Community Chat

[gloriajean]

We are judged by our actions, not by our intentions. Lord, may I show
my love for You through charity and goodness toward others.

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

"Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from among the nations, that we may
give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise." ~Psalm 106:47

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

We can always remember that we are weak but that God is strong. God knows
all about our weakness. God hears every cry for mercy, every sign of
weakness, every plea for help, and every sorrow over every failure, every
weakness felt and expressed. We only fail when we trust too much
in our own strength. We need not feel bad about our weakness. When we are
weak, that is when God is strong to help us. When we trust God enough, our
weakness will not matter. God is always strong to save.

P R A Y E R F O R T H E D A Y

I pray that I may learn to lean on God's strength. I pray that I may know
that my weakness is God's opportunity.

Peace of the Lord be with you all! Hello to all my positive pals and grateful gals! Hope you all had a great day today. The sun was out all day, snow is still all around, but it stopped snowing and no more in sight for awhile, I hope not until next year. This is Linus' birthday week, he got a few cards on his birthday, a couple yesterday, and Darla's card came today! It was a relaxing day for me - didn’t have to cook - had left-overs. Linus worked - and has off tomorrow. We hope to go see Lorraine tomorrow - she got home from the hospital yesterday. cancer was ruled out. Her throat hurts, could be something with thyroid. My blessings today are my family, and all my wonderful friends given to me by Our Lord! For my every breath I breathe, I give Him thanks, for all He does for us, I give Him thanks.

Homily of the Day


March 24, 2011


What Kind of Eternity Are You Building?
by Monsignor Dennis Clark, Ph.D.

Jer 17:5-10 / Lk 16:19-31

An older couple were driving along when they passed a very young couple who were snuggled closely as they drove along. The older woman said to her husband, “Remember when we used to sit close like that. I wonder what happened.” Her husband replied, “I didn’t move.”

In today’s gospel, the rich man finds himself isolated and alone on the other side of a great abyss where no one can reach him and no one can bring even so much as a cup of water. Meanwhile, far away on the other side is the poor beggar named Lazarus, whom the rich man scorned during his life, and who now is resting snugly in the bosom of Abraham.

Where did that abyss come from, and how did that rich man happen to be so completely cut off from where he wanted to be and ought to be? The answer is both sad and a dire warning to us all: God didn’t do it. The rich man dug that abyss a shovelful at a time, across a whole lifetime. Turned inward upon himself and consumed by his own needs and desires, he lost all thought or connection to anyone outside himself. His lonely, self-created eternity was simply an extension of his earthly life, and no one had to intervene to condemn him to it.

What kind of eternity are you building for yourself? Is it full of people who have known your faithful and generous love and who love you in return? Or is it, perhaps, filled with the groaning of people you’ve hurt, or ignored, or simply cut out of your life? At this very moment, you are building the house that you will live in forever. Make sure you’re building wisely and well.

Five Minutes to Spare

No matter how busy you are, you could spend five minutes:

To answer the telephone
To read the morning paper
To talk with a neighbor
To dispute with the laundryman about a mistake
To watch new furniture being unloaded next door
To chatter with a salesman
To read a trivial letter
Or to write one.

It takes only five minutes:

To say a prayer for the suffering friend
To read a chapter in "The Following of Christ"
To stop and think of God's daily gift of mercy
To remember the cross
To thank our Blessed Mother for her care of us
To make an act of faith, hope, and love
To whisper an "Our Father" or "Hail Mary" for someone in need
To say a decade of the Rosary for the pour souls
To visit the little statue or picture on the mantleplace and tell the Savior how much you love Him
To make a spiritual communion.

Which is the better way to spend five minutes?

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." -Hebrews 13:8

Jesus said:

"I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." -John 10:11

"I am the door. If anyone enters in by Me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find green pastures." -John 10:9

"I am the Bread of Life. No one coming to me will ever be hungry again. Those believing in Me will never thirst." -John 6:35

"I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in me and I in him shall produce a large crop of fruit." -John 15:5

"I am the resurrection and life. Anyone who believes in me, even though he dies like anyone else, shall live again." -John 11:25

"I have come as a Light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness." -John 12:46

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever."

Thank you, Jesus, for revealing Yourself in a way we all understand.

You Say... God Says...

For all the negative things we have to say to ourselves, God has positive answers.
You say: "It's impossible"
God says: All things are possible (Luke 18:27)

You say: "I'm too tired"
God says: I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28-30)

You say: "Nobody really loves me"
God says: I love you (John 3:16 & John 13:34)

You say: "I can't go on"
God says: My grace is sufficient (II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalms 91:15)

You say: "I can't figure things out"
God says: I will direct your steps (Proverbs 3:5-6)

You say: "I can't do it"
God says: You can do all things (Philippians 4:13)

You say: "I can't forgive myself"
God says: I FORGIVE YOU (I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)

You say: "I can't manage"
God says: I will supply all your needs (Philippians 4:19)

You say: "I'm afraid"
God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear (II Timothy 1:7)

You say: "I'm always worried and frustrated"
God says: Cast all your cares on ME (I Peter 5:7)

You say: "I'm not smart enough"
God says: I give you wisdom (I Corinthians 1:30)

You say: "I feel all alone"
God says: I will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5)

A BOUQUET FOR GOD
By Gail Rodgers

Do you ever wonder how to accept compliments when you have simply done
what God asked you to and know He empowered you to do it?

