Among Friends

[gloriajean]

Hello my friends! Well I got Monday, Tuesday and Friday off this week!  Darla's Mother in Law can now take days so I can have time off. It'll feel so nice to not have to anywhere tomorrow or Tuesday!  We were there tonight though, Greg was gone working on something, and the babies were cranky.  We didn't leave until both were sleeping.  We're thinking that Alyssa may be having colic.  She sure can scream and can't sleep for hours!!!  Hope they will be good for their other Grandma tomorrow and Tuesday.  Get my hair shampooed, cut and colored tomorrow morning here.  Looking forward to that!

When you need to calm your emotions, stop and turn your attention

to God. Lord, I know that You are my help right now and will show me

simple answers to what seems complicated and impossible.

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

"Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be
like a wise man who built his house on rock.  The rain fell, the
floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not
fall, because it had been founded on rock."  ~Matthew 7:24-25

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

With God's help, I can build a protective screen around myself which
can keep out all evil thoughts.  I can fashion it out of my attitude
toward God and my attitude toward other people.  When one worrying or
impatient thought enters my mind, I can put it out at once.  I know
that love and trust are the solvents for the worry and frets of life.
I can use them to form a protective screen around me.

P R A Y E R   F O R   T H E   D A Y 

I pray that frets and impatience and worry may not corrode my
protective screen against all evil thoughts.  I pray that I may banish
all these from my life.

A Little Wisdom

 A mirror is only as good 
As the reflection in it. 

Worry enough to anticipate trouble 
But not so much as to bring it about. 

Look back to where you have been 
For a clue to where you are going. 

Melt the icy fingers of fear 
With the sunshine of hope. 

Step by gentle step, 
You can overcome the greatest sorrow. 

The sweetest grapes 
Are picked from the vineyard of friendship. 

Find something you truly believe in, 
And everything else will have meaning as well.

WHEN I PRAY THE LORD'S PRAYER:

I cannot say OUR if I am selfish and do not think of others. 
I cannot say FATHER if I do not treat my parents with respect.
I cannot say WHOM ART IN HEAVEN if all I care about are material things.
I cannot say HALLOWED BE THY NAME if I do not say the Lord's name with
reverence.
I cannot say THY KINGDOM COME, THY WILL BE DONE if I am more interested in
the things my own way.
I cannot say ON EARTH, AS IT IS IN HEAVEN if I am not ready to do His will
here on earth.

I cannot say GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD without being willing to share 
what I have with others.
I cannot say FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS
AGAINST US if i hold grudges and will not forgive others.
I cannot say DELIVER US FROM EVIL if I am not willing to walk away from
those things that are wrong and ask the Lord's help through prayer.

I cannot say THINE IS THE KINGDOM if I am not willing to accept God as a 
Ruler of my Life.
I cannot say THINE IS THE POWER if I do not remember that my gifts and
talents come from God not from myself.
I cannot say THINE IS THE GLORY if I only seek my own glory and recognition.
I cannot say FOREVER AND EVER if I am only interested in what is happening
in my life right now.
I cannot say AMEN unless I can say "WHATEVER HAPPENS IN MY LIFE, THIS MY
PRAYER."

May the Good Lord bless and keep you. 
May His love shine upon you.
May He hold you in the palm of His hand.

(The Lord's Prayer can be found in the bible in Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke11:2-4.)

THE CROSS
Author Unknown

 A young man
 Was at the end of his rope,
 Seeing no way out, he dropped to his knees
 In prayer

 "Lord, I can't go on," he said.
 "I have too heavy a cross to bear."

 The Lord replied,

 "My son,
 If you can't bear its weight,
 Just place your cross
 Inside
 This room.

 Then, open that other door
 And pick out any cross you wish."

 The man was filled with relief and said,
 "Thank you Lord," and he did
 As he was told.

 Upon entering the
 Other room, he saw many crosses;
 Some so large the tops were not visible.
 Then, he spotted a
 tiny cross
 Leaning
 Against a far wall.

"I'd like that one, Lord," he whispered.

 The Lord replied,
 "My son that is the cross you just brought in."

 When life's problems seem overwhelming,
 It helps
 To look around and see
 What other people are coping with.

 You may consider yourself
 Far more fortunate than you imagined.

