Community Chat

[gloriajean]

You are a blessed, creative, lovable and needed being created by God.

Lord, may these qualities shine forth and be used to bless those around me.

Scripture for the day:

"For this reason, since the day we heard it, we have not ceased praying for

you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God's will in

all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may lead lives worthy of

the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as

you grow in the knowledge of God." ~Colossians

1:9

Meditation for the day:

We can persevere in all that God's guidance moves us to do. The persistent

carrying out of what seems right and good can bring us to that place where

we would be. If we look back over God's guidance, we can see that God's

leading has been very gradual and that only as we have carried out God's

wishes, as far as we can understand them, has God been able to give us more

clear and definite leading. We can be led by God's touch on a quickened

responsive mind.

Prayer for the day:

I pray that I may persevere in doing what seems right. I pray that I may

carry out all of God's leading as far as I can understand it.

Hello my friends! We went this morning to a town about a half hour from here for their breakfast and set up a stand for Lighthouse CD's. Were there 4 hours, did sell a few, it was long, but talked to some very nice people. Our Consoling the Heart of Jesus class tonight was cancelled because of the weather, freezing rain, which makes the roads icy. Hope it'll be fine in the morning when we have our appt. with Dr. Mike. Had to cancel Thursday morning because of a snow storm! I was blessed today by not having any light headedness even though I didn't nap, so I must be getting better. The arm, well, that still needs time to heal, at least it's not broken, so that worry is out of my head. Praying for you all - thanks for your prayers for us!

LISTEN TO THE WIND

By Melanie Schurr

Mar 13 2009

"Love silence, even in the mind; for thoughts are to that as words are

to the body, troublesome: much speaking, as much thinking, spends.

True silence is the rest of the mind; and it is to the spirit what

sleep is to the body, nourishment and refreshment. " -William Penn

Have you ever found yourself not thinking one single thought; no worry

or care to creep into your mind? For most people, these times of inner

silence are few and far between, but when they do occur, they are a

soothing balm to our soul.

Having recently relocated from a busy suburban town to a secluded

rustic setting far from the beaten path, I find myself having more and

more of these quiet moments. Most of these peaceful

incidences have occurred right within our own yard, such times as

early morning when I will find my self looking out our big picture

window, just looking at the snow covered forest that blankets our new

home. As the day progresses, I watch the birds and squirrels that feed

from the bounty of the land and several times I have even seen deer as

they cross our yard to get to a nearby stream.

I find myself at a slower pace these days, but it is in no way due to

a lack of energy or loss of youth. The small moments of tranquility

have played an important part in my well-being and it is comforting to

know that all these gifts were brought about by the loving hand of

God. All around us are gifts, but we are often just too darn busy to

notice. When was the last time you stopped to smell a flower?

When was the last time you felt the soft cheek of a child?

When was the last time you turned off the TV and radio for the day and

just enjoyed the sound of coffee perking or birds chirping?

When was the last time you told your loved ones, "I love you?"

Just as we can greatly benefit from moments of peace and tranquility,

there is something even more important we need; a relationship with

our Creator, God. While our physical and emotional

well-being will smile upon the peace we give it, so, too, will our

spirits rejoice when we feed it the living word of God!

Kindness is a quality that belongs to the very nature of God (Mt 11:29). If you love God, it follows that you must also love all that God loves; and God loves the neighbours with whom you live. That being the case, you will go your way in life looking for occasions to help each and every one; to give them cosolation, and to do all in your power to make them happy (Lk 6:33).

Kindness should be uppermost, especially in dealings with the poor because they are treated harshly by many. It also should be apparent in dealings with the sick and infirm, because these are already suffering under infliction. But above all, kindness should be our guide when we have dealings with those who are our enemies (Ro 12:21). [Yes, including the infidels.] Hatred must be conquered by love; persecution must be conquered by meekness.

Let us pray:

Lord, we pray we may be all you have called us to be. May we be alert to the enemy's schemes to steal our positions in the truth; to knock us off guard and buckle our knees in fear and weakness. Help us to stand true and strong in our position of faith today. May we be courageous in the face of adversity and compassionate in the midst of confusion and chaos. Apart from you we have nothing, but with you today may we be on guard, true, courageous, strong and filled to overflowing with love. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

- - -

Matthew 5:44 - "But now I tell you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you..."

Matthew 11:29 - "I am gentle and humble in spirit." (Other translations read "meek and humble in heart".)

