Hello my friends! The internet was off since early yesterday morning, which is why no thread last night. Today after Mass we went to Darla's to help with things, and when we got home, the internet is back on. Praise God for that, now I can get this thread out. Don't we ever depend on internet these days/years! Hope you all had a nice weekend. May God grant you many Monday blessings!!
Worry about nothing, pray for everything, and thank God for His answers.
Lord, I ask You to handle my problems with me and care for my needs.
S C R I P T U R E F O R T H E D A Y
"'When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles
do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words.
Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask
him. "Pray then in this way: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your
name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in
heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us to the time of
trial, but rescue us from the evil one. For if you forgive others
their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do
not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
~Matthew 6:7-15
M E D I T A T I O N F O R T H E D A Y
Prayer is of many kinds, but of whatever kind, prayer is the linking
up of the soul and mind to God. So, if prayer is only a glance of
faith, a look or a word of love, or just a feeling of confidence in
the goodness and purpose in the universe, still the result of that
prayer is added strength to meet all temptations and to overcome them.
Even if no supplication is expressed, all the supply of strength that
is necessary is secured, because the soul, being linked and united to
God, receives from God all spiritual help needed. The soul, when in
its human body, still needs the things belonging to its heavenly
habitation.
P R A Y E R F O R T H E D A Y
I pray that I may be taught how to pray. I pray that I may be linked
through prayer to the mind and will of God.
Who Packed Your Parachute?
Sometimes in the daily challenges that life gives us, we miss what is really important. We may
fail to say hello, please, or thank you, congratulate someone on something wonderful that has
happened to them, give a compliment, or just do something nice for no reason.
Charles Plumb, a US Naval Academy graduate, was a jet pilot in Vietnam. After 75 combat
missions, his plane was destroyed by a surface-to-air missile. Plumb ejected and
parachuted into enemy lands. He was captured and spent 6 years in a communist Vietnamese
prison. He survived the ordeal and now lectures on lessons learned from that experience.
One day, when Plumb and his wife were sitting in a restaurant, a man at another table came
up and said, "You're Plumb! You flew jet fighters in Vietnam from the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk.
You were shot down!" "How in the world did you know that?" asked Plumb. "I packed your
parachute," the man replied.
Plumb gasped in surprise and gratitude. The man pumped his hand and said, "I guess it
worked!" Plumb assured him, "It sure did. If your chute hadn't worked, I wouldn't be here today."
Plumb couldn't sleep that night, thinking about that man. Plumb says, "I kept wondering what
he might have looked like in a Navy uniform: A white hat, a bib in the back, and bell bottom
trousers. I wonder how many times I might have seen him and not even said good morning,
how are you or anything because, you see, I was a fighter pilot, and he was just a sailor."
Plumb thought of the many hours the sailor had spent on a long wooden table in the bowels of
the ship, carefully weaving the shrouds and folding the silks of each chute, holding in his
hands each time the fate of someone he didn't know.
Now, Plumb asks his audience, "Who's packing your parachute?"
Everyone has someone who provides what they need to make it through the day. Plumb
also points out that he needed many kinds of parachutes when his plane was shot down
over enemy territory - he needed his physical parachute, his mental parachute, his emotional
parachute, and his spiritual parachute. He called on all these supports before reaching safety. His
experience reminds us all to prepare ourselves to weather whatever storms lie ahead. As you
go through this week, this month, this year... recognize people who pack your parachute!
