Post by Murph on Jan 14, 2007 18:09:29 GMT -6
When I was a child...and we went to eat at my grandparent's house...my Grandfather would ask the blessing. I sat next to my Grandmother on one end of the table...down both sides of the table were our parents..mine and my cousin's...my three cousins, my sister, and finally on either side of my Grandfather, my Dad and my Uncle John...
From my end of the table when we bowed our heads to pray...it sounded to me like my Grandfather was saying "Poor Lord." I never heard what he said after that because I always stopped to wonder why my Grandfather thought the Lord was poor...it is His creation and all that is in it...so why did my Grandfather think God was poor?
Some years later I realized what he was saying and it went something like this...
"O Lord, our Father, and Creator of mankind, forgive our foolish ways...we are grateful for the Gift of Salvation through Your Son Jesus Christ...we are grateful You are mindful that we are dust, whisps of smoke that are here today and gone tomorrow...We are grateful for Your many blessings on this family and this house...and ask that You bless this food to our nourishment and us to Your service...
In Jesus Name,
Amen."
My Grandfather is with the Lord now and has been for some years...and when I ask the blessing whether eating alone, or with family, or friends...I still pray my Grandfather's prayer...
Tonight I pray to the Lord...the same prayer...Thank you for all the blessings on my family and my house...in my mind family has expanded probably the same way my Grandfather's did to encompas more than my biological family.
It includes my Church family...for them I thank you Lord.
It includes my work family...for them I thank you Lord.
It includes Christian Brothers and Sisters all over the world...for them I thank you Lord...
It includes Christians thru-out the ages...for them I thank you Lord...because of You Lord, we are part of a very large family...and seated at the Head of our table is a very large and living God...and Savior.
Most of all I thank You for the amazing grace...that saved a wretch like me...
For that I thank you Lord...
In Jesus Name I pray,
Amen.
Now you might be asking what brought this on...Today I saw and heard somebody say something about God that was so repulsive and disgusting that I drew back...said nothing. I saw that person as being so disgusting and revolting that I wanted nothing to do with them.
Then I realized that is how the Lord sees all of us...and without the saving blood of Jesus Christ none of us would ever stand a chance...
What great love it took for the Lord to die for people who are as disgusting and repulsive as we are...but He did...
I don't know what to do about the other person nor what the others who heard and saw what I did plan to do...will pray on it...but it is becoming a burden on my heart...to do something...
I also thank the Lord for providing a place for me to write this down. It helps to put it into words...like putting the scroll on the altar and asking, " What do I do with this now, Lord?" I will pray and wait on the Lord...
Amen.
