Community Chat

[gloriajean]

God gives us what we need when we need it, which isn't necessarily what we want when we want it. His timing is perfect. Lord, I will not fall into doubt and worry because I trust that You will bless me at the moment of my actual need.

Scripture for the Day
"All who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, 'Abba! Father!'" — Romans 8:14-15

Meditation for the Day
God's spirit is all around us all day long. We have no thoughts, no plans, no impulses, no emotions that God doesn't know about. We can hide nothing from God. We need not make our conduct conform only to that of the world. We need not depend on the approval or disapproval of others. God sees in secret, but God rewards openly. If we are in harmony with God, doing our best to live the way we believe God wants us to live, we can be at peace.

Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may always feel God's presence. I pray that I may live in God's presence all day long.

Hello to all you positive pals and grateful gals! Hope your day went well! I must say I truly enjoy this weather being in the 40's and 50's! And today Linus put some bird seed in the feeders, and while we were eating our evening meal out in the porch - lo and behold, a cardinal showed up!! Yep! our first bird of the season was a Cardinal! What a blessing! Another blessing was eating out on the porch again - lunch and supper! It was so nice! We went to Mass at noon at St. Mary's (the Cathedral), and after that we went to the co-op for groceries. I may get called in for volunteering next week if they have time for me. I have to get trained in to be a demo girl. So looking forward to it!
Our printer isn't working anymore and it doesn't pay to get it fixed. Lori has an extra one, so she'll give us that one - praise the Lord! Another blessing! When I'm at the food co-op, it's funny, but I feel at home there!! Isn't that great? Must be a sign I'll be working there soon. Just 10 hours a month, I can handle. Remember to pray for wonderwoman's Dad.


Homily of the Day


March 18, 2011


Help Build God´s Family: Be a Reconciler
by Monsignor Dennis Clark, Ph.D.

Ez 18:21-28 / Mt 5:20-26

On any given day almost all of us cross paths with a surprising number of people. Many of those encounters are brief and casual, in the supermarket, on the road, at the gas station, in church, on the sidewalk. Far more complex are the interchanges that occur at home, in the neighborhood, or at work. But wherever we go through the day, each of us carries our own baggage with us, our wounds, our prejudices, and our grievances. And inevitably that makes for trouble.

Mistakes will be made, hurts will be inflicted, injustices will be done, today, tomorrow, and always, till the end of time. So what are we to do? Despair? Flee to a remote island? Minimize the hurts by minimizing the contacts?

That’s not Jesus’ answer. His alternative is to become a reconciler, become a person who takes the initiative in healing hurts, correcting mistakes, and righting wrongs, no matter whether he was the victim or the culprit. Take the initiative. Name the sin, claim it, feel it, and fix it. And do it without delay.

Our Church is ancient and very wise. And never is that more clear than in the Mass, which every day of the year begins with a rite of reconciliation, and which every day of the year is needed.

Being perfect and sinless is not an option in this life — we are so flawed. But being a humble and gracious reconciler is a noble and realistic option for us all. What better way to continue the work of building God’s people into a true family!


WHAT YOU WILL BE
Author Unknown


As I gazed up at the mountains, I was awed by their majesty;
I bowed my head and asked myself, "Why should He care for me?
I am not great like the mountains that tower so high above,
What is there about me that God can find to love?"

"Father, I am not strong like the wind that makes your tall trees
sway, I cannot sing sweetly like your birds; will you love me anyway?
But most of all, I am simply me, and often have cause to fear,
In spite of all my weaknesses, do you promise to be near?"

With eyes closed tight against my tears, I wished He could hear me
pray.
Then I felt His Spirit tell me, "Child, look up, I have something to
say.
"You are simply you, the spirit I love, a part of my great plan.
I put you here to learn of life and to return to me again."

"You are more beautiful to me than the loveliest mountain I made,
And your strength exceeds that of the wind's, so do not be afraid.
I love you not for what you are, but for what I know you will be.
I am always beside you watching you grow, you are very special to me."

