Hello my friends! Today's blessings were a nice day to do some more gardening for my husband and lawn mowed before the rain came with a downpour!!! Got almost 2 inches this afternoon!!! I think I'll be picking asparagus tomorrow. And some lettuce already. Got ambitious today and baked four loaves of oatmeal bread and is it ever good! What a blessing to have some homemade bread in the house again! Hope you all had a good day today! Remembering you all in prayer.
Today ask God for anything that is in line with His will for you.
Plead with Him and Tell Him your needs and keep praying.
Scripture for the day:
"I can do all things through him who strengthens me." ~Philippians
4:13
Meditation for the day:
We must *be,* before we can *do.*. To accomplish much, we can be much. In
all cases, the doing must be the expression of the being.
It is foolish for us to think that we can accomplish much in personal
relationships without first preparing ourselves by being honest, pure,
unselfish and loving. We can choose the good and keep choosing it, before
we are ready to be used by God to accomplish things that are worthwhile.
When we are ready, then we will be given the opportunities. Quiet times of
communion with God are good preparation for creative action.
Prayer for the day:
I pray that I may constantly prepare myself for better things to come.
I pray that I may prepare myself well for the opportunities that will come.
Words of Encouragement
Magnify the Lord!
Luke 1:46-47
And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my
Savior.”
It is fitting that May is a Marian month. It is a month of rejoicing, where
the earth praises God with flowers and all the sweet smells of earth, sweet
sights of new life, and sweet sounds of nature returning to full vigor. It
is the time where creation answers her Creator joy just as Mary answered God
with joy. It is a remarkable thing that Mary speaks of her soul
“magnifying” the Lord, but it is precisely right too. God has willed that
all his creatures participate in his glory in various ways. All creation
“magnifies” him, each according to the nature of the creature. The heavens
declare the glory of God in their way, the complexity and beauty of living
things declares it in another. Plants speak of God’s glory in one way,
animals in another, microbes in yet another. But only one creature is made
in the image and likeness of God in a unique way. And of those creatures,
only one alone is the woman chosen to render the obedience and glory to God
by which he took flesh for the salvation of the world. In Mary, God is
magnified in a unique way among all that is creaturely. Today, polish the
soul that God has given you and magnify him as Mary did, that others may see
him more clearly and come to know God their Savior.
Just a Word of Encouragement
from Mark Shea and Jeff Cavins.
For the lonely
"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.
He Knows Your Name!
When you are having problems
And feel there's no help around.
First take one step forward,
To get to higher ground.
If you think that God doesn't hear you
Then that, is really a shame
Not only does He hear every prayer you say;
But He knows you, by your name.
It does not matter just where you are
When you call upon the Lord.
He will be listening with a well-tuned ear
And will understand every word.
Be ready to listen to what He says,
As He tells you what to do.
For that will be your instructions
Because the rest will be up to you.
You should thank Him for His kindness,
Because He was standing by.
And not as you thought; He had turned away
And would never, hear your cry.
Even though you have made so many mistakes.
He will not hold you to blame.
For now, you are fully forgiven.
And remember, He knows your name.
~ Unknown
THE BRICKS OF LIFE
Author Unknown
About ten years ago, a young and very successful executive named Josh
was traveling down a Chicago neighborhood street. He was going a bit
too fast in his sleek, black, 12 cylinder Jaguar XKE, which was only
two months old. He was watching for kids darting out from between
parked cars and slowed down
when he thought he saw something. As his car passed, no child darted
out, but a brick sailed out and-WHUMP! – it smashed into the Jag's
shiny black side door! SCREECH...!! !! Brakes slammed! Gears ground
into reverse, and tires madly spun the Jag back to the spot from where
the brick had been thrown.
Josh jumped out of the car, grabbed the kid and pushed him up against
a parked car. He shouted at the kid, "What was that all about and who
are you? Just what the heck are you doing?" Building up a head of
steam, he went on. "That's my new Jag, that brick you threw is gonna
cost you a lot of money. Why did you throw it?"
