Community Chat

[gloriajean]

.Keep your heart clean by constant spring cleaning. Then there will be a place
for beauty and peace. Lord, help me to remove carelessness and disrespect from
my heart and in all things may I celebrate Your love for me.


S C R I P T U R E F O R T H E D A Y

"What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is
spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, 'You must be born from
above.' The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but
you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone
who is born of the Spirit." ~John 3:6-8

M E D I T A T I O N F O R T H E D A Y

To be attracted toward God and a better life, we can be spirit-guided. There
is a wonderful illumination of thought given to those who are spirit-guided.
To those who are material-guided, there is nothing in God or a finer life to
appeal to them or to attract them. But to those of us who are spirit-guided
there is strength and peace and calm to be found in communion with an unseen
Lord. To those of us who believe in this God we cannot see but whose power
we can feel, life has a meaning
and purpose. We are children of the unseen Lord, and all human beings are
our brothers and sisters.

P R A Y E R F O R T H E D A Y

I pray that I may attain a state of true calmness. I pray that I may live
in quietness and peace.

Hello my friends! Hope your day went well. Ours did very well. He had a nice surprise with our friends coming over, he never suspected a thing! We had a nice meal together and spent a few hours just visiting in our living room, and Lori came around 8:00 - straight from work, bringing him a real touchy card, and a shirt from Darla - the shirt to make him smile, is Linus carrying his blanket!! He loves it!! Ray, Ann's husband, says that when he goes to Northern Tool to see Linus, he says he's Charlie Brown looking for Linus!! Lori's gift was taking him out to eat before. Our weather here is nasty out. We made Lori call when she got home to make sure she got home ok. She did, but it's sleeting and windy, and she said tomorrow should be bad too. If the weather isn't too bad tomorrow, she says Linus can come to her house in the morning for a massage - another gift from her..
I hope and pray the weather won't be so bad tomorrow morning because he sure does need the massage! He is so sore! I'm so glad that he had a nice night with friends over and Lori - now he's in bed - so exhausted and tired. He's 72 today.
My blessing was the look of a pleasant surprise when they came!! Ray and Ann are real blessings to us!

Homily of the Day


March 22, 2011


Only Fools Believe Their Own Press Releases
by Monsignor Dennis Clark, Ph.D.

Is 1:10,16-20 / Mt 23:1-12

Have you ever noticed how much of our supposedly rational decision-making is really nothing more than our preferences or prejudices in search of an excuse? We can spin some fancy tales and conjure some eloquent arguments, but in the end most of them amount to very little. And much the same is true of so many of our plans, prayers, and promises. Lots of talk and little more. Worst of all we can get in the habit of believing our own “press releases,” believing all that baloney to be true.

Moving from cheap talk to real deeds is at the heart of what Lent is about. It starts with repenting, that is, re-thinking what’s truly important and where we ought to be investing our main energies, if we want to call ourselves followers of Jesus. That kind of re-thinking inevitably calls us to re-forming and re-shaping parts of our lives into a clearer likeness of Jesus. And that in turn requires that we get to know Jesus better — from the inside.

God has given each one of us unique gifts for which there is a specific need in our piece of the world. Get to know Jesus better — on the inside — and He’ll show you how to carry your gifts where they’re needed. Your deeds will be ever so much better than any words. And your heart will know the delight of being a real follower of Jesus.

Short Meditation

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Prayer for Today

Oh, my dear God,
surely I will find you along the way
since you are in every single cell,
giving life and love.

from Awakening to Prayer

HOW TO MAKE A PERSONAL PRAYER

Select a best time for your personal prayer and include it in your schedule.
Let it be the best time when drowsiness, tiredness or calls from outside do
not disturb you. For most people early morning is the best time. Try to pray
every day at the fixed time that it may become a habit in you. How wonderful
it is if you can meet the Lord at the same time every day.

Personal prayer is not reciting prayers from some pious books, it is not
saying the rosary, or reading the Bible, it is not time to pray for others,
it is not to pray before a picture or a statue. It is you and your God
alone; it is closing the door of your eyes and ears and entering into the
sanctuary of your heart where you meet the Father and the Son through the
Holy Spirit.

