Hello my friends! Was at Darla's tonight baby-sitting so they could go out - just got home. Took some pictures of the twins on the floor laying next to each other. Cute. They really are a blessing!! In the morning it's off to the Family Reunion - 2 hour drive.
Love and trust are the solutions for the worries and frets of life.
Lord, I pray for Your gift of Faith which is all that I need for Your
power to work within me.
S C R I P T U R E F O R T H E D A Y
"It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words
that I have spoken to you are spirit and life." ~John 6:63
M E D I T A T I O N F O R T H E D A Y
I can discipline myself. I can do this disciplining now. I can turn
out all useless thoughts. I know that the goodness of my life is a
necessary foundation for its usefulness. I can welcome this training,
for it opens me to receive the power God wants to give me. I can
believe that this power is a mighty power when it is used in the right
way.
P R A Y E R F O R T H E D A Y
I pray that I may face and accept whatever discipline is necessary. I
pray that I may open myself to receive God's power in my life.
The Fork
There was a woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and had
been given three months to live. So as she was getting her things "in
order," she contacted her pastor and had him come to her house to discuss
certain aspects of her final wishes.
She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, what scriptures she
would like to be read, and what outfit she wanted to be buried in. The woman
also requested to be buried with her favorite Bible. Everything was in order
and the pastor was preparing to leave when the woman suddenly remembered
something very important to her.
"There's one more thing," she said excitedly. "What's that?" came the
pastor's reply. "This is very important," the woman continued. "I want to be
buried with a fork in my right hand."
The pastor stood looking at the woman, not knowing quite what to say. "That
surprises you, doesn't it?" the woman asked. "Well, to be honest, I'm
puzzled by the request," said the pastor.
The woman explained. "In all my years of attending church socials and
potluck dinners, I always remember that when the dishes of the main course
were being cleared, someone would inevitably lean over and say, 'Keep your
fork'. It was my favorite part because I knew that something better was
coming...like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie. Something
wonderful, and with substance! So, I just want people to see me there in
that casket with a fork in my hand and I want them to wonder 'What's with
the fork?'.
Then I want you to tell them: "Keep your fork....the best is yet to come".
The pastor's eyes welled up with tears of joy as he hugged the woman
goodbye. He knew this would be one of the last times he would see her before
her death. But he also knew that the woman had a better grasp of heaven than
he did. She KNEW that something better was coming.
At the funeral people were walking by the woman's casket and they saw the
pretty dress she was wearing and her favorite Bible and the fork placed in
her right hand. Over and over, the pastor heard the question "What's with
the fork?" And over and over he smiled. During his message, the pastor told
the people of the conversation he had with the woman shortly before she
died. He also told them about the fork and about what it symbolized to her.
The pastor told the people how he could not stop thinking about the fork and
told them that they probably would not be able to stop thinking about it
either. He was right.
So the next time you reach down for your fork, let it remind you oh so
gently, that the best is yet to come.. Friends are a very rare jewel,
indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear,
they share a word of praise, and they always want to open their hearts to
us.
A Prayer
Lord,
Allow me to use the experience and knowledge I have gained
for the benefit of my family and friends. Give me wisdom, so
that I may be wise. Not in the wisdom of the world, but in
my dealings with people, so that I may advise sensibly,
support regularly, encourage frequently, challenge always.
Allow me to continue to grow in experience and knowledge.
Allow me to strive for further glory, considering every view
point, and going forward in faith, trusting in your
guidance.
Amen
The Lord's Test
I woke up this morning
and knew that today,
The sun would not be shining
and the clouds would be gray!
As I stepped outside,
rain fell upon my head.
My car wouldn't start
so I walked to school instead.
I forgot all of my assignments
I failed all of my tests.
I dropped my head in disgust
and asked the Lord for one request.
"Lord, why is it that things
won't go my way?"!
He gently replied, "Dear child it
is because you didn't thank me yesterday.
I woke you up and enabled
you to see the sun again!
I gave you shelter,
protected your family,
and even let you make a new friend.
I blessed you far
greater than I ever had before.
But you were too busy
to thank me once more.
You didn't feel sick
because I maintained your health.
You had money in your pocket
because I maintained your wealth!
You had shoes on your feet
and clothes to wear, too.
You had plenty of food to eat,
and what did you do?
You ignored me and went
about your tasks.
But when you wanted something
you never hesitated to ask.
I was there when you needed me
and that wasn't too long ago.
But when things started going your way,
it was me you did not know.
As if that weren't enough,
I provided your favorite luxuries.
This was something I didn't have
to do, they weren't even necessities.
And when it was time to get on your
knees and show your gratitude.
You decided that after such a
fulfilling day, you weren't in the mood.
So I decided to
give you just a little test.!
To show you how it would feel
to stop being blessed."
I began to realize what
the Lord was saying.
And when I got home, I fell
to my knees and started praying.
He said, "My child, you have
learned and you know I do forgive.
But remember to remember this day
as long as you shall live.
I love filling your life with joy,
and your pain I'll alleviate it.
But just a simple thank you
would show how much you appreciate it."
Your daily reading fromSt. Faustina's diary
July 29
Today I said to the Lord, "When will You take me to Yourself? I've been feeling so ill, and I've been waiting for Your coming with such longing!" Jesus answered me, Be always ready; I will not leave you in this exile for long. My holy will must be fulfilled in you. O Lord, if Your holy will as not yet been entirely fulfilled in me, here I am, ready for everything that You want, O Lord! O my Jesus, there is only one thing which surprises me; namely, that You make so many secrets known to me; but that one secret-the hour of my death-You do not want to tell me. And the Lord answered me, Be at peace; I will let you know, but not just now. Ah, my Lord, I beg Your pardon for wanting to know this. You know very well why, because You know my yearning heart, which is eagerly going out to You. You know that I would not want to die even a minute before the time which You have appointed for me before the ages. Jesus listened with wondrous kindness to the outpourings of my heart. (1539)
O my God, I am overcome with great longing for You today. Oh, nothing else any longer occupies my heart. The earth no longer contains anything for me. O Jesus, how strongly I feel this exile, how very prolonged it is for me! O death, messenger of God, when will you announce to me that longed-for moment, through which I will be united to my God forever? (1573)
The words of Our Lord Jesus Christ are in boldface. The words of Our Lady are in italics.
Copyright (c) 1996 by the Congregation of Marians of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. All rights reserved.
July 29 - Jesus Calling
Come to Me continually. I am meant to be the Center of your consciousness, the Anchor of your soul. Your mind will wander from Me, but the question is how far you allow it to wander. An anchor on a short rope lets a boat drift only slightly before the taut line tugs the boat back toward the center. Similarly, as you drift away from Me, My Spirit within you gives a tug, prompting you to return to Me. As you become increasingly attuned to My Presence, the length of rope on your soul’s Anchor is shortened. You wander only a short distance before feeling that inner tug—telling you to return to your true Center in Me.
We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain.
-Hebrews 6:19
And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.
-1 John 2:28
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’”
-Matthew 22:37
Blogs & Forums
