Community Chat

[gloriajean]

If we focus too much on ourselves and the troubles in our lives, it is very
difficult to be happy. Lord, refresh my spirit, help me let go of longing to
become something I am not and show me how to be the best of who I am.


Scripture for the day:

"This is God, our God forever and ever. He will be our guide forever."
~Psalm 48:14

Meditation for the day:

God can guide us to the right decisions if we pray about them. We can
believe that many details of our lives are planned by God and planned
with a wealth of forgiving love for the mistakes we have made. We can
pray today to be shown the right way. We can choose the good, and
when we choose it, we can feel that God's power is behind us. We can
achieve a real harmony with God's purpose for our lives.

Prayer for the day:

I pray that I may choose aright today. I pray that I may be shown the
right way to live today.

Hello my friends! How was your Sunday? Hope it was a blessing! For us it was a great blessing that the blizzard stopped and Linus was able to snow blow us out and we got to Mass! And what a wonderful Mass that was!! Father Matthew had it, and he gave such a wonderful homily! It was very cold out though! I don't know what the temp. was but it was very cold! The rest of the day we stayed in and Linus cooked supper and we invited Lori and she came. She had a big birthday party last night that she hosted, and all 14 guests came in spite of the weather. Nick is close to death - Lori was at the hospital this afternoon to comfort Elicia - her friend. He said that tomorrow is his Mother's birthday, she's passed on many years, and he wants to die on her birthday. He's had the Anointing of the Sick and he's ready to die now - but his family - how sad for them and right before Christmas.
Please pray for them all. My blessings today was when Linus made supper and Lori came and we had a nice visit besides the Mass this morning!!

I baptise you with water, but someone is coming, who is more powerful than I am,... he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire (Lk 3:16).

Welcoming Jesus into Our Lives

The people asked John the Baptist: "What must we do" to prepare for the One who is to come? During Advent we must ask ourselves what must we do to prepare for Christ's coming to us at Christmas. What are the obstacles that must be removed from our lives if Christmas is to be for us a time of grace and spiritual growth?


PERSONAL PRAYER

I exult for you that you my Lord and my God, have been good to come to me, and my soul rejoices in you. I place myself in your hands, O Lord: please use me as you will to achieve your plans. Help me to prepare the way for you to come into the hearts of hose whom I meet as I wander through the world, and to come into my heart, just as the generations of prophets of the Old Testament, and finally John the Baptist before the great event, prepared the Jewish people and the world for your coming.

Let me be happy in constant prayer, just as I like to spend time talking with my friends. Let me learn to place myself in your hands, to be guided by the Spirit, so that I will be a faithful witness to you.

Through your love for me you saved me. I know that I doubt your goodness now and again, but that is because I am a human being, not an angel or a saint. Help me to trust in you, in your goodness, your kindness. Bless me, Lord, with all the graces that I need in this life, and with the heavenly graces that I will need at the hour of my, death. Arnen.


Psalm 23 For The Computer Age

The Lord is my Programmer, I shall not crash.

He installed His software on the hard disk of my heart; all of His commands are user-friendly.

His directory guides me to the right choices for His name's sake.

Even though I scroll through the problems of life, I will fear no bugs, for He is my backup. His password protects me.

He prepares a menu before me in the presence of my enemies. His help is only a keystroke away.

Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and my file will be merged with His and saved forever.

Amen.

LOVE IN RETURN
Author Unknown

A long time ago, a girl named Li-Li got married and went to live with her husband and mother-in-law. In a very short time, Li-Li found that she couldn't get along with her mother-in-law at all. Their personalities were very different, and Li-Li was angered by many of her mother-in-law's habits. In addition, she criticized Li-Li constantly.

Days passed days, and weeks passed weeks. Li-Li and her mother-in-law never stopped arguing and fighting. But what made the situation even worse was that, according to ancient Chinese tradition, Li-Li had to bow to her mother-in-law and obey her every wish. All the anger and unhappiness in the house was causing the poor husband great distress.

