Community Chat

[gloriajean]

Prayer helps us see that God is not the cause of unpleasant happenings, but
the healing of them. Lord, I trust in You for the right outcomes in all situations.


Scripture for the day:

"My vows to you I must perform, O God; I will render thank offerings to you.
For you have delivered my soul from death, and my feet from falling, so that
I may walk before God in the light of life." ~Psalm 56:12-13

Meditation for the day:

I will never forget to say thank you to God, even on the grayest days. My
attitude can be one of humility and gratitude. Saying thank you to God is a
daily practice that is absolutely necessary. If a day is not one of
thankfulness, the practice has to be repeated until it becomes so. Gratitude
is a necessity for those who seek to live a better life.

Prayer for the day:

I pray that gratitude will bring humility. I pray that humility will bring
me to live a better life.

Greetings to you all! Hope you all had a good Friday today - I had a headache most of the day so I rested, it's much better now. Weather was nicer today - but I didn't get out to enjoy it, or even the porch because I rested - and it must have helped as the headache is better - almost gone! I bet it's because I haven't been drinking water - just not in the mood for it, I made chicken soup - so have been enjoying the broth. Had a nice visit with Linus on the phone this morning - they plan on taking him out tonight somewhere. I'll be anxious to hear from him tomorrow morning. Lori had invited me over tonight to watch movies, but I declined - just don't feel up to it tonight - I emailed her.
Sammy was whining just before wanting to go out - I know why, he spotted a rabbit and wanted to chase - so I made sure I put him on the leash so he stays in the yard. Fool on Sammy! My blessings today are my friends - you and my family who cares for me. Also being able to sleep is a blessing!! Wish Darla could sleep! Pray for her insomnia to go away, please? Guess she's got too much stress to deal with. Her school is out now for her, she just has computer work to do and lots of it. Completed her second year teaching there in Texas.

Homily of the Day


April 28, 2011


Let Him Guide You
by Monsignor Dennis Clark, Ph.D.

Acts 4:1-12 / Jn 21:1-14

In the days immediately following Jesus’ death and resurrection, the apostles weren’t quite sure what to do next, so they made their way back to their boats and went fishing. And they caught nothing until Jesus intervened and showed them where the fish were. The abundant catch they made then is legendary.

But this gospel is about something a lot more important than fish. The abundant catch is a metaphor for the abundance of God’s gifts, most especially the gift of His friendship, which we call grace. And when exactly did they find that super-catch of fish? When they let the Lord, who sees all things clearly, guide them.

If we develop the habit of listening to the Lord who at every moment dwells within us, He will guide our hands and strengthen our hearts to know the good and to do it.

Trust that and listen.

Parable Of The Pencil


The Pencil Maker took the pencil aside, just before putting it into the box. There are five things you need to know, he told the pencil, before I send you out into the world. Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best pencil you can be.

[1] You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in Someone's hand.

[2] You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, but you'll need it to become a better pencil.

[3] You will be able to correct mistakes you will make.

[4] The most important part of you will always be what's inside.

[5] On every surface you are used on, you must leave your mark. No matter what the condition, you must continue to write.

The pencil understood and promised to remember, and went into the box with purpose in its heart.

Now replacing the place of the pencil with you; always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best person you can be.

[1] You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in God's hand. And allow other human beings to access you for the many gifts you possess.

[2] You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, by going through various problems, but you'll need it to become a stronger person.

[3] You will be able to correct mistakes you might make or grow through them.

[4] The most important part of you will always be what's on the inside.

[5] On every surface you walk, you must leave your mark. No matter what the situation, you must continue to serve God in everything.

[Author unknown]

[ Education for Life ]

If you give a man fish, he will eat at once. If you teach a man to fish, he
will eat for the rest of his life.

If you are thinking a year ahead, sow seed. If you are thinking ten years
ahead, plant a tree.

If you are thinking one hundred years ahead, educate the people.

By sowing seed, you will harvest much. By planting a tree, you will harvest
tenfold. By educating the people, you will harvest one hundredfold.

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the
one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 1 John
4:4

Trapped

It was irresistable. Too warm and sunny, too lovely an afternoon to
not take a few minutes to sit outside on the back porch where we were
staying. I moved the rocker over to get a better view of the graceful
moss-covered oaks.

A neighboring cat crawled into a space under the house. Bees busied
themselves around a clematis vine. I heard a faint buzzing. Another
mosquito? The hum persisted. Turning around, I spied a glint of pale
green.


Near the sliding door was a glass bottle. It looked faded, antique-y.
The glass stopper had a green bee, or fly perched on top.

The bottle had legs about ½ inch high, which kept it barely off the
ground. It also had a fake bottom - a large hole with a lip around the
inside of it. Inside were a couple dead flies and one flying
frantically around the top trying to get out.

Apparently the insects entered from underneath. They could leave the
same way they came in, but for some reason it appeared they didn’t do
that. They flew up towards the stopper, which was a dead end.

The world can make us feel as though we're trapped. We try and escape
pressures of the world, panic or just give up from the stress. Yet
sometimes the way out is available. Jesus overcame the world and all
its trappings* and He has told us that we can too.

As the verse above says, we are overcomers. We are more than
conquerors in Christ**. Our Saviour rose from the dead and transcended
circumstances; we can too b/c our lives are hidden in Him ***.


Let’s start living out the truth, above our circumstances. We are not
trapped. We are more than conquerors in Him who gave His life for us
and saved us. This is good news.


*John 16:33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may
have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I
have overcome the world."
**Romans 8:37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors
through him who loved us.
***Colossians 3:1-3 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ,
set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right
hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. Rev.
2:7 To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree
of life.

Closing prayer:
Prayer for the Lonely

"I will never forget you my people... I have carved you on the palm of my hand..." (Is. 49:16)

Lord, The worst feeling in the world is the feeling of loneliness. Through loneliness we experience, loss, hurt, self-pity, rejection and the lack of love in our lives.

Lord we offer our prayers for those people that are feeling lonely. We pray that they may see that they are not alone and that You oh, Lord are with them.

Lord, we pray for those with big hearts, we pray that they may see the loneliness in the eyes of those suffering and may be inspired by the Holy Spirit to come to those lonely people and bring hope into their lives, through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Good night everyone - Sweet dreams to all and may your Saturday be filled with many blessings - blessings you can share with us on this thread!
Enjoy the Gift of God's Day!