Among Friends

[gloriajean]

Hello my friends!  Nice day here today - a little snow, but not much and the rest of the week will be nice - Thanks be to God because we will be doing some traveling to see my sisters, two nights of staying overnight, Wednesday night and Saturday night, so I won't get this thread out then, we'll be having a sister's get together.  Today after Mass I was visiting with Shirley, Fr. Jerry's sister, (and my classmate), and she said that their older sister is in the hospital, they were hoping not serious, they were going to spend the day at the hospital with her, if it's serious, then I'm sure Fr. Jerry will cancel his vacation starting Wednesday.  He and our priest are planning a cruise together to Mexico. They are good friends. May you all have a very good week with many blessings!!!

Recognize the joy that comes from the simple things in life like a smile, a hug,

or a good meal.  Lord, help me think about the good things in my life and

how my life would change without them.

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

"Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in
heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my
burden is light."  ~Matthew 11:29-30

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

I can try to be unruffled, no matter what happens.  I can keep my emotions
in check, although others around me are letting theirs go.  I can keep calm
in the face of disturbance, keep that deep, inner calm through all the
experiences of the day.  In the rush of work and worry, the deep, inner
silence is necessary to keep me on an even keel.  I can learn to take the
calm with me into the most hurried of days.

P R A Y E R   F O R   T H E   D A Y 

I pray that I may be still and commune with God.  I pray that I may learn
patience, humility and peace.

Lenten Reflections by Bishop Robert Barron

Lent Day 5

Not on Bread Alone

The temptations Jesus faced in the desert may seem a little obscure to us, but, in fact, they lie at the heart of all human temptation. They are three classic substitutes for the good that is God’s will. 

The first great temptation is to focus our lives on material things and the satisfaction of sensual desire: “The tempter approached him and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread.’” Jesus is starving after 40 days of fasting, and he feels the temptation to use his divine power to satisfy his bodily desires.

This means that he feels the pull to make the satisfaction of bodily desire the center and ground of his life. This is the pull toward hedonism—the philosophy that the good life is the physically-satisfying life. Food, drink, sex, material things, money, comfort, or a secure sense of the future have become the supreme values for many in our culture.

Many, many people throughout history, and to this day, are waylaid by this powerful temptation. It is powerful because the desires are so basic. Thomas Merton said that the sensual desires—for food, comfort, pleasure, and sex—are like little children in that they are so immediate and so insistent. 

But our lives will never open to greater depth as long as we are dominated by our physical desires. This is why in so many of the initiation rituals of primal peoples, something like fasting or sensible deprivation is essential. It is also why initiation into a demanding form of life, like the military, often involves the deprivation of sensual pleasures.
 
When we give way to this temptation, it shuts down the soul, for the soul has been wired for God. It was created for journey into the divine, for the beatific vision. When sensual desire dominates, those deeper and richer desires are never felt or followed. They are, as Merton said, like little children, constantly clamoring for attention.

This is why Jesus responds: “Scripture has it, ‘Not on bread alone shall man live” (Matthew 4:4). Life means so much more than sensual pleasure. Love, loyalty, relationship, family, moral excellence, aesthetic pleasure, and the aspiration after God are all so much more important.

Valentine Prayer

I said a Valentine prayer for you
and asked the Lord above
to fill your heart and bless your soul
With the precious gift of love.

I asked Him for sincere love
The kind that's meant to stay
Just like the generous love
You give to those you touch each day.

I prayed for love from family
And from every cherished friend
Then I asked the Lord to give you
His love that knows no end.

Author Unknown

Please Do It On Your Knees

Well, I hear people who are talkin' 
about people most everywhere I go----
To hear them tell it they were there when it 
happened, there's nothin' that they don't know. 
Well, you may not approve of the things I do
but if you're gonna talk about me, 
make sure what you're sayin' is done while 
you're prayin'---and please do it on your knees.

The Book says brothers will love one another 
but love doesn't need any words. 
It's proven by the things we do and not say -- 
for actions speak louder than words. 
There will always be people who will talk about people 
but if you're gonna talk about me, 
then tell it to Someone who can do somethin' about it 
and please do it on your knees.

You can tell the Lord all the things I've done 
that didn't seem right to you, 
but don't tell your neighbor 'cause
he can never give me the grace to see me through. 
You can tell Him all about how weak I am 
and pray that He'll strengthen me--
you can talk about me any time you wanna 
but please do it on your knees.

~Unknown~

A PRAYER FOR LENT

Lord, it is that time of year again when I become aware of my need for you, and of how I have forgotten you since Christmas! I know, Lord, that I'm supposed to mortify myself everyday to remind myself of sin, of suffering, of punishment, of human weakness.

This Lent, Lord, I'll try to be different. I will try to give you some extra time in prayer, to spend a little less on myself so that I will have more time for others. As I think of how you suffered for love of me, I'll try to unite my sufferings with yours for the sake of humankind. I'll try not to complain, Lord, when crosses come my way.

You had to go to the wilderness to pray for forty days, even though you were God and Man, and the devil tempted you. I'm only human, yet I know I can avoid sin with your help. Help me to realize that I need to curb my body to free my soul for that love of you which should be my only desire. Amen.

February 14 - Jesus Calling

Give yourself fully to the adventure of today. Walk boldly along the path of Life, relying on your ever-present Companion. You have every reason to be confident, because My Presence accompanies you all the days of your life—and onward into eternity.

Do not give in to fear or worry, those robbers of abundant living. Trust Me enough to face problems as they come, rather than trying to anticipate them. Fix your eyes on Me, the Author and Perfecter of your faith, and many difficulties on the road ahead will vanish before you reach them. Whenever you start to feel afraid, remember that I am holding you by your right hand. Nothing can separate you from My Presence!

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
—Hebrews 12:2

“For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.”
—Isaiah 41:13

[lovestopaint]

We are supposed to have  snow, Ice and rain today so far we have the snow.

It's supposed to get better later today then it's going to warm up later on in the week.

I hope and pray Father Jerry's sister isn't seriously ill.

Blessings to all.

Harlene(lovestopaint)

[gloriajean]

Thanks for praying for Fr. Jerry's sister, Harlene, just talked to him and she's had an infection, and will be released from the hospital tomorrow. That's good news.