Hello my friends! It's cold out and icy, it's winter in MN. Linus was told he didn't have to come in to work today or yesterday and tomorrow only at 1 PM - please pray that he won't get laid off - we need the money - thanks in advanced! Today's blessings - it was nice having him home - he did some errands, I got the laundry done, I'm still praying for a mild winter!! Today was just an ordinary day filled with ordinary blessings! Thanks to God for all He does for us, a lot which we don't notice! So I'd just like to thank our God right now for all the Blessings He gives us everyday - greatly needed, and even sometimes He throws in a nice surprise! It"s an awesome God we love and serve! Thank you, God, for helping Bobbiesue out with car repairs!
We are often called upon by God as His means to care for His people.
Lord, I am here to serve You and am ready to do Your work.
Scripture for the day:
"But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and
persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act--they will be
blessed in their doing." ~James 1:25
Meditation for the day:
When something happens to upset us and we are discouraged, we can try to
feel that life's difficulties and troubles are not intended to arrest
our progress in the spiritual life, but to test our strength and to
increase our determination to keep going. Whatever it is that must be
met, we can either overcome it or use it. Nothing need daunt us for
long, nor need any difficulty entirely overcome or conquer us. God's
strength is always there, waiting for us to use it. Nothing can be too
great to be overcome, or if not overcome, then used.
Prayer for the day:
I pray that I may know that there can be no failure with God. I pray
that with God's help I may live a more victorious life.
Here's a prayer to the Holy Spirit:
by Cardinal Mercier
Holy Spirit, Love of my heart,
I adore You.
Enlighten me, guide me;
strengthen me, console me.
Tell me what I must do --
command me.
I promise to submit myself
to all that You will of me,
and accept all You permit to befall me.
Let me only know Your will. Amen.
The Apple Tree
A long time ago, there was a huge apple tree. A little boy loved to come and
play around it everyday. He climbed to the tree top, ate the apples, took a
nap under the shadow... He loved the tree and the tree loved to play with
him. Time went by... the little boy had grown up and he no longer played
around the tree everyday. One day, the boy came back to the tree and he
looked sad.
"Come and play with me," the tree asked the boy. "I am no longer a kid, I
don't play around trees anymore." The boy replied, "I want toys. I need
money to buy them." "Sorry, but I don't have money... but you can pick all
my apples and sell them. Then you will have money." The boy was so excited.
He grabbed all the apples on the tree and left happily. The boy never came
back after he picked the apples.
The tree was sad.
One day, the boy (now a man), returned and the tree was so excited.
"Come and play with me" the tree said. "I don't have time to play.
I have to work for my family. We need a house for shelter. Can you help me?"
"Sorry, but I don't have a house. But you can chop off my branches to build
your house." So the man cut all the branches of the tree and left happily.
The tree was glad to see him happy but the man never came back since then.
The tree was again lonely and sad.
One hot summer day, the man returned and the tree was delighted. "Come and
play with me!" the tree said. "I am sad and getting old. I want to go
sailing to relax myself. Can you give me a boat?" "Use my trunk to build
your boat. You can sail far away and be happy." So the boy cut the tree
trunk to make a boat. He went sailing and never showed up for a long time.
Finally, the man returned after he left for so many years. "Sorry, Sir, but
I don't have anything for you anymore. No more apples for you..." the tree
said.
"I don't have teeth to bite" the man replied.
"No more trunk for you to climb on"
"I am too old for that now" the man said.
"I really can't give you anything ... the only thing left is my dying roots"
the tree said with tears.
"I don't need much now, just a place to rest. I am tired after all these
years." The man replied.
"Good! Old tree roots is the best place to lean on and rest.
Come, Come sit down with me and rest."
The man sat down and the tree was glad and smiled with tears...
This is a story for everyone. The tree is our parents. When we were young,
we loved to play with Mom and Dad... When we grew up,we left them... only
come to them when we need something or when we are in trouble. No matter
what, parents will always be there and give everything they can to make you
happy. You may think the boy is cruel to the tree but that is how all of us
are treating our parents. love your parents, no matter where they are.
I've learned....
The best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person.
I've learned....
That when you're in love, it shows.
I've learned....
That just one person saying to me, "You've made my day!" makes my day.
I've learned....
That having a child fall asleep in your arms is one of the most peaceful
feelings in the world.
I've learned....
That being kind is more important than being right.
I've learned....
That you should never say no to a gift from a child.
I've learned....
That I can always pray for someone when I don't have the strength to
help him in some other way.
I've learned....
That no matter how serious your life requires you to be, everyone needs a
friend to act goofy with.
