Previous “Thoughts of the Week”
Week of:
January 21st thru February 22nd
“The challenge to each human is creation.
Will you create with reverence, or with neglect?”
–The Seat of the Soul, Gary Zukav p.131
Wait for Peace
by Joyce Meyer – posted January 20, 2012
I will listen [with expectancy] to what God the Lord will say, for He will speak peace to His people. —Psalm 85:8
When God speaks, He gives us a deep sense of internal peace to confirm that the message we are hearing is truly from Him. Even if He speaks to chastise us, His Spirit of Truth leaves a calming sense of comfort in our souls.
When our enemy, the deceiver, speaks to us, he cannot give peace. When we try to solve things with our own reasoning, we cannot get peace because “the mind of the flesh [which is sense and reason without the Holy Spirit] is death [death that comprises all the miseries arising from sin, both here and hereafter]. But the mind of the [Holy] Spirit is life and [soul] peace [both now and forever]” (Romans 8:6).
Whenever you believe you hear God speak or make a decision based on something you believe He has said, use the scale of peace. If peace cannot hold its weight against the guidance you have heard, then don’t proceed with it. You don’t have to explain to others why you don’t have peace about it; you may not even know that yourself. You can simply say, “I do not have peace about this right now; therefore, it’s not wise for me to go ahead with it.”
Always wait until peace about doing what you think God has instructed you to do fills your soul. Peace is confirmation that you are truly hearing from God and that your timing is right to take action. Peace gives us confidence and faith, which enable us to be obedient to God’s instructions.
God’s word for you today: Wait for peace before you act.
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January 7th thru January 20th
You cannot have a positive, exciting life and a negative mind.
A Powerful Force
If you struggle with negative thinking, it’s important for you to come to grips with the fact that your life won’t change until your thinking does.
Renewed, God-like thinking is vital for change.
The Bible says that God loves us, but have you ever struggled to believe this? I have learned that if we never meditate on God’s Word, we will never experience the depth of His love for us.
The love of God is meant to be a powerful force in our lives, one that will take us through even the most difficult trials into victory. — Joyce Meyer
Want to know more? <a href=”http://www.joycemeyer.org/articles/ea.aspx?article=you_can_win_the_battle” target=”_blank”><Click Here></a>
December 25th thru January 6th
My Favorite Christmas gift is the First Christmas Gift wrapped by my Holy Mother, Mary.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit, you may abound in hope.” Romans 15:13
He is born!! May you have a Blessed Christmas season.
December 18th
The word Advent derives from the Latin word meaning coming. The Lord is coming. We may reflect that every year at this time we celebrate his coming , so that in a sense we can lose the feeling of expectancy and joyful anticipation, because at the end of the season, everything seems to return to pretty much the same routine. If that is the case, then our preparation may have been lacking and we have therefore been robbed of much of the true meaning of this season.
Do not let the secular trappings of this season overshadow the true meaning of Christmas.
Lord, help me to see the truth of Your presence in my life.
Start a tradition in your family:
Make a birthday cake for Jesus this Christmas and sing “Happy Birthday” to Jesus.
December 11th
Tuesday, December 13th is the feast of our parish patron saint — St. Lucy.
St. Lucy, virgin and martyr, inspired by God’s love, you were always ready to help those in need; to offer care for the sick and suffering, to provide food and shelter for the poor. Intercede for me that the beauty of Christ’s love may touch my heart, and that his love for all people may shine in my life. Ask for me a generous heart that I may see and respond to the needs of those who have less than I. Teach me how to give of myself for the sake of others. I want to be the love of Christ for my family, my co-workers and my church community.
St. Lucy, pray for us.
November 8th thru December 10th
——-The Mystical Body of Christ —————-
The beautiful Image of Our Lord on display in the Sanctuary is an image depicting the Mystical Body of Christ. The Image of Our Lord is composed of many small pictures of St. Lucy’s Parishioners. You and I form Our Lord’s Body here on Earth. Hence, you and I bring Christ to others by what we say and do, especially when we are serving the needs of others. 1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 24-27 speaks of Jesus’ Mystical Body.
In closing, a word of thanks to a Parishioner who wishes to remain anonymous for assembling this Image of Our Lord.
October 10th thru November 1st
Why do we need faith and the sacraments in order to live a good, upright and joy filled, peaceful life?
If we were to rely only on ourselves and our own strength, we would not get far in our attempts to be good. Through faith we discover that we are God’s children and that increasing our relationship with God makes us strong. When God gives us His strength, we call this “grace”. Especially in the sacred signs that we call SACRAMENTS when received in faith, God gives us the ability to do the good that we (in relationship with God) desire to do.
