Daily Positive Thread for Saturday

gloriajean — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 05:34:28 GMT

Daily Inspiration, Scripture, Meditation and Prayer

Let life's lessons grow into wisdom so that you may be the light for someone
else's darkness. Lord, help me put to good use that which today brings so
that I am better prepared for tomorrow.

Scripture for the Day
"He said to them, 'Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest
a while.'" — Mark 6:31

Meditation for the Day
I can sometimes go aside into a quiet place of retreat with God. In that
place, I can find restoration and healing and power. I can plan quiet times
now and then, times when I can commune with God and arise rested and
refreshed to carry on the work which God has given me to do. I know that God
will never give me a load greater than I can bear. It is in serenity and
peace that all true success lies.

Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may strengthen my inner life. I pray that my soul may be
restored in quietness and peace.

Peace of Jesus to you all! Hope you all had a good day - it was a good day
here - cool outside - I picked raspberries and potaotes, and we had them for
supper with the fish. Had a nice visit with Fr. Matt. Blessing call from
Darla tonight - that's always nice to hear how she's doing. Greg's son is
going to the Air Force in Dec. for basic training. He needs discipline and
work, and hope he can do well at the basic training. She's so busy now with
teaching etc. plus her researching.

Homily of the Day

September 23, 2011

Don´t Forget Who Walks with You
by Monsignor Dennis Clark, Ph.D.
Hg 2:1-9 / Lk 9:18-22

As we’ve heard in the Old Testament readings this week, the process of
persuading the Israelites to return to their homeland and to rebuild the
temple was a long one. They’d gotten comfortable where they were and they
were afraid of the human costs of starting over, even when it meant going
home.

“Take courage,” the Lord says to them, and then he reminds them of the pact
he made when he brought them out of Egypt hundreds of years before. The pact
was that he’d remain with them always, no matter what they did. No matter
how corrupt they became, he’d be there with them, calling them back, and
offering them forgiveness.

That’s why rebuilding the temple was so important: It made that pact with
God visible and tangible. It said to them, “Yes, God still dwells in our
midst, still loves us, and still is faithful to his promises.”

It was hard for the Israelites to remember that, and it’s often hard for us
to remember too. That’s one of the reasons why it’s so important for us to
step away from our ordinary paths and gather around the Lord with the rest
of his people every Sunday.

We need to remember who we are and who it is that walks with us every day,
whether we’re paying attention or not, and whether we’re walking a noble
path or not. We need to remember and to give thanks that God is faithful,
even when we are not. We need to remember how to say, “I’m sorry,” and “I
need your help,” and “Teach me how to love better.”

God is always ready to hear those words from us, if only we remember how to
speak them. Come to church with us, and remember.

The Interview with God
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I dreamed I had an interview with God.

“So you would like to interview me?” God asked.

“If you have the time” I said.

God smiled. “My time is eternity.”
“What questions do you have in mind for me?”

“What surprises you most about humankind?”

God answered...
“That they get bored with childhood,
they rush to grow up, and then
long to be children again.”

“That they lose their health to make money...
and then lose their money to restore their health.”

“That by thinking anxiously about the future,
they forget the present,
such that they live in neither
the present nor the future."

"That they live as if they will never die,
and die as though they had never lived.”

God’s hand took mine
and we were silent for a while.

And then I asked...
“As a parent, what are some of life’s lessons
you want your children to learn?”

“To learn they cannot make anyone love them.
All they can do is let themselves be loved.”

“To learn that it is not good
to compare themselves to others.”

“To learn to forgive
by practicing forgiveness.”

“To learn that it only takes a few seconds
to open profound wounds in those they love,
and it can take many years to heal them.”

“To learn that a rich person is not one who has the most,
but is one who needs the least.”

“To learn that there are people
who love them dearly,
but simply have not yet learned
how to express or show their feelings.”

“To learn that two people can look at the same thing
and see it differently.”

“To learn that it is not enough that they forgive one another,
but they must also forgive themselves.”

"Thank you for your time," I said humbly.

"Is there anything else you would like your children to know?"

God smiled and said,
“Just know that I am here... always.”

-author unknown

- - -
Dear Lord,
Help me to be a true disciple
who follows Your way and Your teachings.
It's so easy to be tempted and led astray.
Through the love and strength of your Holy Spirit,
may I stay on the path that leads to Your Heavenly Kingdom.
Amen

Be What You Are

Once there was a snake who was not happy because he seemed to upset
everyone. He never did anything wrong, and yet, everybody ran away from
him, or else they threw sticks and stones at him. He figured out that it
must be because of his personal appearance and so he made up his mind to
change that. He place his tail in his mouth and formed himself into a
perfect circle. He then stiffened himself and seemed perfectly wooden.

