The Christmas Stranger

The spirit of the holiday came to her home just when she needed it most.
By Natalie Walker Whitlock
Excerpted from "A Christmas Filled with Miracles," by Mary Ellen Angelscribe.
Used without permission. Posted without rights. This is shared somehow to inspire you.

December was especially bleak; the weather was cold and dark, reflecting my feelings.
I usually welcomed this time of year, savoring every minute of the holiday season,
but this year it was different. Financial worries weighed heavy on my spirits,
and my husband David worked grueling hours to make ends meet.
There was always too much to do and too little time.
Too many needs and too little money.
Moreover, I had struggled with post-partum depression since the birth of my fourth
child a few months before, and it made Christmastime especially tough.
It seemed every glad carol and glittering ornament mocked my despair.
Thankfully, my children seemed unfazed by my less-than-jolly attitude.
They carefully penned their letters to Santa and made red and green paper decorations for our spindly Christmas tree. I didn't want to spoil the holidays for them,
yet I felt entirely justified in feeling sorry for myself.
Day after dreary day blurred together until suddenly it was Sunday, December 24.
I was alone with the children, as David worked yet another Christmas Eve at the hospital.
An empty sadness filled my heart as I dressed and readied my family for church, attending more out of habit and obligation than desire. If I had expected some renewal from the service, it wasn't to be, and I couldn't wait for it to be over. Being in the presence of so many happy people was almost more than I could bear. After herding the kids into the car, I charged homeward, anxious to finish the day's preparations. In my haste, I accidentally passed our usual turn-off. As we detoured down the unfamiliar street, I noticed an old man up ahead. He walked with a pronounced limp, and he struggled to carry a heavy grocery sack. Suddenly, inspiration overcame discretion--and going against caution and my better judgment--I pulled over. "Hello," I called through the open passenger's side window. "Can we give you a lift somewhere?"
The stranger hesitated before answering, taking a long look at my kid-packed station wagon. "Sure," he said carefully. After he settled into the backseat, I asked him where he would like to go. "I don't know," he replied quietly. Before I could reply, my children had invited the shabby stranger to our house for dinner. "I suppose you could come over until you figure something else out..." I muttered. As we drove, I introduced myself and my children. Our passenger introduced himself simply as "Richard." As it turned out, Richard truly was a stranger--just passing through town on his way to nowhere in particular. He lived wherever nightfall found him. All that he owned he carried in an overstuffed shopping bag. Once home, my children had no trouble warming up to our visitor, but getting Richard to open up was like cracking a vault rusted shut by years of disuse. Yet, they persevered. They gathered around, asking him question after question, prodding and prying until his history and its neglected cache were slowly revealed to us. We discovered that Richard had served in two wars, worked on the railroad, and hitchhiked across North America. He had lost his sweetheart and young son many years ago in the same accident that left him crippled. Afterward, he bounced around from job to job, and ended up homeless and fighting an addiction to alcohol.
This Christmas found Richard a physically and mentally broken man. Richard's hard life and years on the streets were reflected in his careworn face. His appearance was haggard and dirty. He coughed frequently and smelled faintly of whiskey. And yet...my children saw none of this. They gathered around him, asking question after question. They listened eagerly and treated him with the familiarity of a long-lost relation. Where I had seen a pitiful stranger, my children saw a kindly old man. They saw in Richard a fellow human being who could love and be loved. They saw a friend. When dinner was ready, Richard ate like he hadn't had a meal in days. I pretended not to notice when he tucked an extra piece of bread in his coat pocket. Afterward, I invited him to rest in the big recliner; he was sound asleep before the dishes were cleared. While he slept, I undertook the business of finding Richard a place to stay for the night. But who could I reach on Christmas Eve? Who would be available at this hour? As I had feared, the calls to each charity and agency were met with an answering machine or a terse "We're full." When there seemed nothing else to do--save turn him out on the street--Richard became our guest for the night. Richard accepted the invitation and thanked us with the graciousness of a refined gentleman. He thanked me for the home-cooked meal, the pleasant company, and for the best sleep he'd had in years. Then he said good-bye to each child. It was a tender scene as they parted with their newfound friend. Later, as I lay in my warm, comfortable bed, I contemplated Richard and his misfortunes. I was humbled as I recalled how that very morning I had been so pessimistic and ungrateful for my own abundant life. My introspection was interrupted by quiet footsteps as my 6-year-old son appeared at the foot of my bed. "Mom, are you awake?" "Yes, Jeffrey," I whispered. "What if we hadn't given Richard a ride?" He asked pensively. As a single shaft of moonlight parted the darkness of the room, illuminating my son's guileless face, I was filled with emotion. Then a lonely old man would have spent Christmas Eve cold and hungry, I thought, my eyes brimming with tears. And I said, "I guess we might never have known what a wonderful person he is." As I pulled my dear son close, the two of us shared a moment of eloquent silence, and I offered a voiceless prayer, Thank you, God, for sending us Richard.
When Christmas morning came, the kids were almost as excited to see Richard again as they were to open their presents. They begged and they pestered until I agreed to wake him. But, to our dismay and disappointment, Richard was gone. The room was left so neat, it almost looked as if no one had even stayed there. We never saw Richard again. My family remembers that Christmas fondly. Even though Richard wasn't physically with us, he wasn't forgotten. Because of Richard, our Christmas was full of blessing and thanksgiving. And because of Richard, I found the hope and happiness I was so desperately missing. The spirit and joy of the holidays was never stronger than the year we opened our hearts and our home to a stranger.

