Daily Positive Thread for Wednesday

gloriajean — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 23:28:31 GMT

Hello my friends! Hope you all are having a great Tuesday! I get to go shopping with my daughter, Lori tonight, she always takes me to get a gift for my husband, I always look forward to shopping with her. She also said next week she'll take me to the movie "The Letters" about Mother Teresa, so looking forward to that. Little things like that mean so much more to us than presents, but presence is the best gift of all. She'll be here for supper, looking forward to it. What a blessing!

Both daughters are a great blessing to us!

Unhappiness within comes out in an emotional reaction, unlike the happy person

who is slow to anger. Lord, help me to glow in Your presence so that the heat of

the moment doesn't get to me.

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

"Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; give me an
undivided heart to revere your name." ~Psalm 86:11

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

I believe that life is a school in which I can learn spiritual things.
I can trust in God and God will teach me. I can listen to God and God can
speak through my mind. I can commune with God in spite of all opposition
and every obstacle. There will be days when I will hear no voice in my mind
and when there will come no intimate heart-to-heart communion. But if I
persist, and make a life habit of schooling myself in spiritual things, God
can be revealed to me in many ways.

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

I pray that I may regularly go to school in things of the spirit. I pray
that I may grow spiritually, by making a practice of all these things.

Blessed

BLESSED are the husband and wife who continue to be
affectionate and considerate, loving after the wedding
bells have ceased ringing.

BLESSED are the husband and wife who are as polite
and courteous to one another as they are to their friends.

BLESSED are they who have a sense of humor, for this
attribute will be a handy shock absorber.

BLESSED are they who love their mates more than any
other person in the world and who joyfully fulfill their
marriage vows of lifetime of fidelity and mutual
helpfulness to one another.

BLESSED are they who attain parenthood, for children
are a heritage of the Lord.

BLESSED are they who remember to thank God for
their food before they partake of it, and who set apart
some time each day for the reading of the Bible and
for prayer.

BLESSED are those mates who never speak loudly to
one another and who make their home a place where
seldom is heard a discouraging word".

BLESSED are the husband and wife who faithfully
attend the worship service of the church and who work
together in the church for the advancement of Christ's
Kingdom.

BLESSED are the husband and wife who can work
out problems of adjustments without interference from
relatives.

BLESSED is the couple who has a complete under-
standing about financial matters and who has worked
out a perfect partnership with all money under the
control of both.

BLESSED are the husband and wife who humbly
dedicate their lives and their home to Christ and who
practice the teachings of Christ in the home by being
unselfish, loyal, and loving.

Author Unknown

Letter To Santa

Dear Santa

Snowflakes softly falling
Upon your window play,
Your blankets snug around you,
Into sleep you drift away.

I bend to gently kiss you,
When I see that on the floor
There's a letter, neatly written
I wonder who it's for.

I quietly unfold it
Making sure you're still asleep,
It's a Christmas list for Santa--
One my heart will always keep.

It started just as always
With the toys seen on TV,
A new watch for your father
And a winter coat for me.

But as my eyes read on
I could see that deep inside
There were many things you wished for
That your loving heart would hide.

You asked if your friend Molly
Could have another dad;
It seems her father hits her
And it makes you very sad.

Then you asked dear Santa
If the neighbors down the street
Could find a job, that he might have
Some food, and clothes, and heat.

You saw a family on the news
Whose house had blown away;
"Dear Santa, send them just one thing:
A place where they can stay."

"And Santa, those four cookies that
I left you for a treat,
Could you take them to the children
Who have nothing else to eat?"

"Do you know that little bear I have-
The one I love so dear?
I'm leaving it for you to take
To Africa this year."

"And as you fly your reindeer
On this night of Jesus' birth,
Could your magic bring to everyone
Goodwill and peace on earth?"

"There's one last thing before you go--
So grateful I would be--
If you'd smile at Baby Jesus
In the manger by our tree."

I pulled the letter close to me;
I felt it melt my heart.
Those tiny hands had written
What no other could impart.

"And a little child shall lead them,"
Was whispered in my ear
As I watched you sleep on Christmas Eve
While Santa Claus was here.

Author Unknown

Advent Day 10 - The Immaculate Conception

The Immaculate Conception, not to be confused with the virgin birth of Jesus that we celebrate on Christmas, is the dogma that teaches that even from the first moment of her own conception, Mary was rescued from the power of original sin. Christ, who receives his human flesh from his mother, receives this flesh from a person who, by a singular gift from God, comes into this world without original sin. To understand the significance of this fact, we need to go back to Eve and the original sin.

The Church Fathers often made a connection between Eve, the mother of all the living, and Mary, the Mother of God and Mother of the Church. In fact, they saw Mary as “the new Eve,” the one who undid the damage done by Eve.

Our first parents, Genesis tells us, were given a garden in which to flourish. They were given free rein, permission to enjoy and eat of any tree in the Garden, save one—the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Why the prohibition? Because the very best things are not taken; they are received as gifts. God did not block their access to the tree because he wanted to prevent them from having what he had; he blocked access because he wanted to give them gifts.

Now let's turn to Mary. The angel’s greeting to her is important. He says, “Hail Mary, full of grace.” Mary is greeted as someone who is able to accept gifts. Eve and Adam grasped; Mary is ready to receive.

The angel then explains to Mary: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you…” At the heart of the spiritual life is the conviction that your life is not about you, and this is precisely what Adam and Eve couldn’t tolerate. They grasped at God and tried to seize his gifts. But the real spiritual life is about allowing oneself to be overwhelmed by the one who loves us, to be carried away by the Spirit.

Mary is someone who is ready to receive the impossible, and this it precisely what makes her the paradigm of Advent faith.

