Community Chat

[gloriajean]

God gives abundantly to those who pass His gifts on to others. Lord, let
Your blessings flow in to me and then out from me. I will neither be
selfish
nor let my gifts stagnate.


Scripture for the day:

"For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the
things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set
their minds on the things of the Spirit." ~Romans 8:5

Meditation for the day:

God can draw us all closer to God in the bonds of the spirit. God
would have all people drawn closer to each other in the bonds of the
spirit. God, the great spirit of the universe, of which each of our
spirits is a part, wants unity with God and all God's children.
"Unity of the spirit in the bonds of peace." Each experience of our
life, of joy, of sorrow, of danger, of safety, of difficulty, of
success, of hardship, of ease, each can be accepted as part of our
common lot, n the bonds of the spirit.

Prayer for the day:

I pray that I may welcome the bonds of true fellowship. I pray that I
may be brought closer to unity with God and other people.

Greetings my friends! Hope you all had a very blessed Sunday! I did, it was
hot out, but it was a blessing day for us. First we had to get our house
ready for the open house and another showing, so then we went to Lori's with
Sammy, she cooked us breakfast - sausage and scrambled eggs, very good! And
then we went to our appt. at the apt. at Grandview, and it was very nice
indeed. And Linda, if you're reading this, the balcony faced the woods -
just like your friend had! This one is available in Sept. Can't do
anything until the house is sold though so we wait upon God for the sale of
the house and we're asking St. Joseph to intercede. After that we headed
out straight for the reception where we were to meet Kevin from my list - he
lives in Colorado and flew down to see his sister's installation as Prioress
of the Benedictine Sisters here. We had no problem finding each other and
he introduced us to his sister, and what a warm, loving person she is. Very
nice reception and we got to see Benedictine nuns we knew including Srs. Pat
and Phyllis that we associate with with for many years, I invited them to
come soon before we have to leave here. Sr. Pat is dietician and in the
food dept. at the Convent, a big job but she's good at it and loves it.
Sr. Phyllis is retired - she's in the 80's and she does a lot - she used to
be a college biology teacher, still was when we met her, and now she's in
charge of their community garden they have every year and sell things at the
Farmer's Market, she does take care of bees too, and makes honey.

Where We Learn Silence

How wonderful is the silence of Christ in the Tabernacle
Silence is the greatest lesson ever preached
Silence under irritation:
Silence under criticism:
Silence under disappointment:
Silence when rebuffed:
Silence under ingratitude:
Silence under jealousy in oneself:
Silence under the jealousy of others:
Silence under disloyalty:
Silence when self-pleased:
Silence in sorrows of all kinds

If you can look at the sunset and smile, then you still have hope.

If you can find beauty in the colors of a small flower, then you still have
hope.

If you can find pleasure in the movement of a butterfly, then you still have
hope.

If the smile of a child can still warm your heart, then you still have hope.

If you can see the good in other people, then you still have hope.

If the rain breaking on a roof top can still lull you to sleep, then you
still have hope.

If the sight of a rainbow still makes you stop and stare in wonder, then you
still have hope.

If the soft fur of a favored pet still feels pleasant under your fingertips,
then you still have hope.

If you meet new people with a trace of excitement and optimism, then you
still have hope.

If you give people the benefit of a doubt, then you still have hope.

If you still offer your hand in friendship to others that have touched your
life, then you still have hope.

If receiving an unexpected card or letter still brings a pleasant surprise,
then you still have hope.

If the suffering of others still fills you with pain and frustration, then
you still have hope.

If you refuse to let a friendship die, or accept that it must end, then you
still have hope.

If you look forward to a time or place of quiet and reflection, then you
still have hope.

If you still buy the ornaments, put up the Christmas tree or cook the
turkey, then you still have hope.

If you still watch love stories or want the endings to be happy, then you
still have hope.

If you can look to the past and smile, then you still have hope.

If, when faced with the bad, when told everything is futile, you can still
look up and end the conversation with the phrase...."yeah....BUT.." then you
still have hope.

