Community Chat

[gloriajean]

Remember that God always does what He promises. Lord, where others
bargain, You freely give, when others are too busy, You listen and when
others let me down, You never fail me. Thank You for all of my blessings.

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 of 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! Hope you all had a great day!! My hubby had his 3 days in
a row now and is off until Saturday - so he's looking forward to the days
off! Weather here was very nice, in the 40's and not much wind. Had a nice
phone conversation with a friend - Linda, who's having lung surgery on the
7th - please do remember her in prayer. In my stainless steel skillet I
made a roast that turns out like it's pressure cooked - and it's so tender!!
I also put some potatoes in it, and we had raw veggies and dip also for our
supper. This cookware has whistles on it, so when it whistles, I turn down
the heat and the gauge to low - had it on for a couple hours, just to keep
warm. He loved it! He also really likes to eat the veggies (cauliflower and
brocolli raw with a dip) so that was easy enough. Hope you all are having a
wonderful day and night!

Homily of the Day


November 2, 2011

God Will Help Us Finish, If We Let Him
by Monsignor Dennis Clark, Ph.D.

Wis 3:1-9 / Rom 5:5-11 / Jn 6:37-40

Sooner or later most of us have the experience of watching a loved one move
through his or her final days and then pass from this earth. It can be a
tremendously sad process for those who are about to be left behind and who
know in advance the loneliness that will be theirs. But in most cases there’s
a marvelous and touching aspect of the process as well, and that is watching
our dying friend progressively letting go of all sorts of things that don’t
count, old baggage in the form of grievances, fears, doubts, and so much
more. It’s a grace for the bystanders to watch that happen, and it presses
us to let go of our own baggage sooner rather than later.

Yet, even the best of us, even the saints, leave this life with at least a
little bit of unfinished business and a bit of left over baggage. And that’s
why we Catholics pray for the dead. Our prayers are not aimed at changing
God’s mind about our departed friends. God’s mind doesn’t need any
changing. His love for us is unchanging, and he’s always ready and waiting
to welcome home even the worst of us.

No, our prayers are for the deceased themselves, that they will relax in the
Lord and let the Lord help them let go of what remains of their old baggage,
and help them finish what is unfinished in them. For those whose hearts are
loving and trusting of the Lord, it will come naturally to open their hearts
and let the Lord in. For those of us whose hearts are more ambivalent and
in the habit of withholding trust, the work will be more difficult.

So hold in prayer all the deceased whom you love, and look to your own
heart, that it may be open and welcoming to each of God’s people now. This
day and every day are dress rehearsals for that final day when you will give
back your heart to the One who gave it to you.

May your heart be true and open and ready this day and always.


The Jars

The preacher placed two identical jars on the table next to the pulpit.

He quoted 1 Samuel 16:7 'The Lord does not look at the things man looks at.
Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."

"These jars came from the same factory, were made of the same materials, and
can hold the same amount. But they are different," he explained. Then he
upset one and it oozed out honey. He turned over the other, and vinegar
spilled out.

"When a jar is upset, whatever is in it comes out. Until the jars were
upset, they looked alike. The difference was within, and could not be seen.
When they were upset, their contents were revealed. Until we are upset we
put on a good front. But when we are upset, we reveal our innermost thoughts
and attitudes, for 'out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.'"
(Luke 6:45)

What if someone tipped you over today? What would flow out? Would you reveal
the "honey" of grace and patience, or the "vinegar" of anger and sarcasm?

"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of
sins." (1Peter 4:8)

Have a terrific day knowing that the one who upsets you may be just looking
for some honey - Don't give them vinegar!

We need to get away at times
From life's demanding ways
And find some quiet, little nook
in which to dream or pray

A small escape from daily trials
that temper joys of life
and burden us with little fears
that add to tears of strife

a private place where we can be
alone in God's embrace
and dream, a little, and dwell, a little
in arms of Holy Grace

A place to rest our heart and soul
against what is to be
when return to what we left
and what we can't foresee.

--author unknown


FLAME OF LOVE
Author Unknown


"I can master it," said the Ax. His blows fell heavy on the hard,
strong steel. But each blow only made his edge more blunt until he
ceased to strike.

