Daily Positive Thread for Friday

gloriajean · ‎03-10-2010

Hello my friends! We have more snow coming down here tonight! Went out to eat with his family again for another birthday party, it was nice, but thanks be to God it wasn't slippery on the roads. Nice big flakes coming down, looks pretty on the ground, and no wind, so that isn't bad. It's still snowing, don't know how much we'll get overnight yet.

Anyone on AOL? Yesterday when I sent out my list to my approximately 200 members, part of the list is what I send here, all my AOL members got rejected. Today it went through. Isn't that weird? Today we started out with Adoration in our Church, we have it every Tuesday and Thursday, good way to start the day - it was a very clear morning then, but about -4. Wishing you all a very positive Friday!

The time you spend communicating with God is time spent with a close friend.

Lord, my friend, teach me to listen because You lead me to solutions for all of

my needs.

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

"Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but
I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.
Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I
do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I
press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ
Jesus." ~Philippians 3:12-14

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

In a race, it is when the goal is in sight that the heart and nerves and
muscles and courage are strained almost to the breaking point. So with us.
The goal of the spiritual life is in sight. All we need is the final
effort. The saddest records are made by people who ran well, with brave,
stout hearts, until the sight of the goal ... and then some weakness or
self-indulgence held them back. They never knew how near the goal they were
or how near they were to victory.

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

I pray that I may press on until the goal is reached. I pray that I may not
give up in the final stretch.

Lenten Reflections by Bishop Robert Barron

Lent Day 2

Mustard Seeds

Jesus said that the Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed, “the smallest of all the seeds on the earth. But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants…so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade” (Matthew 13:31).

The first Christians understood Jesus to be speaking of his Church, the mystical body that began in the smallest way, but has come in time to be home to the nations of the world. The mustard seed of the Church began with a thirty-year-old man, dying on an instrument of torture, his disciples having fled, and his enemies mocking him. But it grew into the Body of Christ composed of billions of people in every country on the planet, and many more in heaven.

Watch this pattern repeated up and down the centuries. Francis of Assisi was something of a drifter, a young man who had repudiated the way of his father and was following the prompting of the Lord. Most people saw him as crazy, dangerous, and deranged. Soon, he attracted followers, and their number grew into the hundreds. The first Franciscan missionaries were stoned, chased away, or killed. But within a hundred years of Francis’s death, they were a world-wide organization—a mustard seed, indeed.

Mother Teresa left the relative comfort of her convent behind high walls in Calcutta and walked out into the streets of the worst slum in the world. Anyone seeing her with ordinary eyes would have written her off. But soon enough, she attracted followers who established her order in Calcutta, then around India, then in Venezuela, Rome, New York, London, and around the world. Another mustard seed.

This Lent, what mustard seed can you plant that might grow into a great tree where the birds of the air make their nests?

NUDGE THE BALANCE
Author Unknown

A 91-year-old woman died after living a very long dignified life. When
she met God, she asked Him something that had really bothered her for
a very long time. "If Man was created in God's image, and if all men
are created equal, why do people treat each other so badly?"

God replied that each person who enters our life has a unique lesson
to teach us. It is only through these lessons that we learn about
life, people and our relationships with God. This confused the woman,
so God began to explain:

"When someone lies to you, it teaches you that things are not always
what they seem. The truth is often far beneath the surface. Look
beyond the masks people wear if you want to know what is in their
hearts. Remove your own masks to let people know who you really are.

When someone steals from you it teaches you that nothing is forever.
Always appreciate what you have. You never know when you might lose
it. Never take your friends or family for granted, because today and
sometimes only this very moment is the only guarantee you may have.

When someone inflicts injury upon you, it teaches you that the human
state is a very fragile one. Protect and take care of your body as
best as you can, it's the one thing that you are sure to have
forever.

When someone mocks you, it teaches you that no two people are alike.
When you encounter people who are different from you, do not judge
them by how they look or act, instead base it on the contents of what
is in their hearts.

When someone breaks your heart, it teaches you that loving someone
does not always mean that the person will love you back. But don't
turn your back on love, because when you find the right person, the
joy that one person brings you will make up for all of your past hurts.

Times a thousand fold.