A smile touched my lips - I knew it was true, my Father had always
been there Giving me comfort and blessings and love and my own special talents to
share.
So I do my best to make Him proud. I am not afraid, for you see,
He loves me not for what I am, but for what He knows I will be.

If you would like to know God ... Look at the crucifix.

If you would like to love God ... Look at the crucifix.

If you want to serve God ... Look at the crucifix.

If you wonder what you are worth ... Look at the crucifix.

If you wonder how much God loves you ... Look at the crucifix.

If you want to know the need for self-denial and sacrifice ... Look at the crucifix.

If you wonder how much you should forgive others ... Look at the crucifix.

If you wonder how much you should do for others ... Look at the crucifix.

If you wonder how much your faith demands ... of you in humility, poverty, charity in every virtue ... Look at the crucifix.

If you want to know what unselfishness and generosity are ... Look at the crucifix.

If you wonder how far your own unselfishness should go to bring others to Christ ... Look at the crucifix.

If you wish to live well ... Look at the crucifix.

If you wish to die well ... Look at the crucifix.

When was the last time you really thought about how much suffering Jesus went through for you?
Next time you think your pain and suffering is too much to bear ...
Look at the crucifix and say: JESUS UNDERSTANDS!

~ A Special Thought ~

When we feel we have nothing left to give
And we are sure that the song has ended

When our day seems over and the shadows fall
And the darkness of night has descended,

Where can we go to find the strength
To valiantly keep on trying,

Where can we find the hand that will dry
The tears that the heart is crying?

There's but one place to go and that is to God
And, dropping all pretense and pride,

We can pour out our problems without restraint
And gain strength from Him at our side,

And together we stand at life's crossroads
And view what we think is the end

But God has a much bigger vision
And He tells us it's only a bend

For the road goes on and is smoother
And the "pause in the song" is a rest

And the part that's unsung and unfinished
Is the sweetest and richest and best

So rest and relax and grow stronger
Let go and let God share your load

Your work is not finished or ended,
You've just come to a "bend in the road."

~~ Author Unknown

Making Pancakes

Six year old Brandon decided one Saturday morning to fix his parents pancakes. He found a big bowl and spoon, pulled a chair to the counter, opened the cupboard and pulled out the heavy flour canister, spilling it on the floor.

He scooped some of the flour into the bowl with his hands, mixed in most of a cup of milk and added some sugar, leaving a floury trail on the floor which by now had a few tracks left by his kitten. Brandon was covered with flour and getting frustrated. He wanted this to be something very good for Mom and Dad, but it was getting very bad.

He didn't know what to do next, whether to put it all into the oven or on the stove and he didn't know how the stove worked! Suddenly he saw his kitten licking from the bowl of mix and reached to push her away, knocking the egg carton to the floor. Frantically he tried to clean up this monumental mess but slipped on the eggs, getting his pajamas white and
sticky.

And just then he saw Dad standing at the door. Big crocodile tears welled up in
Brandon 's eyes. All he'd wanted to do was something good, but he'd made a terrible mess. He was sure a scolding was coming, maybe even a spanking. But his father just watched him.

Then, walking through the mess, he picked up his crying son, hugged him and loved him, getting his own pajamas white and sticky in the process!

That's how God deals with us... We try to do something good in life, but it turns into a mess. Our marriage gets all sticky or we insult a friend, or we can't stand our job, or our health goes sour.

Sometimes we just stand there in tears because we can't think of anything else to do. That's when God picks us up and loves us and forgives us, even though some of our mess gets all over Him.

But just because we might mess up, we can't stop trying to 'make pancakes' for God or for others. Sooner or later we'll get it right, and then they'll be glad we tried.....

I was thinking and I wondered if I had any wounds needing to be healed, friendships that need rekindling or three words needing to be said, sometimes , 'I love you' can heal & bless! Remind every one of your friends that you love them. Even if you think they don't love back, you would be amazed at what those three little words, a smile, and a reminder like this can do.