It is good to praise and thank God for sometime to enter into personal
prayer. Where there is praise there is God! Enter His presence with praise
and thanksgiving. Have a lot of praises and thanksgiving during your prayer.
Praises will keep you away from distractions and bondages that come from the
evil one.

Once you are in His presence surrender yourself before Him with small songs
like "Father I adore you, lay my life before You (Son and Spirit)". Anyone
in the presence of the Lord will feel his unworthiness and unholiness to be
in His all Holy and Almighty presence. Hence one must spend little time
asking God pardon and mercy for the sins committed. You must experience the
compassionate and merciful Heart of Jesus from where the Living Water flows
into your heart washing you and cleansing you and giving you a new heart (Ez
36:26). After receiving His pardon and after having reconciled with God and
having forgiven all, you must again thank and praise God for His goodness to
you. Forgive everyone and be reconciled with all in your heart (Mk 11:25)

Spend sometime in asking the Lord to heal you from your past wounds of the
heart and of the present. Bring all your wounded memories to the Lord and
get yourself healed by the wounds of Christ. By His wounds you are healed (I
Pet 2:24). Present your hurt feelings, your feelings of rejections, unlove,
fear, anxiety, inferiority complex, etc. to the Lord's wounds and claim your
healing of the heart. Present the scars of your past sins, guilt, sadness,
etc. to Him and claim a deep inner peace and joy within. In this precious
moment of grace you must get yourself freed from all bad habits and the
desires of the flesh so that on that day you will not be conquered by sin.
You will hear Jesus telling in your heart, "My grace is sufficient for you"
(II Cor 12:9). During this time can ask for your own physical healings too
if you have any.

After having obtained a new life in Jesus through repentance and inner
healing surrender your entire self to the Lord, your heart, your mind, and
every part of your body, your plans, your desires, your work, your money,
your programs, your travel, your relationships, etc. (Rom 6: 12-19). You can
sing in your heart a good song of surrender like "All to Jesus I surrender"
Along with the surrender of your complete self you must ask the Holy Spirit
to fill you with power and grace. You may sing a small song to the Holy
Spirit. Open your heart to the Spirit and receive the Spirit with all
fruits, gifts and charismas (Gal 5: 22-23; Is 11: 2; I Cor 12: 4-10). This
must be the most beautiful time of your personal prayer. Here you will have
various experiences of God, like the Living Water flowing through you with
love, peace and joy. You may experience the Lord's presence in you with
spiritual, emotional manifestations too. You may, here, have visions;
perhaps you may hear the Lord speaking to you giving you guidance and
direction. If you have presented a problem to Him, you will definitely get
an answer. Through this insight, revelations, words of the Spirit within
you, you will hear the Spirit telling you "do this, don't do this, go this
way, don't go this way, etc. During this most important part of your
personal prayer you are entering into a personal friendship with Him. Here
you can speak to Him whatever you want like a brother or a friend (Jn 15:
15). Make intimacy with the Lord in your heart. During this time you may
make decisions with the Lord for that day so that all you do will be
according to His will and plan. If the Lord tells you not to do certain
things or to alter your plans be obedient to Him. Fill yourself with as much
as grace possible for you so that you may walk in His grace and love. Have
much thanksgiving and praise giving in His sweet and loving Presence. If you
spend the time well with the Lord, you will not know how your time has
passed with the Lord. When you end the prayer you may make a sign of the
Cross on important part of your body and entrust yourself to the blood of
Christ for protection and care. Thus with much grace and God's love do the
works of the day with much peace and joy. If you pray this you will see many
blessings of the Lord daily in your life and you will see that the Spirit
leads you.

Mother Teresa's Rules & Beliefs to incorporate

The dying, the cripple, the mental, the unwanted, the unloved they are Jesus in disguise.