Jesus said that we cannot bear fruit unless we are connected to Him. Our
own best efforts, without the power of the Holy Spirit, will have no effect
for eternity.

He told us that having fruit in our lives shows that we are Jesus'
followers. When we see results for God's kingdom...God gets the credit.

Jesus said" This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing
yourselves to be my disciples" (John 15:7).

So what do you do when people want to give you the credit and you feel
uncomfortable with it?

A wise lady once told me to graciously say "thank you" and receive each
compliment as you would accept a beautiful rose. Honor the giver with
heartfelt gratitude. Enjoy each blossom that is handed to you and in your
heart praise God for the beauty His fruit has brought to your own life.
Then, at the end of each day, offer all the flowers up to God as a bouquet
of praise and thankfulness to Him.

Giving everything back to God, whether it is your compliments, your
accomplishments, your riches or your influence keeps them from taking root
in your own heart. It keeps you mindful of God's work through the power of
His Holy Spirit and safeguards you from having unwanted seeds of pride take
root.

Don't rob God by casting aside the kind words of those whose lives are
touched by what God is doing through you. Gather the lovely flowers and
carry them to your Heavenly Father as your praise offering.

What a lovely picture...bouquets for God.

~ Father God,

Thank You for Your empowering Holy Spirit who works through me to touch
lives around me. Please help me to graciously accept the flowers of
gratitude that come my way and to gather them together as a bouquet for You,
the Giver of all good gifts. Keep my heart free of self pride that stifles
Your Spirit and use me to bear much fruit for Your kingdom. With
thanksgiving I pray in Jesus' strong name, amen.



QUICK CHARGE
By Sally I. Kennedy


So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live
your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the
faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
Colossians 2:6,7


I forgot to charge the cell phone. As I grabbed it on my way out the
door, I happened to notice the battery was way down. So I went back
and plugged it in, hoping for a quick charge. I planned to fully
charge it when I got back to my office.

Wonder of wonders the cell phone charged up quickly, at least enough
for me to use it for awhile. Kinda reminded me of days when I either
don’t have time, or haven’t taken the time, to recharge my spiritual
battery. Those days I need a stop-gap measure, a quick charge to get
me through. Things like, a Christian song playing on my iPod while
I’m getting ready to leave the house, especially tunes that include
Bible verses. Or a Bible teaching CD in my car on the way to pick up
kids. Or a short prayer I send up while I’m on my way to a meeting.
Or a calendar in the kitchen with a bible verse for each day of the
year.

Just a thought, something of the LORD to focus me on Him- not on me,
not on my circumstances; on Him.

It is just that, a quick charge, and it doesn’t take the place of one-
on-one time with the Lord in prayer and meditation and reading His
word. But sometimes it is just what works for the moment, a quick
charge.

Thank you, Lord, for quick charges that focus us on You.



The Storms Of Life

When the heart is troubled and the day seems long,
And the mighty tempests roll,
The clouds are thick and foreboding,
There is sadness in your soul.
When things go wrong and you're weary,
And your heart cries out in pain,
What should I do? Which way do I go?
Crying out again and again.
Suddenly a soft voice whispers,
"Take time my child to pray,
While the storms of life are raging,
I will wipe your fears away."

Closing Prayer:
Short Prayers for Lent

Heavenly Father, I am called to walk by the light of Christ, your Son, and to trust in his wisdom.

During Lent, I submit my self to him more and more and am striving to believe in him with all my heart.

I enter on this path of repentance so that in dying to self I might rise to new life.

Lord Jesus, you spoke peace to a sinful world and brought mankind the gift of reconciliation by the suffering and death you endured. I love you and joyfully bear the name 'Christian.' Teach me to follow your example. Increase my faith, hope and charity so that I may struggle to turn hatred to love and conflict to peace.

Loving Redeemer through your passion, teach me self-denial, strengthen me against evil and adversity and so make me ready to celebrate your Resurrection.

Healer of body and soul, cure the sickness in my spirit so that I may grow in holiness through your constant care.

Forgive my sins against the unity of your family; make me love as you loved me.

Good Master, make me mindful of the dignity you gave me in Baptism, may I live for you at every moment.

Give me a perfect heart to receive your work, that I may bring forth fruit in patience.

Renew my eagerness to work with you in building a better world, so that my friends may hear your gospel of peace and justice.

From The Pocket Prayer Book: A Manual for Catholics,

The Regina Press, New York.

Good night everyone! Sweet Dreams to all and may you all have a very peaceful, positive Friday, the beginning of another weekend!
God bless you and know that you are all being prayed for and thanks all for your prayers.