Live today so that you will make life better for those around you. You will
end up making your life better too. Lord, You teach that it is in giving
that
I receive. May I always have a generous spirit.
Scripture for the day:
"'Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who
fell into the hands of the robbers?' He said, 'The one who showed him
mercy.' Jesus said to him, 'Go and do likewise.'" ~Luke 10:36-37
Meditation for the day:
We can accept the difficulties and disciplines of life and thereby
fully share the common life of other people. Many things that we need
to accept in life are not to be taken so much as being necessary for
us personally. In our disappointments and difficulties we share in the
problems of humanity. We can accept the compassion and understanding
of others. We can share many of these experiences of life in order to
understand and sympathize with others. Unless we have been through
the same experiences, we cannot understand other people or their
makeup well enough to be able to help them.
Prayer for the day:
I pray that I may accept everything that comes my way as a part of
life. I pray that I may make use of it in helping other people.
When you pray do you ever feel that you have Dryness in Prayer? Here is
something on that:
Dryness in Prayer
Brother John Raymond - Community of the Monks of Adoration
March 28, 1993
You may have read about or heard of certain stages in prayer. I would like
to talk about what is perhaps the second stage a person enters into as he
progresses in prayer. Prayer is more than just words - it involves our whole
relationship with God. Just as in any relationship the intimacy between two
people takes time to grow. In the case of our relationship with God it is
only our response to God's love that needs growth. God helps us in the
beginning of our relationship with Him by drawing us to Himself through many
consolations during our prayer. We pray to God and enjoy the consolations we
receive from Him. God showers us with these consolations to form in us the
habit of prayer. Once we are firmly rooted in a life of prayer God sometimes
withdraws these sensible consolations. Perhaps we have become use to them.
We begin to feel like a "cold stone" when we try to pray. This dryness or
loss of feelings we experience may even carry over into our charitable
works. Some may experience other difficulties when praying. The first
thought (though it's incorrect) that comes to many people when this happens
is that they have done something wrong and therefore God has abandoned them.
Yet when they examine themselves they cannot find any serious violations of
His Law. This experience of dryness can be very painful. It can be even more
painful if one was very attached to the former feelings of consolation. What
is happening? God is purifying our love for Him. We are now asked to pray
and serve Him with higher motives than before. Our relationship with God
becomes less of a "what I'm getting out of it" attitude. Then we'll grow in
humility before God. We realize just how much we depend on Him for
everything - even prayer. Thus this seemingly negative experience in prayer
helps us to grow in a positive way. Some people, however, turn back in their
relationship with God at this point. They give up their daily prayers. Their
"motive" for prayer is gone and so they give up. Others may not give up
prayer altogether but cut down on the amount of time they used to spend in
prayer. This is a sad mistake. If we accept this new situation in our
relationship with God and do not panic we actually will suffer less. After
some time we will notice a deeper level of love for God developing. We will
again "want" to pray regardless of what we "experience" while praying. Just
to spend time with God will be our delight. We have to remain faithful to
this relationship of prayer with God. Perhaps the only thing we are able to
do during prayer is say to God "here I am." But God, Who looks at the heart,
knows our intentions and is pleased with us. When we arrive at a type of
prayer where we are just happy to be in God's presence we have arrived at
what spiritual authors call the Prayer of Simple Regard or a stage of prayer
which involves a "look of love," a simple gazing upon God. Our will is
attached to God and we are happy to just sit in His presence. St. John
Vianney tells about a man who used to a lot of time before Our Lord present
in the tabernacle of the church. One day St. John Vianney asked the man what
he did during this time. The man responded, "I look at Him and He looks at
me." In other words this man was experiencing this form of prayer. I wish to
point out that often spiritual writers are speaking about the stages of
prayer that many people pass through. This does not mean that everyone
travels by this path in their life of prayer. As the Benedictine, Father
John Chapman stated, "Pray as you can, not as you can't." But for those who
are experiencing dryness in prayer I hope and pray that they may persevere
on the path they have begun. A path that will lead to a more intimate
prayer-life with God.
WHY GOD GAVE US FRIENDS
Author Unknown
GOD knew that everyone needs
companionship and cheer,
He knew that people need someone
whose thoughts are always near.
He knew they need someone kind
to lend a helping hand.
Someone to gladly take the time
to care and understand.
GOD knew that we all need someone
to share each happy day,
to be a source of courage
when troubles come our way.
Someone to be true to us,
whether near or far apart.
Someone whose love we'll always
hold and treasure in our hearts.
That's Why GOD Gave Us Friends
I Need A Hug Lord
I need a hug Lord please hold me tight,
it would give me added assurance everything’s all right.
Now I know I’m standing on faith and I understand;
You are in control and hold me in your hand.
I know in my heart that I haven’t a spirit of fear
and that when I have a need you are always there.
My faith doesn’t depend on me getting this embrace;
the faith you’ve provided is strongly in place.
An embrace is something of which I’ve had far too few,
having no others wouldn’t matter if I had one from you.
