Community Chat

[gloriajean]

If you are stressed, you are probably making things more important
than they really are. Lord, I pray for clarity of thought and calmness
of spirit because I know that when my heart grows weary, You send
me peace.


Scripture for the day:

"One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and
seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, 'Which commandment is the
first of all?' Jesus answered, "The first is, 'Hear, O Israel: the Lord our
God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.'
The second is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no
other commandment greater than these.'" ~Mark 12:28-31

Meditation for the day:

I can try to make the world better and happier by my presence in it.
I can try to help other people find the way God wants them to live. I can
try to be on the side of good, in the stream of righteousness, where all
things work for good. I can do my duty persistently and faithfully, not
sparing myself. I can be gentle with all people. I can try to see other
people's difficulty and help them. I can always pray to God to act as
interpreter between me and the other person.

Prayer for the day:

I pray that I may live in the spirit of prayer. I pray that I may depend on
God for the strength I need to help me to do my part in making the world a
better place.

Hello my friends! Another nice, warm day here in MN! My dear hubby had to
work almost 10 hours so Lori and I met him for lunch - he took an extended
lunch hour, and it was nice to just eat with him and have a nice visit. He
got home after 8:30. We had to miss our friend's 50th Wedding Anniversary
party - so I called her and told her we'll take them out to eat instead. I
hope her husband enjoyed the night - he has Alz and has good days and bad.
It was a blessing to get some emails from Sister LaDonna saying she is ok -
the trip was not too hard on her! Praise God! So glad she could make it! I
put her back on the prayer lines for her leg that is so sore - leg and
foot - and it has reddness where it hurts. She had to cancel her doctor's
appt. for the funeral, but rescheduled for another couple weeks. She looked
so nice there - had a fresh perm!


God's Test

No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone.
God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength,
but with the testing he will also provide the way out
so that you may be able to endure it.

from John Dear on Peace: An Introduction to His Life and Work

The Call

The Master called my name one day because He needed someone to go.

I said "Lord, in my spare time, between school, spending time with my
husband, working from 8 to 6, and trying to coordinate a program for my
community to help our children do better, I will help You look. See, I know
I can't go right now cause I have so much to do."

He said, "Well where shall I find such a person? I thought I saw your name
on my list of available people."

"Well Lord, that was the prayer that I prayed last year, but since then,
things have changed."

He said "Like what?"

"Well I'm working on my Ph.D. and I'm needed by so many people and my
husband is always wanting something done, and on top of that my community
expects me to help and give to them so..."

"Well, seeing that you're busy, I'll let you go, but we will talk again, if
you have some time."

I went on through the days, and the weeks, and the months completing my task
as always. One evening, while studying for my computer exams, I received a
call from the hospital concerning my husband.

He had been in a terrible accident and was in critical condition. I dropped
everything and ran to the hospital where I found my husband hanging on for
dear life.

I immediately begin to pray "Lord, don't take him now, I can't bear it",
but my prayer echoed off the wall and returned into my own ear.

That next morning I left the hospital tired and weary, and walked in the
door of my classroom just in time to begin my computer exams.

As the professors begin asking me questions I opened my mouth to speak but
nothing came out. In my mind, I began praying, praying hard, but my prayer
echoed again and I found myself upset at the Lord because He was nowhere to
be found. I could not explain to them what was happening.

After leaving from my exams, I called in to work because I was so distraught
at all that was going on. I explained to my supervisor what had happened and
she demanded that I take some time off.

After visiting my husband in the hospital that evening, I went home and fell
into a sunken state, crying and despairing. Just then I heard someone
calling my name.

"Lord, is that you?"

"Well yes it is. Do you have some time? I wanted to see if I could just talk
..... "

Instead of waiting to hear His questions, I lashed out in anger and
resentment. "How is it that when I needed You today, You couldn't be found
and last night I cried and cried but all I heard were echoes from the walls.

My husband is dying, I'm flunking out of school, I may not have a job and
You can just sit and say You want to talk".

