Daily Positive Thread for Saturday

gloriajean · ‎03-10-2010

Enthusiasm will be yours if you love God, love people, and love life.
Lord, the nearer I follow Your way, the happier I become.

Scripture for the day:
"My speech and my proclamation were not with plausible words of wisdom,
but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith
might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God. Yet among the
mature we do speak wisdom, though it is not a wisdom of this age or of
the rulers of this age, who are doomed to perish. But we speak God's
wisdom, secret and hidden, which God decreed before the ages for our
glory." ~1 Corinthians 2:4-7

Meditation for the day:
In these times of quiet meditation, we can try more and more to set our
hopes on the grace of God. We can know that whatever the future may
hold, it can hold more and more of good. We need not set all our hopes
and desires on material things. There can be weariness in an abundance
of things. We can set our hopes on spiritual things so that we may grow
spiritually. We can learn to rely on God's power more and more and in
that reliance we can have an insight into the greater value of the
things of the spirit.
Prayer for the day:
I pray that I may not be overwhelmed by material things. I pray that I
may realize the higher value of spiritual things.

Greetings my friends! Hope your day went well, and not too hot for you! My day went well - had to pay a bill at Penny's and asked Lori if she could take me, and she did, and I appreciated that a lot and also the AC in the stores felt so good! Today we were blessed with getting 5 fresh chickens butchered at a farm not far, so we got them in the freezer now - lots of soup bones too. We had chicken on the grill- It was so good! Chicken and a good salad we had, that was enough. In my salad I usually put tomatoes, cukes, some nuts, like sunflower seeds, walnuts etc., but tonight I didn't have all that, so I made the salad with lettuce and fruits, raspberries and blueberries. It was delish! Linus finished the arbor for Lori - he and his brother, Ron, finished with the top on it, and Ron hauled it to Lori's and they both mounted it and said it looks great! I haven't seen it yet. Linus really enjoyed creating it! I'm so grateful for my family, in a week, next Saturday my side is having a family reunion - Lori will drive me, Linus will try to get off work, so far he's scheduled. The next day, Linus side is having theirs, what a busy weekend! Tomorrow night we eat at the Café Renaissance (our fav) and meet with Jim about what he found out for us about investors. Linus works until 6:30 - and we'll go there around 7:00.. Please pray for us that we make the right decision - what God wants us to do.

Homily of the Day
July 22, 2011
She Continued to Hope
by Monsignor Dennis Clark, Ph.D.
Ex 20:1-17 / Jn 20:1-2, 11-18
Pay special attention to the responses Mary Magdalene makes in today’s Gospel. When she responds to the angels, she says “they have taken the Lord. . . .” When she speaks to Jesus, she says “they have taken my Lord. . . .”
This is not a “difference that makes no difference.” Rather, it shows the depth of anguish Mary is feeling. Her attachment to Jesus is not like the fantasy of The DaVinci Code. It is the attachment of one who has known the pains and losses — the terrors — this life can put someone in. She has seen the hope and the promise of Israel standing before her in Jesus, and now so much has changed.
Did she understand much more than the other disciples? I doubt it. But she stood without fear of the world, without fear of whomever she had to, just to be near the one she hoped in. And without understanding, she continued to hope — somehow hoping and trusting that His words would prove true. And they were. He was alive! With one word, one name, her trust was rewarded.
And for us? What word does Jesus speak to our souls in the midst of all our world fills us with? All the war, the terror, the droughts, the hurricanes, the murders. Our late Holy Father gave us that “word” in a phrase that has echoed through from the very start of his pontificate: “Be not afraid.”
Jesus’ one word to Mary removed her fears, her doubts. It restored more than just her teacher (rabboni), it restored her very soul.
Maybe what you need to hear today is more than “be not afraid.” Maybe it is less than your own name. Maybe it is enough to just hear Him say “I’m here.” Whatever He has to say to you — just listen. Then respond in His love.