Little things are indeed little, but to be faithful in little things is a great thing.
It is not how much we do, but how much love we put in the doing. It is not how much we give, but how much love we put in the giving.
Nakedness is not only for a piece of clothing; nakedness is lack of human dignity, and also that beautiful virtue of purity, and lack of that respect for each other.
There is a terrible hunger for love. We all experience that in our lives - the pain, the loneliness. We must have the courage to recognize it. The poor you may have right in your own family. Find them. Love them.
Before you speak, it is necessary for you to listen, for God speaks in the silence of the heart.
Speak tenderly to them. Let there be kindness in your face, in your eyes, in your smile, in the warmth of your greeting. Always have a cheerful smile. Don't only give your care, but give your heart as well.
The more you have, the more you are occupied, the less you give. But the less you have the more free you are. Poverty for us is a freedom. It is not a mortification, a penance. It is joyful freedom. There is no television here, no this, no that. But we are perfectly happy.
If you are humble nothing will touch you, neither praise nor disgrace, because you know what you are.
Do not allow yourselves to be disheartened by any failure as long as you have done your best.
There is only one God and He is God to all; therefore it is important that everyone is seen as equal before God. I've always said we should help a Hindu become a better Hindu, a Muslim become a better Muslim, a Catholic become a better Catholic.
If we really want to love we must learn how to forgive.
It is a poverty to decide that an unborn child must die so that you may live as you like.
If we pray, we will believe; If we believe, we will love; If we love, we will serve.
We can do no great things; only small things with great love.
You and I, we are the Church, no? We have to share with our people. Suffering today is because people are hoarding, not giving, not sharing. Jesus made it very clear. Whatever you do to the least of my brethren, you do it to me. Give a glass of water, you give it to me. Receive a little child, you receive me. Clear.
Only in heaven will we see how much we owe to the poor for helping us to love God better because of them.
Make us worthy, Lord, to serve those people throughout the world who live and die in poverty and hunger. Give them through our hands, this day, their daily bread, and by our understanding love, give them peace and joy.
Give me courage.
I must do something.
Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.
Let's do something beautiful for God.

Suffering and the Cross



Christ made me understand that I could save souls through the cross. The greater the crosses I encountered, the more ardent became my desire to endure them.

St. Theresa of the Child Jesus


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God has made human beings so noble that every suffering which purifies us and every effort which raises us up gladdens us while making us better.

St. Augustine


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Let us understand that God is a physician, and that suffering is a
medicine for salvation, not a punishment for damnation.

St. Augustine


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When you are scorned by others and lashed by God, do not despair. God lashes us in this life to shield us from the eternal lash in the next.

St. Peter Damian


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The desire to receive God's treasures and favors is universal. But how few people aspire to wear themselves out and to suffer for the Son of God!

St. John of the Cross


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If we suffer with Christ, we will be glorified with Him. The fulfillment of the promised happiness is certain for those who share in the Lord's Passion.

St. Leo the Great


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Let us strive to face suffering with Christian courage. Then all difficulties will vanish and pain itself will become transformed into joy.

St. Theresa of Avila


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Such is the nature of faith that the greater are the obstacles it encounters, the more ardent it becomes.

St. Charles Borromeo


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Do not allow yourselves to be overly saddened by the unfortunate accidents of this world. You are not aware of the benefits they bring and by what secret judgment of God they are arranged for the eternal joy of the Elect.

St. John of the Cross


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The smallest of life's events are directed by the Lord. Creatures are instruments, but it is the hand of Jesus that directs all.

St. Theresa of the Child Jesus


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The Eucharist may be termed a perpetual Calvary. Without it how many times God's wrath would have erupted on our heads!

St. Peter Eymard


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Suffering out of love for God is a signal favor, but we do not realize this. For we thank God for prosperity and take no heed that afflictions would be a much greater grace.

St. Joseph of Cupertino


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The cross is the greatest gift God could bestow on His Elect on earth. There is nothing so necessary, so beneficial, so sweet, or so glorious as to suffer something for Jesus. If you suffer as you ought, the cross will become a precious yoke that Jesus will carry with you.

St. Louis de Montfort


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Suffering is like a kiss that Jesus hanging from the cross bestows on persons whom He loves in a special way. Because of this love He wants to associate them in the work of the redemption.

