The Lord keeps a clean house

I heard someone knocking at my heart´s door,
and I looked to see that it was Jesus the Lord.
I knew right away that I couldn´t let him in,
because my heart was too dirty from the stains of sin.
Jealousy and strife hung on the walls
Lying and cheating litered the halls
Envy and lust hung on the shelf
Along with alcohol and drugs that I had put there myself.
Hatred and malice was scattered all around.
Murder and robbery could even be found.
Fornication and adultery were plentiful too.
Jesus kept knocking, but what could I do?
I said, “Lord, it´s too dirty for you to come in.
Wait another day, and come back again.
Let me clean it up the best that I can,
so that when you return, I´ll be a better man”.
But the Lord said, “Child, you listen to me.
There´s no possible way you can get it clean.
You´ve tried and you´ve tried, but it still looks the same.
But I´ll clean it for you by the power of my name.
It´s something that you just cannot do alone.
But I´ll wash it with my blood, because it is my home.
So open the door and let me come in.
I´ll clean up those dirty stains of sin”.
I opened the door and he was faithful and true.
He cleaned it right up, now everything´s new.
Now when my heart gets dirty, it doesn´t stay for long.
Because Jesus, my Lord, keeps a very clean home.
Anonymous writer
__._,_.___

THE GIFT OF LISTENING

But you must REALLY listen.

No interrupting, no daydreaming, no planning your response. Just listening.

THE GIFT OF AFFECTION

Be generous with appropriate hugs, kisses, pats on the back and handholds. Let these small actions demonstrate the love you have for family and friends.

THE GIFT OF LAUGHTER

Clip cartoons. Share articles and funny stories. Your gift will say, “I love to laugh with you”.

THE GIFT OF A WRITTEN NOTE

It can be a simple “Thanks for the help” note or a full sonnet. A brief, handwritten note may be remembered for a lifetime, and may even change a life.

THE GIFT OF A COMPLIMENT

A simple and sincere, “You look great in red”, “You did a super job” or “That was a wonderful meal” can make someone’s day.

THE GIFT OF A FAVOR

Every day, go out of your way to do something kind.

THE GIFT OF SOLITUDE

There are times when we want nothing better than to be left alone. Be sensitive to those times and give the gift of solitude to others.

THE GIFT OF A CHEERFUL DISPOSITION

The easiest way to feel good is to make other feel good.

ONE MINUTE

     He almost killed somebody, but one minute changed his life. The beautiful story comes from Sherman Rogers’ old book, “Foremen: Leaders or Drivers?” In his true-life story, Rogers illustrates the importance of effective relationships.

     During his college years, Rogers spent a summer in an Idaho logging camp. When the superintendent had to leave for a few days, he put Rogers in charge.

     ”What if the men refuse to follow my orders?” Rogers asked. He thought of Tony, an immigrant worker who grumbled and growled all day, giving the other men a hard time.

     ”Fire them,” the superintendent said. Then, as if reading Rogers’ mind, he added, “I suppose you think you are going to fire Tony if you get the chance. I’d feel badly about that. I have been logging for 40 years. Tony is the most reliable worker I’ve ever had. I know he is a grouch and that he hates everybody and everything. But he comes in first and leaves last. There has not been an accident for eight years on the hill where he works.”

     Rogers took over the next day. He went to Tony and spoke to him. “Tony, do you know I’m in charge here today?” Tony grunted. “I was going to fire you the first time we tangled, but I want you to know I’m not,” he told Tony, adding what the superintendent had said.

     When he finished, Tony dropped the shovelful of sand he had held and tears streamed down his face. “Why he no tell me dat eight years ago?”

     That day Tony worked harder than ever before — and he smiled! He later said to Rogers, “I told Maria you first foreman in deese country who ever say, ‘Good work, Tony,’ and it make Maria feel like Christmas.”

     Rogers went back to school after that summer. Twelve years later he met Tony again. He was superintendent for railroad construction for one of the largest logging companies in the West. Rogers asked him how he came to California and happened to have such success.

     Tony replied, “If it not be for the one minute you talk to me back in Idaho, I keel somebody someday. One minute, she change my whole life.”

