It is much harder to see today if you are looking at yesterday. Lord, help
to live and appreciate each moment as I am experiencing it so that I am
prepared more fully for the next moment.
S C R I P T U R E F O R T H E D A Y
"Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and
slander, together with all malice, and be kind to one another,
tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as
Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and
sacrifice to God." ~Ephesians 4:31-5:2
M E D I T A T I O N F O R T H E D A Y
We cannot believe in God and keep our selfish ways. When we believe
more strongly in God, we begin to abandon our selfish ways. The old
self can shrivel up and die, and God's image can become much clearer.
The gradual elimination of selfishness in the growth of love for God and
our fellow human beings is a wonderful goal in our lives. As the
picture grows, we can reveal more and more of the likeness of God until
those who see us can see in us the power of God's grace at work in a
human life.
P R A Y E R F O R T H E D A Y
I pray that I may grow in my likeness to God. I pray that others may see in
me some of the power of God's grace at work.
Mother Teresa - On Children and the Family
I have a conviction that I want to share with you. Love begins at home and every Co-worker should try to make sure that deep family love abides in his or her home. Only when love abides at home can we share it with our next door neighbor. Then it will show forth and you will be able to say to them, "Yes, love is here." And you will be able to share it with everyone around you.
One day I found a little girl in the street, so I took her to our children's home. We have a nice place and good food there. We gave her clean clothes and we made her as happy as we could.
After a few hours the little girl ran away. I looked for her but I couldn't find her anywhere. Then after a few days, I found her again. And again I brought her to our home and told a Sister, "Sister, please follow this child wherever she goes." The little girl ran away again but the Sister followed to find out where she was going and why she kept running away. She followed the little girl and discovered that the little one's mother was living under a tree in the street. The mother had placed two stones there and did her cooking under that tree. The Sister sent word to me and I went there. I found joy in that little girls face, because she was with her mother and was making special food for her in that little open place. I asked the little girl, "How is it that you would not stay with us? You had so many beautiful things in our home. " She answered, "I could not live without my mother. She loves me. " The little girl was happier to have the meager food her mother was cooking in the street than all the things I had given her. While the child was with us, I could scarecly see a smile on her face. But when I found her there with her mother in the street they both were smiling. Why? Because they were family.
My Precious Lord
When daily toils and trials increase,
My Lord gives His abiding peace.
When once-dear friends forsake and flee,
I feel His arms enfolding me.
When I feel lost and all alone,
'Tis then His tender love is shown.
When no one's near to hear my cry,
I know my precious Lord is nigh.
Though I sink low in deep despair,
He shows again His constant care.
When no more pain can I endure,
He gives me hope, steadfast and sure.
And as I lift my heart and pray,
I feel His strength anew each day.
He leads and guides each step I take,
And tells me He will not forsake.
And as I read His Word He feeds
My hungry soul, and fills my needs.
He gives me grace, and so much more!
Some day my ransomed soul shall soar,
And In God's loving arms I'll be
Secure for all eternity!
Written By: Betty Jo Mings
PRECIOUSNESS OF SILENCE
"Lord, set a guard over my mouth;
keep watch at the door of my lips." Ps 141:3
"But Jesus was silent." Mt 26:63
The Silence is Meekness.
When you do not defend yourself against offenses;
When you do not claim your rights;
When you let God defend you;
The Silence is Meekness.
The Silence is Mercy.
When you do not reveal the faults of your brothers to others;
When you readily forgive without inquiring into the past;
When you do not judge, but pray in your heart;
The Silence is Mercy.
The Silence is Patience.
When you accept suffering not with grumbling but joyfully;
When you do not look for human consolations;
When you do not become too anxious, but wait in patience for the seed to germinate;
The Silence is Patience.
The Silence is Humility.
When there is no competition;
When you consider the other person to be better than yourself;
When you let your brothers emerge, grow and mature;
When you joyfully abandon all to the Lord;
When your actions may be misinterpreted;
When you leave to others the glory of the enterprise;
The Silence is Humility.
The Silence is Faith.
When you keep quiet because you know that the Lord will act;
When you renounce the voice of the world to remain in the presence of the Lord;
When you do not labour yourself to be understood;
because it is enough for you to know that the Lord understands you;
The Silence is Faith.
The Silence is Adoration.
When you embrace the cross without asking "Why?";
The Silence is Adoration.
"But Jesus was silent."
From the Missionaries of Charity Prayer Book
THE PROMISE
There was once a man who lived a pretty normal life. He never thought he was a bad person, but he wouldn't let anyone run over him either. Then one day God touched his heart and the man accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. The man was so overjoyed with his new feeling that he promised the Lord that he would tell everyone he met about Jesus and lead at least 100 people to this great thing he had found.
But the man soon found that leading people to Christ was not an easy thing to do. Most of his friends thought he was crazy and soon distanced themselves from him. The man almost gave up several times, but he would still tell anyone he could about the Good News and how it had changed his life and filled him with such peace and happiness.
Then the man died.
The man found himself in a room. All the things that he had done and said in his lifetime, all the bad things he had done, all the bad thoughts he had had all came back to him and was flashed before him in a moment of time.
Then he saw a vision of himself, the time he got saved, he saw himself there on his knees promising God that he would spread the Gospel to at least 100 people.
The man fell to his knees and wept.
Then Jesus stood before the man and told him, "Arise my child, and tell me why you weep?" The man answered, "Lord, I have committed all these terrible things in my life, and I have even lied to you." The Lord looked puzzled and asked the man, "How have you lied to Me?" "I promised you that I would lead 100 people to you Lord, and even though I tried with all my might, I did not lead one single person to you. I broke my promise to you and lied to you."
Then Jesus smiled at the man and wiped the tears from his eyes, "My child, you did not break your promise to Me." The man said, "But Lord, I did not lead one single person to you!" Jesus answered, "My child, do you remember the time in the restaurant when you sat down to eat, and you prayed, thanking The Father for your food? Well, there was a lady sitting in that same restaurant. The lady was sick with sin, and even though I had tried to reach her several times, she ignored Me. She was thinking of going home and taking her life, and she was planning to take her children's lives too. But this lady saw you pray, and it broke her heart. A door opened in that lady's heart, and she allowed Me to come in.
The lady went home, and instead of ending her life, she accepted Me and asked Me to take control of her life. This woman found her faith, and she showed it to every one she knew, including her children, and when they became ready, they asked Me to take control of their lives. One of the children grew up to become a powerful evangelist and led many to Me. So My child, be of good cheer. You kept your promise. Your small but consistent acts of faith led not 100, but 100,000 to Me."
The man was overjoyed, but still he felt guilt. 'My Lord," he said, "What about all those other bad things I have done?" Jesus then smiled and said, "Don't worry about those, I paid the price for you. You see, we both kept the promises we made."
--Author Unknown
September 16 - Jesus Calling
Self-pity is a slimy, bottomless pit. Once you fall in, you tend to go deeper and deeper into the mire. As you slide down those slippery walls, you are well on your way to depression, and the darkness is profound.
Your only hope is to look up and see the Light of My Presence shining down on you. Though the Light looks dim from your perspective, deep in the pit, those rays of hope can reach you at any depth. While you focus on Me in trust, you rise ever so slowly out of the abyss of despair. Finally, you can reach up and grasp My hand. I will pull you out into the Light again. I will gently cleanse you, washing off the clinging mire. I will cover you with My righteousness and walk with you down the path of Life.
He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth—Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the Lord.
- Psalm 40:2-3
Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him For the help of His countenance.
- Psalm 42:5
The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, In those who hope in His mercy.
- Psalm 147:11
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