Week End April 27, 2018
{quotes}
Pray as if everything depended on God. Act as if everything depended on you.
St. Augustine
Fill what’s empty, empty what’s full. Scratch where it itches.
Alice Roosevelt Longworth
Many have difficulty learning the gospel well enough to tell others, but have no trouble understanding and repeating the latest gossip.
Praise God for the dreary day as much for the brilliant day.
Sunsets are God’s proof that endings can be beautiful.
Serenity is not freedom from the storm, but peace amid the storm.
{blessings}
Branches
Your family is like branches on a tree. You grow in different directions, a branch snaps off, a new one grows. May your family be blessed to provide fruit for the hungry, shade for the weary, and a place where the little birdies feel at home.
State of Happiness
Happiness is a state of activity. Be busy doing things to help other people and you honor God. May you be blessed with activity that’s meaningful and may you find yourself in a happy place.
Greater Strength
The heavenly bodies are large, you are small – but mighty. May God bless you with the power of a greater strength. You are one in a multitude of do-gooders making your mark here on Earth.
Marriage Expectations
An awful lot of people expect an awful lot from marriage. Too much. They feel entitled to an ecstatically ever after. And when the days come that are filled with simply existing instead of ecstasy – they are desperately disappointed. May you be blessed with expectations which are real, reasonable, and set by God.
God’s Gracious Plan
You are responsible for the effort, not the outcome. God is the One who determines what happens at the end. May you be blessed to always try your hardest, do your best, and have faith—it will all work out according to God’s gracious plan.
{prayers}
Whatever Is
I start this day with a happy heart. Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, whatever is excellent, whatever is worthy of praise – I will think about these things. There is no room in my mind for dark thoughts and no space in my heart for unhappy feelings. My relationships will be harmonious. Every condition will improve. Every task will be easier.
Parenting Lessons
Dear God, There are times I want to give You parenting lessons. This child is crabby, ungrateful, and demanding. And still You give me gifts. You spoil me with treats I don’t deserve, you love me even when I am bad. I’m beginning to think there’s a lesson here. To learn from Your generosity, to have patience, and to love without condition. Thank You for the standards You set. As I was created in Your image, I will try harder to live in it. Amen
Lord, I Have Time + Full Version of the Prayer
You who are beyond time, You smile to see me fighting it, and you know what You are doing. You make no mistakes in your distribution of time. You give me time to do what You want me to do. But I must not lose time, waste time, or kill time. For time is a gift that you give me, a perishable gift, one that does not keep. All the time I have, the years of my life, days of my years, hours of my days – they are all mine. Mine to fill, quietly, calmly, completely, up to the brim. To offer them to You, that of their insipid water You may make a rich wine. I am not asking You for time to do this and then that. But, for Your grace to do conscientiously what You want me to do, in the time that You give me.
People complain that they haven’t enough time. They look at their lives from too human a point of view. There is always time to do what God wants us to do, but we must put ourselves completely into each moment that God offers us.
Abbe Michel Quosit
In Your Light
God. Enveloped in Your light may I be a beacon to those in search of light. sheltered in Your peace may I offer shelter to those in need of peace. Embraced by Your presence so may I be present to others. amen
Rabbi Rami Shapiro
Week’s Close
I come to You today God, as the week draws to a close. I ask your favor. I have problems that loom large. Worries that won’t quit. I am praying for a complete turn of circumstances to end the position I am in. Help me to put on a positive face, and have just the right attitude. To feel, Oh God, Your encouragement, to know Your support. To be cheerful and giving. To enjoy the week’s end with a few laughs, and whole lot of love. Praise to You who answers my prayers.
{stories, features, video}
Story: The Little Armadillo
Feature: The Surprising Way Gratitude Connects You to Others
Video: Celebration Playing for Change
Feature: How I Healed My Depression: One Woman’s Story
Picture Story: Curious Can I count on you to be there, no matter what? She said. And I said No. And she said, what kind of friend are you? And I said the kind who won’t lie to you any time you want. And I think she kept me around as a curiosity after that.
Video: Bryan Stevenson – We Need to Talk About Injustice
{bible affirmations}
Proverbs 15:4
Gentle words are a tree of life, a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit. Top 10 Most Expressive Words: The most bitter word, ALONE The most tragic, DEATH The most reverent, MOTHER The most beautiful, LOVE The most cruel, REVENGE The most peaceful, TRANQUIL The saddest, FORGOTTEN The warmest, FRIENDSHIP The coldest, NO The most comforting, FAITH
I will choose my words carefully for the betterment of the human spirit and with reverence for the Holy Spirit.
Genesis 47:12
Joseph provided all the needs of his father, his brothers, and all his father’s family, down to the very youngest.
I will reach out to a family member who needs my spiritual support.
Genesis 28:15
God said to Jacob I am with you. Not always on your side never in your control often invisible to you but, I am with you forever in to eternity.
When I hear God say, “I am with you” it is a life long promise. Nothing more. Nothing less.
Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with joy and peace. Trust in the Lord and your spirit will overflow with hope by the grace and the power of God.
Just for today…I will firmly believe, despite appearances, that the good Providence of God cares for me as no one else who exists in this world.
Leviticus 19:34
Love your neighbor as you love yourself.
I love all people even the ones I don’t like. Especially those.