07.04.06 Tuesdays Reflection

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=220 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <IMG SRC="13eb8750.jpg" border=0 width="184" height="117" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>"We, who have received the love of Christ through the Spirit must not contain it..."</B></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Volunteer Missionary Movement (VMMUSA)"><U>Home Page</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id51.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tuesdays Reflection"><U>Tuesdays Reflection</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mission Statement"><U>Mission Statement</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id215.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Vision Statement"><U>Vision Statement</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id25.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Ways You Can Help Us"><U>Ways You Can Help Us</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="All About VMM"><U>All About VMM</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Application Qualifications"><U>Application Qualifications</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id29.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Discernment Process"><U>Discernment Process</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="application.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Application Form"><U>Application Form</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id5.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Related Links"><U>Related Links</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id24.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bridges Newsletter"><U>Bridges Newsletter</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id33.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Letters from the Missions"><U>Letters from the Missions</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id16.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Adobe Printing Instructions"><U>Adobe Printing Instructions</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id6.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Us"><U>Contact Us</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.guidestar.org/partners/networkforgood/donate.jsp?ein=36-3153581" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.guidestar.org/partners/networ"><U><IMG SRC="1887e300.gif" border=0 width="126" height="48" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <bR> <div>  <form method="get" action="http://search.atomz.com/search/"> <input size=15 name="sp-q"><br> <input type=submit value="Search"> <input type=hidden name="sp-a" value="sp10020180"> <input type=hidden name="sp-f" value="iso-8859-1"> </form></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><I><B>Volunteer Missionary Movement (VMM-USA)</B></I></FONT>    |     <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Volunteer Missionary Movement (VMMUSA)"><U>home</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" >                  </FONT><B> 07.04.06  </B><A HREF="id51.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tuesdays Reflection"><U><B>Tuesdays Reflection</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> Aware of the support and prayer of the whole VMM, our task is to be </div> <div> true Christian witnesses in the world, with that freedom and </div> <div> flexibility that invites and embraces all.</div> <div> Spirit and Lifestyle</div> <bR> <div> On July 1st, Canada Day, I noticed that there was a special liturgy </div> <div> for our national day. The first reading was from Isaiah 2:1-5, a </div> <div> passage that includes:</div> <bR> <div> "They shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears </div> <div> into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, </div> <div> neither shall they learn war any more."</div> <bR> <div> The second reading was from Matthew 5:1-12. As we each celebrate our </div> <div> national day, I propose this reading to remind ourselves of what "our </div> <div> task is to be true Christian witnesses in the world:</div> <bR> <div> When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat </div> <div> down, his disciples came to him. Then Jesus began to speak and taught </div> <div> them, saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the </div> <div> kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for </div> <div> righteousness, for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, </div> <div> for they will receive mercy.</div> <bR> <div> "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are </div> <div> the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.</div> <bR> <div> "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for </div> <div> theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people revile </div> <div> you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely </div> <div> on my account.</div> <bR> <div> "Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the </div> <div> same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."</div> <bR> <div> We make the final prayer our own:</div> <bR> <div> Fill us with a strong and unselfish love that we may ever seek </div> <div> reconciliation and justice among all nations and peoples.</div> <bR> <div> Happy July 4th!</div> <bR> <div> Cecily</div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>