topic Re: Daily Positive Thread for Thursday in Among Friends

Daily Positive Thread for Thursday

gloriajean — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 22:22:32 GMT

Hello my friends! It was exciting to talk to Darla today - she talked to the Dean today and found out they are giving her more salary - 4,000 dollars more, so she's happy! She was on her way to the carpet store - said her realtor thought it a good idea to get all new carpets in, for her sale of the house, and she thought we should too. She also wants us to come the first part of August - one last Texas trip - to help move them. We'll see. She said Lori and Jeremy will be there, he's going to fix the flooring. They'll be here this weekend so we can talk more then. We are having our own dug potatoes for supper tonight!!! Fresh red ones! Another blessing!

We don't choose how or when we will die, but we do decide how we will live.

Lord, forgive my frequent drifting and help me to see clearly the best path

for me.

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

"Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them."
~Matthew 18:20

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

"Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them." The
spirit of God can come upon God's followers when they are all together
at one time, in one place, and with one accord. When two or three
consecrated souls are together at a meeting place, the spirit of God is
there to help and guide them. Where any sincere group of people are
together, reverently seeking the help of God, God's power and God's
spirit are there to inspire them.

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

I pray that I may be in accord with the members of my group. I pray
that I may feel the strength of a consecrated group.

Remember The Bent Tree

I was lying in bed this morning thanking God for his healing and then
praying for greater healing from some childhood damage I have often
struggled to overcome.

I began thinking about how nice it would be if those events had never
happened. But as I was praying about it, the thought came to me to
"remember the bent tree".

The "bent tree" story is one I heard as a young boy when an elderly
pastor was talking about it to his adult congregation. Being a "young
tree" myself at the time, I didn't then fully understand the story.
From my childhood memory, it goes like this:

A large family with several children had just moved to a home in the
country. The children were delighted to discover that on the property
there was a pond suitable for swimming. On a bank at the side of the
pond a young oak tree was growing. The tree was so young that its trunk
and branches were thin and quite flexible--not capable of supporting
much weight.

The children discovered that with a running start they could make the
thin branches swing and arc over the pond enough to drop in with a
satisfying splash. They spent many happy summer hours playing in the
pond and swinging from the tree. But after a few years they outgrew
the pond and the tree was no longer used.

There was damage to the small tree, however. The branches and trunk had
been bent and twisted and strained so much they were no longer straight
as they had been before. The tree looked like it was crippled forever.

Time passed and 35 years later, the long-since grown children came
together for a reunion in the area of their childhood. They asked the
new owners of the property if they could explore once more the place
they had grown up. And of course, they walked out to the pond.

In their mind's eye, they expected to see a spindly young oak at the
side of the pond.

But things had changed.

What they saw was a large mature oak tree whose trunk and branches had
become thick and massive. But through the solid branches they could still
see the unnatural bend in the trunk they themselves had created--it had
become part of the tree's character.

I think the story might have ended there as the pastor made the point
that "as the twig is bent, so grows the tree". I think he was teaching
that all of us, as parents and neighbors, affect the lives of our
children and people around us in ways that can change their lives for
good or bad forever.

But this morning, as I remembered the tree, I saw there is more to the
story. Yes, the tree had been damaged and bent. But where there had been
damage and weakness there was now massive strength and attractive character.
The curving trunk and branches arching over the pond could no longer be
moved. In fact, the tree now provided stability to the bank on which it
grew and extra shade over the pond for comfort to others. A new rope had
been hung from the now solid branch for a new generation of children to
swing over the water.

It was as if the Lord was telling me that I was praying for the healing
He had started long ago. And the healing He often chooses is turning
weakness and damage into strength and character that may be used by Him
to provide support, comfort and teaching to others. Yet the healing I
had been praying for was to "make it as if it never happened."

Thinking about the bent tree helped me understand a little more what the
Lord has told us before--that His strength is made perfect in our weakness.

When I realized that He has been healing me all along, I saw that my prayer
for healing needs to change--not so much that He will make it as though some
pain in life had never happened, but that His strength will be all the more
manifest-- because of it.

Author Unknown

Prayer to our Lady of Mount Carmel

"Flos Carmeli" - Prayer of St. Simon Stock

O beautiful Flower of Carmel, most fruitful vine, Splendor of Heaven, holy and singular, who brought forth the Son of God, still ever remaining a Pure Virgin, assist me in this necessity. O Star of the sea, help and protect me!
Show me that Thou art my Mother.

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee!

Mother and Ornament of Carmel, Pray for us!
Virgin, Flower of Carmel, Pray for us!
Patroness of all who wear the Scapular, Pray for us!
Hope of all who die wearing the Scapular, Pray for us!
St. Joseph, Friend of the Sacred Heart, Pray for us!
St. Joseph, Chaste Spouse of Mary, Pray for us!
St. Joseph, Our Patron, Pray for us!
O sweet Heart of Mary, Be our salvation!

Disturb us, Lord, when
We are too well pleased with ourselves,
When our dreams have come true
Because we have dreamed too little,
When we arrived safely
Because we sailed too close to the shore.

