Hello my friends! Today is Darla and Greg's Wedding Anniversary - they went to Georgia for a job interview for him - maybe a job where he doesn't have to go to work daily, but work at home, we'll see. Anyway, I'm sure if he gets the job they won't be moving to Georgia right after Darla got her raise and starts school now. On Facebook she messaged me that they are in Georgia and he had a job interview yesterday and she'll talk about it later - guess when they're here. It's been a lazy Sunday - Great Mass and singing and wonderful homily from Fr. Mark as usual! Next Sunday Father Jerry will have the Mass for us and give us a blessing. Does anyone remember that beautiful song "On this Day O Beautiful Mother"? I've always loved that song - and I requested the choir to sing it Sunday and they will! It's such a beautiful song! This is going to be a very busy week! Pray for us for strength - still lots to get done! Tomorrow Lori arranged for me to get a house cleaning from her house cleaner, and trading for massages again! What a gift! She's coming in the morning. Praying for you all for all your needs! God is with you right now.
Others can not make you angry or upset unless you give them this power.
Lord, strengthen my ability to know that how I feel is my choice and help
me respond in ways that make me a happier person.
S C R I P T U R E F O R T H E D A Y
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may
have life, and have it abundantly." ~John 10:10
M E D I T A T I O N F O R T H E D A Y
We can have life and have it more abundantly--spiritual, mental, physical,
abundant life--joyous, powerful life. These we can have if we follow the
right way. Not all people will accept from God the gift of an abundant
life, a gift held out free to all. Not all people care to stretch out a
hand and take it. God's gift, the richest God has to offer, is the precious
gift of abundant life. People often turn away from it, reject it, and will
have none of it. We need not let this be true of us.
P R A Y E R F O R T H E D A Y
I pray that I may hasten to accept the gift of abundant spiritual life. I
pray that I may live the good life to the best of my ability.
THE BEST PURSUIT
From God's Little Lessons On Life
In 1947 Dr. Chandrasekhar was asked to teach an advance seminar in
astrophysics at the University of Chicago. At the time, he was living
in Wisconsin, doing research at the Yerkes astronomical observatory.
He faced a 100-mile commute twice a week in the dead of winter to
teach the class, but he nonetheless agreed.
However, registration for the advanced seminar was far below
expectations. In fact, only two students signed up for the class.
Other faculty members expected Dr. Chandrasekhar to cancel the course,
so as not to waste his valuable time. He determined, however, to
continue with the
course and give his very best to the two students registered. Those
students, Chen Ning Yang and Tsung-dao Lee, made his efforts
worthwhile. Ten years later, in 1957, they both won the Nobel prize
for physics. In 1983, Dr. Chandrasekhar won that same award.
Ends and means are not meant to exist in conflict. Good means to good
ends are what challenges us to find and to do, regardless of the
personal cost, the effort required, or the lack of resulting public
acclaim. The best pursuit of the best ideals -- that's what it means
to have integrity.
"I know, my God that you test men to see if they are good; for you
enjoy good men. I have done all this with good motives, and I have
watched your people offer their gifts willingly and joyously. (1
Chronicles 29: 17)
FAMILY TREES
Sally Ireland Kennedy
August 2, 2009
In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons and daughters
through Jesus Christ... Ephesians 1:4-5
This month our family, like many others, plan to gather for family
reunions. A special time for members of the same family tree to get
together,catch up, share past stories, and see how the kids have
grown. Some folks don’t have other opportunities to visit in between
the reunions, except perhaps at weddings or funerals. It’s an
wonderful time for families, and the memories priceless.
A few friends of mine are deep in the branches of their family trees.
I’ve heard of people doing this in preparation for a family reunion,
too. Thanks to my mom and a relative of my dad’s, we have family tree
records going back many generations on one side and the early 1800’s
on the other. I treasure the information and have passed it on to my
children.
Discovering our earthly geneologies can be interesting. Yet nothing
can compare to our spiritual heritage. As believers, we share the same
family tree and are all children of the patriarch, Abraham. (Romans
11:17 And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild olive tree, have
been grafted in)
Not only are we children of Abraham, in Christ we are children of our
Father God. As believers, we are adopted by Him, making us members of
His glorious, redemptive family tree. (John 1:12 to all who
received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to
become children of God) (Romans 8:15-17 So you have not received a
spirit that makes you fearful slaves.Instead, you received God’s
Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him,
“Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we
are God’s children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs.)
We may never learn our family tree here, yet the amazing thing is we
know we are a part of, and have, the most amazing family tree that
could ever be - all recorded in God’s word.
That is good news.
Posted this before but I like it:
THE ' L I T T L E ' THINGS
As you might remember, the head of a company survived 9/11 because his son
started kindergarten.
Another fellow was alive because it was his turn to bring donuts.
One woman was late because her alarm clock didn't go off in time.
One was late because of being stuck on the NJ Turnpike because of an auto
accident.
One of them missed his bus.
One spilled food on her clothes and had to take time to change.
One's car wouldn't start.
One couldn't get a taxi.
The one that struck me was the man who put on a new pair of shoes that
morning, took the various means to get to work but before he got there, he
developed a blister on his foot. He stopped at a drugstore to buy a
band-aid. That is why he is alive today.