I've learned....
That sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to
understand.
I've learned....
That simple walks with my father around the block on summer nights when I
was a child did wonders for me as an adult.
I've learned....
Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the
faster it goes.
I've learned....
That we should be glad God doesn't give us everything we ask for.
I've learned....
That money doesn't buy class.
I've learned....
It's those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular.
I've learned...
That under everyone's hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated
and loved .
I've learned....
That the Lord didn't do it all in one day. What makes me think I can?
I've learned....
That to ignore the facts does not change the facts.
I've learned....
That when you plan to get even with someone, you are only letting that
person continue to hurt you.
I've learned....
That love, not time, heals all wounds.
I've learned....
That the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself
with people smarter than I am.
I've learned....
That everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile.
I've learned....
That there's nothing sweeter than sleeping with your babies and feeling
their breath on your cheeks.
I've learned....
That no one is perfect until you fall in love with them.
I've learned....
That life is tough, but I'm tougher.
I've learned....
That opportunities are never lost; someone will take the ones you miss.
I've learned....
That when you harbor bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere.
I've learned....
That I wish I could have told my Mom that I love her one more time before
she passed away.
I've learned....
That one should keep his words both soft and tender, because tomorrow he
may have to eat them.
I've learned....
That a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.
I've learned....
That I can't choose how I feel but I can choose what I do about it.
I've learned....
That when your newly born grandchild holds your little finger in his
little fist, that you're hooked for life.
I've learned....
That everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness
and growth occurs while you're climbing it.
I've learned ...
That it is best to give advice in only two circumstances; when it is
requested and when it is a life threatening situation.
I've learned....
That the less time I have to work with, the more things I get done.
The Grail Prayer
Lord Jesus,
I give you my hands to do your work.
I give you my feet to go your way.
I give you my eyes to see as you do.
I give you my tongue to speak your words.
I give you my mind that you may think in me.
I give you my spirit that you may pray in me.
Above all,
I give you my heart that you may love in me
your Father and all mankind.
I give you my whole self that you may grow in me,
so that it is you, Lord Jesus,
who live and work and pray in me.
ALWAYS LOOK ON THE INSIDE
Author Unknown
I remember reading a story once about a man who was exploring some
caves by the seashore. In one of the caves he found a canvas bag with
a bunch of hardened clay balls. It was like someone had rolled up some
clay and left them out in the sun to bake. They didn't look like much,
but they intrigued the man so he took the bag out of the cave with
him.
As he strolled along the beach, to pass the time, he would throw the
clay balls one at a time out into the ocean as far as he could throw.
He thought little about it until he dropped one of the balls and it
cracked open on a rock. Inside was a beautiful, precious stone.
Excited, the man started breaking open the remaining clay balls. Each
contained a similar treasure. He found thousands of dollars worth of
jewels in the 20 or so clay balls he had left, then it struck him.
He had been on the beach a long time. He had thrown maybe 50 or 60 of
the clay balls with their hidden treasure into the ocean waves.
Instead of thousands of dollars in treasure, he could have had tens of
thousands, but he just threw it all away.
You know sometimes, it's like that with people. We look at someone,
maybe even ourselves, and we see the external clay vessel. It doesn't
look like much from the outside. It isn't always beautiful or
sparkling, so we discount it; we see that person as less important
than someone more beautiful or stylish or well known or wealthy.
But we have not taken the time to find the treasure hidden inside that
person. There is a treasure hidden in every one of us. We are
wonderfully made. Not just our physical bodies, our spiritual selves,
which are sometimes hidden from others by the *earthen vessel*
But if you take the time to get to know that person, and if you ask
the Spirit to show you that person the way He sees them, then the clay
begins to peel away and the brilliant gem begins to shine forth.
The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, nor the kindly
smile, nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration
that comes to one when he discovers that someone else believes in him
and is willing to trust him with his friendship.
Power of the Holy Name of Jesus
The name of Jesus is the shortest, the easiest, and the most powerful of
prayers. Everyone can say it, even in the midst of daily work. Our Lord
Himself has solemnly promised that whatever we ask the Father in His Name we
shall receive (provided, of course, that it be for His Glory and the good of
our soul).
Each time we pronounce the holy Name of Jesus with reverence and love,
and with proper intention, we give great glory to God and obtain for
ourselves priceless graces.
Each time we say JESUS, we may, in desire:
Make an act of perfect love, offering to God all the infinite love of
His Divine Son as if it were our own.
Offer the Passion and Death of Our Lord to the Eternal Father for His
greater glory and our own intentions.