Prayer to Our Lady Immaculate

Most holy Virgin, who wast pleasing to the Lord and became His Mother, immaculate in body and spirit, in faith and in love, look kindly on the wretched who implore thy powerful patronage. The wicked serpent, against whom was hurled the first curse, continues fiercely to attack and ensnare the unhappy children of Eve. Do thou, then, O Blessed Mother, our queen and advocate, who from the first instant of thy conception didst crush the head of the enemy, receive the prayers which, united with thee in our single heart, we implore thee to present at the throne of God, that we may never fall into the snares which are laid out for us, and may all arrive at the port of salvation; and, in so many dangers, may the Church and Christian society sing once again the hymn of deliverance and of victory and of peace. Amen.

In Thy conception, O Virgin Mary, thou wast immaculate; pray for us to the Father, Whose Son, Jesus Christ conceived of the Holy Ghost, thou didst bring forth.

Pope Francis’ Prayer for the Jubilee Year of Mercy starting today

Lord Jesus Christ,

you have taught us to be merciful like the heavenly Father,

and have told us that whoever sees you sees Him.

Show us your face and we will be saved.

Your loving gaze freed Zacchaeus and Matthew from being enslaved by money;

the adulteress and Magdalene from seeking happiness only in created things;

made Peter weep after his betrayal,

and assured Paradise to the repentant thief.

Let us hear, as if addressed to each one of us, the words that you spoke to the Samaritan woman:

“If you knew the gift of God!”

You are the visible face of the invisible Father,

of the God who manifests his power above all by forgiveness and mercy:

let the Church be your visible face in the world, its Lord risen and glorified.

You willed that your ministers would also be clothed in weakness

in order that they may feel compassion for those in ignorance and error:

let everyone who approaches them feel sought after, loved, and forgiven by God.

Send your Spirit and consecrate every one of us with its anointing,

so that the Jubilee of Mercy may be a year of grace from the Lord,

and your Church, with renewed enthusiasm, may bring good news to the poor,

proclaim liberty to captives and the oppressed,

and restore sight to the blind.

We ask this through the intercession of Mary, Mother of Mercy,

you who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever.

Amen.

December 8 - Jesus Calling

Your needs and My riches are a perfect fit. I never meant for you to be self-sufficient. Instead, I designed you to need Me not only for daily bread but also for fulfillment of deep yearnings. I carefully crafted your longings and feelings of incompleteness, to point you to Me. Therefore, do not try to bury or deny these feelings. Beware also of trying to pacify these longings with lesser gods: people, possessions, power.

Come to Me in all your neediness, with defenses down and with desire to be blessed. As you spend time in My Presence, your deepest longings are fulfilled. Rejoice in your neediness, which enables you to find intimate completion in Me.

And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
—Philippians 4:19

My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
—Colossians 2:2–3

Re: Daily Positive Thread for Wednesday

lovestopaint — Wed, 09 Dec 2015 00:34:33 GMT

So nice you are having a nice time having both your daughters near you Gloria.

Blessings to all.

Harlene(lovestopaint

Re: Daily Positive Thread for Wednesday

patnap — Wed, 09 Dec 2015 00:58:54 GMT

Dear gloriaJean, i usually do not post on this forum. I only come to read some of the posts to see what people are thinking and writing about. Some time back I came across your posts of Daily Positive Thoughts. I have to tell you that I look forward to reading your post every evening. I find them very inspirational, uplifting and hopeful. I have a deep faith in God and know that He will show me the way in my daily life. Me and my family are very blessed.

You know it is a very crazy and disturbing world out there and I believe we need our faith to get us through. By having a positive attitude and outlook I know things will be fine.

Thank you for your daily posts and I want to wish you and yours a very Merrry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year.

Re: Daily Positive Thread for Wednesday

LIG1 — Wed, 09 Dec 2015 10:52:33 GMT

Re: Daily Positive Thread for Wednesday

gloriajean — Thu, 10 Dec 2015 01:21:54 GMT

Harlene - thanks! It's great!

Re: Daily Positive Thread for Wednesday

gloriajean — Thu, 10 Dec 2015 01:25:38 GMT

patnap - Thanks for your kind words, and beautiful post! I'm so honored that you read this every evening! Your faith in God does wonders, that's for sure!! I don't know what we'd do without our Faith! Come often and post - would love to see you more!! God bless you!

Re: Daily Positive Thread for Wednesday

gloriajean — Thu, 10 Dec 2015 01:26:39 GMT

LIG - that is the truth!!! Thanks for posting this graphic.

Re: Daily Positive Thread for Wednesday

HeresLucy — Thu, 10 Dec 2015 01:39:29 GMT

I hope everyone had a good day. I stayed busy but finally getting to sit down and chill.

My husband put our Christmas tree up yesterday, it's a real tree. I've been sneezing and congested since. I guess I'm allergic to our tree. I'm hoping it passes in a couple of days. Oh...I hope so.

Sleep well, God bless. Talk to you later.

Re: Daily Positive Thread for Wednesday

gloriajean — Thu, 10 Dec 2015 01:51:41 GMT

Lucy - this is the first year we don't have a real tree! Gosh! they sure are expensive, aren't they? I, too, would act a bit allergic with the real trees, but only at first.

topic Re: Daily Positive Thread for Wednesday in Among Friends

Daily Positive Thread for Wednesday

Re: Daily Positive Thread for Wednesday

Re: Daily Positive Thread for Wednesday

Re: Daily Positive Thread for Wednesday

Re: Daily Positive Thread for Wednesday

Re: Daily Positive Thread for Wednesday

Re: Daily Positive Thread for Wednesday

Re: Daily Positive Thread for Wednesday

Re: Daily Positive Thread for Wednesday