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    <title>topic Monday's Positive Thread in Community Chat</title>
    <link>https://community.qvc.com/t5/Community-Chat/Monday-s-Positive-Thread/m-p/220203#M96895</link>
    <description>&lt;P&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;Worry gets in the way of getting what you really want. Lord, help&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;me use my time in ways to enrich my life rather than focusing on&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;things I can do nothing about anyway.&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;Scripture for the day:&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;"Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together,&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;be the measure you get back." ~Luke 6:37-38&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;Meditation for the day:&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;We can try not to give way to criticism, blame, scorn or judgment of&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;others, when we are trying to help them. Effectiveness in helping&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;others depends on controlling ourselves. We may be swept away by a&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;temporary natural urge to criticize or blame, unless we keep a tight&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;rein on our emotions. We can have a firm foundation of spiritual&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;living which makes us truly humble, if we are going to really help&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;other people. We can go easy on them and be hard on ourselves. That&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;is the way we can be used most to uplift a despairing spirit. We need&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;not seek personal recognition for what we are used by God to&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;accomplish.&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;Prayer for the day:&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;I pray that I may try to avoid judgment and criticism. I pray that I&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;may always try to build up others instead of tearing them down.&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;Hello my friends! My day of ordinary blessings was great! Lori took me to&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;see the dog again - she's leaning on calling him Oliver (Ollie) and now&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;he'll have to get used to a new name. He's about 10 months old, was found&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;walking down the road - and no one claimed him as theirs yet, Tuesday it's a&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;week and if no one claim him then Lori can have him - first they will neuter&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;him, micro-chip, and after that she can take him home. Today she bought a&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;big pillow for him and water and food dishes. The big adjustment will be&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;Phoebe and how she will allow him to live there with her! That will have to&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;take some time. He's a little taller than Sammy. We don't know if he's&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;house trained - another interesting factor. On his cage there, there's a&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;sign saying "Good News! Someone fell in love with me!" I thought that was&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;so cute. We went to Mass tonight at the Cathedral because he had to work&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;all weekend - it always is a nice Mass there - very prayerful and good&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;music. We plan on going to Daily Mass again this week as long as we can.&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;He's off tomorrow - what a blessing! Praying for all your intentions always&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;and even for those of you who only come here to read - I'm praying for you&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;all! Thank you for your prayers for us.&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;THIS IS GOOD!&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;Author Unknown&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;The story is told of a king who had a close friend with whom he grew&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;up. The friend had a habit of looking at every situation that ever&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;occurred in his life (positive or negative) and remarking, "This is&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;good!"&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;One day the king and his friend were on a hunting expedition. The&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;friend would load and prepare the guns for the king. In preparing one&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;of the guns, the friend had apparently done something wrong, for after&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;taking the gun from his friend, the king fired it and his thumb was&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;blown off.&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;Examining the situation the friend remarked as usual, "This is good!"&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;To which the king replied, "No, this is NOT good!" and proceeded to&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;send his friend to jail.&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;About a year later, the king was hunting in a dangerous area.&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;Cannibals captured him and took him to their village. They tied his&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;hands, stacked some wood, set up a stake and bound him to it. As they&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;approached to set fire to the wood, they noticed that the king was&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;missing a thumb. Being superstitious, they never ate anyone that was&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;less than whole. So after untying the king, they sent him on his way.&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;As he returned home, he was reminded of the event that had taken his&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;thumb and felt remorse for his treatment of his friend. He went&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;immediately to the jail to speak with his friend. You were right," he&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;said, "it was good that my thumb was blown off." And he proceeded to&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;tell the friend all that had just happened. "And so I am very sorry&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;for sending you to jail for so long. It was bad for me to do this."&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;"No," his friend replied, "This is good!"&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;"What do you mean, 'This is good'? How could it be good that I sent my&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;friend to jail for a year?"&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;"If I had NOT been in jail, I would have been with you."&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;Situations may not always seem pleasant while we are in them, but the&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;promise of God is clear. If we love him and live our lives according&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;to his precepts, even that which seems to be bleak and hopeless will&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;be turned by God for His glory and our benefit. Hold on...God is&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;faithful!&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;GARBAGE TRUCK&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;Author Unknown&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;How often do you let other people's nonsense change your mood? Do you&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;let a bad driver, rude waiter, curt boss, or an insensitive employee&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;ruin your day? Unless you're the Terminator, for an instant you're&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;probably set back&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;on your heels. However, the mark of a successful person is how quickly&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;she can get back her focus on what's important.