Hello everyone! Hope your day is going great and filled with many of God's blessings! Come and share what God has done for you - what blessings He gives you on a daily basis! For me, I am so grateful and thankful for my family and Sammy! Sammy makes us smile! He still plays the piano like a trooper! I am thankful for all of you here who participate in our thread! God is good - He deserves all our praise and thanks - as we give Him all the credit! We pray for our healings, and we put them all in His Holy Hands, and want His Will in our lives always. We ask Mary, His Mother and ours, to intercede for us, and she does faithfully! So I ask Him to have mercy upon us all and answer our requests - praying for all of yours.
We are judged by our actions, not by our intentions. Lord, may I show
my love for You through charity and goodness toward others.
Scripture for the day:
"Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from among the nations, that we may
give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise." ~Psalm 106:47
Meditation for the day:
We can always remember that we are weak but that God is strong. God knows
all about our weakness. God hears every cry for mercy, every sign of
weakness, every plea for help, and every sorrow over every failure, every
weakness felt and expressed. We only fail when we trust too much
in our own strength. We need not feel bad about our weakness. When we are
weak, that is when God is strong to help us. When we trust God enough, our
weakness will not matter. God is always strong to save.
Prayer for the day:
I pray that I may learn to lean on God's strength. I pray that I may know
that my weakness is God's opportunity.
My Hand In God´s
Each morning when I wake I say,
"I place my hand in God's today;"
I know He'll walk close by my side
My every wandering step to guide.
He leads me with the tenderest care
When paths are dark and I despair---
No need for me to understand
If I but hold fast to His hand.
My hand in His! No surer way
to walk in safety through each day.
By His great bounty I am fed;
Warmed by His love, and comforted.
When at day's end I seek my rest
And realize how much I'm blessed,
My thanks pour out to Him; and then
I place my hand in God's again.
By Florence Scripps Kellogg
LOOPHOLES FOR DETERMINED SINNERS
by Sharon Bouriaque
1. If you must envy, envy the woman who hugged the feet of the eternal God,
or envy the children He held in His arms.
2. If you must steal, steal more time away from your daily routine and spend
it with Jesus.
3. If you must murder, work on crucifying the "old man" who lives inside
each born-again believer. [Caution: The old reprobate is extremely hard to
kill and does not tend to stay dead very long.]
4. If you must lie, tell the "old man" he can do as he pleases today.
5. If you must be a man of strife, put on the whole armor of God and
remember that we war not against flesh and blood, but against principalities
and powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, and against
spiritual wickedness in high places.
6. If you must "get high" be intoxicated with the Holy Spirit.
7. If you must fear, fear that within yourself which can cause you to fall.
8. If you must be angry, rage against those sin-weaknesses in yourself.
9. If you must covet, covet those things that be of God: love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance.
10. If you must hate, hate the works of the flesh: adultery, fornication,
uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance,
emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, drunkenness,
revellings, etc.
11. If you must be overly ambitious, reach for a star: " ... To him who
overcomes, I will give the Morning Star." Rev. 2:26 & 28.
12. If you must be lazy, lie down in His green pastures and walk beside His
still waters.
13. If you must be shameless, walk this earth boldly, having no shame of
your King or His gospel.
14. If you must be gluttonous, open your mouth wide for God to fill. Psalm
81:10
15. If you must be stubborn, trust in the Lord and you'll be as Mount Zion,
which cannot be removed, but which abides forever.
16. If you must be nosy, poke your nose into the gospel of Christ, which is
something angels desire to look into. I Peter 1:12
JUST "DO IT"
By Marion Smith
Ephesians 6:11-13put on the helmet of salvation, the breastplate of
righteousness, the belt of truth, the shoes of peace ,and I would
pick up the sword of the spirit and the shield of faith
I was so delighted when I finally memorized the pieces of the armor of
God, as Paul tells us about in the Bible-Ephesians 6:11-13. I would
put on the helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, the
belt of truth, the shoes of peace ,and I would pick up the sword of
the spirit and the shield of faith.
This entire procedure would take place as I lay in bed each morning.
