Hello my friends! Today blessings in spite of the cold and wind, was a call from Lori when we got home from Mass - she came for lunch, and took me shopping for things to redecorate her massage room, and we did good! She's got a whole new look now and it's so elegant! Bought 3 new pictures of nature, and some lit up kind of tree, very pretty, it's more springy, with butterflies and frogs and Nature! It was fun - we had good Mother/Daughter time, and she wanted to go to Mass tonight because of Palm Sunday so I went with her, and that was another blessing to be at Mass with my daughter! Praise God for big blessings!!
You are a blessed, creative, lovable and needed being created by God.
Lord, may these qualities shine forth and be used to bless those around me.
Scripture for the day:
"For this reason, since the day we heard it, we have not ceased praying for
you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God's will in
all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may lead lives worthy of
the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as
you grow in the knowledge of God." ~Colossians
1:9
Meditation for the day:
We can persevere in all that God's guidance moves us to do. The persistent
carrying out of what seems right and good can bring us to that place where
we would be. If we look back over God's guidance, we can see that God's
leading has been very gradual and that only as we have carried out God's
wishes, as far as we can understand them, has God been able to give us more
clear and definite leading. We can be led by God's touch on a quickened
responsive mind.
Prayer for the day:
I pray that I may persevere in doing what seems right. I pray that I may
carry out all of God's leading as far as I can understand it.
LISTEN TO THE WIND
By Melanie Schurr
"Love silence, even in the mind; for thoughts are to that as words are
to the body, troublesome: much speaking, as much thinking, spends.
True silence is the rest of the mind; and it is to the spirit what
sleep is to the body, nourishment and refreshment. " -William Penn
Have you ever found yourself not thinking one single thought; no worry
or care to creep into your mind? For most people, these times of inner
silence are few and far between, but when they do occur, they are a
soothing balm to our soul.
Having recently relocated from a busy suburban town to a secluded
rustic setting far from the beaten path, I find myself having more and
more of these quiet moments. Most of these peaceful
incidences have occurred right within our own yard, such times as
early morning when I will find my self looking out our big picture
window, just looking at the snow covered forest that blankets our new
home. As the day progresses, I watch the birds and squirrels that feed
from the bounty of the land and several times I have even seen deer as
they cross our yard to get to a nearby stream.
I find myself at a slower pace these days, but it is in no way due to
a lack of energy or loss of youth. The small moments of tranquility
have played an important part in my well-being and it is comforting to
know that all these gifts were brought about by the loving hand of
God. All around us are gifts, but we are often just too darn busy to
notice. When was the last time you stopped to smell a flower?
When was the last time you felt the soft cheek of a child?
When was the last time you turned off the TV and radio for the day and
just enjoyed the sound of coffee perking or birds chirping?
When was the last time you told your loved ones, "I love you?"
Just as we can greatly benefit from moments of peace and tranquility,
there is something even more important we need; a relationship with
our Creator, God. While our physical and emotional
well-being will smile upon the peace we give it, so, too, will our
spirits rejoice when we feed it the living word of God!
Kindness is a quality that belongs to the very nature of God (Mt 11:29). If
you love God, it follows that you must also love all that God loves; and God
loves the neighbours with whom you live. That being the case, you will go
your way in life looking for occasions to help each and every one; to give
them cosolation, and to do all in your power to make them happy (Lk 6:33).
Kindness should be uppermost, especially in dealings with the poor because
they are treated harshly by many. It also should be apparent in dealings
with the sick and infirm, because these are already suffering under
infliction. But above all, kindness should be our guide when we have
dealings with those who are our enemies (Ro 12:21). [Yes, including the
infidels.] Hatred must be conquered by love; persecution must be conquered
by meekness.
Let us pray:
Lord, we pray we may be all you have called us to be. May we be alert to
the enemy's schemes to steal our positions in the truth; to knock us off
guard and buckle our knees in fear and weakness. Help us to stand true and
strong in our position of faith today. May we be courageous in the face of
adversity and compassionate in the midst of confusion and chaos. Apart from
you we have nothing, but with you today may we be on guard, true,
courageous, strong and filled to overflowing with love. In Jesus' name we
pray, Amen.
- - -
Matthew 5:44 - "But now I tell you: love your enemies and pray for those who
persecute you..."
Matthew 11:29 - "I am gentle and humble in spirit." (Other translations
read "meek and humble in heart".)
Luke 6:33 - "And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should
you receive a blessing? Even sinners do that!"
Romans 2:4 - Surely you know that God is kind, because he is trying to lead
you to repent.
Romans 12:21 - Do not let evil defeat you; instead, conquer evil with good.
1 Corinthians 16:13-14 - Be alert, stand firm in the faith, be brave, be
strong. Do all your work in love.
Colossians 3:12 - You are the people of God; he loved you and chose you for
his own. So then, you must clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness,
humility, gentleness, and patience.
1 Peter 2:15 - For God wants you to silence the ignorant talk of foolish
people by the good things you do.
- - -
"Always forgive your enemies -- Nothing annoys them so much." - Oscar Wilde
"Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend" -
Martin Luther King Jr.
When you think you've had a bad day, take a look at Jesus' list...
Stations of the Cross:
Station 1: Jesus is condemned to death
Station 2: Jesus takes up the Cross
Station 3: Jesus falls under the Cross for the first time
Station 4: Jesus meets his mother
Station 5: Simon the Cyrenian is forced to carry the Cross
Station 6: Veronica wipes the sweat from Jesus' face
Station 7: Jesus falls for the second time
Station 8: Jesus consoles the women of Jerusalem
Station 9: Jesus falls for the third time
Station 10: Jesus is stripped of His garments
Station 11: Jesus is nailed to the Cross
Station 12: Jesus dies on the Cross
Station 13: Jesus is taken down from the Cross
Station 14: Jesus is laid in the Tomb
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