"Leave it to me," said the Saw. With his relentless teeth, he worked
back and forth. But to his dismay, all of his teeth were worn out or
broken off.

"Ha!" said the Hammer. "I knew you could not do this. Let me show you
how." But with the very first blow, his head flew off, and the steel
was unchanged.

"Shall I try?" asked the Flame. And it curled itself gently around the
strong, hard steel, embraced it, and would not let it go. And the
tough steel melted.

There are hearts that are hard enough to resist the forces of wrath
and the fury of pride. But hard is the heart that can resist the warm
flame of Love.

"'For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with
their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see
with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them. But blessed are your eyes because
they see, and your ears because they hear. For I tell you the truth,
many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not
see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.'" Matthew
13:15-17 (NIV)

SELFLESS DEDICATION

Author Unknown

In a small town in America, there was a Doctor Brackett. He was known as the
poor man's friend because he spent hours at the bedside of unfortunates and
never ever took a fee from them. He lived in two upstairs rooms over a
grocery store. At the foot of the stairs going to his quarters was a painted
sign which said: DOC BRACKETT - OFFICE
UPSTAIRS.

He even lost his girlfriend, whom he wanted to marry, because, he spent more
time with the sick than with her. He spent a life of selfless dedication to
any and every person around him. When he died, his funeral was the biggest
ever seen in that town.

At a meeting afterwards, the townspeople tried to figure out what kind of
monument to erect to the memory of the doctor. A couple who had been
especially helped by the doctor, on their way home from the meeting, removed
the sign from his door and the following day it appeared over his grave.

It read: DOC BRACKETT - OFFICE UPSTAIRS.


A CHRISTIAN'S WAY TO REDUCE STRESS
Author Unknown

An Angel says, "Never borrow from the future. If you worry about what
may happen tomorrow and it doesn't happen, you have worried in vain.
Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice."


1. Pray

2. Go to bed on time.

3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.

4. Say No to projects that won't fit into your time schedule, or that
will compromise your mental health.

5. Delegate tasks to capable others.

6. Simplify and unclutter your life.

7. Less is more.. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too
many.)

8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.

9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over
time; don't lump the hard things all together.

10. Take one day at a time.

11. Separate worries from concerns. If a situation is a concern, find
out what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety. If you can't
do anything about a situation, forget it.

12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary
purchases.

13 . Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key
buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.

14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent
an enormous amount of trouble.

15. Do something for the Kid in You everyday.

16. Carry a Bible with you to read while waiting in line.

17. Get enough rest.

18. Eat right.

19. Get organized so everything has its place.

20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality
of life.

21. Write down thoughts and inspirations.

22. Every day, find time to be alone.

23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot.. Try to nip small
problems in the bud. Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try
and pray.

24. Make friends with Godly people.

25. Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.

26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is
often a good "Thank you Jesus."

27. Laugh.

28. Laugh some more!

29. Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all.

30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they
can).

31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most).

32. Sit on your ego.

33. Talk less; listen more.

34. Slow down.

35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the
universe.

36 . Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for
that you've never been grateful for before. GOD HAS A WAY OF TURNING
THINGS AROUND FOR YOU. "If God is for us, who can be against
us?" (Romans 8:31

Prayer In Time Of Need

Jesus, do not leave me alone in suffering.
You know, Lord, how weak I am.
I am an abyss of wretchedness,
I am nothingness itself;
So what will be so strange
If You leave me alone and I fall?

I am an infant, Lord,
So I cannot get along by myself.
However, beyond all abandonment I trust,
And in spite of my own feeling I trust,
And I am being completely transformed into trust,
Often in spite of what I feel.

Do not lessen any of my sufferings,
Only give me strength to bear them.
Do with me as You please, Lord,
Only give me the grace to be able to love You,
In every event and circumstances.

Lord, do not lessen my cup of bitterness,
Only give me strength
That I may be able to drink it all. Amen. (Diary, 1489)

Good night everyone - may you all enjoy a good night's sleep with sweet
dreams! God bless you with a peaceful and positive Thursday!! Enjoy the
Gift of God's Day!