Wings of Prayer
Just close your eyes and open your heart
and feel your worries and cares depart,
Just yield yourself to the Father above
and let Him hold you secure in His love-
For life on earth grows more involved
with endless problems that can't be solved.
But God only asks us to do our best,
Than He will "take over" and finish the rest-
So when you are tired, discouraged and blue,
there's always one door that is open to you,
and that is the door to "The House of Prayer"
and you'll find God waiting to meet you there-
And "The House of Prayer" is no farther away
than the quiet spot where you kneel and pray.
For the heart is a temple when God is there
as we place ourselves in His loving care-
And He hears every prayer and answers each one
when we pray in His name "Thy will be done"-
And the burdens that seemed too heavy to bear
are lifted away on "The Wings of Prayer."
- Helen Steiner Rice

A LITTLE GIRL´S PRAYER
Author Unknown
Helen Roseveare, a missionary doctor from England to Zaire Africa,
told this as it happened to her in Africa.
"One night I had worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but
in spite of all we could do she died leaving us with a tiny premature
baby and a crying two-year-old daughter. We would have difficulty
keeping the baby alive, as we had no incubator. (We had no electricity
to run an incubator.) We also had no special feeding facilities.
Although we lived on the equator, nights were often chilly with
treacherous drafts. One student midwife went for the box we had for
such babies and the cotton wool the baby would be wrapped in. Another
went to stoke up the fire and fill a hot water bottle. She came back
shortly in distress to tell me that in filling the bottle, it had
burst. Rubber perishes easily in tropical climates. "And it is our
last hot water bottle!" she exclaimed.
As in the West it is no good crying over spilled milk, so in Central
Africa it might be considered no good crying over burst water bottles.
They do not grow on trees, and there are no drugstores down forest
pathways.
"All right," I said, "Put the baby as near the fire as you safely can,
and sleep between the baby and the door to keep it free from drafts.
"Your job is to keep the baby warm."
The following noon, as I did most days, I went to have prayers with
any of the orphanage children who chose to gather with me. I gave the
youngsters various suggestions of things to pray about and told them
about the tiny baby. I explained our problem about keeping the baby
warm enough, mentioning the hot water bottle. The baby could so easily
die if it got chills. I also told them of the two-year-old sister,
crying because her mother had died. During the prayer time, one ten-
year-old girl, Ruth, prayed with the usual blunt conciseness of our
African children. "Please, God," she prayed, "send us a water bottle.
It'll be no good tomorrow, God, as the baby will be dead, so please
send it this afternoon."
While I gasped inwardly at the audacity of the prayer, she added by
way of a corollary, "And while You are about it, would You please send
a dolly for the little girl so she'll know You really love her?"
As often with children's prayers, I was put on the spot. Could I
honestly say, "Amen?" I just did not believe that God could do this.
Oh, yes, I know that He can do everything. The Bible says so. But
there are limits, aren't there? The only way God could answer this
particular prayer would be by sending me a parcel from the homeland. I
had been in Africa for almost four years at that time, and I had
never, ever received a parcel from home. Anyway, if anyone did send me
a parcel, who would put in a hot water bottle? I lived on the
equator!
Halfway through the afternoon, while I was teaching in the nurses'
training school, a message was sent that there was a car at my front
door. By the time I reached home, the car had gone, but there, on the
verandah, was a large twenty-two pound parcel. I felt tears pricking
my eyes. I could not open the parcel alone, so I sent for the
orphanage children. Together we pulled off the string, carefully
undoing each knot. We folded the paper, taking care not to tear it
unduly. Excitement was mounting. Some thirty or forty pairs of eyes
were focused on the large cardboard box. From the top, I lifted out
brightly colored, knitted jerseys. Eyes sparkled as I gave them out.
Then there were the knitted bandages for the leprosy patients, and the
children looked a little bored. Then came a box of mixed raisins and
sultanas--that would make a nice batch of buns for the weekend. Then,
as I put my hand in again, I felt the.....could it really be? I
grasped it and pulled it out--yes, a brand-new, rubber hot water
bottle!
I cried. I had not asked God to send it; I had not truly believed that
He could. Ruth was in the front row of the children. She rushed
forward, crying out, "If God has sent the bottle, He must have sent
the dolly, too!"
Rummaging down to the bottom of the box, she pulled out the small,
beautifully dressed dolly. Her eyes shone! She had never doubted.
Looking up at me, she asked: "Can I go over with you, Mummy, and give
this dolly to that little girl, so she'll know that Jesus really loves
her?"
That parcel had been on the way for five whole months. Packed up by my
former Sunday school class, whose leader had heard and obeyed God's
prompting to send a hot water bottle, even to the equator. And one of
the girls had put in a dolly for an African child--five months before--
in answer to the believing prayer of a ten-year-old to bring it "that
afternoon."
"Before they call, I will answer!" Isa 65:24

