Among Friends

[gloriajean]

Hello my friends!  Cold out today and freezing tonight, took our plants from the deck inside for two nights.  Next week it should be summer weather.  Been working on my list today because Nadine is leaving in the morning for Cairo, Egypt, for three weeks, and I'm on my own.  She's been helping with my list for the last 13 years.  When she comes back she'll continue.  She is hoping to bring her Mom back with her to spend with her in Finland for a few months.  Nadine has a twin brother and a sister who live not far from each other in Finland, but they were all born in Cairo.  Met military, and married and moved.

Do the ordinary things in your life well because they are your preparation

for what is yet to come. Lord, You slowly teach all that I need to know.

May I never be a complaining student. 

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

"We do not boast beyond limits, that is, in the labors of others; but
our hope is that, as your faith increases, our sphere of action among
you may be greatly enlarged, so that we may proclaim the good news in
lands beyond you, without boasting of work already done in someone
else's sphere of action.  'Let the one who boasts, boast in the
Lord.'"  ~2 Corinthians 
10:15-17

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

I can pray daily for faith, for it is God's gift.  On faith alone
depends the answer to my prayers.  God gives it to me in response to
my prayers, because it is a necessary weapon for me to possess for the
overcoming of all adverse conditions and the accomplishment of all
good in my life.  Therefore, I will work at strengthening my faith.

P R A Y E R   F O R   T H E   D A Y 

I pray that I may so think and live as to feed my faith in God.  I
pray that my faith may grow because with faith, I can better use God's
power.

Nine prayers for the Novena to St. Rita

  NINE PRAYERS FOR A NOVENA TO ST RITA OF CASCIA; PATRON OF HOPELESS CAUSES, FAMILY PROBLEMS AND THINGS DESPAIRED OF

FIRST DAY:
PRAYER FOR THOSE WHOSE HOPES HAVE BEEN FRUSTRATED

Glorious St Rita, you wanted to enter the convent but your parents arranged a marriage for you. We pray for those whose hopes have been frustrated. We pray especially for (add your intention). Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be

SECOND DAY:
PRAYER FOR THOSE TRAPPED IN A DIFFICULT MARRIAGE AND THOSE EXPERIENCING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Glorious St Rita, you lived for many years with a difficult husband at a time when there was no escape. You never stopped praying for him. We pray for all those fleeing from or experiencing domestic violence. We pray especially for (add your intention). Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be

THIRD DAY:
PRAYER FOR THE MOTHERS OF DIFFICULT CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS
Glorious St Rita, you wanted the best for your sons even if it meant their death. Help all mothers, fathers and guardians of difficult children and teenagers to pray for them, and to entrust them to God’s providence and mercy. We pray especially for (add your intention). Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be

FOURTH DAY:
PRAYER FOR THOSE WHO EXPERIENCE DISCORD AND HATRED IN THE FAMILY
Glorious St Rita, you brokered peace between your husband’s family and the family of his murderer. We ask you to intercede anywhere in our lives where there is discord and hatred, and for all families affected by animosity. We pray especially for (add your intention). Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be

FIFTH DAY:
PRAYER FOR THOSE WHO ARE AT RISK OF FEELING BITTER
Glorious St Rita, you did everything God asked of you, but he didn’t give you your heart’s desire. Help us not to become bitter if God has not rewarded us as we think we deserve. May we humbly ask his will. We pray especially for (add your intention). Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be

SIXTH DAY:
PRAYER FOR US ALL TO PERSEVERE IN PRAYER
Glorious St Rita, you persevered in your desire to enter the convent, waiting on God’s time. Eventually, everything became easy and you were able to enter. Help us all to persevere in prayer for our intentions and trustingly accept God’s will whatever the outcome. We pray especially for (add your intention). Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be

SEVENTH DAY:
PRAYER FOR THOSE WHO EXPERIENCE PAINFUL ILLNESS AND REJECTION
Glorious St Rita, you endured painful illness and the rejection of your sisters because of the terrible stench of your wound. You accepted this in peace. May we too learn to accept suffering and rejection, knowing God will never reject us. We pray especially for (add your intention). Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be

EIGHTH DAY:
PRAYER FOR US TO BE OPEN TO OTHERS
Glorious St Rita, you were famed for your compassion and wisdom and many people came to ask your help. Intercede for us that we can be open to others. We pray especially for (add your intention). Amen.
Our Father, Hail. Mary, Glory Be

NINTH DAY:
PRAYER FOR MY INTENTION WHICH SEEMS QUITE IMPOSSIBLE
Glorious St Rita, you are the saint of things despaired of. I pray that you intercede for me in this thing which seems impossible. I promise to use this favour, when granted, to better my life, to proclaim God’s mercy, and make you widely known and loved for the glory of God the Father. Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be

He Gives

He gives us the sun so warm and bright
He gives us the moon and stars to shine at night
He gives us rain that falls from the sky
He gives us all, I wonder why?
He gives us the grass so green with colorful flowers
It’s all here and it’s all ours
He provides us with food to eat and water to drink
He asks nothing in return and it makes me think
He gives us all these wonders from above
But best of all he gives us his unconditional love
He gives to us even when we are ungrateful
He gives to those whose hearts are hard and hateful
He gives to man a creature made from dust
He gives to all the just and the unjust.

