God is better to us than we deserve. Lord, thank you for the strength
You give in my trials and especially thank you for the trials You have
kept from my door.
Scripture for the day:
"Happy are those who observe justice, who do righteousness at all
times." ~Psalm 106:3
Meditation for the day:
Life is not a search for happiness. Happiness is a by-product of living
the right kind of life, of doing the right thing. We need not search
for happiness. We can search for right living and happiness can be our
reward. Life is sometimes a march of duty during dull, dark days. But
happiness can come again, as God's smile of recognition of our
faithfulness. True happiness is the by-product of a life well lived.
Prayer for the day:
I pray that I may not seek happiness but seek to do right. I pray that
I may not seek pleasure so much as the things that bring true happiness.
Hello my friends! Hope your day went well..It is cooler today – but it’s supposed to get hotter again soon, so we love this weather while we can! My blessings today besides my usual for my DH and girls, future son-in-law etc, I was reminded by my sister to watch Channel 5 tonight at 9. It was all about the Blessed virgin Mary’s appearance in Wisconsin, and Medjudgorja. It was very interesting. How many of you watched it?
Today I had no nap and I’m sure tired so I’m making this short!!
Homily of the Day
July 13, 2011
The Only Connection That Matters in the End
Ex 3:1-6, -12 / Mt 11:25-27
It’s something of a standing joke in our culture that some of the most learned professors and cleverest scientists are thoroughly incompetent at the most basic of tasks, like changing a tire or pumping their own gas. But the mismatch between general ability and the performance of ordinary tasks doesn’t stop there.
One of the most common and conspicuous instances of this is the inability of so many of us to hear into the heart of the matter. We get the words but miss the message. This was as true in Jesus’ day as in ours, and that’s why He notes in today’s gospel that God often finds children better listeners than the smartest of us adults.
Why is that? Sometimes it’s our ego or our own agenda that gets in the way and won’t let us hear. Sometimes it’s our tendency to intellectualize, namely, to put important things “out there” at a safe distance, instead of taking them into our hearts.
If that’s what we’re doing, we’ll never get to know the real Jesus, and our life’s journey is going to remain very lonely and very fearful. Don’t let that happen to you. Sweep away ego and your narrow agenda, don’t hide in your intellect. Let the Lord talk to you heart to heart. It’s the only connection that matters in the end!
What the Pine Trees Told Me
I paused by a quiet lake in the moonlight and listened, and this is what the pine trees said to me:
"We have grown tall, because we have grown straight. We have grown big because we have reached for the stars. We have learned that the way to increase our height is to keep growing. We have grown strong because we have rooted deep in the good earth. We have been patient, for we have learned that it takes time to grow a great tree.
We have faced life bravely as it came: sunshine, and storm, snow and rain. We have filled the air with the sweet aroma of our needles and have given shade to those who came our way. We have known the joy of service by sheltering with our branches the nests of birds. We have been still and listened to God and we have seen His face in the dawning of each new day."
The pines were silent then, swaying as though in benediction. And I walked away beneath the stars meditating on their message.
NEW VERSION OF FOOTPRINTS
Author Unknown
Imagine you and the Lord Jesus are walking down the road together. For
much of the way, the Lord's footprints go along steadily,
consistently, rarely varying the pace. But your footprints are a
disorganized stream of zigzags, starts, stops, turnarounds, circles,
departures and returns.
For much of the way, it seems to go like this, but gradually your
footprints come more in line with the Lord's, soon paralleling His
consistently. You and Jesus are walking as true friends! This seems
perfect, but then an interesting thing happens: Your footprints, that
once etched the sand next to Jesus', are now walking precisely in His
steps.
Inside His larger footprints are your smaller ones, you and Jesus are
becoming one. This goes on for many miles, but gradually you notice
another change. The footprints inside the large footprints seem to
grow larger.
Eventually they disappear altogether.
There is only one set of footprints: they have become one. This goes
on for a long time, but suddenly the second set of footprints are
back. This time it seems even worse! Zigzags all over the place.
Stops. Starts. Deep gashes in the sand. A veritable mess of prints.
You are amazed and shocked. Your dream ends. Now you pray: "Lord, I
understand the first scene with zigzags and fits. I was a new
Christian; I was just learning. But you walked on through the storm
and helped me learn to walk with you."
