Community Chat

[gloriajean]

When you have faith in yourself and God, you will know that you are loved

and safe and never alone. Lord, I am these things because You are always

with me.

Scripture for the day:

"If God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow

is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you--you of little

faith! And do not keep striving for what you are to eat and what you are to

drink, and do not keep worrying. For it is the nations of the world that

strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them.

Instead, strive for his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as

well." ~Luke 12:28-31

Meditation of the day:

I know that God cannot teach anyone who is trusting in a "crutch." I can

throw away the worldly things I have come to depend upon and walk in God's

power and spirit. God's power can so invigorate me that I can indeed walk

on to victory. There is never any limit go God's power.

I can go step by step, one day at a time. God's will can be revealed to me as

I go forward.

Prayer for the day:

I pray that I may have more and more dependence on God. I pray that I may

throw away the "crutches" I sometimes use for excuses.

Hello my friends! Tomorrow - Friday, is Linus' birthday. All but Dave, his brother in the hospital, will meet here at 5 and we'll go out to a fish fry and then here for cake and coffee. Lori will join us and she'll pick up the cake. Friends, in the morning at 7:30, Linus is getting an MRI done on his head, some headaches, some dizzyness, he wants to see what's going on if anything - if there's something bad - he wants to deal with it, but not knowing is hard. Please would you pray that they don't find anything serious there? He won't find out right away, that's bad. Have to wait a week, maybe he'll find out when we're in Texas. When I go, I'll just have the thread say "Daily Positive Thread" and you can just keep it up for a week until I get back. That should be easy. It'll be nice seeing it then when I get back home the Tuesday after Easter. Hilo mentioned Patrick who writes the daily Reflections that I send to my list and she gets them, thought I'd start on this thread with his reflection for today - hope you all like it! Praying for you all - thanks for your prayers for us!

Today's readings 3/20/13

Dan.3:14-20, 91-92, 95; Dan.3:52-56; Jn.8:31-42

In ancient Jewish society the authority of a son was just as binding as his father's and so Jesus' followers would have easily recognized the point He was trying to make in this teaching He presents us with today. But the problem was they no longer worshipped the God of their father Abraham and were unable to recognize God's Son in their midst, they had given in to worldly authority and it's false and incomplete gods much like the people of Babylon had done in today's first reading. The sad reality is many of us do the same thing today, maybe not as openly and directly as they did but we're just as "enslaved" to the world's corrupt authority as they were. It's real easy to excuse ourselves for compromising our convictions in order to survive but the truth is every time we do that the world wraps it's chains around us one more time, eventually leaving us unable to live as freely as God created us to live. I'm not pointing fingers at anyone because I'm just as guilty as the next guy, I come up with the same old lame excuses as everyone else does, but deep down inside I know I'm doing more harm than good and I long to break those chains and be free once again. Yes, knowing that we've allowed ourselves to become slaves is a little unsettling to say the least, but as Christians we have an advantage over all that because we know that "Truth which shall set you free" in the Son whose Authority comes from the Father who created all things. Jesus makes it clear that the only requirements on our part to gaining that freedom we all long for is remaining grounded in God's Word and loving Him for who He is, and in a world filled with people enslaved to it's wick ed ways people like that are easy to recognize. The bottom line is God sent His Son into this world to set us free from those wick ed rulers who have a stranglehold on our lives, that's why I believe we're all a little bit like Daniel's three friends passing through life's "fiery furnace", and if we take a stand like they did and refuse to be mastered by the corrupt influences of our society I can assure you that God's Son will stand with us in the midst of those flames and deliver us from the "Nebuchadnezzars" of the world today, and like scripture tells us today "when the Son sets you free you are free indeed"!

God bless you,

In Jesus - Pat

Because...

Because He emptied Himself of all but love,

. . . you can be filled.

Because His body was broken,

. . . your life can be whole.

Because His blood was shed,

. . . your sins can be forgiven.

Because He submitted to injustice,

. . . you can forgive.

Because He finished His Father's work,

. . . your life has worth.

Because He was forsaken,

. . . you will never be alone.

Because He was buried,

. . . you can be raised.

Because He lives,

. . . you don't have to be afraid.

Because He was raised,

. . . you can be strong.

Because He reached down to you,

. . . you don't have to work your way up to Him.

Because His promises are always true,

. . . you can have Hope!

- Author Unknown

Enough

Dear God,

Please give me...

Enough tears to keep me human,

Enough humor to keep me wise,

Enough setbacks to keep me humble,

Enough accomplishments to keep me confident,

Enough waiting to teach me patience,

Enough hope to teach me trusting,

Enough friends to give me love,

Enough memories to give me comfort.

God, Please Forgive Me

By C. Welton Gaddy

God, forgive my incompleteness: not growing in Christ, not expanding my knowledge of the Scriptures, not developing all my talents.

God, forgive my disinterest: a lack of concern for needs around me, apathy regarding the lostness of millions, blindness to hurts I could help heal.

God, forgive my dishonesty: taking, the easy way rather than the right way, speaking in one manner while living in another, silencing truth to preserve tranquility, settling for less than what is best, loving tradition more than obeying your pioneering Spirit.

God, forgive my loudness: talking when I should be listening, proclaiming when I should be studying, busying myself with new tasks when I should be finding a quiet place to rest.

God, forgive my silence: feeling love and failing to whisper it, reeling with joy and not shouting hallelujah, knowing truth and forfeiting an opportunity to share it, sensing a need to share my faith and squelching the impulse.

God, please forgive me.

