Hello my friends! Today I wanted to go so bad to our former neighbor's for supper - they invited us about a week ago, but the heavy snow that came made us change our plans. But I'm still not well - the cough is awful - Linus made me a whiskey hot toddy, so far it didn't work. Cough - that's about all that's wrong with me now. To get rid of that would be heavenly! I'm taking cough medicine too. My blessings - in spite of my strong desire to go, was to stay in and try to get well. Since polio when I get a cough it's wick ed. It was a blessing that Linus had a day off today - and that his eye doctor's appt. went great! He had a shadow on one eye and they removed it. Another blessing is we both listened to Darla's interview by a reporter on the Treadmill at the office - and she did great!! I could put the link right here for you, but I don't know it that would be allowed. We're so proud of her! We put our trust in God that she'll get that job.
Nothing in your day is too small to be a big part of God's plan for you.
Lord, I trust in Your design for me and I thank You for all of my moments,
even the grey ones.
Scripture for the day:
"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." ~Romans 12:21
Meditation for the day:
The spiritual and moral will eventually overcome the material and immoral.
That is the purpose and destiny of the human race. Gradually the spiritual
can overcome the material in our minds. Gradually the moral can overcome
the immoral. Faith, fellowship and service are cures for most of the ills
of the world. There is nothing in the field of personal relationships that
they cannot do.
Prayer for the day:
I pray that I may do my share in making a better world. I pray that I may
be part of the cure for the ills of the world.
HOW LIFE IS MEASURED
Author Unknown
I had a very special teacher in high school many years ago whose
husband unexpectedly and suddenly died of a heart attack.
About a week after his death, she shared some of her insight with a
classroom of students.
As the late afternoon sunlight came streaming in through the classroom
windows and the class was nearly over, she moved a few things aside on
the edge of her desk and sat down there. With a gentle look of
reflection on her face, she paused and said, "Before class is over, I
would like to share with all of you a thought that is unrelated to
class, but which I feel is very important."
"Each of us is put here on earth to learn, share, love, appreciate and
give of ourselves. None of us knows when this fantastic experience
will end. It can be taken away at any moment. Perhaps this is a way of
telling us that we must make the most out of every single day."......
Her eyes beginning to water, she went on, "So I would like you all to
make me a promise. From now on, on your way to school, or on your way
home, find something beautiful to notice. It doesn't have to be
something you see, it could be a scent -- perhaps of freshly baked
bread wafting out of someone's house, or it could be the sound of the
breeze slightly rustling the leaves in the trees, or the way the
morning light catches the autumn leaf as it falls gently to the
ground.
Please look for these things, and cherish them. For, although it may
sound trite to some, these things are the "stuff" of life. The little
things we are put here on earth to enjoy. The things we often take for
granted. We must make it important to notice them, for at any
time...it can all be taken
away." The class was completely quiet. We all picked up our books and
filed out of the room silently.
That afternoon, I noticed more things on my way home from school than
had that whole semester. Every once in a while, I think of that
teacher and remember what an impression she made on all of us, and I
try to appreciate all of those things that sometimes we all overlook.
Take notice of something special you see on your lunch hour today.
When you go home, Go barefoot. Or walk on the beach at sunset. Stop
off on the way home tonight to get a double-dip ice cream cone.
"For as we get older, it is not the things we did that we often
regret, but the things we didn't do."
“Don't cry because it's over; smile because it happened."
"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the
moments that take our breath away."
True Lenten Discipline
The Verse
The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is
life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to
God's law, nor can it do so.Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot
please God. Romans 8:6-8
The Bread
True Lenten Discipline
Fast from judging others;
Feast on Christ dwelling in them.
Fast from emphasis on differences;
Feast on the unity of all life.
Fast from apparent darkness;
Feast on the reality of all light.
Fast from thoughts of illness;
Feast on the healing power of God.
Fast from words that pollute;
Feast on phrases that purify.
Fast from discontent;
Feast on gratitude.
Fast from anger;
Feast on patience.
Fast from pessimism;
Feast on optimism.
Fast from worry;
Feast on God's providence.
Fast from complaining;
Feast on appreciation.
Fast from negatives;
Feast on affirmatives.
Fast from unrelenting pressures;
Feast on unceasing prayer.
Fast from hostility;
Feast on non-resistance.
Fast from bitterness;
Feast on forgiveness.
Fast from self-concern;
Feast on compassion for others.
Fast from personal anxiety;
Feast on eternal truth.
Fast from discouragement;
Feast on hope.
Fast from facts that depress;
Feast on verities that uplift.
Fast from lethargy;
Feast on enthusiasm.
Fast from suspicion;
Feast on truth.
Fast from thoughts that weaken;
Feast on promises that inspire.
Fast from shadows of sorrow;
Feast on the sunlight of serenity.
Fast from idle gossip;
Feast on purposeful silence.
Fast from problems that overwhelm;
Feast on prayer that sustains.
Comments
The bulk of this message today emphasizes feasting and fasting. Today, we
are slightly confused with what to feast on and what to fast. We seem to
have somehow mixed up what we should be fasting from with the things we
should be feasting on. God wants so much for us to feast on things of Him,
not things of the world. Similarly, He wants us to stay away from the world
and what they have to offer. Because what the world has cannot sustain our
spirit; rather it grieves our spirit. Spend the rest of the day questioning
whether or not you feast on God or the world.
Prayer
Father, I pray that we feast on you and not the things that this world
offers. You can fill me so much more, than what they have. Help me to seek
you.
Motivation for the Day
When I woke up in the morning lying in bed,
I was asking myself;
What are some of the secrets of success in life?