&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;Sixteen years ago I learned this lesson. I learned it in the back of a&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;New York City taxi cab. Here's what happened. I hopped in a taxi, and&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;we took off for Grand Central Station. We were driving in the right&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;lane when, all of a sudden, a black car jumped out of a parking space&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes,&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;skidded, and missed the other car’s back end by just inches!&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;The driver of the other car, the guy who almost caused a big accident,&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;whipped his head around and he started yelling bad words at us. My&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;friendly. So,&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;I said, "Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;sent us to the hospital!" And this is when my taxi driver told me what&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;I now call, "The Law of the Garbage Truck."&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;Many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage,&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it. And if you let&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;them, they'll dump it on you. When someone wants to dump on you, don't&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;take it personally. You just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on.&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;You'll be happy you did.&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;So this was it: The "Law of the Garbage Truck.” I started thinking,&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;how often do I let Garbage Trucks run right over&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;me? And how often do I take their garbage and spread it to other&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;people a work, at home, on the streets? It was that day I said, "I'm&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;not going to do anymore." I began to see garbage trucks.&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;Like in the movie "The Sixth Sense," the little boy said, "I see Dead&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;People." Well, now "I see Garbage Trucks." I see the load they're&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;carrying. I see them coming to drop it off. And like my Taxi Driver, I&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;don't make it a personal thing; I just smile, wave, wish them well,&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;and move on.&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;One of my favorite football players of all time, Walter Payton, did&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;this every day on the football field. He would jump up as quickly as&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;he hit the ground after being tackled. He never dwelled on a hit.&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;Payton was ready to make the next play his best.&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;Good leaders know they have to be ready for their next meeting. Good&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;parents know that they have to welcome their children home from school&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;with hugs and kisses. Leaders and parents know that they have to be&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;fully present, and at their best for the people they care about. The&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;bottom line is that successful people do not let Garbage Trucks take&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;over their day. What about you? What would happen in your life,&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;starting today, if you let more garbage trucks pass you by? Here's my&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;bet. You'll be happier. Life's too short to wake up in the morning&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;with regrets, so.. Love the people who treat you right. Forget about&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;the ones who don't.&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;Mother Teresa said...&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;Jesus, you have given everything, life, blood, all. Now it is my turn. I put&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;everything into the field also. The common soldier fights in the ordinary&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;lines, but the devoted one tries to be near the captain to share his fate.&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;This is the spirit of Christ.&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;Every Time I Say MARY&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;I offer to Almighty God through the Immaculate Heart and hands of our&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;Blessed Mother all the merits of reparation and propitiation contained in&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;all the Masses being said over the world for:&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;1. World-wide reparation to Mary's Immaculate Heart that she asked&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;for at Fatima.&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;2. For the conversion of sinners throughout the world&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;3. For the conversion of Russia, America, and World Peace&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;I will repeat as often as possible . . .MARY, MARY, MARY. . . . .&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;(With ecclesiastical approval)&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;Act of Petition&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;Give me yourself, O my God, give yourself to me. Behold I love you, and if&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;my love is too weak a thing, grant me to love you more strongly. I cannot&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;measure my love to know how much it falls short of being sufficient, but let&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;my soul hasten to your embrace and never be turned away until it is hidden&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;in the secret shelter of your presence. This only do I know, that it is not&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;good for me when you are not with me, when you are only outside me. I want&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;you in my very self. All the plenty in the world which is not my God is&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;utter want. Amen.&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;Saint Augustine of Hippo&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;I read a story about a young son of a missionary, in Zaire. The boy was&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;playing in the yard when suddenly he heard his father yell to him from the&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;porch, "Philip, obey me instantly! Drop to your stomach!"&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;Without hesitation, the boy did as his father commanded. His father, then,&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;commanded,&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;"Now, crawl to me as fast as you can!"&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;Again, the boy immediately obeyed.&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;"Now stand up and run to me!" Philip responded, without questioning, and&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;ran into his fathers arms.&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;When Philip turned around and looked back at the tree, where he was&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;standing, he saw a huge poisonous snake hanging from one of the branches.&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;The boy could have hesitated and asked, "Why?" or "In just a minute." But,&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;he instantly obeyed. That simple act of obedience saved his life!&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;Could it save your life, if you let go of your free will and followed what&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;the Lord has told you to do with your life.&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;/P&gt;</description>
    <pubDate>Mon, 09 Jul 2012 04:45:25 GMT</pubDate>
    <dc:creator>gloriajean</dc:creator>
    <dc:date>2012-07-09T04:45:25Z</dc:date>
    <item>
      <title>Monday's Positive Thread</title>