The Glasses
Mother's father worked as a carpenter. On this particular day, he was building some crates for the clothes his church was sending to some orphanage in China. On his way home, he reached into his shirt pocket to find his glasses, but they were gone. When he mentally replayed his earlier actions, he realized what happened; the glasses had slipped out of his pocket unnoticed and fallen into one of the crates, which he had nailed shut. His brand new glasses were heading for China!The Great Depression was at it's height and Grandpa had six children. He had spent $20 for those glasses that very morning. He was upset by the thought of having to buy another pair. "It's not fair," he told God as he drove home in frustration. "I've been very faithful in giving of my time and money to your work, and now this."Several months later, the director of the orphanage was on furlough in the United States. He wanted to visit all the churches that supported him in China, so he came to speak one Sunday at my grandfather's small church in Chicago. The missionary began by thanking the people for their faithfulness in supporting the orphanage. "But most of all," he said, "I must thank you for the glasses you sent last year. You see, the Communists had just swept through the orphanage, destroying everything, including my glasses. I was desperate. Even if I had the money, there was simply no way of replacing those glasses. Along with not being able to see well, I experienced headaches every day, so my coworkers and I were much in prayer about this. Then your crates arrived. When my staff removed the covers, they found a pair of glasses lying on top.The missionary paused long enough to let his words sink in. Then, still gripped with the wonder of it all, he continued: "Folks, when I tried on the glasses, it was as though they had been custom-made just for me! I want to thank you for being a part of that."The people listened, happy for the miraculous glasses. But the missionary surely must have confused their church with another, they thought. There were no glasses on their list of items to be sent overseas. But sitting quietly in the back, with tears streaming down his face, an ordinary carpenter realized the Master Carpenter had used him in an extraordinary way.
GIVE ME THE STRENGTH GOD
GOD, give me the faith to accept that bad things do
happen to good people.
GOD, give me the strength to make a good home for my
family, to be inspired to share your love with them so
they will also love you, each other and themselves.
GOD, give the strength to turn the other cheek when
people make fun of me or my loved ones, of our clothes,
our goods, let me remember that it is our faith and love
that matters.
GOD, give me the strength to bite my tongue and not
say, « I told you so » or « I knew that would happen »,
help me offer prayers of support.
GOD, give me the strength to remember to pray when I
feel that all hope is lost, let me share this hope with others.
GOD, give me the strength to make changes in this
world in Your name, to right the wrongs I see, to
give justice and love to all Your children.
GOD, help me protect my family---give the strength
to help them withstand the trials You give them.
GOD, help me remember You every day, in everything I
do, in all those I love---You are there.
GOD, give me the strength to have faith in You even
when I don't immediately understand a situation and
to accept that all that You do is for our good, even if
I don't see it.
GOD, show me the path to being a better Christian,
wife, husband, mother, friend.
GOD, give me the strength to speak a universal
language and not be misunderstood; teach me
this universal language of the heart.
GOD, show me how to lead my loved ones in the right
pathway to You, give them the strength to withstand
the barriers and return to the right path.
GOD, give me the strength to forgive other, to love
them as You love me.
GOD, give me the strength to pray when I least feel
like it.
GOD, give me a sign from time to time that You are
there and haven't forgotten us.
GOD, give me the strength to help my family members in
new ventures and experiences, to help ease their way.
GOD, I ask these things of You , not out of selfishness,
but out of love and desire to serve You better and to do
a good Job at what you have sent me here to do.
To everyone, add your own « STRENGTHS » to this list.
Use it and share it with others. May you all gain the
strength you need.
Five Finger Prayer
1. Thumb
Your thumb is nearest to you. So begin your prayers by praying for those closest to you.
They are the easiest to remember. To pray for our loved ones is, as C.S. Lewis once said, a "sweet duty".
2. Pointing finger
The next finger is the pointing finger. Pray for those who teach, instruct and heal. This includes teachers, doctors, and ministers.
They need support and wisdom in pointing others in the right direction. Keep them in your prayers.
3. Tallest finger
The next finger is the tallest finger. It reminds us of our leaders. Pray for the president, leaders in business and industry, and administrators.
These people shape our nation and guide public opinion. They need God's guidance.
4. Ring finger
The fourth finger is our ring finger. Surprising to many is fact that this is our weakest finger; as any piano teacher will testify. It should remind us to pray for those who are weak, in trouble or in pain.
They need your prayers day and night. You cannot pray too much for them.
5. Little finger
And lastly comes our little finger; the smallest finger of all which is where we should place ourselves in relation to God and others.
As the Bible says, "the least shall be the greatest among you." Your pinky should remind you to pray for yourself.
By the time you have prayed for the other four groups, your own needs will be put into proper perspective and you will be able to pray for yourself more effectively.
Remember to give thanks in all things and ask forgiveness. And pray to do God's will always!
- Author Unknown
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