Hello my friends! Two things happened today - first I heard from Wanda, she had been gone, but now she is back home again, and just found out she has cancer - Tuesday is her first treatment. Please would you pray for Wanda's healing? It's stage 1. At our Mass tonight right behind me was an old friend of mine I haven't seen in many years! We used to work together and went to dances together! She recognized me and said she was Darlene! She lives in MPLS. and happened to be at our Church tonight because she has a brother who is in our parish. We visited a bit after Mass and I gave her my email address and she put it in her phone. The strange part was that just this week I was thinking of Darlene and wondering where she is etc. Got to meet her husband too. Their 50th will be next year! She had 5 kids, I remember when she had twins, and she has 12 grandkids. I like those little surprises which are a gift from God, of course.
As we help those in need or comfort those in trouble, God's great love and
divine
glory is revealed to the world. Lord, I am Your servant. May others know
more
of You through me.
Scripture for the day:
"Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a
wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and
the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had
been founded on rock." ~Matthew 7:24-25
Meditation for the day:
Every strong and beautiful flower must have a strong root in the ground. It
can send a root down so that it may be rooted and grounded while at the same
time it sends a shoot up to be the flower that gladdens the world. Both
growths are necessary. Without a strong root, it would soon wither. The
higher the growth upward, the deeper must be the rooting. My life cannot
flower into success and helpfulness unless it is rooted in a strong faith. I
can feel deeply secure in the goodness and purpose of the universe.
Prayer for the day:
I pray that my life may be deeply rooted in faith. I pray that I may feel
deeply secure.
TAKE SOME TIME
By Leon Hansen
Take some time to smell the flowers. As you walk the paths of life.
Take some time to ease the tensions. From the challenges and the
strife.
Take some time to hear the birds sing. As they usher in the dawn.
Though the day be just emerging. Too soon it will be gone.
Take some time to watch a sunrise. Now and then a sunset too.
Just be sure that seeking pleasure. Isn't all you ever do.
Take some time to count your blessings. Though you feel they're not
that great.
You will find they're more abundant. Than you thought, at any rate.
Take some time to banish hatred. When and where you can.
Just detest man's evil ways. And not your fellow man.
Take some time to love your children. Every moment you are free.
The benefits sure exceed. A university degree.
Take some time to love your neighbor. And even more important still,
Take some time to love yourself. Or not many others will.
And if you don't like that image. Of yourself that others see,
Take some time to make some changes. Be the best that you can be.
Take some time to help another. Who you think might need a hand.
You will find the satisfaction. Leaves you feeling sort of grand.
Take some time to live by virtue. In the best way that is known,
And respect the rights of others. As equal to your own.
Take some time to just appreciate. The fact that you are here,
And to know the risen Lord. And to trust Him without fear.
If you do these things with diligence. You will eventually be glad.
If you don't attempt to do them. You may one day wish you had.
Although this no doubt could impose. Upon your time for seeking
wealth,
There should be little question. That it could improve your health.
And though you might not be as wealthy. Nor drive so fine a car,
You'll find you will be richer. In other ways by far.1
Your time and mine is in God's Hands but He has empowered us to use it
responsibly.
Prayer to the Holy Spirit in Every Need
Holy Spirit, my Light, my Life, my Love, my Strength,
Be with me now and always: in all my doubts, anxieties and trials,
Come, Holy Spirit; in hours of loneliness, weariness and grief,
Come, Holy Spirit; in failure, in loss and in disappointment,
Come, Holy Spirit; when others fail me, when I fail myself,
Come, Holy Spirit; when I am ill, unable to work, depressed,
Come, Holy Spirit; now and forever, and in all things,
Come, Holy Spirit.
The Power of Holding Hands
-- By Rabbi Harold Kushner
I was sitting on a beach one summer day, watching two children, a boy and a
girl, playing in the sand.