Finally, Li-Li could not stand her mother-in-law's bad temper and dictatorship any longer, and she decided to do something about it. Li-Li went to see her father's good friend, Mr.Huang, who sold herbs. She told him the situation and asked if he would give her some poison so that she could solve the problem once and for all. Mr. Huang thought for a while, and finally said, Li-Li, I will help you solve your problem, but you must listen to me and obey what I tell you. Li-Li said, "Yes, Mr. Huang, I will do whatever you tell me to do." Mr.Huang went into the back room, and returned in a few minutes with a package of herbs. He told Li-Li, "You can't use a quick-acting poison to get rid of your mother-in-law, because that would cause people to become suspicious. Therefore, I have given you a number of herbs that will slowly build up poison in her body. Every other day prepare some delicious meal and put a little of these herbs in her serving. Now, in order to make sure that nobody suspects you when she dies, you must be very careful to act very friendly towards her. Don't argue with her, obey her every wish, and treat her like a queen." Li-Li was so happy. She thanked Mr. Huang and hurried home to start her plot of murdering her mother-in-law.

Weeks went by, and months went by, and every other day, Li-Li served the specially treated food to her mother-in-law. She remembered what Mr.Huang had said about avoiding suspicion, so she controlled her temper, obeyed her mother-in-law, and treated her like her own mother. After six months had passed, the whole household had changed. Li-Li had practiced controlling her temper so much that she found that she almost never got mad or upset. She hadn't had an argument in six months with her mother-in-law, who now seemed much kinder and easier to get along with. The mother-in-law's attitude toward Li-Li changed, and she began to love Li-Li like her own daughter. She kept telling friends and relatives that Li-Li was the best daughter-in-law one could ever find. Li-Li and her mother-in-law were now treating each other like a real mother and daughter. Li-Li's husband was very happy to see what was happening.

One day, Li-Li came to see Mr. Huang and asked for his help again. She said, "Dear Mr. Huang, please help me to keep the poison from killing my mother-in-law! She's changed into such a nice woman, and I love her like my own mother. I do not want her to die because of the poison I gave her." Mr. Huang smiled and nodded his head. "Li-Li, there's nothing to worry about. I never gave you any poison. The herbs I gave you were vitamins to improve her health. The only poison was in your mind and your attitude toward her, but that has been all washed away by the love which you gave to her."

MORAL: Dear Friends have you ever realized that how you treat others is exactly how they will treat you? There is a wise Chinese saying: "the person who loves others will also be loved in return."
A Dozen Christmas Roses
Bobby was getting cold sitting out in his back yard in the snow.
Bobby didn't wear boots; he didn't like them and anyway he didn't own any.
The thin sneakers he wore had a few holes in them and they did a poor job of keeping out the cold. Bobby had been in his backyard for about an hour already. And, try as he might, he could not come up with an idea for his mother's Christmas gift.

He shook his head as he thought, "This is useless, even if I do come up with an idea, I don't have any money to spend,"

Ever since his father had passed away three years ago, the family of five had struggled. It wasn't because his mother didn't care, or try, there just never seemed to be enough. She worked nights at the hospital, but the small wage that she was earning could only be stretched so far. What the family lacked in money and material things, they more than made up for in love and family unity. Bobby had two older and one younger sister, who ran the house hold in their mother's absence. All three of his sisters had already made beautiful gifts for their mother.

Somehow it just wasn't fair. Here it was Christmas Eve already, and he had nothing. Wiping a tear from his eye, Bobby kicked the snow and started to walk down to the street where the shops and stores were. It wasn't easy being six without a father, especially when he needed a man to talk to.

Bobby walked from shop to shop, looking into each decorated window.
Everything seemed so beautiful and so out of reach. It was starting to get dark and Bobby reluctantly turned to walk home when suddenly his eyes caught the glimmer of the setting sun's rays reflecting off of something along the curb. He reached down and discovered a shiny dime. Never before has anyone felt so wealthy as Bobby felt at that moment.

As he held his new found treasure, a warmth spread throughout his entire body and he walked into the first store he saw. His excitement quickly turned cold when the salesperson told him that he couldn't buy anything with only a dime.

He saw a flower shop and went inside to wait in line. When the shop owner asked if he could help him, Bobby presented the dime and asked if he could buy one flower for his mother's Christmas gift.

The shop owner looked at Bobby and his ten cent offering. Then he put his hand on Bobby's shoulder and said to him, "You just wait here and I'll see what I can do for you."

As Bobby waited he looked at the beautiful flowers and even though he was a boy, he could see why mothers and girls liked flowers.

