Greetings to all! Pretty good day here at the apartment - got my hair done - Georgia really likes our apartment. Nice having her here to do my hair, just a hair cut, shampoo and style. She came at noon and had some soup with me too! She also pointed out that we have a bigger kitchen than we had at the house and larger dining area, that is for sure! Both bathrooms are bigger. Miss my house, but hope the one who bought it will love it as much as we did for the past 12 years. Now we are at a different phase in our lives. Karnerblue, if you are reading this, please come back again, and help us to know you, care for you and love you. My email is on the last thread for you if you care to email me.
Stay close to God because He is the solution to all problems. Lord, I will
live in Your presence, protected by You and Your peace will be mine.
S C R I P T U R E F O R T H E D A Y
"Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and
I will give you rest." ~Matthew 11:28
M E D I T A T I O N F O R T H E D A Y
"Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and
I will give you rest." For rest from the cares of life, we can turn to
God each day in prayer and communion. Real relaxation and serenity come
from a deep sense of the fundamental goodness of the universe. God's
everlasting arms are underneath all and can support us. We can commune
with God, not so much for petitions to be granted as for the rest that
comes from our relying on God's will and God's purposes for our lives.
We can be sure of God's strength available to us, and conscious of God's
support. We can wait quietly until that true rest from God fills our
being.
P R A Y E R F O R T H E D A Y
I pray that I may be conscious of God's support today. I pray that I
may rest safe and sure therein.
Hold On...
Some years ago on a hot summer day in south Florida, a little boy decided to go for a swim in the old swimming hole behind his house. In a hurry to dive into the cool water, he ran out the back door, leaving behind shoes, socks, and shirt as he went. He flew into the water, not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the lake, an alligator was swimming toward the shore.
His mother in the house was looking out the window saw the two as they got closer and closer together. In utter fear, she ran toward the water, yelling to her son as loudly as she could. Hearing her voice, the little boy became alarmed and made a U-turn to swim to his mother. It was too late. Just as he reached her, the alligator reached him.
From the dock, the mother grabbed her little boy by the arms just as the alligator snatched his legs. That began an incredible tug-of-war between the two. The alligator was much stronger than the mother, but the mother was much too passionate to let go. A farmer happened to drive by, heard her screams, raced from his truck, took aim and shot the alligator.
Remarkably, after weeks and weeks in the hospital, the little boy survived. His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack of the animal, and on his arms, were deep scratches where his mother's fingernails dug into his flesh in her effort to hang on to the son she loved.
The newspaper reporter, who interviewed the boy after the trauma, asked if he would show him his scars. The boy lifted his pant legs. And then, with obvious pride, he said to the reporter, 'But look at my arms. I have great scars on my arms, too. I have them because my Mom wouldn't let go.'
You and I can identify with that little boy. We have scars, too. No, not from an alligator, or anything quite so dramatic, but the scars of painful past. Some of those scars are unsightly and have caused us deep regret. But, some wounds, my friend, are because God has refused to let go. In the midst of your struggle, He's been there holding on to you. The Scripture teaches that God loves you. You are a child of God. He wants to protect you and provide for you in every way. But sometimes we foolishly wade into dangerous situations. The swimming hole of life is filled with peril - and we forget that the enemy is waiting to attack. That's when the tug-of-war begins - and if you have the scars of His love on your arms be very, very grateful. He did not and will not - let you go.
DO YOU CARRY YOUR UMBRELLA?
Author Unknown
We all have something to learn from this young girl.
As a drought continued for what seemed an eternity, a small community
of farmers was in a quandary as to what to do. Rain was important to
keep their crops healthy and sustain the townspeople' s way of life.
As the problem became more acute, a local pastor called a prayer
meeting to ask for rain.
Many people arrived. The pastor greeted most of them as they filed in.
As he walked to the front of the church to officially begin the
meeting he noticed most people were chatting across the aisles and
socializing with friends. When he reached the front his thoughts were
on quieting the attendees and starting the meeting.
His eyes scanned the crowd as he asked for quiet. He noticed an eleven
year-old girl sitting quietly in the front row. Her face was beaming
with excitement. Next to her, poised and ready for use, was a bright
red umbrella. The little girl's beauty and innocence made the pastor
smile as he realized how much faith she possessed. No one else in the congregation
had brought an umbrella.
All came to pray for rain, but the little girl had come expecting God
to answer.
The Difference
I got up early one morning
and rushed right into the day.
I had so much to accomplish
that I didn't have time to pray.
Problems just tumbled about me,
and heavier came each task.
I wondered "Why doesn't God help me?"
He answered, "You didn't ask."
I wanted to see joy and beauty,
but the day toiled gray and bleak;
I wondered why God didn't show me.
He said, "But you didn't seek."
I tried to come into God´s presence;
I used all my keys at the lock.
God gently and lovingly chided,
"My child, you didn't knock."
I woke early this morning,
and paused before entering the day;
I had so much to accomplish
that I had to take time to pray.
Prayer for Christ's MercyO Lord, show your mercy to me and gladden my heart. I am like the man on the way to Jericho who was overtaken by robbers, wounded and left for dead. O Good Samaritan, come to my aid, I am like the sheep that went astray. O Good Shepherd, seek me out and bring me home in accord with your will. Let me dwell in your house all the days of my life and praise you for ever and ever with those who are there.
Saint Jerome, Priest, Writer, Doctor of the Church
September 30 - Jesus Calling
I am perpetually with you, taking care of you. That is the most important fact of your existence. I am not limited by time or space; My Presence with you is a forever-promise. You need not fear the future, for I am already there. When you make that quantum leap into eternity, you will find Me awaiting you in heaven. Your future is in My hands; I release it to you day by day, moment by moment. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow.
I want you to live this day abundantly, seeing all there is to see, doing all there is to do. Don’t be distracted by future concerns. Leave them to Me! Each day of life is a glorious gift, but so few people know how to live within the confines of today. Much of their energy for abundant living spills over the time line into tomorrow’s worries or past regrets. Their remaining energy is sufficient only for limping through the day, not for living it to the full. I am training you to keep your focus on My Presence in the present. This is how to receive abundant Life, which flows freely from My throne of grace.
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” —Matthew 6:34
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” —John 10:10
Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happentomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” —James 4:13–15
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