Community Chat

[gloriajean]

Hello my friends! Hope you all have had and are still having a wonderful and positive day and of course, filled with lots of God's blessings. Today's blessings would be alot of things accomplished this morning, we went to Mass first thing, then while having coffee and breakfast, my DH made a few phone calls to LIghthouse, and he learned and things got accomplished, and also we got wireless internet put in now by Charter, our server, just because Darla is coming home and will need it for her computer - so what all we don't do for our kids, right? She's doing an online class - teaching about 32 students, so needs this. Now I don't see why we'd need this after she leaves, unless we'd have a lap top, right. Maybe in the future for his new business, but we'll see. He talked with his Regional Manager this morning, and he'll pay his way to go to their Convention - Wow! And he'll make Linus a District Manager if all works out well. New career at age 74, what do you think about that?

The choices we make will affect our lives for better or for worse. Lord, You

have given me all that I need to make wise choices. May I always take time

to listen to You.

Scripture for the day:

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the

mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and

foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult." ~Psalm 46:1-3

Meditation for the day:

We can constantly claim God's strength. Once convinced of the right

of a course of action, once reasonably sure of God's guidance, we can

claim that strength. We can claim all the strength we need to meet

any situation. We can claim a new supply when our own supply is

exhausted. We have a right to claim it and we can use this right. A

beggar supplicates, a son appropriates. When we supplicate, we can be

kept waiting, but when we appropriate God's strength in a good cause,

we can have it at once.

Prayer for the day

I pray that I may claim God's strength whenever I need it. I pray

that I may try to live as a child of God.

A Moment’s Breathing Prayer

Surrender to God’s help by breathing in God’s healing power ... extend inhalation. Receive God’s peace by exhaling all worries and stress – extend exhalation.

Breath in what I need from God

Breathe out impurities that harm my soul

Breathe in God’s love

Breathe out any self hatred

Breathe in God’s forgiveness

Breathe out self hurt

Breathe in God’s peace

Breathe out anxiety

Breathe in Jesus’ compassion

Breathe out my pride

Breathe in God’s confidence

Breathe out my doubts and uncertainties

Breathe in God’s clarity

Breathe out confusion

Breathe in God’s peace

Breathe out my fears

Breathe in peace ..... exhale

Breathe in peace ..... exhale

Breathe in peace ..... exhale

(Tolle Lege; Augustinian Historical Commission, 1997, used with permission.)

SAYING GOODBYE

By George Prins

It was hard to see him go that September morning. He was so excited

about meeting new opportunities at the university. We felt like our

nest was almost empty.

I remembered the time I wanted to take my three-year-old son on an

afternoon trip for some father-son bonding. I tried to share with him

many particulars of the surroundings through which we traveled. I felt

exhausted. He didn't say anything. A big truck was now passing us. He

said, "Beeg tuck!" That was all he said that afternoon. We still laugh

over that story.

Another time I was trying to teach him to catch the ball. He always

wanted to hold his glove down so it was hard for him to catch the

balls flying over his waist. I encouraged him to hold the glove up,

then backed up and threw the ball. The glove suddenly pointed downward

and the ball hit him square in the eye. He had a real shiner for the

next week or so. Now he throws the baseball further than I can. Many

more memories came to me as he left for the university. He was not

really ours anymore... or was he?

Saying goodbye is always hard. It would be especially hard if a family

member died. That goodbye is so final. A divorce is a strange goodbye

because it kills your self-esteem as well. You wonder what you did

wrong. In that way, a suicide is like a divorce; it kills the soul of

a person.

One of the hardest goodbyes recorded in history is when Jesus Christ

cried out, "My God, why have you forsaken me!" A few minutes later, he

died. But He died a special death. A death in which we may obtain

comfort for when we have to say goodbye to special people and the

memories they give.

Max Lucado says it well: "Airports. Luggage. Embraces. Taillights.

Tight throats. Final waves." "Write me!" "Don't forget to phone."

Question: what kind of God would put people through such agony? What

kind of God would give you friends and families and then ask you to

leave them?

Answer: a God who knows that the deepest love is not built on passion

and romance. A God who knows that we are only pilgrims and that

eternity is so close that any "Goodbye is, in reality, 'See you

tomorrow'."

Really, it is a God who had to say goodbye to a Son that He dearly

loved. That Son had to die to give us the true comfort we all need.

Matthew 11:28 says, "Come to me, all who have heavy hearts and I will

give you rest."

