Community Chat

[gloriajean]

When life seems hard and filled with troubles, look for reasons
to be thankful. Lord, Your beautiful presence is always with me.

Scripture for the day:

"Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."
~Matthew 6:10

Meditation for the day:

The world would sooner be brought close to God and God's will would
sooner be done on earth, if all of us who acknowledge God gave
ourselves unreservedly to being used by God. God can use each one of
us as a channel for divine love and power. What delays the bringing
of the world closer to God is our reluctance to follow. If each one
of us lived each day for God and allowed God to work through us, then
the world could be drawn much closer to God, its creator and
preserver.

Prayer for the day:

I pray that I may be used as a channel to express God's love. I pray
that I may so live as to reveal God's spirit God's life in me.

Hello my friends! Another nice day - little rain, but not that bad that we
couldn't go to Lori's while she's working and put a fence around her garden.
She was very happy to see that done when she got home! It's a blessing to
know that Darla and Greg got back at 8:30 this morning - had a good sleep at
his house in Mpls. and they are now at their Marriage class until 10 PM.
Lori called to see if we'd want to come over then to see them. Guess that's
out of the question being Linus works at 7:30 AM and Darla and Greg need to
be back at class at 8 AM anyway. We'll see them Sunday at Greg's parent's
house. I've been really good today in keeping my inbox clean!! After all
that work, I must! Been working some more in organizing and that's always a
blessing when that's done!! I don't have much else to say so I'll stop here
and on with the rest of the inspirations:

When I say good morning I mean to say:

G-od
O-ffers us His
O-utstanding
D-evotion to

M-ake us
O-bedient &
R-eady for a
N-ew day with Him.
I-nspire others please, and
N-ever forget
G-od loves you!

The Bargain

During one of the many Reformation battles, a young soldier found himself
and his army being soundly defeated by the enemy.
He and his comrades hastily retreated from the battlefield in defeat,
running away in fear of their very lives.

The enemy gave chase. The young man ran hard and fast, full of fear and
desperation, and soon found himself cut off from his comrades. The soldier
eventually came upon a rocky ledge containing a cave.

Knowing the enemy was close behind, and that he was exhausted from the
chase, he chose to hide there. After he crawled in, he fell to his face in
the darkness, desperately crying to God to save him and protect him from his
enemies. He made a bargain with God. He promised that if God saved him, he
would serve Him for the remainder of his days.

When he looked up from his despairing plea for help, he saw a spider
beginning to weave its web at the entrance to the cave.

As he watched the delicate threads being slowly drawn across the mouth of
the cave, the young soldier pondered its irony. He thought, "I asked God for
protection and deliverance, and He sent me a spider instead. How can a
spider save me?"

His heart was hardened, knowing the enemy would soon discover his hiding
place and kill him. Soon he did hear the sound of his enemies, who were now
scouring the area looking for those in hiding.

One soldier with a gun slowly walked up to the cave's entrance. As the young
man crouched in the darkness, hoping to surprise the enemy in a last-minute
desperate attempt to save his own life, he felt his heart pounding wildly
out of control.

As the enemy cautiously moved forward to enter the cave, he came upon the
spider's web, which by now was completely strung across the opening. He
backed away and called out to a comrade, "There can't be anyone in here.
They would have had to break this spider's web to enter the cave. Let's move
on."

Years later, this young man, who made good his promise by
becoming a preacher and evangelist, wrote about that ordeal.

What he observed has stood by me in times of trouble, especially during
those times when everything seemed impossible:

"Where God is, a spider's web is as a stone wall.
Where God is not, a stone wall is as a spider's web."


~ Author Unknown ~


TIME MANAGEMENT
Author Unknown
November 4, 2009


One day, an expert in time management was speaking to a group of
business students and, to drive home a point, used an illustration
those students will never forget. As he stood in front of the group of
high-powered overachiever s he said, "Okay, time for a quiz" and he
pulled out a one-gallon, wide-mouth mason jar and set it on the table
in front of him.

He also produced about a dozen fist-sized rocks and carefully placed
them, one at a time, into the jar. When the jar was filled to the top
and no more rocks would fit inside, he asked, "Is this jar full?"

Everyone in the class yelled, "Yes." The time management expert
replied, "Really?" He reached under the table and pulled out a bucket
of gravel. He dumped some gravel in and shook the jar causing pieces
of gravel to work themselves down into the spaces between the big
rocks. He then asked the group once more, "Is the jar full?"