Now when I am stuck in traffic , miss an elevator, turn back to answer a
ringing telephone . . . . All the little things that annoy me.
I think to myself, this is exactly where God wants me to be at this very
moment.
Next time your morning seems to be going wrong ,
The children are slow getting dressed,
You can't seem to find the car keys,
You hit every traffic light,
Don't get mad or frustrated;
It May be just that God is at work watching over you.
May God continue to bless you with all those annoying little things
And may you remember their possible purpose.
THE LETTER
Author Unknown
Apr 28 2009
Ruth went to her mail box and there was only one letter. She picked it
up and looked at it before opening, but then she looked at the
envelope again. There was no stamp, no postmark, only her name and
address.
She read the letter:
Dear Ruth,
I'm going to be in your neighborhood Saturday afternoon and I'd like
to stop by for a visit.
Love Always,
Jesus
Her hands were shaking as she placed the letter on the table. "Why
would the Lord want to visit me? I'm nobody special. I don't have
anything to offer." With that thought, Ruth remembered her empty
kitchen cabinets.
"Oh my goodness, I really don't have anything to offer. I'll have to
run down to the store and buy something for dinner." She reached for
her purse and counted out its contents. Five dollars and forty cents.
"Well, I can get some bread and cold cuts, at least." She threw on her
coat and hurried out the door. A loaf of french bread, a half-pound of
sliced turkey, and a carton of milk...leaving Ruth with grand total of
twelve cents to last her until Monday. Nonetheless, she felt good as
she headed home, her meager offerings tucked under her arm.
"Hey lady, can you help us, lady?" Ruth had been so absorbed in her
dinner plans, she hadn't even noticed two figures huddled in the
alleyway. A man and a woman, both of them dressed in little more than
rags.
"Look lady, I ain't got a job, ya know, and my wife and I have been
living out here on the street, and, well, now it's getting cold and
we're getting kinda hungry and, well, if you could help us, lady, we'd
really appreciate it."
Ruth looked at them both. They were dirty, they smelled bad and,
frankly, she was certain that they could get some kind of work if they
really wanted to.
"Sir, I'd like to help you, but I'm a poor woman myself. All I have is
a few cold cuts and some bread, and I'm having an important guest for
dinner tonight and I was planning on serving that to Him."
"Yeah, well, okay lady, I understand. Thanks anyway." The man put his
arm around the woman's shoulders, turned and headed back into the
alley. As she watched them leave, Ruth felt a familiar twinge in her
heart.
"Sir, wait!" The couple stopped and turned as she ran down the alley
after them. "Look, why don't you take this food. I'll figure out
something else to serve my guest." She handed the man her grocery
bag.
"Thank you lady. Thank you very much!"
"Yes, thank you!" It was the man's wife, and Ruth could see now that
she was
shivering.
"You know, I've got another coat at home. Here, why don't you take
this one." Ruth unbuttoned her jacket and slipped it over the woman's
shoulders.
Then smiling, she turned and walked back to the street...without her
coat and with nothing to serve her guest. "Thank you lady! Thank you
very much!"
Ruth was chilled by the time she reached her front door, and worried
too. The Lord was coming to visit and she didn't have anything to
offer Him. She fumbled through her purse for the door key. But as she
did, she noticed another envelope in her mailbox.
"That's odd. The mailman doesn't usually come twice in one day." She
took the envelope out of the box and opened it.
Dear Ruth,
It was so good to see you again. Thank you for the lovely meal. And
thank you, too, for the beautiful coat.
Love Always,
Jesus
The air was still cold, but even without her coat, Ruth no longer
noticed.
You give me strength
Holy Spirit when I am weak, You give me strength to carry on.
You comfort me each time I seek Your loving arms to lean on.
You are the Father that I need. You have the wisdom that I lack.
You give me courage to succeed, when I alone, would have turned back.
I may have crosses in my life, but I will never know despair;
for when I seek you in my strife, I know so well you will be there.
Prayer to Redeem Lost Time
O my God! Source of all mercy! I acknowledge Your sovereign power. While
recalling the wasted years that are past, I believe that You, Lord, can in
an instant turn this loss to gain. Miserable as I am, yet I firmly believe
that You can do all things. Please restore to me the time lost, giving me
Your grace, both now and in the future, that I may appear before You in
"wedding garments." Amen.
Saint Teresa of Avila
WELCOMING THE HOLY SPIRIT
-
Holy Spirit, you are welcome in my mind.
Holy Spirit, please transform my mind.
Bring my every thought into alignment with God's perfect plan for my life.
-
Holy Spirit, you are welcome in my heart.
Holy Spirit, please transform my heart.
Erase every feeling, memory and experience that is not a reflection of God's
love for me.
-
Holy Spirit, you are welcome in my life.
Holy Spirit, please transform every condition, situation and circumstance of
my life.
Make my life a living reflection of the goodness and glory of God.
-
Holy Spirit, transform every part of me that is not in keeping with God's
love, God's goodness, God's purpose
and God's perfect plan for me to live a life of joy, peace, wholeness, ease,
harmony and abundance.
-
Holy Spirit, help me to be all that God created me to be. For Your Presence
I Am So Grateful!
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