Prayer To Bring Christ's Peace to the World
God, our Father, Your Word, Jesus Christ, spoke peace to a sinful world and brought mankind the gift of reconciliation by the suffering and death He endured. Teach us, the people who bear His name, to follow the example He gave us: may our faith, hope, and charity turn hatred to love, conflict to peace, and death to eternal life. Amen.
CLOSED DOORS
Author Unknown
We need to learn to praise the Lord as much for a closed door as we do
an open door. The reason God closes doors is because He has not
prepared anything over there for us. If he didn't close the wrong
door, we would never find the right door.
God directs our path through the closing and opening of doors. Once a
door closes, it forces you to change your course. Another door closes,
it forces you to change your course again. Then, finally, you find the
open door and you walk right into your blessing.
The Lord directs our paths through the opening and closing of doors,
but instead of praising him for the closed door (which keeps us out of
trouble); we get upset because we "judge by the appearances. "
You have an ever-present help in the time of trouble that is always
standing guard. Because He walks ahead of you, He can spot trouble
down the road and set up a roadblock or detour accordingly. But
through our lack of wisdom, we try to tear down the roadblocks or push
aside the detour sign. Then the minute we get into trouble, we start
crying, "Lord, how could You have done this to me?"
We have got to realize that the closed door can be a blessing. Didn't
He say that no good thing would He withhold from them that love Him?
If you get terminated from your job, praise God for the new
opportunities that will manifest themselves: it might be another job,
it might be school.
If that man or woman won't return your call, it might not be them, it
might be the Lord setting up a roadblock (just let it go).
One time, a person had a bank they had been in business with for many
years tell them "No!" to a $10,000 loan. The Lord put in their spirit
to call another bank. That bank gave them $40,000 at a lower interest
rate than the first bank was offering.
We can sometimes trap ourselves in doubt and discouragement through
judging by appearances. Be grateful for the many times our Father has
closed doors to us just to open them in the most unexpected places.
The Lord won't always say in spoken words: "Go to the left, now to the
right" ...sometimes He will just close the doors that are wrong for
you.
God Bless You Always!
T E N C O M M A N D M E N T S F O R P A R E N T S
from the perspective of a child
1. My hands are small. Please don't expect perfection whenever I make a
bed, draw a picture or throw a ball. My legs are short. Please slow down
so that I can keep up with you.
2. My eyes have not seen the world as yours have. Please let me explore
safely. Don't restrict me unnecessarily.
3. Housework will always be there. I'm only little for such a short time.
Please take time to explain things to me about this wonderful world, and
do so willingly.
4. My feelings are tender. Please be sensitive to my needs. Don't nag me
all day long. (You wouldn't want to be nagged for your inquisitiveness.)
Treat me as you would like to be treated.
5. I am a special gift from God. Please treasure me, holding me
accountable for my actions, giving me guidelines to live by and
disciplining me in a loving manner.
6. I need your encouragement and your praise to grow. Please go easy on
the criticism. Remember, you can criticize the things I do without
criticizing me.
7. Please give me the freedom to make decisions concerning myself. Permit
me to fail so that I can learn from my mistakes. Then someday, I'll be
prepared to make the kind of decisions life requires of me.
8. Please don't do things over for me. Somehow that makes me feel that my
efforts didn't quite measure up to your expectations. I know it's hard,
but please don't try to compare me with my brother or my sister.
9. Please don't be afraid to leave for a weekend together. Kids need
vacations from parents, just as parents need vacations from kids. Besides,
it's a great way to show us kids that your marriage is very special.
10. Please take me to Church regularly, and set a good example for me
to follow.
Author Unknown
Such a blessing
Such a blessing, such as this,
That together we are more
when I turn on my computer
It seems like you're at my door !
Welcome my cyber sisters
Welcome brothers "in the Lord"
Today is a new day
Great blessings and great joy !
Father bless my "special" friends
Ones with no faces for me to see
But with the key pads ,
we can feel the love
And pray and intercede !
Keep us forever, remembering
That we are truly blessed
I pray for each new cyber-friend
And for those still to come!
Thank you, Father
Love, me
A Child's Cry
Oh Jesus, what a wonderful Father you are,
You tuck me in my bed at night,
Give me a kiss and say "sleep tight"
Then you close my eyes to sleep,
While you stand above my bed and weep.
You cry for me for all the things I don't take,
Because of the decisions I make when I am awake.
You have so much You want to give,
To help me in this life I live.
But I miss so many blessings you see,
Because there's still too much of "me."
I am my own worst enemy,
Causing roadblocks that hinder me,
From all the joy, the peace and the love,
That You have for me from above.
You show me Your love everyday,
But I don't always follow Your way.
There's too much self that hears Satan's lies,
They swarm around me like buzzing flies.
Oh help me Abba, to be like a child,
To be disciplined and not so wild.
I know what I want, not things of this life,
For they bring not pleasure; only strife.
Teach me Thy love so it fills my heart,
Not leaving empty places for his fiery dart.
I want to be all I can for You,
But I don't always do what I ought to do.
Take me this day, fill my heart and my head,
And show me how to have the "old me" truly be dead.
I am Your child; You called me by my name,
Teach me how to change and not remain the same.
Open my eyes so I can see,
Just what it is You want me to be.
- Author Unknown
January 21
I want you to be all Mine. I am weaning you from other dependencies. Your security rests in Me alone—not in other people, not in circumstances. Depending only on Me may feel like walking on a tightrope, but there is a safety net underneath: the everlasting arms. So don’t be afraid of falling. Instead, look ahead to Me. I am always before you, beckoning you on—one step at a time. Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, can separate you from My loving Presence.
The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He will drive out your enemy before you, saying, “Destroy him!”
—Deuteronomy 33:27
Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
—Romans 8:39
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