Community Chat

[gloriajean]

Love and trust are the solutions for the worries and frets of life. Lord, I pray for
Your gift of Faith which is all that I need for Your power to work within me.

Scripture for the day:
"When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were
harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." ~Matthew 9:36

Meditation for the day:
Having compassion for all who are in temptation, a condition which we
are sometimes in, we have a responsibility toward them. Compassion
always includes responsibility. Pity is useless because it does not
have a remedy for the need. But wherever our compassion goes, our
responsibility goes too. When we are moved with compassion, we can go
to the one in need and bind up their wounds as best we can.

Prayer for the day:

I pray that I may have compassion for those in temptations. I pray that
I may have compassion for the trials of others.

Greetings to you, my friends! Hope you all had a good day today! We had a very nice day weather-wise, not too hot, and we enjoyed having our new priest, Fr. Vince, over for lunch today. What a nice man and nice visit! I made chicken vegetable soup and gave him some to take home as he loved it. He was our first blessing of the day - then later on Darla called with the news they set the date - next year Aug. 25th. Our Anniversary is Aug. 29th. And they picked out the reception hall today so tonight they are out celebrating.

Homily of the Day
July 28, 2011
Take Him Seriously!
by Monsignor Dennis Clark, Ph.D.
Ex 40:16-21,34-38 / Mt 13:47-53
Some years ago, J.B. Phillips published a little book entitled, Your God is Too Small. The title says it all and it tells a sorry truth about most of us. We either domesticate God and make him into a kind of cosmic pal, or we caricature him as a nasty traffic cop, a saccharine sweet lamb, or a grand old man. God is none of that and to shrink our God-image to those dimensions sets us up for serious trouble. Especially in times of crisis, any normal person will flee from the silly God-images we conjure up. And then where will they go?
Today’s Old Testament reading offers a helpful corrective as we reconsider our image of God. Moses knew him as a God of love, with a proven readiness to forgive and heal, feed and liberate. But he also knew that God should not be trifled with. Incidentally, that’s what we mean by “fearing” the Lord: taking the Lord seriously at all times and in all places.
Moses had learned the meaning of “holy ground” when he took off his shoes before approaching the burning b ush, and he knew it later as God made his presence felt within the Holy of Holies the people had built to honor him. Moses knew how to be quiet in God’s presence and how to listen.
Every place in the universe is God’s holy ground, for there is no place where God is not. Take him seriously. He wants to walk with you and be your mentor. Take him seriously and listen to him with all your heart.

Beautiful Lesson

This is a story from a book written in 1875 by a man named Robert Boyd. It's
called the "Trials and Triumphs of Faith." It's put me in tears, more than once.
A minister tells us that he was spending several days in one of our western
cities. He put up at a hotel, and one morning he heard, while up in his
room, the most wonderful whistling he had ever listened to. It seemed like
the note of a bird, but he thought it could not be that, for there was a
perfectly regular tune kept up with much power. Though he was in the third
story, yet the music came gushing up in its sweet melody, and seemed to fill
the whole house. He ran downstairs to get a sight of the wonderful
performer, looking every man that he met in the face. At last, he asked the
clerk who it was that had such amazing power as a whistler. Laughing at his
simplicity he pointed him to a canary bird that had been trained to perform
in this way, and was valued at $150.
"How was that bird trained to sing this way?" the gentleman enquired. In
reply the clerk told him that during the training process the bird is nearly
starved and shut up in a room that is almost dark. While it is under this
severe discipline, and its attention undivided, a bird organ is made to play
this one tune over and over again, for days. Hearing nothing else, and
taught by his troubles, the poor little bird takes up the tune, which he
performs so perfectly.
Thus it is that God permits his people to be afflicted that they may learn
the heavenly song. He shuts them up in the dark room of sorrow, away from
the tempting sights and sounds of the world, that they may, without
distraction, listen to his voice and learn to sing the higher melodies of
glory. Blessed are those who patiently wait the Lord's good time to work out
their deliverance. When the song of Grace is fully learned, he brings them
into a large place, sets their feet upon a rock, and others learn from them
the sweet song of redeeming love.