Soon some children found him, pounced on him eagerly and screamed, "Oh, what
a pretty green hoop." And taking a stick, they began to roll it along he
ground, every now and then giving it a smart smack to keep it rolling along.

The poor snake stood the punishment as long as he could. At the first
opportunity, he rolled off into the bushes and slipped back into his former
shape and slithered away safely.

"I have learned my lesson," he said to himself, "that no matter how
unfortunate my lot, I don't gain anything by pretending to be someone else."

PUPPY SIZE
Author Unknown

"Danielle keeps repeating it over and over again. We've been back to
this animal shelter at least five times. It has been weeks now since
we started all of this," the mother told the volunteer.

"What is it she keeps asking for?" the volunteer asked.

"Puppy size!" replied the mother.

"Well, we have plenty of puppies, if that's what she's looking for."

"I know...we have seen most of them," the Mom said in frustration...

Just then Danielle came walking into the office.

"Well, did you find one?" asked her Mom. "No, not this time,"

Danielle said with sadness in her voice. "Can we come back on the
weekend?"

"You never know when we will get more dogs. Unfortunately, there's
always a supply," the volunteer said.

Danielle took her mother by the hand and headed to the door. "Don't
worry, I'll find one this weekend," she said.

Over the next few days, both Mom and Dad had long conversations with
her. They both felt she was being too particular.

"It's this weekend or we're not looking any more," Dad finally said in
frustration.

"We don't want to hear anything more about puppy size either," Mom
added.

Sure enough, they were the first ones in the shelter on Saturday
morning. By now Danielle knew her way around, so she ran right for the
section that housed the smaller dogs. Tired of the routine, Mom sat in
the small waiting room at the end of the first row of cages.

There was an observation window so you could see the animals during
times when visitors weren't permitted. Danielle walked slowly from
cage to cage, kneeling periodically to take a closer look. One by one
the dogs were brought out and she held each one. One by one she said,
"Sorry, you're
not the one."

It was the last cage on this last day in search of the perfect pup.
The volunteer opened the cage door and the child carefully picked up
the dog and held it closely. This time she took a little longer.

"Mom, that's it! I found the right puppy! He's the one! I know it!"
she screamed with joy. "It's the puppy size!"

"But it's the same size as all the other puppies you held over the
last few weeks," Mom said.

"No not size ---- the sighs. When I held him in my arms, he sighed,"
she said.

"Don't you remember? When I asked you one day what love is, you told
me love depends on the sighs of your heart. The more you love, the
bigger the sigh!"

The two women looked at each other for a moment. Mom didn't know
whether to laugh or cry. As she stooped down to hug the child, she did
a little of both.

"Mom, every time you hold me, I sigh. When you and Daddy come home
from work and hug each other, you both sigh. I knew I would find the
right puppy if it sighed when I held it in my arms," she said. Then
holding the puppy up close to her face she said, "Mom, he loves me. I
heard the sighs of his heart!"

Close your eyes for a moment and think about the love that makes you
sigh. I not only find it in the arms of my loved ones, but in the
caress of a sunset, the kiss of the moonlight and the gentle brush of
cool air on a hot day. They are the sighs of God. Take the time to stop and
listen; you
will be surprised at what you hear. "Life is not measured by the
breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath.

Did you know that...

When you carry the Bible satan has a headache, when you open it he
collapses

When he sees you reading it, he faints, so let´s read the Bible
every time so that he keeps on fainting. (maybe one day he'll have a
stroke and never wake up)

Unceasing Prayer

Dear Father, who answers our prayers,

Help me to be steadfast in my praying to you, even to stay awake that I may
pray!

Fill my life with thanksgiving to you.

O God, I pray for all your servants everywhere that you may open a door for
us to proclaim your Word, to declare the now-public secret - Christ
crucified, glorified, and coming - and to make the message clear, as we
ought to speak.

In the name of Jesus I ask you to fill our lives with your holy life and to
claim all our motives and deeds as your own. Amen.

You give me strength

Holy Spirit when I am weak, You give me strength to carry on.
You comfort me each time I seek Your loving arms to lean on.

You are the Father that I need. You have the wisdom that I lack.
You give me courage to succeed, when I alone, would have turned back.

I may have crosses in my life, but I will never know despair;
for when I seek you in my strife, I know so well you will be there.

Good night everyone - sweet dreams and may you all have a very blessed
Saturday!

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Daily Positive Thread for Saturday