I felt like I was really equipping myself against Satan, and to a
certain degree, I was. All my bravado came crashing down one day, as
fear of an impending airline flight began to creep into my mind. I
have always been afraid to fly, but I thought I had overcome this
apprehension, with God’s help. I wrestled with all the negative
thoughts Satan kept placing in my mind, trying to dispel the dread
that increasingly crept into my mind and heart. I was still putting on
the armor of God each morning, wondering how Satan could get such a
hold on me . I asked my prayer partners to pray for me, helping me
overcome this unrealistic fear. I was ashamed that I didn’t have more
faith in God, and that I allowed Satan to grab me like that. Well, the
prayers were answered, because my fears were totally destroyed and I
really enjoyed my flight .
After I returned home I began to think about the armor passage in
the Bible. It dawned on me –more was needed with some of those
pieces of armor that just placement on the body. Take the sword of
the spirit(God’s Word)..I needed to have scripture handy- ready to
rebuke Satan as he whispered his lies into my ears. And what had I
done with the shield I picked up each morning? I guess I must have
just grabbed it limply and left it dangling at my side. This shield is
made up of my beliefs, and was intended to quench the fiery arrows of
Satan. God gave me that shield to USE, quenching those fiery arrows .
I needed to pick it up and reject those lies from Satan.
The same is true for the belt of truth. I pray if I am ever tempted to
lie or deceive anyone, that belt would just squeeze me tight –getting
my attention about living my life God’s way. Also, those shoes of
peace- I need to point them down the path of amity when conflicts
arise.
Yes, I need to put on my armor each morning, but I also need to take
these pieces and USE them. Yes, I need to “Just Do
It”!!!!!
Brings tears to one's eyes:
A man from Norfolk , VA called a local radio station to share this on Sept
11th, 2003, TWO YEARS AFTER THE TRAGEDIES OF 9/11/2001.
His name was Robert Matthews. These are his words:
A few weeks before Sept. 11th, my wife and I found out we were going to have
our first child. She planned a trip out to California to visit her sister.
On our way to the airport, we prayed that God would grant my wife a safe
trip and be with her. Shortly after I said 'amen,' we both
heard a loud pop and the car shook violently. We had blown out a tire. I
replaced the tire as quickly as I could, but we still missed her flight.
both very upset, we drove home.
I received a call from my father who was retired NYFD. He asked what my
wife's flight number was, but I explained that we missed the flight.
My father informed me that her flight was the one that crashed into the
southern tower. I was too shocked to speak. My father also had more news for
me; he was going to help. 'This is not something I can't just sit by for; I
have to do something.'
I was concerned for his safety, of course, but more because he had never
given his life to Christ. After a brief debate, I knew his mind was made
up.. Before he got off of the phone, he said, 'take good care of my
grandchild. Those were the last words I ever heard my father say; he died
while helping in the rescue effort.
My joy that my prayer of safety for my wife had been answered quickly became
anger. I was angry at God, at my father, and at myself. I had gone for
nearly two years blaming God for taking my father away. My son would never
know his grandfather, my father had never accepted Christ, and I never got
to say good-bye.
Then something happened. About two months ago, I was sitting at home with my
wife and my son, when there was a knock on the door. I looked at my wife,
but I could tell she wasn't expecting anyone. I opened the door to a couple
with a small child.
The man looked at me and asked if my father's name was Jake Matthews. I told
him it was. He quickly grabbed my hand and said, 'I never got the chance to
meet your father, but it is an honor to meet his son.'
He explained to me that his wife had worked in the World Trade Center and
had been caught inside after the attack. She was pregnant and had been
caught under debris. He then explained that my father had been the one to
find his wife and free her. My eyes welled up with tears as I thought of my
father giving his life for people like this. He then said, 'there is
something else you need to know.'
His wife then told me that as my father worked to free her, she talked to
him and led him to Christ. I began sobbing at the news.
Now I know that when I get to Heaven, my father will be standing beside
Jesus to welcome me, and that this family would be able to thank him
themselves .
When their baby boy was born, they named him Jacob Matthew, in honor of the
man who gave his life so that a mother and baby could live.
This story should help us to realize this: God is always in control.
We may not see the reason behind things, and we may never know this side of
heaven, but God is ALWAYS in control.
Please take time to share this amazing story. You may never know the impact
it may have on someone. God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the
called.
