Among Friends

[gloriajean]

Hello my friends!  A nice relaxing day here today!  His day off and we went swimming, met a gal who lives on third floor, had a nice visit.  Took a nap! Swimming always makes me tired, don't know why.  What are you thankful for today?  I'm very thankful for our weather starting to be nice out all week next week will be nice, maybe we'll go for a walk.  Spring has sprung - hope no more snow.

Keep yourself young in spirit always by thinking new thoughts and getting

rid of old habits. Lord, may my spirit never become a frail and my abilities

never become barren. 

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

"Jesus turned and said to Peter, 'Get behind me, Satan! You are a
stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things
but on human things. 'Then Jesus told his disciples, 'If any want to become
my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow
me.  For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose
their life for my sake will find it.'"  ~Matthew 16:23-25

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

We were born with the Divine within us.  Living a selfish life can hinder
the Divine from being expressed and shared.  The celestial fire has to be
tended and fed so that it will grow into a real desire to live the right
way.  By trying to do the will of God, we grow more and more in the new way
of life.  By thinking of God, praying to God and having communion with God,
we gradually grow more like God.  The way of our transformation from the
material to the spiritual allows God to work in and through us.

P R A Y E R   F O R   T H E   D A Y  

I pray that I may tend the spark of the Divine within me so that it will
grow.  I pray that I may be gradually transformed from the old life to the
new and fuller life.

Lenten Reflections by Bishop Robert Barron

Lent Day 30

Beyond the Mind You Have

Jesus begins his ministry by saying, “This is the time of fulfillment. The reign of God is at hand. Repent and believe the Good News!” (Mark 1:15).

A new order has broken in—that’s what the reign of God means. Something new has emerged in Jesus himself and it amounts to a new way of ordering things. 

Now what do we have to do? 

Metanoiete, says Jesus. What the word means literally is “go beyond the mind that you have.” See things in a new way; think about the world differently.

Immediately after giving this speech, Jesus calls Simon, Andrew, James, and John, and they leave everything behind: livelihood, family, worldly hopes, whatever ambitions they had—and they follow him. 

This is the freedom that comes from conversion, from the attitude of detachment. They are no longer tied down—wrapped up, as it were, in their nets. Now they are free to follow the promptings of the Lord.

What does this mean for us today? The same thing it meant for the first followers of Christ. Go beyond the mind that you have. Repent. Live as though nothing in this world finally matters. 

When you do this you will be living in the kingdom of God!

The Cross 

The Cross is fire and reduces to ashes all that is not of God, unto emptying the heart of the smallest blade of grass that could be there.

ONE SOLITARY LIFE
Author Unknown


He was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman.

He grew up in still another village, where he worked in a carpenter
shop until he was 30.

Then for three years he was an itinerant preacher.

He never wrote a book.

He never held an office.

He never had a family or owned a house.

He didn't go to college.

He never traveled more than 200 miles from the place he was born.

He did none of the things one usually associates with greatness.

He had no credentials but himself.

He was only 33 when public opinion turned against him.

His friends deserted him.

He was turned over to his enemies and went through the mockery of a 
trial.

He was nailed to a cross between two thieves.

When he was dying, his executioners gambled for his clothing, the
only property he had.. . . on earth.

When he was dead, he was laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of
a friend.

Nineteen centuries have come and gone, and today he is the central 
figure of the human race, the leader of mankind's progress.

All the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed,
all the parliaments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned, put
together, have not affected the life of man on earth as much as that
One Solitary Life.

Do You Know Who He Is?

RULES FROM GOD
Author Unknown

1. Wake Up !!

Decide to have a good day.

'Today is the day the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in
it' Psalms 118:24

2. Dress Up !!

The best way to dress up is to put on a smile. A smile is an
inexpensive way to improve your looks.

'The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at
outward appearance; but the Lord looks at the heart.' I Samuel 16:7

3 Shut Up!!

Say nice things and learn to listen. God gave us two ears and one
mouth, so He must have meant for us to do twice as much listening as
talking.

'He who guards his lips guards his soul.' Proverbs 13:3

4. Stand Up!!...

For what you believe in. Stand for something or you will fall for
anything..

'Let us not be weary in doing good; for at the proper time, we will
reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have
opportunity, let us do good...' Galatians 6:9-10

5. Look Up !!...

To the Lord.

'I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me.' Philippians
4:13

6. Reach Up !!...

For something higher.

'Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own
understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, And He will direct
your path.' Proverbs 3:5-6

7. Lift Up !!...

Your Prayers.

'Do not worry about anything; Instead PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING.'
Philippians 4:6

I thought this was mighty special, just like you.

Pass this on and brighten someone's day, and remember:

God answers Knee-Mail.

God's Will For You and Me

Just to be tender, just to be true,
Just to be glad the whole day through,
Just to be merciful, just to be mild,
Just to be trustful as a child,
Just to be gentle and kind and sweet,
Just to be helpful with willing feet,
Just to be cheery when things go wrong,
Just to drive sadness away with a song.
Whether the hour is dark or bright,
Just to be loyal to God and right,
Just to believe that God knows best,
Just in His promises ever to rest-
Just to let love be our daily key,
That is God's will for you and me.

~~~  "A lot of kneeling will keep you in good standing."  ~~~

Dear Jesus - Prayer for Favors 

Dear Heart of Jesus: In the past, I have asked for many favors. This time, I ask you this very special one (mention favor). Take it dear Jesus and place it within your own broken heart, where your father sees it. Then, in your merciful eyes, it will become your favor, not mine. Amen. 

Verse of the Day

"The Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice. He saw that there was no one, and was appalled that there was no one to intervene; so his own arm brought him victory, and his righteousness upheld him. He put on righteousness like a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in fury as in a mantle."

Isaiah 59: 15-17

March 10 - Jesus Calling

You are mine for all time - and beyond time, into eternity.  No power can deny you your inheritance in heaven.  I want you to realize how utterly secure you are.  Even if you falter as you journey through life, I will never let go of your hand.

Knowing that your future is absolutely assured can free you to live abundantly.  I have prepared this day for you with the most tender concern and attention to detail.  Instead of approaching the day as a blank page that you need to fill up, try living it in a responsive mode: Being on the lookout for all that I am doing.  This sounds easy, but it requires a deep level of trust, based on the knowledge that My way is perfect.

Psalm 37:23-24     If the Lord delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.

Psalm 18:30     As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless.  He is a shield for all who takes refuge in him.

[Bobbi sue]

Hello friends.  Blessings to all here and those who read.

I am thankful for the love of God and my salvation.  Jesus is coming soon.  Get ready for His coming. I am thankful that the Dr. gave me shots in my eyes to make me see better. My eyes are bad and I pray Jesus will heal them.  I am thankful I have a roof over my head and food in the frig.  God takes good care of me.  I praise His holy name.

Gloria, your apartment sounds so nice.  I wish I could go swimming whenever

i want to.  You are so lucky to have your husband with you.  I miss Buck very much.  I think of him often. 

Have a good day.  It is nice here too.  Yesterday it rained, but today it's nice here. God bless you all.

[gloriajean]

Bobbiesue - hope your eyes get better soon.  Awful to have poor vision.  I know I'm fortunate to have the pool here inside, the amenities are good so I won't complain about missing our house.