Community Chat

[gloriajean]

If everyone thought alike, no one would have to do much thinking.
Lord, bless me with the strength of my convictions and the ability
to disagree when necessary without being disagreeable.

Scripture for the day:

"Through Christ you have come to trust in God, who raised him from the
dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are set on God." ~1
Peter 1:21

Meditation for the day:

God's miracle-working power is as manifest today as it was in the past.
It still works miracles of change in lives and miracles of healing in
troubled minds. When a person trusts wholly in God and leaves to God
the choosing of the day and hour, there is God's miracle-working power
becoming manifest in that person's life. We can trust in God and have
boundless faith in God's power to make us whole again.

Prayer for the day:

I pray that I may feel sure that there is nothing that God cannot
accomplish in changing my life. I pray that I may have faith in God's
miracle-working power.

Hello my friends! This is early I know but we are leaving to spend time with friends and so in order to get this out, it's going out before we leave!! It's a beautiful sunny, MN day here in the 60's. Our friends have a bunch of people over already - just talked to Karen. We all met at an on going retreat - some of us worked at it, and we met a lot of wonderful people from all over. My friend, Lorraine, will be there, is there now. Remember you prayed for her? She even got air lifted to the Mayo clinic because of a hemoglobin - a pool of blood from her surgery but is back now and healing. Her husband has Alz which is sad to see, we've been with these people about 25 years. Now I must get a salad ready to go, I'm making a broccoli cauliflower salad. Talk more tomorrow night.

God bless you all!! Have a great Sunday!

Homily of the Day


May 28, 2011

You Have to Bring Someone with You
by Monsignor Dennis Clark, Ph.D.

Acts 8:5-8, 14-17/1 Pt 3:15-18/Jn 14:15-21

A few years ago, The New York Times carried an interesting ad for a video tape titled "Video Baby." It's a 30-minute tape, designed for busy people who're devoted to family values, but can't seem to find the time to start a family of their own! The tape shows two infants doing the cute things that babies do, like crawl around, play with a rattle, take a bubble bath, play with their toes, smile angelically, and then fall quietly asleep. No spitting up, no crying, and no diapers! As the ad says, "Enjoy bath time without being splashed, and mealtime without wearing the food. Just set the VCR, and use the off button whenever you like." Imagine the possibilities for a sequel: "Video Teenager."

Would that life were so simple! But it's not. As we scramble along, trying our best to walk in Jesus' footsteps, we get a full dose of life's shocks, surprises, and general untidiness. And we find ourselves asking, "Was I absent when they had the class on this?" There was no class! And the road map that Jesus gave us for following in his footsteps isn't very detailed.

The main roads are obvious: Love God with all your heart, and love your neighbor as you love yourself. But how to get to those roads — and how stay on them — is often very difficult to see. How to love wisely and well, how to be true friends, how to find our gifts and carry them where they needed, how to keep going when we get tired and it gets dark: Trying to walk in Jesus' footsteps can be very confusing, and sometimes we can feel scared and alone.

That's why Jesus' words in Sunday's gospel mean so much to us: "I will not leave you orphans," He says. "You don't have to walk alone. I'm giving you an advocate, a mentor, the Holy Spirit of God, to be with you and guide you at every step of the way. The Spirit will help you see the path, and will give you the heart and the energy to walk it.

"But you must listen carefully, for the Spirit whispers very softly, and often speaks when you're not expecting Him to speak at all. The Spirit seldom says what you expect or what you're ready to hear – so you'll have to listen with an open heart, if you want the truth.

"Trust can help you hear. The Spirit knows what is true and loves you even more than you love yourself. Trust that, and step by step, you'll find your way home."

This is Jesus' promise to us. Trust his promise, act on it, and give the Lord the only gift he asks in return: Walk with your brothers and sisters as the Spirit walks with you, quietly, not judging, but bringing courage and comfort, wisdom and joy.

Remember: If you really want to find your way home, you have to bring someone with you.

Dear Sweet Jesus,
Walk with me today and grant that I may hear your footsteps and gladly follow where they lead.
Talk with me today and grant that I may hear your tender voice and quicken to its counsel.
Stay with me today and grant that I may feel your gentle presence in all I do, say and think.

Be my strength when I weaken, my courage when I fear.
Help me to know that it is your hand holding mine through all the hours of this day...
Amen.

