For Sunday, February 19th, 2012

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

FEBRUARY 19TH,  2012

Celebrate the happiness
that friends are always giving,
make every day a holiday,
and celebrate just living!

Amanda Bradley

It's SUNDAY!  

And HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR PRINCE CHARMING TODAY!

May the dear Lord Bless you today and always!

and may all that’s good come your way
Enjoy your very special day!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

NEWS FROM HOME

This is the last Sunday before Lent begins.  This coming week I'll be celebrating Pancake Day  and Ash Wednesday here at my house.  Mardi Gras celebrations will also be going on in many places but here I don't do much with that.  

Many of us will be thinking about what we might want to give up for Lent this year and I thought this little list might help:

What to give up for Lent:

Give up complaining — focus on gratitude.
Give up pessimism — become an optimist.
Give up harsh judgments — think kindly thoughts.
Give up worry — trust Divine Providence.
Give up discouragement — be full of hope.
Give up bitterness — turn to forgiveness.
Give up hatred — return good for evil.
Give up negativism — be positive.
Give up anger — be more patient.
Give up pettiness — become mature.
Give up gloom — enjoy the beauty that is all around you.
Give up jealousy — pray for trust.
Give up gossiping — control your tongue.
Give up sin — turn to virtue.
Give up giving up — hang in there!

 Lent is derived from the Anglo Saxon word lenctem, meaning spring. The word reflects the lengthening of days as we move from winter towards summer. Lent is the 40 days (excluding Sundays) between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday.  Lent is a time to reexamine our boundary lines and get realigned, set in right relationship with God and the world around us. 

The good news is we gained a few more minutes of daylight this week.  It is now 6:05 pm when the sunsets in the evening.

I hope you all have a wonderful Sunday!

PRAYER FOR OUR TROOPS

Please pray for God's protection of

our troops and HIS wisdom for their

commanders.

Lord, hold our troops in

your loving hands.

Protect them as they protect us.

Bless them and their families for the

selfless acts they perform for us

in our time of need. I ask this in the

name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

AND bless our Police Officers, Firefighters

and Paramedics and EMT's

GOD BLESS YOU!

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT

Philippians 2:2  Complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

TELL THE SECRET

A woman named Vicky once knew a young person named Betty.  Betty always seemed effervescent and happy, although Vicki knew she had faced struggles in her life.  Her long-awaited hopes and dreams had disappeared and though she hadn't chosen the way her life turned out, she had decided she would live it with utmost enjoyment and satisfaction. 

One day Vicky asked Betty, How is it that you are always so happy and you never seem to get down?

With her eyes smiling, Betty said, I know the Secret!

What secret is that, what are you talking about? Vicki asked.

Betty replied, I'll tell you all about it, but you have to promise to share the Secret with others.

Vicki agreed, Okay, now what is it?

The Secret is this:  I have learned there is little I can do in my life that will make me truly happy. I must depend on God to make me happy and meet my needs. When a need arises in my life I have to trust God to supply according to HIS riches.  I have learned most of the time I don't need half of what I think I do.  HE has never let me down.  Since I learned that Secret, I am happy

Vicki's first thought was, That is too simple.  But upon reflecting over her own life she recalled how she thought a bigger house would make her happy - but it didn't.  She though a better paying job would make her happy, but it hadn't.  When did she realize her greatest happiness? Sitting on the floor with her grandchildren, playing games, eating pizza or reading a story, a simple gift from God.

Betty knew the secret, Vicki learned the secret, and now you know it too.  We can't depend on people to make us happy.  Only GOD in His wisdom can do that.  Trust HIM

And now I pass the Secret on to you.

There are in the end three things that last: faith, hope and love and the greatest of these is love. 

Make Every Day Matter

COUNTING THE DAYS

May the sun shine, all day long,
everything go right, and nothing wrong.
May those you love bring love back to you,
and may all the wishes you wish come true!

Irish Blessing

30 DAYS UNTIL SPRING

62 DAYS UNTIL CAMPING SEASON BEGINS

If you can't see the Bright Side, polish the dull side

 

A little smile, a word of cheer,
A bit of love from someone dear…

Love,

ma