St. Bonaventure


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Let us lose nothing of what God bestows on us. Difficulties and sufferings will disappear, but the merit we acquire through our fidelity will remain forever. Let us therefore build our eternity through all the things that pass away.

St. Jane Frances de Chantal


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To suffer and not to suffer for God is torment.

St. Gerard Majella


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During mental prayer it is well, at times, to imagine that many insults and injuries are being heaped upon us, that misfortunes have befallen us, and then strive to train our heart to forgive and bear these things patiently, in imitation of our Savior. This is the way to acquire a strong spirit.

St. Philip Neri


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Remember how the crown was attained by those whose sufferings gave new radiance to their faith. The whole company of saints bears witness to the unfailing truth that without genuine effort no one wins the crown.

St. Thomas Becket

The Resume of Jesus Christ
Address: Ephesians 1:20
Phone: Romans 10:13
Website: The Bible.
Keywords: Christ, Lord, Savior and Jesus

Hello. My name is Jesus -The Christ. Many call me Lord! I've sent you
my resume because I'm seeking the top management position in your
heart. Please consider my accomplishments as set forth in my resume.

Qualifications
I founded the earth and established the heavens, (See Proverbs 3:19)
I formed man from the dust of the ground, (See Genesis 2:7)
I breathed into man the breath of life, (See Genesis 2:7)
I redeemed man from the curse of the law, (See Galatians 3:13)
The blessings of the Abrahamic Covenant comes upon your life
through me, (See Galatians 3:14)

Occupational Background
I've only had one employer, (See Luke 2:49).

I've never been tardy, absent, disobedient, slothful or disrespectful.
My employer has nothing but rave reviews for me, (See Matthew 3:15-17)

Skills Work Experiences
Some of my skills and work experiences include: empowering the poor,
to be poor no more, healing the brokenhearted, setting the captives free,

healing the sick, restoring sight to the blind and setting at
liberty them that are bruised, (See Luke 4:18).


I am a Wonderful Counselor, (See Isaiah 9:6). People who listen
to me shall dwell safely and shall not fear evil, (See Proverbs 1:33).


Most importantly, I have the authority, ability and power to
cleanse you of your sins, (See I John 1:7-9)

Educational Background
I encompass the entire breadth and length of knowledge, wisdom
and understanding, (See Proverbs 2:6).
In me are hid all of the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, (See
Colossians 2:3).
My Word is so powerful; it has been described as being a lamp
unto your feet and a lamp unto your path, (See Psalms 119:105).
I can even tell you all of the secrets of your heart, (See Psalms 44:21).

Major Accomplishments
I was an active participant in the greatest Summit Meeting of
all times, (See Genesis 1:26).
I laid down my life so that you may live, (See II Corinthians 5:15).
I defeated the archenemy of God and mankind and made a show of
them openly, (See Colossians 2:15).
I've miraculously fed the poor, healed the sick and raised the dead!
There are many more major accomplishments, too many to mention here.
You can read them on my website, which is located at: www dot - the BIBLE.

You don't need an Internet connection or computer to access my website.

References
Believers and followers worldwide will testify to my divine
healings, salvation, deliverance, miracles, restoration and supernatural
guidance

In Summation
Now that you've read my resume, I'm confident that I'm the only
candidate uniquely qualified to fill this vital position in your heart.
I will properly direct your paths, (See Proverbs 3:5-6), and lead you into

everlasting life, (See John 6:47). When can I start?
Time is of the essence, (See Hebrews 3:15).

Send this resume to everyone you know, you never know who may have an
opening!

Thanks for your help and may God bless you!

Carry Your Cross

Take up your cross, the Savior said,
If you would my disciple be;
Deny yourself, the world forsake,
And humbly follow after me.
Take up your cross, let not its weight
Fill your weak spirit with alarm;
His strength shall bear your heart and nerve your arm.
Take up your cross then in his strength,
And ev’ry danger calmly brave,
To guide you to a better home,
And vict’ry over death and grave.
Take up your cross and follow Christ,
Nor think till death to lay it down;
For only he who bears the cross
May hope to wear the glorious crown.
To you, great Lord, the One in three,
All praise for evermore ascend;
O grant us here below to see
The heav’nly life that knows no end.

by Charles William Everest

Insight:

God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting Life." [John 3:16]

The problem is that you and I, all of us, have done and thought things wrong, and our sins have separated us from God.

