Hello my friends! I was just thinking about the last 7 years I've been doing this thread - at first I was so nervous to do this, and when I started I thought it would just be for a day or two, never thinking it would last this long! Wow! God is in control of this, that's for sure! It is His Thread, not mine, I'm only doing this to be His instrument and He can touch all of us with His presence and love! You people kept me going - and I thank you all for that! When I first started I asked everyone to name three positive things in their life that day and I named mine, still do. Tonight we were blessed by Lori calling us for supper and she made smoked pork chops on the grill and was that ever good!! Then we played just a few rounds of Dominoes (Mexican Train). It was nice and it's a blessing she only lives 5 miles away! Oh another blessing - would you believe - no telemarketers called all day, it isn't over it but it's after 9:30 already! That's a blessing!! Can you name about three positive things? Anything ordinary - ordinary days are great!! Before I forget - you people are my blessings!
Give control of your life to God and humbly live in His presence. Lord, I
humbly
desire that Your will be my will and that we always walk together.
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:
There are two paths, one up and one down. We have been given free will to
choose either path. We are captains of our souls to this extent only. We
can choose the good or the bad. Once we have chosen the wrong path, we go
down and down, eventually to death. But if we choose the right path, we can
go up and up, until we come to the resurrection day. On the wrong path, we
have no power for good because we do not choose to ask for it. But on the
right path, we are on the side of good and we have all the power of God's
spirit behind us.
Prayer for the day:
I pray that I may be in the stream of goodness. I pray that I may be on the
right side, on the side of all good in the universe.
My Lord and My God
Doors were closed in the room where the disciples were. Jesus came and stood
among them and said to them: "Peace be with you".
My Lord and My God!
The Easter event is so great that we need time to think it over. This Easter
season of 50 days is a time in which we see what the resurrection of Christ
means for us. Today we see that it means the forgiveness of our sins, and
peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. But it also shows that faith is the
foundation of our life in Christ.
PRAYER
Lord, I believe, help my unbelief.
The first Christians recognized the signs and wonders of their day. Help me
to see your guiding hand each day.
Reveal your risen presence to me as you come to me in Holy Communion.
Let my heart burn with love for you as you speak to me in the scriptures.
Keep alive in me the joy of this season that always and everywhere the
Easter alleluia may arise as a hymn of glory to Your name. Amen.
Prayer-The Greatest Art of All!
By the late Father Kilian McGowan, C.P.
Used with permission, from the Passionist Priests
Would you like to see your life profoundly altered? For the better, that is.
Do you seek the fullest development of your personality? Do you want to
begin a journey towards greater grace? Would you like an ever-present source
of unshakeable strength? Then you should learn the art of prayer.
So many people have expressed a desire to know more about prayer that we
cannot bypass this important subject. Prayer is essential to the fervent
following of Christ because it is the only means we have of conscious
contact with Him. Without it, we cannot even hope to grow up spiritually.
Without prayer it is difficult to be a good person, let alone a good friend
of God!
In his famous book, Man the Unknown, Dr. Aleis Carrel wrote the following on
prayer: "If you make a habit of prayer, your life will be profoundly
altered. In prayer a flame kindles and a man sees himself. He discovers his
selfishness, greed and blunders. He develops a sense of moral obligation and
intelligent humility. Thus begins a journey of the soul towards grace."
The Liturgy in itself is the Perfect Prayer because it is the prayerful
worship of Christ and the members of His Mystical Body. When they lovingly
offer the Eucharistic Sacrifice, it is prayer in its highest form.
But even the sublime worship can become soul-less ritual unless we seek
interior union with the Heart of Christ Priest and Victim at Mass. Just as
the cruel sufferings of Christ were given their redemptive value by His
interior self-surrender to His Father's Will.
In this chapter we are concerned, however, with that personalized and
prayerful meditation that leads to interior union with the Heart of the
Savior. Without this union in faith and charity, all our external
performance of the liturgy would become meaningless.
Prayer is an art unlike all others. What a man is, doesn't necessarily
affect his ability in the arts of painting, carving, designing, etc. But in
prayer all is different. As a man is, so does he pray. The whole man leaves
God-or rather his prayer-a different person. True prayer is always
transforming.
What's the first step towards a successful prayer-life? It's to generate one
basic conviction. We must be really convinced that God is our Supreme Good
with all that it implies. We will never seek God with unwavering
perseverance unless we firmly believe that He is the Perfect Object of our
self-dedication. Prayer might be called an intensification of our quest for
God.
Naturally, our success in this spiritual art depends largely on our habitual
orientation toward God. God must first be consciously selected in preference
to all other attractions. Our soul cannot have a "split-personality"-half
given to God and half wrapped-up in the obstacles to His love. But, be
encouraged-even the feeblest of beginnings leads to firmer strides in the
ways of God.