Give thanks to the Lord for He is good. His love endures Forever. Psalm
136:1
Our Lady of the Rosary
Heavenly King, praying the Rosary holds more power than I can imagine. It
often saved Christian Europe from Muslim invaders. The Blessed Mother taught
three children in Fatima that the Rosary obtains special graces for us,
saves sinners from H ell, and protects us from evil spirits. I ask Our Lady
to accept my prayers into her Immaculate Heart, multiply their power through
the greatness of her love, and then carry Your help to those in need. O
Jesus, as I turn to Your Mother for support in prayer, bind us to the golden
chain of her most holy Rosary, trusting that she will take care of our
souls. Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for us. Amen.
15 Promises of Our Lady
Besides the Indulgences attached to the Rosary, Our Lady revealed to St.
Dominic and Blessed Alan de la Roche additional benefits for those who
devoutly pray the Rosary. Our Lady's promise is shown in darker blue text.
Additional explanation on and doctrinal connections to each promise is shown
following in the smaller normal text font and color. Note that the Rosary is
the prayer (non-Liturgical) with the most published Magisterial / Papal
documents expounding on its excellence. Vatican II's summary on Our Lady is
contained in Lumen Gentium chapter VIII.
1. Whosoever shall faithfully serve me by the recitation of the Rosary shall
receive signal graces.
Signal Graces are those special and unique Graces to help sanctify us in our
state in life. See the remaining promises for an explanation for which these
will consist. St. Louis de Montfort states emphatically that the best and
fastest way to union with Our Lord is via Our Lady [True Devotion to Mary,
chapter four].
2. I promise my special protection and the greatest graces to all those who
shall recite the Rosary.
Our Lady is our Advocate and the channel of all God's Grace to us. Our Lady
is simply highlighting that She will watch especially over us who pray the
Rosary. (see Lumen Gentium chapter VIII - Our Lady #62) [a great more detail
is available on this topic in True Devotion to Mary, chapter four, by St.
Louis de Montfort]
3. The Rosary shall be a powerful armor against h ell, it will destroy vice,
decrease sin and defeat heresies.
This promise, along with the next, is simply the reminder on how fervent
prayer will help us all grow in holiness by avoiding sin, especially a
prayer with the excellence of the Rosary. An increase in holiness
necessarily requires a reduction in sin, vice, and doctrinal errors
(heresies). If only the Modernists could be convinced to pray the Rosary!
(see Lumen Gentium chapter V - The Call to Holiness #42) St. Louis de
Montfort states "Since Mary alone crushed all heresies, as we are told by
the Church under the guidance of the Holy Spirit (Office of the Blessed
Virgin Mary)..." [True Devotion to Mary #167]
4. It will cause good works to flourish; it will obtain for souls the
abundant mercy of God; it will withdraw the hearts of men from the love of
the world and its vanities, and will lift them to the desire for Eternal
Things. Oh, that souls would sanctify themselves by this means.
This promise, along with the previous, is the positive part, that being to
live in virtue. Becoming holy is not only avoiding sin, but also growing in
virtue. (see Lumen Gentium chapter V - The Call to Holiness #42)
5. The soul which recommends itself to me by the recitation of the Rosary
shall not perish.
Since Our Lady is our Mother and Advocate, She always assists those who call
on Her implicitly by praying the Rosary. The Church reminds us of this in
the Memorare prayer, "... never was it known that anyone who fled to your
protection, implored your help or sought your intercession, was left unaided
..."
6. Whosoever shall recite the Rosary devoutly, applying himself to the
consideration of its Sacred Mysteries shall never be conquered by
misfortune. God will not chastise him in His justice, he shall not perish by
an unprovided death; if he be just he shall remain in the grace of God, and
become worthy of Eternal Life.
This promise highlights the magnitude of Graces that the Rosary brings to
whomever prays it. One will draw down God's Mercy rather than His Justice
and will have a final chance to repent (see promise #7). One will not be
conquered by misfortune means that Our Lady will obtain for the person
sufficient Graces to handle said misfortune (i.e. carry the Crosses allowed
by God) without falling into despair. As Sacred Scripture tells us, "For my
yoke is sweet and my burden light." (Matthew 11:30)
7. Whoever shall have a true devotion for the Rosary shall not die without
the Sacraments of the Church.