When someone holds a grudge against you, it teaches you that everyone
makes mistakes. When you are wronged, the most virtuous thing you can
do is forgive the offender without pretense. Forgiving those who have
hurt us is often the most difficult and painful of life's experiences,
but it is also the most courageous thing a person can do.

When a loved one is unfaithful to you, it teaches you that resisting
temptation is Man's greatest challenge. Be vigilant in your resistance
against all temptations. By doing so, you will be rewarded with an
enduring sense of satisfaction far greater than the temporary pleasure
by which you were tempted.

When someone cheats you, it teaches you that greed is the root of all
evil. Aspire to make your dreams come true, no matter how lofty they
may be. Do not feel guilty about your success, but never let an
obsession with achieving your goals lead you to engage in malevolent

activities.

When someone ridicules you, it teaches you that nobody is perfect.
Accept people for their merits and be tolerant of their flaws. Do not
ever reject someone for imperfections over which they have no
control."

Upon hearing the Lord's wisdom, the old woman became concerned that
there are no lessons to be learned from man's good deeds. God replied
that Man's capacity to love is the greatest gift He has. At the root
of kindness and love, and each act of love also teaches us a lesson.

The woman's curiosity deepened. God, once again began to explain:

"When someone loves us, it teaches us love, kindness, charity,
honesty, humility, forgiveness, acceptance, and all of these can
counteract all the evil in the world. For every good deed, there is
one evil deed. Man alone has the power to control the balance

between good and evil, but because the lessons of love are not

taught often enough, the power is too often abused.

When you enter someone's life, whether by plan, chance or coincidence,
consider what your lesson will be. Will you teach love or a harsh
lesson of reality? When you die, will your life have resulted in more
loving or more hurting? More comfort or more pain? More joy or more

sadness? Each one of us has the power over the balance of the love

in the world. Use it wisely!"

Don't miss an opportunity to nudge the world's scale in the right
direction!

Waiting On The Lord

When prayers aren't answered, quickly or right away,
Just ask the Lord, to reveal to you, the reason for His delay.

If the answer for that request just seems to take too long,
Just lift up your hands and praise Him, with a glorious new song.

Just wait on the Lord, and try to be still,
'Cause your request may not be in God's will.

If that is the case, just praise Him again,
He won't steer you wrong 'cause He's your friend.

Maybe you'll learn patience, a little trust too.
Or maybe your motives you'll need to review.

Ask Him for an answer, the way He sees fit.
But don't lose hope and don't you quit.

The answer can be revealed in a miraculous way
So, be prepared to listen to what He has to say!

The answer will bring Him honor and glory,
And then you'll be able to tell your story.

Minister to those who did lose hope,
Who were looking for answers on how to cope!

- Author Unknown

Our Lady of Lourdes Feast Day - February 11th

O Immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of Mercy,
you are the refuge of sinners, the health of the sick, and the comfort of the afflicted.

You know my wants, my troubles, my sufferings.
By your appearance at the Grotto of Lourdes
you made it a privileged sanctuary
where your favors are given to people streaming to it
from the whole world.
Over the years countless sufferers have obtained the cure for their infirmities -- whether of soul, mind, or body.

Therefore I come to you with limitless confidence
to implore your motherly intercession.
Obtain, O loving Mother, the grant of my requests.
Through gratitude for Your favors,
I will endeavor to imitate Your virtues,
that I may one day share in Your glory.

Amen.

February 15

Come to Me with all your weaknesses: physical, emotional, and spiritual. Rest in the comfort of My Presence, remembering that nothing is impossible with Me.

Pry your mind away from your problems so you can focus your attention on Me. Recall that I am able to do immeasurably more than all you ask or imagine. Instead of trying to direct Me to do this and that, seek to attune yourself to what I am already doing.

When anxiety attempts to wedge its way into your thoughts, remind yourself that I am your Shepherd. The bottom line is that I am taking care of you; therefore, you needn’t be afraid of anything. Rather than trying to maintain control over your life, abandon yourself to My will. Though this may feel frightening—even dangerous, the safest place to be is in My will.

“For nothing is impossible with God.”
—Luke 1:37

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
—Ephesians 3:20–21

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
—Psalm 23:1–4