Be Mindful O Lord!

Be mindful, O Lord, of those who travel by land, by sea, and by air; of the old and young, the sick, the suffering, the sorrowing, the afflicted, the captives, the needy and the poor; and upon them all send forth Thy mercies, for Thou art the Giver of all good things.

Blessing of Christmas Tree

Holy Creator of Trees, bless with your abundant grace
this our Christmas tree as a symbol of joy.
May its evergreen branches be a sign
of your never-fading promises.
May its colorful lights and ornaments call us
to decorate with love our home and our world.
May the gifts that surround this tree
be symbols of the gifts we have received
from the Tree of Christ’s Cross.
Holy Christmas tree within our home,
may Joy and Peace come and nest in your branches
and in our hearts. Amen.
- Author Unknown

Prayer for Difficult Times

Prayer for Difficult Times
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.I have sworn, and have confirmed it, to observe Thy righteous ordinances.I am afflicted very much; quicken me, O HaShem, according unto Thy word.Accept, I beseech Thee, the freewill-offerings of my mouth, O HaShem, and teach me Thine ordinances.My soul is continually in my hand; yet have I not forgotten Thy law.The wicked have laid a snare for me; yet went I not astray from Thy precepts.Thy testimonies have I taken as a heritage for ever; for they are the rejoicing of my heart.I have inclined my heart to perform Thy statutes, for ever, at every step.
- Psalms 119: 105-112

ALL TIME PRAYER

Oh Lord, kindly forgive my wrong actions done knowingly or unknowingly, either through my organs of action (hand, feet, speech) or through my organs of perception (eyes, ears) or by my mind. Glory unto Thee O Lord, who is the ocean of kindness. The most Holy and Forgiving FATHER.

Child Eveming Hymn

Child's Evening Hymn

I hear no voice, I feel no touch,
I see no glory bright;
But yet I know that God is near,
In darkness as in light.

He watches ever by my side,
And hears my whispered prayer:
The Father for His little child
Both night and day doth care.

- Anonymous

Psalm of Protection

Psalm of Protection
The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?
When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh,
when my enemies and my foes attack me,
they will stumble and fall.
Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then will I be confident.
- Psalms 27: 1-3

In Praise of GOD

You are holy, Lord, the only God,and
Your deeds are wonderful.
You are strong.
You are great.
You are the Most High.
You are Almighty.
You, Holy Father are King of heaven and earth.
You are Three and One, Lord God, all Good.
You are Good, all Good, supreme Good,Lord God, living and true.
You are love.
You are wisdom.
You are humility.
You are endurance.
You are rest.
You are peace.
You are joy and gladness.
You are justice and moderation.
You are all our riches, and You suffice for us.
You are beauty.
You are gentleness.
You are our protector.
You are our guardian and defender.
You are our courage.
You are our haven and our hope.
You are our faith, our great consolation.
You are our eternal life,
Great and Wonderful Lord,
God Almighty,
Merciful Saviour.

- St. Francis of Assisi

food Prayer at Workplace...

Lord Jesus, as I enter this workplace,
I bring Your presence with me.
I speak Your peace, Your grace,
and Your perfect order into the atmosphere of this office.
I acknowledge Your Lordship over all that will be spoken,
thought, decided and accomplished within these walls.
Lord Jesus, I thank You for the gifts You have deposited in me.
I do not take them lightly, but commit to using them responsibly and well.
Give me a fresh supply of truth and beauty;
on which to draw as I do my job.
Anoint my creativity,
my ideas, my energy so that even my smallest task may bring You honor.
Lord, when I am confused, guide me.
When I am weary, energize me.
Lord, when I am burned out, infuse me with the light of Your Holy Spirit.
May the work that I do and the way I do it,
bring hope, life, and courage to all that I come in contact with today.
And Oh Lord, even in this day's most stressful moment,
may I rest in You.
In the name of Jesus my savior I pray.
Amen.
- Unknown

Prayer of a Believer

Lord Jesus, I want to know you personally.
Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins.
I open the door of my life to you and ask you to come in as my Savior and Lord.
Take control of my life.
Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life.
Make me the kind of person you want me to be.

Make my senses be focus upon You always.
That I see You before everyone and everything.
In my sleep and awaken times.
Now and forever. Amen

The Jewish Atheist

The Jewish Atheist
On New York's Upper West Side lived an assimilated Jew who was a militant atheist. But he sent his son to Trinity School because, despite its denominational roots, it’s a great school and completely secular.After a month, the boy comes home and says casually, “By the way Dad, do you know what ‘Trinity’ means? It means the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.”The father can barely control his rage. He seizes his son by the shoulders and declares, “Danny, I’m going to tell you something now and I want you never to forget it. There is only one God. AND we don’t believe in Him!”

Restore our Fortunes

Restore Our Fortunes
When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,

then were we like those who dream.