Disturb us, Lord, when
With the abundance of things we possess
We have lost our thirst
For the waters of life;
Having fallen in love with life,
We have ceased to dream of eternity
And in our efforts to build a new earth,
We have allowed our vision
Of the new Heaven to dim.

Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly,
To venture on wider seas
Where storms will show your mastery;
Where losing sight of land,
We shall find the stars.

We ask You to push back
The horizons of our hopes;
And to push into the future
In strength, courage, hope, and love.

July 8 - Jesus Calling

When you seek my face, put aside thoughts of everything else. I am above all, as well as in all; your communion with me transcends both time and circumstances. Be prepared to be blessed bountifully by my Presence, for I am a God of unlimited abundance. Open wide you heart and mind to receive more and more of Me. When your Joy in me meets my Joy in you, there are fireworks of heavenly ecstasy. This is eternal life here and now: a tiny foretaste of what waits you in the life to come

“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”
—John 15:11

Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

—1 Corinthians 13:12attributed - Sir Francis Drake -1577

Re: Daily Positive Thread for Thursday

lovestopaint — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 23:06:23 GMT

Gloria, it sounds like things are really moving along well. I'm very happy that Darla got more money.

See everything is going to work out.

With the help of the good Lord.

Blessings to all.

Harlene(lovestopaint)

Re: Daily Positive Thread for Thursday

HeresLucy — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 23:54:46 GMT

You know, I don't usually come to the forums in the evenings but here I am. I saw that Gloria already posted for Thursday so I will post here instead of Wednesday.

Gloria, that is great news for Darla. Like Harlene said, things are moving along, they will all come together in due time.

Hey, Harlene, hope you've had a good day.

I've had a busy day cleaning out old files, throwing away paper and such. Lord knows I have lots more to get rid of. I thought about you, Gloria, getting ready to pack up and move. I'm sure you're not a pack rat like we are so your moving will probably be effortless. If we had to pack and move, well, let me just say, the thought interrupts my well being! lol

It is so doggone hot and humid, I second guess the a/c unit and check the air vents just to make sure it's still running. It's running but the output isn't to my satisfaction!

Well, I will hush now. Hope y'all have a pleasant evening. Many blessings.

Today I wish you a day of ordinary miracles:

A fresh pot of coffee you didn't make yourself...
An unexpected phone call from an old friend .....
Green stoplights on your way to work...
The fastest line at the grocery store...
A good sing-along song on the radio...
Your keys found right where you left them.
Share this with the people you'll never forget.
I just Did...

IT'S NOT WHAT YOU GATHER, BUT WHAT YOU SCATTER THAT TELLS WHAT KIND OF LIFE YOU HAVE LIVED

Re: Daily Positive Thread for Thursday

LIG1 — Thu, 09 Jul 2015 00:17:25 GMT

Gloria~ I know I've said this before, but it's worth repeating ~ If only we all looked at life the way you do, the world would be a much happier place.

Re: Daily Positive Thread for Thursday

pinky ann — Thu, 09 Jul 2015 10:53:50 GMT

Gloria, Great news from Darla! I hope the move goes smoothly for them, and their home sells quickly. I loved the bent tree story today. It was new to me, and just spoke to me.

Hi Lucy, Harlene, Julie, Puddles, and anyone I missed. I hope the weather levels out for everyone in a bad heat area, lack of rain, etc. We had humidity yesterday that was pretty bad, and it was only 68 degrees!!! It's more humid this summer than many I can remember, but very nice temps. I'm heading out for my walk soon, but wanted to wish everyone a good day, and many blessing throughout your day. Praying daily for you and yours, pinky

Re: Daily Positive Thread for Thursday

lovestopaint — Thu, 09 Jul 2015 13:49:30 GMT

HI Pinky, that's a very pretty Kitty you have.

Harlene

Re: Daily Positive Thread for Thursday

gloriajean — Thu, 09 Jul 2015 19:24:37 GMT

Harlene - She needs to be at school here on August 19th already! She thinks she shouldn't move until our house is sold, but we will anyway. We don't want to lose that apartment and just trust St. Joseph to do his job.

Re: Daily Positive Thread for Thursday

gloriajean — Thu, 09 Jul 2015 19:26:29 GMT

Lucy - so glad you came last night! Thanks for the Miracle post! We all can use that! So you're throwing paper and such away too!! What a job!

Re: Daily Positive Thread for Thursday

gloriajean — Thu, 09 Jul 2015 19:28:10 GMT

Julie - what a nice thing to say! Thank you! You are such a sweetie!

Re: Daily Positive Thread for Thursday

gloriajean — Thu, 09 Jul 2015 19:32:05 GMT

Pinky - hope this pink doesn't hurt your eyes. I like to try new colors and fonts - it takes the boredom away for a time. Easy to do too! Hope you don't mind. Praying hard that both our homes sell quickly!!! St. Joseph has a big job to do for us!!! We lowered our price again! I'm glad can post somethings that is new to you and speaks to you, hope for more people too. God speaks to us in a number of ways, doesn't He?

Re: Daily Positive Thread for Thursday

gloriajean — Thu, 09 Jul 2015 19:33:38 GMT

Where's the kitty? I think I'm missing something here.