Luke 6:33 - "And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you receive a blessing? Even sinners do that!"

Romans 2:4 - Surely you know that God is kind, because he is trying to lead you to repent.

Romans 12:21 - Do not let evil defeat you; instead, conquer evil with good.

1 Corinthians 16:13-14 - Be alert, stand firm in the faith, be brave, be strong. Do all your work in love.

Colossians 3:12 - You are the people of God; he loved you and chose you for his own. So then, you must clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

1 Peter 2:15 - For God wants you to silence the ignorant talk of foolish people by the good things you do.

- - -

"Always forgive your enemies -- Nothing annoys them so much." - Oscar Wilde

"Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend" - Martin Luther King Jr.

When you think you've had a bad day, take a look at Jesus' list...

23rd Psalm For The Workplace

The Lord is my boss, and I shall not want.

He gives me peace, when chaos is all around me.

He reminds me to pray, before I speak in anger.

He restores my sanity.

He guides my decisions that I might honor Him in all I do.

Even though I face absurd amounts of e-mail, system failures, copier jams, back-ordered supplies, unrealistic deadlines, staff shortages, budget cutbacks, red tape, downsizing, gossiping co-workers and whining customers, I won't give up, for You are with me.

Your presence, peace and power will see me through.

You raise me up, even when the boss fails to promote me.

You claim me as your own, even when the company threatens to let me go.

Your loyalty and love are better than a bonus check.

Your retirement plan beats any 401K, And when it's all said and done, I'll be working for you a whole lot longer!

Thanks be to God!

Author Unknown

The Anatomy Of A True Friend

Eyes:

Will always see you for the way you really are, your true self.

Ears:

Will always have them open to listen.

Mouth:

To always tell you the truth and give their opinions, tell you when you

mess up or do something good.

Shoulder:

Will offer when you need one to cry on, will be your strength when you

find it hard to carry yourself. Will always let you lean on them.

Heart:

To love you for who you are and not judge, Will always have a place there

for you.

Hands:

To hold yours when you need a little guidance, to lend when you need

help, and to help you up when you may fall.

Arms:

Will always make you feel comfortable in them and to offer hugs when you

need one. Will try to warm when you are cold.

Feet:

To walk with you throughout your life and be the best friend they can be.

A little boy's hand got stuck in a bottle and his parents tried their best to get his hand out and they couldn't, the only choice left was to break the bottle, but before the father asked his son to open his hand and slowly try to get it out and the boy replied: "If I open my hand, I will drop the dollar?"

Dear Lord,

here we are on this earth,

our total freedom is attached to material objects,

we try to forget about it and make you the centre of our lives, but we fail.

Help us Lord to focus on you as our treasure

and not let go of your love and grace,

and just then we'll find freedom and happiness. Teach us love.

Amen

- - -

Luke 12:15 - And he went on to say to them all, "Watch out and guard yourselves from every kind of greed; because a person's true life is not made up of the things he owns, no matter how rich he may be."

Ecclesiastes 5:10 - If you love money, you will never be satisfied; if you long to be rich, you will never get all you want. It is useless.

Ecclesiastes 6:9 - It is better to be satisfied with what you have than to be always wanting something else.

- - -

"You are richer today if you have laughed, given, and forgiven." (Anon.)

Being a Light in the World

The English writer John Ruskin has given us a good picture of what the

Lord wants us to be in our world.

In the olden days before electricity, the streets were lighted by gas

lamps. Each evening a lamplighter would go around with a little flame

and light one lamp after another.

One evening, Ruskin was sitting in his house looking out the window.

Across the valley was a street on the hillside. There Ruskin could see

one lamp after another being lighted by the lamplighter as he went along.

Because of the darkness, Ruskin could not see the lamplighter, only his

burning torch and the trail of lights he left behind.

Seeing that, Ruskin turned to the person sitting with him and said,

"There's a good illustration of a Christian. People may never have known

him, they may never have met him, they may never even have seen him. But

they know he passed through their world, by the trail of fight he left

behind him!" "Let your light shine before people" is the way Jesus said

it in Matthew 5:16.

Sayings of Mother Teresa

When it is hard, remember we are not called

to be successful but to be faithful.

Fidelity is important in the least things, not for their own sake --

for this is the work of small minds --

but for the sake of the great thing which is the will of God.

St. Augustine said, " Little things are indeed little,

but to be faithful in little things is a great thing.

Is not Our Lord equally the same in a small Host as in a great one?