Community Chat

[gloriajean]

Today do what you can and expect no more of yourself. Lord, I will

feel joy in my accomplishments today and gratitude for the things

I have to do tomorrow.

Scripture for the day:

"Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication."

~Ephesians 6:18

Meditation for the day:

Spirit-power comes from communication with God in prayer and times of quiet

meditation. I can constantly seek spirit-communication with God.

This is a matter between me and God, but can be enhanced by my relationships

with other believers. From this communication can come life, joy, peace and

healing. Many people do not realize the power that can come to them from

direct spirit-communication.

Prayer for the day:

I pray that I may feel that God's power is mine. I pray that I may be able

to face anything through that power.

Hello my friends! Today's blessings continue - going to my sister's having lunch with her, bringing Sammy back home again! What a pleasure and blessing he is and Deil said she's going to miss him! Then making it home in time for our chiro appt. I'm under his care again now - and he's helping me - the exam showed how much I shifted to the left side when I fell, have a few more appts with him and I'll be all better soon! I've been sooooo tired since! Been napping and still tired. Thanks to all you posted on the thread, I'm just too tired tonight to answer you all, but to say that I appreciate your posts and that I'm praying for you all. Thanks for your prayers for me. Another blessing, my friend, Ann, came over - she gave me a book on Hugs and gave me a big hug! What a wonderful friend God gave me in her! Such a sweetheart!

Makes you see things in a different light! Just think about it.

A Blue Rose

Having four visiting family members, my wife was very busy, so I offered to go to the store for her to get some needed items, which included light bulbs, paper towels, trash bags, detergent and Clorox. So off I went.

I scurried around the store, gathered up my goodies and headed for the checkout counter, only to be blocked in the narrow aisle by a young man who appeared to be about sixteen-years-old. I wasn't in a hurry, so I patiently waited for the boy to realize that I was there. This was when he waved his hands excitedly in the air and declared in a loud voice, "Mommy, I'm over here."

It was obvious now, he was mentally challenged and also startled as he turned and saw me standing so close to him, waiting to squeeze by. His eyes widened and surprise exploded on his face as I said, "Hey Buddy, what's your name?"

"My name is Denny and I'm shopping with my mother," he responded proudly.

"Wow," I said, "that's a cool name; I wish my name was Denny, but my name is Steve."

"Steve, like Stevarino?" he asked. "Yes," I answered. "How old are you Denny?"

"How old am I now, Mommy?" he asked his mother as she slowly came over from the next aisle.

"You're fifteen-years-old Denny; now be a good boy and let the man pass by."

I acknowledged her and continued to talk to Denny for several more minutes about summer, bicycles and school. I watched his brown eyes dance with excitement, because he was the center of someone's attention. He then abruptly turned and headed toward the toy section.

Denny's mom had a puzzled look on her face and thanked me for taking the time to talk with her son. She told me that most people wouldn't even look at him, much less talk to him.

I told her that it was my pleasure and then I said something I have no idea where it came from, other than by the prompting of the Holy Spirit. I told her that there are plenty of red, yellow, and pink roses in God's Garden; however, "Blue Roses" are very rare and should be appreciated for their beauty and distinctiveness. You see, Denny is a Blue Rose and if someone doesn't stop and smell that rose with their heart and touch that rose with their kindness, then they've missed a blessing from God.

She was silent for a second, then with a tear in her eye she asked, "Who are you?"

Without thinking I said, "Oh, I'm probably just a dandelion, but I sure love living in God's garden."

She reached out, squeezed my hand and said, "God bless you!" and then I had tears in my eyes.

May I suggest, the next time you see a BLUE ROSE, don't turn your head and walk off. Take the time to smile and say Hello. Why? Because, by the grace of GOD, this mother or father could be you. This could be your child, grandchild, niece or nephew. What a difference a moment can mean to that person or their family.

From an old dandelion! Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.

If this story blesses you today please consider sharing it with others.

"People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did , but people will never forget how you made them feel."

Divine Mercy Direct Me

Eternal God, Goodness itself, whose mercy is incomprehensible to every intellect, whether human or angelic, help me, your feeble child, to do Your holy will as You make it known to me. I desire nothing but to fulfill God's desires. Lord, here is my soul and my body, my mind and my will, my heart and all my love. Direct me according to Your eternal plan. Amen

I know the Shepherd

Author Unknown

There was once a Shakespearean actor who was known everywhere for his one-man shows of readings and recitations from the classics. He would always end his performance with a dramatic reading of Psalm 23. Each night, without exception, as the actor began his recitation - "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want"..the crowd would listen attentively. And then, at the conclusion of the Psalm, they wold rise in thunderous applause in appreciation of the actor's incredible ability to bring the verse to life. But one night, just before the actor was to offer his customary recital of Psalm 23, a young man from the audience spoke up. "Sir, do you mind if tonight I recite Psalm 23?" The actor was quite taken back by this unusual request, but he allowed the young man to come forward and stand front and center on the stage to recite the Psalm, knowing that the ability of this unskilled youth would be no match for his own talent. With a soft voice, the young man began to recite the words of the Psalm. When he was finished, there was no applause. There was no standing ovation as on other nights. All that could be heard was the sound of weeping. The audience had been so moved by the young man's recitation that every eye was full of tears. Amazed by what he had heard, the actor said to the youth, "I don't understand. I have been performing Psalm 23 for years. I have a lifetime of experience and training - but I have never been able to move an audience as you have tonight. Tell me, what is your secret?" The young man quietly replied, "Well sir, you know the Psalm... I know the Shepherd."

Ten Rules for Ending Resentment

by NORMAN VINCENT PEALE

FIRST: When anyone hurts you, put "spiritual iodine" on the wound at once. That is, pray hard about it. If you do not do this it will fester.

SECOND: If resentment has hardened in your thoughts, apply grievance drainage. That is, open your mind and let the grievance flow out.

THIRD: Do this by unburdening yourself to a trusted counselor or write a letter to the person against whom you have the resentment. Then tear it up and and while holding the pieces in your hand pray for the person and forgive them.

FOURTH: Become fully aware of the harm resentment can do to you, even to making you ill. Think of that whenever a hate thought comes.

FIFTH: Don't stop with forgiving a time or two. Do it, if necessary, seventy times seven---490 times to be literal.

SIXTH: Thinking about forgiving is not enough. You must come to a specific moment when you say "With God's help I now forgive."

SEVENTH: Repeat the Lord's Prayer inserting your offender's name, "Forgive me my trespasses as I forgive..........."

EIGHTH: Pray for the other person, asking specific blessings for them, especially concerning matters which have previously annoyed you the most.

NINTH: Speak in a kindly and complimentary manner and as often as possible about the person against whom you harbor antagonism.

TENTH: Make a sincere study of the personality factors which created an unhappy relationship so that the "mistake pattern" in yourself may not recur.

Sayings of Mother Teresa

The greatest fulfillment is in doing God's will.

We do not have to do great things,

only small things with great love.

We do not have to be extraordinary in any way,

I can do what you can't do and you can do what I can't do.

Together we can do something beautiful for God.

We can be the little pencils in the hand of God .