Community Chat

[gloriajean]

Jesus came to us to serve not be served. Lord, help me to set aside
my self-serving behaviors and model my life after You.

Scripture for the day:

You will be hated by all because of my name, but not a hair on your head
will be destroyed. By your perseverance you will secure your lives."
~Luke 21:12-19

Meditation for the day:

It's not easy to be a true Christian. The price is laid out on today's
Gospel. "You will be hated by all because of my name." We may think this
does not apply to us. Then we need to ask ourselves if our faith really
and truly sets us apart from others around us. And we can be comforted to
hear, "... but not a hair on your head will be destroyed. By your
perseverance you will secure your lives.

Prayer for the day:

I pray that I may be a true Christian. I pray that I may trust in the
security the Lord gives me as He helps me see the importance of working
for those things which last forever.

Hello my friends! Today was a bit chilly – jacket kind of weather – typical
April weather. It was a very relaxing day – we took our time and did some
shopping at our huge super Walmart! We find some organics there cheaper than
at our Food Co-op, our broccoli and cauliflower are considerably cheaper
there, and we use the Earth Balance for butter because it’s got the Omega 3
in it and organic, and tastes good too, and that’s considerably cheaper
there too, so bought two of them. We don’t buy many groceries there, but we
looked around – got Sammy a new squeaky toy, forgot his toys at Deil’s. So
that was a blessing today to find some good buys at Walmart – we hardly ever
shopped there before, this was only our second time. Another blessing today
was a call from Deil – when I asked her for the recipe she used for the
casserole dish she made when we were there and I was going to get paper and
pencil, she said she’s mailing it out to me. How cool is that!! Remember
the Sisters, Sr. Pat and Sr. Phyllis we have over every once in a while and
especially for our birthdays because Sr. Pat’s birthday is 2 days later than
Linus’. Well, her sister, Arlene, is dying of cancer and she is leaving for
Baltimore tomorrow to be with her and asks prayers for her and also for
herself for strength and being able to comfort Arlene. Arlene is 74. She is
her oldest sister. So I ask you all here to please offer up a prayer for
Arlene and for Sr. Pat, too. This is very hard on her.

I wish to welcome Sunny-Side UP to our thread – do come again, and let us
get to know you! Glad you liked what your read. Carba – Thank you so much
for your post of sharing what you are going through – and coming here for
our support and prayers. You got them! We can always be here for you, for
your support – do come again. Lucy said everything I want to say to you,
too. Good that Lucy got there to talk to you.

May God Bless You

With unspeakable joy,
Not only in the world to come,
But in this world also.

May your path be bright and
Full of light everywhere you go.
May God tell darkness
That it must flee at your command.

And, I pray your feet will
Never stumble out of God's plan.
May the desires of your heart come true, and
May you experience peace in everything you do.

May goodness, kindness, and
Mercy Come your way and,
May you gain Wisdom and
Grow in the Lord everyday.

Please send this blessing to those you care about.
It may be just what they need to hear, at just the right time!

- Author Unknown

God's Table Requires Table Manners
(Author Unknown)

You undoubtedly felt awkward the first time you had to learn which fork to
use. But with that knowledge you can enter any dining experience with
confidence.
The same is true when you dine at God's table. At first it seems difficult.
But learning the right manners makes it possible for you to be in any
situation and please the Father.

Table manners at God's table:

1. You have to do your own chewing. Too many Christians expect God to take
out a spoon and dish up the blessing for them. He is supposed to place it in
our mouths, work our jaws to chew it up, and help us swallow it. We want God
to do everything. The fact is that you have responsibility in God's
sovereign world.


2. Accept the seating. Take the lowest seat, the seat of humility and
service. If God wants you to sit higher up, He will show you that, but err
on the side of humility, not pride.


3. Finish the meal. John 3:16 tells us, "God so loved the world, that He
gave His only begotten Son." Some believe that because God has already come
and died for the sins of the world, they don't have to do anything else.
However, it's important to finish the phrase regarding man's responsibility:
"whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life." You
must come to Him in order to receive the forgiveness that He purchased for
you.


