Community Chat

[gloriajean]

Never let what you can't do get in the way of what you can do. Lord,
help me to recognize my abilities and focus only on my strengths so that
each day I will get nearer to my goals.


Scripture for the day:

"The greatest among you will be your servant. All who exalt themselves will
be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted." ~Matthew
23:11-12

Meditation for the day:

When trouble comes, we need not say: "Why should this happen to me?"
We can leave ourselves out of the picture. We can think of other people and
their troubles and we can forget about our own. Gradually, we can get away
from ourselves and we can know the consolation of unselfish service to
others. After a while, it will not matter so much what happens to us. It
is not so important any more, except as our experience can be used to help
others who are in the same kind of trouble.

Prayer for the day:

I pray that I may become more unselfish. I pray that I may not be thrown
off the track by letting the old selfishness creep back into my life.

Hello my friends! Hope your day is going well! We've had a gorgeous day here
all day - not too hot or cool, just right! I made a big batch of chicken
vegetable soup with our fresh green beans and some cauliflower and broccoli
from the Farmer's Market, plus some cabbage and carrots. It was very good
and hubby complimented me saying it was the best ever!! I also put some
basil in it for flavor. I called my sister Deil today to let her know we're
coming tomorrow morning after we sign the papers. Hubby picked a bunch of
apples for her to bring along, as she makes the best pies! Really looking
forward to our visit. Another blessing was almost an hour conversation on
the phone with Darla - and she's coming on Sunday night so we'll see her a
bit yet before they head back to Texas. Greg's Mom turns 70 and she's
having a surprise birthday party on Sunday! Won't she be surprised to see
her son there from Texas, like I was last year when Darla surprised me on my
70th.

Homily of the Day


August 17, 2011

God´s Generosity: Are you Tuned In?
by Monsignor Dennis Clark, Ph.D.

Judges 9:6-15 / Mt 20:1-16

"They broke the mold when they made him." It’s an old saying, and it comes
to mind when we listen to today’s gospel parable, which has nothing at all
to do with fair labor practices, and everything to do with what God is like.

God is generous beyond all understanding, beyond all reason. He wants a
rich, full life for every one of us, even though the best of us could never
EARN it. He wants to GIVE it to us. And there is both the blessing and the
problem. He wants to give, but are we ready to receive?

It’s like the radio station that’s beaming out a strong signal in all
directions. Will that signal be received? Not if the radio is turned off or
tuned to the wrong channel.

So there’s the question: Are you receiving the signal that God is sending?
Or are you shut down or tuned to the wrong channel? It’s time to check: You
may be missing the best part of life, nothing less than living daily in the
company of a Father who really loves you.

A SURE WAY TO A HAPPY DAY

Happiness is something we create in our mind.
Its not something we search for & seldom find.
It's just waking up & beginning the day
By countin our blessings & kneeling to pray.
It's giving up thoughts that breed discontent
And accepting what comes as a gift heaven-sent.
It's giving up wishing for things we have not
And making the best of whatever we've got,
It's knowing that life is determined for us'
And pursuing our tasks without fret, fear, or fuss.
For it's by completing what God gives us to do
That we find real contentment & Happiness too.

By Helen Steiner Rice

Finders Keepers

A wise woman who was travelling in the mountains found a precious stone in a
stream. The next day she met another traveller who was hungry, and the wise
woman opened her bag to share her food. The hungry traveller saw the
precious stone and asked the woman to give it to him. She did so without
hesitation.

The traveller left, rejoicing in his good fortune. He knew the stone was
worth enough to give him security for a lifetime. But a few days later he
came back to return the stone to the wise woman. "I've been thinking," he
said, "I know how valuable the stone is, but I give it back in the hope that
you can give me something even more precious: Give me what you have within
you that enabled you to give me the stone."

Prayer:
Grant O Lord, My God, a mind to know you,
a heart to seek you,
wisdom to find you,
conduct pleasing to you,
faithful perseverance in waiting for you
and a hope of finally embracing you.

- - -
Acts 20:35 - (Jesus said) "There is more happiness in giving than in
receiving."

PIANO CONCERT
Author Unknown
August 17, 2011


Wishing to encourage her young son's progress on the piano, a mother
took her boy to a Paderewski concert. After they were seated, the
mother spotted a friend in the audience and walked down the aisle to
greet her. Seizing
the opportunity to explore the wonders of the concert hall, the
little boy quietly got up and eventually explored his way through a
door marked "NO ADMITTANCE."

