Community Chat

[gloriajean]

When you are wrong, have the courage to admit it because it's the best
way to show that you are wiser today than yesterday. Lord, may I be
humble enough so that even my mistakes make me a stronger and better
person.


Scripture for the day:

"Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens,
and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me;
for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your
souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." ~Matthew
11:28-30

Meditation for the day:

We are so made that we can only carry the weight of twenty-four hours,
no more. If we weigh ourselves down with the years behind and the
days ahead, our back breaks. God has promised to help us with the
burdens of this day. If we are foolish enough to gather again the
burden of the
past and carry it, then indeed we can become unnecessarily heavily
burdened. We can forget that which lies behind us and breathe in the
blessing of each new day.

Prayer for the day:

I pray that I may realize that, for good or bad, past days have ended.
I pray that I may face each new day, the coming twenty-four hours,
with hope and courage.

Peace to you all and hope you had a good day! I didn't get much done today as I thought I would because Lori invited me to go along for lunch to meet Linus on his lunch break and tonight she took me to a play. My blessings today is spending time with her - and that in Linus' long day, today, he did ok. Tomorrow's another long day for him.
I'm so sorry to hear that about Carmela - not even able to get to her emails? That all must be hard on her. She needs many more prayers, so let's pray!!
It's hard to believe that Christmas is only a week away now! Time is flying by so quickly! Today was Nick's funeral. Lori went to it - she said it was a very nice funeral Mass. And at the end they played a tape - the Halleuia Chorus! They have a tradition in the family that they all sing it together at Christmas time, and that when one of the spouses die, it would be sung at the funeral, and it was. His wife announced it and told of the tradition, and encouraged everyone that knows the words to sing along!
I love that song! Never heard of it being sung at a funeral though. Her old choir director there at the Church told Lori she should come and sing again at the Christmas Eve Mass. She's considering it.



Homily of the Day


December 18, 2010


There´s Always Another Door, But You Have to Walk Through It!
by Monsignor Dennis Clark, Ph.D.

Is 7:10-14 / Rom 1:1-7 / Mt 1:18-24

A man went to his doctor, very upset about his health. “What’s your problem?” asked the doctor.

“It’s terrible!” said the patient. ”When I look in the mirror every morning, I see thinning hair, sagging jowls, crooked teeth, and bloodshot eyes. I’m a mess! What is it?”

“I really don’t know,” said the doctor. ”But the good news is: Your eyesight is perfect.”

+ + +

Reality doesn’t always match our hopes and dreams.

St. Joseph had hoped and dreamed a long time about the wonderful family he was going to make with Mary: Lots of children, and later on, grandchildren. Even the thought of it warmed his heart. And then, in a trice, it was gone. Mary was pregnant and he wasn’t the father. The door to all his hopes slammed shut in his face.

But God opened another door. What lay beyond it was still invisible, but Joseph trusted God so thoroughly that he walked through that door anyway. There was no houseful of children on the other side, and not even one grandchild, but there was Jesus.

Imagine being a part of Jesus’ life from His very first breath! Imagine watching over Him and being His guide as He grew into a young man! It was more than Joseph would ever have dreamed or hoped for. But none of it would have happened if He’d said “No” to God and refused to take that step into the dark unknown.

All too often, life confounds our hopes and expectations. Doors slam shut without warning. Our hopes wilt. We can’t see what God sees — just the fog and the darkness. We’re left with only one real choice: Run away, wither and die, or embrace the present. Walk into it, one step at a time, confident that God will help us see what He sees there, and find the good He’s hidden there for us — when it’s time.

Will we be ready for those mind-twisting, soul-wrenching moments when they come? Will we be ready to face the impenetrable fog and the crushing darkness? We will if we have the habit of walking with the Lord. We’ll be ready if we have the habit of trusting Him, accepting the silence and waiting for Him without growing impatient or giving in to our fears.

The psalm tells us, “Be stout-hearted and wait for the Lord.” It’s good advice, because in His own good time, the Lord will show Himself and what has been hidden will be made clear. Trust that, and your soul will be at peace, even now!


Prayer in Time of Suffering
Behold me, my beloved Jesus, weighed down under the burden of my trials and sufferings. I cast myself at Your feet that You may renew my strength and my courage while I rest here in Your presence. Permit me to lay down my cross in Your Sacred Heart, for only Your infinite goodness can sustain me, only Your love can help me bear my cross, only Your powerful hand can lighten its weight. O Divine King, Jesus, whose heart is so compassionate to the afflicted, I wish to live in You, suffer and die in You. During my life, be to me my model and my support. At the hour of my death, be my hope and my refuge. Amen.

THE CHRISTMAS GIFT
Written by Arlene Spanos 2006 (revised 2010)

T’was eight centuries before Christ came to the earth,

The Holy Scriptures foretold of the Messiah’s Birth.

The world was in peril with distress and gloom,

Far and wide there was destruction and doom.

People were lost - they were deaf, blind and dumb;

God promised a Savior one day would come.

The prophesies gave the details of His Birth,

It was certain He’d come to transform the earth.

He’d be born of a virgin, laid in a manger with hay,

Then His Hands and Feet pierced on His final day.

It was told where He’d be born and His Ancestral Line,

He would be King of Kings, completely Divine.

An angel told Mary that she would be the one

To give birth to God’s Child, His Only Begotten Son.

The Lord had a purpose for which He came;

God would be with us – Immanuel, His Name;

Mankind would learn about peace, hope, and joy;

It would all come about in this small Baby Boy.

He was the Prince of Peace, a real Beacon of Light;

Reverent and Righteous; He taught wrong from right.

