If you want peace and goodness in your life you must be kind and loving.
Lord, may I avoid creating misery so that my life will reflect my love for
You.
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.
Hello my friends! Today was a great blessing knowing that his colonoscopy results were good! Haven't heard about Ron's yet. We pray he doesn't have cancer. Tonight's blessings, 1) good results from his test, 2) all day he felt fine, 3) talked to two of my sisters tonight. Found out that my sister that has Parkinson's got moved to a Nursing home Saturday - she asks us to pray for her. First she's in an assisted living place - fell and broke her collarbone, got to be in rehab a few weeks, and now to the Nursing Home. Poor Erma - she is sure going through a lot of emotional turmoil! And I'm sure worrying about the cost - very expensive. She was evaluated that she belongs in the Nursing Home. Praying for you all - thanks for your prayers for us.
The Verse
The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so.Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. Romans 8:6-8
The Bread
True Lenten Discipline
Fast from judging others;
Feast on Christ dwelling in them.
Fast from emphasis on differences;
Feast on the unity of all life.
Fast from apparent darkness;
Feast on the reality of all light.
Fast from thoughts of illness;
Feast on the healing power of God.
Fast from words that pollute;
Feast on phrases that purify.
Fast from discontent;
Feast on gratitude.
Fast from anger;
Feast on patience.
Fast from pessimism;
Feast on optimism.
Fast from worry;
Feast on God's providence.
Fast from complaining;
Feast on appreciation.
Fast from negatives;
Feast on affirmatives.
Fast from unrelenting pressures;
Feast on unceasing prayer.
Fast from hostility;
Feast on non-resistance.
Fast from bitterness;
Feast on forgiveness.
Fast from self-concern;
Feast on compassion for others.
Fast from personal anxiety;
Feast on eternal truth.
Fast from discouragement;
Feast on hope.
Fast from facts that depress;
Feast on verities that uplift.
Fast from lethargy;
Feast on enthusiasm.
Fast from suspicion;
Feast on truth.
Fast from thoughts that weaken;
Feast on promises that inspire.
Fast from shadows of sorrow;
Feast on the sunlight of serenity.
Fast from idle gossip;
Feast on purposeful silence.
Fast from problems that overwhelm;
Feast on prayer that sustains.
Comments
The bulk of this message today emphasizes feasting and fasting. Today, we are slightly confused with what to feast on and what to fast. We seem to have somehow mixed up what we should be fasting from with the things we should be feasting on. God wants so much for us to feast on things of Him, not things of the world. Similarly, He wants us to stay away from the world and what they have to offer. Because what the world has cannot sustain our spirit; rather it grieves our spirit. Spend the rest of the day questioning whether or not you feast on God or the world.
Prayer
Father, I pray that we feast on you and not the things that this world offers. You can fill me so much more, than what they have. Help me to seek you.
Jesus, I Want to Help You
May I become at all times,
both now and forever
A protector for those
without protection
A guide for those who have lost their way
A ship for those with oceans to cross
A bridge for those with rivers to cross
A sanctuary for those in danger
A lamp for those without light
A place of refuge
for those who lack shelter and a
servant to all in need.
Bl. Teresa of Calcutta
It's Me Again God
Remember me God?
I come everyday
Just to talk to you, Lord
And to learn how to pray
You make me feel welcome
You reach out your hand
I need never explain
For you understand
I come to you frightened
And burdened with care
So lonely and lost
And so filled with despair
And suddenly Lord
I am no longer afraid
My burden is lighter
And the dark shadows fade
Oh God what a comfort
To know that you care
And to know when I seek you
You will always be there
Today
by Emily McAdams
Since yesterday is in the past, And tomorrow you might not see. You need to live to the fullest, This day God has granted to thee.
Be loving and kind to all you meet. Spread cheer and joy on your way. Say, "I love you" to your loved ones, And for peace on earth you should pray.
Share your faith with lost ones as God bids all His children to do. He wants not one soul left behind. One might be saved because of you.
A lonely person you could visit, To help brighten up their day. You could feed one who's hungry, Offer a place for someone to stay.
There is so much that you can do, Before this day is through. Only but for the grace of God, One of these just might be you.
Be thankful for all of your blessings. Never take them for granted at all. God gives you all you need to have, And He will 'till His final call.
Be ready and always listen. For you never know when He'll say, The past and future you don't need, But my child, I need you today.
HOW LIFE IS MEASURED
Author Unknown
I had a very special teacher in high school many years ago whose
husband unexpectedly and suddenly died of a heart attack.
About a week after his death, she shared some of her insight with a
classroom of students.
As the late afternoon sunlight came streaming in through the classroom
windows and the class was nearly over, she moved a few things aside on
the edge of her desk and sat down there. With a gentle look of
reflection on her face, she paused and said, "Before class is over, I
would like to share with all of you a thought that is unrelated to
class, but which I feel is very important."
"Each of us is put here on earth to learn, share, love, appreciate and
give of ourselves. None of us knows when this fantastic experience
will end. It can be taken away at any moment. Perhaps this is a way of
telling us that we must make the most out of every single day."......
Her eyes beginning to water, she went on, "So I would like you all to
make me a promise. From now on, on your way to school, or on your way
home, find something beautiful to notice. It doesn't have to be
something you see, it could be a scent -- perhaps of freshly baked
bread wafting out of someone's house, or it could be the sound of the
breeze slightly rustling the leaves in the trees, or the way the
morning light catches the autumn leaf as it falls gently to the
ground.
Please look for these things, and cherish them. For, although it may
sound trite to some, these things are the "stuff" of life. The little
things we are put here on earth to enjoy. The things we often take for
granted. We must make it important to notice them, for at any
time...it can all be taken
away." The class was completely quiet. We all picked up our books and
filed out of the room silently.
That afternoon, I noticed more things on my way home from school than
had that whole semester. Every once in a while, I think of that
teacher and remember what an impression she made on all of us, and I
try to appreciate all of those things that sometimes we all overlook.
Take notice of something special you see on your lunch hour today.
When you go home, Go barefoot. Or walk on the beach at sunset. Stop
off on the way home tonight to get a double-dip ice cream cone.
"For as we get older, it is not the things we did that we often
regret, but the things we didn't do."
“Don't cry because it's over; smile because it happened."
"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the
moments that take our breath away."
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