"Please, mister, please...I'm sorry! I didn't know what else to do!"
pleaded the youngster. "I threw the brick because no one else would
stop!" Tears were dripping down the boy's chin as he pointed around
the parked car. "It's my brother, mister," he said. "He rolled off the
curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up." Sobbing,
the boy asked the executive, "Would you please help me get him back
into his wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me."
Moved beyond words, the young executive tried desperately to swallow
the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. Straining, he lifted the
young man back into the wheelchair and took out his handkerchief and
wiped the scrapes and cuts, checking to see that everything was going
to be OK. He then watched the younger brother push him down the
sidewalk toward their home.
It was a long walk back to the sleek, black, shining, 12 cylinder
Jaguar XKE - a long and slow walk. Josh never did fix the side door of
his Jag. He kept the dent to remind him not to go through life so fast
that someone has to throw a brick at him to get his attention.
Some bricks are softer than others. Feel for the bricks of life coming
at you. For all the negative things we have to say to ourselves, God
has positive answers:
You say: "It's impossible."
God says: All things are possible. (Luke 18:27)
You say: "I'm too tired."
God says: I will give you rest. (Matt 11:28-30)
You say: "Nobody really loves me."
God says: I love you. (John 3:16 & 13:34)
You say: "I can't go on."
God says: My grace is sufficient. (II Cor 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)
You say: "I can't figure things out."
God says: I will direct your steps. (Prov 3:5-6)
You say: "I can't do it."
God says: You can do all things. (Phil 4:13)
You say: "I'm not able."
God says: I am able. (II Cor 9:8)
You say: "It's not worth it."
God says: It will be worth it. (Rom 8:28)
You say: "I can't forgive myself."
God says: I FORGIVE YOU. (I John 1:9 & Rom 8:1)
You say: "I can't manage."
God says: I will supply all your needs. (Phil 4:19)
You say: "I'm afraid."
God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear. (2 Tim 1:7)
You say: "I'm always worried and frustrated."
God says: Cast all your cares on ME. (I Peter 5:7)
You say: "I don't have enough faith."
God says: I've given everyone a measure of faith. (Rom 12:3)
You say: "I'm not smart enough."
God says: I give you wisdom. (I Cor 1:30)
You say: "I feel all alone."
God says: I will never leave you or forsake you. (Heb 13:5)
Pass this on, you never know whose life maybe in need of this today!
"I Don't Fit In"
A friend of mine witnessed what I am about to tell you.
Several years ago, a well dressed older gentleman entered an elevator in a
tall office building, apparently consumed with whatever business he was
taking care of that day.
It was mid-afternoon of the work day, and there were only three people on
that elevator -- the gentleman, a middle-aged woman and my friend -- all
being transported down to the street level.
Out of the blue, the woman starts crying. Taken aback, the gentleman and my
friend didn't know what to say or do.
"I'm sorry. I'm making a spectacle of myself," said the woman, sobbing and
searching her purse for a handkerchief.
The gentleman offered her his. "Thank you," she said, "I just don't know
anymore. I'm usually not like this, but I just don't know anymore."
"I'm sure everything will turn out fine -- don't you worry, Miss," he said.
"No. No. It's not that. I have so much to be grateful for," she said as she
shook her head. "It's not what you think."
Not wanting to pry, her elevator mates stood speechless.
"It's just that I don't fit in. I've never fit in. I do everything I'm
supposed to do, but I don't feel like I belong," she said, wiping the tears
from her eyes.
The elevator continued its downward journey as the distraught woman tried to
compose herself.
"I'm so embarrassed. You'll have to pardon me. Things have just caught up to
me," she said.
"Miss, I have something I want to tell you, if you have just a minute," the
old man said.
The elevator opened as they reached the lobby.
"Oh yes, please, I need to get my mind focused on something," she said.
