Hello my friends! Today was spent mostly in bed and coughing - soon this dratty cough will be over, I know!! Everything takes time!! Made Mac and cheese for supper - that went down good. Been losing weight which is a good thing, because I can't eat much - but that, too, will change. I don't feel like saying much - just pray for me! I know you are! You are such sweethearts who really care!
Joy is left if you rid your heart of all that pulls you down. Lord, help
me to heal my spirit and grow from today's experiences.
Scripture for the day:
"The apostles said to the Lord, 'Increase our faith!'" ~Luke 17:5
Meditation for the day:
I can pray for faith as a thirsty person prayers for water in a desert.
I can know what it means to feel sure that God will never fail me. I can be
as sure of this as I am sure that I still breathe. I can pray daily and
most diligently that my faith may increase. There is nothing lacking in my
life because, really, all I need is mine, only I sometimes lack the faith to
know it. I can be like a rich man's child who sits in rags when all around
me are stores of all I could ever desire.
Prayer for the day:
I pray that for the realization that God has everything I need. I pray that
I may know that God's power is always available to me.
A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO LENTEN FASTING
As we are in the season of Lent . Please spare a moment to read through as
it is something which will help you. It will bring you to a closer walk
with JESUS and you will experience great peace.
Lenten fasts have a tendency to be oriented toward things like giving up
food or television.
But there are many other creative ways we can welcome Jesus' healing touch
this Lent. Below are some suggestions you may want to consider.
Fast from: Anger and Hatred:
Give your family and everyone you come across, an extra dose of love each
day.
Judging Others:
Before making any judgments, recall how Jesus overlooks our faults.
Discouragement:
Hold on to Jesus' promise that He has a perfect plan for your life.
Complaining:
When you find yourself about to complain, close your eyes and recall some
of the little moments of joy Jesus has given you.
Resentment or Bitterness:
Work on forgiving those who may have hurt you.
Spending Too Much Money:
Try to reduce your spending by ten per cent and give those savings to the
poor.
Short Prayers for Lent
Heavenly Father, I am called to walk by the light of Christ, your Son, and
to trust in his wisdom.
During Lent, I submit my self to him more and more and am striving to
believe in him with all my heart.
I enter on this path of repentance so that in dying to self I might rise to
new life.
Lord Jesus, you spoke peace to a sinful world and brought mankind the gift
of reconciliation by the suffering and death you endured. I love you and
joyfully bear the name 'Christian.' Teach me to follow your example.
Increase my faith, hope and charity so that I may struggle to turn hatred to
love and conflict to peace.
Loving Redeemer through your passion, teach me self-denial, strengthen me
against evil and adversity and so make me ready to celebrate your
Resurrection.
Healer of body and soul, cure the sickness in my spirit so that I may grow
in holiness through your constant care.
Forgive my sins against the unity of your family; make me love as you loved
me.
Good Master, make me mindful of the dignity you gave me in Baptism, may I
live for you at every moment.
Give me a perfect heart to receive your work, that I may bring forth fruit
in patience.
Renew my eagerness to work with you in building a better world, so that my
friends may hear your gospel of peace and justice.
From The Pocket Prayer Book: A Manual for Catholics,
The Regina Press, New York
Prayer for Protection (especially from flu)
O Holy Virgin Mary, conceived without sin, I choose thee this day to be the
Lady and Mistress of our home, and I pray thee, in the name of the Most
Precious Blood of Jesus, thy Divine Son, and of thy Immaculate Conception,
to preserve it from fire and lightning, from tempests and thieves, from
cholera, influenza, diphtheria, malaria, and all other contagious and
pestilential diseases.
Bless and protect every member of our family, preserve us from sin, from
sudden and unprovided death, and from all other evils and accidents, in the
name and through the merits of the most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus
Christ. Amen.
A True lesson from a Child
A little tyke I saw today, scuffing along the road, Carrying a sack bigger
than he, Oh, what a heavy load! I stopped and asked the little one, if he
would like a ride, He said, "No thank ya Ma'am" and walked along with pride.
