topic Re: Daily Positive Thread for Friday in Community Chat

Daily Positive Thread for Friday

gloriajean — Fri, 19 Sep 2014 00:51:45 GMT

Hello my friends! Busy, and also relaxing day for us today - we started writing out our Thank You cards, took a break, never got finished yet, but will after supper. We both took a nap, you know, we're old! Nice and sunny out today, chilly though too. Nice Linus has a couple days off now - he's enjoying it! Got a nice blessing call from Darla - it's always a blessing to hear from her. My blessing today are numerous - Thank you, Lord Jesus, for all You do for me! And I ask you, Jesus, to answer all the prayers that my friends here have - for all their needs.

Prayer for Strength in Weakness

Lord Jesus Christ, King of kings, you have power over life and death. You know even things that are uncertain and obscure, and our very thoughts and feelings are not hidden from you. Cleanse me from my secret faults, and I have done wrong and you saw it. You know how weak I am, both in soul and in body. Give me strength, O Lord, in my frailty and sustain me in my sufferings. Grant me a prudent judgement, dear Lord, and let me always be mindful of your blessings. Let me retain until the end your grace that has protected me till now.

St. Ephrem of Syria, Deacon, Poet and Doctor

No gift is so precious as love. Gratefully trust God and give Him your love.

Lord, I give You my heart.

Scripture for the day:

"There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has

to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in

love." 1 John 4:18

Meditation for the day:

Love and fear cannot dwell together. By their very natures, they cannot

exist side by side. Fear is a very strong force. And therefore a weak

and vacillating love can soon be routed by fear. But a strong love, a

love that trusts in God, is sure eventually to conquer fear. The only

sure way to dispel fear is to have the love of God more and more in our

hearts and souls.

Prayer for the day:

I pray that love will drive out the fear in my life. I pray that my

fear will flee before the power of the love of God.

GUIDE TO CONTENTED LIVING

By Fr. John Catoir

The famed German writer Goethe offered a list of nine requisites for

contented living. They are as timely now as they were when he wrote

them 200 years ago.

"Health enough to make work a pleasure. Wealth enough to support your

needs. Strength enough to battle with difficulties and overcome them.

"Grace enough to confess your sins and forsake them. Patience enough

to toil until some good is accomplished. Charity enough to see some

good in your neighbor.

"Love enough to move you to be useful to others. Faith enough to make

the real things of God. Hope enough to remove all anxious fears

concerning the future."

Goethe showed wisdom in these thoughts, perhaps especially in the use

of the word "enough." Often we seek something more, when contentment

could come with gratitude for having enough.

There is great gain in godliness with contentment; for we brought

nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.

(1 Timothy 6:6-7)

"Grace me with contentment , Jesus, for after all I do have everything

in You. "

ANSWERED PRAYER

A voyaging ship was wrecked during a storm at sea and only two of the men on

it were able to swim to a small, desert like island. The two survivors, not

knowing what else to do, agreed that they had no other recourse but to pray

to God. However, to find out whose prayer was more powerful, they agreed to

divide the territory between them and stay on opposite sides of the island.

The first thing they prayed for was food. - The next morning, the first man

saw a fruit-bearing tree on his side of the land, and he was able to eat its

fruit. The other man's parcel of land remained barren.

After a week, the first man was lonely and he decided to pray for a wife.

The next day, another ship was wrecked, and the only survivor was a woman

who swam to his side of the land. On the other side of the island, there was

nothing.

Soon the first man prayed for a house, clothes, more food. - The next day,

like magic, all of these were given to him. However, the second man still

had nothing.

Finally, the first man prayed for a ship, so that he and his wife could

leave the island. - In the morning, he found a ship docked at his side of

the island. The first man boarded the ship with his wife and decided to

leave the second man on the island. He considered the other man unworthy to

receive God's blessings, since none of his prayers had been answered.

