This is how we know what love is:  Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.

1 John 3:16

Dear Lord, remind me not to be concerned about who does your work, but rather that your work gets done.  Show me what is most important and take me where I am needed most.  Strengthen the bonds of love that unite us in the ministry of your church. Amen.