A spiritual thought
archie
When we are down, we should look up toward God.
Lord, make me a channel of Thy peace, that where there is hatred, I may bring love; that where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness; that where there is error, I may bring truth; that where there is doubt, I may bring faith; that where there is despair, I may bring hope; that where there are shadows, I may bring light; that where there is sadness, I may bring joy. Lord, grant that I may seek rather to comfort than to be comforted; to understand than to be understood; to love than to be loved. For it is by giving that one receives. It is by self-forgetting that one finds. It is by forgiving that one is forgiven. And it is by dying that one awakens to eternal life.
Prayer of St. Francis.
I CANNOT PRAY AND ___
I cannot pray the Lord's Prayer
and even once say "I."
I cannot pray the Lord's Prayer
and even once say "my."
Nor can I pray the Lord's Prayer
and not pray for another,
And when I ask for daily bread,
I must include my brother.
For others are included in each
and every plea,
From the beginning to the end of it, it does not once say "me."
Source unknown
Always Say A Prayer
archie
When we are desperate enough to ask for help, we mustn’t expect it to come in the form of easy solutions, we must play a part in solving our problems but God will provide the guidance and the strength for us to take the right action.
Make me strong God, not to be superior to my brothers, but to be able to fight my greatest enemy, myself.
MAKING USE OF OUR SUFFERING
You can make use of your mistakes, failures, losses and sufferings. It is not what happens to you so much as what you make of it. Take your sufferings, difficulties, and hardships and make us of them to help some unfortunate soul who is face with the same troubles. Then something good will come out of your sufferings and the world will be a better place because of it. The good you do each day will live on, after the trouble and distress have gone, after the difficulty and the pain have passed away.
24 Hours A Day, August 22
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MAKING USE OF OUR SUFFERING
There are no triumphs without troubles.
Those who love God are not exempt from trouble.
Trust God no matter what happens.
God is our only source of spiritual strength. Cut yourself off from that source, and you cut off life itself.
It is better to know God than to know answers.
No matter how hopeless our condition, or how much we would like to give up, we need not despair. God is in control of our world.
Pain can help us grow.
Be slow to give advice to those who are hurting. They often need compassion more than they need advice.
The best comforters are those who know something about personal suffering.
Source unknown
archie
When we are at the end of ourselves, God creates a new beginning.
Make us more aware, dear God of daily little graces.
MEET GOD HALF WAY
A guy named Joe finds himself in dire trouble. His business has gone bust and he’s in serious financial trouble. He’s so desperate that he decides to ask God for help. He begins to pray, God, please help me. I’ve lost my business and if I don’t get some money, I’m going to lose my house as well. Please let me win the lotto.
Lotto night comes and somebody else wins it. Joe again prays. God, please let me win the lotto! I’ve lost my business, my house and I’m going to lose my car as well.
Lotto night comes and Joe still has no luck.
Once again, he prays. My God, why have you forsaken me? I’ve lost my business, my house, and my car. My wife and children are starving. I don’t often ask you for help and I have always been a good servant to you. Please just let me win the lotto this one time so I can get my life back in order.
Suddenly there is a blinding flash of light as the heavens, open and Joe is confronted by the voice of God Himself.
Joe, meet Me half way on this. Buy a ticket.
Source unknown
archie
Make knowing and fulfilling God’s purpose the focal point of our prayer life.
May we realize that we may be the answer to a prayer we prayed.
MEMO FROM GOD
Effective immediately, please be aware that there are changes you need to make in your life. These changes need to be completed in order that I may fulfill My promises to you to grant you peace, joy and happiness in this life.
1) Quit worrying: Life has dealt you a blow and all you do is sit and worry. Have you forgotten that I am here to take all your burdens and carry them for you? Or do you just enjoy fretting over every little thing that comes your way?
2) Put it on the list: Something needs done or taken care of. Put it on the list. No, not your list. Put it on My to-do list. Let Me be the One to take care of the problem. I can’t help you until you turn it over to Me. And although My to-do list is long, I am after all, God. I can take care of anything you put into My hands. In fact, if the truth were ever really known, I take care of a lot of things that you never even realize.
3) Trust Me: Once you’ve given your burdens to Me, quit trying to take them back. Trust in Me. Have the faith that I will take care of all your needs, your problems and your trials. Problems with the kids? Put them on My list. Problem with finances? Put it on My list. Problems with your emotional roller coaster? For My sake, put it on My list. I want to help you. All you have to do is ask.
4) Leave it alone: Don’t wake up one morning and say, Well, I’m feeling much stronger now, I think I can handle it from here. Why do you think you are feeling stronger now? It’s simple. You gave Me your burdens and I’m taking care of them. I also renew your strength and cover you in My peace. Don’t you know that if I give you these problems back, you will be right back where you started? Leave them with Me and forget about them. Just let Me do My job.
5) Talk to Me I want you to forget a lot of things. Forget what was making you crazy. Forget the worry and the fretting because you know I’m in control. But there’s one thing I hope you never forget. Please don’t forget to talk to Me often! I love you. I want to hear your voice. I want you to include Me in on all the things going on in your life. I want to hear you talk about your friends and family. Prayer is simply you having a conversation with Me. I want to be your dearest Friend.
6) Have faith: I see a lot of things from up here that you can’t see from where you are. Have faith in Me that I know what I’m doing. Trust Me, you wouldn’t want the view from my eyes. I will continue to care for you, watch over you, and meet your needs. You only have to trust Me. Although I have a much bigger task than you, it seems as if you have so much trouble just doing your simple part. How hard can trust be?
