Daily Positive Thread for Monday

gloriajean · ‎03-10-2010

Not only must we know God's will, but we must do God's will to enter

the Kingdom of Heaven. Lord, I commit myself to obeying the will of

my heavenly Father.

Scripture for the day:

"You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of

joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore." ~Psalm 16:11

Meditation for the day:

"In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are

pleasures forevermore." We do not find true happiness by looking for

it. Seeking pleasure does not bring happiness in the long run, only

disillusionment. We need not seek to have this fullness of joy by

seeking pleasure. It cannot be done that way. Happiness is a

by-product of living the right kind of life. True happiness comes as

a

result of living in all respects the way we believe God wants us to

live, with regard to ourselves and to other people.

Prayer of the day:

I pray that I may not always seek pleasure as a goal. I pray that I

may be content with the happiness that comes when I do the right

thing.

Hello my friends! A beautiful day here today. And many blessings, too. We all have our blessings daily, and here we can talk about them. After a beautiful Mass, and visiting with friends after Mass, got a call from Lori, and she took me shopping, had to get some pill pockets for Sammy and some broths and jellos for Linus for tomorrow - enjoyed my time with her as always. Then we started our new class at Church "Consoling the Heart of Jesus" and is that ever going to be a wonderful class/retreat! The book and video is by the same priest we had before when we did the Marian retreat, Father Michael Gaitley. This one is 10 sessions. We'll have to miss next Sunday night because we'll be celebrating Lori's birthday that night. She's going to Texas to spend her birthday time with her sister, and coming home Sunday on her birthday. The air fare is her gift from her sister, half of it is. Can you name 3 blessings?

Praying for all of you and thanks for your prayers for us!

The Paradox Of Our Age

By Dr. Bob Moorehead

We have taller buildings, but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints.

We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less.

We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time.

We have more degrees, but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, but more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry too quickly, stay up too late, get up too tired, pray too seldom, and watch too much TV.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values.

We talk too much, love too seldom and lie too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life, we've added years to life, not life to years.

We've been to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor.

We've conquered outer space, but not inner space, we've done larger things, but not better things, we've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul.

We've split the atom, but not our prejudice, We write more, but learn less, plan more, but accomplish less.

We've learned to rush, but not wait, we have higher incomes, but lower morals, more food, but less appeasement, more acquaintances, but fewer friends, more effort, but less success.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, tall men, and short character, steep profits, and shallow relationships.

These are the times of world peace, but domestic warfare, more leisure and less fun, more kinds of food, but less nutrition.

These are the days of two incomes, but more divorce, of fancier houses, but broken homes.

These are the days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill.

It is a time when there is much in the show window, and nothing in the stockroom.

Today, many want to gain the world at the "mere" expense of their souls.

Evil is contemplated and performed with both hands, yet we cannot lift a finger for our fellow man.

Let each of us examine our own ways.

UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE

Author Unknown

I am a mother of three (ages 14, 12, 3) and have recently completed my

college degree. The last class I had to take was Sociology. The

teacher was absolutely inspiring with the qualities that I wish every

human being had

been graced with. Her last project of the term was called "Smile." The

class was asked to go out and smile at three people and document their

reactions. I am a very friendly person and always smile at everyone

and say hello anyway, so, I thought this would be a piece of cake, literally.

Soon after we were assigned the project, my husband, youngest son, and

I went out to McDonald's one crisp March morning. It was just our way

of sharing special play time with our son. We were standing in line,

waiting to be served, when all of a sudden everyone around us began to back away,

and then even my husband did. I did not move an inch...an overwhelming

feeling of panic welled up inside of me as I turned to see why they

had moved.

As I turned around I smelled a horrible "dirty body" smell, and there

standing behind me were two poor homeless men. As I looked down at the

short gentleman, close to me, he was "smiling." His beautiful sky blue

eyes were full of God's Light as he searched for acceptance. He said, "Good day"

as he counted the few coins he had been clutching. The second man

fumbled with his hands as he stood behind his friend. I realized the

second man was mentally deficient and the blue eyed gentleman was his

salvation. I held my tears as I stood there with them.

The young lady at the counter asked him what they wanted. He said,

"Coffee is all Miss" because that was all they could afford. (If they

wanted to sit in the restaurant and warm up, they had to buy

something. He just wanted to be warm). Then I really felt it-the

compulsion was so great I almost reached out and embraced the little

man with the blue eyes.

That is when I noticed all eyes in the restaurant were set on me,

judging my every action. I smiled and asked the young lady behind the

counter to give me two more breakfast meals on a separate tray. I then

walked around the corner to the table that the men had chosen as a resting spot. I put

the tray on the table and laid my hand on the blue eyed gentleman's

cold hand. He looked up at me, with tears in his eyes, and said,

"Thank you." I leaned over, began to pat his hand and said, "I did not do this for you. God

is here working through me to give you hope." I started to cry as I

walked away to join my husband and son.

