MSI Press Blog

  excerpt from  Everybody's Little Book of Everyday Prayers  (MacGregor): -  Prayers for Everyday Occasions If you’re a person who likes to offer prayers before meals, at bedtime, or on other such specified occasions, you’ll find prayers here that should suit your needs. Here are prayers for both adults and children, starting with prayers you can offer to God on first arising or from within your bed as you wake up. And doesn’t it help make you feel a little bit more centered to say good morning to God and thank Him for a new day before you get going and face the day’s stresses? Morning prayer – new day Dear God, thank You for this new morning, a new start, and a new opportunity, as always. Help me to make the most of the day ahead and not to forget to thank You for whatever blessings this day brings me. Amen. Dear God, on this new morning I thank You for new beginnings. Every day is a chance to start over and improve my life. Please help me to recognize oppor...

  Some cats are picky. Some are dramatic. And then there’s Jack—our one-eyed, dry-food-devoted street rescue who nearly starved himself rather than compromise his culinary principles. Jack came to us with a fierce spirit and a mouthful of trouble. After Jack had dental surgery to remove several painful, loose teeth, we expected a brief recovery period followed by a return to normal eating. What we got instead was a three-day hunger strike, a crash course in feline psychology, and a reminder that sometimes, cats know best—even when it seems absurd. 🩺 The Warning Signs Jack had dropped a pound from his already small frame before the tooth extraction. He was already having trouble eating; that is why we went ahead with surgery as soon as the vet discovered the tooth issue. After the surgery, Jack was hungry, affectionate, and active—but couldn’t eat. We tried everything: Baby food (syringed in, with protest) Lickable treats (rejected) Softened kibble (ignored) Crushed dry food...

  What is a book jewel? A sometimes-overlooked book with remarkable insight and potential significance. Starting in August, we will share near-daily, as possible, reviews of the monthly book jewel - short, succinct reviews that can be read in 1-2 minutes with links to the reviewer by reviewers whose words are worthy of being heard and whose opinions are worthy of being considered. Sometimes a couple of minutes contains more impressive thought than ten times that many. We will let you decide that. This month's book jewel is The Optimistic Food Addict by Christina Fisanick. Amazon review by GMU Patriot - I was lonely and hungry for something deeper than what food could satiate. To say that I was moved by Christina Fisanick Greer’s memoir, “The Optimistic Food Addict” is an understatement. I found myself in every word. As a fellow food addict, I know what it is to “dance with the dragon” (confront our substances) every day. Christina vividly illustrates what she’s endured battling fo...

  Excerpt from Old and On Hold   Eating through a Pandemic The food supply chain has been turned upside down, creating unusual problems wherein some farmers are tossing milk or burying vegetables while people are lined up at food banks without adequate supplies of food. As of this writing ,we are being told that meat processing has been affected by plant workers being struck with COVID-19. A threat of meat shortage can create food insecurity and the desire to hoard which, of course, requires a way to store larger quantities of food. People without means, including elderly on fixed incomes living in small spaces, can’t hoard. We can expect that grocers will put some limits on the amount bought just as stores did with toilet paper and paper towels. I thank my grocer every time I go in for the effort to provide and, in some cases, “police” our good intentions for the good of all. Stress and boredom are triggers for overindulging. Sugary and salty foods offer temporary satisfactio...