     Effective managers know the importance of taking a moment to point out what a worker is doing well. But what a difference a minute of affirmation can make in any relationship!

     One minute. Have you got one minute to thank someone? A minute to tell someone what you sincerely like or appreciate about her? A minute to elaborate on something he did well? One minute. It can make a difference for a lifetime.

24 things to always remember

1. Your presence is a present to the world.
2. You’re unique and one of a kind.
3. Your life can be what you want it to be.
4. Take the days just one at a time.
5. Count your blessings, not your troubles.
6. You’ll make it through whatever comes along.
7. Within you are so many answers.
8. Understand, have courage, be strong.
9. Don’t put limits on yourself.
10. So many dreams are waiting to be realized.
11. Decisions are too important to leave to chance.
12. Reach for your peak, your goal, and your prize.
13. Nothing wastes more energy than worrying.
14. The longer one carries a problem, the heavier it gets.
15. Don’t take things too seriously.
16. Live a life of serenity, not a life of regrets.
17. Remember that a little love goes a long way.
18. Remember that a lot . . . goes forever.
19. Remember that friendship is a wise investment.
20. Life’s treasures are people . . . together.
21. Realize that it’s never too late.
22. Do ordinary things in an extraordinary way.
23. Have health and hope and happiness.
24. Take the time to wish upon a star.

I Need A Hug Lord

I need a hug Lord please hold me tight,

it would give me added assurance everything’s all right.

Now I know I’m standing on faith and I understand;

You are in control and hold me in your hand.

I know in my heart that I haven’t a spirit of fear

and that when I have a need you are always there.

My faith doesn’t depend on me getting this embrace;

the faith you’ve provided is strongly in place.

An embrace is something of which I’ve had far too few,

having no others wouldn’t matter if I had one from you.

I know that you love me I feel it deep in my heart,

I haven’t doubted once since our relationship had it’s start.

I know every single one of my needs has been met,

not even one time have you ever disappointed me yet.

But Father ever since the beginning when you created man,

an occasional embrace was part of your plan.

Now the people in my life don’t believe in embracing you see,

so just this one time won’t you please hug me?

I promise I won’t be a bother I won’t pester You any more,

just this once may I have a hug from the one I adore?

I need a hug Lord just hold me tight,

I know it’ll be enough to give me a lifetime of delight!

Barbara Philbrook

Comportment at Holy Mass and Afterwards

A Letter from St. Padre Pio to Annita Rodote
Pietrelcina, July 25, 1915

From Volume III of Padre Pio’s Letters, “Correspondence with his Spiritual Daughters (1915-1923)”

1st edition (English version), Fr. Alessio Parente, O.F.M. Cap., Editor; Edizioni Padre Pio da Pietrelcina,
Our Lady of Grace Capuchin Friary, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy, 1994, Translated by Geraldine Nolan, pp. 88-92.   

Beloved daughter of Jesus,

May Jesus and our Mother always smile on your soul, obtaining for it, from Her most holy Son, all the heavenly charisms!

I am writing to you for two reasons:  to answer some more questions from your last letter, and to wish you a very happy names-day in the most sweet Jesus, full of all the most special heavenly graces.  Oh!  If Jesus granted my prayers for you or, better still, if only my prayers were worthy of being granted by Jesus!  However, I increase them a hundredfold for your consolation and salvation, begging Jesus to grant them, not for me but through the heart of his paternal goodness and infinite mercy.

In order to avoid irreverence and imperfections in the house of God, in church – which the divine Master calls the house of prayer – I exhort you in the Lord to practice the following.

Enter the church in silence and with great respect, considering yourself unworthy to appear before the Lord’s Majesty.  Amongst other pious considerations, remember that our soul is the temple of God and, as such, we must keep it pure and spotless before God and his angels. Let us blush for having given access to the devil and his snares many times (with his enticements to the world, his pomp, his calling to the flesh) by not being able to keep our hearts pure and our bodies chaste; for having allowed our enemies to insinuate themselves into our hearts, thus desecrating the temple of God which we became through holy Baptism.