Send this to everyone .. And never stop 'making pancakes.

John 3:3
" Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

Tomorrow is the Feast of St. Joseph:
St. Joseph

Holy God, you chose Saint Joseph to care for Mary and Jesus because his holiness and love for You was great, his compassion for others was outstanding, and his desire to protect and provide for his family was honorable. I ask Saint Joseph to intercede for all the men in my family. May they become fully the husbands and fathers You have called them to be in family leadership. Help them to rely on the Holy Spirit for strength and wisdom and guidance, just like Saint Joseph did. Teach them the glory of serving one's family with humility, and protect them from the influences of the world. Saint Joseph, pray for us. Amen.

DROUGHT SURVIVAL
By Sally I. Kennedy
March 18, 2011


This is what the LORD says…… “blessed is the man who trusts in the
LORD, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by
the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear
when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a
year of drought and never fails to bear fruit." Jeremiah 17:5-8


In our back yard, there is a spot where red and pink Pentas are
planted. These flowers are hardy, and do well in our tropical heat.
They are colorful, and are butterfly attractors as well.

Flash floods occasionally soak the Pentas. These plants are resilient,
however, and after the soggy, drippy leaves dry out, the flowers bloom
brilliantly.

More of a problem than too much water, is too little water. We might
go for days, or weeks with no rain; sometimes with scorching sun
beating down. They can look kind of pitiful, definitely dried up, with
the flowers faded, or gone entirely. Yet these plants always bounce
back. A bit of rain, a little shade, and they are good to go again.

Some plants are created to withstand drought. Are we? In the first
book of songs, in the Bible, this very thing is addressed. The
amplilfied version says it this way: Blessed, happy, fortunate,
prosperous, and enviable is the man who walks and lives not in the
counsel of the ungodly, following their advice, their plans and
purposes, .. but his delight and desire are in the precepts, the
instructions, the teachings of God; he habitually meditates, ponders
and studies by day and by night. And he shall be like a tree firmly
planted and tended by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its
fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and
everything he does shall prosper and come to maturity. (Ps 1:1-3)

We may not be as naturally sturdy as Pentas. Yet if we stay near the
River of God, and are continually soaked and watered in His Word, we
will not only be able to just make it through droughts, we will
flourish in spite of them.

That’s good news.

Here's another thing written by my good friend, Mel!

" COME INTO HIS PRESENCE "

Come into His Presence
And be blessed by His essence;
He's close as we permit Him to be
If we realize this we can see...
He's been close to us ~ actually ~
Being aware of Him is the key.

Find a quiet place to stay and pray
And listen to what God has to say;
His Joy can be ours for the asking,
In His Son's Love we're basking.

Open the heart, soul, and spirit,
Quiet time and silence, endear it
Listen as God speaks to the heart;
Graces and blessings He'll impart
From us He wants never to be apart!

Union with You, Lord, is our heart's desire;
Lift us up out of the filthy mire,
Forgive our sin;
~ Again let us begin
To know, love and to serve You,
We truly do not deserve You,
Nothing is anything without You;
To You we cleave
Never wanting to leave
Help us perceive
Your unconditional love
Straight from heaven above
We come into Your Presence
Blessed by the transcendence
Of Your Purest Essence,
O Thou Holiest Eminence.


© Mel Patterson, 11-3-07

Closing Prayer:

Lenten Prayer
God of all compassion, Father of all goodness, to heal the wounds our sins and selfishness bring upon us you bid us turn to fasting, prayer, and sharing with our brothers. We acknowledge our sinfulness, our guilt is ever before us: when our weakness causes discouragement, let your compassion fill us with hope and lead us through a Lent of repentance to the beauty of Easter joy. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Good night everyone - Sweet Dreams and may you all have a good night's sleep now and a good, healthy, positive, peaceful and wonderful Saturday!! Enjoy all He has for you!