Community Chat

[gloriajean]

Our time here is short and there is still so much to be done. Lord, please
let me do a little more for You today so that the world may be a little
better because of me.


Scripture for the day:


"Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. Let your good spirit
lead me on a level path. For your name's sake, O LORD, preserve my
life. In your righteousness bring me out of trouble. In your
steadfast love cut off my enemies, and destroy all my adversaries,
for I am your servant." ~Psalm 143:10-12

Meditation for the day:

When we are honestly trying to live the way we believe Gods wants
us to live, we can get guidance from God in times of quiet
communion. We can direct our thoughts toward God's will and all
good thing. The attitude of "Your will be done" leads to clear
guidance. We can act on this guidance and we can be led to better
things. Our impulses can seem to become less our own and more the
leading of God's spirit acting through our thoughts. Obeyed, they
can bring us the answers to our prayers.

Prayer for the day:

I pray that I may try to think God's thoughts after God. I pray
that my thoughts maybe guided by God's thoughts.

Greetings to you on the Feast of Pentecost Sunday! I wonder how many Churches are celebrating Pentecost today! What a blessing that we were sent the Holy Spirit to us to guide us in life - the third person of the Trinity. Hope you had a good day today. Today we were invited for supper at Ray and Ann's, and he made ribs, so good! They went to Mass tonight and had the food in the oven, everything was so good and delicious! And we had a nice visit, but didn't stay too long because Ann works at 7 in the morning and has 7 days in a row! That's a bit much, don't you think? What wonderful friends God gave us in them! Ray wants to help Linus in helping with building Lori's deck in a couple weeks when Linus has more time off. Ray is a retired teacher. They were talking about us burying the St. Joseph statue - and they son is a realtor and he has those kits. St. Joseph is the Patron Saint for Realtors, too. So we'll see. First we have to get the statue, not using my nativity set one. Thought I'd use our closing prayer with the prayer to St. Joseph that our friend gave us. She is praying that prayer for us.

Homily of the Day


June 11, 2011


Come Holy Spirit - NOW!
by Monsignor Dennis Clark, Ph.D.

Acts 2:1-11 / 1 Cor 12:3b-7, 12-13 / Jn 20:19-23

The story of Pentecost is a real stunner! Jesus’ disciples, who’d been such wimps — fearful, aimless, hanging out in the upper room since Jesus’ Ascension — are suddenly transformed into fearless leaders, for whom nothing seems impossible.

In the past, as we’ve talked about this stunning event, we’ve described it in terms of the arrival, the coming, or the descent of the Spirit, upon the apostles. That language is really quite unhelpful and deceptive, for it suggests that the Holy Spirit somehow arrived at some place the Spirit hadn’t been before. And that isn’t true.

Our faith says the Holy Spirit of God is everywhere at all times. So what did happen? The Spirit of God didn’t change. The apostles did. These men whose hearts were frozen shut for a variety of reasons, finally were able to trust God enough to open their hearts to receive within, the Spirit who had always been there — held somewhat at bay outside. It was that accepting and receiving and taking in of the Spirit that made all the difference. And how hard that is to do, in part because we’re not so sure we want that transformation to happen just yet.

Remember how St. Augustine prayed for the grace of conversion during his wild and sinful youth? “Give me your grace, Lord. But not yet!”

We celebrate Pentecost because we need to do what the apostles did — and do it now: accept and receive within us the Spirit who has been present to us from the moment of birth.

May God help us to pray “Come Holy Spirit” with hearts that are truly open! Amen.

Quotes of Mother Teresa

"When I was crossing into Gaza, I was asked at the check post whether I was carrying any weapons. I replied: ‘Oh yes, my prayer books.’"



"God has created us to love and to be loved, and this is the beginning of prayer—to know that He loves me, that I have been created for greater things."



"Each time people come into contact with us, they must become different and better people because of having met us. We must radiate God's love."



"Love begins at home. Everything depends on how we love each other."



"If God chose me, He chose you. If He loves me, He loves you. If He trusts me, He trusts you. Never use ugly words for each other. Don't try to see what is bad. Find out what is nice in each other."



"Looking at the terrible suffering & fruit of war—[the] same thing, I was thinking, can happen through uncharitable words & actions. We do not destroy buildings—but we destroy the very heart of love, peace and unity."



"Have that deep respect for each other...what you have I do not have, [what] I can do, you cannot do, but together we do something beautiful for God."



"Please listen to the will of God. God has created us to be loved by His love, and not to be destroyed by our hatred."