I found the answer right there, in my very room.
Carry a Heart that Never Hates.
Carry a Smile that Never Fades.
Carry a Touch that Never Hurts.
HAVE A PURPOSEFUL AND BLESSED DAY!
The father, a well digger,
strong was he,
And as loving and kind
as a father could be.
And Mary his daughter,
Just five years old,
Was very much dearer
than millions in gold.
To Mary her father
was big, grand and nice,
So each had a treasure,
beyond any price.
One day to the well,
little Mary was sent
To take daddy's lunch,
how gladly she went.
But when she looked down,
not a thing could be seen.
The well, like a pocket,
was dark as could be.
The father saw Mary
and heard her voice, too,
But made not a sound,
just to see what she'd do.
She dropped to her knees,
the dear little soul,
And called down, "Oh, Daddy,
are you down this hole?"
"Why, yes Mary darling,
I'm here at your feet,
Just drop my lunch
for I'm ready to eat.
Just let it go easy,
I'll catch it all right."
She did and she saw
it fall out of sight.
"Why Mary," said father,
"There's enough here for two,
Now this is the thing
I would like you to do.
You jump down here to me
and we'll eat it together,
Down here in the cool
and away from the weather."
"Oh, daddy, I'm afraid,
I can't see you at all,
Be sure now you catch me
and don't let me fall."
'Twas just for a moment
she wavered in doubt,
Then closing her dear
little eyes she jumped out.
In the darkness, yes,
that was the test,
She trusted in faith
At her father's request.
And both were so happy
he kissed her and smiled
Because of the sweet
trusting faith of his child.
"Oh, sweet little Mary,
you put me to shame,
How often my Father
Has called me the same,
But because it was dark
I turned back in doubt.
Refusing the call,
though his arms were stretched out."
(Author Unknown)
Joe´s Attitude
I had been working much too long on this job. I guess things could have been
worse. I certainly wasn't doing hard labor. But going door to door asking
questions as a representative of the federal government wasn't the most
satisfying position either.
It was August. It was hot. I had to wear a tie.
"Hello. My name is Bob Perks and we are doing a survey in this
neighborhood...
"I'm not interested!
Good bye!"...slam, lock.
You can't imagine how many times I heard that. I finally caught on and began
with, "Before you slam the door, I am not selling anything and I just need
to ask a few questions about yourself and the community."
The young woman inside the doorway, paused for a moment, raised her eyebrows
as she shrugged her shoulders, confused by my rude introduction.
"Sure. Come on in. Don't mind the mess.
It's tough keeping up with my kids."
It was an older home in a section of the valley where people with meager
income found affordable shelter. With the little they had, the home looked
comfortable and welcoming.
"I just need to ask a few questions about yourself and family. Although this
may sound personal, I won't need to use your names. This information will be
used..."
She interrupted me. "Would you like a glass of cold water? You look like
you've had a rough day."
"Why yes!" I said eagerly.
Just as she returned with the water, a man came walking in the front door.
It was her husband. "Joe, this man is here to do a survey." I stood and
politely introduced myself.
Joe was tall and lean. His face was rough and aged looking although I
figured he was in his early twenties. His hands were like leather. The kind
of hands you get from working hard, not pushing pencils.
She leaned toward him and kissed him gently on the cheek. As they looked at
each other you could see the love that held them together. She smiled and
titled her head, laying it on his shoulder. He touched her face with his
hands and softly said, "I love you!"
They may not have had material wealth, but these two were richer than most
people I know. They had a powerful love. The kind of love that keeps your
head up when things are looking down.
"Joe works for the borough," she said.
"What do you do?" I asked.
She jumped right in not letting him answer.
"Joe collects garbage. You know I'm so proud of him."
"Honey, I'm sure the man doesn't want to hear this," said Joe.
"No, really I do," I said.
"You see Bob, Joe is the best garbage man in the borough. He can stack more
garbage on the truck than anyone else. He gets so much in one truck that
they don't have to make as many runs," she said with such passion.
"In the long run," Joe continues, "I save the borough money. Man hours are
down and the cost per truck is less."
There was silence. I didn't know what to say. I shook my head searching for
the right words.
"That's incredible! Most people would gripe about a job like that. It
certainly is a difficult one. But your attitude about it is amazing," I
said.
She walked over to the shelf next to the couch. As she turned she held in
her hand a small framed paper.
"When we had our third child Joe lost his job. We were on unemployment for a
time and then eventually welfare. He couldn't find work anywhere. Then one
day he was sent on an interview here in this community. They offered him the
job he now holds. He came home depressed and ashamed, telling me this was
the best he could do. It actually paid less than we got on welfare."
She paused for a moment and walked toward Joe.
"I have always been proud of him and always will be. You see I don't think
the job makes the man. I believe the man makes the job!"
"We needed to live in the borough in order to work here. So we rented this
home," Joe said.
"When we moved in, this quote was hanging on the wall just inside the front
door. It has made all the difference to us, Bob. I knew that Joe was doing
the right thing," she said as she handed me the frame.
It said: If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep the
streets even as Michelangelo painted or Beethoven composed music, or
Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts
of heaven and earth will pause to say, "Here lived a great street sweeper
who did his job well." Martin Luther King
"I love him for who he is. But what he does he does the best.
I love my garbage man!"
So how was your day? Did you give it your best?
Or did your attitude get the best of you?
author unknown
Mother Teresa Said...
The first step to becoming holy is to will it.
St. Thomas says, “ Sanctity consists in nothing else than a firm resolve,
the heroic act of a soul abandoning himself to God.
Blogs & Forums
Forums
Blogs