The sound of the door closing as the last customer left jolted Bobby back to reality. All alone in the shop, Bobby began to feel alone and afraid. Suddenly the shop owner came out and moved to the counter. There, before Bobby's eyes, lay twelve long stem, red roses, with leaves of green and tiny white flowers all tied together with a big silver bow. Bobby's heart sank as the owner picked them up and placed them gently into a long white box.

"That will be ten cents young man," the shop owner said reaching out his hand for the dime.

Slowly, Bobby moved his hand to give the man his dime. Could this be true? No one else would give him a thing for his dime!

Sensing the boy's reluctance, the shop owner added, "I just happened to have some roses on sale for ten cents a dozen. Would you like them?"

This time Bobby did not hesitate, and when the man placed the long box into his hands, he knew it was true. Walking out the door that the owner was holding for Bobby, he heard the shop keeper say, "Merry Christmas, son,"

As he returned inside, the shop keeper's wife walked out. "Who were you talking to back there and where are the roses you were fixing?"

Staring out the window, and blinking the tears from his own eyes, he replied, "A strange thing happened to me this morning. While I was setting up things to open the shop, I thought I heard a voice telling me to set aside a dozen of my best roses for a special gift. I wasn't sure at the time whether I had lost my mind or what, but I set them aside anyway.
Then just a few minutes ago, a little boy came into the shop and wanted to buy a flower for his mother with one small dime.

"When I looked at him, I saw myself, many years ago. I too, was a poor boy with nothing to buy my mother a Christmas gift. A bearded man, whom I never knew, stopped me on the street and told me that he wanted to give me ten dollars.

"When I saw that little boy tonight, I knew who that voice was, and I put together a dozen of my very best roses." The shop owner and his wife hugged each other tightly, and as they stepped out into the bitter cold air, they somehow didn't feel cold at all.

May this story instill the spirit of Christmas in you enough to pass this story along. Have a Joyous and Peace-filled season.

And Jesus Shed a tear:

At Christmas time there was a man,
who looked so out of place.
As people rushed about him,
at a hurried sort of pace.

He stared at all the Christmas lights,
the tinsel everywhere.
The shopping center Santa Claus,
with children gathered near.

The mall was packed with shoppers,
who were going to and fro.
Some with smiles, some with frowns,
and some too tired to go.

They rested on benches,
or they hurried on their way.
To fight the crowds for purchases,
to carry home that day.

The music from the stereo,
was playing loud and clear.
Of Santa Claus and snowmen,
and funny nosed reindeer.

He heard the people talk about,
the good times on the way.
Of parties, fun and food galore,
and gift exchange that day.

I'd like to know what's going on,
the man was heard to say.
There seems to be some sort,
of celebration on the way.

And would you tell me who this is,
all dressed in red and white.
And why are children asking "him"
about a special night.

The answer came in disbelief,
I can't believe my ear.
I can't believe you do not know,
that Christmas time is here.

The time when Santa comes around,
with gifts for girls and boys.
When they are asleep on Christmas Eve,
he leaves them books and toys.

The man you see in red and white,
is Santa Claus so sly.
The children love his joyful laugh,
and twinkle in his eye.

His gift packed sleigh is pulled along,
by very small reindeer.
As he flies quickly through the air,
while darting here and there.

The children learn of Santa Claus,
while they are still quite small.
When Christmas comes "he" is the most,
"important" one of all.

The stranger hung His head in shame,
He closed a nail pierced hand.
His body shook in disbelief,
He did not understand.

A shadow crossed His stricken face,
His voice was low but clear.
"After all these years they still don't know."
And JESUS shed a tear.

~ Author Unknown ~

Good night all and Sweet Dreams! May you all have a very blessed Monday filled with God's blessings! Enjoy the Gift of God's Day!

Closing prayer I'll type from our Sunday Bulletin:

Prayer for Advent

Dear God, as an Advent candle is lit in joyous anticipation of your Son's nativity, remind us always of the reason for our joy. As the purple of the candles stand for both penance and atonement of sin, give us the grace to do penance for our wrongs, and to love Christ, whose sacrifice atoned for the sins of the whole world. But just as the rose candle stands for joy in the midst of suffering and expectation, give us the Joy of your Son, Jesus Christm who came into a world that had so longed for its Saviou, and made the angels themselves sing with joy at his birth. Amen.