Hello my friends! Had lunch today with Darla at Applebees. Sure was nice, just having lunch with her, we had the thai shrimp salad and sweet poatoe fries. She's vegetarian, eating a little fish here and there now for the twins, needs more protein, trying to talk her into chicken, free range chickens, she's watching that she doesn't eat any thing that isn't pasturized, like cheese etc. really doing her homework on eating right. Lunch was such a blessing!!! The rest of the day, too.
Often times, life is what happens when you're busy making plans.
Lord, help me to notice each moment and not rush through it.
S C R I P T U R E F O R T H E D A Y
"Jesus straightened up and said to the woman caught in adultery,
'Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?' She said, 'No one,
sir.' And Jesus said, 'Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and
from now on do not sin again.'" ~John 8:10-11
M E D I T A T I O N F O R T H E D A Y
In the new year, I can live one day at a time. I can make each day
one of preparation for better things ahead. I need not dwell on the
past or the future, only on the present. I can bury every fear of the
future, all thoughts of unkindness and bitterness, all my dislikes, my
resentments, my sense of failure, my disappointments in others and in
myself, my gloom and my despondency. I can leave all these things
buried and go forward, in this new year and this new millennium, into
a new life!
P R A Y E R F O R T H E D A Y
I pray that God will guide me one day at a time in the new year. I
pray that for each day, God will supply the wisdom and the strength I
need.
JESUS MISSED ME
When life is good and I'm ok,
my prayers go down to few .
But if I'm in need or having trouble,
I stop, I turn, and then I seek You.
Why can't I remember to pray,
during life's normal daily race.
Why must I suffer some misery,
before I turn and seek Your face?
I know I owe you everything,
you've taken special care of me.
I'm the one that is neglecting
the love you give so free.
When I forget the time to pray,
the guilt spreads over me.
I really feel You miss me too,
my time on bended knee.
But how can it be possible,
You miss our relationship?
With so many that worship you,
what value am I to Your Lordship?
Jesus, I know not what I am to you,
or why You value me.
I just know You paid the price,
when You hung upon that tree.
My faith restored, You take me in
Your arms of strength and grace.
Forgiveness is what You do,
When I ask for Your embrace.
I'll not forget again, O Lord,
Because now I know, I see
That every time that I forget,
You really do miss me.
Chester Smidt
THE BEST GIFTS THIS SEASON
Author Unknown
To a Friend Loyalty
To an Enemy Forgiveness
To your Boss Service
To your Child A good example
To your Father Honor
To your Mother Gratitude and Devotion
To your Spouse Love and Faithfulness
To Yourself Respect
To All Men Charity
To God Your Life!!
Mary’s Dream
I had a dream, Joseph.
I don’t understand it, but I think it was about a birthday celebration for our son.
The people in my dream had been preparing for about six weeks.
They had decorated the house and bought new clothes.
They’d gone shopping many times and bought many elaborate gifts.
It was peculiar, though, because the presents weren’t for our son.
They wrapped them in beautiful paper and stacked them under a tree.
Yes, a tree, Joseph, right inside their homes! They’d decorated the tree with sparkling ornaments.
There was a figure like an angel on the top of the tree.
Everyone was laughing and happy.
They gave the gifts to each other, Joseph, not to our son.
I don’t think they even knew him.
They never mentioned his name.
I had the strangest feeling that, if our Jesus had gone to this celebration he would have been intruding.
How sad for someone not to be wanted at his own birthday party!
I’m glad it was only a dream. How terrible Joseph, if it had been real!’
Author Unknown.
Two Babes In A Manger
In 1994, two Americans answered an invitation from the Russian Department of Education to teach in Russia. They were invited to teach at many places including a large orphanage.
About 100 boys and girls who had been abandoned, abused, and left in the care of a government- run program were in the orphanage. The two Americans relate the following story in their own words:
It was nearing the holiday season, 1994, time for our orphans to hear, for the first time, the traditional story of Christmas. We told them about Mary and Joseph arriving in Bethlehem.
Finding no room in the inn, the couple went to a stable, where the Baby Jesus was born and placed in a manger. Throughout the story, the children and orphanage staff sat in amazement as they listened.
Some sat on the edges of their stools, trying to grasp every word.
Completing the story, we gave the children three small pieces of cardboard to make a crude manger. Each child was given a small paper square, cut from yellow napkins I had brought with me. No colored paper was available in the city.
Following instructions, the children tore the paper and carefully laid strips in the manger for straw.
