Friday's Positive Thread

gloriajean — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 01:57:05 GMT

Too often our efforts stand in the way of coming to Christ. Lord, help me
know my weakness and surrender to Your strength.

Scripture for the day:

"You must follow exactly the path that the LORD your God has commanded
you, so that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that
you may live long in the land that you are to possess." ~Deuteronomy
5:33

Meditation for the day:

Our real work in life is to grow spiritually. To do this we can follow
the path of diligently seeking good. The hidden spiritual wonders are
revealed to those who diligently seek this treasure. From one point to
the next, we can follow the way of obedience to God's will until finally we
reach greater and greater spiritual heights. Work on the material plane
can be secondary to our real life's work. The material things which we
need most are those which help us to attain the spiritual.

Prayer for the day:

I pray that I may keep growing spiritually. I pray that I may make this
my real life's work.

Hello my friends! Well today it was cooler again - our raspberries look
fewer and fewer now. I heard next week a frost will be coming our way -
sure hope not - that's so soon!! Today's blessings were a nice time with
Linus - and he did apply today at another car salesman's job in town. We'll
see what God has in store for him, as this would be full time, but he'd have
a desk and could be off his feet a lot, and make more money which is badly
needed. Please pray for God's will to be done. He does know what's best
for us! Another blessing was a phone call from Darla in Texas - nice long
visit. She is busy doing research papers. She doesn't teach until next
Semester. Linus is busy staining the frames for our storm windows for the
patio, and then he'll be putting them on shortly. Yes, Fall is here
already! Hard to believe that our summer is all over! I love summers.
Tonight starts another Bible Study at our Church, this one on the Psalms.
Just Linus is taking it, and will share with me what he learns. Should be
interesting. Praying for all of you - and thanks for your prayers for us!
My sympathy to Juanita on the loss of her Mom recently - may God reward her
Mom with Heavenly bliss, and much comfort to Juanita and family.

The Jesus Prayer

O my Divine Savior, transform me into yourself.
May my hands be the hands of Jesus.
May my tongue be the tongue of Jesus,
Grant that every faculty of my body may serve only to glorify you.
Above all, transform my soul and all its powers,
that my memory, my will and my affections
may be the memory, the will and the affections of Jesus.
I pray you to destroy in me all that is not you.
Grant that I may live but in you and for you,
and that I may truly say with St. Paul:
"I live, now not I, but Christ lives in me" (Gal 2:20).

LORD, PROP US UP
Author Unknown

Every time I am asked to pray, I think of the old deacon who always
prayed, Lord, prop us up on our leanin' side.'

After hearing him pray that prayer many times, someone asked him why
he prayed that prayer so fervently.

He answered, 'Well sir, you see, it's like this....I got an old barn
out back. It's been there a long time, it's withstood a lot of
weather, it's gone through a lot of storms, and it's stood for many
years. It's still standing, but one day I noticed it was leaning to
one side a bit. So I went and got some pine poles and propped it up on
its leaning side so it wouldn't fall.

Then I got to thinking 'bout that and how much I was like that old
barn. I been around a long time, I've withstood a lot of life's
storms, I've withstood a lot of bad weather in life, I've withstood a
lot of hard times, and I'm still standing too. But I find myself
leaning to one side from time to time, so I like to ask the Lord to
prop us up on our leaning side, 'cause I figure a lot of us get to
leaning, at times.'

Sometime we get to leaning toward anger, leaning toward bitterness,
leaning toward hatred, leaning toward cussing, leaning toward a lot of
things that we shouldn't, so we need to pray, 'Lord, prop us up on our
leaning side,' so we will stand straight and tall again, to glorify
the Lord.

Prayer of Trust
By St. Aloysius Gonzaga

O Holy Mary, my Mistress!
I commend my soul and body
unto thy blessed and special trust today
and every day,
and at the hour of my passing hence.
To thee I entrust all my hope and consolation,
all my anguish and miseries,
my life and the end of my life,
that through thy most holy intercession
and thy merits,
all my actions may be
directed and disposed according
to thy will and that of thy Son.
Amen.

Whisper Jesus

Today I got a burden,
And I felt that I should pray
For God's spirit seemed to tell me,
That you needed prayer today.

