Community Chat

[gloriajean]

Avoid using the words "If only . . ." and "I should have . . .". These can destroy your peace of mind and even your health. Lord, help me to stop punishing myself for past mistakes and live in the peace of the present.

Scripture for the Day
"O God, do not be far from me; O my God, make haste to help me!" — Psalm 71:12

Meditation for the Day
I can work for God, with God and through God's help. By helping to bring about a true fellowship of human beings, I am working for God. I am also working with God because this is the way God works, and God is with me when I am doing such work. I cannot do good work, however, without God's help. In the final analysis, it is through the grace of God that any real change in human personality takes place. I can rely on God's power, and anything I accomplish is through God's help.

Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may work for God and with God. I pray that I may be used to change human personalities through God's help.

Hello my friends! Hope your Saturday was all you hoped it to be. Had a nice surprise tonight as Lori came and we had a nice visit and played some Dominoes. Game nights are far and few since she's left! Today was busy, I washed sheets, and all the other laundry, did some cleaning, and got an email from my sister, Sister LaDonna saying that she's planning a luncheon for my two other sisters who are having birthdays on the 10th. We had planned with Lori to go shopping for groceries at Costco and Trader Joe's an hour away, towards Mpls. so she said I should call Sr. LaDonna and tell her we'll be coming too! In her email, she mentioned it would be nice if I could but she knows it's hard being I don't drive. So she was all excited that I'll be coming, along with Lori and Linus and she won't tell the other two so it can be a surprise. It's talk of more snow so hoping it won't be bad on the roads.
Lori surely is a blessing to us and I thank and praise God for her and Darla, too!

RULES FROM GOD
Author Unknown


1. Wake Up !!

Decide to have a good day.

'Today is the day the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in
it' Psalms 118:24

2. Dress Up !!

The best way to dress up is to put on a smile. A smile is an
inexpensive way to improve your looks.

'The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at
outward appearance; but the Lord looks at the heart.' I Samuel 16:7

3 Shut Up!!

Say nice things and learn to listen. God gave us two ears and one
mouth, so He must have meant for us to do twice as much listening as
talking.

'He who guards his lips guards his soul.' Proverbs 13:3

4. Stand Up!!...

For what you believe in. Stand for something or you will fall for
anything..

'Let us not be weary in doing good; for at the proper time, we will
reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have
opportunity, let us do good...' Galatians 6:9-10

5. Look Up !!...

To the Lord.

'I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me.' Philippians
4:13

6. Reach Up !!...

For something higher.

'Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own
understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, And He will direct
your path.' Proverbs 3:5-6

7. Lift Up !!...

Your Prayers.

'Do not worry about anything; Instead PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING.'
Philippians 4:6

I thought this was mighty special, just like you.

Pass this on and brighten someone's day, and remember:

God answers Knee-Mail.

WHEN THE CHIPS ARE DOWN


Not too long ago I had "one of those days."

I was feeling pressure from a writing deadline.

I had company arriving in a couple days and the toilet was clogged.

I went to the bank, and the trainee teller processing my deposit had to start over three times.

I swung by the supermarket to pick up a few things and the lines were serpentine.

By the time I got home, I was frazzled and sweaty and in a hurry to get something on the table for dinner.

Deciding on Campbell's Cream of Mushroom soup, I grabbed a can opener, cranked open the can, then remembered I had forgotten to buy milk at the store.

Nix the soup idea.

Setting the can aside, I went to plan B, which was leftover baked beans. I grabbed the Tupperware container from the fridge, popped the seal, took a look and groaned.

My husband isn't a picky eater, but even HE won't eat baked beans that look like caterpillars.

Really frustrated now, I decided on a menu that promised to be as foolproof as it is nutrition-free: hot dogs and potato chips.

Retrieving a brand new bag of chips from the cupboard, I grabbed the cellophane and gave a hearty pull.

The bag didn't open.
I tried again.
Nothing happened.
I took a breath, doubled my muscle, and gave the bag a hearty wrestle.

With a loud pop, the cellophane suddenly gave way, ripping wide from top to bottom. Chips flew sky high.

I was left holding the bag, and it was empty.

It was the final straw.

I let out a blood-curdling scream.

"I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE!"

My husband heard my unorthodox cry for help. Within minutes he was standing at the doorway to the kitchen, where he surveyed the damage: an opened can of soup, melting groceries, moldy baked beans, and one quivering wife standing ankle deep in potato chips.

My husband did the most helpful thing he could think of at the moment.

He took a flying leap, landing flat-footed in the pile of chips. And then he began to stomp and dance and twirl, grinding those chips into my linoleum in the process!

I stared.

I fumed.

Pretty soon I was working to stifle a smile.

Eventually, I had to laugh.

And finally, I decided to join him.

I too, took a leap onto the chips. And then I danced.

Now, I'll be the first to admit that my husband's response wasn't the one I was looking for. But the truth is, it was exactly what I needed.

I didn't need a cleanup crew as much as I needed an attitude adjustment, and the laughter from that rather funky moment provided just that.

