Community Chat

[gloriajean]

God values us so much that He gave us all that He has; His Son Jesus.

Show that you value Him, too, by putting Him first in all aspects of your

life. Lord, when I put You first in my life, order and peace follow.

Scripture for the day:

"Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am languishing; O LORD, heal me, for my

bones are shaking with terror. My soul also is struck with terror, while

you, O LORD--how long? Turn, O LORD, save my life; deliver me for the sake

of your steadfast love." ~Psalm 6:2-4

Meditation for the day:

I believe that all sacrifice and all suffering is of value to me. When I am

in pain, I am often tested. Can I trust in God, not matter how I feel? Can

I say, "Your will be done," no matter how much I am defeated? If I can do

these things, my faith is real and practical. It can work in bad times as

well as in good times. God's will can work in a way that is beyond my

finite mind to understand, but I can still trust in it.

Prayer for the day:

I pray that I may take my suffering in my stride. I pray that I may accept

pain and defeat as they come, and grow spiritually as I receive God's

strength to make it through.

Hello dear friends! Again I love that first paragraph - it says it all, doesn't it? We should all make Jesus Lord of our Life! The Meditation: I'm not feeling the best today - I just say, "Your Will be done" And I hope I'm much better on Friday because we have plans to spend with friends that afternoon and night. Our former neighbors next door invited us to play cards and go out to a fish fry there, and see their new house they just built last summer by the lake. Please pray I'm better - it's just a cold, been taking Vit. C and AlkaSelzter Plus (that once a night). Today's blessings even when not feeling well - I can still count many blessings, a husband who will cook a good meal, a good bed to be in, good dog to cuddle, too, our food, our heat, and everything else we usually take for granted. Praying for all of you, and thanks for your prayers for us.

REMEMBER

* Remember that your presence is a present to the world.

* Remember that you are a unique and unrepeatable creation.

* Remember that your life can be what you want it to be.

* Remember to take the days just one at a time.

* Remember to count your blessings, not your troubles.

* Remember that you'll make it through whatever comes along.

* Remember that most of the answers you need are within you.

* Remember those dreams waiting to be realized.

* Remember that decisions are too important to leave to chance.

* Remember to always reach for the best that is within you.

* Remember that nothing wastes more energy than worry

* Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.

* Remember that the longer you carry a grudge, the heavier it gets.

* Remember not to take things too seriously.

* Remember to laugh.

* Remember that a little love goes a long way.

* Remember that a lot goes forever.

* Remember that happiness is more often found in giving than getting.

* Remember that life's treasures are people, not things.

May God bless your day with peace, joy and love.

-- Author Unknown

Crabby Old Man

What do you see nurses? . . . . . What do you see?

What are you thinking . . . . . when you're looking at me?

A crabby old man . . . . . not very wise,

Uncertain of habit . . . . . with faraway eyes?

Who dribbles his food . . . . . and makes no reply.

When you say in a loud voice . . . . . 'I do wish you'd try!'

Who seems not to notice . . . . . the things that you do.

And forever is losing . . . . . A sock or shoe?

Who, resisting or not . . . . . lets you do as you will,

With bathing and feeding . . . . . The long day to fill?

Is that what you're thinking? . . . . . Is that what you see?

Then open your eyes, nurse . . . . . you're not looking at me.

I'll tell you who I am. . . . . . As I sit here so still,

As I do at your bidding, . . . . . as I eat at your will.

I'm a small child of Ten . . . . . with a father and mother,

Brothers and sisters . . . . . who love one another.

A young boy of Sixteen . . . . with wings on his feet.

Dreaming that soon now . . . . . a lover he'll meet.

A groom soon at Twenty . . . . . my heart gives a leap.

Remembering, the vows . . . . . that I promised to keep.

At Twenty-Five, now . . . . . I have young of my own.

Who need me to guide . . . . . And a secure happy home.

A man of Thirty . . . . . My young now grown fast,

Bound to each other . . . . . With ties that should last.

At Forty, my young sons . . . . . have grown and are gone,

But my woman's beside me . . . . . to see I don't mourn.

At Fifty, once more, babies play 'round my knee,

Again, we know children . . . . . My loved one and me.

Dark days are upon me . . . . . my wife is now dead.

I look at the future . . . . . shudder with dread.

For my young are all rearing . . . . . young of their own.

And I think of the years . . . . . and the love that I've known.

I'm now an old man . . . . . and nature is cruel.

This jest to make old age . . . . . look like a fool.

The body, it crumbles . . . . . grace and vigour, depart.

There is now a stone . . . . where I once had a heart.

But inside this old carcass . . . . . a young guy still dwells,

And now and again . . . . . my battered heart swells.

I remember the joys . . . . . I remember the pain.

And I'm loving and living . . . . . life over again.

I think of the years, all too few . . . . . gone too fast.

And accept the stark fact . . . . that nothing can last.

So open your eyes, people . . . . . open and see.

Not a crabby old man . . . Look closer . . . see ME!!

Remember this poem when you next meet

an older person who you might brush aside

without looking at the young soul within.

We will all, one day, be there, too!

PLEASE SHARE THIS POEM

The best and most beautiful things of

this world can't be seen or touched.

They must be felt by the heart.

Now share this with the ones you love. One of these days, if we live long enough, we'll become one of these "Crabby Old Men".

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

YOU ARE MY LEANING POST

- by JEAN CONDER SOULE

You are my leaning post, dear Lord,

My shelter and my rock.

You open up the door for me

Each time You hear me knock.

All I need to do is ask

And You provide the way.

You hear me when I call You

The times I kneel to pray.

Thank You, Lord, for your great love,

Your comfort and Your care.

It's such a joy for me to know

I may seek and find You there.

A Prayer for Lent

Lord our God, you formed man from the clay of the earth

and breathed into him the spirit of life,

but he turned from your face and sinned.

In this time of repentance we call out for your mercy.

Bring us back to you and to the life your Son won for us

by his death on the cross,

for he lives and reigns for ever and ever.

Amen.

Prayer for Avoiding Sin

Hear, Lord, the prayers we offer from contrite hearts. Have pity on us as we acknowledge our sins. Lead us back to the way of holiness. Protect us now and always from the wounds of sin. May we ever keep safe in all its fullness the gift your love once gave us and your mercy now restores. Amen.