Grandpa's Hands

Grandpa, some ninety plus years, sat feebly on the patio bench. He didn't move, just sat with his head down staring at his hands. When I sat down beside him he didn't acknowledge my presence and the longer I
sat I wondered if he was OK. Finally, not really wanting to disturb him but wanting to check on him at the same time, I asked him if he was OK.
He raised his head and looked at me and smiled. "Yes, I'm fine, thank you for asking," he said in a clear strong voice. "I didn't mean to disturb you, grandpa, but you were just sitting here staring at your hands and I wanted to make sure you were OK", I explained to him. "Have you ever looked at your hands," he asked. "I mean really looked at your hands?" I slowly opened my hands and stared down at them. I turned them over, palms up and then palms down. No, I guess I had never really looked at my hands as I tried to figure out the point he was making.

Grandpa smiled and related this story: Stop and think for a moment about the hands you have, how they have served you well throughout your years. These hands, though wrinkled, shriveled and weak have been the tools I have used all my life to reach out and grab and embrace life. They braced and caught my fall when as a toddler I crashed upon the floor. They put food in my mouth and clothes on my back. As a child my mother taught me to fold them in prayer. They tied my shoes and pulled on my boots. They held my rifle and wiped my tears when I went off to war.
They have been dirty, scraped and raw, swollen and bent. They were uneasy and clumsy when I tried to hold my wedding band they showed the world that I was married and loved someone special. They wrote the

letters home and trembled and shook when I buried my parents and spouse and walked my daughter down the aisle. Yet, they were strong and sure when I dug my buddy out of a foxhole and lifted a plow off of my best friends foot. They have held children, consoled neighbors, and shook in fists of anger when I didn't
understand. They have covered my face, combed my hair, and washed and cleansed the rest of my body. They have been sticky and wet, bent and broken, dried and raw. And to this day when not much of anything else of me works real well these hands hold me up, lay me down, and again continue to fold in prayer.
These hands are the mark of where I've been and the ruggedness of my life. But more importantly it will be these hands out and take when he leads me home. And with my hands He will lift me to
His side and there I will use these hands to touch the face of Christ. I will never look at my hands the same again.

But I remember God reached out and took my grandpa's hands and led him home. When my hands are hurt or sore or when I stroke the face of my children and wife I think of grandpa. I know he has been stroked and
caressed and held by the hands of God. I, too, want to touch the face of God and feel his hands upon my face.

When you receive this, say a prayer for the person who sent it to you and watch God's answer to prayer work in your life. Let's continue praying for one another.

TO EACH HIS OWN

-- Author Unknown

I cannot change the way I am,
I never really try,
God made me different and unique,
I never ask him why.

If I appear peculiar,
There's nothing I can do,
You must accept me as I am,
As I've accepted you.

God made a casting of each life,
Then threw the mold away,
Each child is different from the rest,
Unlike as night from day.

So often we will criticize,
The things that others do,
But, do you know, they do not think,
The same as me and you.

So God in all his wisdom,
Who knows us all by name,
He didn't want us to be bored,
That's why we're not the same

**  10 Steps to a Blessed Day  **

1. TODAY I WILL NOT STRIKE BACK

If someone is rude;
If someone is impatient;
If someone is unkind ...
I will not respond in like manner.

Love is not rude,
it is not self-seeking,
it is not easily angered,
it keeps no record of wrongs.
(1 Corinthians 13:5)

2.  TODAY I WILL ASK GOD TO BLESS MY "ENEMY":

If I come across someone who treats me harshly or unfairly,
I will quietly ask God to bless that individual.
I understand the "enemy" could be a family member,  
neighbor, co-worker or stranger.

For God so loved the world
He gave His one and only son
so that whoever believes in Him
should not perish but have everlasting life.   
(John 3:16)

3. TODAY I WILL BE CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT I SAY:

I will carefully choose  and guard my words,
being certain that I do not spread gossip,
slander or malign anyone in any way.