Then was our mouth filled with laughter,

and our tongue with shouts of joy. Then they said among the nations,

"The Lord has done great things for them."

The Lord has done great things for us,

and we are glad indeed.

Restore our fortunes, O Lord,

like the watercourses of the Negev.

Those who sowed with tears will reap with songs of joy.

Those who go out weeping,

carrying the seed,

will come again with joy,

shouldering their sheaves.
- Psalms 126: 1-6

Prayer for Children Going to School

Prayer for Children Going to School
A new adventure awaits themas they prepare for school.
Excitement for new possibilities
and fear of the unknownmingle in their hearts.
Thoughts of achievement and failureslow their footsteps.
Bless all children this day, O God.
Give them inquiring and discerning hearts,
courage to persevere in all they undertake,
the gift of joy and wonder in all things,
laughter and love to share with all,
and sure and certain knowledge
of your unfailing love.Amen.


- V C A

The Sinner's Prayer

The Sinner's Prayer
Try me, O God, and search the ground of my heart: prove me and examine my thoughts. Look well if there be any wickedness in me, any root of bitterness yet undiscovered; and lead me in the way everlasting. Show me the true state of my soul. Bring me out from every false refuge. Strip off every deceitful covering, every covering that is not of Thy Spirit. Forbid that the anchor of my hope should be cast, or the house of my dependence built, on any but Christ, the Rock of Ages. Forbid that I should rest short of that repentance which is Thy gift, and is connected with life eternal: and forbid, O forbid, that I should sit down without aspiring to that conformity unto Thee in righteousness and true holiness, abstracted from which repentance is false and faith is dead.

- Augustus Toplady

Hard Negotiations...

Moses Negotiates the CommandmentsThe Hebrew people were sitting around Mt. Sinai. You could hear only a subdued murmur among them, but you could feel the tension in the air.For hours now, Moses had been on top of the mountain, hidden from their gaze by clouds wafting around its top. Sometimes the clouds became dark and you could hear thunder rolling down. In spite of the warm weather, this caused a shudder among the waiting mass.The end of day was approaching and dusk was beginning to set in when suddenly a figure came through the clouds and walked down the steep mountainside carrying a heavy load. It was Moses.Moses set down his load and raised his hands."Friends," he said. "Friends, it was hard work and I have done my best. I have negotiated with Him. I used every possible argument, every trick I could think of—and I think I was successful. The good news is: I brought him down from 15 to 10. The bad news is: Adultery is still in."

The Nuns Enter Heaven

(Let's chuckle a little).


Three nuns died and visited St. Peter at the pearly gates. St. Peter said he would admit them if they each answer one question.

He turned to the first nun and asked, "Who was the first man?"

"Adam," the nun confidently replied. The trumpets sounded and the angels sang as the gates swung open and she walked into heaven.

St. Peter turned to the second nun. "Who was the first woman?""Eve," she replied. The trumpets sounded and the angels sang.

Then St. Peter turned to the last nun. "What was the first thing Eve said to Adam?"

The nun paused for a moment. "Gee, that's a hard one!"

The trumpets sounded and the angels sang.

Spouse's Prayer

Lord Jesus,
grant that I and my spouse may have a true
and understanding love for each other.
Grant that we may both
be filled with faith and trust.
Give us the grace to live
with each other in peace and harmony.
May we always bear with one another's weaknesses
and grow from each other's strengths.
help us to forgive one another's failings
and grant us patience, kindness, cheerfulness
and the spirit of placing the well-being
of one another ahead of self.

May the love that brought us together
grow and mature with each passing year.
Bring us both ever closer to You
through our love for each other.
Let our love grow to perfection.

The Haircut

The Haircut
from BiliefNet

A young boy had just gotten his driving permit. He asked his father, who was a minister, if they could discuss the use of the car. His father took him to his study and said to him, "I'll make a deal with you. You bring your grades up, study your Bible a little and get your hair cut and we'll talk about it." After about a month the boy came back and again asked his father if they could discuss use of the car. They again went to the father's study where his father said, "Son, I've been real proud of you. You have brought your grades up, you've studied your Bible diligently, but you didn't get your hair cut!"

The young man waited a moment and replied, "You know Dad, I've been thinking about that. Samson had long hair, Moses had long hair, Noah had long hair, and even Jesus had long hair...."

To which his father replied, "Yes, and they walked everywhere they went!"

I Also Know and Agree....That

We don't know what the future holds, but we know Who holds the future.

Anonymous

Joke a Minute!

Jesus is Watching You!

There was a burglar who broke into a home and started to gather the items he wanted to take. All of a sudden he heard, "Jesus is watching you!" He didn't see anything in the dark house, so he went on with what he was doing.

He heard, "Jesus is watching you!" again and then he really wondered who was saying that. He turned on the flashlight, scanned the room, and finally saw a parrot.

"Did you say that?" asked the burglar.

"Yes," replied the parrot.

"By the way, what's your name?" the burglar inquired."Moses," answered the parrot.

"That's a strange name for a parrot. Who named you that?"

"The same people who named their rotweiller Jesus!"