Prayer is not for softies, escapists and sentimentalists. It's for all who
need God, of course. And that takes in just about everyone. But this art is
especially for those who want to be mature and spiritually grown-up. It's
not for escapists, but for those who want to face daily the greatest of
realities-God and His Providential Will. It goes far beyond mere
sentimentality, too, because it turns over to God, man's most precious
powers - his memory, understanding and will. It is, indeed a real way of
life!
------------
There's only one worthy ambition in life--and that is to become a Saint!
"True prayer" is the road to take when seeking God and His will.
No matter what your occupation, you have time for TRUE prayer!
Don´t Say A Word
Are you nervous and blue?
In doubt, what to do?
Misunderstood, too !
Don´t say a word.
Is business so bad?
It´s hard to be glad?
Inclined to get mad?
Don´t say a word.
Are things awry?
Does it seem vain to try?
Must you worry and sigh?
Don´t say a word.
Climb bravely life´s hill
Seek only God´s will
Trust Him and be still
Sh! Don´t say a word.
(Author unknown
Football Mom
This teenager lived alone with his mother, and the two of them had a very
special relationship. Even though the son was always on the bench, his
mother was always in the stands cheering. She never missed a game. This
young man was still the smallest of the class when he entered high school.
But his mother continued to encourage him but also made it very clear that
he did not have to play football if he didn't want to. But the young man
loved football and decided to hang in there.
He was determined to try his best at every practice, and perhaps he'd get to
play when he became a senior. All through high school he never missed a
practice or a game, but remained a bench warmer all four years. His faithful
mother was always in the stands, always with words of encouragement for him.
When the young man went to college, he decided to try out for the football
team as a "walk-on." Everyone was sure he could never make the cut, but he
did. The coach admitted that he kept him on the roster because he always
puts his heart and soul into every practice, and at the same time provided
the other members with the spirit and hustle they badly needed. The news
that he had survived the cut thrilled him so much that he rushed to the
nearest phone and called his mother. His mother shared his excitement and
was sent season tickets for all the college games. This persistent young
athlete never missed practice during his four years at college, but he never
got to play in the game.
It was the end of his senior football season, and as he trotted onto the
practice field shortly before the big playoff game, that the coach met him
with a telegram. The young man read the telegram and he became deathly
silent. Swallowing hard, he mumbled to the coach, "My mother died this
morning. Is it all right if I miss practice today?"
The coach put his arm gently around his shoulder and said, "Take the rest of
the week off, son. And don't even plan to come back to the game on
Saturday."
Saturday arrived, and the game was not going well. In the third quarter,
when the team was ten points behind, a silent young man quietly slipped into
the empty locker room and put on his football gear. As he ran onto the
sidelines, the coach and his players were astounded to see their faithful
teammate back so soon.
"Coach, please let me play. I've just got to play today," said the young
man. The coach pretended not to hear him. There was no way he wanted his
worst player in this close playoff game. But the young man persisted, and
finally feeling sorry for the kid, the coach gave in. "All right," he said.
"You can go in."
Before long, the coach, the players and everyone in the stands could not
believe their eyes. This little unknown, who had never played before, was
doing everything right. The opposing team could not stop him. He ran, he
passed, blocked and tackled like a star. His team began to triumph. The
score was soon tied. In the closing seconds of the game, this kid
intercepted a pass and ran all the way for the winning touchdown. The fans
broke loose. His teammates hoisted him onto their shoulders. Such cheering
you've never heard!
Finally, after the stands had emptied and the team had showered and left the
locker room, the coach noticed that the young man was sitting quietly in the
corner all alone. The coach came to him and said, "Kid, I can't believe it.
You were fantastic! Tell me what got into you? How did you do it?"
He looked at the coach, with tears in his eyes, and said, "Well, you knew my
mom died, but did you know that my mom was blind?" The young man swallowed
hard and forced a smile, "Mom came to all my games, but today was the first
time she could see me play, and I wanted to show her I could do it!"
Author Unknown
-- The Beautiful Hands of a Priest--
We need them in life's early morning,
We need them again at its close;
We feel their warm clasp of true friendship,
We seek them when tasting life's woes.
At the altar each day we behold them,
And the hands of a king on his throne
Are not equal to them in their greatness;
Their dignity stands all alone;
And when we are tempted and wander,
To pathways of shame and of sin,
It's the hand of a priest that will absolve us--
Not once, but again and again.
And when we are taking life's partner,
Other hands may prepare us a feast,
But the hand that will bless and unite us--
Is the beautiful hand of a priest.
God bless them and keep them all holy,
For the Host which their fingers caress;
When can a poor sinner do better,
Than to ask Him to guide thee and bless?
When the hour of death comes upon us,
May our courage and strength be increased,
By seeing raised over us in blessing--
The beautiful hands of a priest.
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