Hello my friends! Hope your day is going well. Preparing a little for tomorrow night's birthday party for Linus with our family!!! Lori's bringing ribs, Darla's bringing a ministroni soup, I have something here for vegetarians too, and Lori just brought over a cake. Looking forward to it.
He works until 5:00, Lori works until 6:15, SO it'll be a short night, but nice. The older we get the wiser we get.
We are the only ones who can change how we think or how we act.
Lord, help me make positive decisions so that life doesn't just happen
to me.
S C R I P T U R E F O R T H E D A Y
"When they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and
cried out; for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he
spoke to them and said, 'Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.'"
~Mark 6:49-50
M E D I T A T I O N F O R T H E D A Y
I can take the most crowded day without fear. I believe that God is
with me and controlling all. I can let confidence be the motif running
through all the crowded day. I need not be worried, because I know that God
is my helper. Underneath are the everlasting arms of God. I can rest in
them, even though the day be full of things crowding in upon me.
P R A Y E R F O R T H E D A Y
I pray that I may be calm and let nothing upset me. I pray that I may
not let material things control me and choke out spiritual things.
Lenten Reflection By Bishop Robert Barron
St. Mark tells us that Jesus approached the Holy City of Jerusalem from the east: “When Jesus and his disciples drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethpage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives…” The Mount of Olives was just to the east of Jerusalem, and Bethpage and Bethany were on the eastern slope of the Mount.
Why in the world would this detail be important? Well, in the prophet Ezekiel, we hear that, because of the corruption of the Temple, the glory of the Lord had up and left. This was one of the most devastating events in all of the Old Testament, for the Temple of the Lord was, in practically a literal sense, the dwelling place of Yahweh. To imagine that the glory of the Lord had quit the Temple was shocking in the extreme.
However, Ezekiel prophesied that one day the Lord would return to the Temple, and from the same direction by which he left—the east. Upon the return of the glory of Yahweh, Ezekiel predicted, the Temple would be rebuilt and reconstituted.
Pious Jews in Jesus’ time certainly knew these texts. As they watched Jesus, they couldn’t help but think of them, because Jesus proclaimed himself the true Temple: “You have a greater than the Temple here.”
And then see what Mark saw: Jesus approaching the old Temple from the east, just as Ezekiel said the glory of Yahweh would approach the Temple.
There we have Jesus, speaking and acting in the very person of God, the glory of Yahweh taking possession of his house. NO MORE SECRETS
Author Unknown
"Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will
not be known." – Matthew 10:26
My mom and I were at the supermarket doing our weekly shopping for
food and other supplies. Just as we were checking out after paying for our purchases,
we saw an uncle of mine. Mom was about to call him but stopped in mid-sentence. Then I
realized why. My uncle was with another woman, definitely not my aunt, with a 10-year-
old boy in tow. No doubt they were a family. My uncle's second family, that is. I
wondered if my aunt knew.
Meanwhile, my mom was way ahead of me — she wanted to tell my aunt
about my uncle's secret as soon as we got home.
No secret can be kept hidden forever — especially with God. Secrets
have an uncanny way of revealing themselves at the most unexpected times and unlikely
places. If you think nobody's looking while you indulge in your clandestine affair, think
again.
At Judgment Day, there will no longer be secrets. As we come before
our Maker, I imagine there'll be a big screen where our entire life will be shown for
everyone to see. Every emotion, every action, every thought and every deed will be revealed.
Dina Pecaña
REFLECTION:
Are there secrets you think you can hide from the Lord?
Lord, may You flood the dark recesses of my secret life with the light
of Your truth. Because... Because He emptied Himself of all but love,
. . . you can be filled. Because His body was broken,
. . . your life can be whole. Because His blood was shed,
. . . your sins can be forgiven. Because He submitted to injustice,
. . . you can forgive. Because He finished His Father's work,
. . . your life has worth. Because He was forsaken,
. . . you will never be alone. Because He was buried,
. . . you can be raised. Because He lives,
. . . you don't have to be afraid. Because He was raised,
. . . you can be strong. Because He reached down to you,
. . . you don't have to work your way up to Him. Because His promises are always true,
. . . you can have Hope!
- Author Unknown
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DON'T LOOK BACK
Author Unknown
As you travel through life there are always those times
When decisions just have to be made,
When the choices are hard, and solutions seem scarce,
And the rain seems to soak your parade.
There are some situations where all you can do
Is simply let go and move on,
Gather your courage and choose a direction
That carries you toward a new dawn.
So pack up your troubles and take a step forward -
The process of change can be tough,
But think about all the excitement ahead
If you can be stalwart enough!
There might be adventures you never imagined
Just waiting around the next bend,
And wishes and dreams just about to come true
In ways you can't yet comprehend!
Perhaps you'll find friendships that spring from new things
As you challenge your status quo,
And learn there are so many options in life,
And so many ways you can grow!
Perhaps you'll go places you never expected
And see things that you've never seen,
Or travel to fabulous, faraway worlds
And wonderful spots in between!
Perhaps you'll find warmth and affection and caring
And somebody special who's there
To help you stay centered and listen with interest
To stories and feelings you share.
Perhaps you'll find comfort in knowing your friends
Are supportive of all that you do,
And believe that whatever decisions you make,
They'll be the right choices for you.
So keep putting one foot in front of the other,
And taking your life day by day...
There's a brighter tomorrow that's just down the road -
Don't look back! You're not going that way!
Christ is My Life
Christ is my life, I caused his death;
He is my assurance and eternal rest.
He is my Redeemer, I was his damnation;
He has chosen me since before creation.
He is my comfort, I caused his pain;
He broke the bonds that sin might not reign.
He is all my blessing, I was once his curse;
I would never love him, had he not loved me first.
(Sara M. Siviero)
Opening Prayer for Monday of Holy Week
All-powerful God, by the suffering and death of your Son, strengthen and protect us in our weakness. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Lenten Prayer
Father of peace, we are joyful in your Word,
your Son Jesus Christ, who reconciles us to you.
Let us hasten toward Easter with the eagerness of faith and love.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
Verse of the Day
"Hear my prayer, O Lord; let my cry come to you. Do not hide your face from me in the day of my distress. Incline your ear to me; answer me speedily in the day when I call."
Psalm 102:1-2
March 21 - Jesus Calling
Trust Me and don’t be afraid, for I am your Strength and Song. Think what it means to have Me as your Strength. I spoke the universe into existence; My Power is absolutely unlimited! Human weakness, consecrated to Me, is like a magnet, drawing My Power into your neediness. However, fear can block the flow of My Strength into you. Instead of trying to fight your fears, concentrate on trusting Me. When you relate to Me in confident trust, there is no limit to how much I can strengthen you.
Remember that I am also your Song. I want you to share My Joy, living in conscious awareness of My Presence. Rejoice as we journey together toward heaven; join Me in singing My Song.
Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
—Isaiah 12:2–3
Surely you have granted him eternal blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence.
—Psalm 21:6
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