When I sat down my husband smiled at me and said, "That is why God

gave you to me, Honey. To give me hope." We held hands for a moment

and at that time we knew that only because of the Grace that we had

been given were we able to give.

That day showed me the pure Light of God's sweet love. I returned to

college, on the last evening of class, with this story in hand. I

turned in "my project" and the instructor read it. Then she looked up

at me and said, "Can I share this?" I slowly nodded as she got the

attention of the class. She began to read and that is when I knew that

we as human beings and being part of God, share this need to heal

people and be healed. In my own way I had touched the people at

McDonald's, my husband, son, instructor, and every soul that shared

the classroom on the last night I spent as a college student.

I graduated with one of the biggest lessons I would ever learn:

UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE.

Much love and compassion is to each and every person who may read this

and learn how to LOVE PEOPLE AND USE THINGS - NOT LOVE THINGS AND USE

PEOPLE.

I Was Here Lord...

I was here Lord, where were you

When I was lonely and oh, so blue.

Not one friend could I find,

Who could give me piece of mind.

I was here Lord, where were you,

My heart racked with pain and anguish too.

All I could do was sit and cry,

Not one tear did you dry.

I was here Lord, where were you,

When I had trouble, not knowing what to do.

Not one word did You whisper to me,

To tell me what the answer might be.

I was hear child, where were you,

I searched for you Sunday and found an empty pew.

On my day you rejected Me,

There was somewhere else you chose to be.

I was here child, where were you,

When your life was good and your problem few.

Not one prayer did you send to Me,

To thank Me for all I'd done for thee.

I was here child, where were you,

Watching over you with a love so true.

Hoping you'd find your way back to Me,

So from your sins I could set you free.

I was here child, where were you,

Full of compassion your life to renew.

I was here child, where I'll always be,

Waiting for you to remember Me.

- Author Unknown

What the Saints Say About the Rosary and the Hail Mary

Our Lady speaks about the Rosary and the Hail Mary. . .

"Continue to pray the Rosary every day." Our Lady of Fatima to Lucia

"When you say your Rosary, the angels rejoice, the Blessed Trinity delights in it, my Son find joy in it too, and I myself am happier than you can possibly guess. After the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, there is nothing in the Church that I love as much as the Rosary." Our Lady to Bl. Alan de la Roche

"‘Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee!’ No creature has ever said anything that was more pleasing to me, nor will anyone ever be able to find or say to me anything that pleases me more." Our Lady to St. Mechtilde

What the saints have said about the Rosary and the Hail Mary. . .

"If you persevere in reciting the Rosary, this will be a most probable sign of your eternal salvation." Bl. Alan de la Roche

"The greatest method of praying is to pray the Rosary." St. Francis de Sales.

"When the Holy Rosary is said well, it gives Jesus and Mary more glory and is more meritorious than any other prayer." St. Louis de Montfort

"The Holy Rosary is the storehouse of countless blessing." Bl. Alan de la Roche

"One day, through the Rosary and the Scapular, Our Lady will save the world." St. Dominic

"Never will anyone who says his Rosary every day be led astray. This is a statement that I would gladly sign with my blood." St. Louis de Montfort

"If you say the Rosary faithfully unto death, I do assure you that, in spite of the gravity of your sins, 'you wil receive a never-fading crown of glory' (1 Peter 5:4)." St. Louis de Montfort

"The Rosary is THE weapon." Blessed Padre Pio

"You must know that when you ‘hail’ Mary, she immediately greets you! Don’t think that she is one of those rude women of whom there are so many - on the contrary, she is utterly courteous and pleasant. If you greet her, she will answer you right away and converse with you!" St. Bernardine of Siena

"Recite your Rosary with faith, with humility, with confidence, and with perseverance." St. Louis de Montfort

"The Rosary is my favourite prayer. A marvellous prayer! Marvellous in its simplicity and in its depth. . .the simple prayer of the Rosary beats the rhythm of human life." Pope John Paul II.

A Moment’s Breathing Prayer

Surrender to God’s help by breathing in God’s healing power ... extend inhalation. Receive God’s peace by exhaling all worries and stress – extend exhalation.

Breath in what I need from God

Breathe out impurities that harm my soul

Breathe in God’s love

Breathe out any self hatred

Breathe in God’s forgiveness

Breathe out self hurt

Breathe in God’s peace

Breathe out anxiety

Breathe in Jesus’ compassion

Breathe out my pride

Breathe in God’s confidence

Breathe out my doubts and uncertainties