Community Chat

[gloriajean]

God will give you strength because He will give of Himself.

Lord, thank You for the many gifts of which You always bless me.

Scripture for the day:

"Put these things into practice, devote yourself to them, so that all

may see your progress. Pay close attention to yourself and to your

teaching; continue in these things, for in doing this you will save

both yourself and your hearers." ~1 Timothy 4:15-16

Meditation for the day:

Our true measure of success in life is the measure of spiritual

progress that we have revealed in our lives. Others should be able to

see a demonstration of God's will in our lives. The measure of God's

will that those around us have seen worked out in our daily living is

the measure of our true success. We can do our best to be a

demonstration each day of the power of God in human lives, and example

of the working out of the grace of God in our hearts.

Prayer for the day:

I pray that I may so live that others will see in me something of the

working out of the will of God. I pray that my life may be a

demonstration of what the grace of God can do.

Hello my friends! Nice day today - but it snowed a little. At Mass, our newly ordained priest sure knows his scriptures, he was telling us how the Bible started etc. and he had good insights and very interesting to listen to. Lunch at Lori's again today after Mass was nice, later a nap, tonight a Church meeting, and our friend, Deb, came over for a visit afterwards, very nice visit. She's a blessing to have for a friend. What are your blessings? Praying for you all - thanks for your prayers for us.

“.... how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to

those who ask him." Luke 11:13

Watering Hole

At the tiptop of the coconut palm trees out back, squirrels build

their nests down in the fronds. One morning I watched one of the

squirrels scramble down the palm tree trunk, and make its way over to

the wood deck in the back yard. On the decking, there used to be a

defunct jacuzzi under an old canvas. The covering was so worn and

stretched it had pockets where rain would pool. Around dusk most days,

both doves and squirrels would come to this place on the deck, their

watering hole.

Winter that year had been delightfully sunny, cool, and clear. However

it had been dry with less than average rainfall, so the watering hole

was slim pickings. This particular morning, as the little squirrel

approached, he peered into what was a pitiful tiny bit of a pool. He

bent over and drank what he could, then left, perhaps in search of

water in some other spot.

In our country we are fortunate to usually be able to access water in

our homes. Occasions such as hurricanes, water mains bursting and

bacteria entering, have all brought to my attention how precious

drinking water becomes and how it can’t be taken for granted.

We can live without food, but not without water. Jesus said we can

have ‘living water’ (John 4). Spiritually speaking, we can’t live

without that kind of water, either. How fortunate we are to have free

access to that ‘water’, the gift of the Holy Spirit through Jesus

Christ.

Yes, I am grateful for the unmatchable gift of this wonderful watering

hole of living water, that our loving heavenly father has provided for

all of us.

And yes, that is good news.

Authored By Grace

Have you considered how the story of your life would read in book form? Especially if it were written by someone who knew it as well as you. Remember each decision is a step in the journey that is your life. With Jesus as your editor in chief, the resulting story will be an eternal best seller.

One story of life is unfolding

With events occurring each day

The continuing story of my life

From a babe to hairs of gray.

God is moving my hand to write

A journal of my walk on earth,

Page upon page of decisions

Of fear and sorrow and mirth.

He helps me pick up the pen

And lays His great hand over mine,

Teaching me to write in His will

With strokes so artful and fine.

A mystically wonderful saga

Of a life lived in time and space,

This diary of daily living

One that is authored by grace.

Like a child who is learning

To write the language of school,

Help from the master's hand

Gives guidance in using the tool.

We, like the child appreciate

The initial aid of His hand

But soon strive to be free and

Independent whenever we can.

Desiring to write by ourselves

A story line authored by me,

With choices that I get to make

About new chapters yet to be.

Looking back on my journal

I can see each twist and turn,

And the times I wrote on my own

The hard lessons I had to learn.

Jesus take control of my hand

Guide the choice of each letter

Each word, sentence, and phrase.

As I write the rest of my days.

Let the conclusion of the matter

Show your hand set in place,

Writing the drama of my life

One that was authored by grace

Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:2

A PILLOW AND A BLANKET

Author Unknown

A long time ago, a young, wealthy girl was getting ready for bed. She

was saying her prayers when she heard a muffled crying coming through

her window. A little frightened, she went over to the window and

leaned out.

Another girl, who seemed to be about her age and homeless was

standing in the alley by the rich girl's house. Her heart went out to

the homeless girl, for it was the dead of winter, and the girl had no

blanket, only old

newspapers someone had thrown out.

The rich girl was suddenly struck with a brilliant idea. She called

to the other girl and said, "You there, come to my front door,

please."

The homeless girl was so startled she could only manage to nod.

As quick as her legs could take her, the young girl ran down the hall

to her mothers closet, and picked out an old quilt and a beat up

pillow. She had to walk slower down to the front door as to not trip

over the quilt which was

hanging down, but she made it eventually. Dropping both the articles,

she opened the door. Standing there was the homeless girl, looking

quite scared.

The rich girl smiled warmly and handed both articles to the other

girl. Her smile grew wider as she watched the true amazement and

happiness alight upon the other girl's face. She went to bed

incredibly satisfied.

In mid-morning the next day a knock came to the door. The rich girl

flew to the door hoping that it was the other little girl there. She

opened the large door and looked outside. It was the other little

girl. Her face looked happy, and she smiled. "I suppose you want these

back."

The rich little girl opened her mouth to say that she could keep them

when another idea popped into her head. "No, I want them back."

The homeless girl's face fell. This was obviously not the answer she

had hoped for. She reluctantly laid down the beat up things, and

turned to leave when the rich girl yelled, "Wait! Stay right there."

She turned in time to see the rich girl running up the stairs and

down a long corridor. Deciding whatever the rich little girl was doing

wasn't worth waiting for she started to turn around and walk away. As

her foot hit the first step, she felt someone tap her on the shoulder,

turning she saw the rich little girl, thrusting a new blanket and

pillow at her. "Have these." she said quietly.

These were her own personal belonging made of silk and down feathers.

As the two grew older they didn't see each other much, but they were

never far from each other's minds. One day, the Rich girl, who was now

a Rich woman got a telephone call from someone. A lawyer, saying that

she was requested to see him.

When she arrived at the office, he told her what had happened. Forty

years ago, when she was nine years old, she had helped a little girl

in need. That grew into a middle-class woman with a husband and two

children. She had recently died and left something for her in her

will. "Though," the lawyer said, "it's the most peculiar thing. She

left you a pillow and a blanket."

Prayer to Mary for a Good Mind

A. Hanrion, S.J.

O Mary, my Mother,

I offer you my soul, my mind, and my heart.

Make of me God's instrument.

Give me a penetrating mind to discover,

firm to judge,

open to understand,

free to serve the truth;

an honest mind in telling what it sees rather than what it wants to see;

a tolerant mind which does not dictate to other people,

but which explain what it sees clearly;

a mind infused by the light and the truth of your Son Jesus,

patient in faith,

while waiting for the vision of eternal life.

Amen.

Translated and adapted from Fernand Lelotte, S.J., Rabboni, Consignes et prieres pour mieux servir (Paris, Casterman, 1958), by Chau T. Phan, Rider University Catholic Campus Ministry.