TOP TEN REASONS TO BELIEVE IN THE CHRISTIAN FAITH

Author Unknown

1. The Credibility of Its Founder: Peter spoke for Jesus' closest

followers when he said, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words

of eternal life. We believe and know that You are the Holy One of

God." (John 6:68-69)

2. Reliability of Its Book: The integrity of this historical and

geographical record is supported by archeology. The Bible continues to

speak not only with spiritual power but with convincing prophetic

accuracy.

3. Explanations for Life: It is the Christian faith that reflects a

caring attention to detail so evident in the species and ecosystems of

the natural world. It is Christ who clothed himself in our humanity to

feel what we feel and then to suffer and die in our place.

4. Its Continuity with the Past: The Christian faith offers continuity

with our deepest ancestral roots. Those who trust Christ are accepting

the same Creator and Lord worshiped by Adam, Abraham, and Solomon.

5. Its Foundational Claim: The first Christians were witnesses. They

risked their lives to tell the World that with their own eyes they had

seen an innocent man die and then miraculously walk among them 3 days

later.

6. Its Power to Change Lives: Not only were the first disciples

dramatically changed but so were their worst enemies. Paul was

transformed from a killer of Christians into one of their chief

advocates (Galatians 1:11-24)

7. Its Analysis of Human Nature: The Bible says that society's real

problems are problems of the heart. In an age of information and

technology, failures of character have scandalized institutions of the

family, religion, and the arts.

8. Its View of Human Achievement: Generation after generation has

hoped for the best. We have conceived technologies that will deliver

us from the oppressive slavery of work. Yet we are as close as ever to

what the New Testament describes as the end times. (Matthew 24:5-31)

9. Its Impact on Society: From roof tops to necklaces to earrings, we

see the sign of the cross, bearing visible witness to Christ's death.

Social relief agencies have been fueled by the direct or residual

values of The Bible.

10. Its Offer of Salvation: No other faith offers everlasting life as

a gift to those who trust the One who has overcome death for them. No

other system offers assurance of forgiveness and adoption into the

family of God.

A Scriptural Morning Prayer

Praise and honor to You, O' Blessed Trinity: Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit!

Praise, Honor, and Adoration!

Be exalted, O' God of Gods!

O' King of Kings! O' Holy One! O' Mighty One! O' God of all Mercies and of Love beyond comprehension!

I entrust to you my life.

This day I lay before you all my circumstances and all that I encounter.

"A man's heart plans out his way, but it is the Lord who makes his steps secure." (Prov. 16:9}

Lord, order this day so it will give you glory and be in keeping with your holy will for me.

For Jesus came to do the will of His Father and to give you glory. (Jn. 6:38)

I pray not only for myself, but also for all whom you have given me to love, especially ____________.

Pour into our hearts, O' Lord, for the oil of gladness and clothe us in a garment of praise (Is. 61:3) that we may rejoice in you all day and give you a sacrifice of praise (Jer. 17:26) in all the circumstances.

I thank you and praise you, my Lord, for the truth that sets us free. (Jn. 8:32) Do not let me/us be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of our minds. (Rom. 12:1,2 Eph. 4:23,24) Ground me/us in your truth and establish me/us on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Reveal to me the hidden stones and idols of my heart (Ez. 36:25-27) that I may repent and return to you with all of my heart. (Ps. 51) I pray for humility to believe as Mary did that the promises spoken to her would be fulfilled; (Lk. 1:45) and the interior gifts to ponder as she did the action of God in all circumstances. (Lk. 2:19) I pray also for the readiness to respond quickly as Joseph and Mary did to the lead and promptings of the Holy Spirit. (Mt. 1:24; 2:14)

Thank you, Father God, for the love of the Holy Spirit that is poured into our hearts in Christ Jesus. A love that builds us up in hope, a hope that does not disappoint. (Rm. 5:5) I pray for that peace that surpasses all understanding; your peace that binds us together in love and preserves the unity of the Spirit. (Eph. 4:3) Cause me to walk in that peace each day. "You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee..." (Is. 26:3)

Each morning awaken me to listen as a disciple. Grant me an attentive ear to listen in sincerity and integrity of heart, to follow you faithfully. Lead me into deep worship and daily study of your Word.

I pray for a disciple's tongue. Cause me to know how to reply to the wearied. Put a guard at my mouth to speak as a godly woman/man, to speak that which will edify and encourage, to speak the truth in love. (Js. 1:26, Prov. 10:11+;13:3, Si. 28:14)

Thank you Jesus, that I may come before you, united in intercession to and with Mary, Joseph, and all the heavenly community, particularly St. ____________. I present to you, my God, all my needs and those of my family, friends, all You have given me to love. Wash us in the precious tide of your mercy, the blood and life giving waters that flow from the pierced side of Jesus. (Zc. 13:1) Cause us to rely on your armor (Eph. 6:10-18) that we may be able to stand firm, united in faith (Phil. 1:27,28; Heb. 4:14) and not falter in times of hardship. For in due season we will see the victory of our God and will have a testimony of praise, to give Him glory and to defeat the works of the enemy. (Rev. 12:11) Encircle us, O' God, with your protection. (Ps. 3:3) St. Michael the archangel, defend us in the day of battle.

I present to You, O' Lord, the needs of the whole Church; the Holy Father, Pope Francis; my diocese, parish, and all pastors and laborers in your kingdom. I further entrust to you the needs of my neighborhood, city, and nation; as well as the nations of the world. Cause those in leadership to exercise it in a godly manner. (1 Tim. 2:1) I pray especially for ____________.

In the name of Jesus, I pray for a renewal of the Holy Spirit--His fountain of life giving water, to spring up within, and a release of His fire, His gifts, and the evidence of His fruits within me and the lives of all for whom I pray.

Praise, Glory, and Adoration be unto You, O' Lord of Lords!

Amen! Amen! Amen!