Hello my friends! Peace be to you all! Today was just an ordinary day, but full of God's blessings! Seems like we always have to deal with when bad things happen, like this morning his cell phone died. Sprint won't replace it because we didn't buy the insurance, and he bought there just six weeks ago. So tomorrow he's going to get my old phone activated so he can use that - has a 10:00 appt. Pray all goes well. I had an appointment this morning with Dr. Mike - first time in six months so had to have the exam over again, which was a good thing, I was having headaches at night, and the thermogram thing showed him just where the problem was - in my neck, so he adjusted it with his therma-grater, and it's already better, but need to go back Monday morning yet too. I talked to him about my plantar's wart and how I was taking the zinc and putting essential oils on it and he looked and said it's all gone and won't come back! So Praise the Lord! I've struggled with that for 12 years! Now it's gone due to essential oils and taking zinc to kill the virus. Enough about me, now I'm awaiting to read all about your sharings. May God be praised for all He does.
Use your talents. The world would be silent if only the birds
that sing the best would sing. Lord, I will use Your gifts
because You chose them especially for me.
S C R I P T U R E F O R T H E D A Y
"I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers,
nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor
depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us
from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." ~Romans 8:38-39
M E D I T A T I O N F O R T H E D A Y
God is our helper and our strength. We need not ask God to come to us.
God is always with us in spirit. At our moment of need God is there to
help us. If we knew God's love and God's desire to help us, we would
know that God needs no pleading for help. Our need is God's
opportunity. We can learn to rely on God's strength whenever we need
it. Whenever we feel inadequate to any situation, we can realize that
the feeling of inadequacy is, in its own way, disloyalty to God. We can
say to ourselves: I know that God is with me and will help me to think
and say and do the right thing.
P R A Y E R F O R T H E D A Y
I pray that I may never feel inadequate to any situation. I pray that I
may be buoyed up by the feeling that God is always with me.
Learn from Dogs
When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure
ecstasy.
When it's in your best interest, practice obedience.
Let others know when they've invaded your territory.
Take naps. Stretch before rising.
Run, romp, and play daily.
Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
No matter how often you're scolded, don't buy into the guilt thing and
pout... run right back and make friends.
Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
Eat with gusto and enthusiasm. Stop when you have had enough.
Be loyal.
Never pretend to be something you're not.
If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them
gently.
KNOWING MY WORTH
Author Unknown
"Each one of you is a Son of God because of your faith in Christ
Jesus" - Galatians 3:26
Even as a child, this counselee of mine did not receive enough praises
or encouragement from her parents and siblings. Only criticisms when
she erred. Naturally, her self-esteem was damaged. And it took its
toll in her married life.
Now, her husband gone to another woman, she lives as a single mother
to two kids and she is struggling to find a way to support them - both
materially and emotionally. In our sessions, I focused on her self-
esteem because I knew it was her low self-worth that made her repeat
harmful behavior patterns, which is her real problem. She has to
realize that she was a child of God. And this means she is loved.
The root of all codependency is a love hunger, which can be filled by
the Lord mainly.
That is why there is hope for those of us with a broken past. A good
grounding in the Lord will see us through.
REMEMBER THE DUCK
-- Author Unknown
There was a little boy visiting his grandparents on their farm. He was
given a slingshot to play with, out in the woods. He practiced in the
woods, but he could never hit the target. Getting a little
discouraged, he headed back to dinner.
As he was walking back, he saw Grandma's pet duck. Just out of
impulse, he let fly, hit the duck square in the head, and killed it.
He was shocked and grieved. In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the
wood pile, only to see his sister watching. Sally had seen it all, but
she said nothing.
After lunch that day grandma said, "Sally, let's wash the dishes."
But Sally said, "Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in the
kitchen today, didn't you Johnny?" And then she whispered to him,
"Remember, the duck?" So Johnny did the dishes.
Later Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing, and Grandma
said, "I'm sorry but I need Sally to help make supper."
But Sally smiled and said, "Well, that's all right because Johnny told
me he wanted to help." And she whispered again, "Remember, the duck?"
So Sally went fishing and Johnny stayed.
After several days of Johnny doing both his chores and Sally's, he
finally couldn't stand it any longer. He came to Grandma and confessed
that he killed the duck. She knelt down, gave him a hug, and said,
"Sweetheart, I know. You see, I was standing at the window and I saw
the whole thing. But because I love you, I forgave you. But I was just
wondering how long would you let Sally make a slave of you."
