Community Chat

[gloriajean]

Forget what you have done for others and remember what they have done
for you. Lord, a gift is given freely with no expection. May I become a
truly giving person.

S C R I P T U R E F O R T H E D A Y

"I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your
progress and joy in faith, so that I may share abundantly in your
boasting in Christ Jesus when I come to you again. Only, live your life
in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and
see you or am absent and hear about you, I will know that you are
standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the
faith of the gospel, and are in no way intimidated by your opponents.
For them this is evidence of their destruction, but of your salvation."
~Philippians 1:25-28

M E D I T A T I O N F O R T H E D A Y

Spiritual progress is the law of our being. We can try to see around us
more and more of beauty and truth, knowledge and power. Today we can
try to be stronger, braver, more loving as a result of what we did
yesterday. This law of spiritual progress gives meaning and purpose to
our lives. We can always expect better things ahead. We can accomplish
much good through the strength of God's spirit in us. We need not be
discouraged. The world is sure to get better, in spite of setbacks of
war, hate, and greed. We can be part of the cure of the world's ills,
rather than part of the disease.

P R A Y E R F O R T H E D A Y

I pray that I may keep progressing the better life. I pray that I may
be a part of the forces for good in the world.

Hello my friends! Hope your day went well and your evening is going well,
too! Linus got called in to work this afternoon until 8:30 - closing time.
Then he works Monday, Tues. and Wed. next week - all 8 hours days because
someone is on vacation, after these days, he'll have it a lot more easy. We
pray he can handle those 3 days in a row. It'll be hard as he gets so tired
out after 8 hours. Well, I mentioned on the the other thread that he will
have surgery on his knee because it was promised it won't be bone on bone
afterwards, just repairing the tears and then he won't have to live in
constant fear that it will snap again. He has some arthritis in there too,
not bad. He wanted me to go along with him and I did. He was pleased with
the young doctor, could be Chinese or Japanese, and the name looks like it
too. Anyway, as long as he knows what he's doing, right?
After some grocery shopping at the Food Coop, I mentioned to the Manager
Lady there that I'm interested in volunteering there on Fridays doing
demo's. I found out I can have a stool so I don't have to stand if I don't
want to. Some years ago I volunteered and they had me cutting veggies for
soups, and that was hard on me, my back gave out, standing there for 3 hours
cutting veggies. This will be so much easier and I'll be right in the store
area offering free samples, and meeting the people and I think it will be so
nice, plus we'll get 15% off our groceries every time we buy there. We are
members of this co-op. I have a sheet to fill out and give them and wait
for them to call.
Fridays Linus usually isn't working and that would work out good for us. I
love that store!
The people that work there are so informative! They are all well trained in
the organic foods and I've had my questions answered. I asked about stevia -
how much to replace a cup of sugar - about 1/2 tsp. Interesting. The
people there so so friendly! I know I'll love working there as a volunteer.
Before I worked in the back room cutting veggies.
To get the 15% off I need to volunteer 10 hours a month. That will be a
blessing.

Homily of the Day

Be Fruitful Wherever He Plants You
by Fr. Frank E. Jindra

Sir 44:1, 9-13 / Mk 11:11-26

A couple of years before I even considered going to the seminary, I took on
the job of arranging chairs in the basement of the church for a prayer
meeting. I would go to the basement of the church almost an hour before the
meeting, and I took great joy in seeing the chairs lined up “just right.” It
was this reading from 1 Peter 4 that I found most satisfying, because I was
filling a need for this particular prayer group that no one else wanted to
do. At the time I did not do well at public speaking; I could not play a
musical instrument; I had no great insights into Scripture. I was just part
of the group. But this was a service I could give to God.

I had no clue at that time that God was going to call me into the
priesthood. All I knew was that I wanted to be of service to the body of
Christ and arranging chairs was one way I could do it. In our Gospel story
today, we hear Jesus cursing at a fig tree because it did not produce fruit.
The fruit we are called to produce may not be what we expected it to be, and
indeed we may be surprised at just how Jesus wants to use us.