Small squares of flannel, cut from a worn-out nightgown an American lady was throwing away as she left Russia, were used for the baby's blanket. A doll-like baby was cut from tan felt we had brought from the United States.
The orphans were busy assembling their manger as I walked among them to see if they needed any help.
All went well until I got to one table where little Misha sat. He looked to be about 6 years old and had finished his project.
As I looked at the little boy's manger, I was startled to see not one, but two babies in the manger. Quickly, I called for the translator to ask the lad why there were two babies in the manger.
Crossing his arms in front of him and looking at this completed manger scene, the child began to repeat the story very seriously.
For such a young boy, who had only heard the Christmas story once, he related the happenings accurately--until he came to the part where Mary put the Baby Jesus in the manger.
Then Misha started to ad-lib. He made up his own ending to the story as he said, "And when Maria laid the baby in the manger, Jesus looked at me and asked me if I had a place to stay.
I told him I have no mamma and I have no papa, so I don't have any place to stay.
Then Jesus told me I could stay with Him. But I told Him I couldn't, because I didn't have a gift to give Him like everybody else did.
But I wanted to stay with Jesus so much, so I thought about what I had that maybe I could use for a gift. I thought maybe if I kept Him warm, that would be a good gift.
So I asked Jesus, "If I keep You warm, will that be a good enough gift?" And Jesus told me, "If You keep me warm, that will be the best gift anybody ever gave me."
"So I got into the manger, and then Jesus looked at me and He told me I could stay with Him---for always."
As little Misha finished his story, his eyes brimmed full of tears that splashed down his little cheeks. Putting his hand over his face, his head dropped to the table and his shoulders shook as he sobbed and sobbed.
The little orphan had found Someone who would never abandon nor abuse him, Someone who would stay with him--FOR ALWAYS.
I've learned that it's not what you have in your life, but who you have in your life that counts.
- Author Unknown
Novena to say during Advent
Father, all-powerful and ever-living God, I give You thanks through Jesus Christ our Lord. When He humbled Himself to come among us as a Man, He fulfilled the plan You formed long ago and opened for us the way to salvation.
Now I watch for the day, hoping that the salvation promised us will be mine, when Christ our Lord will come again in His glory.
His future coming was proclaimed by all the prophets. The Virgin Mother bore Him in her womb with love beyond all telling. John the Baptist was His herald and made Him known when at last He came. In His love He has filled us with joy as we prepare to celebrate His birth. When He comes, may He find me watching in prayer, my heart filled with wonder and praise.
In memory of the coming of our Lord and Saviour, I beg You, Father, to grant me all the graces I need to be prepared for His coming to my soul on Christmas. I ask in particular this favor: (Mention your request).
For the love Jesus, Your Son, has shown us in becoming man to save us, I beg You to grant my prayer, if it be Your holy Will. Amen.
used with permission
© 2000 by Catholic Youth Networking
How Can We Fully Enter Into Advent?
Fr. Robert Barron
I think one of the best ways to enter into Advent is to get reacquainted with the Bible. Many Catholics don't know the Bible very well. Vatican II called for a revival in biblical studies, but I don't think that's happened yet, at least among average Catholics. We need to understand the great biblical story, beginning with Creation and the Fall, the formation of Israel, the coming of the prophets and patriarchs, and finally the formation of a people that leads to the coming of a savior. It's only when we get the sweep of that whole story that we understand why the coming of the savior matters, and what the coming of the savior even means.
When you extract Jesus from the biblical narrative, he becomes a mere guru, teacher, or philosopher. That's all our culture gives us: Jesus as another mystic, seer, or sage. But when you see Jesus against the backdrop of the great story of Israel, now you see that he's the savior.
So this Advent, I would recommend to all Catholics, open up your Bible and get deeply immersed in the great biblical story. December 9 - Jesus Calling Be willing to go out on a limb with Me. If that is where I am leading you, it is the safest place to be. Your desire to live a risk-free life is a form of unbelief. Your longing to live close to Me is at odds with your attempts to minimize risk. You are approaching a crossroads in your journey. In order to follow Me wholeheartedly, you must relinquish your tendency to play it safe. Let Me lead you step by step through this day. If your primary focus is on Me, you can walk along perilous paths without being afraid. Eventually, you will learn to relax and enjoy the adventure of our journey together. As long as you stay close to Me, My sovereign Presence protects you wherever you go. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
—Psalm 23:4 Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.
—Psalm 9:10 “Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.”
—John 12:26 |
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