An Evening Family Prayer

An Evening Family Prayer


Lord, behold our family here assembled.
We thank you for this place in which we dwell,
for the love that unites us,
for the peace accorded to us this day,
for the hope with which we expect the morrow;
for the health, the work, the food and the bright skies
that make our lives delightful;
for the angels that trully watch us; and
for our friends in all parts of the earth. Amen.

Prayer to the Holy Spirit

Prayer to the Holy Spirit


Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy.
Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy.
Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I love but what is holy.
Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy.
Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy.
Amen.


- St. Augustine

Let Us Pray

Please take a moment to relax your mind
and humble your heart to focus on Christ.

Allow God to be the only person
on your mind while you read this prayer.
If we can take the time
to read long jokes, stories, etc.,
we should give the same respect to this prayer.
Friends who pray together, stay together.

Dear Lord, I thank You for this day.
I thank You for my being able to see and to hear this morning.
I'm blessed because You are a forgiving God and an understanding God.
You have done so much for me and You keep on blessing me.
Forgive me this day for everything I have done, said or thought that was not pleasing to you.
I ask now for Your forgiveness.

Please keep me safe from all danger and harm.
Help me to start this day with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude.
Let me make the best of each and every day to clear my mind
so that I can hear from You.

Please broaden my mind that I can accept all things.

Let me not whine and whimper over things I have no control over.
Let me continue to see sin through God's eyes and acknowledge it as evil.
And when I sin, let me repent, and confess with my mouth
my wrongdoing, and receive the forgiveness of God.

And when this world closes in on me,
let me remember Jesus' example
-- to slip away and find a quiet place to pray.
It's the best response when I'm pushed beyond my limits.
I know that when I can't pray, You listen to my heart.
Continue to use me to do Your will.

Continue to bless me that I may be a blessing to others.
Keep me strong that I may help the weak.
Keep me uplifted that I may have words of encouragement for others.
I pray for those who are lost and can't find their way.
I pray for those who are misjudged and misunderstood.
I pray for those who don't know You intimately.
I pray for those who will read this without sharing your love with others. I pray for those who don't believe.
But I thank you that I believe.

I believe that God changes people and God changes things.
I pray for all my sisters and brothers.
For each and every family member in their households.
I pray for peace, love and joy in their homes
that they are out of debt and all their needs are met.

I pray that every eye that reads this knows there is no problem,
no circumstance, or situation greater than God.
Every battle is in Your hands for You to fight.
I pray that these words be received into the hearts of every eye
that sees them and every mouth that confesses them willingly.

This is my prayer.
In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Just repeat this phrase and see how God moves!!
Father God, I love you and I need you,
come into my heart, be my Lord and my Saviour.

Prayer the the Holy Spirit

Come Holy Spirit, fill my heart with your Holy Gifts. Let my weakness be penetrated with your strength this very day that I may fulfill all the duties of my state conscientiously, that i may do what is right and just. Let my charity be such as to offend no one, and hurt no one's feelings;so generous as to pardon sincerely any wrong done to me. Assist me, O Holy Spirit, in all trials of life, enlighten me in my ignorance, advise me in my doubts, strengthen me in my weaknesses, help me in all need and embarrassment, protect me in temptations and console me in afflictions. Graciously hear me, O Holy Spirit, and pour Your light into my heart, my soul, and my mind. Assist me to live a holy life and grow in goodness and grace. Amen.

Come Holy Spirit with Your light - with Your grace - with Your strength - with Your consolation - with Your charity, that I may be made worthy to live a life of holy love. AMEN!

Prayer for the Sick

Dear Jesus, Healer of the sick, I turn to You in this time of illness. Alleviate my worry and sorrow with Your gentle love and grant me the grace and strength to accept this burden. I place myself in Your care and humbly ask that You restore me to health again. Above all, grant me the grace to acknowledge Your holy will and know that you love me and are with me in this, my most difficult time. Amen.

cr/mmc

Healing Prayer at Bedtime

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 Lord, if there is anything 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.


cr:mmc

Praising God

Praising God
- The First Thing! Do you know that praising God is the best thing to do first before anything else? Have you ever been in a situation that you feel all alone? Or have you encountered a difficult situation in your life and you don't know what to do, like losing your job or suffering the loss of someone very close to your heart? Consider the good times such as when you receive a raise from your boss or earn high marks at school? What do you usually do during these moments? Praising God makes every circumstance of our lives complete, essential, and eminently worthwhile. Webster defines the word praise as to say good things about and it is synonymous to words such as admire, commend, extol, honor, and worship. A definition of Christian praise is the joyful thanking and adoring of God, the celebration of His goodness and grace.1 This simply implies that the act of praising is rightfully due to God alone.
Praising God - Why? Why is praising God important? The reasons are countless. First, God deserves to be praised and He is worthy to receive our praise:
"For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods" (Psalm 96:4).
"Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom" (Psalm 145:3).
"I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies" (2 Samuel 22:4).
"You are worthy, our LORD and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being" (Revelation 4:11).
Second, praising God is useful and favorable for us. By praising God, we are reminded of the greatness of God! His power and presence in our lives is reinforced in our understanding. "Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; sing praise to his name, for that is pleasant" (Psalm 135:3). Third, praise discharges strength in faith, which causes God to move on our behalf. "From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger" (Psalm 8:2). Praising God also transforms the spiritual environment that we have. 2 Chronicles 5:13-14 clearly illustrates the alteration that happened when the Levites gave praise and thanks to the Lord an

Prayer of Thanks

Prayer of Thanks
For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food,
For love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.
Father in heaven,We thank thee.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Laff In...

