Daily Positive Thread for Sunday

gloriajean — Sun, 25 May 2014 00:50:57 GMT

Hello my friends! Today is a very beautiful, sunny, and warm day all day!!! It's 82 degrees out!!! Finally we have spring/summer and hope it stays with us. We have the grape jelly out for the Oriels but were surprised that other birds also like it - even the grackles! Still no cardinals yet. I'm getting a lot done in the house today - I used a new product for cleaning laminate floors, you just spray and mop! I cleaned out the linen closet - threw out stuff that was just taking room and not being used - now it's nice and clean and lots of room! There was an old box there where an old cell phone was in, I was about to throw it when here I noticed a charger was in there, so I saved that. I have ironing to do - my summer clothes get so wrinkled! My asparagus is growing!! I don't know when to pick it, it's growing up here there and everywhere! This is fun! Lettuce is growing and we can soon pick it. Our plum tree smells so pretty now - we don't get much plums but this time of the year the blossoms have such a great aroma. Praying for you all!! Take care!

Even the most difficult of trials is God's way of preparing us for something

else. Lord, may I view my challenges as an opportunity to grow rather than

as an opportunity to fail.

Scripture for the day:

"Anyone who resolves to do the will of God will know whether the teaching is

from God or whether I am speaking on my own. Those who speak on their own

seek their own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is

true, and there is nothing false in him."

~John 7:17-18

Meditation for the day:

The rule of God's kingdom is perfect order, perfect harmony, perfect supply,

perfect love, perfect honesty, perfect obedience. There is no discord in

God's kingdom, only some things still unconquered in God's children. The

difficulties of life can be caused by disharmony in the individual person.

We sometimes lack power because we lack harmony with God and with one

another. We sometimes think that God fails because power is not manifested

in our lives. God does not fail. We sometimes fail because we are out of

harmony with God.

Prayer for the day:

I pray that I may be in harmony with God and with other people. I pray that

this harmony will result in strength and success.

Here's another meditation on the Our Father:

The Lord's Prayer

Leader: When we feel that we are not succeeding and begin to doubt our

sense of worth, Lord, teach us to pray:

All: Our Father, who art in Heaven

Leader: When we become too closely involved in our own affairs, Lord, teach

us to pray:

All: Hallowed be thy name

Leader: When we think of the future as fixed and impossible to change,

Lord, teach us to pray:

All: Thy Kingdom come

Leader: When we begin to dodge our commitments and evade our obligations,

Lord, teach us to pray:

All: Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven

Leader: When we are smug, comfortable and satisfied and forget the needs of

others, Lord, teach us to pray:

All: Give us this day our daily bread

Leader: When we hold grudges and allow bitterness and resentment into our

hearts, Lord, teach us to pray:

All: Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against

Leader: When we find it hard to say 'No' and the pressure to give in

mounts, Lord, teach us to pray:

All: Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil

Leader: When we become self-centred and seek only our own gratification,

Lord, teach us to pray:

All: The Kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, for ever and ever.

Amen.

God's Road Map

I opened my map that God had left

Realized that I had missed my turn

Searched for the error I made

And God's voice I heard

He said rely on me my child and I'll direct your path

For the mistake you made was neither right nor left

I quizzed the words he said and turned the page

There I saw another lost and afraid

We both turned the next page and a note was left

God said, Do not fear for I haven't left

His words were comforting and true

But left me to ask, Did I leave you?

In His words I heard a smile

And He said you've gone the last mile

I looked at the map realizing my fate

The directions simple from state to state

Take my hand He said again

Without a second thought we placed our Faith in Him

Realizing the power we felt

We knelt to give Him Praise

And the final direction He gave

He said soft and sweet

You are done and have found the place

Where I have promised silver and gold

Reign with me and rest at home

For the Map you've used hast made thee whole

Continue to tell the journey you made

And the words you've heard

For the map you've used is simply God's Word!

Don't start reading this one until you've got more than 3 or 4 minutes. It

deserves some time for reflection..

GOD LIVES UNDER THE BED

I envy Kevin. My brother, Kevin, thinks God lives under his bed. At least

that's what I heard him say one night.

He was praying out loud in his dark bedroom, and I stopped to listen, 'Are

you there, God?' he said. 'Where are you? Oh, I see. Under the bed...'

I giggled softly and tiptoed off to my own room. Kevin's unique perspectives

are often a source of amusement. But that night something else lingered long

after the humor. I realized for the first time the very different world

Kevin lives in.

He was born 30 years ago, mentally disabled as a result of difficulties

during labor. Apart from his size (he's 6-foot-2), there are few ways in

which he is an adult.

He reasons and communicates with the capabilities of a 7-year-old, and he

always will. He will probably always believe that God lives under his bed,

that Santa Claus is the one who fills the space under our tree every

Christmas and that airplanes stay up in the sky because angels carry them.

I remember wondering if Kevin realizes he is different. Is he ever

dissatisfied with his monotonous life?

Up before dawn each day, off to work at a workshop for the disabled, home to

walk our cocker spaniel, return to eat his favorite macaroni-and-cheese for

dinner, and later to bed.

The only variation in the entire scheme is laundry, when he hovers excitedly

over the washing machine like a mother with her newborn child.

He does not seem dissatisfied.

