Community Chat

[gloriajean]

Through God we have the power to triumph over even the most hopeless
of tragedies. Lord, You have said, "Ask and You shall receive", so I ask
that You will prepare me day by day to triumph in my dark hours.

Scripture for the day:

"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

Meditation for the day:

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.

Prayer for the day:

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.

Greetings my friends! Hope your day went very well. We had such a nice day today - in the upper 70's and I did take Sammy out for a walk during the showing today, but when I got as far a friend's house, I called her, had my phone in my pocket and we sat on her deck where I could watch our driveway and we had a nice visit and as soon as the car went - I got home. Sammy was again barking all over the house, thinking someone was sure here!! They were here less than half an hour. Sometimes the showing is only about 15 min.
It was such nice weather to be walking today - and sitting out on her deck, first nice day we've had in a very long time!! Supper was at Lori's tonight - she and Darla cooked Indian food - food from India. It was very good and not too spicy, but very tasty! Darla brought her cookbooks. Lori's deck is coming along nicely. The frame is all up now, and next week her Dad and his brother can finish it on Linus' days off. She's have a BarbBeQ with us invited for the 3rd of July because then Firecrackers are going off and she found out that her back yard is a good view! Many blessings today - how about you?



Homily of the Day


June 24, 2011

Are you Receiving the Surprises God Is Sending?
by Monsignor Dennis Clark, Ph.D.

Feast of the Birth of John the Baptist

Jer 1:4-10 / 1 Pt 1:8-12 / Lk 1:5-17

A jetliner was roaring down the runway when, just before takeoff, the pilot reversed engines, slammed on the brakes, and taxied back to the gate. Then it just sat there for more than an hour before finally taking off. A nervous passenger asked the flight attendant what had happened. “Well,” she explained, “the pilot was really worried by a noise he heard in the engine, and it took us all this time to find another pilot!”

+ + +

A surprise, but not a happy one!

It’s hard to imagine the surprise that the parents of John the Baptist felt when they discovered Elizabeth was pregnant. They were old, really old! And childless! And suddenly there was a baby: Their lives were transformed, and they never would have dreamed it!

God still has lots of surprises, even for the oldest among us — gifts and blessings we’ve not yet even imagined. Many of them are already on the way. But will we receive them? Will we even notice when they arrive on our doorstep? We may, and then again we may not. It all depends on what we’ve decided to value, what we’ve decided is worth noticing, and what’s not.

An example: If “success” and “winning” are our priorities, we’ll look at people in a very specific, limited way. We’ll see them as potentially useful tools and also as possible adversaries, and we won’t see much else. That way of looking at people screens out their best parts and leaves the gift of a new friend lying unnoticed on the cutting room floor. God sends us wonderful gifts, but too often we don’t receive them.

Another example: If “peace and quiet” is our ultimate priority, the only real place for us is the grave. But that won’t stop some of us from trying to insulate ourselves from the world. And the payoff will be empty, cranky lives. We’ll be mad at our neighbors, mad at the guy who wants a hand-out, mad at our kids, mad at the little girl who picks a flower from our yard and then disturbs us by ringing the doorbell to give it to us. Our peace-and-quiet priority will screen out life’s nicest gifts, and leave us narrower and narrower, sadder and sadder, meaner and meaner.

If, on the other hand, we listen to Jesus and make God’s family our top priority, the flow of wonderful gifts will never stop: The upturned face of a child who knows we can be trusted, the confident stride of a troubled kid we helped grow into a doctor, the tender gaze of someone who knows how hard we’re trying, the hug of a friend we rescued from disaster. So many unexpected gifts will fill our days, because we learned from Jesus how to see, how to love, and how give ourselves as a gift.

God never runs out of surprises. For those who know how to see and how to love, every day will be full of them, right up to our last day. Then God’s best surprise will just fall into our hands, because we knew how to see and what to love.

Live what you’ve learned from Jesus, and you’ll have a future full of surprises, a future you never could have dreamed up on your own!

Zehariah asked for a writing tablet and wrote, 'His name is John' (Lk 1:63).