      <link>https://community.qvc.com/t5/Community-Chat/Monday-s-Positive-Thread/m-p/220203#M96895</link>
      <description>&lt;P&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;Worry gets in the way of getting what you really want. Lord, help&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;me use my time in ways to enrich my life rather than focusing on&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;things I can do nothing about anyway.&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;Scripture for the day:&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;"Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together,&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;be the measure you get back." ~Luke 6:37-38&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;Meditation for the day:&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;We can try not to give way to criticism, blame, scorn or judgment of&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;others, when we are trying to help them. Effectiveness in helping&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;others depends on controlling ourselves. We may be swept away by a&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;temporary natural urge to criticize or blame, unless we keep a tight&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;rein on our emotions. We can have a firm foundation of spiritual&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;living which makes us truly humble, if we are going to really help&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;other people. We can go easy on them and be hard on ourselves. That&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;is the way we can be used most to uplift a despairing spirit. We need&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;not seek personal recognition for what we are used by God to&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;accomplish.&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;Prayer for the day:&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;I pray that I may try to avoid judgment and criticism. I pray that I&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;may always try to build up others instead of tearing them down.&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;Hello my friends! My day of ordinary blessings was great! Lori took me to&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;see the dog again - she's leaning on calling him Oliver (Ollie) and now&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;he'll have to get used to a new name. He's about 10 months old, was found&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;walking down the road - and no one claimed him as theirs yet, Tuesday it's a&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;week and if no one claim him then Lori can have him - first they will neuter&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;him, micro-chip, and after that she can take him home. Today she bought a&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;big pillow for him and water and food dishes. The big adjustment will be&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;Phoebe and how she will allow him to live there with her! That will have to&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;take some time. He's a little taller than Sammy. We don't know if he's&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;house trained - another interesting factor. On his cage there, there's a&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;sign saying "Good News! Someone fell in love with me!" I thought that was&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;so cute. We went to Mass tonight at the Cathedral because he had to work&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;all weekend - it always is a nice Mass there - very prayerful and good&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;music. We plan on going to Daily Mass again this week as long as we can.&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;He's off tomorrow - what a blessing! Praying for all your intentions always&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;and even for those of you who only come here to read - I'm praying for you&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;all! Thank you for your prayers for us.&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;THIS IS GOOD!&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;Author Unknown&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;The story is told of a king who had a close friend with whom he grew&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;up. The friend had a habit of looking at every situation that ever&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;occurred in his life (positive or negative) and remarking, "This is&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;good!"&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;One day the king and his friend were on a hunting expedition. The&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;friend would load and prepare the guns for the king. In preparing one&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;of the guns, the friend had apparently done something wrong, for after&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;taking the gun from his friend, the king fired it and his thumb was&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;blown off.&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;Examining the situation the friend remarked as usual, "This is good!"&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;To which the king replied, "No, this is NOT good!" and proceeded to&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;send his friend to jail.&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;About a year later, the king was hunting in a dangerous area.&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;Cannibals captured him and took him to their village. They tied his&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;hands, stacked some wood, set up a stake and bound him to it. As they&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;approached to set fire to the wood, they noticed that the king was&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;missing a thumb. Being superstitious, they never ate anyone that was&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;less than whole. So after untying the king, they sent him on his way.&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;As he returned home, he was reminded of the event that had taken his&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;thumb and felt remorse for his treatment of his friend. He went&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;immediately to the jail to speak with his friend. You were right," he&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;said, "it was good that my thumb was blown off." And he proceeded to&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;tell the friend all that had just happened. "And so I am very sorry&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;for sending you to jail for so long. It was bad for me to do this."&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;"No," his friend replied, "This is good!"&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;"What do you mean, 'This is good'? How could it be good that I sent my&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;friend to jail for a year?"&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;"If I had NOT been in jail, I would have been with you."&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;Situations may not always seem pleasant while we are in them, but the&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;promise of God is clear. If we love him and live our lives according&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;to his precepts, even that which seems to be bleak and hopeless will&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;be turned by God for His glory and our benefit. Hold on...God is&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;faithful!&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;GARBAGE TRUCK&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;Author Unknown&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;How often do you let other people's nonsense change your mood? Do you&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;let a bad driver, rude waiter, curt boss, or an insensitive employee&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;ruin your day? Unless you're the Terminator, for an instant you're&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;probably set back&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;on your heels. However, the mark of a successful person is how quickly&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;she can get back her focus on what's important.