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Daily Positive Thread for Wednesday

Pray for others. It not only benefits them, but you as well. Lord, with selfless
love I pray for abundant blessings for my family and friends.

Scripture for the day:
"I can do all things through him who strengthens me." ~Philippians 4:13

Meditation for the day:
I can believe that my faith in God's power can accomplish anything.
There is no limit to what these two things can do. When we believe,
anything can happen. Saint Paul said: "I can do all things through him
who strengthens me." All walls that divide us from other human beings
can fall by our faith and God's power. These are the two essentials.
Everyone an be moved by these.

Prayer for the day:
I pray that I may try to strengthen my faith day by day. I pray that I
may rely more and more on God's power.

Greetings my friends! How was your day? Hope it was a good one. Weather here sure has cooled down, it was cool all day but that was nice.
This morning we were blessed by getting to Mass at 8:00. Sometimes it doesn’t happen with him working, but it did today. He did get tired from all day today – but his feet didn’t hurt bad enough to take any pills. He has tomorrow yet, and then he’s off a few days. It’s a blessing to me to see on Facebook, my daughters, future son-in-law, and my nephews and nieces and to see their latest pictures and to chat with them sometimes! Lori is doing long bike rides. She lives right by the trail. It’s always a blessing to see how happy she is. On Thursday her Dad will plant some more flowers for her on the side of the house. Her house and lawn is so pretty! He’s thinking of making her an arbor, too, maybe another project for he and his brother to work on.

Homily of the Day
July 12, 2011
The Princess Can´t Do It All!

Ex 2:1-15 / Mt 11:20-24

Moses was lucky to be found by an Egyptian princess as he floated down the Nile in a basket and then to be adopted by her and handed back to his own mother is almost a miracle of fate. God had great and important plans for Moses from the very beginning, and through this bizarre entrance into the pharaoh’s family God began to prepare him for one of the great leadership challenges in all of history — the liberation of God’s people from the most powerful ruler in the world.

God has special plans for each one of us, and he has given to each of us special gifts that are destined for use somewhere on behalf of God’s people. Whether those gifts will ever arrive at their intended destination, fully honed and ready for use, is always chancy business. Will we name our gifts rightly? Will we develop them to the fullest? Will we have the brave and generous hearts needed for hard and sometimes risky work? It depends on us and upon our choices, but it also depends heavily on the values that were implanted in our hearts at an early age.

Think of that when you look at the little children around you, and especially at those who are lacking the love and guidance that alone can give them the firm foundation they need. Will there be a princess who intervenes to rescue them as there was for Moses? Probably not unless it’s you. Remember what others did for you when you were helpless and give thanks. Then put some muscle behind your thanks and taste a new kind of joy.

<tt>- Mail Waiting -
Author Unknown

Perhaps two of the most pleasant words in Computer Lingo are the words: "Mail Waiting." Come on, admit it. When you log on to your system at work or your internet connection at home, the first thing you look for is whether or not you have mail, isn't it? And aren't you just a little bit disappointed when you log on and there is no mail in your In-Basket?

Congratulations, you're normal. Each of us enjoys receiving notes across the net. Receiving a note shows that someone else is thinking about you; or they need and value your input on an issue; or they want to update you on what is happening with them; or they just want to say 'Hi.'
</tt>
<tt>When "Mail is Waiting," you know the sender desires to communicate specifically with you.</tt>
<tt>

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." Psalms 119:105

Over the years, God has communicated in many different ways to many different people. On one occasion, God communicated in a "still small voice." On another, He spoke to Moses from a "burning b ush." Then there was a "voice from heaven" at Jesus' Baptism, and even an incident when Balaam's donkey spoke to him. The list goes on and on - God using His infinitely creative energy to communicate with His beloved creation.

But of all the ways that He has communicated with us, it is interesting that one of the most effective, was also one of the simplest: He sent us a letter. A note, if you will. Written by God, through men and sent across centuries under the watchful eye of the Holy Spirit. (Note: this watchful eye far exceeds any double-bit error protection system that we might ever dream up!)

A note from God. A note that says He is thinking about us: always. A note that says he desires our input back to Him: our worship, our praise, our prayers. A note to update us on issues: issues that never change, like love and life and trusting in Him. A note to just
say "Hello." Because, sometimes we forget that He is there, and we wander off to struggle with life on our own.

Have you ever logged on to your system, saw the "Mail Waiting" indicator turned on, then just logged back off without bothering to
check the mail:

"It's probably not important, I'll check it later, when I have more time."
"It's probably not meant for me. It was sent to the wrong ID and has no meaning or relevance to me."
"I already have too much going on, the last thing I need is another note making demands on my time."
</tt>
God used thousands of people over thousands of years to send you a message like none you have ever read before, or will ever read after. It is important. It is relevant. It is demanding.

