Let the story of your life be one of prayer and its answers because more is
given
to us through prayer than we can imagine. Lord, I will gratefully live the
blessings
that You pour into my life.
Scripture for the day:
"Strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these
things will be given to you as well." ~Matthew 6:33
M E D I T A T I O N F O R T H E D A Y
I can try to grow into a new life. I can think of spiritual things often,
and unconsciously I can grow. The nearer I get to the new life, the more I
can see my unfitness. My sense of failure can be a sign that I am growing
in the new life. It is only struggle that hurts. In sloth--physical,
mental, or spiritual--there is no sense of failure or discomfort. With
struggle and effort, I can be conscious not of strength but of weakness
until I am really living the new life. But in the struggle, I can always
rely on the power of God to help me.
Prayer for the day:
I pray that I may see signs of my growth in the new life. I pray that I may
always keep trying to grow.
Greetings my friends! Today we were busy - He fixed the snowblower, dryer
got fixed - free, because I way $28.00 a month insurance to our
Excel-Energy. I learned something today from that man. I asked about our
dishwasher being our wine glasses get cloudy, he checked the water, it isn't
too hard, he asked what I was using for soap, I told him I got it in a big
box at Costco a long time ago, and he said it's too old, throw it out and
get some Finish - those tabs you put in the soap part - has enzymes that
clean the dishes, need those enzymes to stay alive to do the work, and not
to rinse the dishes before putting in the dishwasher - I did. Just scrap
them, and not to rinse. Linus bought some Finish and I did a load and I
already could notice the difference. He said that if you rinse the dishes,
the enzymes have nothing to do and it doesn't work properly. You learn
something new every day. He also mentioned never to use fabric softner in
the washer or dryer sheets. Newer dryers have some kind of thermastat in
them that the dryer sheets get a film on it and it malfunctions if it gets
too much on. I don't use any kind of fabric softer, I heard they are not
good for the lint basket in the dryers, makes a film in that, and since I
use micro-fiber cloths, they aren't supposed to have fabric softner either.
At first I used dryer balls - noisy but then when I still used to watch QVC
they had a new kind, called magic dryer balls - something like that - they
were round and soft and very quiet. Darn I can't find them again, thought
I'd get another one, but I checked Q on line, and guess they quit the
product. And it was a good one!!
Then later this afternoon Father Jerry was here and supper was chicken
thighs on the grill, potatoes and peas, starting with a good salad. Very
nice visit - he hasn't been here since November! We saw him at Father
Bernard's funeral the beginning of this month though. Tomorrow night was
planned to have Ray and Ann over - but Ann called to say Ray came down with
the flu so we have find another time when he's better. Tomorrow sometime,
we get Koda, our friend's dog, for maybe two nights. It should be fun.
Sammy is in for a treat!!
Boy will he be surprised!!!
Good Angels
When it seems to you that you are alone and abandoned,
don't complain that you are without a friend
to whom you can open your heart.
from Quiet Moments With Padre Pio: 120 Daily Readings
Prayer to Mary for a Good Mind
A. Hanrion, S.J.
O Mary, my Mother,
I offer you my soul, my mind, and my heart.
Make of me God's instrument.
Give me a penetrating mind to discover,
firm to judge,
open to understand,
free to serve the truth;
an honest mind in telling what it sees rather than what it wants to see;
a tolerant mind which does not dictate to other people,
but which explain what it sees clearly;
a mind infused by the light and the truth of your Son Jesus,
patient in faith,
while waiting for the vision of eternal life.
Amen.
Translated and adapted from Fernand Lelotte, S.J., Rabboni, Consignes et
prieres pour mieux servir (Paris, Casterman, 1958), by Chau T. Phan, Rider
University Catholic Campus Ministry.
Authored By Grace
Have you considered how the story of your life would read in book form?
Especially if it were written by someone who knew it as well as you.
Remember each decision is a step in the journey that is your life. With
Jesus as your editor in chief, the resulting story will be an eternal best
seller.
One story of life is unfolding
With events occurring each day
The continuing story of my life
From a babe to hairs of gray.
God is moving my hand to write
A journal of my walk on earth,
Page upon page of decisions
Of fear and sorrow and mirth.
He helps me pick up the pen
And lays His great hand over mine,
Teaching me to write in His will
With strokes so artful and fine.
A mystically wonderful saga
Of a life lived in time and space,
This diary of daily living
One that is authored by grace.
Like a child who is learning
To write the language of school,
Help from the master's hand
Gives guidance in using the tool.
We, like the child appreciate
The initial aid of His hand
But soon strive to be free and
Independent whenever we can.
Desiring to write by ourselves
A story line authored by me,
With choices that I get to make
About new chapters yet to be.
Looking back on my journal
I can see each twist and turn,
And the times I wrote on my own
The hard lessons I had to learn.
Jesus take control of my hand
Guide the choice of each letter
Each word, sentence, and phrase.
As I write the rest of my days.
Let the conclusion of the matter
Show your hand set in place,
Writing the drama of my life
One that was authored by grace
Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy
that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set
down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:2
“.... how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to
those who ask him." Luke 11:13
Watering Hole
At the tiptop of the coconut palm trees out back, squirrels build
their nests down in the fronds. One morning I watched one of the
squirrels scramble down the palm tree trunk, and make its way over to
the wood deck in the back yard. On the decking, there used to be a
defunct jacuzzi under an old canvas. The covering was so worn and
stretched it had pockets where rain would pool. Around dusk most days,
both doves and squirrels would come to this place on the deck, their
watering hole.
Winter that year had been delightfully sunny, cool, and clear. However
it had been dry with less than average rainfall, so the watering hole
was slim pickings. This particular morning, as the little squirrel
approached, he peered into what was a pitiful tiny bit of a pool. He
bent over and drank what he could, then left, perhaps in search of
water in some other spot.
In our country we are fortunate to usually be able to access water in
our homes. Occasions such as hurricanes, water mains bursting and
bacteria entering, have all brought to my attention how precious
drinking water becomes and how it can’t be taken for granted.
We can live without food, but not without water. Jesus said we can
have ‘living water’ (John 4). Spiritually speaking, we can’t live
without that kind of water, either. How fortunate we are to have free
access to that ‘water’, the gift of the Holy Spirit through Jesus
Christ.
Yes, I am grateful for the unmatchable gift of this wonderful watering
hole of living water, that our loving heavenly father has provided for
all of us.
And yes, that is good news.
May God give you many blessings throughout you day and night - may you enjoy
His peace, as He dwells in your heart. The Lord is as close as we permit
Him to be.
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