Hello my friends! The days are flying by so quickly just realizing that one week from Tomorrow we leave already. If I don't master that tablet for copying a pasting before that, can I send the thread to someone and have you post it - I can prepare it ahead of time and send to you if that works. Pinky Ann, my tablet fits in my purse too - I'll have to see what a net book looks like - can you email from there too? So much technology to learn. My tablet has not been used today - it's still plugged in from last night and will stay there until tomorrow. Well today's blessings besides Mass this morning was being invited to our friend's place and great supper and cards afterwards, nice to visit them again and we've known each other since April, 1983 at a retreat. Life long friends. We had a very foggy day here all day! But the snow is melting and I could go there without a coat and just shoes. I know that won't last, but it was nice for a change! Prayers being said for you all.
We are often called upon by God as His means to care for His people.
Lord, I am here to serve You and am ready to do Your work.
S C R I P T U R E F O R T H E D A Y
"But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and
persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act--they will be
blessed in their doing." ~James 1:25
M E D I T A T I O N F O R T H E D A Y
When something happens to upset us and we are discouraged, we can try to
feel that life's difficulties and troubles are not intended to arrest
our progress in the spiritual life, but to test our strength and to
increase our determination to keep going. Whatever it is that must be
met, we can either overcome it or use it. Nothing need daunt us for
long, nor need any difficulty entirely overcome or conquer us. God's
strength is always there, waiting for us to use it. Nothing can be too
great to be overcome, or if not overcome, then used.
P R A Y E R F O R T H E D A Y
I pray that I may know that there can be no failure with God. I pray
that with God's help I may live a more victorious life.
THE FIRST CRIB
St. Francis of Assisi assembled the first crib in a cave on an Italian
hillside in 1223. His aim was to make the Christmas story come alive for the
shepherds and farmers of the locality.
On Christmas eve the friars and the people assembled with candles and
torches to illuminate the night. Then Francis arrived and was very happy
when he saw the preparations they had made.
The crib was put in place.
The hay was brought in.
The ox and donkey were led forward.
The woods rang with their prayers.
The rocks echoed with their hymns.
Francis spoke to them about God's Son coming among us to help us to realize
our splendid dignity as sons and daughters of the same Father.
At the end of the vigil they all returned to their homes, full of peace and
joy, feeling very close to GOD and to ONE ANOTHER.
Blessed Christmas!
(Author Unknown)
A True Christmas Poem
C is for the Christ child lying in a manager.
H is for the Holy One who saved us all from danger.
R is to Remember Him who died that we may live.
I is to Inspire us that we may always give.
S is for joyful Songs and sacred hymns that praise.
T is to Thank the Lord for showing us the way.
M is for the Miracles that bless us each day.
A is for the Almighty who always puts us first.
S is for the Shepherd who guides us on earth.
Finding God Within and Without
How do I find You God?
God is Love.
If you have ever loved,
If you have ever been loved,
You have experienced God
from Within and Without
God is Truth.
If you have ever told the truth,
If you have ever discovered Truth,
You have experienced God
from Within and Without
God is Beauty.
If you have ever helped to create something beautiful,
If you have ever witnessed beauty in any of it's myriad forms,
You have experienced God
from Within and Without
God is Good.
If you have ever done or thought something good,
If you have ever recognized goodness in or through another,
You have experienced God
from Within and Without
All of those experiences, those gifts,
of Love, Truth, Beauty and Goodness
were directly from God through you... or to you.
Glad to Meet You God.
Author Unknown
Advent Day 15 - A New Beginning
The third Sunday of Advent is referred to as "Gaudete" Sunday. In Latin,
Gaudete is a positive command that means, "Rejoice!" We Christians are a
joyful people. In fact, St. Paul tells the Thessalonians in today's second
reading, "Rejoice always!"
Now, does that mean we must be always giddy, always on an emotional high?
No. But it does mean that we are basically and irrevocably an optimistic
people, believers in the divine comedy - in good times and bad, in success
and failure.
I always think of Thomas Merton in this context, telling one of his novices
to get rid of his long face - and meaning it as a positive command.
Christians have no business moping around.
Notice how beautifully this theme balances the theme we've been developing
the last couple of weeks - one that also belongs to the heart of Advent -
the desperation of our sin and our need for salvation.
The sobering news is that we can't save ourselves. But the overwhelmingly
good news is that we have been saved through the mighty power of God, and
that's the reason why we are an essentially joyful people.
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