&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;Sixteen years ago I learned this lesson. I learned it in the back of a&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;New York City taxi cab. Here's what happened. I hopped in a taxi, and&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;we took off for Grand Central Station. We were driving in the right&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;lane when, all of a sudden, a black car jumped out of a parking space&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes,&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;skidded, and missed the other car’s back end by just inches!&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;The driver of the other car, the guy who almost caused a big accident,&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;whipped his head around and he started yelling bad words at us. My&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;friendly. So,&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;I said, "Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;sent us to the hospital!" And this is when my taxi driver told me what&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;I now call, "The Law of the Garbage Truck."&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;Many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage,&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it. And if you let&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;them, they'll dump it on you. When someone wants to dump on you, don't&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;take it personally. You just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on.&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;You'll be happy you did.&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;So this was it: The "Law of the Garbage Truck.” I started thinking,&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;how often do I let Garbage Trucks run right over&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;me? And how often do I take their garbage and spread it to other&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;people a work, at home, on the streets? It was that day I said, "I'm&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;not going to do anymore." I began to see garbage trucks.&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;Like in the movie "The Sixth Sense," the little boy said, "I see Dead&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;People." Well, now "I see Garbage Trucks." I see the load they're&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;carrying. I see them coming to drop it off. And like my Taxi Driver, I&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;don't make it a personal thing; I just smile, wave, wish them well,&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;and move on.&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;One of my favorite football players of all time, Walter Payton, did&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;this every day on the football field. He would jump up as quickly as&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;he hit the ground after being tackled. He never dwelled on a hit.&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;Payton was ready to make the next play his best.&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;Good leaders know they have to be ready for their next meeting. Good&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;parents know that they have to welcome their children home from school&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;with hugs and kisses. Leaders and parents know that they have to be&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;fully present, and at their best for the people they care about. The&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;bottom line is that successful people do not let Garbage Trucks take&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;over their day. What about you? What would happen in your life,&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;starting today, if you let more garbage trucks pass you by? Here's my&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;bet. You'll be happier. Life's too short to wake up in the morning&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;with regrets, so.. Love the people who treat you right. Forget about&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;the ones who don't.&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;Mother Teresa said...&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;Jesus, you have given everything, life, blood, all. Now it is my turn. I put&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;everything into the field also. The common soldier fights in the ordinary&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;lines, but the devoted one tries to be near the captain to share his fate.&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;This is the spirit of Christ.&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;Every Time I Say MARY&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;I offer to Almighty God through the Immaculate Heart and hands of our&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;Blessed Mother all the merits of reparation and propitiation contained in&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;all the Masses being said over the world for:&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;1. World-wide reparation to Mary's Immaculate Heart that she asked&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;for at Fatima.&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;2. For the conversion of sinners throughout the world&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;3. For the conversion of Russia, America, and World Peace&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;I will repeat as often as possible . . .MARY, MARY, MARY. . . . .&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;(With ecclesiastical approval)&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;Act of Petition&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;Give me yourself, O my God, give yourself to me. Behold I love you, and if&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;my love is too weak a thing, grant me to love you more strongly. I cannot&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;measure my love to know how much it falls short of being sufficient, but let&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;my soul hasten to your embrace and never be turned away until it is hidden&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;in the secret shelter of your presence. This only do I know, that it is not&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;good for me when you are not with me, when you are only outside me. I want&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;you in my very self. All the plenty in the world which is not my God is&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;utter want. Amen.&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;Saint Augustine of Hippo&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;I read a story about a young son of a missionary, in Zaire. The boy was&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;playing in the yard when suddenly he heard his father yell to him from the&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;porch, "Philip, obey me instantly! Drop to your stomach!"&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;Without hesitation, the boy did as his father commanded. His father, then,&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;commanded,&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;"Now, crawl to me as fast as you can!"&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;Again, the boy immediately obeyed.&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;"Now stand up and run to me!" Philip responded, without questioning, and&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;ran into his fathers arms.&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;When Philip turned around and looked back at the tree, where he was&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;standing, he saw a huge poisonous snake hanging from one of the branches.&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;The boy could have hesitated and asked, "Why?" or "In just a minute." But,&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;he instantly obeyed. That simple act of obedience saved his life!&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;Could it save your life, if you let go of your free will and followed what&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;BR /&gt; &lt;STRONG&gt;the Lord has told you to do with your life.&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;/P&gt;</description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 09 Jul 2012 04:45:25 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://community.qvc.com/t5/Community-Chat/Monday-s-Positive-Thread/m-p/220203#M96895</guid>
      <dc:creator>gloriajean</dc:creator>
      <dc:date>2012-07-09T04:45:25Z</dc:date>
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