There is a purpose for our trials and burdens just as there is a purpose for the joys and wonders in our lives. Lord, grant
me Your peace as Your plan for me unfolds.
S C R I P T U R E F O R T H E D A Y
"'May they prosper who love you. Peace be within your walls, and
security within your towers.' For the sake of my relatives and
friends I will say, 'Peace be within you.' For the sake of the house
of the
LORD our God, I will seek your good." ~Psalm 122:6-9
M E D I T A T I O N F O R T H E D A Y
I believe that God's presence can bring peace and that peace, like a
quiet-flowing river, can cleanse all irritants away. In these quiet
times, God can teach me how to rest my nerves. I need not be afraid.
I can learn how to relax. When I am relaxed, God's strength can flow
into me. I can be at peace.
P R A Y E R F O R T H E D A Y
I pray for that peace which passes all understanding. I pray for that
peace which the world can neither give nor take away.
THE GIRL IN THE PINK DRESS
Author Unknown
There was this little girl sitting by herself in the park. Everyone
passed by her and never stopped to see why she looked so sad. Dressed
in a worn pink dress, barefoot and dirty, the girl just sat and
watched the people go by. She never tried to speak. She never said a
word. Many people passed by her, but no one would stop.
The next day I decided to go back to the park in curiosity to see if
the little girl would still be there. Yes, she was there, right in the
very spot where she was yesterday, and still with the same sad look in
her eyes.
Today I was to make my own move and walk over to the little girl. For
as we all know, a park full of strange people is not a place for young
children to play alone. As I got closer I could see the back of the
little girl's dress was grotesquely shaped. I figured that was the
reason people just passed by and made no effort to speak to her.
As I got closer, the little girl lowered her eyes slightly to avoid my
intent stare. As I approached her, I could see the shape of her back
more clear She was grotesquely shaped in a humped-over form.
I smiled to let her know it was OK; I was there to help, to talk. I
sat down beside her and opened with a simple, "Hello." The little girl
acted shocked, and stammered a "hi," after a long stare into my eyes.
I smiled and she shyly smiled back.
We talked until darkness fell and the park was completely empty. I
asked the girl why she was so sad. The little girl looked at me with a
sad face said, "Because I'm different." I immediately said, "That you
are!" and smiled. The little girl acted even sadder and said, "I
know."
"Little girl," I said, "you remind me of an angel, sweet and
innocent." She looked at me and smiled, then slowly she got to her
feet and said, "Really?"
"Yes, you're like a little Guardian Angel sent to watch over all those
people walking by." She nodded her head yes, and smiled. With that she
opened the back of her pink dress and allowed her wings to spread,
then she said "I am. I'm your Guardian Angel," with a twinkle in her
eye. I was speechless -- sure I was seeing things.
She said, "For once you thought of someone other than yourself. My job
here is done."
I got to my feet and said, "Wait, why did no one stop to help an
angel?" She looked at me, smiled, and said, "You are the only one that
could see me," and then she was gone. And with that, my life was
changed dramatically. So, when you think you're all you have,
remember, your angel is always watching over you.
APPLES
A few years ago a group of salesmen went to a regional sales convention in
Chicago. They had assured their wives that they would be home in plenty of
time for Friday night's dinner.
In their rush, with tickets and brief-cases, one of these salesmen
inadvertently kicked over a table which held a display of baskets of apples.
Apples flew everywhere. Without stopping or looking back, they all managed
to reach the plane in time for their nearly missed boarding. All but one. He
paused, took a deep breath, got in touch with his feelings, and experienced
a twinge of compassion for the girl whose apple stand had been overturned.
He told his buddies to go on without him, waved goodbye, told one of them to
call his wife when they arrived at their home destination and explain his
taking a later flight. Then he returned to the terminal where the apples
were all over the terminal floor.
He was glad he did.
The 16 year old girl was totally blind! She was softly crying, tears running
down her cheeks in frustration, and at the same time helplessly groping for
her spilled produce as the crowd swirled about her, no one stopping, and no
one to care for her plight.
The salesman knelt on the floor with her, gathered up the apples, put them
into the baskets, and helped set the display up once more. As he did this,
he noticed that many of them had become battered and bruised; these he set
aside in another basket.
When he had finished, he pulled out his wallet and said to the girl, "Here,
please take this $20 for the damage we did. Are you okay?"
She nodded through her tears. He continued on with, "I hope we didn't spoil
your day too badly."
As the salesman started to walk away, the bewildered blind girl called out
to him, "Mister...." He paused and turned to look back into those blind
eyes.
She continued, "Are you Jesus?"
He stopped in mid-stride, and he wondered. Then slowly he made his way to
catch the later flight with that question burning and bouncing about in his
soul: "Are you Jesus?"
Do people mistake you for Jesus?
That's our destiny, is it not? To be so much like Jesus that people cannot
tell the difference as we live and interact with a world that is blind to
His love, life and grace.
If we claim to know Him, we should live, walk and act as He would. Knowing
Him is more than simply quoting Scripture and going to church. It's actually
living the Word as life unfolds day to day. You are the apple of His eye
even though we, too, have been bruised by a fall. He stopped what He was
doing and picked you and me up on a hill called Calvary and paid in full for
our damaged fruit.
Let us live like we are worth the price He paid.
-- Author Unknown
HEALING PRAYER:
"Beloved Mother, I come to you with prayers for healing of mind, body and spirit. I ask you to
hear my special concern (state petition) and to place my needs before your Son who you nurtured
and cared for with all your heart. Help me to release all fears and doubts that cause me anxiety and bring
me peace and comfort through your blessed intercession.
Let me be receptive of God's will and help me to learn compassion through my suffering. Teach me
to love others as brothers and sisters in Christ.
Give me the strength and understanding to forgive and to receive others' forgiveness. Blessed Mother,
help me to grow closer to your Son in everything I do. Renew my spirit and restore my soul through your intercession.
I seek your guidance and protection, remembering these words: "Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me." PS 51:10 All this I pray in Jesus' name. Amen"
Jesus Calling
January 7
It is impossible to praise or thank Me too much. As it is written, I inhabit the praises of My people. Sometimes your adoration is a spontaneous overflow of Joy, in response to radiant beauty or rich blessings. At other times your praise is more disciplined and measured—an act of your will. I dwell equally in both types of praise. Thankfulness, also, is a royal road to draw near Me. A thankful heart has plenty of room for Me.
When you thank Me for the many pleasures I provide, you affirm that I am God, from whom all blessings flow. When adversity strikes and you thank Me anyway, your trust in My sovereignty is a showpiece in invisible realms. Fill up the spare moments of your life with praise and thanksgiving. This joyous discipline will help you live in the intimacy of My Presence.
But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
—Psalm 22:3 kjv
Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, O my soul. I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
—Psalm 146:1–2
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
—1 Thessalonians 5:18
Mother Teresa Said...
I believe that the most important thing is for us to love Jesus, then to love one another ourselves and the members of our families and to show our love for the poor.
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