The Twenty and the OneA well-worn one dollar bill and a similarly distressed twenty dollar bill arrived at a Federal Reserve Bank to be retired. As they moved along the conveyor belt to be burned, they struck up a conversation. The twenty dollar bill reminisced about its travels all over the county. "I've had a pretty good life," the twenty proclaimed. "Why I've been to Las Vegas and Atlantic City, the finest restaurants in New York, performances on Broadway, and even a cruise to the Caribbean.""Wow!" said the one dollar bill. "You've really had an exciting life!" "So tell me," says the twenty, "where have you been throughout your lifetime?"The one dollar bill replies, "Oh, I've been to the Methodist Church, the Baptist Church, the Lutheran Church ..." The twenty dollar bill interrupts, "What's a church?"

The Path to Eternal Life

The Path to Eternal Life
Oh Divine Master,Grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved as to love,
For it is in giving that we receive,
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned
And it is in dying that we are bornTo eternal life.

- St. Francis of Assisi

He said sooo!

Because I Said So!
After creating heaven and earth, God created Adam and Eve.
And the first thing He said to them was, "Don't."
"Don't what?" Adam asked.
"Don't eat the forbidden fruit," God said.
"Forbidden fruit? We got forbidden fruit? Hey, Eve! We got Forbidden Fruit!"
"No way!"
"Yes WAY!"
"Don't eat that fruit!" said God.
"Why?"
"Because I'm your Creator and I said so!" said God, wondering why he hadn't stopped after making the elephants.
A few minutes later, God saw the kids having an apple break and was angry.
"Didn't I tell you not to eat that fruit?" God asked.
"Uh huh," Adam replied.
"Then why did you?"
"I dunno," Eve answered.
"She started it!" Adam said.
"Did Not!"
"DID so!"
"DID NOT!"
Having had it with the two of them, God's punishment was that Adam and Eve should have children of their own.

Having fun yet?

Poor AttendancePreacher:
"How come I never see you in church anymore, Morris?"
Morris: "There are too many hypocrites there, Reverend."
Preacher: "Don't worry, Morris; there's always room for one more."

Let's Laugh a Little

The Best Way to Pray
A monsignor, a pastor and a guru sat discussing the best positions for prayer while a telephone repairman worked nearby. "Kneeling is definitely the best way to pray," the Monsignor said. "No," said the pastor. "I get the best results standing with my hands outstretched to Heaven.""You're both wrong," the guru said. "The most effective prayer position is lying down on the floor."The repairman could contain himself no longer. "Hey, fellas," he interrupted, "The best prayin' I ever did was when I was hangin' upside down from a telephone pole."

A Prayer of the Husband

A prayer of the husband:

Let us begin by reading this :
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
"Dear Joseph, chaste spouse of Mary and heir to the royal line of David, Patron of the Universal Church, I address you today under your title of Terror of Demons. One look from your calm gaze strikes fear into any evil with designs upon my life and my family. In order to imitate you in your protection and provision for Mary and Jesus, I ask you to adopt me, too, as you adopted Jesus. Yes, bring me under your roof and share with me your kingly confidence. See that my heart is good,despite my sins, as your heart is good. In all things,and in every thing, and in everything beyond everything, and as a man before another man, I ask for your friendship and guidance for my intention. Ask the Holy Trinity to grant my miracle, using whatever supernatural and human means are required. Make my virtue and holiness so like yours that when women see me, they see you.Let women feel you, hear you, and pray with you when they feel, hear, and pray with me. Teach me, as you taught Jesus, to learn that I must die to every impurity, every selfish desire, and every act of self-indulgence that harms the women in my life. Let me die, and let Joseph live! Let your powerful Heart of David triumph in my life as husband and father beyond my wildest dreams. Not only do I say Yes with you, I so so with the full confidence of a man who has been baptized into your holy family. Do not delay. Now is the time for action. You, Joseph, surely taught your son to pray the Our Father, so with you, I pray to the Almighty Father: THY will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Amen."

A Prayer of a Wife

A prayer of a wife…..

