Hello my friends! Yes! it's not even Saturday yet, as one poster mentioned last night for Friday's thread a day early. I do this a day ahead so I don't have to in the mornings, as it's hectic here in the mornings! And if anyone wants to post on it during the night, it's here. So that's why if anyone is questioning this. It was a very trying day today with the twins! Alyssa especially couldn't get to sleep for hours! Something must be wrong with such a tiny baby to keep her up for hours. I'll pray especially fo her and her parents too. Linus had the day off and thanks to God he stayed there with me all day because he sure was needed to rock them, feed them, I change and I get the bottles ready etc. we work like a team! Hope they have their twins in better spirits this weekend.
Thinking I'll be there Monday again, and my appointment for hair with Georgia can be move to there, Darla would like her hair trimmed too.
As much as we love the Twins and their parents, it's good to be back in the apartment, typing this, saying our prayers and going to bed early!
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.
JESUS IN THE HOUSE
Author Unknown
One day he decided to invite the Lord to come home and stay with him.
When the Lord arrived, this young man offered him the very best room
in the house. The room was upstairs and at the end of the hall. "This
room is yours, Jesus! Stay as long as you like and you can do whatever
you want to in this room, remember Jesus, its all yours."
That evening after he had retired for the night there came a loud
knocking at the front door. The young man pulled on his robe and made
his way downstairs. When he opened the door he found that the devil
had sent three of his demons to attack the man. He quickly tried to
close the door but one of the demons kept sticking his foot in.
Sometime later, after a great struggle, he managed to slam the door
shut and returned to his room totally exhausted.
Can you believe that," the man thought. Jesus is upstairs in my very
best room sleeping while I am down here battling demons. Oh, well,
maybe he just didn't hear. He slept fitfully that night. The next day
thing went along as normal and, being tired as he was, the young man
retired early that evening. Along about midnight, there came such a
terrible ruckus at the front door that the young man was sure that
whatever it was would tear the door down. He stumbled down the stairs
once again and opened the door to find that were dozens of demons now
trying to get into his beautiful home.
For more than three hours he fought and struggled against the demons
from h ell, and finally overtook them enough to shut the door against
their attack. All energy seemed to fail him. He really didn't
understand this at all. Why won't the Lord come to my rescue? Why does
he allow me to fight all by myself? I feel so alone. Troubled, he
found his way to the sofa and fell into a restless sleep.
The next morning he decided to inquire of the Lord about the
happenings of the last two evenings. Quietly he made his way to the
elegant bedroom where he had left Jesus. "Jesus," he called as he
tapped at the door. "Lord, I don't understand what is happening. For
the last two nights I have had to fight the demons away from my door
while you laid up here sleeping. Don't you care about me? Did I not
give you the very best room in the house?"
He could see the tears building in Jesus' eyes but continued on, "I
just don't understand, I really thought that once I invited you in to
live with me that you would take care of me and I gave you the best
room in my house and everything. What more can I do?"
"My precious child," Jesus spoke so softly. "I do love and care for
you. I protect all that you have released into my care. But, when you
invited me to come here and stay, you brought me to this lovely room
and you shut the door to the rest of your house. I am Lord of this
room but I am not Master of this house.
I have protected this room and no demon may enter here."
"Oh, Lord, please forgive me. Take all of my house -- it is yours. I
am so sorry that I never offered you all to begin with. I want you to
have control of everything." With this he flung open the bedroom door
and knelt at Jesus' feet. "Please forgive me Lord for being so
selfish."
Jesus smiled and told him that He had already forgiven him and that He
would take care of things from now on. That night as the young man
prepared for bed he thought, I wonder if those demons will return, I
am so tired of fighting them each and every night. But, he knew that
Jesus said that he would take care of things from now on.
Along about midnight the banging on the door was frightening. The
young man slipped out of his room in time to see Jesus going down the
stairs. He watched in awe as Jesus swung open the door, no need to be
afraid.
Satan stood at the door, this time demanding to be let in. "What do
you want, satan?" the Lord asked. The devil bowed low in the presence
of the Lord, "So sorry, I seem to have gotten the wrong address." And
with that, he and the demons all ran away.
There is a moral to this tale. Jesus wants all of you, not just a
part. He will take all that you give Him, but nothing more. How much
of your heart have you given to the Lord? Are you keeping a portion of
it away from Him?
Perhaps the attacks are coming more and more each day. Why not let the
Lord fight the battles for you? He is always victorious. I have found
that God made man simple, all of man's complexities are of his own
devising.