"His name is John."

PRAYER

Thank you, Lord, for having created us.
Thank you, Lord, for guiding us in your Way.
Thank you, Lord, for giving us your life.
Thank you, Lord, for having saved us.
Thank you, Lord, for having given us your Body and Blood.
Thank you, Lord, for coming among us.
Thank you, Lord, for all your kindness.
Lord, be the light of our lives.
Lord, guide our steps in your ways.
Lord, be our hope and support.
Lord, have pity on your people.
Lord, have pity on your people who are victims of war and hatred.
Lord, help us to work for peace and justice.
Lord, teach us to love.
Lord, teach us to understand.
Lord, help us to be courageous like John the Baptist who fearlessly denounced wrongs and prepared the way for your coming even at the cost of his own life. Grand us your grace that we may proclaim your Gospel to the whole world without fear and unafraid of sacrifices. Amen.

Do Not...


Do not... undermine your worth by comparing yourself with others. It is because we are different that each of us is special.

Do not... set your goals by what other people deem important. Only you know what is best for you.

Do not... take for granted the things closest to your heart. Cling to them as you would your life, for without them, life is meaningless.

Do not... let your life slip through your fingers by living in the past nor for the future. By living your life one day at a time, you live all the days of your life.

Do not... give up when you still have something to give. Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying. It is a fragile thread that binds us to each other.

Do not... be afraid to encounter risks. It is by taking chances that we learn how to be brave.

Do not... shut love out of your life by saying it is impossible to find. The quickest way to receive love is to give love; The fastest way to lose love is to hold it too tightly.

Do not... dismiss your dreams. To be without dreams is to be without hope; To be without hope is to be without purpose.

Do not... run through life so fast that you forget not only where you have been, but also where you are going.

Life is not a race, but a journey to be savored each step of the way.

- Author Unknown

Finding God Within and Without

How do I find You God?

God is Love.
If you have ever loved,
If you have ever been loved,
You have experienced God
from Within and Without

God is Truth.
If you have ever told the truth,
If you have ever discovered Truth,
You have experienced God
from Within and Without

God is Beauty.
If you have ever helped to create something beautiful,
If you have ever witnessed beauty in any of it's myriad forms,
You have experienced God
from Within and Without

God is Good.
If you have ever done or thought something good,
If you have ever recognized goodness in or through another,
You have experienced God
from Within and Without

All of those experiences, those gifts,
of Love, Truth, Beauty and Goodness
were directly from God through you... or to you.

Glad to Meet You God.

Author Unknown

TAX ASSESSOR
Author Unknown


A tax assessor came one day to a poor pastor to determine the amount
of taxes the pastor would have to pay. The following conversation took
place;

"What property do you possess?" asked the assessor.

"I am a very wealthy man," replied the minister.

"List your possessions, please," the assessor instructed.

"First, I have everlasting life (John 3:16).

"Second, I have a mansion in heaven (John 14:2).

"Third, I have peace that passeth understanding (Philippians 4:7).

"Fourth, I have joy unspeakable (1 Peter 1:8).

"Fifth, I have divine love which never faileth (1 Corinthians 13:8).

"Sixth, I have a faithful precious wife (Proverbs 31:10).

"Seventh, I have healthy, happy obedient children (Exodus 20:12).

"Eighth, I have true, loyal friend (Proverbs 18:24).

"Ninth, I have songs in the night (Psalms 42:8).

"Tenth, I have a crown of life (James 1:12)."

The tax assessor closed his book, and said, "Truly you are a very rich
man, but your wealth is not subject to taxation.

Whisper Jesus

Today I got a burden,
And I felt that I should pray
For God's spirit seemed to tell me,
That you needed prayer today.

I don't know what the problem is,
But I sure do know the cure
And if you'll only let Him
God will keep you safe and secure.

In life there's always problems
Cropping up to spoil our day
But my friend you know the answer
All you have to do is pray.

If you still feel you're defeated
And you want to run and hide
Just reach out and I'll be there
Standing right there by your side.

So remember, Whisper Jesus,
For He's just a prayer away,
He's so close that you can touch Him
All you have to do is pray.