By this time the class was on to him. "Probably not," one of them
answered. "Good!" he replied. He reached under the table and brought
out a bucket of sand. He started dumping the sand in the jar and it
went into all of the spaces left between the rocks and the gravel.
Once more he asked the question, "Is this jar full?"

"No!" the class shouted. Once again he said, "Good." Then he grabbed a
pitcher of water and began to pour it in until the jar was filled to
the brim. Then he looked at the class and asked, "What is the point of
this illustration? "

One eager beaver raised his hand and said, "The point is, no matter
how full your schedule is, if you try really hard you can always fit
some more things in it!" "No," the speaker replied, "that's not the
point.

The truth this illustration teaches us is:

If you don't put the big rocks in first, you'll never get them in at
all."

What are the 'big rocks' in your life, time with your loved ones, your
faith, your education, your dreams, a worthy cause, teaching or
mentoring others? Remember to put these BIG ROCKS in first or you'll
never get them in at all.

So, tonight, or in the morning, when you are reflecting on this short
story, ask yourself this question: What are the 'big rocks' in my
life?

Then, put those in your jar first.

PRAYERS TO JESUS AND MARY FOR MERCY

LORD Jesus Christ, eternal and merciful God,
Creator and Redeemer of all, listen to my prayer.


For the love Thou doth bear to those who ask forgiveness,
look on me with mercy, as once Thou didst look on Mary Magdalen,
and on Peter who denied Thee.


Look on me, Lord Jesus Christ, as Thou didst looked at the thief on his
cross
and on every sinner whom Thou hast ever forgiven.


Look on me, merciful Lord, as Thou didst look on Thy Mother, Mary,
standing in sorrow beneath Thy Cross.


Let me feel in my heart her compassion for Thee,
and let my eyes weep for Thy sorrows, caused by my sinful life.


Call me back from the darkness to my Father's house, give me a new heart
and a place at Thy side in the banquet Thou hast prepared for me. Amen.

AIL, Mary, my joy, my glory, my heart and my soul!
Thou art all mine through thy mercy, and I am all thine.
But I am not thine completely enough.

Destroy in me all that may be displeasing to God.
Place and cultivate in me everything that is pleasing to thee. Amen.


Father of tenderness and compassion, you sent your Son to share our human
nature,
to redeem all people, and to heal the sick.
Look with love on your children who are sick.
Support them with your power, give them hope in times of suffering
and keep them always in your care.
We ask this through Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
+ + + + + + + + + +

PARENT’S PRAYER
Lord, I am angry and afraid today as I try to cope with my child’s illness.
You prayed in your agony Lord to let this chalice pass.
Give me the strength to watch over my little one well
And to say with you ‘let your will be done, not mine’.
+ + + + + + + + + +
Lord, give all sick children the inner strength to cope with the pressures
that their illness brings. Help them to accept the love and care which their
families have for them during this difficult time and give them the courage
to let their parents know they love them.

We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

The Soul of Man


Every man has a deep heart need
That can't be filled with doctrine or creed,
For the soul of man knows nothing more
Than just that he is longing for
A haven that is safe and sure,
A fortress where he feels secure,
An island in this sea of strife,
Away from all the storms of life.

Oh God of love, who sees us all,
You are so great! We are so small!
Hear man's universal prayer,
Crying to You in deep despair,
“Save my soul and grant me peace!
Let my restless murmurings cease!

“God of love, forgive! Forgive!
Teach me how to truly live.
Ask me not my race or creed;
Just take me in my hour of need.
Let me feel You love me, too,
And that I am a part of You.”
--Helen Steiner Rice

A Prayer to Our Blessed Lady
for those who are growing old

Take my hand, O Blessed Mother,
Hold me firmly lest I fall,
I am nervous when I am walking
and to thee I humbly call.

Guide me over every crossing
watch me when I´m on the stairs
Let me know you are beside me,
Listening to my fervent prayers.

Bring me to my destination,
walk beside me every day,
Help me with each undertaking,
As my hours they pass away.

And when the evening falls upon me,
And I fear to be alone,
Take my hand O Blessed Mother
Please stay with me in my home.

God bless your Saturday - in everything you do! Let us continue to pray for
one another.
Prayers for Carole and Holly - let us pray for God's healing Hand upon them.