As the ship was about to leave, the first man heard a voice from heaven

booming, "Why are you leaving your companion on the island?" "My blessings

are mine alone, since I was the one who prayed for them," the first man

answered. "His prayers were all unanswered and so he does not deserve

anything."

"You are mistaken!" the voice rebuked him. "He had only one prayer, which I

answered. If not for that, you would not have received any of my blessings."

"Tell me," the first man asked the voice, "What did he pray for that I

should owe him anything?"

"He prayed that all your prayers be answered."

For all we know, our blessings are not the fruits of our prayers alone, but

those of another praying for us.

-- Author Unknown

Today's readings 9/18/14

1Cor.15:1-11; Ps.118:1-2, 16-17, 28; Lk.7:36-50

We may not have directly "persecuted the church of God" the way Saul of

Tarsus did before his conversion but the reality is we were all "born

abnormally" and bear the burden of sin, and like our saint tells us it is

only by the Grace of God that were are who we are today. All of us, like the

sinful woman we read about in today's Gospel, have been "forgiven much", and

if we listen closely to what Jesus tells us it is in coming to grips with

that Truth that we are able to learn how to "love much" in return. Yes, in

order to love the way God wants us to we need to understand that it isn't

something that has to be earned, not by us or by the people we are called to

be more loving toward, it has to be an unwarranted gift in order for it to

bring about a change in our lives and the lives of the people we meet, and

the life of St.Paul is certainly a good example of that. Our lives can be

too, my friends, and it all starts when we begin to forgive not just our

neighbors but ourselves as well.

God bless you,

In Jesus - Pat

God's Messengers By: Helen Steiner Rice

The unexpected kindness from an unexpected place

a hand outstretched in friendship, a smile on someone's face.

A word of understanding spoken in a time of trail

are unexpected miracles that make life more worthwhile.

We know not how it happened that in our hour of need somebody out of nowhere

proved to be a friend indeed.

For God has many messengers we fail to recognize, but He sends them when we

need them, and His ways are wondrous and wise.

So keep looking for your angel and keep listening to hear, for on life's

busy, crowded streets you will find God's presence near.

ABC'S OF AGRICULTURE

Author Unknown

A is for AWARENESS of those around us

B is for BEAUTY for all people

C is for CARING about each other

D is for DIGNITY that we all possess

E is for ETHNICITY on which we would be proud

F is for FEELING, important to us all

G is for GIVING of ourselves

H is for HOPE for a better tomorrow

I is for INTEGRITY, our standards tell so about us

J is for JOINTLY working together

K is for KNOWLEDGE which erases ignorance

L is for LOVE to be shared

M is for MANKIND, the entire human race

N is for NOBODY is unimportant

O is for OPTIMISM which enhances everyone's life

P is for PROGRESS made toward understanding

Q is for being QUIET when asked

R is for RESPECT for oneself and others

S is for SELF-WORTH which we should never be without

T is for TOLERANCE toward others

U is for UNDERSTANDING different cultures

V is for VALUES learned along the way

W is for WEALTH gained by sharing our diversity

X is for X-RAY vision that helps us see the good in others

Y is for YOU. Make your life what you want it to be, forward and

upward

Z is for ZEAL to appreciate a multicultural world

GUIDANCE

Author Unknown

When I meditated on the word guidance, I kept seeing "dance" at the end of

the word. I remember reading that doing God's will is a lot like dancing.

When two people try to lead, nothing feels right. The movement doesn't flow

with the music, and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky.

When one person relaxes and lets the other lead, both bodies begin to flow

with the music. One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back or

by pressing lightly in one direction or another. It's as if two become one

body, moving beautifully. The dance takes surrender, willingness, and

attentiveness from one person and gentle guidance and skill from the other.

My eyes drew back to the word guidance. When I saw "G," I thought of God,

followed by "u" and "i." God, "u" and "I" dance. God, you, and I dance.

This statement is what guidance means to me.

