Be patient with others, but mostly be patient with yourself. Lord, help me to keep a smile on my face and to realize my goodness and refuse to dwell on my imperfections.
Jesus was praying in a certain place, and after He finished, one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples." He said to them, "When you pray, say: Father, hallowed by your name. Your Kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial." Luke 11:1-4
I need not become weary in prayer. When one day we see how unexpectedly our prayer has been answered, then we may deeply regret that we have prayed so little. Prayer can change things for us. We can practice praying until our trust in God has become strong. And then we can pray on, because it has become so much a habit that we need it daily. We can keep praying until prayer seems to become communion with God. That is the note on which true times of prayer can end.
I pray that I may form the habit of prayer. I pray that I may find the strength I need as a result of this communion.
HOW TO BE HAPPY ?
We all want to be happy. We all seek happiness in a thousand different ways but we forget to look for it in the only place it can be found. Riches and glory and the goods of this life cannot guarantee happiness, nor, can they save us from evils and sorrows. No friend can take from us the fear and the danger of death. God and God alone can give happiness in life and in death.
He is the best of Fathers, the dearest of Friends. He wishes to give us happiness and He solemnly promises to give it to all who are devoted to His Sacred Heart.
Read His Promises, their meaning is clear. Jesus promises clearly to help us in our difficulties, to console us in our sorrows, to bless our undertakings, to give everyone the helps and graces necessary for their position in life. He promises the mother, the husband, the doctor, the lawyer, the priest------everyone------the graces necessary, for the perfect fulfillment of their individual duties.
What more could we ask for?
Time for God
The Master called my name one day because He needed someone. I said, “Lord, in my spare time, between school, spending time with my husband, working from 8 to 6, and trying to coordinate a program for my community to help our children do better, I will help you. See, I know I can’t go right now ’cause I have so much to do.” He said, “ Well, where shall I find such a person? I thought I saw your name on my list of available people.”
“Well Lord, that was the prayer that I prayed last year, but since then, things have changed.” He said, “Like what?” “Well, I’m working on my Ph.D. and I’m needed by so many people and my husband is always wanting something done, and on top of that my community expects me to help and give to them so...” “Well, seeing that you’re busy, I’ll let you go, but we will talk again, if you have some time.” I went on through the days, and the weeks, and the months completing my tasks as always.
One evening, while studying for my comp exams, I received a call from the hospital concerning my husband. He had been in a terrible accident and was in a critical condition. I dropped everything and ran to the hospital where I found my husband hanging on for dear life. I immediately began to pray “Lord, don’t take him now, I can’t bear it.” But my prayer echoed off the wall and returned into my own ears. That next morning I left the hospital tired and weary, and walked through the door of my classroom just in time to begin my comps. As the professors begin asking me questions I opened my mouth to speak but nothing came out. In my mind, I began praying, praying hard, but my prayers echoed again and I found myself upset at God because He was nowhere to be found. I could not explain to them what was happening. After leaving my exams, I called in to work because I was so distraught at all that was going on. I explained to my supervisor what had happened and she demanded that I take some time off. After visiting my husband in the hospital that evening, I went home and fell into a sunken state crying and despairing.
Just then I heard someone calling my name. “Lord, is that YOU?” “Well yes, it is. Do you have some time? I wanted to see if I could just talk .....” Instead of waiting to hear His questions, I lashed out in anger and resentment. “How is it that when I needed you today, you couldn’t be found and last night I cried and cried but all I heard were echoes from the walls. My husband is dying, I’m flunking out of school, I may not have a job and you can just sit and say you want to talk.”
The Lord interrupted me in my foolish speaking. “My child, I decided to let your husband rest, and keep you home for a few days so that way maybe you would get in touch with me, if you had some time. For you see, before your husband, the community or your job needs you, I need you.”
A Lifetime Guarantee
Will you take me back, dear Lord,
I've been gone from You so long;
I have lost track of all my sins,
And I've spent years in doing wrong.
I did so many prideful things,
And shamelessly did boast;
I broke so many loving hearts
And hurt the people I loved most.
I've heard about atonement,
I've been warned of Judgment Day;
And even though I listened,
I still strayed far away.
Will you welcome me again, dear Lord,
And forgive me one more time?
Will You share Your Father's love with me,
If I truly give You mine?
I'm so sorry that I left You, God,
I'm saddened now ... and low;
God smiled, "You didn't leave me, child,
I never let you go!"
"I promised you Salvation,
My Word cannot be undone;
You got a Lifetime Guarantee,
When I gave up my Precious Son."
Special Diet
Our daughter's boyfriend, Trey had been diagnosed with diabetes when he was just 25
years old. After having eaten any way he wanted for his entire life, conforming to a special
diet for diabetics was a difficult transition.
His carbohydrate and sugar intakes had to be measured and monitored, and food needed
to be eaten every so many hours. What he put into his body would make the difference
between living healthy and possibly not living at all!
I believe our thoughts are our soul's food. The things we think about are the things we feed
upon. Are our thoughts self centered, self promoting, self gratifying, self righteous, self-indulgent
and self-absorbed? If so, we will live a very shallow and obviously self centered life.
God calls us to feed our souls with thoughts of Him. How? By taking the words in the Bible
and reading them not only silently, but out loud. We can internalize them much more efficiently
when we use both methods of reading. His call to love others and His marvelous promises are
in the Word for us to eat and internalize into the depths of our beings so let's hurry to the feast
table, and dine on His Special Diet waiting for us.
By Marion Smith
July 12 - Jesus Calling
Whenever you feel distant from Me, whisper My Name in loving trust. This simple prayer can restore your awareness of My Presence.
My Name is constantly abused in the world, where people use it as a curse word. This verbal assault reaches all the way to heaven; every word is heard and recorded. When you trustingly whisper My Name, My aching ears are soothed. The grating rancor of the world’s blasphemies cannot compete with a trusting child’s utterance: “Jesus.” The power of My Name to bless both you and Me is beyond your understanding.
“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
-Acts 4:12
“Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.”
-John 16:24
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