Let us begin by reading this... in the nameof the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit..."O Sweet Lady Saint Mary, you taught us how to be a perfect woman and gave a broken world the miracle of Jesus not by grasping for worldly success, but instead, by offering your unconditional "Yes" to Saint Gabriel and trusting in God's plan, even though you did not foresee the suffering this would bring you at the Crucifixion, or understand how it could be. You did not even know that Joseph was being prepared to be your husband. Your fiat changed the world, right up to this very moment, as I sit at my computer screen, or read this prayer on a printed page. Woman to woman, I ask for yourDivine Spouse, the Holy Spirit, to plant the seed of trust in my heart, despite all my fears of being hurt and exposing myself to the cruelties or ignorance of imperfect men. You completely trusted an imperfect man, a husband born to Original Sin, Saint Joseph,and today I ask you to go to Joseph, and ask him to bring my intention, my miracle, before your Son, and to begin granting it on this perfect day. With you, with trembling heart, I echo throughout time and eternity your perfect fiat: Let it be done unto me according to thy word. Amen

Let's Share Some Laughs

A Letter Addressed to God

A letter written in a childish scrawl came to the post office addressed to "God". A postal employee, not knowing exactly what to do with the letter, opened it and read: "Dear God, my name is Jimmy. I am 6 years old. My father is dead and my Mom is having a hard time raising me and my sister. Would you please send us $500?" The postal employee was touched. He showed the letter to his fellow workers and all decided to kick in a few dollars each and send it to the family. They were able to raise $300.A couple of weeks later the same post office received a second letter addressed to God. The boy thanked God for the recent infusion of cash, but ended with this request: "Next time would you send the money directly to us? If you send it through the post office they deduct $200."

Prayer for Friends

Prayer for Friends

You have created us to live in community,
O God of love; bless our friends who provide us
with the grace and love of an extended family.
Endow them with the riches of your blessings:
good health, sight, and mobility,
that they may enjoy the wonders of your creation
and share their delight with others.
Bless them with keen minds and compassionate hearts
that they may create a better life for all.
Guard them from injustice, oppression, and evil
that they may know freedom and hope lifelong.
In their waking and in their sleeping,
in their laughter and in their tears,
surround them with your love
until the end of their days;
and so bring them to eternal life in peace.
Through Jesus Christ, our Savior.
Amen.

- Vienna Cobb Anderson

Installing Assistance. . .

INSTALLING LOVE

Tech Support: Yes, ... how can I help you?

Customer: Well, after much consideration, I've decided to install Love. Can you guide me though the process?

Tech Support: Yes, I can help you. Are you ready to proceed?

Customer: Well, I'm not very technical, but I think I'm ready. What do I do first?

Tech Support: The first step is to open your Heart. Have you located your Heart?

Customer: Yes, but there are several other programs running now. Is it okay to install Love while they are running?

Tech Support: What programs are running ?

Customer: Let's see, I have Past Hurt, Low Self-Esteem, Grudge and Resentment running right now.

Tech Support: No problem, Love will gradually erase Past Hurt from your current operating system.

It may remain in your permanent memory but it will no longer disrupt other programs.

Love will eventually override Low Self-Esteem with a module of its own called High Self-Esteem. However, you have to completely turn off Grudge and Resentment. Those programs prevent Love from being properly installed. Can you turn those off ?

Customer: I don't know how to turn them off. Can you tell me how?

Tech Support: With pleasure. Go to your start menu and invoke Forgiveness.

Do this as many times as necessary until Grudge and Resentment have been completely erased.

Customer: Okay, done! Love has started installing itself. Is that normal?

Tech Support: Yes, but remember that you have only the base program. You need to begin connecting to other Hearts in order to get the upgrades.

Customer: Oops! I have an error message already. It says, "Error - Program not run on external components " What should I do?

Tech Support: Don't worry. It means that the Love program is set up to run on Internal Hearts, but has not yet been run on your Heart.

In non-technical terms, it simply means you have to Love yourself before you can Love others.

Customer: So, what should I do?

Tech Support: Pull down Self-Acceptance; then click on the following files:

Forgive-Self; Realize Your Worth; and Acknowledge your Limitations.

Customer: Okay, done.

Tech Support: Now, copy them to the "My Heart" directory. The system will overwrite any conflicting files and begin patching faulty programming. Also, you need to delete Verbose Self-Criticism from all directories and empty your Recycle Bin to make sure it is completely gone and never comes back.

Customer: Got it. Hey! My heart is filling up with new files. Smile is playing on my monitor and Peace and Contentment are copying themselves all over My Heart. Is this normal?

Tech Support: Sometimes. For others it takes awhile, but eventually everything gets it at the proper time. So Love is installed and running. One more thing before we hang up. Love is Freeware. Be sure to give it and its various modules to everyone you meet.

They will in turn share it with others and return some cool modules back to you.

Customer: Thank you, God.

Prayer of Praise

Prayer of Praise


Blessed be He who spoke and the world came into being; blessed be He.
Blessed be He who maintains the creation.
Blessed be He who speaks and performs.
Blessed be He who decrees and fulfils.
Blessed be He who has mercy upon the earth.
Blessed be He who has mercy on his creatures.
Blessed be He who pays a good reward to those who fear Him.
Blessed be He who lives for ever, and endures to eternity.
Blessed be He who redeems and saves; blessed be His name... Yahweh!