He lopes out to the bus every morning at 7:05, eager for a day of simple

work.

He wrings his hands excitedly while the water boils on the stove before

dinner, and he stays up late twice a week to gather our dirty laundry for

his next day's laundry chores.

And Saturdays - oh, the bliss of Saturdays! That's the day my Dad takes

Kevin to the airport to have a soft drink, watch the planes land, and

speculate loudly on the destination of each passenger inside. 'That one's

goin' to Chi-car-go! ' Kevin shouts as he claps his hands.

His anticipation is so great he can hardly sleep on Friday nights.

And so goes his world of daily rituals and weekend field trips..

He doesn't know what it means to be discontent.

His life is simple.

He will never know the entanglements of wealth of power, and he does not

care what brand of clothing he wears or what kind of food he eats. His needs

have always been met, and he never worries that one day they may not be.

His hands are diligent. Kevin is never so happy as when he is working. When

he unloads the dishwasher or vacuums the carpet, his heart is completely in

it.

He does not shrink from a job when it is begun, and he does not leave a job

until it is finished. But when his tasks are done, Kevin knows how to

relax.

He is not obsessed with his work or the work of others. His heart is pure.

He still believes everyone tells the truth, promises must be kept, and when

you are wrong, you apologize instead of argue.

Free from pride and unconcerned with appearances, Kevin is not afraid to cry

when he is hurt, angry or sorry. He is always transparent, always sincere.

And he trusts God.

Not confined by intellectual reasoning, when he comes to Christ, he comes as

a child.. Kevin seems to know God - to really be friends with Him in a way

that is difficult for an 'educated' person to grasp. God seems like his

closest companion.

In my moments of doubt and frustrations with my Christianity, I envy the

security Kevin has in his simple faith.

It is then that I am most willing to admit that he has some divine knowledge

that rises above my mortal questions.

It is then I realize that perhaps he is not the one with the handicap. I am.

My obligations, my fear, my pride, my circumstances - they all become

disabilities when I do not trust them to God's care.

Who knows if Kevin comprehends things I can never learn? After all, he has

spent his whole life in that kind of innocence, praying after dark and

soaking up the goodness and love of God.

And one day, when the mysteries of heaven are opened, and we are all amazed

at how close God really is to our hearts, I'll realize that God heard the

simple prayers of a boy who believed that God lived under his bed.

Kevin won't be surprised at all!

Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive. There is no cost, but a lot

of rewards.

Re: Daily Positive Thread for Sunday

lovestopaint — Sun, 25 May 2014 15:25:49 GMT

Gloria, glad your asparagus is doing well. I love asparagus.

I may take you up on that collar for my yorkie. When he goes out in the yard besides barking he won 't come back in when I call him, does it work on that?

Counting my Blessings.

Harlene(lovestopaint)

Re: Daily Positive Thread for Sunday

HeresLucy — Sun, 25 May 2014 18:09:48 GMT

Good morning!

Gloria, one of my grandmother's grew asparagas. It made the prettiest fern when it finished its yield. I love it and I am the only one that will eat it. I enjoy all of our birds, the orioles, cardinals, robins, blue birds and some that I have no idea what they are.

We have a lot of chipmunks roaming around this year. They are so doggone cute! Something, we think armadillos, have been digging holes all over our yard and making a mess. I know they best not dig up the flowers I just planted! lol Our springtime is now over and summer is here.

Hey Harlene, hope you have a great day. How is your foot?

I am thankful for my loving family and all of the blessings the Lord sees fit to give us.

As we spend our day tomorrow, Memorial Day, with friends and family, let us remember the meaning behind Memorial Day. It's not about the beginning of summer, hotdogs, bbq, spending the day at the beach or just hanging out.

Not much more to say so I will close. I hope you all have a blessed Sunday.

Re: Daily Positive Thread for Sunday

Cakers1 — Sun, 25 May 2014 18:14:29 GMT

Hello Gloriajean, Harlene, Lucy, and all who may post later on.

A belated Happy Anniversary to shorelady and her DH.

Gloriajean and go2girl: Thank you for your kind words.

Have a peaceful Sunday, everyone.

Re: Daily Positive Thread for Sunday

Bobbi sue — Sun, 25 May 2014 18:45:38 GMT

Blessings to all here. I went to church today. Still struggling with my COPD. May God heal me. Peace to all.

Re: Daily Positive Thread for Sunday

Cakers1 — Sun, 25 May 2014 20:07:27 GMT

Bobbiesue: I hope you are in a comfortable environment for your COPD.

Heading out to visit the kids. See you all later.

Re: Daily Positive Thread for Sunday

gloriajean — Mon, 26 May 2014 04:48:25 GMT

Harlene - maybe that collar would be good, but it's over a hundred dollars! For Lori it sure was worth it! It does work on getting him to come back when called. When Ollie is out and not wanting to come in yet when he's done. I just tone him and he comes right in.

Lucy - this is the third year for asparagus - they say it takes 3 years. OK - instead of them coming out of the ground in the pretty fern like they have the last two years, here they are coming up in asparagus stalks already - here there and everywhere - what fun to get them picked!! Don't know quite yet how long to leave them? It's interesting.

Cakers - hope you are having a great time with your wonderful family!

Bobbiesue - sorry to hear you are still struggling with COPD - Do you need different meds?

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