Hello my friends! What a blessing day it was today! Lori called and invited us over for supper, but earlier because she wanted her Dad to put together an attena for her TV. She's not paying cable anymore or Direct TV and just bought an attena at Best Buy to put on her roof. Well, we'll see, it seems quite flimsy. She made an outstanding good supper again! And then the rains have stopped and it was nice out, so we had a bon fire. It was so nice and peaceful! Just was thinking what a blessing our daughters are to us!!!It was foggy coming home, hope the morning won't be foggy as Linus again plans on going to the fea market for more tomatoes - we have another canning day planned. Even Darla wants us to bring some canned tomatio stuff along, like spaghetti sauces, barbeque sauces and Tomato basil soups. Thanks everyone who posted - and Bobbiesue - praying for your breathing to get much, much better!!! May God heal you! So nice to hear from Juanita again!! Keep coming back!!!
Reach out with compassion and a gentle spirit to all that you meet
because they, too, are carrying a heavy cross. Lord, may I remember
that all others have hardships, too, and may I be a source of encouragement
for them or at the very least not add to their troubles.
Scripture for the day:
"There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy
habitation of the Most High." Psalm 46:4
Meditation for the Day
We seem to live not only in time but also in eternity. If we abide
with God and God abides with us, we may bring forth spiritual fruit
which can last for eternity. If we live with God, our lives can flow
as some calm river through the dry land of earth. It can cause the
trees and flowers of the spiritual life--love and service--to spring
forth and yield abundantly. Spiritual work may be done for eternity,
not just for now. Even here on earth we can live as though our real
lives were eternal.
Prayer for the day:
I pray that I may try to make my life like cool river in a thirsty
land. I pray that I may give freely to all who ask my help.
A man went to a Jewish rabbi and complained, "Life is unbearable. There are
nine of us living in one room. What can I do?" The rabbi answered, "Take
the goat into the room with you."
The man did not believe what he was hearing ... take a stinking goat into
the house? But the rabbi insisted, "Do as I tell you and come back in a
week. "A week later the man came back half dead, saying, "We cannot stand
it any longer. That goat is filthy and smelly."
The rabbi then told him, "Now go home and let the goat out. And come back
in a week's time." A radiant man visited the rabbi a week later. "Life is
beautiful, rabbi. We enjoy every minute of it. No goat - and only the nine
of us."
Another rabbi put it this way: "The best way to feel real contentment is to
lose everything you have ... and then get it all back again."
BACKSIDE
By Marion Smith
I John 4:16 We know and rely on the love God has for us
As I looked out my window from the hotel in Dallas, Texas, I
faced the back of a shopping center. From this view I could see all
the unattractive aspects of this strip center not visible to potential
customers. I saw dumpsters - some filled to overflowing with garbage,
peeling paint, moldy siding and general litter.
This is certainly a different look than the view which
stores project from the front side. Usually, each store has a display
window- beautifully appointed to lure the potential customer into the
store. There may be a slogan displayed to catch your eye, or perhaps
even a free snack to entice you inside. What a difference, I thought,
from the front to the back. The “show side” is all pretty and clean -
compared to the much less desirable “back side”.
Many people are similar to these stores. Putting on our
“best” around others; showing them only what we want them to see. In
each person there are more undesirable traits- the garbage mildew and
litter which we know about ourselves, but do not show to others.
There is one, however, who sees all sided of us. It is our
wonderful God. He “sees it all”- the dirty, grimy, ugly parts, as
well as the storefront spic and span. He loves us unconditionally, no
matter what. God sees it all- and loves me, and you, anyway! I think
that is so remarkable. Truly we have an awesome God- His special love
is always available to anyone who desires to accept it.
«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»
* A LITTLE TALK WITH JESUS *
«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»
A little talk with Jesus
How it smooths the rugged road,
How it cheers and helps me onward
When I faint beneath my load.
When my heart is crushed with sorrow
And my eyes with tears are dim,
There is naught can yield me comfort
Like a little talk with Him.
Though my way is often dreary
And my walk is weak and slow,
A little talk with Jesus
Tells me all I need to know.
And He answers me so gently
In a soft and loving tone,
"I am with you always
You will never be alone.
He tells me that He loves me,
And paid the ransom for my soul,
Now He is my brother
His love has made me whole.
I cannot live without Him
His love is all I know,
A little talk with Jesus
Gives me all I need to grow.
Oh, I often feel impatient
And I mourn His long delay,
For I never can be settled
While He yet remains away.
So I wait a little longer
For His own appointed time,
And I glory in the knowledge
That such hope is ever mine.
In my Father's perfect dwelling
Where the many mansions be,
I will daily talk with Jesus
And He there will talk with me.
Author Unknown
«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»
"Come unto me, all ye that labour
And are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
{ Matthew 11:28 }
«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»
How to Overcome Discouragement!
By the late Father Kilian McGowan, C.P.
Used with permission, from the Passionist Priests,
Most of us at one time or another are tempted to discouragement. The
spiritual combat gets too tough and we'd like to call it quits. It seems so
hard to keep on trying-especially when we don't seem to be going anywhere.
Or when just about everything seems to be going against us.
It may help to know that the saints had the same struggle. At times they
had to grind out their acts of faith, hope and charity through clenched
teeth. Don't think they were swept along without effort. They waged an
uphill battle against discouragement, failure and despair. They became
saint not by never failing, but by refusing to give in to their falls.
At times the saints even experienced a repugnance for the things of God.
They didn't deny this condition, but rather faced up to it. Our Lord never
said to deny that a cross exists, or even to say that it didn't hurt. He
told us to "take it up." And to do it daily.
Maybe you feel spiritually "beat." Everything seems just too hard. You
don't feel like praying. You feel the need for God, but He seems beyond
hope and charity-and just about everything else! This can be a greater
mortification than some of the bodily austerities of the saints.
Be assured-you may be much closer to God than you think. It's not thinking
of God that is the most important. Nor the feeling that He is near. Or
even wanting to pray. It's just trying to pray. And wanting Him-even when
you think you've lost God. God permits this rough going, because we hang
onto Him more fiercely at a time like this.
Don't say to yourself: "It's no use. I just don't have what it takes." OF
course, you haven't! But none of us have. God is a merciful supplier who
will supply just what is needed when you need His help. Don't sit back and
hang your head in discouragement. Lift up your heart and approach Him
exposing your need like a begging child.
I think that the trouble often is not so much lack of courage as lack of
correct vision. We haven't lost our backbone-but we're just looking in the
wrong way. We are looking too much at ourselves and not enough at God. He
told us that "to those that love God ALL things work unto good." Not "some"
things or "most" things. He excluded absolutely nothing!
Really, what is there to be discouraged about? Past mistakes, no matter how
serious, are erased by the merciful forgiveness of God. Possible future
troubles haven't even arrived. Spiritual success, at least, is available.
Happiness can be yours for the asking-if you are willing to set your heart
on the right things.
Discouragement can be the sign that we have trusted too much in our own
abilities and not enough in God's. Or that we are taking ourselves too
seriously. Or perhaps overemphasizing our importance in the scheme of
things. Or it could be that we want things that aren't good for us and God
simply refuses to let us have them. If He shakes us up it's only because He
wants us to find Him more perfectly.
So, don't be discouraged over your failures-or anything else. Whatever the
cause of discouragement, lift up your eyes and your heart. Your eyes to
make you see that there's never an excuse for self pity, for one who is
loved by a God of love.
Your heart to make you realize that you shouldn't feel sorry for yourself as
long as you are an object of His tender concern. Our need is the perfect
invitation for God to take over in our lives. Let us not be afraid to ask
Him to do so!
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