I don't know what's in your past. I don't know what one sin the enemy
keeps throwing up in your face. But whatever it is, I want you to know
something. Jesus Christ was standing at the window and He saw the
whole thing. But because He loves you, He is ready to forgive you.
Perhaps He's wondering how long you'll let the enemy make a slave out
of you. The great thing about God is that He not only forgives, but He
forgets.
MY DAILY OFFERING
(As each day begins,
please try to lift your mind and heart
to your heavenly Father,
and offer to Him the new day He has given you.)
Most loving Father,
I thank You for the gift of this new day.
Please help me to use it for your honor and glory.
By Your grace,
may all my thoughts, words, and actions
be pleasing today in Your sight.
In Your great kindness,
Lord Almighty,
preserve me this day without sin,
and protect all people from every evil.
May the ever-blessed Virgin Mary,
Mother of our Savior,
keep us under her protection and by her prayers,
and the aid of all your Saints,
keep us ever intent on doing good today for your sake.
We ask these blessings through Your Son,
Jesus Christ,
our Redeemer.
Amen.
(At times throughout the day,
it is well to pause briefly in the midst of your work
to renew your daily offering.
This can be done without words,
but simply by lifting the mind and heart
to your Father in heaven.
A simple external gesture of touching the heart
will confirm and strengthen your interior intentions.
As opportunity permits,
you may wish to pray verbally in this way.)
Again I thank You,
Father in heaven,
for the blessings and graces you have given me this day.
Once more I entreat Your continuing protection.
Conscious of my own weaknesses and frailty,
of my many faults,
I entrust myself and all dear to me to Your care.
(This prayer has been taken from a pamphlet written by the Good
Franciscan Mission Associates, PO Box 598, Mount Vernon, NY 10551-0598)
THE SECRET
Author Unknown
A woman named Frances once knew a young person at church named Debbie.
Debbie always seemed effervescent and happy, although Frances knew she
had faced struggles in her life.
Her long-awaited marriage had quickly ended in divorce. She had
struggled to get a grip on her single life. She hadn't chosen it, but she
decided
she would live it with utmost enjoyment and satisfaction.
Debbie was active in Sunday school, in the choir, as a leader of the
junior high girls' group, and in the church renewal movement. Frances
enjoyed knowing Debbie. Debbie's whole face seemed to smile and she
always greeted Frances with a hug.
One day Frances asked Debbie, "How is it that you are always so happy
you have so much energy, and you never seem to get down?"
With her eyes smiling, Debbie said, "I know the secret!"
"What secret is that?" "What are you talking about?" Frances asked.
Debbie replied, "I'll tell you all about it, but you have to promise
to share the 'secret' with others." Frances agreed,
"Okay, now what is it?"
The secret is this: I have learned there is little I can do in my life
that will make me truly happy. I must depend on God to make me happy
and meet my needs. When a need arises in my life, I have to trust God
to supply according to HIS riches. I have learned most of the time I
don't need half of what I think I do. HE has never let me down. Since
I learned that secret I am happy.
Frances' first thought was, That's too simple! But upon reflecting
over her own life she recalled how she thought a bigger house would
make her happy-but it didn't! She thought a better-paying job would
make her happy-but it hadn't.
When did she realize her greatest happiness? Sitting on the floor with
her grandchildren, eating pizza and watching a movie, a simple gift
from God. Debbie knew the secret, Frances learned the secret, and now
you know it too! We can't depend on people to make us happy-only GOD
in his wisdom can do that. Trust him. And now I pass the secret on to
you!
So once you get it, whatcha gonna do?
YOU have to tell someone the secret, too!
BE HONEST
-- Author Unknown
Dishonesty, even in the smallest matter may severely damage a believer's
credibility. You never know how closely you are being watched.
A businessman was invited to speak to a men's Church group. His topic was
honesty in the workplace and he spoke very strongly and unwaveringly on the
topic. The next morning, he boarded a city bus for the ride to work. He
handed a dollar bill to the driver and received some change, which he
counted as he proceeded down the aisle.
Before he reached his seat, he realized he had been given a dime too much.
His first thought was that the transit company would never miss it. However,
deep inside he knew he should return the money. So he went back to the
driver, "You gave me too much change," To his amazement, the driver replied,
"I know, a dime too much. I gave it to you on purpose. Then I watched you in
my mirror as you counted your change. You see, I heard you speak yesterday,
and if you had kept the dime, I would have written you off and everything
that you said."
We may be the only Bible some people ever read. Let's never forget that
people are watching us "count the change."
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