Hello my friends! Today we had fog, but the snow is melting and that's good! Our driveway is clear now. Text Monica, she's doing well - praise the Lord. Hardly has to take much pain med, just some Tylenol when needed. Not much to say tonight except that I baked 8 loaves of Health Bread! Praying for you all!!
Let today's difficulties make you better not bitter. Lord, guide me, protect
me
and work through me.
S C R I P T U R E F O R T H E D A Y
"My speech and my proclamation were not with plausible words of wisdom,
but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith
might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God. Yet among the
mature
we do speak wisdom, though it is not a wisdom of this age or of
the rulers of this age, who are doomed to perish. But we speak God's
wisdom, secret and hidden, which God decreed before the ages for our
glory." ~1 Corinthians 2:4-7
M E D I T A T I O N F O R T H E D A Y
In these times of quiet meditation, we can try more and more to set our
hopes on the grace of God. We can know that whatever the future may
hold, it can hold more and more of good. We need not set all our hopes
and desires on material things. There can be weariness in an abundance
of things. We can set our hopes on spiritual things so that we may grow
spiritually. We can learn to rely on God's power more and more and in
that reliance we can have an insight into the greater value of the
things of the spirit.
P R A Y E R F O R T H E D A Y
I pray that I may not be overwhelmed by material things. I pray that I
may realize the higher value of spiritual things.
Today's readings 12/13/14
Sir.48:2-3, 15-16, 18-19; Mt.17:9-13
I'm sure we've all met someone "whose words were like a flaming furnace" to
us, someone we failed to "recognize" as being sent to us by God to "turn
back our hearts" to Him. In a world defined by lies and half-truths it's
very unusual to encounter someone with the courage to speak what needs to be
said in spite of the consequences associated with their message, but there
are people who do, living proof that the same Spirit that empowered Elijah
is still very much alive and well today. In our first reading Ben-Sirach
reminds us of the importance of such people and how "blessed" we are to be
able to "recognize" them and heed their words "before we die", especially
when their words challenge us to make drastic changes in the way we live.
The sad reality is we all develop bad habits over the course of our lives,
habits that St.Francis deSales tells us tend to ride into our lives making a
big show for all to see but sneak quietly out the back door when they leave
in order to hide their shameful defeat. I think we can all relate to that
process in some way, a process that may hurt at first but eventually brings
the relief and freedom we all long for. Yes, we've all met an "Elijah" at
one point or another whose words "burnt" us to the core, some of us may be
dealing with someone like that right now, and that's a good thing. if we
embrace them for who they are and Who it is that sent them. Let's not make
the fatal mistake of failing to recognize them or ignoring their call to
freedom, all because God has sent them into our lives "to prepare the way"
for the arrival of His Son and the freedom He brings!
God bless you,
In Jesus – Pat
He’s Interested
Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. 1 Peter 5:7
So nobody seemed to care if you changed jobs or not. And nobody said much to
affirm your new project venture. As you poured out your feelings in what you
thought was a safe place, you found she wasn’t all that interested.
He is interested.
Maybe there weren't many calls or notes from people who commented on your
promotion, or sympathized in the loss of a family member, showed concern for
a recent illness, or even remembered your birthday. Perhaps they are too
busy or maybe they don’t care enough to make it a priority. And when you
were sharing from a gut level about the childhood hurt that God's healing,
and there was no feedback or affirmation.
But He’s interested.
Got is interested in everything going on with you. Everything you think,
everything you say, everywhere you go, everything you do, everything and
everyone you are involved with. Jesus is the friend who ‘sticks closer than
a brother’.
If you would like a relationship with somebody who cares - and is interested
in you all the time- there you have it, anytime you want. How awesome is
that?!
Have you ever heard the saying if you feel far from God, guess who moved? He
is faithful. You can count on him to be interested in every single solitary
thing going on with you and in your life. Always.
That's good news.
The Lord himself watches over you! Psalm 121:5
Every time a hand reaches out
To help another....that is Christmas
Every time someone puts anger aside
And strives for understanding
That is Christmas
Every time people forget their differences
And realize their love for each other
That is Christmas
May this Christmas bring us
Closer to the spirit of human understanding
Closer to the blessing of peace!
Using God's Gifts
Many people are puzzled by the words of Luke 19:26, where the king is
settling accounts with his servants who had been given money to invest.
After he has told the parable, Jesus sums up by saying: "To everyone who
has, more will be given. And from him who has not, even that which he has
will be taken away."
Look at it this way: if a man plays a game and goes on practicing at it, he
will keep getting better. The good talent he has will increase. He had; and
he gets more.
On the other hand, the fellow who does not practice loses whatever ability
he started out with. In other words, what he had is taken away from him.
If we discipline and train our bodies, they grow fit and strong. If we take
it easy, they grow flabby and lose the strength they had. There is no such
thing as standing still in Christian life. We either get more, or we lose
what we have. We either advance or we slip back.
The "W" in Christmas
Author Unknown
Each December, I vowed to make Christmas a calm and peaceful
experience.
I had cut back on nonessential obligations - extensive card writing,
endless baking, decorating, and even overspending.
Yet still, I found myself exhausted, unable to appreciate the precious
family moments, and of course, the true meaning of Christmas.
My son, Nicholas, was in kindergarten that year. It was an exciting
season for a six year old.
For weeks, he'd been memorizing songs for his school's "Winter
Pageant."
I didn't have the heart to tell him I'd be working the night of the
production. Unwilling to miss his shining moment, I spoke with his
teacher. She assured me there would be a dress rehearsal the morning
of the presentation.
All parents unable to attend that evening were welcome to come then.
Fortunately, Nicholas seemed happy with the compromise.
So, the morning of the dress rehearsal, I filed in ten minutes early,
found a spot on the cafeteria floor and sat down. Around the room, I
saw several other parents quietly scampering to their seats.
As I waited, the students were led into the room. Each class,
accompanied by their teacher, sat cross-legged on the floor. Then,
each group, one by one, rose to perform their song.
Because the public school system had long stopped referring to the
holiday as "Christmas," I didn't expect anything other than fun,
commercial entertainment songs of reindeer, Santa Claus, snowflakes
and good cheer.
So, when my son's class rose to sing, "Christmas Love," I was slightly
taken aback by its bold title.
Nicholas was aglow, as were all of his classmates, adorned in fuzzy
mittens, red sweaters, and bright snow-caps upon their heads.
Those in the front row- center stage - held up large letters, one by
one, to spell out the title of the song.
As the class would sing "C is for Christmas," a child would hold up
the letter C. Then, "H is for Happy," and on and on, until each child
holding up his portion had presented the complete message, "Christmas
Love."
The performance was going smoothly, until suddenly, we noticed her; a
small, quiet, girl in the front row holding the letter "M" upside down
- totally unaware her letter "M" appeared as a "W".
The audience of 1st through 6th graders snickered at this little one's
mistake. But she had no idea they were laughing at her, so she stood
tall, proudly holding her "W".
Although many teachers tried to shush the children, the laughter
continued until the last letter was raised, and we all saw it
together.
A hush came over the audience and eyes began to widen.
In that instant, we understood the reason we were there, why we
celebrated the holiday in the first place, why even in the chaos,
there was a purpose for our festivities.
For when the last letter was held high, the message read loud and
clear:
"C H R I S T W A S L O V E"
And, I believe, He still is.
Amazed in His presence.... humbled by His love.
HAVE A BLESSED CHRISTMAS SEASON
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