Hello my friends! Well Angie is here with me now - and that's a blessing! We already had some beer, popcorn, good supper and a piece of cake!! Now she's off to do some texting and I'm here for a bit - but not long. Beautiful day - another blessing!! Hope you can come and post some blessings of yours that God gives you!! Prayers for Bobbiesue for tomorrow - and for all who come to ask for prayers. Yes, Cakers, he still plays the piano so cute, that never changed!!! He just sits there and plays and plays!! But then he expects a treat!!
The gift of listening is often more valuable than the advice that we'd like
to give.
Lord, help me to be a good listener and then help me to let others work
things
out according to Your plan for them, not mine.
Scripture for the day:
"My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider
it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith
produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you
may be mature
and complete, lacking in nothing." ~James 1:2-4
Meditation for the day:
As we look back over our lives, it is not too difficult to see that what
we went through was for a purpose and helped to prepare us for some
valuable work in life. Everything in our lives can help make us of some
use in the world. Each person's life is like the pattern of a mosaic.
Each thing that happens to us is like one tiny stone in the mosaic, and
each tiny stone fits into the perfected pattern of the mosaic of our
life, which has been designed by God.
Prayer for the day:
I pray that I may not need to see the whole design of my life. I pray
that I may trust the Designer.
Here's some food for thought:
THE "CONTROL" ISSUE
By Marion Smith
Job 37:15 Do you know how God controls the clouds and makes His
lightning flash?
I believe each of us likes to be “in control” of our
lives, and we want to know where we are going. This is definitely
true for me, especially if I am going to take a car trip. I always
get the map out, plot out my course and know exactly where I will be
driving.
When I had the opportunity to spend a week end at an
Emmaus retreat, I was excited. “Where is the retreat held?” I asked.
My sponsors were vague, but I wanted details! Where would it be, what
would we do, etc., etc., etc.!!
Well, the night we left for the retreat I just got in the
car and let them drive. I had no idea where I was going, nor had I
mapped a course on a road map. I trusted my sponsors to get me to the
correct destination on time and in good shape. The road was narrow
and the nighttime sky descended upon us, but I no longer cared about
details, because I trusted the driver. TRUST- what an important thing
this is.
Am I willing to turn over the drivers seat of my life to
God? To allow Him to get me to my destination? I know my final
destination is Heaven, but is it necessary for me to know every detail
on the road there? Don’t I trust God enough to know He’ll be right
beside me, no matter the twists on life’s road or how suddenly
darkness can descend?
Sometimes, I try to give God the road map and tell Him the
way! How silly! He is more “in control” than I am! God is the sponsor
of my life, and I need to let Him stay in the driver’s seat, taking me
down life’s road of surprises.
"I will never forget you my people... I have carved you on the palm of my
hand..." (Is. 49:16)
Lord, The worst feeling in the world is the feeling of loneliness.
Through loneliness we experience, loss, hurt, self-pity, rejection
and the lack of love in our lives.
Lord we offer our prayers for those people that are feeling lonely.
We pray that they may see that they are not alone
and that You oh, Lord are with them.
Lord, we pray for those with big hearts,
we pray that they may see the loneliness in the eyes of those suffering
and may be inspired by the Holy Spirit to come to those lonely people
and bring hope into their lives, through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
VOICE MAIL
Author Unknown
Most of us have now learned to live with voice mail as a necessary
part of our lives. Have you ever wondered what it would be like if
God decided to install voice mail? Imagine praying and hearing the
following:
Thank you for calling heaven.
For English press 1
For Spanish press 2
For all other languages, press 3
Please select one of the following options:
Press 1 for request
Press 2 for thanksgiving
Press 3 for complaints
Press 4 for all others
I am sorry, all our Angels and Saints are busy helping other
sinners right now. However, your prayer is important to us and we
will answer it in the order it was received. Please stay on the line.
If you would like to speak to:
God, press 1
Jesus, press 2
Holy spirit, press 3
To find a loved one that has been assigned to heaven press 5, then
enter his social security # followed by the pound sign.
(If you receive a negative response, please hang up and dial area
code (666)
For reservations to heaven, please enter JOHN followed by the
numbers, 3 16.
For answers to nagging questions about dinosaurs, life and other
planets, please wait until you arrive in heaven for the specifics.
Our computers show that you have already been prayed for today,
please hang up and call again tomorrow.
The office is now closed for the weekend to observe a religious
holiday.
If you are calling after hours and need emergency assistance,
please contact your local pastor.
Thank you and have a heavenly day.
Happiness keeps You Sweet,
Trials keep You Strong,
Sorrows keep You Human,
Failures keeps You Humble,
Success keeps You Glowing,
But Only God keeps You Going!
You are so special!
Mother Teresa's Favorite Sayings
Mother Teresa
I work for the people, because I feel I must do something.
People are generally irrational, unreasonable and selfish. They deserve to
be loved, anyway.
It's law of nature that the good you do, will be forgotten tomorrow. But the
good work must be carried on.
Your honesty and frankness will expose you to problems but your work should
not stop for it means the world to so many people.
Years of your hard work may be destroyed overnight, that should not deter
you from building upon your hard work.
Despite giving your best to the world, you may be kicked in the teeth. Give
the best you've got anyway.