As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust that I would get guidance

about my life.

Once again, I became willing to let God lead.

Re: Daily Positive Thread for Friday

lovestopaint — Fri, 19 Sep 2014 12:12:08 GMT

Gloria, you are not old. We all have to get older but we don't have to get old, there is a difference.

Counting my blessings, and blessings to all.

Harlene(lovestopaint)

Re: Daily Positive Thread for Friday

Cakers1 — Fri, 19 Sep 2014 14:35:15 GMT

Hello Everyone - hope your day will be peaceful.

{{{shorelady}}} Always think of you and sending you all the best.

{{{go2girl}}} Wondering about your sweet grandbaby - hope things are turning positive for him.

Felicia: Looking forward to you stopping by and letting us know how your recovery is coming along.

Harlene, bobbisue, Lucy, and all who stop by {{{hugs}}} for all of you.

Gloria: Naps are good - like a fine wine we get better with age!!!!!

Re: Daily Positive Thread for Friday

DoubleJ — Fri, 19 Sep 2014 17:34:47 GMT

Hello everyone,

Sure hope everyone is having a good day. Yesterday it rained here, and today it brought us sunny, cooler, blue sky, and maybe just a little less pollen in the air. The other day, I was doing my usual cutting grass, and noticed so many different kinds of mushrooms. Some I have never took notice before...such beautiful colors, and shapes. Certainly a blessing from our Creator. I was told once that back in the late 60's early 70's people were scouring the area for mushrooms. Lol, we all know what kind of mushrooms they were looking for.

Gloriajean, I was wondering if ya'll used a real milk can for your canned dinner. The picture answered my thoughts. How wonderful to own one of those cans, brings back quite a few memories. I did try the other day to get on and post the thread, however, I couldn't even get on this site. Gloriajean thank you for your prayers.

Cakers, always good to hear from you. And a big (((hug))) right back at you!

Harlene, I sure hope you are getting some relief and feeling better. Hope your brother and your hubby are also doing well. Oh yeah and the new puppy.

Love Roses, I do hope you are recovering from your surgery. And I do hope and pray that your state will get much needed rain, to end this drought.

Bobbiesue, glad to hear that things seem to be improving healthwise. Will continue to keep you in my prayers.

Shorelady, Felicia, Go2girl, and all of you, may God's love see you through. He knows the future, He holds it in His hands. He understands and knows exactly what one is going through. My prayers and thoughts that God will strengthen you daily, may He remind you of His tender presence and love to see you through. And remember dear friends..."I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." Hebrews 13:5

One other thing...Lord I am praying for our nation. Please Lord give our President, wisdom. Wisdom beyond his own understanding and the courage to choose the right path no matter how narrow that gate is. Lord please help our spiritual leaders, that they may hear Your voice and know Your heart. As Catlover4ever once posted Lord..."Dear God in Jesus name I pray for all the men and women who are serving in our military and ask You to potect those in harm's way, lead those to Jesus who are lost and encourage the believers and let their light shine brightly. I ask You God to heal the wounds, comfort the hearts and increase the faith of our veterans and all those in hospitals, rehab centers and still suffering. God give courage and strength to every family member and may Your blessings be upon all of these men and women. In Jesus name I pray. Amen."

I have been watching the Roosevelts on PBS. Anybody else watching? In my opinion Ken Burns, did another outstanding job.

Keeping all of you in my prayers. Until next time...

Take Care and God Bless!

Re: Daily Positive Thread for Friday

Bobbi sue — Fri, 19 Sep 2014 19:57:00 GMT

Please say a prayer for me today. I'm not feeling well. It's my breathing. Thank you.

Re: Daily Positive Thread for Friday

HeresLucy — Fri, 19 Sep 2014 20:11:28 GMT

Re: Daily Positive Thread for Friday

chrystaltree — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 02:14:01 GMT

........really? You have nothing better to do with your time?