Jesus expects us to be fruitful for the sake of the Kingdom. To use a
different type of tree, we may think we only have fruit the size of a
crabapple to offer in service to the Kingdom. Jesus knows better. He takes
what we offer and makes it into the biggest, juiciest, sweetest apple in the
Kingdom.

What service have you been called to in your home, in your work, in your
church? It may seem like a cliché to say Jesus could use us wherever we are,
but there is so much more to in this than any of us realize. Service to the
King and the Kingdom is not an option.

Now, let me return to my first story. I was happy to do that simple task for
the prayer group. Because I was willing to do that, I believe the Lord
called me to greater things. Now I find myself a priest who once was scared
to stand in front of people to speak, but now rejoices in being able to
share the Word of God. What “simple service” will God use to launch you into
deeper service for the sake of His Kingdom? Wait, don’t say no! He knows
your full potential. Trust Him. Be a fruitful branch on the vine… or the fig
tree… or the apple tree… or wherever He plants you. Oh, and remember, he may
uproot you for something else.


Do I Want to Be Made Well?

Jesus could ask me the same question.
Do I really want to trust God in everything?
What would life be like if I did not worry?


Mother Teresa Said...
You are to be that presence of Christ to each other.
Love each other tenderly as Jesus loves each one of you. Tender love for
each other speaks much louder than all the words you can say.

Miracles of Our Lord

Water into Wine
(John 2:1-11)
Healings
(Matthew 4:23-24 & Mark 1:32-34)
Healing of a Leper
(Matthew 8:1-4, Mark 1:40-42 & Luke 5:12-13)
Healing of a Roman Centurion's Servant
(Matthew 8:5-13 & Luke 7:1-10)
Healing of Peter's mother-in-law
(Matthew 8:14-15, Mark 1:29-31 & Luke 4:38-39)
Calming of the Storm at sea
(Matthew 8:23-27, Mark 4:35-41 &Luke 8:22-25)
Healing of the Wild Men of Gadara
Healing of a Paralytic
(Matthew 9:1-7, Mark 2:1-12 & Luke 5:18-25)
Healing of a Woman with a Hemmorrhage
(Matthew 9:20-22, Mark 5:25-29 & Luke 8:43-48)
Raising of Jairus' Daughter
(Matthew 9:23-25, Mark 5:22-42 & Luke 8:41-56)
Healing of Two Blind Men
(Matthew 9:27-31)
Healing of a Demon-possessed Man
(Matthew 8:32-33)
Healing of a Man with a Shriveled Hand
(Matthew 12:10-13, Mark 3:1-5 & Luke 6:6-10)
Feeding of 5,000 People
(Matthew 14:15-21, Mark 6:35-44, Luke 9:12-17 & John 6:1-13)
Walking on the Sea
(Matthew 14:22-25, Mark 6:47-51 & John :6:16-21)
Healing of the Syrophoenician's Daughter
(Matthew 15:21-28 & Mark 7:24-30)
Feeding of 4,000 people
(Matthew 15:32-38 & Mark 8:1-9)
Healing of a Boy with Seizures
(Matthew 17:14-18, Mark 9:14-29 & Luke 9:37-43)
Healing of Two Blind Men at Jericho
(Matthew 20:30-34)
Healing of a Man with an Unclean Spirit
(Mark 1:23-26 & Luke 4:33-35)
Healing of a Deaf, Speechless Man
(Mark 7:31-37)
Healing of a blind Man at Bethsaida
(Mark 8:22-26)
Healing of Blind Bartimaeus
(Mark 10:46-52 & Luke 18:35-43)
A Miraculous Catch of Fish
(Luke 5:4-11 & John 21:1-11)
Raising of a Widow's Son
(Luke 7:11-15)
Healing of an Infirm Woman
(Luke 13:11-13)
Healing of a Man with Dropsy
(Luke 14:1-4)
Healing of the Ten Lepers
(Luke 17:11-19)
Healing of Malchus' Ear
(Luke 22:50-51 & John 18:3-11)
Healing of Official's Son
(John 4:46-54)
Healing of a Lame Man at Bethesda
(John 5:1-9)
Healing of a Blind Man
(John 9:1-12)
Rising of Lazarus
(John 11:38-44)