There is an old Book from a heavenly Father about the things you are dealing with in your life even today. It's called the Bible. It has a "Mail Waiting" light on it.

Check your Mail.

GOD LIVES IN THE POST OFFICE
Author Unknown


Our 14 year old dog, Abbey, died last month. The day after she died,
my 4 year old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much
she missed Abbey. She asked if we could write a letter to God so that
when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I
thought we could so she dictated these words:

Dear God,

Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with
you in heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have
her as my dog even though she got sick.

I hope you will play with her. She likes to play with balls and to
swim. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her. You will know
that she is my dog. I really miss her.

Love, Meredith
________


We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith
and addressed it to God/Heaven. We put our return address on it. Then
Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because
she said it would
take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. That
afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office. A few
days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her
that I thought He had.

Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front
porch addressed, 'To Meredith , ' in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith
opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, 'When a Pet Dies.'
Taped to the
inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened
envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey & Meredith and
this note:

________


Dear Meredith,

Abbey arrived safely in heaven.

Having the picture was a big help. I recognized Abbey right away.

Abbey isn't sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it
stays in your heart. Abbey loved being your dog. Since we don't need
our bodies in heaven, I don't have any pockets to keep your picture
in, so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to
remember Abbey by.

Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping
you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I
picked her especially for you.

I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much.

By the way, I'm easy to find, I am wherever there is love.

Love,
God

The Ten Most Wanted People

The one who tries to be the right example to every child, rather than talk about it.
The one who has a passion to help, rather than a passion to be helped.
The one who is willing to say, "I was wrong, I'm sorry."
The one who will look at temptation squarely and say, "No."
The one who puts God's business above any other.
The one who throws oneself totally into a project, then give the credit for its success to his helpers.
The one who has a ready smile and a pat on the back for others.
The one who brings his children to church rather than sending them.
The one who can see his own faults before he sees the faults of others.
The one who gives his money, time and talent without thought of return.

NEW VERSION OF FOOTPRINTS
Author Unknown
July 12, 2011


Imagine you and the Lord Jesus are walking down the road together. For
much of the way, the Lord's footprints go along steadily,
consistently, rarely varying the pace. But your footprints are a
disorganized stream of zigzags, starts, stops, turnarounds, circles,
departures and returns.


For much of the way, it seems to go like this, but gradually your
footprints come more in line with the Lord's, soon paralleling His
consistently. You and Jesus are walking as true friends! This seems
perfect, but then an interesting thing happens: Your footprints, that
once etched the sand next to Jesus', are now walking precisely in His
steps.


Inside His larger footprints are your smaller ones, you and Jesus are
becoming one. This goes on for many miles, but gradually you notice
another change. The footprints inside the large footprints seem to
grow larger.


Eventually they disappear altogether.


There is only one set of footprints: they have become one. This goes
on for a long time, but suddenly the second set of footprints are
back. This time it seems even worse! Zigzags all over the place.
Stops. Starts. Deep gashes in the sand. A veritable mess of prints.


You are amazed and shocked. Your dream ends. Now you pray: "Lord, I
understand the first scene with zigzags and fits. I was a new
Christian; I was just learning. But you walked on through the storm
and helped me learn to walk with you."


"That is correct."


" ... and when the smaller footprints were inside of Yours, I was
actually learning to walk in Your steps; followed you very closely."


"Very good. You have understood everything so far."


"... when the smaller footprints grew and filled in Yours, I suppose
that I was becoming like you in every way."


"Precisely."


"So, Lord, was there a regression or something? The footprints
separated, and this time it was worse than at first."


There is a pause as the Lord answers with a smile in his voice. "You
don't know? That was when we danced."


"To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under
Heaven. A time to weep, a time to laugh; A time to mourn, and a time
to dance." Ecclesiastes 3:1,4


PRIDE vs MERCY
Who knows what you are going through each hour?
Who knows how to seduce you and make you cower?
Who loves you to the point of His passion and death?
Who wants to choke you to your very last breath?
Who wants for you the very best and loves you madly ?
Who wants for you the worst and treats you badly?
Who wants to lead you through trouble and trial?
Who wants to chew you up and spew you out like bile?
Is it not clear to you the "Who" you want to lead you?
Is it not the One Whose Love and Mercies freed you?
Are you so blinded by worldly things you cannot see
The One Who through great love caused you to be?
Are you stuck in the muck of your own making?
Do you not see it is your own soul you are forsaking?
Think on these things and ponder their meaning
Try to find the path upon which you are leaning
What happened since the day of your birth?
What is it you want out of this life on earth?
You are on a path to heaven or to perdition
And the choice is of your own volition
Do you choose pride or contrition?

© Mel Patterson, 7-12-11





God is as close as we permit Him to be.


http://www.poemhunter.com/mel-carmela-patterson/<br />

Good Night – Sweet Dreams – God be with you always!! Have a good Wednesday filled with His blessings!