GOD IS LOVE



Though He sends us pain or depths of sorrow,
And there seems but darkness for the morrow,
God is Love

When the tempter goads with fear and terror,
full with horror,
God is Love


When His Word and promises seem veiled,
And our faith, our deeds and love have failed,
God is Love

When we sin and grieve His loving heart,
But repent, He will not from us part;
God is Love

When He sends us tragedy and death,
And we struggle with our final breath,
God is Love

When we stand before Him, saved by grace,
We shall sing in Heaven through endless days:
Face - To - Face
God is Love

Consoling Thoughts
(For times of loneliness)

Dear Lord!
Make me remember,
when the world seems cold and dreary
and I know not where to turn for comfort,
that there is always one spot bright and cheerful----the Sanctuary.
When I am in desolation of spirit,
when all who are dear to me have passed away
like summer flowers and none are left to love me and care for me,
whisper to my troubled soul
that there is one Friend who dies not
----one whose Love never changes----
Jesus on the altar.
When sorrow thicken and crush me with their burden,
when I look in vain for comfort,
let me remember Your words:
"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavily
burdened, and I will refresh you."

AS YOU GO THROUGH LIFE........

Set your own pace........When someone is pushing you, it's ok to tell them they're pushing.

Take nothing for granted........Watch water flow, the corn grow, the leaves blow, your neighbors mow.

Allow yourself time to be lazy and unproductive........Rest isn't a luxury, it's a necessity.

Listen to the wind blow........It carries a message of yesterday and tomorrow........And now.........Now counts.

Rest on your laurels........They bring comfort whatever their size, age or condition.

Talk slower. Talk less. Don't talk. Communication isn't measured by words.

Give yourself permission to be late sometimes........Life is for living, not scheduling.

Listen to the song of a bird........The complete song. Music and nature are gifts, but only if you are willing to receive them.

Slow down. God is still in heaven........You are not responsible for doing it all...yourself... right now.

Remember a happy, peaceful time in your past........Rest there. Each moment has a richness that takes a lifetime to savor.

Quit planning how you're going to use what you know, learn or possess........God's gifts just are. Be grateful and their purpose will be clear.

When you walk with someone, don't think about what you'll say next........Thoughts will spring up naturally if you let them.

Talk and play with children........It will bring out the unhurried little person inside you.

Create a place in your home...At your work....in your heart...where you can go for quiet and recollection. You deserve it.

Take time to think........Action is good and necessary, but it's fruitful only if we muse, ponder and mull.

Make time for play........The things you like to do. Whatever your age, your inner child needs re-creation.

Watch and listen to the night sky........It speaks.

Listen to the words you speak........Especially in prayer.

Learn to stand back and let others take their turn as leaders........ There will always be new opportunities for you to step out in front again.

Divide big jobs into little jobs........If God took six days to create the universe, can you do any better?

Direct your life with purposeful choices, not with speed and efficiency........The best musician is one who plays with expression and meaning, not the one who finishes first.

Take a day off alone........Make a retreat. You can learn from monks and hermits without becoming one.

Pet a furry friend........You will give and get the gift of now.

Work with your hands........It frees the mind.

Take time to wonder........Without wonder, life is merely an existence.

Sit in the dark........It will treat you to see and hear, taste and smell.

Once in awhile........Turn down the lights, The throttle, The invitations. Less really can be more.

Let go........Nothing is usually the hardest thing to do...but often it is the best.

Taste your food........God gave it to delight as well as nourish.

Notice the sun and the moon as they rise and set........They are remarkable for their steady pattern of movement, not their speed.

And as you ramble on thru life my dearest friend........Keep your eye upon the doughnut, and not upon the hole.

"AND SLOWLY COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS ONE AT A TIME"

Prayer to the Virgin Mary as Untier of Knots

Holy Mary, full of the presence of God during your life you accepted with great humility the Holy Will of the Father and the legacy of your Son Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Evil never dared to entangle you with its confusion. Since then you have interceded for all of our difficulties. With all simplicity and patience you have given us example on how to untangle the knots in our complicated lives. By being our Mother forever, you arrange and make clear the path that unites us to Our Lord. Holy Mary, Mother of God and ours, with your maternal heart untie the knots that upset our lives. We ask you to receive in your hands ( mention who or prayer request) and deliver us from the chains and confusions that have us restrained. Blessed Virgin Mary, through your grace, your intercession and by your example, deliver us from evil and untie the knots that keep us from uniting with God, so that once free of every confusion and error, we may find Him in all things, have Him in our hearts and serve him always in our brothers and sisters. Mother of Good Counsel pray for us . Amen