Community Chat

[gloriajean]

Hello my friends! Well tomorrow we have Sunday, The Lord's day. After our Mass we are scheduled to serve coffee and donuts to all who want this. They do this every Sunday for people to mingle and socialize. It is also All Soul's Day - a special Mass for our faithfully departed. Today's blessings was a nice, sunny day, cold, but no snow yet, DH had a good day at work, every once in a while he sees someone he knows from the past, and how they're doing, and that was today again too. We were at our favorite restaurant last night for pizza, here a waiter there talked to him about the combo microwave oven my husband sold him, not delivered yet, but he is so anxious for it! It's a combination of microwave, broiler and convection. We've had that for years, it's very nice to have. Praying for you all for all your needs.

Be able to do more today by expanding your vision of what you can

accomplish. Lord, help me realize that my limits are beyond what I

think and fill me with motivation to reach higher.

Scripture for the day:

"No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us,

and his love is perfected in us." ~1 John 4:12

Meditation for the day:

Spiritual power is God in action. God can act through human beings.

When ever we, however weak we may be, allow God to act through us,

then all we thank and say and do is spiritually powerful. It is not

us alone who produce a change in the lives of others. It is also

God's spirit in us and working through us. Power is God in action.

God can use us as a tool to accomplish miracles in people's lives.

Prayer for the day:

I pray that I may try to let God's power work through me today. I

pray that I may get rid of those blocks which keep God's power from

me.

"I Don't Fit In"

A friend of mine witnessed what I am about to tell you.

Several years ago, a well dressed older gentleman entered an elevator in a tall office building, apparently consumed with whatever business he was taking care of that day.

It was mid-afternoon of the work day, and there were only three people on that elevator -- the gentleman, a middle-aged woman and my friend -- all being transported down to the street level.

Out of the blue, the woman starts crying. Taken aback, the gentleman and my friend didn't know what to say or do.

"I'm sorry. I'm making a spectacle of myself," said the woman, sobbing and searching her purse for a handkerchief.

The gentleman offered her his. "Thank you," she said, "I just don't know anymore. I'm usually not like this, but I just don't know anymore."

"I'm sure everything will turn out fine -- don't you worry, Miss," he said.

"No. No. It's not that. I have so much to be grateful for," she said as she shook her head. "It's not what you think."

Not wanting to pry, her elevator mates stood speechless.

"It's just that I don't fit in. I've never fit in. I do everything I'm supposed to do, but I don't feel like I belong," she said, wiping the tears from her eyes.

The elevator continued its downward journey as the distraught woman tried to compose herself.

"I'm so embarrassed. You'll have to pardon me. Things have just caught up to me," she said.

"Miss, I have something I want to tell you, if you have just a minute," the old man said.

The elevator opened as they reached the lobby.

"Oh yes, please, I need to get my mind focused on something," she said.

They left the elevator and walked into the busy lobby. The old man turned to my friend, and invited him to join them. By this time, my friend's curiosity had got the best of him.

The old man's face had some well worn lines. His gray hair bespoke of his experience, and his dark eyes peered over his bifocals, lending confidence to his words.

"I don't know what your situation is Ma'am," he said politely. "However, I was in the same boat many years ago. And while I was in my little personal crisis, I felt the same way. Moreover, I came to find out that everyone, sooner or later, feels like they don't fit in."

"Sometimes it happens early in life in school. Teenagers are thrown together with strangers and told to fit in. It's almost an impossible situation. Then, the same thing happens at work, or with your neighbors at home. You always feel like you are the odd man out. Everyone else seems to be happy. They look comfortable. They look like they belong, and you always feel like you are an intrusion. I know all about that," said the old man.

"I know exactly what you're saying," the woman said as she nodded in agreement.

"A lot of people avoid those feelings by limiting contact. Watching television, or reading books, or sitting in front of a computer provides a comfort zone, and if you can afford to do that, I suppose that's fine if that's what you want to do. However, for many of us, the real world cannot be escaped. We have to work. We have to make a living. And we have to interact with relatives and strangers in settings everyday. And, Ma'am, this is what I want to tell you..."

"You see, it's all in how you look at it. Some people face those feelings and settings with a sense of adventure. Others face the same situation with dread. Yes, we all have different personalities and some of us are more sensitive and vulnerable than others. However, if you can remember just a couple of things, it will make your life a whole lot easier," he said.

"Do you work in this building?" he asked.

"Yes," she said.

"Well, this is my first time here and I had no idea where I was going, and had never met the person I was going to see. Now, who is the one who feels like they don't fit in?" he asked. "But, somehow, I got through it, and I'll be walking out that front door in a minute without a scratch."

She and my friend chuckled.

"You can safely assume that the people you are interacting with feel as out of place as you do. So, you simply practice the Golden Rule and make them feel as comfortable as you can. They don't teach the Golden Rule in school, so this is something you have to pick up along the way. Suffice it to say, if you make others feel comfortable, they will reciprocate."

"Second, remember that in order to sense that feeling of belonging, you have to feel you belong to yourself. In other words, if you aren't settled and comfortable with yourself first, you'll be a fish out of water. Be confident about what you believe. Be true to your feelings. You don't have to pretend to be someone else. Just be yourself and let the world appreciate what you have to offer. Everyone is good at something, including you. Offer what you are good at, and who knows, maybe the world might even pay you for it!", the old man said as he started to laugh.

"You're not alone," he said as he patted the woman's shoulder.