(author unknown)

The Spirit Sustains and Guides Every Ministry

A man left a brand new bicycle unattended at the marketplace while he went about his shopping. He only remembered the bicycle the following day -- and rushed to the marketplace expecting it would be stolen. The bicycle was exactly where he left it.

Overwhelmed with joy, he rushed to a nearby church to thank God for having kept his bicycle safe--only to find, when he got of the church, that his bicycle was gone.

If you were that man, what would be your reaction? Didn't we ask, Lord I'm serving you in your Church; I'm loving you; I'm dedicating to you my talents; I pray and contribute a lot--but why are you giving me heartaches and pains? In our different vocations in life and in various ministries of service in the Church, we cannot escape the temptation to doubt God's ways and simply give up our crosses.

Christ never promised a suffering-free life. What He has promised us is the Holy Spirit to sustain us in our struggles and keep the fire of faith burning in our hearts despite the difficulties...For Christ has empowered us to be His faithful disciples not on our own frail efforts, but on account of the power of the Holy Spirit.


by Fr. Simplicio Apalisok Jr.

So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time
we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Galatians 6:9

An Ant Story

Yuk. Large, reddish black ants in bathroom again. Lights on- they'd
scurry to hide; lights off- they'd come right back in.


Using my Nancy Drew skills, I followed one that seemed to be on the
way out. He wandered off his path a bit, and eventually came to a back
corner of the window sill.

There was a hole about an eight of an inch in diameter, plenty big
enough for several to come and go at the same time. From somewhere
outside, they had been able to chew or bore that hole, which hadn't
even been there two weeks before.

Amazing the persistence, and team work, of ants. I have seen tiny ants
gather around a crumb, or a dead bug, and drag or lift (!) it to move
it. It seems when they have a goal, nothing deters them. They might
have an interruption (like the lights coming on), they may get
sidetracked or even off-track, but they get right back to it. They
keep the focus on the goal, determined. Like our marathon bike touring
friends, who were riding in the downpours. They had a goal to meet and
raise funds for a worthy cause.

This was a good reminder, and example to me, of a verse that was
written in the front of a Bible, given to me many years ago at
confirmation. The pastor wrote, next to my name, Phil. 3:14. I press
on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me
heavenward in Christ Jesus.

The redeeming part of this ant story is that it reminds me to stay
focused, to keep first things first, and to persevere....to keep on
keepin' on. Good news is that I (and we) don't have to do it alone.
Thank you, Lord.

Cast Your Burdens On Him


To every one on earth
God gives a burden, to be carried down
The road that lies between the cross and crown.
No lot is wholly free;
He giveth one to thee.

Some carry it aloft,
Open and visible to any eyes;
And all may see its form and weight and size.
Some hide it in their breast,
And deem it there unguessed.

Thy burden is God's gift,
And it will make the bearer calm and strong;
Yet, lest it press too heavily and long,
God says, "Cast it on Me,
And it shall easy be."
And those who heed His voice,
And seek to give it back in trustful prayer,
Have quiet hearts that never can despair;
And hope lights up the way
Upon the darkest day.
Cast your burdens on the Lord and he'll bear them for you. Have a wonderful weekend and be blessed by all you see and do.

Could we pray this prayer for Linda in MN and anyone else who needs healing? There are many that come to mind.

HEALING PRAYER

"Beloved Mother, I come to you with prayers for healing of mind, body and spirit. I ask you to
hear my special concern (state petition) and to place my needs before your Son who you nurtured
and cared for with all your heart. Help me to release all fears and doubts that cause me anxiety and bring
me peace and comfort through your blessed intercession.

Let me be receptive of God's will and help me to learn compassion through my suffering. Teach me
to love others as brothers and sisters in Christ.
Give me the strength and understanding to forgive and to receive others' forgiveness. Blessed Mother,
help me to grow closer to your Son in everything I do. Renew my spirit and restore my soul through your intercession.

I seek your guidance and protection, remembering these words: "Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me." PS 51:10 All this I pray in Jesus' name. Amen"