I know that you love me I feel it deep in my heart,
I haven’t doubted once since our relationship had it’s start.
I know every single one of my needs has been met,
not even one time have you ever disappointed me yet.
But Father ever since the beginning when you created man,
an occasional embrace was part of your plan.
Now the people in my life don’t believe in embracing you see,
so just this one time won’t you please hug me?
I promise I won’t be a bother I won’t pester You any more,
just this once may I have a hug from the one I adore?
I need a hug Lord just hold me tight,
I know it’ll be enough to give me a lifetime of delight!
Barbara Philbrook
"Children Are..."
Amazing, acknowledge them.
Believable, trust them.
Childlike, allow them.
Divine, honor them.
Energetic, nourish them.
Fallible, embrace them.
Gifts, treasure them.
Here Now, be with them.
Innocent, delight with them.
Joyful, appreciate them.
Kindhearted, learn from them.
Lovable, cherish them.
Magical, fly with them.
Noble, esteem them.
Open minded, respect them.
Precious, value them.
Questioners, encourage them.
Resourceful, support them.
Spontaneous, enjoy them.
Talented, believe in them.
Unique, affirm them.
Vulnerable, protect them.
Whole, recognize them.
Xtraspecial, celebrate them.
Yearning, notice them.
Zany, laugh with them.
SIDE BY SIDE
Author Unknown
They lie on the table side by side,
The Holy Bible and the TV guide.
One is well worn and cherished with pride,
Not the Bible . . . but the TV guide.
One is used daily to help folks decide,
No, not the Bible . . . but the TV guide.
As the pages are turned, what shall they see,
Oh, what does it matter, turn on the TV.
Then confusion reigns, they can't all agree,
On what they should watch on the old TV.
So they open the book in which they confide,
No, not the Bible . . . but the TV guide.
The Word of God is seldom read,
Maybe a verse as they fall into bed.
Exhausted and sleepy and tired as can be,
Not from reading the Bible . . . from watching TV.
So then back to the table side by side,
Lie the Holy Bible and the TV guide.
No time for prayer, no time for the Word,
The plan of Salvation is seldom heard.
But forgiveness of sin, so full and free,
Is found in the Bible . . . not on TV.
Angel-Made Quilt
As I faced my Maker at the last judgment, I knelt before the Lord along with
all the other souls.
Before each of us laid our lives like the squares of a quilt in many piles.
An Angel sat before each of us sewing our quilt squares together into a
tapestry that is our life.
But as my angel took each piece of cloth off the pile, I noticed how ragged
and empty each of my squares was. They were filled with giant holes. Each
square was labeled with a part of my life that had been difficult, the
challenges and temptations I was faced with in everyday life.I saw hardships
that I endured, which were the largest holes of all.
I glanced around me. Nobody else had such squares. Other than a tiny hole
here and there, the other tapestries were filled with rich color and the
bright hues of worldly fortune.I gazed upon my own life and was
disheartened.
My angel was sewing the ragged pieces of cloth together,threadbare and
empty,like binding air.
Finally the time came when each life was to be displayed,held up to the
light, the scrutiny of truth.
The others rose, each in turn, holding up their tapestries.So filled their
lives had been.My angel looked upon me, and nodded for me to rise.
My gaze dropped to the ground in shame.I hadn't had all the earthly
fortunes.I had love in my life, and laughter.But there had also been trials
of illness, and death, and false accusations that took from me my world, as
I knew it. I had to start over many times.I often struggled with the
temptation to quit, only to somehow muster the strength to pick up and begin
again.
I spent many nights on my knees in prayer,asking for help and guidance in my
life. I had often been held up to ridicule, which I endured painfully, each
time offering it up to the Father in hopes that I would not melt within my
skin beneath the judgmental gaze of those who unfairly judged me.
And now, I had to face the truth. My life was what it was,and I had to
accept it for what it was.I rose and slowly lifted the combined squares of
my life to the light.An awe-filled gasp filled the air.I gazed around at the
others who stared at me with wide eyes.
Then, I looked upon the tapestry before me. Light flooded the many holes,
creating an image,the face of Christ. Then our Lord stood before me, with
warmth and love in His eyes.He said, "Every time you gave over your life to
Me, it became My life, My hardships, and My struggles.
Each point of light in your life is when you stepped aside and let Me shine
through, until there was more of Me than there was of you."
May all our quilts be threadbare and worn, allowing Christ to shine through.
Please share this with someone you love, care about or even someone who
needs Jesus in their heart.They may scoff, but at least the seed has been
planted,and God will do the rest.
May God bless you today and Forever.
- Author Unknown
Mother Teresa Said...
Our total surrender will come today by surrendering even our sins. We need
humility to acknowledge our sin. The knowledge of our sin helps us to rise.
“ I will get up and go to my Father. “
Meditations by Padre Pio
Do good everywhere, so that everyone can say: "This is a son of Christ."
Endure tribulation, sickness and pain for the love of God and for the
conversion of poor sinners. Defend the weak, console those who weep.
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