"Don't go nuts trying to force yourself to fit in. There are too many holes and too many pegs out there to even try. Just have a little faith in yourself, associate with people who lift you up, and you'll soon find folks coming to you for help. And when you get lost in helping them, you won't even think about fitting in. At that point, you won't be looking at life, you'll be a part of it."

"Oh, thank you," she said, as the old man walked toward the street.

My friend just stood there, not saying a word. At that split second of awkwardness, the woman and my friend extended their hands and shook.

"Nice to meet you," they both said at the same time. And then, just as quickly and simultaneously, they said, "Have a nice day," as they both went in different directions.

While they never knew each others' names, it was an encounter they would never forget.

- Author Unknown

You Ask Why I Follow This Jesus?

You ask why I follow this Jesus?

Why I love Him the way I do?

When the world's turned away from His teachings

And the people who serve Him are few.

It's not the rewards I'm after

Or gifts that I hope to receive

It's the Presence that calls for commitment

It's the Spirit I trust and believe.

The Lord doesn't shelter His faithful

Or spare them all suffering and pain,

Like everyone else I have burdens,

And walk through my share of rain.

Yet He gives me a plan and a purpose,

And that joy only Christians have known,

I never know what comes tomorrow,

But I do know I'm never alone.

It's the love always there when you need it;

It's the words that redeem and inspire,

It's the longing to ever be with Him

That burns in my heart like a fire.

So you ask why I love my Lord Jesus?

Well, friend, that's so easy to see,

But the one thing that fills me with wonder is

Why Jesus loves someone like me.

You Are...

You are strong...when you take your grief and teach it to smile.

You are brave...when you overcome your fear and help others to do the same.

You are happy...when you see a flower and are thankful for the blessing.

You are loving...when your own pain does not blind you to the pain of others.

You are wise...when you know the limits of your wisdom.

You are true...when you admit there are times you fool yourself.

You are alive...when tomorrow's hope means more to you than yesterday's mistake.

You are growing...when you know what you are but not what you will become.

You are free...when you are in control of yourself and do not wish to control others.

You are honorable...when you find your honor is to honor others.

You are generous...when you can take as sweetly as you can give.

You are humble...when you do not know how humble you are.

You are thoughtful...when you see me just as I am and treat me just as you are.

You are merciful...when you forgive in others the faults you condemn in yourself.

You are beautiful...when you don't need a mirror to tell you.

You are rich...when you never need more than what you have.

You are you...when you are at peace with who you are not.

PRAYER FOR ABORTED BABIES

Heavenly Father, You give us the gift of freedom to love and to follow in Your ways and commands. Some parents choose to abuse this freedom by destroying the gift of life which You have given to their offspring. Please forgive these people who destroy human life by aborting their unborn babies. Give these unborn babies the opportunity to enjoy You for all eternity. Assist me in being one in solidarity with Your little ones by taking to heart the words of Your Son, "whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me." (Mt. 25:40).

Therefore, allow me today, Father, to adopt spiritually an unborn child and to offer my prayers, works, joys and sufferings for that little one, so that child will be able to be born and live for Your greater honor and glory. We pray this in Jesus´name, in union with the Holy Spirit one God forever and ever. Amen.

SPECIAL BEATTUTUDES for those who work with special people

BLESSED ARE YOU who take time to listen to difficult speech

FOR YOU help us know that if we persevere, we can be understood.

BLESSED ARE YOU who walk with us in public places and ignore the stares of strangers,

FOR in your companionship, we find havens of relaxation.

BLESSED ARE YOU who never bid us "hurry up" and more blessed, you who do not snatch our tasks from our hands to do them for us

FOR often we need time rather than help.

BLESSED ARE YOU who stand beside us as we enter new and untried ventures,

FOR our failures will be outweighed by times when we surprise ourselves and you.

BLESSED ARE YOU who ask for our help

FOR our greatest need is to be needed.

BLESSED ARE YOU who help us with the graciousness of Christ.

FOR oftentimes we need the help we cannot ask for.

BLESSED ARE YOU when, by all these things you assure us that the thing that makes us individuals is not in our peculiar muscles, not in our wounded nervous systems, nor in our difficulties in learning

BUT in the God-given self which no infirmity can confine.

REJOICE AND BE EXCEEDINGLY GLAD, and know that you give us reassurances that could never be spoken in words,

FOR you deal with us as Christ dealt with all His children.

-- Author Unknown

Pumpkin

A lady had recently been baptized. One of her co-workers asked her what it was like to be a Christian.

She was caught off guard and didn't know how to answer; but when she looked up, saw a jack-o-lantern on the desk and answered: "It's like being a pumpkin."

The co-worker asked her to explain that one.

"Well, God picks you from the patch and brings you in and washes off all the dirt on the outside that you got

from being around all the other pumpkins. Then he cuts off the top and takes all the yucky stuff out from inside. He removes all those seeds of doubt, hate, greed, etc. Then he carves you a new smiling face and puts his light inside of you to shine for all to see.

It is our choice to either stay outside and rot on the vine or come inside and be something new and bright."

I'll never look at a pumpkin the same way again!

Author Unknown

[RetRN]

Pizza--one of God's blessings in my book. Nice that you and your husband were able to enjoy.

Hoping that everyone has a blessed and joyous Sunday.

[gloriajean]

Hello RetRN - Yes - and we had another pizza today - this time Dominoe's - with our daughter, Lori. Dominoes is just a couple blocks away from us. A new one recently built.

Blessings to you!