Hope is such a marvelous thing. It bends, it twists, it sometimes hides, but
rarely does it break. It sustains us when nothing else can. It gives us
reason to continue and courage to move ahead, when we tell ourselves we'd
rather give in.

Hope puts a smile on our face when the heart cannot manage.

Hope puts our feet on the path when our eyes cannot see it.

Hope moves us to act when our souls are confused of the direction.

Hope is a wonderful thing, something to be cherished and nurtured, and
something that will refresh us in return. And it can be found in each of us,
and it can bring light into the darkest of places.


NEVER LOSE HOPE!

Author Unknown

Try Doing It Yourself

Mr. Smith was walking through a valley when he suddenly noticed that his
feet were getting wet. It then dawned upon him that this little valley of
his was actually an arm of the sea and that high tide was coming in.

He stood still and looked around to find someone with a boat. So long as he
kept waiting for a boat to come and rescue him, he kept right on standing
where he was. But no boat came.

So he gave up on that idea and then began to wish that the tide would not
rise any higher. But when the water reached his chin, he also gave up that
idea and began to swim.

Only then did he realize that he himself was a boat.

The Faithful Preacher

Several years ago a preacher moved to Houston, Texas. Some weeks after
he arrived, he had occasion to ride the bus from his home to the downtown
area. When he sat down, he discovered that the driver had accidentally
given him a quarter too much change.
As he considered what to do, he thought to himself, 'you better give
the quarter back. It would be wrong to keep it'. Then he thought, 'Oh,
forget it, it's only a quarter. Who would worry about this little amount?
Besides, the bus company already gets too much fare; they will never miss
it.
Accept it as a gift from God and keep quiet.'

When his stop came, he paused momentarily at the door, then he handed
the quarter to the driver and said, "Here, you gave me too much change."

The driver with a smile, replied, "Aren't you the new preacher in town?
I have been thinking lately about going to worship somewhere. I just
wanted to see what you would do if I gave you too much change."

When my friend stepped off the bus, he literally grabbed the nearest
light pole, and held on, and said, "O God, I almost sold your Son for a
quarter."

Burdens Give Us Wings

An old legend relates that long ago God had a great many burdens which he
wished to have carried from one place to another on earth, so he asked the
animals to lend a hand. But all of them began to make excuses for not
helping: the elephant was too dignified; the lion, too proud; and so on.
Finally the birds came to God and said, "If you will tie the burdens into
small bundles, we'll be glad to carry them for you. We are small but we
would like to help."

So God fastened upon the back of each one a small bundle, and they all set
out walking across the plain to their destination. They sang as they went,
and did not seem to feel the weight of their burdens at all. Every day the
burdens seemed lighter and lighter, until the loads seems to be lifting the
birds, instead of the birds carrying the burdens.

When they arrived at their destination, they discovered that when they
removed their loads, there were wings in their place, wings which enabled
them to fly to the sky and the tree tops.

They had learned how to carry their burdens, and their loads had become
wings to carry them nearer to God. Burdens we carry for others may become
wings of the spirit, to lift us into happiness such as we have never known.

A Blessing Prayer

This day is full of beauty and adventure,
help me Lord to be fully alive to it all.
During this day, may I become a more thoughtful person,
a more prayerful person, a more generous and kindly person.
Help me not to be turned in on myself but
to be sensitive and helpful to others.
Let me do nothing today that will hurt anyone,
but let me help at least a little,
to make life more pleasant for those I meet.

When night comes, may I look back on this day without regrets;
and may nobody be unhappy because of anything
I have said or done or failed to do.

Lord God, bless this day for me and all of us.
Make it a day in which we grow a little more
like your Son, and gentle as Mary His Mother.

Amen

Good night everyone - Enjoy your Monday to the fullest!! Tomorrow morning
the cleaning man is coming for the last half of the cleaning certificate. 3
more hours of cleaning.
God bless you all!