Hello my friends! Restful blessed day today - Mass was great! Good lunch with our beans and potatoes, and some meat - took a nap, and then Lori called and invited us for supper and canning some tomato sauces, so that's done now. Just a few pints and a couple quarts, so they won't go bad now. Did I ever tell you what a blessing she is to us? She made a shepherd pie and was it ever good! Not much more to share, many blessings all around, too numerous to mention, let's always keep positive! God be with you all - prayers going for you all!
There is great joy in forgiving and being forgiven. Lord, help me to move
past any hurts that I have so that I may be freed of their burden.
Scripture for the day:
"Jesus straightened up and said to her, 'Woman, where are they? Has no
one condemned you?' She said, 'No one, sir.' And Jesus said,
'Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin
again.'" ~John 8:10-11
Meditation for the day:
We can ask God in daily prayer to give us the strength to change.
When we ask God to change us, we can at the same time fully trust God.
If we do not fully trust God, God cannot help until we are a ready.
A rescuer finds it difficult to help a drowning person who is putting
up too much of a struggle. The person's futile efforts render them
more helpless, until he or she is wholly at the rescuer's mercy. Just
so must we be wholly at God's mercy before we can be rescued.
Prayer for the day:
I pray that I may be daily willing to be changed. I pray that I may
put myself wholly at the mercy of God.
WHAT IS CHRISTIANITY?
Written by Arlene Spanos
Christianity means having faith in Jesus as our Savior and Lord.
It means to trust in the Bible as God’s Holy Infallible Word.
It is realizing sin separates us from God who is righteous and just;
Knowing we can’t be reconciled on our own, so in Christ we trust.
It is understanding we can not earn God’s grace by virtues or good
behavior.
It is acknowledging we’re sinners who need the atonement of our
Savior.
It’s realizing that laws and religion do not have the power to save
us.
It’s knowing and loving Jesus and accepting the gift that He gave us.
It is believing that Jesus took our sins at the cross for our debt to
be paid.
It is assurance we have eternal salvation because of the sacrifice He
made.
It’s asking for God’s forgiveness and to help us make a fresh start;
Asking Him to be with us always, and to fill us in mind and in heart.
It is having faith in God’s sovereignty for He knows what’s best;
Thanking Him for all He has done and for how we’ve been blessed.
This is the message of the Gospel; Good News to those who will hear
it.
And when we accept and follow Jesus we receive the help of the Holy
Spirit.
Being a Christian transforms us within and in every part of life;
It gives us hope and joy along with comfort in sorrow and strife.
We know we’re not perfect but we want to please God and obey.
We continually ask God to mend us and to show us the way.
We understand this is an ongoing process; not just an event.
We strive to reflect Christ’s love for it is Him we represent.
We believe God loves everyone and has a purpose for us all.
We know He does not want any of us to be lost or to fall.
We seek to know, to serve and to love God more and more;
As we find understanding and meaning we did not know before.
If your faith isn’t evident and doesn’t mean this to you,
Carefully reconsider and assess, is your faith really true?
If you have any doubts, seek His wisdom and pray.
Invite Him into your life; ask Him to show you the way.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that
whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have Eternal Life. For
God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to
save the world through Him." John 3:16-17
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF HOW TO GET ALONG WITH PEOPLE
Keep skid chains on your tongue; always say less than you think. Cultivate
a low, persuasive voice. How you say it often counts more than what you
say.
Make promises sparingly, and keep them faithfully, no matter what it costs.
Never let an opportunity pass to say a kind and encouraging word to or about
somebody. Praise good work, regardless of who did it. If criticism is
needed, criticize helpfully, never spitefully.
Be interested in others, their pursuits, their work, their homes and
families. Make merry with those who rejoice; with those who weep, mourn.
Let everyone you meet, however humble, feel that you regard them as people
of importance.
Be cheerful. Don't burden or depress those around you be dwelling on your
minor aches and pains and small disappointments. Remember, everyone is
carrying some kind of load.
Keep an open mind. Discuss, but don't argue. It is a mark of a superior
mind to be able to disagree without being disagreeable.
Let your virtues, if you have any, speak for themselves. Refuse to talk to
or about another's vices. Discourage gossip. It is a waste of valuable
time and can be extremely destructive.
Be careful of another's feelings. Wit and humor at the other person's
expense are rarely worth it and may hurt when least expected.