They left the elevator and walked into the busy lobby. The old man turned to
my friend, and invited him to join them. By this time, my friend's curiosity
had got the best of him.
The old man's face had some well worn lines. His gray hair bespoke of his
experience, and his dark eyes peered over his bifocals, lending confidence
to his words.
"I don't know what your situation is Ma'am," he said politely. "However, I
was in the same boat many years ago. And while I was in my little personal
crisis, I felt the same way. Moreover, I came to find out that everyone,
sooner or later, feels like they don't fit in."
"Sometimes it happens early in life in school. Teenagers are thrown together
with strangers and told to fit in. It's almost an impossible situation.
Then, the same thing happens at work, or with your neighbors at home. You
always feel like you are the odd man out. Everyone else seems to be happy.
They look comfortable. They look like they belong, and you always feel like
you are an intrusion. I know all about that," said the old man.
"I know exactly what you're saying," the woman said as she nodded in
agreement.
"A lot of people avoid those feelings by limiting contact. Watching
television, or reading books, or sitting in front of a computer provides a
comfort zone, and if you can afford to do that, I suppose that's fine if
that's what you want to do. However, for many of us, the real world cannot
be escaped. We have to work. We have to make a living. And we have to
interact with relatives and strangers in settings everyday. And, Ma'am, this
is what I want to tell you..."
"You see, it's all in how you look at it. Some people face those feelings
and settings with a sense of adventure. Others face the same situation with
dread. Yes, we all have different personalities and some of us are more
sensitive and vulnerable than others. However, if you can remember just a
couple of things, it will make your life a whole lot easier," he said.
"Do you work in this building?" he asked.
"Yes," she said.
"Well, this is my first time here and I had no idea where I was going, and
had never met the person I was going to see. Now, who is the one who feels
like they don't fit in?" he asked. "But, somehow, I got through it, and I'll
be walking out that front door in a minute without a scratch."
She and my friend chuckled.
"You can safely assume that the people you are interacting with feel as out
of place as you do. So, you simply practice the Golden Rule and make them
feel as comfortable as you can. They don't teach the Golden Rule in school,
so this is something you have to pick up along the way. Suffice it to say,
if you make others feel comfortable, they will reciprocate."
"Second, remember that in order to sense that feeling of belonging, you have
to feel you belong to yourself. In other words, if you aren't settled and
comfortable with yourself first, you'll be a fish out of water. Be confident
about what you believe. Be true to your feelings. You don't have to pretend
to be someone else. Just be yourself and let the world appreciate what you
have to offer. Everyone is good at something, including you. Offer what you
are good at, and who knows, maybe the world might even pay you for it!", the
old man said as he started to laugh.
"You're not alone," he said as he patted the woman's shoulder.
"Don't go nuts trying to force yourself to fit in. There are too many holes
and too many pegs out there to even try. Just have a little faith in
yourself, associate with people who lift you up, and you'll soon find folks
coming to you for help. And when you get lost in helping them, you won't
even think about fitting in. At that point, you won't be looking at life,
you'll be a part of it."
"Oh, thank you," she said, as the old man walked toward the street.
My friend just stood there, not saying a word. At that split second of
awkwardness, the woman and my friend extended their hands and shook.
"Nice to meet you," they both said at the same time. And then, just as
quickly and simultaneously, they said, "Have a nice day," as they both went
in different directions.
While they never knew each others' names, it was an encounter they would
never forget.
- Author Unknown
Sacrifice
The sacrifice of love we give,
Takes less and yet gives more;
An everlasting hand of love,
The heart an open door.
The willingness to give of self;
To lay down your own life;
To touch another person´s heart,
In loving sacrifice.
The chance that God has given you,
To reach another soul;
Forever changed by kindness,
A life your love made whole.
For life is but a circle,
Each life part of the chain;
Each link is joined by sacrifice,
That causes man to change.
To turn and reach a hand of love,
To touch another´s life;
Will cause the circle to be whole,
In loving sacrifice.
by: Allison Chambers Coxsey
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