Love always protects,
always trusts,
always hopes,
always perseveres   
(1 Corinthians 13:7)

4. TODAY I WILL GO THE EXTRA MILE:

I will find ways to help share the burden of another person.
I will find ways to make life more pleasant.

Greater love has no one than this
that he lay down his life for  
his friends  
(John 15:13)

5. TODAY I WILL FORGIVE:

I will forgive any hurt or injuries that come my way.
(I will also work to forgive injuries that have been inflicted
upon me in the past)

God is love.  
(1 John 4:8)

6. TODAY I WILL DO SOMETHING NICE FOR SOMEONE,
BUT I WILL DO IT SECRETLY:

I will reach out anonymously and bless the life of another person.
We always thank God for you, mentioning you in our prayers.  

We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced  
by faith, your labor prompted by love,and your endurance inspired by
hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.  
(1 Thessalonians 1:1-2)

7. TODAY I WILL TREAT OTHERS AS I WISH  
TO BE TREATED:

I will practice the Golden Rule -  

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you"-
with everyone I encounter.

8. TODAY I WILL RAISE THE SPIRITS OF SOMEONE  
WHO IS DISCOURAGED:

My smile, my words, my expression or support, can make the difference  
to someone who is wrestling with life.

If anyone is thirsty, let him come 
to Me and drink.  
(John 7:37)

9. TODAY I WILL NURTURE MY BODY:

I will eat less
I will eat only healthy foods
I will thank God for my body

10. TODAY I WILL GROW SPIRITUALLY

I will spend a little more time in prayer today
I will begin reading something spiritual or inspirational today;
I will find a quiet place (at some point during this day)  
and listen to God's voice.

May 13 - Feast Day of Our Lady of Fatima

May 13th - Feast Day for Our Lady of Fatima

The miracles that took place in Fatima in 1917 do not belong to a group of the faithful, nor do they belong to science.  Before all else, it is an undeniable historical event.  Three Portuguese children near the village of Fatima saw the Apparitions of a Lady. The children were Lucia dos Santos (aged ten), and her two cousins, Jacinta (aged seven), and Francis Martos (aged nine).

The miracle that took place in October was for all to believe.

May 13th, 1917
On her first Apparition, the Lady said "I come from heaven" and that she'll reveal her name later, and asked the 3 children to come at the same time every 13th of the month for six months. She then added, "recite the rosary every day to obtain peace in the world and the end of the war".

June 13th, 1917
On her second Apparition, the children ask if they'll go to heaven.  The Lady says that Jacinta and Francisco will go to heaven soon. Lucia much later, because Jesus wanted Lucia to make the Lady known and loved.  There were a few dozen curious people there.  Again, the Lady asks the children to pray the rosary every day.

July 13th, 1917
On her third Apparition, there was about 5,000 curious onlookers there that day.  The Lady promises a miracle in October for all to believe.  Again, the Lady asks to pray the rosary every day.

i) The Lady also gave the children vision of Hell, although it scared them terribly, it was meant to encourage the children to make sacrifices for the salvation of sinners.

ii) The Lady predicts that the war (World War I) is going to end soon, but if we don't stop offending God, another war will begin in the reign of Pius XI.  The Lady tells us that when we see a night illuminated by an unknown light that this will be a great sign from God that he will punish the world for its many crimes by means of war, hunger, and persecution of the Church and the Holy Father.  To prevent it, the Lady asks for the consecration of Russia to her Immaculate Heart and the Communion of reparation on the first Saturdays. The Lady said if her requests are heeded, Russia will be converted and there will be peace; if not, Russia will spread her errors throughout the world, causing wars and persecutions of the Church.  The good will be martyred, the Holy Father will have much to suffer, various nations will be annihilated.  In the end, her Immaculate Heart will triumph and a period of peace will be granted to the world.

iii) Lucia also had a vision of a Bishop dressed in White (believed to be the Pope) who was killed by bullets.

(In 1917, Russia was a poor, militarily weak and war devastated nation. The Communists took power by surprise in November, 1917.)

(Pius XI was the Pope from 1922-1938.  Many believe that the strange night illumination has occurred... this is referring to the historical "aurora borealis" which occurred on Jan 25th, 1938, and widely reported by the European press.  And most historians would agree that World War II actually began on March 11th, 1938, when Hitler invaded Austria.)

(Communism may have fell in Russia, but many believe that Russia was not converted due to it's poor spiritual and moral values.  Hence, the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, suffered when he was shot on the anniversary of the first apparition, May 13th, 1981, by Mehmet Ali Hagca.)

August 13th, 1917
The children were detained in prison by the atheist Mayor, Artur de Oliveira Santos, claiming that the children were causing a public commotion.  But their faith would not be broken.  Meanwhile, at the site of the Apparitions, characteristic external signs of the Apparition appeared, believed to be for the benefit of the crowds.