7) Share: You were taught to share when you were only two years old. When did you forget? That rule still applies. Share with those who are less fortunate than you. Share your joy with those who need encouragement. Share your laughter with those who haven’t heard any in such a long time. Share your tears with those who have forgotten how to cry. Share your faith with those who have none.
8) Be patient: I managed to fix it so in just one lifetime you could have so many diverse experiences. You grow from a child to an adult, have children, change jobs many times, learn many trades, travel to so many places, meet thousands of people, and experience so much. How can you be so impatient then when it takes Me a little longer than you expect to handle something on My to-do-list? Trust in My timing, for My timing is perfect.
9) Be kind: Be kind to others, for I love them just as much as I love you. They may not dress like you, or talk like you, or live the same way you do, but I still love you all. Please try to get along, for My sake. I created each of you different in some way. It would be too boring if you were all identical. Please know I love each of your differences.
10) Love yourself: As much as I love you, how can you not love yourself? You were created by Me for one reason only--to be loved, and to love in return. I am a God of Love. Love Me. Love your neighbors. But also love yourself. It baffles when I see you so angry with yourself when things go wrong. You are very precious to Me. Don’t ever forget that!
With all my heart I love you, God.
Source unknown
archie
When we accept God’s love, we must also learn to accept all those whom He loves, everyone.
Never give up on people even if you’ll never see them again, continue to pray for them.
OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
1) If you follow the Lord for only what He can do for you, your walk with Him is shallow.
If you love Him enough to ask Him what you can do for Him, then your relationship is growing deep.
2) If you only pray to God when things are tough or you need something, then your walk with Him is shallow.
If you find yourself praying to Him many times a day just because you love to be in His presence, then your relationship is growing deep.
3) If you get mad at God or disappointed in Him when He doesn’t do what you want, then your walk with Him is shallow.
If you can praise God no matter what is going on in your life, then your relationship with Him is growing deep.
4) If you love God only because of what He does, then your walk with Him is shallow.
If you love and reverence Him for who He is, then your relationship with Him is growing deep.
5) If you think you have to beg God or twist His arm to get Him to answer your prayers, then your walk with Him is shallow.
If you believe that God wants to answer the prayers you pray in line with His will, then your relationship with Him is growing deep.
The Power of a Praying Woman by Stormie Omartian
archie
When we are at the end of our rope, thank God and grasp His hand.
Maybe the most powerful prayer is, “God, help me.”
MISTAKEN IDENTIFY
A stressed out woman on a busy boulevard was tailgating a man. Suddenly, the light turned yellow, just in front of him. He did the right thing, stopping at the crosswalk, even though he could have beaten the red light by accelerating through the intersection. The tailgating woman was furious and honked her horn, screaming in frustration as she missed her chance to get through the intersection, dropping her cell phone and makeup.
As she was still in mid-rant, she heard a tap on her window and looked up into the face of a very serious police officer. The officer ordered her to exit her car with her hands up. He took her to the police station where she was searched, fingerprinted, photographed, and placed in a holding cell. After a couple of hours, a policeman approached the cell and opened the door. She was escorted back to the booking desk where the arresting officer was waiting with her personal effects. He said, "I’m very sorry for this mistake. You see, I pulled up behind your car while you were blowing your horn, flipping off the guy in front of you, and cussing a blue streak at him. I noticed the ‘What Would Jesus Do’ bumper sticker, the ‘Choose Life’ license plate holder, the ‘Follow Me to Sunday-School bumper sticker, and the chrome-plated Christian fish emblem on the trunk. Naturally, I assumed you had stolen the car".
Source unknown
archie
When we allow our fears to rule our lives, we make them more powerful than God.
Maybe when we pray we may want to pray for a change of character instead of circumstances.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN LIFE
The most useless thing to do: Worry
The greatest joy: Giving
The greatest loss: Loss of self-respect
The most satisfying work: Helping others
The ugliest personality trait: Selfishness
The most endangered species: Dedicated leaders
The greatest shot in the arm: Encouragement
The greatest problem to overcome: Fear
Most effective sleeping pill: Peace of mind
The most crippling failure disease: Excuses
The most powerful force in life: Love
The most dangerous pariah: A gossiper
The world’s most incredible computer: The brain
The worst thing to be without: Hope
The deadliest weapon: The tongue
The two most power-filled words: I can
The greatest asset: Faith
The most worthless emotion: Self-pity
The most prized possession: Integrity
The most beautiful attire: A smile
The most powerful channel of communication: Prayer
The most contagious spirit: Enthusiasm
The most important thing in life: God.
Source unknown
archie
When we allow God to control our lives He will produce in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Meditate (think clearly and cleanly) and ask God to direct our thoughts.
EVERYTHING I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT LIFE, I LEARNED FROM NOAH’S ARK
1) Don’t miss the boat.
2) Remember that we are all in the same boat.
3) Plan ahead. It wasn’t raining when Noah built the Ark.
4) Stay fit. When you’re six hundred years old, someone may ask you to do something really big.
5) Don’t listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to be done.
6) Build your future on high ground.
7) For safety’s sake, travel in pairs.
8) Speed isn’t always an advantage. The snails were on board with the cheetahs.
9) When you’re stressed, float a while.
10) Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.
11) No matter the storm, when you are with God, there’s always a rainbow waiting.
GotQuestions.org