4. Read the menu. You must spend time reading what God has prepared. Read
your Bible, meditate on the Word. It will give you strength and illumination
according to God's plan for your life. It will keep you on course and remind
you of your responsibilities in order to fulfill the plan of God.


5. Count the fruit. If you are not willing to bear fruit for Him, then you
certainly have no place to expect Him to answer your requests, even if you
ask things in His name. Jesus declares," Everyone that the Father gives me
will come to me, and anyone who comes to me I will never drive away" (John
6:37). The Holy Spirit inspires us to go to Jesus and do what He asks of us.
His sovereignty makes the first move toward us, but because He gave us free
will, we must move toward Him as well.



Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has
gone, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17

Rags at the Banquet*

Once upon a time a man lived in the streets, clad only in the dirtiest
and worst of rags. One day a person from the Palace noticed him, and
approached him. There was going to be a banquet at the Palace, and he
had instructions to come and invite people from the highways and
byways. Would the man like to come?

The fellow was indeed interested. However, he could not attend a
banquet dressed in his rags. The Palace representative assured him
they would exchange his rags for some suitable finery to wear to the
banquet.

All was in order. The two arrived at the Palace where they went
directly to the dressing chambers of the King. Servants took the
filthy rags, bundled them in a little package, and proceeded to rub,
scrub, and clean the man from top to bottom.

He was then allowed to choose his robes from the closets of the King.
He was told that whatever he picked he would be able to keep, so he
carefully examined all the many garments in the closet. He chose an
exquisite inner garment of purest silk, and an outer robe of finest
purple satin. He was ready for the banquet!

As they left the dressing quarters, the man grabbed his old rags. The
servants told him to just leave them, because he wouldn't need them
anymore. However, he insisted on taking the bundle with him. Even
though he didn't need the rags now, he felt more secure somehow if he
could just hold on to them.

In the Palace banquet hall, the festivities were about to begin. SO
many were there, including the King himself. The man was seated,
looking resplendent in his new attire. He hid his bundle of rags on
his lap, underneath the tablecloth, so no one would see them.

The banquet was not to be believed! There was music and dancing, and
every kind of delicacy imaginable. As the trays were passed, the
beggar had difficulty getting the food onto his plate. He was
constantly juggling the package of old rags on his lap, balancing it
so it wouldn't fall off. It constantly distracted him from what was
going on in the grand hall.

Eventually the evening ended and the great gala event was over.
Everyone was stuffed to the gills except for the man clinging to his
rag bundle. He was as hungry as when he had come in. He never had
eaten even one morsel of the food. He had been too busy fixing and
holding on to his old rags.

Today, Jesus invites all of us to God's great banquet, to leave our
old ways and old rags, and to say, "Yes!" to Him and to a new and
glorious way of living. That is good news!

Prayer: Lord, your Word says that I am a new creation in Christ. Help
me to not stay with the ways of my old self, but to walk in newness of
life with You today. Thank you, Lord. Amen.

My Wish For You

Happiness......Deep down within

Serenity..... With each sunrise

Success..... In each facet of your life

Close and caring friends

Love.....That never ends

Special memories...... Of all the yesterdays

A bright today..... With much to be thankful for

A path..... That leads to beautiful tomorrow's Dreams..... That do their
best to come true

And appreciation...... Of all the wonderful things about you!

Send this to everyone you wish good things to happen to.

Unfailing Prayer to St. Anthony
O holy St. Anthony, gentlest of Saints, your love for God and Charity for
his creature, made you worthy, while on earth, to possess miraculous powers.
Miracles waited on your word, which you were ever ready to speak for those
in trouble or anxiety. Encouraged by this thought, I implore of you to
obtain for me (request). The answer to my prayer may require a miracle, even
so, your are the Saint of Miracles. O gentle and loving St. Anthony, whose
heart was ever full of human sympathy, whisper my petition into the ears of
the Sweet Infant Jesus, who loved to be folded in your arms; and the
gratitude of my heart will ever be yours. Amen.

Enjoy the blessings of God has in store for you on Monday!! God bless you
all!!