Morning Briefings

Economy to Impact Two-thirds of Families This Holiday Season, According to NRF Survey. Additionally, more than one-fourth of Americans say the economy is forcing them to travel less or not at all for the holidays.

– National Retail Federation website

With the same zeal, enthusiasm and fervor that I started this day, I now turn toward home. My spouse and children deserve a husband and father/wife and mother who is happy to see them, someone who is filled with energy, happiness and joy. I refuse to drag across the threshold weary, worn out and beaten down by the day’s activities.

– Germaine Copeland
Prayers That Avail Much for the Workplace

Select capable men from all the people–men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain.

– Exodus 18:21

My deepest vocation is to be a witness of the glimpses of God I have been allowed to catch.

– Henri J.M. Nouwen

When we think of the journey of life, the going is more important than the arriving. We are not here to be somewhere. We are here to live and to share our lives with each other. Our lives are the ultimate pilgrimage.

– Reverend James O’Leary
I Think I Am Happier Than I Think I Am

When life knocks you to your knees, and it will, why, get up! If it knocks you to your knees again, as it will, well, isn’t that the best position from which to pray?

– Ethel Barrymore

In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teachings show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about you.

– Titus 2:7-8

Anytime we have any encounter with God we are reminded of two simple realities: People are meant to be loved and things are made to be used, but too often we love things and use people. And every time we encounter God we are challenged to put things back into perspective, to put things back in their proper order.

– Matthew Kelly
in a September 30, 2009 speech at the Orange County Catholic Prayer Breakfast

When we settle in our hearts and minds that God’s Word can be trusted, we solve a lot of problems in our lives.

– Tony Evans
God Can Not be Trusted (and Five Other Lies of Satan)

There are people among us who are ethical, responsible and diligent. I hope your story encourages those who toil in obscurity to know that their reward is simple–they will be ready when the test comes. We need to try to do the right thing every time, to perform our best because we never know what moment in our lives we’ll be judged on.

– US Airways Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger from
a Wall Street Journal article by Jeffrey Zaslow