Since God saw our misery, he “delivered us from the dominion of darkness” (Col. 1:13) through His Son, Jesus Christ. He granted us the opportunity to make a new start in fellowship with Him and to walk the path of love.
“Apart from Me you can do nothing”. (Jn 15:5)
Taken from: The Bible and excerpts from YOUCAT (Youth Catechism of the Catholic Church) pg. 162 Part 3 – How we are to have life in Christ.
September thru October 9th
Happiness is not a goal, it’s a by-product.
– Eleanor Roosevelt, First Lady, humanitarian,
1884 – 1962
How do I conduct my life? Whom do I look to for guidance? How do I treat myself and others? Does my actions and attentions reflect how I really want my life to be?
John 3:6 What is born of the flesh is flesh, what is born of the spirit is spirit.
True happiness comes from an awareness and learning of our spirit in communion with our Savior. Once we discover and relinquish ourselves, in thought and action, to this simple truth, we come to know a depth of happiness that can not be attained through anything else in our world.
August 21st and 28th, 2011
Francis de Sales (French: Saint François de Sales) (August 21, 1567 – December 28, 1622) was Bishop of Geneva and is a Roman Catholic saint. He worked to convert Protestants back to Catholicism, and was an accomplished preacher. He is known also for his writings on the topic of spiritual direction and spiritual formation, particularly Introduction to the Devout Life, along with his Treatise on the Love of God. His writings on the perfections of the Heart of Mary as the model of love for God influenced Jean Eudes to develop the devotion to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
St. Francis de SalesSaint Francis de Sales (1576–1622) used a four part approach to Christian meditation based on “preparation”, “consideration”, “affections and resolutions” and “conclusions”:
In the preparation part, one places oneself in the presence of God and asks the Holy Spirit to direct the prayer, as in the Epistle to the Romans[8:26]: “The Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know what to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words.”
In the consideration part, one focuses on a specific topic, e.g. a passage from the Bible.
In the affections and resolutions part, one focuses on feelings and makes a resolution or decision. For instance, when meditating on the Parable of the Good Samaritan one may decide to visit someone sick and be kind to them.
In the conclusion part, one gives thanks and praise to God for the considerations and asks for the grace to stand by the resolution.
August 7th and 14th, 2011
Are you ready?
Read 2 Chronicles 31:21.
Obedience is best motivated by Love.
Love grows with the revelation of a calm sense of being with another, which comes from knowledge of that person.
Study God’s word and start to incorporate wanting to know God in your life. Allow God to be God, rather than how we want Him to be. Open yourself in silence to Him.
Seek and you shall find, knock and the door shall be opened to you. (Matt 7:7)
Prayer —
Lord, grant me the strength to do Your will as well as to accept it and guide me in Your ways to our Father and His Kingdom.
Read 2 Chronicles 31:21 again.
Read Matthew 7:7-11
July 17th, 24th, 31st
When peaceful silence lay over all,
and night had run the half of her swift course,
down from the heavens, from the royal throne,
leapt your all-powerful Word;
into the heart of a doomed land the stern warrior
leapt.
(Ws. 18:14-15)
Silence connotes a state of readiness, a time of waiting,
a direction of attention. In silence we ready ourselves
to receive the word God utters in the “depths of our heart”.
We await in silent anticipation his hoped for appearance.
All of our attention is attuned to the Presence. At moments
like this life itself unfolds in hushed silence. We listen for
the Word spoken by the Father as intensely as dry soil longs
for rain. In this silence we welcome the least manifestation
of God’s presence. (Continued in next weeks chapter of
“Thought for the Week” – It will surprise you – are you ready?).
July 10th
You cannot have a positive, exciting life and a negative mind.
A Powerful Force
If you struggle with negative thinking, it’s important for you to come to grips with the fact that your life won’t change until your thinking does.
Renewed, God-like thinking is vital for change.
The Bible says that God loves us, but have you ever struggled to believe this? I have learned that if we never meditate on God’s Word, we will never experience the depth of His love for us.
The love of God is meant to be a powerful force in our lives, one that will take us through even the most difficult trials into victory. — Joyce Meyer
Want to know more? <Click Here>
July 3rd — July 4th Meditation and Prayer
Independence Day, 4th of July Meditation
Let’s take a few moments for silence and appreciation for all we have in our lives, because those who came before us fought hard that we may live in an independent country.
May the glory of Independence Day
Remain in mind in heart
May we cherish our hard-won freedom
That it never falls apart.