Dear Child:

I just wanted to remind you today of how beautiful you are because there is
a father of lies who will try to deceive you. He will try to tell you that
you are not good enough, not attractive enough, not thin enough, not strong
enough, not smart enough, not righteous enough, and that you are simply
unimportant to Me.

He will try to tell you that you have broken one too many promises, that you
have fallen one too many times, that you have lived one too many lies, and
that you've been going in the wrong direction so long that it is pointless
to turn back now. But guess what?

YOU DO NOT BELONG TO HIM. HE IS NOT YOUR FATHER.

I AM.

You see, you are My creation. My workmanship. You have been borne of My
thought, every part of you placed together by My hands. You have My
thumbprint upon you. You are a princess, did you know that? You are My
child, the child of THE King!

I look at you and see a precious, priceless pearl. There is no ocean I would
not swim, no mountain I would not climb, no price I would not pay to have
you and to be with you and call you My own.

I already have.

I have done all that I could, given all that there is. I desire to be with
you every moment of every day. How I long for you to talk to Me every day.
My love for you never grows cold. My promises are never broken (contrary to
what he might lead you to believe). My character never changes. And you, my
child have been made in My image.

I love you dearly, unconditionally and completely. I understand every
emotion that you have. I've been there. I count every tear that you cry.

And do you know what?

I even know your weaknesses and your failures and your fears. I know those
hidden parts of you that you wish would go away. Those dark corners of your
world that you stuff deep down, praying that no one will ever see. I have
already seen them and they will not change my love for you.

Nothing will.

I love your heart and I desire all of it.

I just wanted to remind you today of how beautiful you are and how precious
you are to Me.

With Unmeasurable Love,
Your Heavenly Father

(Author Unknown)

A TRICK
Author Unknown


A young man, a student in one of our universities, was one day taking
a walk with a professor, who was commonly called the students' friend,
from his kindness to those who waited on his instructions.


As they went along, they saw lying in the path a pair of old shoes,
which they supposed to belong to a poor man who was employed in a
field close by, and who had nearly finished his day's work.


The student turned to the professor, saying: "Let us play the man a
trick: we will hide his shoes, and conceal ourselves behind those
bushes, and wait to see his perplexity when he cannot find them."


"My young friend," answered the professor, "we should never amuse
ourselves at the expense of the poor. But you are rich, and may give
yourself a much greater pleasure by means of the poor man. Put a coin
into each shoe, and
then we will hide ourselves and watch how the discovery affects him."


The student did so, and they both placed themselves behind the bushes
close by.


The poor man soon finished his work, and came across the field to the
path where he had left his coat and shoes. While putting on his coat
he slipped his foot into one of his shoes; but feeling something hard,
he stooped down
to feel what it was, and found the coin.


Astonishment and wonder were seen upon his countenance. He gazed upon
the coin, turned it round, and looked at it again and again. He then
looked around him on all sides, but no person was to be seen. He now
put the money into his pocket, and proceeded to put on the other shoe;
but his surprise was doubled on finding the other coin.


His feelings overcame him; he fell upon his knees, looked up to heaven
and uttered aloud a fervent thanksgiving, in which he spoke of his
wife, sick and helpless, and his children without bread, whom the
timely bounty, from
some unknown hand, would save from perishing.


The student stood there deeply affected, and his eyes filled with
tears."Now," said the professor, "are you not much better pleased than
if you had played your intended trick?"