There's no charge for LOVE

There's No Charge For L o v e
A farmer had some puppies he needed to sell. He painted a sign advertising the 4 pups. And set about nailing it to a post on the edge of his yard. As he was driving the last nail into the post, he felt a tug on his overalls. He looked down into the eyes of a little boy. "Mister," he said, "I want to buy one of your puppies." "Well," said the farmer, as he rubbed the sweat of the back of his neck, "These puppies come from fine parents and cost a good deal of money." The boy dropped his head for a moment. Then reaching deep into his pocket, he pulled out a handful of change and held it up to the farmer. "I've got thirty-nine cents. Is that enough to take a look?" "Sure," said the farmer. And with that he let out a whistle. "Here, Dolly!" he called. Out from the doghouse and down the ramp ran Dolly followed by four little balls of fur. The little boy pressed his face against the chain link fence. His eyes danced with delight. As the dogs made their way to the fence, the little boy noticed something else stirring inside the doghouse. Slowly another little ball appeared, this one noticeably smaller. Down the ramp it slid. Then in a somewhat awkward manner, the little pup began hobbling toward the others, doing its best to catch up....
"I want that one," the little boy said, pointing to the runt. The farmer knelt down at the boy's side and said, "Son, you don't want that puppy. He will never be able to run and play with you like these other dogs would." With that the little boy stepped back from the fence, reached down, and began rolling up one leg of his trousers. In doing so he revealed a steel brace running down both sides of his leg attaching itself to a specially made shoe. Looking back up at the farmer, he said, "You see sir, I don't run too well myself, and he will need someone who understands." With tears in his eyes, the farmer reach ed down and picked up the little pup. Holding it carefully he handed it to the little boy. "How much?" asked the little boy. "No charge," answered the farmer, "There's no charge for love."

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Give Ear, O Lord, to My Prayer


Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. Preserve my life, for I am devoted to you; save your servant who trusts in you. You are my God; be gracious to me, O Lord, for to you do I cry all day long. Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call on you. Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer; listen to my cry of supplication. In the day of my trouble I call on you, for you will answer me.


- Psalms 86: 1-7

RELIGIOUS JOKE

The Jewish Boy and the Muslim Boy

David, a Jewish boy, and Ali, a Muslim boy, are having a conversation.

Ali: I'm getting operated on tomorrow.

David: Oh? What are they going to do?

Ali: Circumcise me!

David: I had that done when I was just a few days old.

Ali: Did it hurt?

David: I couldn't walk for a year!

TODAY'S QUOTE!

Today's Quote

Happiness does not come from doing what you want, but wanting what you do.

PRAYER FOR PEACE

Prayer for Peace


If there is to be peace in the world,
There must be peace in the nations.

If there is to be peace in the nations,
There must be peace in the cities.

If there is to be peace in the cities,
There must be peace between neighbors.

If there is to be peace between neighbors,
There must be peace in the home.

If there is to be peace in the home,
There must be peace in the heart.

Desert Experiences

Desert Experiences

Living in a desert would change our attitudes toward life. Desert living demands getting down to the essentials of staying alive. Rich foods and drinks have to go; desert travelers survive on water and simple food-or they don’t survive at all. Being overweight is dangerous. Each person must drop to maintenance weight and calorie intake. Clothes? No room for fancy gowns or suits; only simple, sturdy protection from the burning sun and the nighttime cold.
All activity in the desert has to be slow-or else living things collapse from exertion. Energy is reserved for the essentials that maintain life. Little pleasures are the only pleasures. Little things therefore, count a lot: a handful dates, a drink of water, a spot of shade.
Getting one’s bearing is everything-because getting lost means death. Everything in the desert looks alike at first. But soon one can appreciate how different two rocks are, or two scrub trees, or two hills. What would pass unnoticed in another place or time gets noticed and noted in the desert. Little differences are appreciated.
One little place or oasis can’t support life for long. So most people who live in the desert are nomads, people on the move. They move to survive. Moving on-slowly-is a way of life.
The desert is a lonely place. There is little noise to distract one from thought. Although too much desert silence could be dangerous, a certain amount of it can call us face what is important in our lives. Desert silence provides time to listen to life and to ourselves. The desert calls us to speak only about what counts.
A desert attitude can prepare us for prayer. Sometimes we may be given a desert experience through a loss that leaves us empty enough to listen. Sometimes a desert experience is thrust upon us by illness, giving us time for nothing but listening. Or we can create a desert experience by making time to reflect in a busy and sometimes crazy world.
The desert experience gives an opportunity to listen to God. To listen to another is to forget self, to notice one person. To listen means to be open, to let go of my thoughts for the moment, to give up for a while on what I want to say.
To hear GOD we must regularly make a little silence. In that silence, I can hear the thousand ways God speaks to me each day in everything and everybody. Without some desert time alone with God, I may miss many of God’s messages in life.

The following may guide us to reflect upon God’s goodness in our Desert Experience:
1. If you have had any desert experiences in your life, name them.
2. How did each desert experience help you (or hinder you) from hearing God better in your life?
3. What qualities of the desert do you personally need so that you may hear God better in your life?
4. How can you give yourself what you need?