The Fork

There was a woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and had
been given three months to live. So as she was getting her things "in
order," she contacted her pastor and had him come to her house to discuss
certain aspects of her final wishes.
She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, what scriptures she
would like to be read, and what outfit she wanted to be buried in. The woman
also requested to be buried with her favorite Bible. Everything was in order
and the pastor was preparing to leave when the woman suddenly remembered
something very important to her.
"There's one more thing," she said excitedly. "What's that?" came the
pastor's reply. "This is very important," the woman continued. "I want to be
buried with a fork in my right hand."
The pastor stood looking at the woman, not knowing quite what to say. "That
surprises you, doesn't it?" the woman asked. "Well, to be honest, I'm
puzzled by the request," said the pastor.
The woman explained. "In all my years of attending church socials and
potluck dinners, I always remember that when the dishes of the main course
were being cleared, someone would inevitably lean over and say, 'Keep your
fork'. It was my favorite part because I knew that something better was
coming...like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie. Something
wonderful, and with substance! So, I just want people to see me there in
that casket with a fork in my hand and I want them to wonder 'What's with
the fork?'.
Then I want you to tell them: "Keep your fork....the best is yet to come".
The pastor's eyes welled up with tears of joy as he hugged the woman
goodbye. He knew this would be one of the last times he would see her before
her death. But he also knew that the woman had a better grasp of heaven than
he did. She KNEW that something better was coming.
At the funeral people were walking by the woman's casket and they saw the
pretty dress she was wearing and her favorite Bible and the fork placed in
her right hand. Over and over, the pastor heard the question "What's with
the fork?" And over and over he smiled. During his message, the pastor told
the people of the conversation he had with the woman shortly before she
died. He also told them about the fork and about what it symbolized to her.
The pastor told the people how he could not stop thinking about the fork and
told them that they probably would not be able to stop thinking about it
either. He was right.
So the next time you reach down for your fork, let it remind you oh so
gently, that the best is yet to come.. Friends are a very rare jewel,
indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear,
they share a word of praise, and they always want to open their hearts to
us.

What Should I Do to Minister for You?

"Your faith is good," the Master said
"But without works, it is surely dead."
My faith in You, O Lord, shall not waiver
I shall search for good deeds on which I can savor.
I looked to the east, and then to the west
I searched up and down for the things I do best.
And then in frustration, I became quietly still
God showed me the answer, "You must seek My will".
"My will for your life is that you seek Me first"
"And then I will show you how to satisfy your thirst".
So I listened with eagerness to what God revealed
For I want to help the Lord to harvest lost souls in His field.
I will seek the Lord daily for what I should do
And look forward to Heaven when God says "Well done, our harvest is
through!"
Based on James 2:20
Kelly Austin

Priceless Gifts

The gift of listening...
Try giving this to someone in need.
And you must really listen. No interrupting,
no daydreaming, no planning your responses. Just listen.
The gift of signs of affection...
Be generous with your hugs, kisses and
gentle squeezes of the hand. Let these
tiny actions demonstrate the love inside of you.
The gift of a note...
It can be as simple as "I Love You" or
as creative as a sonnet. Put your notes
where they will surprise your loved ones.
The gift of laughter...
Just cut out a cartoon, save a clever article.
Your gift will say, "I love to laugh with you."
The gift of compliment...
A simple "You look good in blue" or "Good supper"
can be of greatest value to those who
may feel they are being taken for granted.
The gift of a favor...
Help with the dishes, run an errand, etc.
The gift of leaving alone...
There are times in our lives when we
want nothing better than to be left alone.
Become more sensitive to those times and give solitude.
The gift of a cheerful disposition...
Try to be cheerful around those you love.
The gift of a game...
Offer to play your loved one's favorite game.
Even if you lose, you'll be a winner.

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.)

Good night everyone! Sweet Dreams and may you all receive blessings upon blessings tomorrow! Look for them - they are there.