I wish you a day of ordinary miracles-

A fresh pot of coffee you didn't have to make yourself.

An unexpected phone call from an old friend.

Green stoplights on your way to work or shop.

I wish you a day of little things to rejoice in... The fastest line at the grocery store. 

A good sing along song on the radio. Your keys right where you look.

I wish you a day of happiness and perfection-

little bite-size pieces of perfection that give you the funny feeling that the Lord is smiling on you,

holding you so gently because you are someone special and rare.

I wish You a day of Peace, Happiness and Joy.

 - Triumph Over Hardships -

Think life is hard and it's hard!

 When you dwell on your problems or what you don't have, 

you generate negative energy, and chances are your life won't 

change for the better. 

Why not focus on the possibilities?

When you make up your mind to do something,       

you'll find you can.

 

Instead of thinking about barriers in life, 

reach out after opportunities.

 

Instead of seeing a locked door, see a key. 

Instead of thinking about the rough mountain climb ahead,

see yourself standing on the summit.

 Today, resolve to let go of the struggles       

and embrace your potential. 

Your shift in attitude will shift your life from the shadows 

into the sunshine.

- Beautiful Silence -

Walking along the sand

holding hand in hand

Looking at you

knowing that its true.

Melting at the sound of youre voice

knowing that there isn't a choice

Loving you is not a hard thing

thinking about you makes my heart sing.

The beautiful sunset that stops our breath

is why you can not help but test

You look at me as though you can see

everything that lives inside of me.

All of the love, hurting, faith and trust 

seems just like a natural must

Usually you can just let it go 

but now tonight you want and have to know.

why does it seem like I have to pay 

for all of my past that is all in dismay

You know that i've tried

you know I can't hide.

All of the pain that lives in my brain

All I can do is smile at you.

The only thing I can say

is that "I'm ok...I'm ok..."

Holding hands 

walking along the sands

Both of us in beautiful silence 

watching as the sun goes to rest...

♥ - Fourth Sunday Of Lent - ♥

Fourth Sunday Of Lent 

 March 18, 2012

My Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ.

I greet you in the Holy and Righteous Name Of Jesus.

Our Lord and Savior.

Inspiration

Grace is God's special surprise. Deserving punishment, we are pardoned. Our failures are offset by God's forgiveness. The human tendency toward sin is counterbalanced by the gift of salvation. Grace cannot be earned and is never deserved. Just when we need it most and expect it least, the grace of God floods our life. Our most appropriate response is to share this grace with others.

 

This is day the LORD hath made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.

HEARING GOD'S VOICE

Eph. 2:4-10

2 Chronicles 36:14-23

Psalm 137:1-6

John 3:14-21

When the Israelites were wandering in the desert, God sent a plague of snakes to punish the people for their rebellious attitudes. Those doomed to die from the snakebite could be healed by obeying God's command to look up at the elevated bronze snake and by believing that the power of God's promise would heal them if they did. Similarly, our salvation happens when we look up to Jesus, believing He will save us. The OT lesson was a preview of how God in love would one day let His Son be lifted up on a cross and how that Son's death would be the remedy for us to be healed of sin's deadly bite.

The entire Gospel lesson comes into focus in verse 16. God's love is not statiac or self-centered; it reaches out and draws others in. Here God sets the pattern of true love. He paid dearly with the life of His Son. Jesus accepted our punishment, paid the price for our sins, and then offered us the new life that He had bought for us.

People often try to protect themselves from their fears by putting their faith in something they do or have. But only God can save us from the one thing that we really need to fear-eternal condemnation. We believe in God by recognizing the insufficiency of our own efforts to find salvation and by asking Him to do His work in us. When Jesus talks about unbelievers, He means those who reject or ignore Him completely, not those who have momentary doubts.

Many people don't want their lives exposed to God's light because they are afraid of what will be revealed. They don't want to be changed. Don't be surprised when these same people are threatened by your desire to obey God and do what is right, because they are afreaid that the light in you may expose some of the darkness in their lives. Rather than giving into discouragement, keep praying that they will come to see how much better it is to live in light than in darkness.

DEAR FRIENDS, I invite each of you to trust your lives to God and His Son. Hand in hand we will walk through the dark valleys confident of their love for us. By the grace of God, we have a lot of victorious living to do. 

We've a message to give to the nations-

That the LORD who reigneth above

Hath sent us His Son to save us

And show us that God is love.

PRAY- Almighty  God, our heavenly Father, Your mercies are new every morning, and though we have in no way deserved Your goodness, You still abundantly provide for all our wants of body and soul. Give us, we pray, Your Holy Spirit that we may heartily acknowledge Your merciful goodness toward us, give thanks for all Your benefits, and serve You in willing obedience; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our LORD, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

♥ - ~ST. PATRICK'S DAY LEGENDS AND TRUTHS~ - ♥

"Bear ye one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ."