Places like Calcutta can be seen all over the world if you have eyes to see.
Developed countries suffer from poverty of understanding, poverty of will,
of loneliness, of lack of love and spirit. There is no greater disease in
the world today than this.
When you don't have anything, then you have everything.
The person who gives with a smile is the best giver because God loves a
cheerful giver.
It is not the size of our actions but the amount of love and care that is
put into them that matters.
You should never lose heart. God is merciful and kind- he has endowed you
with the best gift- smile, which can make millions happy.
Show kindness through your face, your eyes, your smile and through the
warmth of your greetings. You must bear a cheerful smile. Don't only give
your care, but give your heart as well.
Standing For What You Believe In
Standing for what you believe in,
Regardless of the odds against you,
And the pressure that tears at your resistance,
...means courage
Keeping a smile on your face,
When inside you feel like dying,
For the sake of supporting others,
...means strength
Stopping at nothing,
And doing what's in your heart,
You know is right,
...means determination
Doing more than is expected,
To make another's life a little more bearable,
Without uttering a single complaint,
...means compassion
Helping a friend in need,
No matter the time or effort,
To the best of your ability,
...means loyalty
Giving more than you have,
And expecting nothing
But nothing in return,
...means selflessness
Holding your head high,
And being the best you know you can be
When life seems to fall apart at your feet,
Facing each difficulty with the confidence
That time will bring you better tomorrow's,
And never giving up,
...means confidence.
- Author Unknown
A young fella rushed into a service station and asked the manager if he
had payphone. The manager nodded, "Sure, over there." The boy pushed in
a couple of coins, dialed, and waited for an answer. Finally, someone
came on the line. "Uh, sir," he said in a deep voice, "Could you use an
honest, hard-working young man to work for you?" The station manager
couldn't help overhearing the question. After a moment or two the boy
said, "oh, you already have an honest, hard-working young man? Well, OK.
Thanks just the same."
With a broad smile stretched across his face, he hung up the phone and
started back to his car, humming an obviously elated. "Hey, just a
minute!" The station manager called after him. "I couldn't help but
hear your conversation. Why are you so happy? I thought the guy said
he already had somebody and didn't need you? "The young man smiled.
"Well, you see, I am the honest, hard-working young man. I was just
checking up on my job!"
By: Charles Swindoll
SLOW DOWN THERAPY
Slow down; God is still in heaven. You are not responsible
for doing it all yourself, right now.
Remember a happy, peaceful time in your past. Rest there.
Each moment has richness that takes a lifetime to savor.
Set your own pace. When someone is pushing you, it's OK to
tell them they're pushing.
Take nothing for granted: watch water flow, the corn grow,
the leaves blow, your neighbor mow.
Taste your food. God gives it to delight as well as to
nourish.
Notice the sun and the moon as they rise and set. They
are remarkable for their steady pattern of movement, not
their speed.
Quit planning how you're going to use what you know, learn,
or possess. God's gifts just are; be grateful and their
purpose will be clear.
When you talk with someone, don't think about what you'll
say next. Thoughts will spring up naturally if you let them.
Talk and play with children. It will bring out the unhurried
little person inside you.
Create a place in your home...at your work...in your heart...
where you can go for quiet and recollection. You deserve it.
Allow yourself time to be lazy and unproductive. Rest isn't
luxury; it's a necessity.
Listen to the wind blow. It carries a message of yesterday
and tomorrow -- and now. NOW counts.
Rest on your laurels. They bring comfort whatever their size,
age, or condition.
Talk slower. Talk less. Don't talk. Communication isn't
measured by words.
Give yourself permission to be late sometimes. Life is for
living, not scheduling.
Listen to the song of a bird; the complete song. Music and
nature are gifts, but only if you are willing to receive them.
Take time just to think. Action is good and necessary, but
it's fruitful only if we muse, ponder, and mull.
Make time for play -- the things you like to do. Whatever
your age, your inner child needs re-creation.
Watch and listen to the night sky. It speaks.
Listen to the words you speak, especially in prayer.
Learn to stand back and let others take their turn as
leaders. There will always be new opportunities for you
to step out in front again.
Divide big jobs into little jobs. If God took six days to
create the universe, can you hope to do any better?
When you find yourself rushing and anxious, stop. Ask
yourself "WHY?" you are rushing and anxious. The reasons
may improve your self-understanding.
Take time to read the Bible. Thoughtful reading is enriching
reading.
Direct your life with purposeful choices, not with speed
and efficiency. The best musician is one who plays with
expression and meaning, not the one who finishes first.
Take a day off alone; make a retreat. You can learn from
monks and hermits without becoming one.
Pet a furry friend. You will give and get the gift of now.
Work with your hands. It frees the mind.
Take time to wonder. Without wonder, life is merely existence.
Sit in the dark. It will teach you to see and hear, taste and
smell.
Once in a while, turn down the lights, the volume, the
throttle, the invitations. Less really can be more.
Let go. Nothing is usually the hardest thing to do -- but
often it is the best.
Take a walk -- but don't go anywhere. If you walk just to
get somewhere, you sacrifice the walking.
Count your friends. If you have one, you are lucky. If you
have more, you are blessed. Bless them in return.
Count your blessings - one at a time and slowly.
Author Unknown
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