When the house lights dimmed and the concert was about to begin, the
mother returned to her seat and discovered that the child was missing.
Suddenly, the curtains parted and spotlights focused on the impressive
Steinway on stage.

In horror, the mother saw her little boy sitting at the keyboard,
innocently picking out "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." At that moment,
the great piano master made his entrance, quickly moved to the piano
and whispered in the
boy's ear, "Don't quit. Keep playing." Then leaning over, Paderewski
reached down with his left hand and began filling in a bass part. Soon
his right arm reached around to the other side of the child and he
added a running
obligato. Together, the old master and the young novice transformed a
frightening situation into a wonderfully creative experience. The
audience was mesmerized.

That's the way it is with God. What we can accomplish on our own is
hardly noteworthy. We try our best, but the results aren't exactly
graceful flowing music. But with the hand of the Master, our life's
work truly can be
beautiful. The next time you set out to accomplish great feats,
listen carefully. You can hear the voice of the Master, whispering in
your ear, "Don't quit. Keep playing." Feel His loving arms around you.
Know that His
strong hands are there helping you turn your feeble attempts into
true masterpieces.

Remember, God doesn't call the equipped, he equips the called. And He
will always be there to love and guide you on to great things!

--

We Can't, But God Can
By: Helen Steiner Rice

Why things happen as they do we do not always know,
and we cannot always fathom why our spirits sink so low.
We flounder in our dark distress, we are wavering and
unstable, but when we're most inadequate, the Lord God's
always able...... For though we are incapable, God's powerful
and great, there's no darkness of the mind God cannot
penetrate.........

And while He may not instantly unravel all the
strands of the tangled thoughts that trouble us, He completely
understands and in His time, if we have faith, He will gradually
restore the brightness to our spirits that we've been longing
for. So remember there's no cloud too dark for God's lights to
penetrate, if we keep on believing and have faith enough to
wait on Him.

WHY ME?

I asked God why I wasn't rich.
And He showed me a man with the wealth of a thousand kings, who was lonely,
and had no one to share it with.

I asked God why I wasn't beautiful.
And He showed me a woman more beautiful than any other, who was ugly
because of her vanity.

I asked God why he'd allowed me to become old.
And He showed me a boy of 16, who lay dead at the scene of a car accident.

I asked God why I didn't have a bigger house.
And He showed me a family of six, who'd just been evicted from their tiny
shack, and were forced to live on the street.

I asked God why I had to work.
And He showed me a man who couldn't find a decent job, because he'd never
learned to read.

I asked God why I wasn't more popular.
And He showed me a socialite with a thousand friends, who all left the
moment the money and parties were no longer there.

I asked God why I wasn't smarter.
And He showed me a natural born genius, who was serving life in prison for
making ill use of his knowledge.

I asked God why He put up with a thankless sinner like me.
And He showed me His Bible, and His Son who took my place at the judgment.
And I knew then how much He loved me.

What's eating you today?
Are your problems weighing heavy on your heart?

Know, then, that you are loved.
And have a WONDERFUL day!
Then brighten someone else's day, in any way you care to.

Remember, a candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.
Just reach out and touch someone's life and brighten up their day.

Shared by Joe Gatuslao
Bacolod City, Philippines

BECAUSE

Because He finished His Father's work,
. . . your life has worth.

Because He was forsaken,
. . . you will never be alone.

Because He was buried,
. . . you can be raised.

Because He lives,
. . . you don't have to be afraid.

Because He was raised,
. . . you can be strong.

Because He reached down to you,
. . . you don't have to work your way up to Him.

Because His promises are always true,
. . . you can have Hope!

Prayer for the Grace of the Passion
O Lord, for the redemption of the world, you willed to be born among human
beings, subjected to the rite of circumcision, rejected by the people,
betrayed by Judas with a kiss, bound with cords, led like an innocent lamb
to slaughter, shamelessly exposed to the gaze of Annas as well as Caiaphas,
Pilate, and Herod, accused by false witnesses, tormented by scourges and
insults, spat upon and crowned with thorns, struck with blows of hand and
reed, blindfolded and stripped of your garments, affixed to the wood and
lifted high on the Cross, numbered among thieves, given gall and vinegar to
drink, and pierced by a lance.

Lord, by these most holy sufferings which we, your unworthy servants,
devoutly call to mind, and by your holy Cross and death, deliver us from the
pains of h ell, and be pleased to take us where you took the penitent thief
who was crucified with you. You live and reign with the Father and the Holy
Spirit, one God, forever. Amen.

Good night everyone - Sweet Dreams and may your Tomorrow be filled with all
kinds of blessings!! God bless you all!