Then take holy water and make the sign of the cross carefully and slowly.

As soon as you are before God in the Blessed Sacrament, devoutly genuflect.  Once you have found your place, kneel down and render the tribute of your presence and devotion to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.  Confide all your needs to him along with those of others.  Speak to him with filial abandonment, give free rein to your heart and give him complete freedom to work in you as he thinks best.

When assisting at Holy Mass and the sacred functions, be very composed when standing up, kneeling down, and sitting, and carry out every religious act with the greatest devotion.  Be modest in your glances; don’t turn your head here and there to see who enters and leaves.  Don’t laugh, out of reverence for this holy place and also out of respect for those who are near you.  Try not to speak to anybody, except when charity or strict necessity requests this.

If you pray with others, say the words of the prayer distinctly, observe the pauses well and never hurry.

In short, behave in such a way that all present are edified by it and, through you, are urged to glorify and love the heavenly Father.

On leaving the church, you should be recollected and calm.   Firstly take your leave of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament; ask his forgiveness for the shortcomings committed in his divine presence and do not leave him without asking for and having received his paternal blessing.

Once you are outside the church, be as every follower of the Nazarene should be.  Above all, be extremely modest in everything, as this is the virtue which, more than any other, reveals the affections of the heart.  Nothing represents an object more faithfully or clearly than a mirror.  In the same way, nothing more widely represents the good or bad qualities of a soul than the greater or lesser regulation of the exterior, as when one appears more or less modest.  You must be modest in speech, modest in laughter, modest in your bearing, modest in walking.   All this must be practiced, not out of vanity in order to display one’s self, nor out of hypocrisy in order to appear to be good to the eyes of others, but rather, for the internal virtue of modesty, which regulates the external workings of the body.

Therefore, be humble of heart, circumspect in words, prudent in your resolutions.  Always be sparing in your speech, assiduous in good reading, attentive in your work, modest in your conversation.  Don’t be disgusting to anybody but be benevolent towards all and respectful towards your elders.   May any sinister glance be far from you, may no daring word escape your lips, may you never carry out any immodest or somewhat free action; never a rather free action or a petulant tone of voice.

In short let your whole exterior be a vivid image of the composure of your soul.

Always keep the modesty of the divine Master before your eyes, as an example; this Master who, according to the words of the Apostle to the Corinthians, placing the modesty of Jesus Christ on an equal footing with meekness, which was his one particular virtue and almost his characteristic:  “Now I Paul myself beseech you, by the mildness and modesty of Christ” [Douay-Rheims, 2 Cor. 10:1], and according to such a perfect model reform all your external operations, which should be faithful reflections revealing the affections of your interior.

Never forget this divine model, Annita.  Try to see a certain lovable majesty in his presence, a certain pleasant authority in his manner of speaking, a certain pleasant dignity in walking, in contemplating, speaking, conversing; a certain sweet serenity of face.  Imagine that extremely composed and sweet expression with which he drew the crowds, making them leave cities and castles, leading them to the mountains, the forests, to the solitude and deserted beaches of the sea, totally forgetting food, drink and their domestic duties.

Thus let us try to imitate, as far as we possibly can, such modest and dignified actions.  And let us do our utmost to be, as far as possible, similar to him on this earth, in order that we might be more perfect and more similar to him for the whole of eternity in the heavenly Jerusalem.

I end here as I am unable to continue, recommending that you never forget me before Jesus, especially during these days of extreme affliction for me.  I expect the same charity from the excellent Francesca to whom you will have the kindness to give, in my name, assurances of my extreme interest in seeing her grow always more in divine love.  I hope she will do me the charity of making a novena of Communions for my intentions.

Don’t worry if you are unable to answer my letter for the moment.    I know everything so don’t worry.

I take my leave of you in the holy kiss of the Lord.  I am always your servant.

Fra Pio, Capuchin

__._,_.___

Sawing off One’s Cross

They tell the story of a group of devout people
who were on a cross-carrying pilgrimage. The
going was rough and there was much moaning and
groaning. One of the pilgrims found his cross
just too heavy to carry, so he cut off a part and
shortened it.