Offer to God all the infinite merits and perfections of Jesus.
Offer all the Holy Masses said each day throughout the world, for the
glory of God and the good of our own and others' souls.
Each time we say JESUS, we increase in our souls the virtues of faith,
hope and charity. Our faith becomes more lively, our confidence in God
greater, and our love more intense.
The Holy Name of JESUS saves us from innumerable evils and dangers,
helps us to overcome temptations, and delivers us from the power of the
devil, who is constantly seeking to do us harm.
The Holy Name of JESUS fills our souls with peace and joy, and gives us
strength to bear our trials and sufferings with patience and resignation.
Each time we say JESUS, we can gain a partial indulgence which we may
apply to the souls in purgatory, thus relieving and liberating many of them
from their awful pains, and gaining for ourselves friends who will pray for
us with incredible fervor.
We ought, therefore, to try to acquire the habit of saying JESUS, JESUS,
JESUS, very often every day, with fervent love and devotion - when dressing,
when working - no matter what we are doing, in moments of sadness and in
moments of joy, at home, in company, on the street, when walking, riding or
waiting. We can say it countless times every day, and thus gain untold
graces and blessings for ourselves and for the whole world. Nothing is
easier, if only we do it with all our heart.
INVOCATION
O admirable Name of Jesus! Name most holy! to men most amiable! Name
above every name. No other name is given under heaven in which we can be
saved.
Jesus, honey in our mouth, melody to our ears, sweet jubilee to our
hearts! O Jesus! You are our life, You are our salvation, You are our
glory, to You be praise forever and ever. Amen
Imprimatur +Carolus Hubertus LeBlond
Episcopus Sancti Josephi
Infant of Prague Press
Healing Prayer
Lord Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit, go back into my memory as
I sleep.
Every hurt that has ever been done to me, heal that hurt.
Every hurt that I have ever caused another person, heal that hurt.
All the relationships that have been damaged in my whole life that I am not
aware of, heal those relationships.
But, O Lord, if there is anything that I need to do,
If I need to go to a person because he or she is still suffering from my
hand, bring to my awareness that person. I choose to forgive, and I ask to
be forgiven. Remove whatever bitterness may be in my heart, Lord, and fill
the empty spaces with your love.
Amen.
SPECIAL GROCERY LIST
Author Unknown
Louise Redden, a poorly dressed lady with a look of defeat on her
face, walked into a grocery store. She approached the owner of the
store in a most humble manner and asked if he would let her charge a
few groceries. She softly explained that her husband was very ill and
unable to work, they had seven children and they needed food.
John Longhouse, the grocer, scoffed at her and requested that she
leave his store at once.
Visualizing the family needs, she said: "Please, sir! I will bring you
the money just as soon as I can."
John told her he could not give her credit, since she did not have a
charge account at his store.
Standing beside the counter was a customer who overheard the
conversation between the two. The customer walked forward and told the
grocer that he would stand good for whatever she needed for her
family.
The grocer said in a very reluctant voice, "Do you have a grocery
list?"
Louise replied, "Yes sir."
"O.K" he said, "Put your grocery list on the scales and whatever your
grocery list weighs, I will give you that amount in groceries."
Louise hesitated a moment with a bowed head, then she reached into her
purse and took
out a piece of paper and scribbled something on it. She then laid the
piece of paper on the scale carefully with her head still bowed.
The eyes of the grocer and the customer showed amazement when the
scales went down
and stayed down. The grocer, staring at the scales, turned slowly to
the customer and said begrudgingly, "I can't believe it."
The customer smiled and the grocer started putting the groceries on
the other side of the scales. The scale did not balance so he
continued to put more and more groceries on them until the scales
would hold no more. The grocer stood there in utter disgust. Finally,
he grabbed the piece of paper from the scales and looked at it with
greater amazement. It was not a grocery list, it was a prayer, which
said: "Dear Lord, you know my needs and I am leaving this in your
hands.." The
grocer gave her the groceries that he had gathered and stood in
stunned silence.
Louise thanked him and left the store. The other customer handed a
fifty-dollar bill to the grocer
and said; "It was worth every penny of it. Only God Knows how much a
prayer weighs."
PEACE OF HEART
Almighty and Eternal God,
Give me, I beseech You,the great gift of inward peace.
Command the winds and storms of my unruly passions.Subdue, by Your grace, my
proneness to love created things too much.Give me a love of suffering for
Your sake.make me forbearing and kind to others,that I may avoid quarrels
and contentions.
And teach me constantly to seek after and to acquire that perfect
resignation to Your Holy Will which alone brings interior peace.Amen.
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