The Lord interrupted me in my foolish speaking. "My child, I was busy out
looking for someone to go and tell others about me when you cried. By the
time I came to answer, you had moved on to something else.

So, I decided to let your husband rest, and keep you home for a few days
that way maybe you would get in touch with me, if you had some time. For
you see, before your husband, the community or your job needs you, I NEED
YOU.

And if all these things take you away from me, I have to almost take them
away from YOU, in order to get a moment. "

I calmed down and began to cry. For I remembered my prayer of wanting to go
and do for the Lord.

He said "I just wanted to recheck with you to see if you knew of anyone that
I could send to be a witness for me and tell others about me... anyone at
all....?"

With tears in my eyes and feeling so unworthy I said "Lord, send me, I'll
go."

The Lord should never have to ask us if we have some time. When He died on
the cross He put aside everything to insure us eternal life.

We should be more than grateful to do service for the Lord, to witness, and
to tell anyone we can about Jesus.

Don't let your "things", whatever they may be, get you so tied up that the
Lord has to become a meeting time in your yearly planner.

He had more than enough time for us. The least we could do is have time for
Him.

- Author Unknown

Isaiah 6:8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: "Whom shall I send,
And who will go for Us?" Then I said, "Here am I! Send me."

Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and
all these things shall be added to you.
"GIVE AND IT WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU..."


New Year's Resolution

Last week I threw out Worrying,
It was getting old and in the way.
It kept me from being me;
I couldn't do things my way.

I threw out those Inhibitions;
They were just crowding me out.
Made room for my New Growth,
Got rid of my old dreams and doubts.

I threw out a book on My Past
(Didn't have time to read it anyway).
Replaced it with New Goals,
Started reading it today.

I threw out childhood toys
(Remember how I treasured them so)?
Got me a New Philosophy too,
Threw out the one from long ago.

Bought in some new books too,
Called I Can, I Will, and I Must.
Threw out I might, I think and I ought.
Wow, You should've seen the dust.

I ran across an Old Friend,
Haven't seen Him in a while.
I believe His name is God,
Yes, I really like His style.

He helped me to do some cleaning
And added some things Himself.
Like Prayer, Hope and Faith,
Yes I placed them right on the shelf.

I picked up this special thing
And placed it at the front door.
I Found it - its called Peace.
New Year's Resolution

Last week I threw out Worrying,
It was getting old and in the way.
It kept me from being me;
I couldn't do things my way.

I threw out those Inhibitions;
They were just crowding me out.
Made room for my New Growth,
Got rid of my old dreams and doubts.

I threw out a book on My Past
(Didn't have time to read it anyway).
Replaced it with New Goals,
Started reading it today.

I threw out childhood toys
(Remember how I treasured them so)?
Got me a New Philosophy too,
Threw out the one from long ago.

Bought in some new books too,
Called I Can, I Will, and I Must.
Threw out I might, I think and I ought.
Wow, You should've seen the dust.

I ran across an Old Friend,
Haven't seen Him in a while.
I believe His name is God,
Yes, I really like His style.

He helped me to do some cleaning
And added some things Himself.
Like Prayer, Hope and Faith,
Yes I placed them right on the shelf.

I picked up this special thing
And placed it at the front door.
I Found it - its called Peace.
Nothing gets me down anymore.

Yes, I've got my house looking nice.
Looks good around the place.
For things like Worry and Trouble
There just isn't any place.

Its good to do a little house cleaning,
Get rid of the old things on the shelf.
It sure makes things brighter;
Maybe you should Try It Yourself.

- Author unknown -
Nothing gets me down anymore.

Yes, I've got my house looking nice.
Looks good around the place.
For things like Worry and Trouble
There just isn't any place.

Its good to do a little house cleaning,
Get rid of the old things on the shelf.
It sure makes things brighter;
Maybe you should Try It Yourself.

- Author unknown -

May you all have a very blessed weekend! God be with you in everything you
do! Good night now!