So now I have a question for you, and it's simply this:

Has God ever stomped on your chips?

I know that in my life, there have been plenty of times when I've gotten myself into frustrating situations and I've cried out for help, all the while hoping God would show up with a celestial broom and clean up the mess.

What often happens instead is that God dances on my chips, answering my prayer in a completely different manner than I had expected, but in the manner that is best for me after all.

Sometimes I can see right away that God's response was the best one after all.

Sometimes I have to wait weeks or months before I begin to understand how and why God answered a particular prayer the way he did.

There are even some situations that, years later, I'm still trying to understand. I figure God will fill me in sooner or later, either this side of Heaven or beyond.

Do I trust Him?

Even when He's answering my prayers in a way that is completely different from my expectations?

Even when He's dancing and stomping instead of sweeping and mopping?

Can I embrace what He's offering? Can I let His joy adjust my attitude? Am I going to stand on the sidelines and sulk, or am I willing to learn the steps of the dance He's dancing with my needs in mind?

I'll be honest with you: Sometimes I sulk.

Sometimes I dance.

I'm working on doing more dancing and less sulking.

I guess the older I get the more I realize that He really does know what He's doing. He loves me and I can trust Him.

Even when the chips are down.

--Author Unknown

A nurse on the pediatric ward, before listening to the little ones' chests, would plug the stethoscope into their ears and let them listen to their own hearts. Their eyes would always light up with awe. But she never got a response to equal four-year-old Johnny's...

Gently she tucked the stethoscope in his ears and placed the disk over his heart. "Listen," she said, "What do you suppose that is?"

He drew his eyebrows together in a puzzled line and looked up as if lost in the mystery of the strange tap-tap-tapping deep in his chest. Then his face broke out in a wondrous grin. "Is that Jesus knocking?"

Listen to your heartbeat.
Listen for the knock of Jesus upon the door of your heart.

Short Meditation


Christ In Us

Christ in us does not negate our unique personality, nor does he eliminate our singular contribution to the human experience. The opposite is true: Christ in us enables us to be the fullest and most authentic versions of ourselves.

— from Spirituality You Can Live With


Prayer and Procedure for Covering You and Your Loved Ones in the Blood of Jesus

Nothing is more powerful than the Blood of Jesus! Because of the perilous times we live in it is especially important to pray this daily! Share this with friends, family and church members so that they may pray to be covered in the Blood of Jesus!
In the morning: Name all the people you will be covering -- then list specific areas below:
1. SALVATION - That none of us would be lost, led astray or deceived.
2. SAFETY - That we would all be protected and safe from all harm (spiritual, mental, physical or violent, satanical harm).
3. MINISTRY - That the areas of ministry God has for us would be fulfilled.
4. MARRIAGE - That God would heal the things that are wounded or broken and strengthen the good things.
5. RELATIONSHIPS - That all of our relationships would be based on good and Godly principles. (If you need to name anyone, do so.)
6. HEALTH - That we would all be made whole, spiritually, mentally and physically. (Mention anyone on the list with health problems.)
7. HOMES - That they would be protected from destruction, spiritually, physically, or materially. That they would be havens from the world for us. Places where God's love is shared. (Also include our churches, schools, places of employment and any public places we may visit.)
8. VEHICLES - That we would be protected in all of our travels (all modes). Safe from accidents or harm.
9. FINANCES - That God would bless our jobs, businesses, and that our needs would be met (all bills, financial obligations - state needs).
In the Evening: Name all the people you are covering.
1st. Ask the Lord to cover all of you with His Blood that it could be as an antiseptic to cleanse us from any encounter with the kingdom of darkness this day. Cleanse us of its effects or damage and do not let it affect us or enter into our day tomorrow.
2nd. Pray that all would be covered with His Blood as a protection. That we would be hidden in the shadow of His wings, placed in the bosom of the Lord to be safe from all harm. Lord, place a wall of protection (a hedge) around us that satan cannot enter into our lives to rob, steal, kill or destroy what belongs to us as the family of God. In You, Lord, I hide: our salvation, our safety, our ministries, our marriages, our relationships, our health, our homes, our vehicles our finances.

Closing Prayer:

For the Presence of God

Through every moment of this day: Be with me, Lord.
Through every day of all this week: Be with me, Lord.
Through every week of all this year: Be with me, Lord.
Through every year of all this life: Be with me, Lord.
So that when time is past,
By grace I may at last,
Be with you, Lord.

God be in my head, and in my understanding.
God be in my eyes, and in my looking.
God be in my mouth, and in my speaking,
God be in my heart, and in my thinking,
God be at my end, and at my departing.

(from the Book of Hours)

Good night all and sweet dreams! Remember us in prayer for a safe trip tomorrow! We'll have to go to Mass tomorrow night at 6 at the Cathedral as we'll be leaving around 10:30 here to get there by noon. Lori is on the way so we'll pick her up. Have a very blessed Sunday and keep the Lord's day holy!
It's the last Sunday before Lent!!