Fast… and Feast

Fast from worry, and feast on divine order by trusting in God.
Fast from complaining, and fest on appreciation.
Fast from negatives, and feast on affirmatives.
Fast from unrelenting pressures, and feast for unceasing prayer.
Fast from hostility, and feast on non-resistance.
Fast from bitterness, and feast on forgiveness.
Fast from self-concern, feast on compassion for others.
Fast from shadows of sorrow, and feast on the sunlight of serenity.
Fast from idle gossip, and feast on purposeful silence.
Fast from judging others, and feast on the Christ within them.
Fast from emphasis on differences, and feast on the unity of life.
Fast from apparent darkness, and feast on the reality of light.
Fast from thoughts of illness, and feast on the healing power of God.
Fast from words that pollute, feast on phrases that purify.
Fast from discontent, and feast on gratitude.
Fast from anger, and feast on optimism
Fast from personal anxiety, and feast on eternal truth.
Fast from discouragement, and feast on hope.
Fast from facts that depresses, feast on verities that uplift.
Fast from lethargy, and feast on enthusiasm.
Fast on suspicion, and feast on truth.
Fast from thoughts that weaken, and feast on promises that inspire.
Fast from problems that overwhelm, and feast on prayer that offers solution.

Soldiers in Iraq

Pictures speak louder than words... kindness knows no war

The Soldier and the Baby

In the middle of turmoil, the heart still beats...

The Soldier and the Kid

The True Meaning of Jihad

If you have any opinion regarding this, please feel free to comment...We all need to learn about "TRUTH".


The true meaning of Jihad
by Rick Mathes

The Muslim religion is the fastest growing religion per capita in the
United States, especially in the minority races!!!

Allah or Jesus?

Last month I attended my annual training session that's required for
maintaining my state prison security clearance. During the training
session there was a presentation by three speakers representing the Roman
Catholic, Protestant and Muslim faiths, who explained each of their
belief systems.

I was particularly interested in what the Islamic Imam had to say. The
Imam gave a great presentation of the basics of Islam, complete with a
video. After the presentations, time was provided for questions and
answers.

When it was my turn, I directed my question to the Imam and asked:

"Please, correct me if I'm wrong, but I understand that most Imams and
clerics of Islam have declared a holy jihad [Holy war] against the
infidels of the world. And, that by killing an infidel, which is a
command to all Muslims, they are assured of a place in heaven. If that's
the case, can you give me the definition of an infidel?"

There was no disagreement with my statements and, without hesitation, he
replied, "Non-believers!"

I responded, "So, let me make sure I have this straight. All followers of
Allah have been commanded to kill everyone who is not of your faith so
they can go to Heaven. Is that correct?"

The _expression on his face changed from one of authority and command to
that of a little boy who had just gotten caught with his hand in the
cookie jar. He sheepishly replied, "Yes."

I then stated, "Well, sir, I have a real problem trying to imagine Pope
John Paul commanding all Catholics to kill those of your faith or Dr.
Stanley ordering Protestants to do the same in order to go to Heaven!"

The Imam was speechless.

I continued, "I also have a problem with being your friend when you and
your brother clerics are telling your followers to kill me. Let me ask
you a question. Would you rather have your Allah who tells you to kill me
in order to go to Heaven or my Jesus who tells me to love you because I
am going to Heaven and He wants you to be with me?"

You could have heard a pin drop as the Imam hung his head in shame.
Needless to say, the organizers and/or promoters of the 'Diversification'
training seminar were not happy with Rick's way of dealing with the
Islamic Imam and exposing the truth about the Muslim's beliefs.

I think everyone in the US should be required to read this, but with the
liberal justice system, liberal media, and the ACLU, there is no way this
will be widely publicized. Please pass this on to all your e-mail
contacts.

This is a true story and the author, Rick Mathes, is a well known leader
in prison ministry.

How To Make Marriage A Dream...

Sent by a Friend as quoted from Kerygma...

HOW TO MAKE MARRIAGE A DREAM
(not a nightmare)

Next to your salvation, your choice of a wife or husband is the most important decision you will ever make in your life. Marriage can be one of life's most wonderful blessings, but it can be an endless nightmare to those who have chosen carelessly.
As in all other areas of our life, God will guide us to the right mate as we trust Him and submit to His will (Proverbs 3:5). A believer should seek to marry another believer, not merely one who professes to be a Christian, but whose life also demonstrates long-term stable Christian behavior.
Do not be led by your emotions. Infatuation is often mistaken for love. Real love is not something you "fall" into. It's something you commit yourself to, and sacrifice yourself for.
Never marry anyone on the basis of his/her appearance, sexual appeal or material things. Only shallow, foolish people do that. Choose a marriage companion on the basis of what's inside his/her heart, not what's on the outside.
The Bible teaches us to count the cost of all our decisions before we make them. "For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it?" (Luke 14:28). Since marriage is supposed to last a lifetime (1 Corinthians 7:39), we should carefully weigh the cost. Marriage is a sacred covenant between you and your spouse, and with God. It will be a lifetime of give-and-take, sharing and compromising. Are you willing to make these sacrifices for your mate? Remember, marriage is intended to endure, whether better or worse, "till death do you part."
A good marriage requires that God be the center. If He is not the center of your relationship with your companion prior to marriage, He'll not likely be the center of your marriage later.
Never marry anyone on the basis that he/she will change after marriage. Bad habits often become worse, not better. People are usually "already" on their "best" behavior before marriage.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

"One of the reasons so many singles are dissatisfied is that they're looking for a change in status to define their significance, rather than finding a purpose in life, granted by God, that gives them significance regardless of the status they're in."

Anonymous