The Lady would later appear to the children on August 19th, and again she asks for the rosary to be prayed every day.  She also tells the children to "Pray, pray a lot. Make sacrifices for sinners. Many souls go to hell, because no one is willing to help them with sacrifice."  And again she promises a miracle in October for all to believe.

September 13th, 1917
There is about 30,000 people in the crowd when the Lady appears to the children.  Again, she asks for the rosary to be prayed daily to obtain the end of the war. 

The Lady also predicts in October that Our Lord will come, so too would Our Lady of Sorrows/Dolours, and Our Lady of Mount Carmel, and St Joseph with the Child Jesus to bless the world.

October 13th, 1917.  The day of the miracle.
It have been raining for days.  The grounds were muddy.  And there were 70,000 people there to witness that day.

The Lady appears, and she reveals her name: "I am the Lady of the Rosary."  The Lady tells us that she wanted a chapel built there in her honour.  And that the war is going to end and the soldiers will return home soon.

Then the miracle of the dancing sun was done.  The rain stopped.  The sun bursts through the clouds and appeared to dance.  70,000 people witnessed it. Their clothes were suddenly dry.

The children beheld St. Joseph and the Child Jesus and Our Lady robed white with a blue mantle, beside the sun.  St. Joseph and the Child Jesus appeared to bless the world, for they traced the Sign of the Cross with their hands.  When the apparition disappeared, the children saw Our Lord with Our Lady of Sorrows/Dolours.  Our Lord appeared to bless the world in the same manner as St. Joseph had done.  This apparition also vanished, and then the children saw Our Lady once more, this time resembling Our Lady of Mount Carmel (who signifies the triumph over suffering).

Among the 70,000 witnesses of the dancing sun, were the following...
* O Seculo (a pro-government, anti-clerical, Lisbon paper):  It was possible to look at the sun without any discomfort.  The sun trembled, made sudden incredible movements.  The sun "danced".
* O Dia (another Lisbon daily, edition of 17 October 1917):  The rain stopped.  The sun was seen to whirl and turn in the circle of broken clouds.  A cry went up from every mouth and people feel on their knees on the muddy ground.  People wept and prayed with uncovered heads, in the presence of a miracle they had awaited. The seconds seemed like hours, so vivid were they.

Francisco Marto died on 4th April, 1919.
Jacinta Marto died on 20th February, 1920 
There would be another apparition for Lucia several years later.  The Lady would come to urge her to dedicate herself wholly to God.
Lucia Dos Santos died on February 13th, 2005.

The message from Our Lady of Fatima is undeniable.  Our Lady of Fatima wants all of us to stop offending God; the same message as at Lourdes to Saint Bernadette.  She reminds us that hell exists.  Ultimately, Our Lady wants us to pray the rosary daily for world peace.  Our Lady has over a hundred titles, but the one she selected at Fatima was "I am the Lady of the Rosary".

Let us pray the Fatima Prayer:
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell. Lead all souls to Heaven, especially those who are most in need of Thy mercy.

May 13 - Jesus Calling

Thank Me in the midst of the crucible. When things seem all wrong, look for growth opportunities. Especially, look for areas where you need to let go, leaving your cares in My able hands. Do you trust Me to orchestrate your life events as I choose, or are you still trying to make things go according to your will? If you keep trying to carry out your intentions while I am leading you in another direction, you deify your desires.

Be on the lookout for what I am doing in your life. Worship Me by living close to Me, thanking Me in all circumstances.

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
—1 Peter 5:6–7

Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
—1 Thessalonians 5:18

[fthunt]

Why?  What's the purpose of this?

[gloriajean]

Well the purpose of this thread has been for years, to give God the Glory, for all His Blessings to us.  So many times we are gifted with His blessings and we just take them for granted, so this thread is for anyone who feels like sharing God's gifts to them, it's for them to share.  That is the purpose.  It has been the purpose for the last 9 years.  Do you have any blessings that God has given to you that you'd like to share?  It's been a blessing to me to meet a lot of posters through this thread who have become friends. It's also a blessing to me that in a couple of months we will be grandparents for the first time, and to identical twin girls!!!  

[lovestopaint]

We are still getting rain off and on and on Sunday they expect it to go down to 30 degrees I sure hope they are wrong.

Blessings to all.

Harlene(lovestopaint

[Bobbi sue]

Hello friends.  God had blessed you and Linus with identical twin baby girls to granparent.  What a wonderful blessing.  God is still watching over me giving me mercy and graces.  Praise His holy name.   Have a good day Gloria.