"Let love and peace triumph and let your names be remembered for the good you have done, the joy you have spread and the love you have shared."



"If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten we belong to each other."



"The people re asking for spiritual help, for consolation, they are so afraid, discouraged, in despair, so many commit suicide. That's why we must concentrate on being God's love, God's presence—not by words, but by service, concrete love, listening."



"Hope is the great gift from God. Hope is the sign of life."



"If you pray more you will pray better."



"We need to pray to be able to be so one with Christ, one with God that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ."



"You must learn to pray - maybe not big prayers but talk from the heart to God, open your heart to God."



"You are the co-workers of Christ Himself and He wants you to be so totally His wherever you are, whatever work you are doing, there to be that sunshine of God's love.



"Be very careful not to allow partialities to spoil the beautiful work of love God has entrusted to us - giving in to likes and dislikes, treating differently people of different caste or creed. This could easily happen if we do not pray."



"There are only two ways: either we love—and love in action is service - or we put hatred into action and destroy."

The Sin Story

In the beginning was God. Then, there was Adam and Eve.
Then, the devil came along and Eve he completely deceived.

Then, Cain slew Abel because he wasn't capable of keeping Abel's sacrifice.
Then, there was Seth - who did his best to take Abel's place.

Then, there was Noah, a righteous man, that God spoke to one day.
He said, "Noah, I'm going to send a flood to wash unrighteousness away.

So, warn the people to turn from sin and come in the ark to stay.
For, I will send a flood that will simply wash them away."

But, the unrighteous people just laughed at him and went their merry way;
Continuing in sin, not willing to bend from their wicked, wicked way.

So, then there was the flood that left pure mud and Noah and his family, too.
But, God destroyed all the rest ... as He said He would do.

Then came the Son, who said He wouldn't run for high office or any thing.
He said, "I come that I might save some, in spite of this wicked reign."

Well, He paid the price that we would have life, in spite of our sin and shame.
So, dear friend, all there's left to do is 'on Him simply claim'.

-- by V. Oranell Cupp

Be Yourself

Be strong enough to face the world each day.
Be weak enough to know you cannot do everything.

Be generous to those who need your help.
Be frugal with what you need yourself.

Be willing to share your joys.
Be willing to share the sorrows of others.

Be a leader when you see a path others have missed.
Be a follower when you are shrouded in the midst of uncertainty.

Be the first to congratulate an opponent who succeeds.
Be the last to criticize a colleague who fails.

Be sure where your next step will fall, so that you will not stumble.
Be sure of your final destination, in case you are going the wrong way.

Be loving to those who love you.
Be loving to those who do not love you, and they may change.



Above all, be yourself!

LORD, PROP US UP
Author Unknown

Every time I am asked to pray, I think of the old deacon who always
prayed, Lord, prop us up on our leanin' side.'

After hearing him pray that prayer many times, someone asked him why
he prayed that prayer so fervently.

He answered, 'Well sir, you see, it's like this....I got an old barn
out back. It's been there a long time, it's withstood a lot of
weather, it's gone through a lot of storms, and it's stood for many
years. It's still standing, but one day I noticed it was leaning to
one side a bit. So I went and got some pine poles and propped it up on
its leaning side so it wouldn't fall.

Then I got to thinking 'bout that and how much I was like that old
barn. I been around a long time, I've withstood a lot of life's
storms, I've withstood a lot of bad weather in life, I've withstood a
lot of hard times, and I'm still standing too. But I find myself
leaning to one side from time to time, so I like to ask the Lord to
prop us up on our leaning side, 'cause I figure a lot of us get to
leaning, at times.'

Sometime we get to leaning toward anger, leaning toward bitterness,
leaning toward hatred, leaning toward cussing, leaning toward a lot of
things that we shouldn't, so we need to pray, 'Lord, prop us up on our
leaning side,' so we will stand straight and tall again, to glorify
the Lord.

Here is the prayer we say daily:
Prayer to St. Joseph
Dear strong, silent Carpenter, as the Holy Family moved from place to place,
you provided a safe home for the virgin Mary and Jesus.
Now we are in the process of moving and need to sell our house.
Please send us honest people interested in making this house their home;
a home where Jesus is Lord and Master.
Help us to write a contract that is agreeable and beneficial to both buyer and seller.
St. Joseph, so near to the throne of God,
look with favor on our petition and intercede for us.
We ask this in Jesus' Name.
Amen.

Good night everyone - Sweet Dreams! Have a very blessed Pentecost Sunday filled with the Holy Spirit!!