Category: work

Show me your hands

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Show me your hands. Do they have scars from giving? Show me your feet. Are they wounded in service? Show me your heart. Have you left a place for divine love?
Fulton J. Sheen

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 We live is such a technical age. We have machines to wash out clothes and our dishes. We don’t have to put stamps on our mail and take it to the post office. We park as close as we can to the mall so that we don’t have to walk far. Then we complain that we work too hard. Most of us have no idea what real work is. Mother Theresa had those scars on her body but great love in her heart. We need to follow her example. I wonder if when we get to heaven St. Peter will ask us these questions.

Prayer: Lord, our life is easy compared with people in other countries. Many of us don’t have to work with our hands. We are called to do your work and to be your hands and feet. Get us moving! Amen

 

Our hands

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““I screamed at God for all the starving children, and then I realized that all of the starving children were God screaming at me.” 

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This reminds me of the old story about the man who heard about a flood on the radio and said God would take care of him. The water rose and he ended up on the roof of his house. A boat came by and offered to save him but he declined saying God would save him. A helicopter came and tried to help him from the roof. Again he refused saying god would provide.
The man drowned and when he reached heaven he demanded from God “why didn’t you save me?” God replied: “I sent a news report, a boat and a helicopter. What are you doing here?”

We expect our answers from God to be extraordinary and ignore the things in front of us.

 

Prayer: God of wisdom, forgive us when we are blind and don’t see the messages you send. Amen

 

The road less traveled

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The road that Christ followed is not an easy one. The disciples thought they could when asking him to sit at his right and left hand. They later found it was not easy. To choose this path is scary and difficult but it is the right one.

All knowing God, you sent your son to show us what to do. Help us to tread that difficult path. AMEN

God expects

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No pessimist ever discovered the secrets of the star, or sailed to an uncharted land, or opened a new heave to the human spirit. ————————-Helen Keller

All through the Bible God calls on the most unexpected people to do wondrous things. Usually they start by saying no I can’t but God doesn’t take no for an answer. He knows what we can do and expects us to do it. Never think you are not good enough for what God plans. You CAN do it!.

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Expectant God, you have made us and know what we can do. Help us to see that too. AMEN

 

Dive in!

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You give but little when you give your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.-——–Kahil Gibran in “The Prophet.”

I have noticed over the years that there are times when something needs to be done and people do what I can”throwing money at it.” They have no desire to get involved or take on work but they are willing to pay for it. That is so much easier. You are really only connected and engaged with a need when you are willing to take it on yourself.

dive in

Forgiving God, help us to dive in and truly help. AMEN

One stone

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The man who removes a mountain begins by carrying away small stones. —–Chinese Proverb

The political situation in the USA today is monumental. We truly have a mountain that must be removed and redone. It can be discouraging and we can fall into the mistake of thinking there is nothing we can do. The truth is there is always something. The only way that things will change is with one person, one voice. Each of us must do our part. It may seem small but mountains have been moved before. We need to believe that God will help and move that one stone.

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Incredible God, you know the messes we can get ourselves into. Help us to find your path through it all and do our part. AMEN

God made us!

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God made me on a morning when he had nothing else to do.———-C.F. Lloyd

We can often feel this way about ourselves. We can’t imagine that we have any skills or talents to offer. We feel useless.

One quote that I have always loved is “God didn’t make junk.” Each of us has something to offer. Each of us has gifts that God has given us. We just have to recognize them and put them to use for his kingdom. We are worthy….God made us.

ta da

Imaginative God, you made each of us unique. Help us to find and use the gifts that you have given us. AMEN

God is in control

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Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
This was one of my grandmother’s favorite verses. On the surface it sounds easy but maybe not. God does work for our good at all times but he does want something in return. He wants us to love Him. He wants us to fulfill the purpose that he has called us to do.
That is not easy. It requires us to do our best to follow him each day and listen for His voice in all things. To do this we have to take the time to listen and then to act. Do we do this?
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Forgiving God, we know that we don’t listen all the time or follow through with your desires. Help us to see more clearly the way we should go. AMEN

Nothing is too small

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Your work is to discover your work and then with all your heart to give yourself to it. ——-Buddha

We all want to do some great work and change the world. We keep trying to find our niche. The problem is that our niche may be the simplest thing. Each thing we do matters. There is nothing too small. Just taking food to someone sick may be the thing you are called to do. Don’t waste time trying to be things you are not. Be the best you- you can be.

everything matters

Imaginative God, help us to see that everything matters and no job is too small. AMEN

Are we holy?

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“Holy” has the same root as “wholly”: it means complete. A man is not complete in spiritual stature if all his mind, heart, soul, strength are not given to God.                  R. J. H. Stewart

holyWe seldom think about what we give to God. Are we willing to let go of our whole person to God? This quote doesn’t mention body but I think it is contained in “strength.” We have to surrender everything. How do we do that? By letting go of small pieces at a time. Give up what you can each day and every day.

We are so caught up in ourselves that we can’t step outside. In order to be holy and whole we have to give everything. Loving God help us.