Because those who walked before us
Believed in freedom’s cause so much
We can carry forth a torch
Of honor and ‘In God We Trust’.
That first Independence Day
More than two centuries past
Must live forever in our thoughts
Never forgotten – never a lapse.
It is a precious land we hold
In safekeeping for our children
That they, as we, may enjoy
Lives bountiful, worth living.
May God’s blessings ever
Ring out
Over all our land
A toast of praise we raise today
Americans – join hand in hand!
— Susan Helene Kramer
June 26th
As you begin to eliminate your need for perfection in all areas of your life, you will begin to discover the perfection of life itself.
(from “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff” calendar)
June 19th: Fathers Day
God reveals himself in profound and deep ways in the nature of human relationships. Father and son. ADOPTIVE father and child. Bridegroom and Bride. The best things that our fathers do for us are a reflection and a model of what God wants to do for us: provide for us, sacrifice for us, see us grow up and to acquire a godly wisdom and maturity.
Father’s Day Prayer and Meditation
May we remember in our prayers and meditations to be thankful and grateful for the father figures in our lives.
Father’s Day gives us a special opportunity to make this a time to do something to show appreciation for the past and present men in our lives.
Here is a special prayer to include in your meditations -
Fathers everywhere -
We honor you and wish to say
May God’s blessings be with you
In a special way today!
From a father’s strength
We learn so we may teach
Our children to be kind and caring
With everyone they meet.
When times are rough
Your guiding hand points the way to go
May we follow in your footsteps
Right from wrong our actions show.
Now, on this Father’s Day
Our tributes go to you
Fathers, grandpas, uncles, brothers
All our dear friends, too.
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Prayer by Susan Helene Kramer
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June 12th:
Holy Spirit Rain Down
Let Your power fall
Let Your voice be heard
Come and change my heart
As I stand on Your Word
Holy Spirit Rain Down
Click Here to Listen to the Hymn and watch the video
Click Here to discover the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit
June 5th:
Psalm 86:11 Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.
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Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
25:1-7 In worshipping God, we must lift up our souls to him. It is certain that none who, by a believing attendance, wait on God, and, by a believing hope, wait for him, shall be ashamed of it. The most advanced believer both needs and desires to be taught of God. If we sincerely desire to know our duty, with resolution to do it, we may be sure that God will direct us in it. The psalmist is earnest for the pardon of his sins. When God pardons sin, he is said to remember it no more, which denotes full remission. It is God’s goodness, and not ours, his mercy, and not our merit, that must be our plea for the pardon of sin, and all the good we need. This plea we must rely upon, feeling our own unworthiness, and satisfied of the riches of God’s mercy and grace. How boundless is that mercy which covers for ever the sins and follies of a youth spent without God and without hope! Blessed be the Lord, the blood of the great Sacrifice can wash away every stain.
May 29th:
Saint Theresa’s Prayer
______________________
May today there be peace within.
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be content knowing you are a child of God.
Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing,
Dance, praise and love.
It is there for each and every one of us.
May 22nd:
Shepherd Me, O God (Psalm 23)
________________________________________
Shepherd me, O God beyond my wants,
beyond my fears, from death into life.
Click Here to listen to the hymn and watch the video.
Is God my shepherd? Or do I choose another?
Seek Him and you will find Him. (Matt. 7:7,8)
Only in finding Him will you have peace that extends
beyond any troubles you encounter in this life.
Pray that you may always seek Him and His ways in your life.
May 15th:
What does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy and
to walk humbly with your God.
AS YOU PRAY TODAY
Desire to be more God-seeking than
self-seeking and thereby show God’s
kingdom to others.
“Daily Prayer – miniature edition”
May 8th:
Prayer can freshen you up every evening and send you out renewed each morning. You can receive guidance in problems if prayer is allowed to permeate your subconscious, the seat of forces which determines whether you take right or wrong actions. Prayer has the power to keep your reactions correct and sound. Prayer driven deeply into your subconcious can remake you. Repeat several times a day: “Thou wilt keep me in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee.” (Isaiah 26:3). Conceive of these words as active, vital substances permeating your mind, sending into every area of your thinking a healing balm. — “The Power of Positive Thinking”, Dr. Norman Vincent Peale
May 1st:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge
Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6
“In my oneness with God, I am resurrected into a new way of thinking and living. I am wise, healthy, happy,
successful, and free.” Believe it, Live it with God showing the way.
April 24th:
1 Corinthians 15 ver. 45-49; 56-58
April 17th :
Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.
–Melody Beattie Read Psalm 4; Psalm 5: 12-13