Less Is More

Here's a unique story based on the thought that "Less Is More". So often we feel like we have to explain, convince, argue, etc... when fewer words may be just what someone needs to hear. Someone once said that it is no coincidence that God gave us 2 ears, and only 1 mouth... :-)

An insurance agent learned that he would receive his company's award for having sold more life insurance than anyone else in the state. The big problem: He had to make a speech at the time he got the award. He was supposed to tell the other insurance agents how he did it. Joe had a phobia about public speaking, but he was still expected to give the speech.

So he went to work on this speech. He wrote it and rewrote it. Finally, he got it just right. He typed it up on cards and taped the cards on his shaving mirror. Every morning while he was shaving, he memorized that speech. Finally, Joe had it imprinted into the grooves of his brain cells like a laser disk. He was ready.

The great evening came. The huge auditorium was filled with insurance salespeople from all over the state. Then they called him forward to receive the award. Pressing a plaque into Joe's hand, the president of the company patted him on the back and said, "Now, tell us, how did you do it?"

Joe turned to his great sea of eyes, waiting expectantly for him to say something profound. But he could not think of the first line. Groping for it, he said, "Ah, uh, ah..." He couldn't remember the first line but he finally thought of a line from down in the middle. (If you are in that kind of situation, you are willing to start anyplace.) So he said, "Ah, uh - See the people...."

But Joe was so frightened that he couldn't remember what came after that. So he started again, "Ah, ah - See the people, ah, uh. See the people!" And he sat down.

Most of the people in the auditorium thought Joe said exactly what he intended to say. They heard it as a dramatic speech and gave him a standing ovation.

Prayer to Our Lady of Knock

Our Lady of Knock, Queen of Ireland, you gave hope to our people in a time of distress and comforted them in sorrow. You have inspired countless pilgrims to pray with confidence to your divine Son, remembering His promise: "Ask and you shall receive, Seek and you shall find". Help me to remember that we are all pilgrims on the road to heaven. Fill me with love and concern for my brothers and sisters in Christ, especially those who live with me. Comfort me when I am sick or lonely or depressed. Teach me how to take part ever more reverently in the holy Mass. Pray for me now, and at the hour of my death.
Amen.

Prayer to the Immaculate Heart  of Mary O Immaculate Heart of Mary, full of goodness, show your love towards us. Let the flame of your heart, O Mary, descend on all people. We love you immensely. Impress true love in our hearts so that we have a continuous desire for you. O Mary, gentle and humble of heart, remember us when we are in sin. You know that all men sin. Give us, by means of your Immaculate Heart, spiritual health. Let us always see the goodness of your motherly heart and may we be converted by means of the flame of your heart. Amen. Dictated by Our Lady in Medjugorje (11/28/1983). August 21 - Jesus Calling Wait with Me for a while. I have much to tell you. You are walking along the path I have chosen for you. It is both a privileged and a perilous way: experiencing My glorious Presence and heralding that reality to others. Sometimes you feel presumptuous to be carrying out such an assignment. Do not worry about what other people think of you. The work I am doing in you is hidden at first. But eventually blossoms will burst forth, and abundant fruit will be borne. Stay on the path of Life with Me. Trust Me wholeheartedly, letting My Spirit fill you with Joy and Peace. “O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below—you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way.” —1 Kings 8:23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. —Galatians 5:22–23

[nj]

Good morning!  Hope everyone has a blessed day as we begin the week. Much peace and joy will come your way. I am off to the begin the school year.  2 days of meetings and getting my classroom assignments and students return Wed.  Anxious for sure and butterflies in my stomach but guess that is normal. Had a nice summer, with 2 jobs I loved but lots of sadness also.  2 friends passing, sick kitties and financial worries galore so praying for better times ahead but I am blessed and just moving forward and praying that God guides me each day.

Enjoy the day and peace, Nancy 

[meallen616]

Hi everybody,

[Ruby Laine]

I'm up a little early, leaving soon to get grandkids. Their parents are both teachers at different schools, and grandkids' school hasn't started yet. Prayers for all, let us know how you get along, @lovestopaint. 

[HeresLucy]

Good morning,

I've had a time trying to post. I think this tablet does what it wants, forget that I'm the one in charge. LOL. Anyway, it seems to be acting right now. 

I hope you all have a good day. May the spirit of our Lord give you peace. 

[gloriajean]

Hello friends!  Hope your school goes well for you as you start, Nancy!

Thanks for all the posts here, I'm wondering how Harlene is. She hasn't posted today at all - hope the shots will do their job and she can be at last pain free.  

Shout out to Harlene - how are you?