I would encourage you to seek out that comfort by asking Jesus Christ

to come into your life and fill that vacuum, that void. I have heard

of so many individuals who had empty lives. When they asked Christ to

fill their life with His comfort, they suddenly could see brightness.

Darkness was gone. Gloom and despair vanished. Jesus Christ can fill

your void also!

Forgive me Lord, for not being patient

Forgive me Lord, for not being kind

Forgive me Lord, for being envious and not generous

Forgive me Lord, for being arrogant

Forgive me Lord, for being rude

Forgive me Lord, for wanting things my own way

Forgive me Lord, for seeking my own advantage

Forgive me Lord, for being irritable

Forgive me Lord, for being so easily offended

Forgive me Lord, for not forgiving quickly

Forgive me Lord, for storing up resentments

Forgive me Lord, for rejoicing in wrongdoing

Forgive me Lord, for not hating evil

Forgive me Lord, for not rejoicing in the truth

Forgive me Lord, for not bearing all things

Forgive me Lord, for not making allowances

Forgive me Lord, for not having more faith

Forgive me Lord, for not trusting in you more

Forgive me Lord, for not enduring everything in acceptance of your will.

Author: Joseph of Jesus and Mary

Lessons of Love

A ninety-one-year-old woman died after living a long, dignified life.

When she met God, she asked Him about something that had

long bothered her:

"If Man was created in God's image, and if all men are created

equal, why do people treat each other so badly?"

God replied that each person who enters our life has a unique

lesson to teach us. And it is only through these lessons that we learn

about life, people, relationships, and God. This confused the woman,

so God began to explain:

"When someone lies to you, it teaches you that things are not always as

they seem. The truth is often far beneath the surface. Look beyond the

masks people wear if you want to know their heart. And remove your own

masks to let people know yours.

"When someone steals from you, it teaches you that nothing is forever.

Always appreciate what you have, for you never know when you might

lose it. And never, ever, take your friends and family for granted because

today is the only guarantee you have.

"When someone inflicts an injury upon you, it teaches you that the

human state is a fragile one. Protect and take care of your body as best

you can; it's the only thing you are sure to have forever.

"When someone mocks you, it teaches you that no two people are alike.

When you encounter people who are different from you, don't judge them

by how they look or act; instead, base your opinion on the contents of

their hearts.

"When someone breaks your heart, it teaches you that loving someone

does not always mean that person will love you back. But don't turn your

back on love because when you find the right person, the joy that that one

person brings will make up for all the past hurts put together. Times ten.

"When someone holds a grudge against you, it teaches you that everyone

makes mistakes. When you are wronged, the most virtuous thing you can

do is forgive the offender without pretense. "Forgiving those who have

hurt us is the most difficult, the most courageous, and the most noble thing

Man can do.

"When a loved one is unfaithful to you, it teaches you that resisting

temptation is Man's greatest challenge. Be vigilant in your resistance

against all temptation. By doing so, you will be rewarded with an

enduring sense of satisfaction far greater than the temporary pleasure

by which you were tempted.

"When someone cheats you, it teaches you that greed is the root of all

evil. Aspire to make your dreams come true, no matter how lofty they

may be. Do not feel guilty about your success, but never let an

obsession with achieving your goals lead you to engage in malevolent

activities.

"When someone ridicules you, it teaches you that nobody is perfect.

Accept people for their merits and be tolerant of their flaws. Do not

ever reject someone for imperfections over which they have no control."

Upon hearing the Lord's wisdom, the old woman became concerned

that there were no lessons to be learned from Man's good deeds. God

replied that Man's capacity to love is the greatest gift he has. At the root

of all kindness is love, and each act of love also teaches us a lesson.

The woman's curiosity deepening, God once again began to explain:

"When someone loves us, it teaches us that love, kindness, charity,

honesty, humility, forgiveness, and acceptance can counteract all the

evil in the world.

"For every good deed, there is one less evil deed. Man alone has the

power to control the balance between good and evil, but because the

lessons of love are not taught often enough, the power is too often

abused.

"When you enter someone's life, whether by plan, chance, or

coincidence, consider what your lesson will be. Will you teach love

or a harsh lesson of reality?

"When you die, will your life have resulted in more loving or hurting?

More comfort or pain? More joy or sadness? Each one of us has

power over the balance of love in the world. Use it wisely.

"Don't miss an opportunity to nudge the world's scale in the right

direction.

"Pass these lessons of love on to those you love and to those you

have hurt.

"For each person who receives this, there will be a little less evil in

the world and a little more love."