Monday, March 31, 2025

Temptation


“Blessed is the man that endures temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life.” James 1:12

The old word for addiction was temptation.

“My temptation is quiet.” (William Butler Yeats)

“I can resist everything except temptation.” (Oscar Wilde)

“Lead us not into temptation.” (Jesus)

Sunday, March 30, 2025

You Have to Go to Church


A mother woke her son up on Sunday morning and told him he needed to get ready to go to church. The son replied to his mother that he didn't want to go to church this morning. She told him nonsense he should get up and go to church.

"But mom" he replied, "Everybody hates me, the sermons are boring and none of my friends ever come."

His mother replied, "Now, son...! First, everybody doesn't hate you, there are only a couple of bullies and you just have to stand up to them. Second, the sermons mean a lot to many people. If you listened to them, you'd be surprised at how good they are in helping people. Third, you have lots of friends at church. They are always having you over to their house. And finally, you have to go, because you're the priest!

Saturday, March 29, 2025

Grace

Grace strikes us when we are in great pain and restlessness. It strikes us when we walk through the empty valley of a meaningless and empty life. It strikes us when, year after year, the longed for perfection of life does not appear, when the old compulsions reign within us as they have for decades, when despair destroys all joy and courage.

Sometimes at that moment a wave of light breaks through our darkness, and it is as though a voice were saying, “You are accepted. You are accepted, accepted by that which is greater than you and the name of which you do not know.

Do not ask for the name now, perhaps you will know it later.
Do not try to do anything, perhaps later you will do much.
Do not seek for anything,
Do not perform anything,
Do not intend anything.

Simply accept the fact you are accepted.”

If that happens to us, we experience grace.

Thursday, March 27, 2025

Learning

Many of us, when we are young, spend a portion of our lives in learning. Unfortunately, some of us spend this time learning the hard way. When we are young we sometimes think we know everything. Sometimes we do foolish things. As we get a little older, we realize we don't know anything. This is when we become teachable. There is a saying that goes, when the student is ready, the teacher appears. We usually aren't teachable unless we are ready. The Saints are waiting and willing to help. When we are ready, many beautiful teachers start to come into our lives. Then we really start to grow and mature. We are ready for the spiritual lesson.

Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Prayer for Anxiety & Worry

Dear Loving Lord,

I am feeling stress,
I am worried.
Too many things
Occupy my mind.
Won’t you help me?
Show me, Lord
Your order.
And your plans
Are eternal.
Let me trust
In you alone.
Your word tells me
Where there is love,
Drives out all fear.
Let me be filled
With your love
That tells me
I am not condemned,
But I am saved.
I can do all things
Through you.
You strengthen me.
In Jesus name,

Amen.​

Tuesday, March 25, 2025

Paid in Full

One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry.

He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door. Instead of a meal, he asked for a drink of water.

She thought he looked hungry so brought him a large glass of milk He drank it slowly, and then asked, “How much do I owe you?” “You don’t owe me anything,” she replied, “Mother has taught us never to accept payment for a kindness.”

He said “Then I thank you from my heart.”

As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt; stronger physically, but his faith in God and man was strong also. He had been ready to give up and quit.

Years later that young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease.

Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes. Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room. Dressed in his doctor’s gown he went in to see her. He recognized her at once. He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life. From that day he gave special attention to the case.

After a long struggle, the battle was won. Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval.

He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge and the bill was sent to her room. She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally, she looked, and something caught her attention on the side as she read these words: "Paid in full with one glass of milk.”

(Signed) Dr. Howard Kelly.


Tears of joy flooded her eyes as her happy heart prayed: “Thank You, GOD, that Your love has spread abroad through human hearts and hands.”