......Galatians 6: 2

  Saint Patrick's day is celebrated by many on March 17th.   Patrick was called the Patron

Saint of Ireland.   There are many legends about this man which are also entwined with truths.

  St. Patrick is well known for having driven the snakes out of Ireland.   A legend says he

 stood on a high hill and used his staff to drive them into the sea.  Although it is true there are

 no snakes in Ireland, there probably have never been since the time of the separation of

the island from the rest of the Continent. Patrick put an end to the pagan practices and won

many converts to Christianity. This is where the legend of "driving out snakes" probably

 has its origin. It is true he abolished the pagan rights there. 

 

Patrick was born in Wales and kidnapped at the early age of sixteen.  He was sold in Ireland

 as a slave. It is said he was an ordained deacon, priest, and later a Bishop in Ireland.  It is

 also said that St. Patrick used a shamrock to teach the doctrine of the Holy Trinity to converts

 in Ireland.  He baptized many converts.  Patrick was successful in converting almost the entire

 population of the island.   He was also successful in building schools, churches and monasteries.

  He lived with threats to his life.  His spiritual autobiography called "Confessio" has survived

 as some other writings.  St. Patrick died in A.D. 493.  Legends and truths

 about his life continue on until this very day.

Although we don't celebrate this day in the manner many do, we see many

"blessings of green" within God's holy Word and think upon these. The first

mention of the word "green" in Scripture is in Genesis 1: 30. God told Adam that

He had given him every green herb for meat or nourishment, and it was so. 

 God saw that this was good. Every being with the breath of life was given the 

blessing of the green herbs to sustain and keep them.   The earth was decorated by

 God with beautiful hues of green. 

The Psalmist David tells us in Psalms 23 how the Lord blessed him with the fruitfulness

of green pastures. The word "pasture" refers to a pleasant, suitable, and beautiful

place in Hebrew meaning.   God not only made him rest in the lush clover of the watered,

 green pastures, but also led him beside the still waters.  This speaks to us of rest and peace

while being led by the Lord. This chapter is one of comfort and tranquillity with Jesus as

the Good Shepherd and the true Bishop of our souls. David was fed and led by God

 in paths of righteousness.  Goodness and mercy followed him all the days of his life.

 

The prophet Isaiah in Chapter 53 gives a prophesy of the coming Messiah.  Isaiah tells

 us Jesus would grow up before God as a "tender plant," and as a "root out of a dry ground."

 He also tells us they would not behold his beauty, as he would be despised and rejected of

men at His first coming to earth.  They would not esteem him as Lord and Saviour. 

 

What does the description 'as a tender plant' mean to us?  Tender plant in Hebrew commentaries

 is the word (yonake), and is a twig of a tree, as sprouting, a sapling, green, as a  young

and tender plant.  It also relates to the word "herb" which means to be green as any

tender shoot or grass.   As the natural green herb was given as nourishment and food,

  Jesus is the tender plant  or vine which who the "bread of life" given for his children.

He keeps and sustains us.  He is the 'True Vine' and we are the branches.

Believers are referred to as the "offspring" of God and new creatures in  Christ. 

 Many references of blessings were spoken about offspring being as  the grass of the earth,

 "springing up," and being fruitful, as a 'green' tree.  To blossom and bud were Bible terms,

meaning to be fruitful and productive.

Psalms 1: 1-3 tells us we are blessed if we do not walk in the counsel of the ungodly, stand

in the way of sinners, or sit in the seat of the scornful.  If we delight in the Lord and meditate

 on his law, we can be like a tree planted by rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his

season.  This Scriptures also says "his leaf shall not wither and whatsoever  he doeth shall

 prosper".  This is a blessing for the righteous from our Lord.  Righteous people are referred

 to as "trees" which are green and fruitful.  They are blessed with fruit and watered by the Lord. 

 They are as a "green olive tree" in the house of the Lord. 

 

There are many Christian songs which refer to Christians going home to live in "green pastures."

  We can have the blessings of the Lord and spiritual "green pastures"  by being obedient

to His Word and loving him with our whole heart.  Believers have been given the "blessings

 of the Vine" from God's Word by his Holy Spirit. 

 

 It is more than luck or chance when we are blessed and prosperous.   All good things 

come from God who is the giver of life and  all good gifts.   Do you desire to be as a

  fruitful green tree?   Seek God and find life.  He will keep you and you will be

a  true "planting" of the Lord. 

Blessings In Christ,

Jo Ann Kelly ©  2012, 2005.

J. P.'s Inspirations

IRISH BLESSINGS

May your neighbor respect you,

Trouble neglect you,

The angels protect you,

And Heaven accept you.

(unknown)

May the road rise to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back
 May the sun shine warm upon your face,
And the rains fall soft upon your fields.
And, until we meet again
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.

(Unknown)