Daily Positive Thread for Friday

gloriajean — Fri, 17 Jan 2014 02:16:48 GMT

Hello my friends! The wind was fierce today - it was a blessing not having to go out in it and another blessing was that we had the pleasure of having Lori home for lunch for the rest of my chili! That was so nice having her. She wants to come over to get me on Pintrest to get some good recipes but the weather has been not favorable for that yet, tomorrow should be much better!!! Oh another big blessing - invited for supper at Ray and Ann's Saturday night - looking forward to it! Such good friends! Thank you for counting your blessings here, and please continue - God isn't finished yet!!

Allow your mind to become quiet and less judgmental and you will feel

improvements

in all areas of your life. Lord, help my mind avoid twisting the words I

hear and misjudging

the intentions of others in order to justify my own righteousness. Help me

to spread Your peace.

S C R I P T U R E S F O R T H E D A Y

On this mountain he will destroy the veil that veils all peoples, The web

that is woven over all nations; he will destroy death forever. The Lord

GOD will wipe away the tears from all faces; The reproach of his people he

will remove from the whole earth; for the Lord has spoken. ~Isaiah

25:6-10a

They placed them at his feet, and he cured them. The crowds were amazed

when they saw the mute speaking, the deformed made whole, the lame

walking, and the blind able to see, and they glorified the God of Israel.

~Matthew 15:29-37

M E D I T A T I O N F O R T H E D A Y

What a wonderful day it will be when Jesus comes in His glory. All we hope

for will come into being. During this Holy Season though, the Lord calls

us to get involved in building His Kingdom ... by promoting justice and

building peace, by showing concern for the sick and the poor and bringing

God's healing presence, by living in a confusing world but following in

His footsteps.

P R A Y E R F O R T H E D A Y

I pray that God's dream for the world might be my dream. I pray that I may

become more and more involved in ushering in His Kingdom.

Psalm 23 For The Computer Age

The Lord is my Programmer, I shall not crash.

He installed His software on the hard disk of my heart; all of His commands

are user-friendly.

His directory guides me to the right choices for His name's sake.

Even though I scroll through the problems of life, I will fear no bugs, for

He is my backup. His password protects me.

He prepares a menu before me in the presence of my enemies. His help is only

a keystroke away.

Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and my

file will be merged with His and saved forever.

Amen.

- Author Unknown

Come As You Are. No Jacket Required

I shook my head in disbelief. This couldn't be the right place. After all, I

couldn't possibly be welcome here. I had been given an invitation several

times, by several different people, and had finally decided to see what this

place was all about.

But, this just couldn't be the right place. Quickly, I glanced down at the

invitation that clutched in my hand. I scanned past the words, "Come as you

are. No jacket required," and found the location.

Yes, I was at the right place. I peered through the window again and saw a

room of people whose faces seemed to glow with joy. All were neatly dressed,

adorned in fine garments and appeared strangely clean as they dined at this

exquisite restaurant.

Ashamed, I looked down at my own tattered and torn clothing, covered in

stains. I was dirty, in fact, filthy.

A foul smell seemed to consume me and I couldn't shake the grime that clung

to my body. As I turned around to leave, the words from the invitation

seemed to leap out at me, "Come as you are. No jacket required."

I decided to give it a shot. Mustering up every bit of courage I could find,

I opened the door to this restaurant and walked up to a man standing behind

a podium.

"Your name, sir?" he asked me with a smile.

"Daniel F. Renken," I mumbled without looking up. I thrust my hands deep

into my pockets, hoping to conceal their stains.

He didn't seem to notice the filth that I was covered in and he continued,

"Very good, sir. A table is reserved in your name. Would you like to be

seated?"

I couldn't believe what I heard! A grin broke out on my face and I said,

"Yes, of course!"

He lead me to a table and, sure enough, there was a placard with my name

written on it in a deep, dark red.

As I browsed over a menu, I saw many delightful items listed.

There were things like, "peace," "joy," "blessings," "confidence,"

"assurance," "hope," "love," "faith," and "mercy."

I realized that this was no ordinary restaurant! I flipped the menu back to

the front in order to see where I was at. "God's Grace," was the name of

this place!

The man returned and said, "I recommend the 'Special of the Day.' With it,

you are entitled to heaping portions of everything on this menu."

You've got to be kidding! I thought to myself. You mean, I can have ALL of

this!

"What is the 'Special of the Day,'" I asked with excitement ringing in my

voice.

"Salvation," was his reply.

"I'll take it," I practically cried out.