THE WHIPPING
Author Unknown
July 22, 2011
There was a class of young people that no teacher was able to handle.
Two or three teachers had been run off from school this year by these
young people. Finally a young man out of college heard about the class
and
applied to the school. The principal asked the young man "Do you not
know what you are asking for, no one has been able to handle these
young people, you are just asking for a terrible beating." After a few
moments of silent
prayer, the young man looked at the principal and said "Sir, with
your consent I accept the challenge, just give me a trial basis."
The next morning the young man reported for class. He said to the
class "Young people, I came here today to conduct school, but I
realize I can't do it by myself, I must have your help. One big boy,
they called Big Tom, in
the back of the room whispered to his buddies" I'll not need any
help, I can lick that little bird all by myself." The young teacher
told the class if they are to have school, there will have to be some
rules to go by. He also
added that he will allow the students to make up the rules and he
will list them on the blackboard. One young man suggested "NO
STEALING". Another one shouted "BE ON TIME FOR CLASS." Pretty soon
they had 10 rules listed on the board. The teacher had then asked the
class what the punishment should be for breaking these rules. Rules
are no good unless they are enforced. Someone in the class suggested
that if the rules were broken, they should receive 10 licks with a rod
across their back with their coat off. The teacher thought that was
pretty harsh, and asked the class would they stand by this punishment.
The class agreed.
Everything went pretty good for two or three days. Finally Big Tom
came in one day very upset. He reported that someone had stolen his
lunch. After talking with the students they came to the conclusion
that Little Jim had
stolen Big Tom's lunch. The teacher called Little Jim up to the front
of the room and asked him to remove his coat. That little fellow came
up the aisle with a great big coat on. Little Jim approached the
teacher and said
" I am guilty and am willing to take my punishment but please don't
make me take off my coat." The teacher reminded Little Jim of the
rules and their punishments and asked him again to remove his coat and
take his punishment like a man. That little fellow started to unbutton
that old coat, and the teacher saw that he did not have a shirt on
under the coat. The teacher asked Little Jim why he came to school
without a shirt on. Little Jim said
"My daddy's dead and my mother is very poor, I don't have but one
shirt and my mother is washing it today. I wore big brother's coat to
keep my little body warm."
That young teacher stood and looked at the frail back and wondered how
he could lay a rod on that little back without even a shirt on. He
knew if he didn't enforce the punishment, the children would not obey
the rules, so as
he drew back to strike Little Jim, Big Tom came down the aisle. Big
Tom asked "Can I take Little Jim's whipping for him" The teacher
agreed and Big Tom ripped his coat off and stooped over and the
teacher began to lay the
rod on that big back. But for some strange reason after only five
licks, that old rod just broke in half. The young teacher buried his
face in his hands and began to sob. He heard a commotion and looked up
to find not even
one dry eye in the room. Little Jim had run and grabbed Big Tom
around the neck, apologizing to him for stealing his lunch, and
explained that he was so very hungry. Little Jim begged Big Tom to
forgive him. He told Big Tom
that he would love him till the day he died for taking his whipping
for him. Aren't you glad that Jesus took our whipping for us, that He
shed his precious blood on Calvary so that we can have eternal life in
Glory with
Him? We are unworthy of the price He paid for us, but aren't you glad
He loves us that much?
--
Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;

where there is sadness, joy;
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.