INVOCATIONS TO THE HOLY GUARDIAN ANGEL
Holy Angel, my counselor, inspire me; Holy Angel, my defender, protect me;
Holy Angel, my faithful friend; intercede for me;
Holy Angel, my consoler, fortify me; Holy Angel, my brother, defend me;
Holy Angel, my teacher, instruct me;
Holy Angel, witness of all my actions, purify me;
Holy Angel, my helper, support me;
Holy Angel, my intercessor, speak for me;
Holy Angel, my guide, direct me; Holy Angel, my light, enlighten me;
Holy Angel, whom God has assigned to lead me, govern me.
Recipe for Success
Ingredients:
1 cup Tension
2 cups Stress
1 1/2 teaspoons of Guilt
2 heaping cups of Limited Time
3/4 tablespoon of Urgency
A dash of "No Other Choice"
3 heaping cups of Faith
Directions:
Fold ingredients gently into a bowl. Mix vigorously and add a few tears. You'll sweat a little as you knead the dough. Pack it firmly between your hopes and dreams and form into a perfect little ball. Sprinkle it with a little faith, rolling the ball in the flour until fully covered.
Place it under a veil of belief and allow it to rise.
Put it in an oven that has been pre-set at the perfect temperature for the heat of trials and tribulations.
Allow it to brown under the warmth of God's love. Remove after due season and allow to cool in the confidence of His promise.
Garnish with your praises. Arrange neatly on a platter of thankfulness and serve to friends, families and, oh yes, strangers . . . invite them too!
A PILLOW AND A BLANKET
Author Unknown
A long time ago, a young, wealthy girl was getting ready for bed. She
was saying her prayers when she heard a muffled crying coming through
her window. A little frightened, she went over to the window and
leaned out.
Another girl, who seemed to be about her age and homeless was
standing in the alley by the rich girl's house. Her heart went out to
the homeless girl, for it was the dead of winter, and the girl had no
blanket, only old
newspapers someone had thrown out.
The rich girl was suddenly struck with a brilliant idea. She called
to the other girl and said, "You there, come to my front door,
please."
The homeless girl was so startled she could only manage to nod.
As quick as her legs could take her, the young girl ran down the hall
to her mothers closet, and picked out an old quilt and a beat up
pillow. She had to walk slower down to the front door as to not trip
over the quilt which was
hanging down, but she made it eventually. Dropping both the articles,
she opened the door. Standing there was the homeless girl, looking
quite scared.
The rich girl smiled warmly and handed both articles to the other
girl. Her smile grew wider as she watched the true amazement and
happiness alight upon the other girl's face. She went to bed
incredibly satisfied.
In mid-morning the next day a knock came to the door. The rich girl
flew to the door hoping that it was the other little girl there. She
opened the large door and looked outside. It was the other little
girl. Her face looked happy, and she smiled. "I suppose you want these
back."
The rich little girl opened her mouth to say that she could keep them
when another idea popped into her head. "No, I want them back."
The homeless girl's face fell. This was obviously not the answer she
had hoped for. She reluctantly laid down the beat up things, and
turned to leave when the rich girl yelled, "Wait! Stay right there."
She turned in time to see the rich girl running up the stairs and
down a long corridor. Deciding whatever the rich little girl was doing
wasn't worth waiting for she started to turn around and walk away. As
her foot hit the first step, she felt someone tap her on the shoulder,
turning she saw the rich little girl, thrusting a new blanket and
pillow at her. "Have these." she said quietly.
These were her own personal belonging made of silk and down feathers.
As the two grew older they didn't see each other much, but they were
never far from each other's minds. One day, the Rich girl, who was now
a Rich woman got a telephone call from someone. A lawyer, saying that
she was requested to see him.
When she arrived at the office, he told her what had happened. Forty
years ago, when she was nine years old, she had helped a little girl
in need. That grew into a middle-class woman with a husband and two
children. She had recently died and left something for her in her
will. "Though," the lawyer said, "it's the most peculiar thing. She
left you a pillow and a blanket."
The Lord's Prayer
Leader: When we feel that we are not succeeding and begin to doubt our sense of worth, Lord, teach us to pray:
All: Our Father, who art in Heaven
Leader: When we become too closely involved in our own affairs, Lord, teach us to pray:
All: Hallowed be thy name
Leader: When we think of the future as fixed and impossible to change, Lord, teach us to pray:
All: Thy Kingdom come
Leader: When we begin to dodge our commitments and evade our obligations, Lord, teach us to pray:
All: Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven
Leader: When we are smug, comfortable and satisfied and forget the needs of others, Lord, teach us to pray:
All: Give us this day our daily bread
Leader: When we hold grudges and allow bitterness and resentment into our hearts, Lord, teach us to pray:
All: Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us
Leader: When we find it hard to say 'No' and the pressure to give in mounts, Lord, teach us to pray:
All: Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil
Leader: When we become self-centred and seek only our own gratification, Lord, teach us to pray:
All: The Kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, for ever and ever.
Amen.
(The Lord's Prayer can be found in the bible in Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4.)
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