They were hard at work building an elaborate sandcastle by the water's edge
with gates and towers and moats and internal passages. Just when they had
nearly finished their project, a big wave came along and knocked it down,
reducing it to a heap of wet sand.
I expected the children to burst into tears, devastated by what had happened
to all their hard work. But they surprised me. Instead, they ran up the
shore away from the water, laughing and holding hands, and sat down to build
another castle.
I realized that they had taught me an important lesson. All the things in
our lives, all the complicated structures we spend so much time and energy
creating, are built on sand.
Only our relationships to other people endure. Sooner or later, the wave
will come along and knock down what we have worked so hard to build up. When
that happens, only the person who has somebody's hand to hold will be able
to laugh.
Consoling Thoughts
(For times of loneliness)
Dear Lord!
Make me remember,
when the world seems cold and dreary
and I know not where to turn for comfort,
that there is always one spot bright and cheerful----the Sanctuary.
When I am in desolation of spirit,
when all who are dear to me have passed away
like summer flowers and none are left to love me and care for me,
whisper to my troubled soul
that there is one Friend who dies not
----one whose Love never changes----
Jesus on the altar.
When sorrow thicken and crush me with their burden,
when I look in vain for comfort,
let me remember Your words:
"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavily
burdened, and I will refresh you."
The Jack in Us
A man named Jack was walking along a steep cliff one day, when he
accidentally got too close to the edge and fell.
On the way down he grabbed a branch, which temporarily stopped his fall. He
looked down and to his horror saw that the canyon fell straight down for
more than a thousand feet. He couldn't hang onto the branch forever, and
there was no way for him to climb up the steep wall of the cliff. So Jack
began yelling for help, hoping that someone passing by would hear him and
lower a rope or something. "HELP! HELP! Is anyone up there?"
He yelled for a long time, but no one heard him. He was about to give up
when he heard a voice. "
“Jack, Jack, can you hear me?"
"Yes, yes! I can hear you. I'm down here!"
"I can see you, Jack. Are you all right?"
"Yes, but who are you, and where are you?"
"I am the Lord, Jack. I'm everywhere."
"The Lord? You mean, GOD?"
"That's Me. "
"God, please help me! I promise if, you'll get me down from here, I'll stop
sinning. I'll be a really good person. I'll serve You for the rest of my
life. "
"Easy on the promises. Jack. Let's get you off from there - then we can
talk." "Now, here's what I want you to do. Listen carefully.
"I'll do anything, Lord. Just tell me what to do."
"Okay. Let go of the branch. "
"What?"
"I said, let go of the branch. Just trust Me. Let go."
There was a long silence. Finally Jack yelled.
"HELP! HELP! IS ANYONE ELSE UP THERE?"
Have you ever felt like Jack? We say that we want to know the will of God,
but when we find out what it is, we can't handle it. Sounds too scary, too
difficult. We decide to look elsewhere. When He says, "Let go of the things
that stand between you and Me. and trust Me with your life," it sounds
pretty scary. But when we let go, we find freedom and safety in His hands. .
" Have a Blessed Day and remember that Jesus Loves You!
PRAYER TO OUR HOLY GUARDIAN ANGELS
Heavenly Father, Your infinite love for us has chosen a blessed angel in
heaven and appointed him our guide during this earthly pilgrimage. Accept
our thanks for so great a blessing. Grant that we may experience the
assistance of our holy protector in all our necessities. And you, holy,
loving angel and guide, watch over us with all the tenderness of your
angelic heart. Keep us always on the way that leads to heaven, and cease not
to pray for us until we have attained our final destiny, eternal salvation.
Then we shall love you for all eternity. We shall praise and glorify you
unceasingly for all the good you have done for us while here on earth.
Especially be a faithful and watchful protector of our children. Take our
place, and supply what may be wanting to us through human frailty,
short-sightedness, or sinful neglect. Lighten, O you perfect servants of
God, our heavy task. Guide our children, that they may become like unto
Jesus, may imitate Him faithfully, and persevere till they attain eternal
life. Amen.
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