The good news is that God sent his son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross in our place, to the pay the penalty for our sins. The gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. When we accept Jesus as our Saviour, we are accepting the call for repentance, the call to turn from sin. We receive Christ not so to continue sin, but to stop it. Grace is not an authority to sin; it is the power not to.

May you grow in your Christian life to love one another. Jesus said, "My commandment is this: love one another, just as I love you." (John 15:12)

Let us pray:
Help us Lord, to follow your command to walk in love and to demonstrate our faith through expressions of love today. Inspire us to acts of love towards our fellow man today. May our kind and encouraging words, our thoughtful gestures and our gentle witness touch our co-workers, friends, family, neighbours, and even strangers with your love! May our deeds before men be a testimony of your love, a witness of your character, and a sincere expression of our faith to the world. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen

- - -
Galatians 5:6 - What matters is faith that works through love.

Prayer before a Crucifix
Behold, O Kind and most sweet Jesus, before Thy face I humbly kneel, and with the most fervent desire of soul, I pray and beseech Thee to impress upon my heart lively sentiments of faith, hope and charity, true contrition for my sins and a firm purpose of amendment. With deep affection and grief of soul, I ponder within myself, mentally contemplating Thy five wounds, having before my eyes the words which David the Prophet spoke concerning Thee: "They have pierced my hands and my feet, they have numbered all my bones."



The Season of Lent and the Blessed Virgin Mary

The commentary in the Sacramentary of the Collection of Masses of the Blessed Virgin Mary for the votive Mass, "Holy Mary, Disciple of the Lord," says about Lent:

Lent is a "journey" for the faithful, during which they "more diligently listen to the word of God and devote themselves to prayer with greater earnestness" [SC 109], and during which they are ready to bear the cross with greater zeal, so that with minds and hearts renewed they may reach a more worthy celebration of the Easter festival. In this way they show themselves true disciples of Christ, hearing his words and seeking to make them their own (see Luke 8:15), following in his footsteps in self-denial (see Matthew 16:24), and striving to stand by his cross in faithful witness (see John 19:26).

The Blessed Virgin Mary was such a disciple. One of the prefaces in the Marian Mass, "The Commending of the Blessed Virgin Mary," sums up the Marian outlook for Lent:

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks.

At the foot of the cross of Jesus,
by his solemn and dying wish,
a deep bond of love is fashioned
between the Blessed Virgin Mary
and his faithful disciples:
the Mother of God is entrusted to the disciples
as their own mother,
and they receive her as a precious inheritance from their Master.

She is to be forever
the mother of those who believe,
and they will look to her
with great confidence in her unfailing protection.
She loves her Son in loving her children,
and in heeding what she says
they keep the words of their Master.

Through him the angels of heaven
offer their prayer of adoration
as they rejoice in your presence for ever.
May our voice be one with theirs
in their triumphant hymn of praise.
(Preface 13)

Closing Prayer:

We thank you, Lord
whose finger touched our dust,
who gave us breath.


We thank you, Lord
who gave us sight and sense
to see the flowers,
to hear the wind,
to feel the waters in our hand.


To sleep with the night
and wake with the sun,
to stand upon this earth,
to hear your voice,
to sing your praise.


Our hearts are stirred
with each new sight and sound.


Like a stream
the whole world pours into our lives,
and eyes and hands,


And fills our souls
with the joy of gratitude
and living gladness.


We want to embrace
and experience and express
every good thing in your world.


O Lord our God,
how excellent is your name.


By
Terry C Falla
Australia

Good night everyone - Sweet Dreams to all and may your Wednesday be filled with many blessings! God bless you all!! Thanks for your prayers - and all of you are prayed for also