Then, as quickly as I made that statement, the joy left my body. A sick,

painful ache jerked through my stomach and tears filled my eyes.

Between my sobs I said, "Mister, look at me. I'm dirty and nasty. I'm

unclean and unworthy of such things. I'd love to have all of this, but, I

Just can't afford it."

Undaunted, the man smiled again. "Sir, your check has already been taken

care of by that Gentleman over there," he said pointing to the front of the

room. "His Name is Jesus."

Turning, I saw a Man whose very presence seemed to light the room. He was

almost too much to look at. I found myself walking towards Him and in

shaking voice I whispered, "Sir, I'll wash the dishes or sweep the floors or

take out the trash. I'll do anything I can do to repay you for all of this."

He opened His arms and said with a smile, "Son, all of this is yours if you

just come unto Me. Ask Me to clean you up and I will. Ask Me to take away

the stains and it is done. Ask Me to allow you to feast at My table and you

will eat. Remember, the table is reserved in your name. All you must do is

accept this gift that I offer you."

Astonished, I fell at His feet and said, "Please, Jesus. Please clean up my

life. Please change me and seat me at Your table and give me this new life."

Immediately, I heard the words, "It is finished."

I looked down and white robes adorned my squeaky clean body. Something

strange and wonderful had happened. I felt new, like a weight had been

lifted, and I found myself seated at His table.

"The 'Special of the Day' has been served," the Lord said to me. "Salvation

is yours."

We sat and talked for a great while and I so enjoyed the time that I spent

with Him. He told me, me of all people, that He would like me to come back

as often as I liked for another helping from God's Grace. He made it clear

that He wanted me to spend as much time with Him as possible.

As it drew near time for me to go back outside into the "real world," He

whispered to me softly, "And Daniel, I am with you always." And then, He

said something to me that I will never forget. He said, "My child, Do you

see these empty tables throughout this room?"

"Yes, Lord. I see them. What do they mean?" I replied.

"These are reserved tables, but the individuals whose names are on each

placards have not accepted their invitations to dine. Would you be so kind

as to hand out these invitations to those who have not joined us yet?" Jesus

asked.

"Of course," I said with excitement as I picked up the invitations.

"Go ye therefore into all nations," He said as I turned to leave.

I walked into God's Grace dirty and hungry. Stained in sin. My righteousness

as filthy rags. And Jesus cleaned me up. I walked out a brand new man...

robed in white, His righteousness. And so, I'll keep my promise to my Lord.

I'll go.

I'll spread the Word.

I'll share the Gospel . . .

I'll hand out the invitations.

And I'll start with you.

"Have you been to God's Grace? There's a table reserved in your name, and

here's your invitation . . .

Come as you are. No jacket required."

- Author Unknown

Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that

not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should

boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works,

which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Your Word, My Heart

Dear God,

I'll hide Your Word within my heart

To call upon each day

To calm me when the trials appear,

Or trouble comes my way.

I'll remember how You promised me

That all things work for good

I'll be steadfast in my prayers

And have faith, the way I should.

My very life is in Your hands,

My heart is Yours to mold

Each part of me belongs to You,

(A story to unfold).

Forgive me when I fail to live

The way You want me to

Restore in me, undying faith

And make me more like You.

Amen.

- Author Unknown

The Seed

Then the emperor said, "One year ago today, I gave everyone here a

seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it

back to me today. But I gave you all boiled seeds that would not grow.

All of you, except Ling, have brought me trees and plants and flowers.

When you found that the seed would not grow, you substituted another

seed for the one I gave you. Ling was the only one with the courage

and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it. Therefore, he Is the

one who will be the new

emperor!"

If you plant honesty, you will reap trust. If you plant goodness, you

will reap friends. If you plant humility, you will reap greatness. If

you plant perseverance, you will reap victory. If you plant

consideration, you will reap harmony. If you plant hard work, you will

reap success. If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation.

If you plant faith, you will reap miracles. So be careful what you

plant, now; it will determine what you will reap tomorrow. The seeds

you now scatter will make life worse or better for

you or for the ones who will come after you. Someday you will enjoy

the fruits or you will pay for the choices you make.

Two thousand years ago someone else told the same story with fewer

words, "What you sow, so shall you reap". If you know who said this,

nothing else needs to be said.

Meditations by Padre Pio

Only a general knows how and when to use one of his soldiers. Wait, your

turn will come.

Mother Teresa Said...

Faith is a gift from God.

When God comes to you or you go to God,

then you will have the chance to accept Him or reject Him.

Accepting Him is the gift of faith.

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