This promise highlights the benefits of obtaining the most possible Graces
at the hour of death via the Sacraments of Confession, Eucharist, and
Extreme Unction (Anointing of the Sick). Being properly disposed while
receiving these Sacraments near death ensures one's salvation (although
perhaps with a detour through Purgatory) since a final repentance is
possible.
8. Those who are faithful to recite the Rosary shall have during their life
and at their death the Light of God and the plenitude of His Graces; at the
moment of death they shall participate in the Merits of the Saints in
Paradise.
Our Lady highlights the great quantity of Graces obtain through praying the
Rosary, which assist us during life and at the moment of death. The merits
of the Saints are the gift of God's rewards to those persons who responded
to His Grace that they obtained during life, and so Our Lady indicates that
She will provide a share of that to us at death. With this promise and #7
above, Our Lady is providing the means for the person to have a very holy
death.
9. I shall deliver from purgatory those who have been devoted to the Rosary.
Should one require Purgatorial cleansing after death, Our Lady will make a
special effort to obtain our release from Purgatory through Her intercession
as Advocate.
10. The faithful children of the Rosary shall merit a high degree of Glory
in Heaven.
This promise is a logical consequence of promises #3 and #4 since anyone who
truly lives a holier life on earth will obtain a higher place in Heaven. The
closer one is to God while living on earth, the close that person is to Him
also in Heaven. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states "Spiritual
progress tends toward ever more union with Christ." (Catechism of the
Catholic Church paragraph 2014)
11. You shall obtain all you ask of me by recitation of the Rosary.
This promise emphasizes Our Lady's role as our Advocate and Mediatrix of all
Graces. Of course, all requests are subject to God's Most Perfect Will. God
will always grant our request if it is beneficial for our soul, and Our Lady
will only intercede for us when our request is good for our salvation. (see
Lumen Gentium chapter VIII - Our Lady #62)
12. All those who propagate the Holy Rosary shall be aided by me in their
necessities.
If one promotes the praying of the Rosary, Our Lady emphasizes Her Maternal
care for us by obtaining many Graces (i.e. spiritual necessities) and also
material necessities (neither excess nor luxury), all subject to the Will of
God of course.
13. I have obtained from my Divine Son that all the advocates of the Rosary
shall have for intercessors the entire Celestial Court during their life and
at the hour of death.
Since Our Lady is our Advocate, She brings us additional assistance during
our life and at our death from all the saints in Heaven (the Communion of
Saints). See paragraphs 954 through 959 in the Catechism of the Catholic
Church.
14. All who recite the Rosary are my Sons, and brothers of my Only Son Jesus
Christ.
Since the Rosary is a most excellent prayer focused on Jesus and His Life
and activities in salvation history, it brings us closer to Our Lord and Our
Lady. Doctrinally, Our Lady is our Mother and Jesus is our Eldest Brother,
besides being our God. (see Lumen Gentium chapter VIII - Our Lady #62)
15. Devotion to my Rosary is a great sign of predestination.
Predestination in this context means that, by the sign which is present to a
person from the action of devoutly praying the Rosary, God has pre-ordained
your salvation. Absolute certainty of salvation can only be truly known if
God reveals it to a person because, although we are given sufficient Grace
during life, our salvation depends upon our response to said Grace. (See
Summa Theologica, Question 23 for a detailed theological explanation). Said
another way, if God has guaranteed a person's salvation but has not revealed
it to Him, God would want that person to pray the Rosary because of all the
benefits and Graces obtained. Therefore the person gets a hint by devotion
to the Rosary. This is not to say that praying the Rosary guarantees
salvation - by no means. In looking at promises #3 and #4 above, praying the
Rosary helps one to live a holy life, which is itself a great sign that a
soul is on the road to salvation. (See also paragraphs 381, 488, 600, 2782
in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.) In fact, St. Louis de Montfort
says even more strongly that "an infallible and unmistakable sign by which
we can distinguish a heretic, a man of false doctrine, an enemy of God, from
one of God's true friends is that the hardened sinner and heretic show
nothing but contempt and indifference to Our Lady..." [True Devotion to
Mary, #30]
Reminder: these promises mean that, by faithfully and devoutly praying the
Rosary, Our Lady will obtain for us the necessary Graces to obtain said
promises. It is still up to each individual soul to respond to those Graces
in order to obtain salvation.
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