"That is correct."
" ... and when the smaller footprints were inside of Yours, I was
actually learning to walk in Your steps; followed you very closely."
"Very good. You have understood everything so far."
"... when the smaller footprints grew and filled in Yours, I suppose
that I was becoming like you in every way."
"Precisely."
"So, Lord, was there a regression or something? The footprints
separated, and this time it was worse than at first."
There is a pause as the Lord answers with a smile in his voice. "You
don't know? That was when we danced."
"To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under
Heaven. A time to weep, a time to laugh; A time to mourn, and a time
to dance." Ecclesiastes 3:1,4
Do It Today
In a class I teach for adults, I gave the assignment to "go
to someone you love, and tell them that you love them." At the
beginning of the next class, one of the students began by saying, "I
was angry with you last week when you gave us this assignment. I
didn't feel I had anyone to say those words to. But as I began driving
home my conscience started talking. Then I knew exactly who I
needed to say `I love you' to.
Five years ago, my father and I had a vicious disagreement and never
really resolved it. We avoided seeing each other unless we absolutely
had to at family gatherings. We hardly spoke. So by the time I got
home, I had convinced myself I was going to tell my father I loved him.
"Just making that decision seemed to lift a heavy load off my chest.
"At 5:30, I was at my parents' house ringing the doorbell, praying that
Dad would answer the door. I was afraid if Mom answered, I would
chicken out and tell her instead. But as luck would have it, Dad did
answer the door. "I didn't waste any time - I took one step in the door
and said, `Dad, I just came over to tell you that I love you.' "It was as
if a transformation came over my dad. Before my eyes his face
softened, the wrinkles seemed to disappear and he began to cry. He
reached out and hugged me and said, `I love you too, son, but I've
never been able to say it.' "But that's not even my point. Two days
after that visit, my dad had a heart attack and is in the hospital. I don't
even know if he'll make it. "So my message to all of you is this: Don't
wait to do the things you know need to be done. What if I had waited
to tell my dad? Take the time to do what you need to do and do it
now!"
By Dennis E. Mannering
Even though I clutch my blanket and growl when the alarm rings, thank
you, Lord, that I can hear. There are many who are deaf.
Even though I keep my eyes closed against the morning light as long as
possible, thank you, Lord, that I can see. Many are blind.
Even though I huddle in my bed and put off rising, thank you, Lord, that I have the strength to rise. There are many who are bedridden.
Even though the first hour of my day is hectic, when socks are lost,
toast is burned and tempers are short, my children are so loud, thank you, Lord, for my family. There are many who are lonely
Even though our breakfast table never looks like the pictures in
magazines and the menu is at times unbalanced, thank you, Lord, for the food we have. There are many who are hungry.
Even though the routine of my job often is monotonous, thank you, Lord,for the opportunity to work. There are many who have no job.
Even though I grumble and bemoan my fate from day to day and wish my circumstances were not so modest, thank you, Lord, for life.
<big><small>PRAYERS TO JESUS AND MARY FOR MERCY</small>
L</big>ORD Jesus Christ, eternal and merciful God,
Creator and Redeemer of all, listen to my prayer.
For the love Thou doth bear to those who ask forgiveness,
look on me with mercy, as once Thou didst look on Mary Magdalen,
and on Peter who denied Thee.
Look on me, Lord Jesus Christ, as Thou didst looked at the thief on his cross
and on every sinner whom Thou hast ever forgiven.
Look on me, merciful Lord, as Thou didst look on Thy Mother, Mary,
standing in sorrow beneath Thy Cross.
Let me feel in my heart her compassion for Thee,
and let my eyes weep for Thy sorrows, caused by my sinful life.
Call me back from the darkness to my Father's house, give me a new heart
and a place at Thy side in the banquet Thou hast prepared for me. Amen.
HAIL, Mary, my joy, my glory, my heart and my soul!
Thou art all mine through thy mercy, and I am all thine.
But I am not thine completely enough.
Destroy in me all that may be displeasing to God.
Place and cultivate in me everything that is pleasing to thee. Amen.
Good night all – Sweet Dreams and may we all get good weather, no more storms.
