Community Chat

[gloriajean]

Don't worry about tomorrow because God is already taking care
of it. Lord, help me set aside needless worry and anxiety so that
I have time to do all that I need to do today.

Scripture for the day:

"My vows to you I must perform, O God; I will render thank offerings
to you. For you have delivered my soul from death, and my feet from
falling, so that I may walk before God in the light of life." ~Psalm
56:12

Meditation for the day:

I can say thank you to God for everything, even the seeming trials and
worries. I can strive to be grateful and humble. My whole attitude
toward God can be one of gratitude. I can be glad for the things I
have received. I can pass on what God reveals to me. I believe that
more truths can flow in, as I go along in this new way of life.

Prayer for the day:

I pray that I may be grateful for the things I have received and do
not deserve. I pray that this gratitude will make me truly humble.

Hello my friends! Today we went to Mass at the Cathedral at noon - we are
trying to make it to Mass daily if possible - one of our Lenten
resolutions. The weather was nice out, and we heard the good news that our
snow storm of about a foot coming on Sunday is not coming anymore! Praise
God! For Lori's Birthday tomorrow - he bought a DQ cake with her name on
it, and on Saturday afternoon she and I go shopping for her Fiestaware - she
got 4 place settings for Christmas and wants the the other four for
birthday. She likes the square ones. If we can't find them in the stores,
we'll order them. Hers for Christmas Darla ordered from Macy's. She still
hasn't heard a word from that guy - and is starting to give up hope now.
That's a shame he never got in touch with her again especially when they
both seemed to hit it off so well. Sad to have a birthday feeling so low
like that. My plantar's wart seems to be getting better - it really is a
stubborn one! I won't mention it again until it's gone for good!

A Lenten Pledge
by Fr. Lawrence S. Brey

My crucified Jesus, my God and Savior, help me make a good Lent, root out my
sins, and live in union with Thee. With Thy help, I pledge and resolve the
following Lenten efforts:
1. I will do penance for my sins, and make special sacrifices for Thee.

2. I will pray more often, more attentively, more humbly.

3. I will bend my will to Thine, by obeying Thy commandments and my
superiors.

4. I will give up certain things I like, to better strengthen my will
against evil allurements.

5. I will more strictly avoid occasions of sin.

6. I will control and discipline my eyes, my imagination, and my curiosity.

7. I will regard Lent as a time of war against my sins and weaknesses; a
time to root out bad habits and self-love.

8. I will also use Lent as a time to grow in virtue, in Thy Love, in peace.

9. I will often think of Thee crucified for my sins, and try to have true
contrition and purpose of amendment.

10. I will be cheerful amidst my penances and efforts, without becoming a
cross or burden to others.

HOW TO BE HAPPY

Keep your heart free from hate and your mind free from worry,
live simply, expect little, give much,

sing often, pray always,

forget self, think of others and their feelings

fill your heart with love, scatter sunshine.

These are tried links in the golden chain of contentment.

Take Up 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

The Clay Balls

A man was exploring caves by the Seashore. In one of the caves he found a
canvas bag with a bunch of hardened clay balls. It was like someone had
rolled clay balls and left them out in the sun to bake. They didn't look
like much, but they intrigued the man, so he took the bag out of the cave
with him. As he strolled along the beach, he would throw the clay balls one
at a time out into the ocean as far as he could.

He thought little about it, until he dropped one of the clay balls and it
cracked open on a rock . Inside was a beautiful, precious stone!

Excited, the man started breaking open the remaining clay balls. Each
contained a similar treasure He found thousands of dollars worth of jewels
in the 20 or so clay balls he had left. Then it struck him. He had been on
the beach a long time. He had thrown maybe 50 or 60 of the clay balls with
their hidden treasure into the ocean waves. Instead of thousands of dollars
in treasure, he could have taken home tens of thousands, but he had just
thrown it away!

It's like that with people. We look at someone, maybe even ourselves, and we
see the external clay vessel. It doesn't look like much from the outside. It
isn't always beautiful or sparkling, so we discount it. We see that person
as less important than someone more beautiful or stylish or well known or
wealthy. But we have not taken the time to find the treasure hidden inside
that person.
There is a treasure in each and every one of us. If we take the time to get
to know that person, and if we ask God to show us that person the way He
sees them, then the clay begins to peel away and the brilliant gem begins to
shine forth.

May we not come to the end of our lives and find out that we have thrown
away a fortune in friendships because the gems were hidden in bits of clay.
May we see the people in our world as God sees them.

I am so blessed by the gems of friendship I have with you.. Thank you for
looking beyond my clay vessel.

APPRECIATE EVERY SINGLE
THING YOU HAVE, ESPECIALLY YOUR FRIENDS!
LIFE IS TOO SHORT AND FRIENDS ARE TOO FEW!

Do not ask the Lord to Guide your Footsteps if you are not willing to MOVE
your Feet'

Count Your Blessings

Count your blessings instead of your crosses,
Count you gains instead of your losses,
Count your joys instead of your woes,
Count your friends instead of your foes.

Count your courage instead of your fears,
Count your laughs instead of your tears.
Count your full years instead of your lean,
Count your kind deeds instead of your mean.

Count you health instead of your wealth,
Count on God instead of yourself.

Yes, we just have to remember this, don't we? Here's wishing you all many,
many blessings to count day by day! God bless you all!