I don't know what the problem is,
But I sure do know the cure
And if you'll only let Him
God will keep you safe and secure.

In life there's always problems
Cropping up to spoil our day
But my friend you know the answer
All you have to do is pray.

If you still feel you're defeated
And you want to run and hide
Just reach out and I'll be there
Standing right there by your side.

So remember, Whisper Jesus,
For He's just a prayer away,
He's so close that you can touch Him
All you have to do is pray.

(author unknown)

CAN YOU RELATE?
Author Unknown

I drive into work listening to gospel music or a pre-recorded sermon
on the radio. I get out of the car and walk to the building entrance.

As I open the building door I leave just enough room for me to get in
and I leave Jesus standing outside as the door closes behind me. He's
standing with His palms on the door glass and watches me as I get on
the elevator.

His eyes are sad and He turns and goes to sit on the stone bench.
There He'll sit patiently and wait for me for the next 9 hours.

First two hours of work - I fuss and complain about things not going
right. Jesus, sitting with his chin in His hand looks upward toward
the building wishing He could help me.

By lunch time - I'm flustered, regretting I work in this place and
sputtering bitterness all over folks.

Jesus comes around to the side of the building where my cubicle is
located. He looks up from the ground trying to get my attention but I
can't hear him; my focus is on my problems.

Jesus goes back to the front of the building, sits down and continues
to wait for me. He thinks to Himself as He looks up to the third
floor, "She went in there defenseless. If only she had taken me in
there with her. When will she learn?"

End of the day - I'm pooped, run down, no energy, irritable &
frustrated. I leave the building & Jesus gets up happily to greet me
but I'm in no mood for Him now. I've just been to h ell and back and
the last thing I want to do is be bothered with anyone.

God just actually showed me this is how I'VE been acting. He showed me
each act and worst of all, He let Me feel a small portion of how
grieved he was because of my actions and attitude. I left Jesus
standing outside, almost let the door smack him in His face.

From time to time our jobs overwhelm us and we completely forget to
"take Jesus with us". We may not go around cursing anyone out or
punching anyone in the face (hopefully not) but what are our actions
saying about us and about who or whose we are?

We are the salt of the Earth and the light of the world. A city on a
hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under
a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to
everyone in the house. Matt. 5:13-15.

We should be bringing peace to our jobs and not be the cause of
confusion. We should be the ones to bring our gifts & talents to the
table to help in WHATEVER area God has chosen for us to work in.

Col.3:23-24-"Whatever you do, work at it with ALL your heart, as
working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will
receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord
Christ you are serving."

Daily Prayers are Heaven's Stairs

The "Stairway" rises "Heaven high"-
The "steps" are dark and steep,
In weariness we climb them
As we stumble, fall and weep...
And many times we falter
Along the "path of prayer"
Wondering if You hear us
And if You really care...
Oh, give us some assurance,
Restore our faith anew,
So we can keep on climbing
The "Stairs of Prayer" to You-
For we are weak and wavering,
Uncertain and unsure,
And only meeting You in prayer
Can help us to endure
All life's trials and troubles
It's sickness, pain and sorrow,
And give us strength and courage
To face and meet tomorrow!

- Author Unknown

IF A CHILD LIVES WITH CRITICISM
Author Unknown

If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn
If children live with hostility, they learn to fight
If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive
If children live with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves
If children live with ridicule, they learn to be shy
If children live with jealousy, they learn what envy is
If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty
If children live with tolerance, they learn to be patient
If children live with encouragement, they learn to be confident
If children live with praise, they learn to appreciate
If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves
If children live with acceptance, they learn to find love in the world
If children live with recognition, they learn to have a goal
If children live with sharing, they learn to be generous
If children live with honesty and fairness, they learn what truth and
justice are
If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves
and in those around them
If children live with friendliness, they learn that the world is a
nice place in which to live
If children live with serenity, they learn to have peace of mind.

What are your children living with?

Mother Teresa Said...

Am I convinced of Christ's love for me and mine for Him?
This conviction is like sunlight which makes
the sap of life rise and the buds of sanctity bloom.
This conviction is the rock on which sanctity is built.

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Friday's Positive Thread