He came to restore us and showed us to care

And to help one another; He taught us to share.

Many followed and listened to all that He said.

Hearts and lives changed as their souls had been fed.

His Wisdom was divine, far beyond what they’d known;

Many traveled great distance; crowds really had grown.

He was a Humble Servant as He showed us pure love.

He taught us to know our Heavenly Father above.

He was Holy and Sinless, never even told a lie.

He was mocked, and beaten, then crucified to die.

Folks were amazed and confused with all that went on,

They didn’t understand…until He was gone.

He made the sacrifice for our debt to be paid.

For upon Him all of our sins had been laid.

He was Goodness and Grace and came to relieve

The wretched grasp of satan to all who believe.

He was God as a Man to His last dying breath,

Then rose from the dead with His power over death.

This all actually happened, it isn’t folklore.

He told us of Heaven and showed us there’s more.

Christ had come to save the souls on earth,

He offers deliverance and a second birth.

We call Him Jesus and He is with us today;

He is Lord of all Lords and He is the Way.

He’s the Counselor, Comforter, Redeemer and Friend,

He Reigns over all; His Rule never will end.

We celebrate His Birth and all that it means

With songs and displays of Nativity scenes.

His Amazing Grace is the actual reason

That we recognize and rejoice this season.

Again this year we celebrate His Holy Birth;

Merry Christmas to all and to all Peace On Earth!

For the Children at Christmas

Lord Jesus, who took little children into your
arms and laughed and played with them,
bless all children this Christmas.


With shining eyes and glad hearts, they nod
their heads so wisely at the stories of the angels,
and a baby cradled in the hay at the end of the
way of a wandering star. May their faith and
expectations never be unrewarded.
Help us to make this a season of joy for them, a time
that shall make you, Lord Jesus, even more real to them.


Watch tenderly over them and keep them safe.
Grant that they grow in health and strength
into spiritual maturity. May they turn to you,
the Friend of children, the Friend of all.

A CHRISTMAS LETTER
Author Unknown

Dearest Friend, I have a list of folks I know, all written in a book.
And every year when Christmas comes, I go and take a look.
And that is when I realize that these names are a part
Not of the book they're written in, but of my very heart.
For every name stands for one who has crossed my path sometime,
And in that meeting they've become the rhythm in each rhyme.
And while it sounds fantastic for me to make this claim,
I really feel that I'm composed of each remembered name.

And while you may not be aware of any "special link",
Just meeting you has changed my life a lot more than you think.
For once I've met somebody, the years cannot erase
The memory of a pleasant word or of a friendly face.

So never think my Christmas cards are just a mere routine
Of names upon a Christmas list, forgotten in between.
For when I send a Christmas card that is addressed to you,
It's because you are on a list of folks I'm indebted to.

For I am but the total of the many folks I"ve met,
And you just happen to be one of those I prefer not to forget.
And whether I have known you for many years or few,
In some way you have had a part in shaping things I do.

And every year when Christmas comes, I realize anew
The best gift life can offer is meeting folks like you.
And may the spirit of Christmas, that forever endures,
Leave its richest blessings in the heart of You and Yours.


"Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow"


There are two days in every week we should never worry about, two days that should be kept free from fear and apprehension.

One is yesterday, with its mistakes and cares, its aches and pains, its faults and blunders. Yesterday has passed forever beyond our control.

All the money in the world cannot bring back yesterday. We cannot undo a single act we performed, nor erase a single word we've said. Yesterday is gone.

The other day we should not worry about is tomorrow, with its impossible adversaries, its burden, its hopeful promise and unknown performance. Tomorrow is beyond our control


Tomorrow's sun will rise either in splendor or behind a mask of clouds - but it will rise. And until it does, we have no stake in tomorrow, for it is as yet unborn.


This leaves only one day - today! Anyone can fight the battles of just one day. It is only when we add the burdens of yesterday and tomorrow that we break down.


It is not the experience of today that drives people mad. It is the remorse of bitterness for something that happened yesterday, and the dread of what tomorrow may bring.

Make TODAY the best day it can be,
and live one day at a time!

EVERY DAY IS CHRISTMAS
Author Unknown
December 18, 2010


Every day is Christmas when you have the kind of mind,
That stores up all the goodness and the sweetness it can find.
When you don't need an occasion, to spread a bit of cheer,
But just keep on a-giving, of yourself throughout the year.

Every day is Christmas, with a gaily wrapped surprise,
When you've learned to see the friendship, in someone else's eyes.
When you try a little harder, and complain a little less,
Holding fast to all the fervor of the faith that you possess.

Every day is Christmas, when you've found that you can be
More concerned with words like "you" and less with "I" and "me."
When it's fun to do a favor, and to lend a helping hand,
When being understood means less, than when you understand.

Every day is Christmas, with a beauty deeply cast,
When you find it doesn't matter, if you're first or if you're last.
When you can face your conscience, and be glad of what you are,
Then every day is Christmas, with a stable and a star.

Good night now and Sweet Dreams to all!! May you all have a very peaceful, blessed and positive Sunday!! Enjoy God's blessings!!

Closing prayer is the prayer Juanita gave on her post:

Thank you, Lord, for friendship and love so warm and sweet. Thank you for the little things that make life complete. Thank you for easing my worry and pain. Thank you for the sunshine and the smell of spring rain. Thank you for bringing comfort in times of stress and strife. Thank you for the precious gifts you blessed throughout my life. Thank you for listening when I seek prayer, and most of all, thank you for loving me and always being there. (unknown)