After days of walking, the pilgrims approached
the promised land of everlasting joy and peace in
God’s presence. But they still had one obstacle
to overcome. Between them and heaven was a
yawning abyss. How could they get to the other
side?

Someone thought of the idea of each one using his
cross as a bridge. And would you know it? The
crosses were just the right length to span the
gap.

So, all the cross-bearers walked across except
the one who had sawed off his cross to make it
lighter.

DEAR FOOL
Author Unknown

I saw you yesterday as you began your daily chores. You awoke without
kneeling to pray. As a matter of fact, you didn’t even bless your
meals or pray before going to bed last night. You are so unthankful. I
like that about you!

I cannot tell you how glad I am that you have not changed your way of
living. Fool, you are mine. Remember, you and I have been going steady
for years, and I still don’t love you yet. As a matter of fact, I hate
you, because I hate God. I am only using you to get even with God.

He kicked me out of heaven and I’m going to use you as long as
possible to pay Him back. You see, Fool, GOD LOVES YOU and HE has
great plans in store for you. But you have yielded your life to me and
I’m going to make your life a living hell. That way we’ll be together
twice. This will really hurt God, thanks to you. I’m really showing
Him who’s boss in your life. With all of the good times we’ve had…We
have been watching dirty movies, cursing people out, partying,
stealing, lying, being hypocritical, fornicating, overeating, telling
dirty jokes, gossiping, back-stabbing
people, disrespecting old people and those in leadership positions. NO
respect for the church, bad attitudes…

Surely, you don’t want to give all of this up. Come on, Fool, let’s
burn together forever. I’ve got some hot plans for us. This is just a
letter of appreciation from me to you. I’d like to say “THANKS” for
letting me use you for most of your foolish life.

You are so gullible, I laugh at you. When you are tempted to sin, you
give in. HA, HA, HA! You make me sick. Sin is beginning to take its
toll on your life. You look 20 yrs. older. I need new blood, so go
ahead and teach some children how to sin. All you have to do is smoke,
over indulge in alcoholic beverages, drugs, lie, cheat , gamble,
gossip, fornicate, be prideful (remember that’s why God kicked me out
of heaven). Do all of this in the presence of children and they will
do it, too. Kids are like that.

Well, Fool, I have to let you go for now. I’ll be back in a couple of
seconds to tempt you again. If you were smart, you would run
somewhere, confess your sins, live for God with what little bit of
life that you have left. It’s not my nature to warn anyone, but to be
your age and still sinning, it’s becoming a bit ridiculous. Don’t get
me wrong, I still hate you…It’s just that you’d make a better fool
for Christ.

Your partner in crime,
SATAN

PS – And if you really love me, you won’t share this letter with
anyone!

Lean On Me

As the road ahead seems rugged
And the path is getting steep,
I feel that I can’t make it
So my heart begins to weep.

Then I turn to see who’s coming
To join me on my way.
I see it is my Lord
And He slowly turns to say

“Lean on me…..
When you have no strength to stand.
When you feel you’re going under,
Hold tighter to My hand.

Lean on me……
When your heart begins to bleed.
When you know I’m all you have,
Then you’ll find I’m all you need.”

Then when I felt that no one cared
If I lived or died,
And no one bothered asking why
I’d go alone to cry.

When the burden got so heavy
I could barely face the day,
I felt His arms around me
As I gently heard Him say

“Lean on me……
When you have no strength to stand.
When you feel you’re going under,
Hold tighter to My hand.

Lean on me……
When your heart begins to bleed.
When you come to know I’m all you have,
Then you’ll find I’m all you need.”

- Author Unknown

__._,_.___

Count Your Blessings

Count your blessings instead of your crosses,
Count you gains instead of your losses,
Count your joys instead of your woes,
Count your friends instead of your foes.

Count your courage instead of your fears,
Count your laughs instead of your tears.
Count your full years instead of your lean,
Count your kind deeds instead of your mean.

Count you health instead of your wealth,
Count on God instead of yourself.

~ Author Unknown