I was so very curious, where this child was going to And what might he be
carrying; I didn't have a clue. I watched him struggle with the sack,
stopping for a while. He looked over at me, with a soft and glowing smile. I
couldn't resist one more try, as I watched him as he trod. I asked him what
was in the sack and he said "Something for God". With a puzzled look I
asked, "You have something for God"? "Where are you taking it"? I asked,
thinking this was odd. His little face beamed with pride, with a look so
very calm. "I'm taking all the troubles and fears away from dad and mom". He
told me that his mom and dad were sad and in despair, But said that God
won't give us more than we can bear. He learned it from the sermon he heard
in church that day To give your troubles to God, for He'll carry you all the
way. He continued on to a country church, eyes filled with love. He then
knelt down upon his knees, looking to the skies above. "God", he said, "I
come to You, and ask You to take this sack". His eyes were looking up above
and his head tilted back. All of a sudden, I heard a voice and saw an image
appear, Then, God spoke to the little lad, and said, "I am here". "Leave the
burdens with Me child, I will carry you through", The little lad said "Thank
you God, I knew I could count on You". I drove home in silence after hearing
God that day, For it took a child to teach me ... all I need do is pray!
God's Hand
Sometimes...
We must be hurt in order to grow;
We must fail in order to know,
We must lose in order to gain.
Some lessons are learned best
Only through pain.
Sometimes...
Our vision clears
Only after our eyes are
Washed with tears.
Sometimes...
We have to be broken,
So we can be tender,
Sick so we can rest and think better;
On things more important
Than work or fun;
Trip near death,
So we can assess how we've run.
Sometimes...
We have to suffer lack,
So we can know God's provision,
Feel another's pain,
So we can have a sense of mission.
So take heart, my friend,
If you don't understand today,
Instead of grumbling,
Ask God what He means to say,
In order to learn you must endure,
And learn to see the bigger picture.
In order to grow, you must stand;
Look beyond the hurt
To God's loving hand
That takes what is good,
And gives what is best,
And on this blessed thought, rest:
As your anxious heart,
With questions, waits,
God's hand only gives
What His loving heart dictates.
Sometimes the Lord calms the storm;
Sometimes He lets the storm rage...
And calms His child.
Better the storm with Christ...
Than smooth waters without Him.
Pass this encouragement on...
- Author Unknown
THE "CONTROL" ISSUE
By Marion Smith
Job 37:15 Do you know how God controls the clouds and makes His
lightning flash?
I believe each of us likes to be “in control” of our
lives, and we want to know where we are going. This is definitely
true for me, especially if I am going to take a car trip. I always
get the map out, plot out my course and know exactly where I will be
driving.
When I had the opportunity to spend a week end at an
Emmaus retreat, I was excited. “Where is the retreat held?” I asked.
My sponsors were vague, but I wanted details! Where would it be, what
would we do, etc., etc., etc.!!
Well, the night we left for the retreat I just got in the
car and let them drive. I had no idea where I was going, nor had I
mapped a course on a road map. I trusted my sponsors to get me to the
correct destination on time and in good shape. The road was narrow
and the nighttime sky descended upon us, but I no longer cared about
details, because I trusted the driver. TRUST- what an important thing
this is.
Am I willing to turn over the drivers seat of my life to
God? To allow Him to get me to my destination? I know my final
destination is Heaven, but is it necessary for me to know every detail
on the road there? Don’t I trust God enough to know He’ll be right
beside me, no matter the twists on life’s road or how suddenly
darkness can descend?
Sometimes, I try to give God the road map and tell Him the
way! How silly! He is more “in control” than I am! God is the sponsor
of my life, and I need to let Him stay in the driver’s seat, taking me
down life’s road of surprises.
PRAYER FOR THE PRESENT MOMENT
Dear God. I spend so much time reliving yesterday or
anticipating tomorrow that I lose sight of the only time
that is really mine - the present moment. You give me
today one moment at a time. That's all I have - all I ever
will have.
Give the faith which knows that each moment contains
exactly what is best for me. Give the hope which trusts
You enough to forget past failings and future trials.
Give the love which makes each moment an anticipation of
eternity with You. We ask this in the name of Jesus who is
the same yesterday, today and forever. Amen.
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