The youth replied, "You have taught me a lesson which I will never
forget. I feel now the truth of those words, which I never understood
before: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"

Expect the Unexpected:

The man whispered, "God, speak to me".
And a meadowlark sang.

But the man did not hear.

So the man yelled "God, speak to me".
And the thunder & lightning rolled across the sky.

But the man did not listen.

The man looked around and said, "God, let me see you."
And a star shined brightly.

But the man did not see.

And, the man shouted, "God, show me a miracle".
And a life was born.

But the man did not notice.

So, the man cried out in despair, "Touch me, God, and let me know you are
here".
Whereupon, God reached down and touched the man.

But the man brushed the butterfly away and walked on.

I found this to be a great reminder that God is always around us in the
little and simple things that we take for granted, even in our electronic
age... so I would like to add one more:

The man cried "God, I need your help"...
and an e-mail arrived reaching out with good news and encouragement.

But the man deleted it and continued crying...

The good news is that you are loved.

Don't miss out on a blessing because it isn't packaged the way that you
expect.

Expect the unexpected....
Have A Happy Day!

DON´T WORRY

To worry does no good at all,
But does a lot of harm;
It puts cross lines upon your face,
and dissipates your charm.

Whatever is to be, will be;
That, worry cannot change;
It only serves to dim your joy,
And all your friends estrange.

'Tis lack of confidence in self
That causes worry's fright;
A lack of faith in God's design
Your happiness will delight.

Then case aside those gloomy throughts,
That bring on doubt and fear;
Just live your faith, and trust in Him,
And worry will disappear.

- - -
Psalm 37:8 - Don't give in to worry or anger; it only leads to trouble.

Colossians 3:2 - Keeps your minds fixed on things [that are in heaven], not
on things here on earth.

THE NO MAKE-UP FRIEND
By Sally I. Kennedy
March 4, 2011


God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still
sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

The No Make-Up Friend

A quick shower, and …uh-oh, it was already time for my guest to
arrive.

“Well, no time for make-up now, “ I said, out loud, to myself. Then,
“That’s OK. It’s Sandie; it’ll be all right.”

It’s OK to be ourselves with a good friend. In fact, it is a great
blessing. You don’t have to worry about putting your best foot
forward, or trying to win them over. It is comfortable to ‘just be
yourself.’


I saw a bumper sticker the other day that said, ‘Jesus is my best
friend’. How about, “Jesus is my ‘no make-up friend’ ”.

It is true: there’s nothing you can do, and nothing you cannot do,
that would change the love of God for you. He can never love you
less, and never love you more. He just loves you. That’s it; He
loves you. God IS love. And He loves you. Just the way you are.
Make-up, or no make-up.
That’s good news.

Closing Prayer:

Evening Prayer to the Holy Spirit
O Holy Spirit, most merciful Comforter: You proceed from the Father in a
manner beyond our understanding. Come, I beseech You, and take up your abode
in my heart. Purify and cleanse me from all sin, and sanctify my soul.
Cleanse it from every impurity, water its dryness, melt its coldness, and
save it from its sinful ways. Make me truly humble and resigned, that I may
be pleasing to You, and that You might abide with me forever. Most Blessed
Light, most Amiable Light, enlighten me. O Rapturous Joy of Paradise, Fount
of Purest Delight, My God, give yourself to me and kindle in my innermost
soul the fire of Your love. My Lord, instruct, direct, and defend me in all
things. Give me strength against all immoderate fears and against
despondency. Bestow upon me a true faith, a firm hope, and a sincere and a
perfect love. Grant that I always do Thy Most Gracious Will. Amen. (By Saint
Antiochus)

Good night everyone - Sweet Dreams and may you all have a very blessed
Saturday - filled with lots of love, peace, joy and good health, and
positive attitudes!
Again, my blessings daily are from you, my friends! Thank you for being my
friend!