Invocation of the Blessed Virgin in Time of Temptation
Haste, my Mother, run to help me;
Mother, haste, do not delay;
See from Hell the envious serpent
Comes my troubling soul to slay.
Ah! his very look affrights me,
And his cruel rage I fear;
Whither fly, if he attacks me?
See him, see him coming near!
Lo! I faint away with terror,
For if yet thou dost delay,
He will dart at me his venom;
Then, alas! I am his prey.
Cries and tears have nought availed me,
Spite of all, I see him there;
Saints I call till I am weary,
Still he stands with threat'ning air.
Now his mighty jaws are open,
And his forked tongue I see;
Ah! he coils to spring upon me.
-----Mother! hasten, make him flee.
Mary! yes, the name of Mary
Strikes with dread my cruel foe,
Straight he flees, as from the sunbeam
Swiftly melts the winter's snow.
Now he's gone, but do thou ever
Stay beside me, Mother dear;
Then the hellish fiend to tempt me
Nevermore will venture near.
WORLD...Take my Child by the Hand
My child will start school this week. It's going to be strange and new to him
for a while and I wish you would treat him gently. You see, up to now
he's been King of the Roost, he's been boss of the back yard.
I have always been around to repair his wounds and to soothe his feelings.
But now it will be different.
Tomorrow, he will walk down the front steps, wave his hand and start
on his great adventure. To live his life in the world he has to live in
will require faith and love and courage. So World, please take him
by his young hand and teach him the things he will have to know.
But do it gently if you can.
He will have to learn, I know, that not all men are just, that not
all men are true. Teach him that for every scoundrel, there is a hero;
that for every crooked politician, there is a dedicated leader; that for every
enemy, there is a friend. Let him learn early that the bullies are the easiest people to
lick. Teach him the wonder of books. Give him quiet time to ponder the eternal mystery of
birds in the sky, bees in the sun and flowers on the green hill.
Teach him that it is far more honorable to fail than to cheat. Teach him to have
faith in his own ideals, even if everyone else tells him they are wrong.
Try to give my son the strength not to follow the crowd even when
everyone else is getting on the bandwagon. Teach him to listen
to all men, but to filter all he hears on a screen
of truth and to take only the good that comes through.
Teach him to close his ears on a howling mob; and to stand and fight
if he is right. Teach him gently, World, but don't coddle him
because only the test of fire makes fine steel.
This is a big order World, but see what you can do.
He's such a nice little fellow.
Author Unknown
What Can I Do?
What can I do for you dear Jesus?
You have done so much for me.
Can I read your word,
Or say a prayer?
One I'm sure you've heard.
What good thing can I do for you,
Maybe speak a sweet kind word?
To friends or foe,
Who doesn't know,
How precious is your love.
What can I do or say dear Lord,
That hasn't already been said?
So many have written about you,
So many that are led.
Led of your Spirit to do your will
And always stay alert,
So all are healed and helped some way
And no one's ever hurt!
I can't do much but say,
Thank you Lord for all you've done
And praise your Holy name,
Our Lord, Gods only Son.
By Fae Read
Today's Joy Was Born Of Yesterday's Sorrow
By: Helen Steiner Rice
Who said the darkness of the night would never turn to day,
who said the winter's bleakness would never pass away,
who said the fog would never lift and let the sunshine through,
who said the skies now overcast would never more be blue.....
Why should we ever entertain these thoughts so dark and grim
and let the brightness of our minds grow cynical and dim.
When we know beyond all questioning that winter turns to spring
and on the notes of sorrow new songs are made to sing....
For no one sheds a teardrop or suffers loss in gain,
and every burden born today and every present sorrow
are but God's happy harbinger of a joyous, bright tomorrow.
Have a wonderful week, remember a smile goes a long way to lift someone's lowly spirits.
Be blessed.
August 19 - Jesus Calling
I continually call you to closeness with Me. I know the depth and breadth of your need for Me. I can read the emptiness of your thoughts when they wander away from Me. I offer rest for your soul, as well as refreshment for your mind and body. As you increasingly find fulfillment in Me, other pleasures become less important. Knowing Me intimately is like having a private wellspring of Joy within you. This spring flows freely from My throne of grace, so your Joy is independent of circumstances.
Waiting in My Presence keeps you connected to Me, aware of all that I offer you. If you feel any deficiency, you need to refocus your attention on Me. This is how you trust Me in the moments of your life.
But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me.
—Psalm 131:2
Surely you have granted him eternal blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence.
—Psalm 21:6
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.
—Psalm 37:7
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