Pay no attention to ill-natured remarks about you. Remember, the person who
carried the message may not be the most accurate reporter in the world.
Simply live so that nobody will believe them. Disordered nerves and bad
digestion are a common cause of backbiting.
Don't be too anxious about the credit due you. Do your best, and be
patient. Forget about yourself, and let others "remember." success is much
sweeter that way.
The Great Physician
Welcome to the Great Physician
Office hours are as you come,
He's a Specialist in all problems
And His day is never done.
He can heal a heart that's broken
He can mend the spirit, too,
No matter what your ailment
He does have the cure for you.
His fee for service never alters
He serves rich and poor as well,
He's our one chance for Salvation,
He alone saves us from H ell.
There's no fee for services rendered
All He asks is that we believe,
That He bled and died to save us
And all His blessings we will receive.
Do you have a special problem
That is troubling you this hour?
The just simply leave it with Him
You can find no greater power.
Don't delay in seeking treatment
Please, my friend, don't hesitate,
For His office is soon closing
And He'll shut and lock the gate.
I wouldn't want you to suffer
While the Doctor's so close by,
Your whole life will be much better
If my Physician you will try.
Forgive Yourself
There are many people in the world that have a problem with forgiving
themselves of their past mistakes. God is a God of love and compassion who
wishes to forgive and restore all who come to Him. Never feel as if you are
beyond redemption. God is able to turn your mess into a miracle.
I hope the following story will minister to you if you are having trouble
forgiving yourself, or feel as if God will never forgive you of your past
mistakes.
A woman is dying of Aids. A minister is summoned. He attempts to comfort
her, but to no avail.
"I am lost," she said. "I have ruined my life and every life around me. Now
I'm going painfully to h ell. There is no hope for me."
The minister saw a framed picture of a pretty girl on the dresser. "Who is
this?" he asked.
The woman brightened. "She is my daughter, the one beautiful thing in my
life."
"And would you help her if she was in trouble, or made a mistake? Would you
forgive her? Would you still love her?" the minister asked.
"Of course I would!" cried the woman, "I would do anything for her! Why do
you ask such a question?"
"Because I want you to know," said the minister, "that God has a picture of
you on His dresser."
author unknown
TWENTY ONE THOUGHTS TO LIVE BY
Author Unknown
ONE. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.
TWO. Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, t heir
conversational skills will be as important as any other.
THREE. Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you
want.
FOUR. When you say, 'I love you,' mean it.
FIVE. When you say, 'I'm sorry,' look the person in the eye.
SIX. Be engaged at least six months before you get married.
SEVEN. Believe in love at first sight.
EIGHT. Never laugh at anyone's dreams. People who don't have dreams
don't have much.
NINE. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the
only way to live life completely.
TEN.. In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.
ELEVEN. Don't judge people by their relatives.
TWELVE. Talk slowly but think quickly.
THIRTEEN! .... When someone asks you a question you don't want to
answer,
smile and ask, 'Why do you want to know?'
FOURTEEN. Remember that great love and great achievements involve
great
risk.
FIFTEEN. Say 'bless you' when you hear someone sneeze.
SIXTEEN. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.
SEVENTEEN. Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for
others; and Responsibility for all your actions.
EIGHTEEN. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.
NINETEEN. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps
to correct it.
TWENTY. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in
your voice.
TWENTY- ONE. Spend some time alone.
A SURE WAY TO A HAPPY DAY
Happiness is something we create in our mind.
Its not something we search for & seldom find.
It's just waking up & beginning the day
By counting our blessings & kneeling to pray.
It's giving up thoughts that breed discontent
And accepting what comes as a gift heaven-sent.
It's giving up wishing for things we have not
And making the best of whatever we've got,
It's knowing that life is determined for us'
And pursuing our tasks without fret, fear, or fuss.
For it's by completing what God gives us to do
That we find real contentment & Happiness too.
By Helen Steiner Rice
Meditations by Padre Pio
O Lord, I am in trouble, and it is not well with me, for I am greatly vexed
by this present suffering. I am caught in anguish and trouble on every side,
yet I know that I am come to this hour so that You may be praised when I am
made perfectly humble before You and glorified when I am clearly freed
through Your grace. O most beloved Father, may it be pleasing to You to
deliver me, for what can I do, most sinful wretch, or where can I go without
You? O Lord, give me patience in all my afflictions. Help me, O Lord God,
and I will not fear or dread whatever troubles befall me
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