Community Chat

[gloriajean]

Hello my friends! My blessings today are my everyday blessings that I don't take for granted, the food I eat, warm house to live in, friends, good husband, darling daughters, and all of you! May God grant you your every need and be happy knowing that you are so blessed!

Enthusiasm will be yours if you love God, love people, and love life.

Lord, the nearer I follow Your way, the happier I become.

Scripture for the day:

"Jesus said to him, 'Have you believed because you have seen me?

Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.'"

~John 20:29

Meditation for the day:

I improving our personal lives, we can have unseen help. We were not

made so that we could see God. It takes an act of faith, a venture of

belief to realize God's unseen power. Yet we have much evidence of

God's existence in the strength that many people have received from

their act of faith, their venture of belief. God's unseen help is

effective here and now. This has been proved in thousands of changed

lives.

Prayer for the day:

I pray that I may make the great venture of belief. I pray that my

vision may not be blocked by intellectual pride.

TAKING AIM

Author Unknown

A young lady named Sally, relates an experience she had in a seminary

class, given by her teacher, Dr. Smith. She says Dr. Smith was known

for his elaborate object lessons.

One particular day, Sally walked into the seminary and knew they were

in for a fun day. On the wall was a big target and on a nearby table

were many darts. Dr. Smith told the students to draw a picture of

someone that they disliked or someone who had made them angry, and he

would allow them to throw darts at the person's picture.

Sally's girlfriend drew a picture of a girl who had stolen her

boyfriend. Another friend drew a picture of his little brother. Sally

drew a picture of a former friend, putting a great deal of detail into

her drawing, even drawing pimples on the face. Sally was pleased a the

overall effect she had achieved.

The class lined up and began throwing darts, with much laughter and

hilarity. Some of the students threw their darts with such force that

their targets were ripping apart. Sally looked forward to her turn,

and was filled with disappointment when Dr. Smith, because of time

limits, asked the students to return to their seats.

As Sally sat thinking about how angry she was because she didn't have

a chance to throw any darts at her target, Dr. Smith began removing

the target from the wall.

Underneath the target was a picture of Jesus...

A complete hush fell over the room as each student viewed the mangled

picture of Jesus; holes and jagged marks covered His face and His eyes

were pierced.

Dr. Smith said these words, "In as much as ye have done it unto the

least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto Me." No other words

were necessary; the tear-filled eyes of each student focused only on

the picture of Christ.

"And the King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the

extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the

least of them, you did it to Me.' Matthew 25:40

PERSONAL PRAYER

Lord Jesus, help me to avoid strife, to respect others, to be gentle, sober

and truthful.

Help me to be prudent in my judgments and merciful in all my relationships.

Help me to live the Mass by living the kind of life you lived.

Save me from conceit and pride that I may learn from you who are meek and

humble of heart. Amen.

Look Again and Again

You would like to know God?

Look at the crucifix.

You would like to love God?

Look at the crucifix.

You want to be happy with Him forever and forever?

Look at the crucifix.

You wonder what God is and what is He like?

Look at the crucifix.

You wonder what you are and what you are worth?

Look at the crucifix.

You wonder how merciful God is?

Look at the crucifix.

You wonder how much He wants you in Heaven?

Look at the crucifix.

You wonder how much He will help you to get there?

Look at the crucifix.

ACCEPT ME

Accept me as I am,

I have no guarantee.

A claim to perfection I have not.

Perfect I cannot be.

I, like you, am human.

Prone to make mistakes.

Failure is not a character flaw,

just a part of the human makeup.

I live, I laugh and I also learn.

My knowledge is incomplete.

I am searching all the time,

in waking hours as well as sleep.

I have a long road to travel,

as well as you do.

We learn our lessons on the way.

Wisdom we shall accrue.

So please accept me

as I am,

because I am just me.

No one like me in the world.

That is my only guarantee.

This is how I feel,

I have a heart, open it and see.

Please take care.

That's all I am, just me.

Author Unknown

And he said unto me,

My grace is sufficient for thee:

for my strength is made perfect

in weakness.

Most gladly therefore

will I rather glory in my infirmities,

that the power of Christ

may rest upon me.

2 Cr 12:9

Sometimes asking someone for help

Is Not a sign of weakness

But yet a sign of STRENGTH

Page By

Rick Moore

New Bern, North Carolina

One day a woman's husband died, and on that clear, cold morning, in the

warmth of their bedroom, the wife was struck with the pain of learning that

sometimes there isn't "anymore". No more hugs, no more special moments to

celebrate together, no more phone calls just to chat, no more "just one

minute." Sometimes, what we care about the most gets all used up and goes

away, never to return before we can say good-bye, say"I love you."

So while we have it, it's best we love it, care for it, fix it when

it's broken and heal it when it's sick. This is true for marriage .....

And old cars .. And children with bad report cards, and dogs with bad hips,

and aging parents and grandparents. We keep them because they are worth it,

because we are worth it.

Some things we keep -- like a best friend who moved away or a sister-in-law

after divorce. There are just some things that make us happy, no matter

what.

Life is important, like people we know who are special.. And so, we keep

them close!

I received this from someone who thought I was a 'keeper'! Then I sent

it to the people I think of in the same way... Now it's your turn to send

this to all those people who are "keepers" in your life, including the

person who sent it, if you feel that way. Suppose one morning you never

wake up, do all your friends know you love them?

I was thinking...I could die today, tomorrow or next week, and I wondered if

I had any wounds needing to be healed, friendships that needed rekindling or

three words needing to be said.

Let every one of your friends know you love them. Even if you think they

don't love you back, you would be amazed at what those three little words

and a smile can do. And just in case I'm gone tomorrow.

I LOVE YA!!!

Live today to the fullest because tomorrow is not promised..

Quilt of Holes

As I faced my Maker at the last judgment, I knelt before the Lord along with

all the other souls.

Before each of us laid our lives like the squares of a quilt in many piles;

an angel sat before each of us sewing our quilt squares together into a

tapestry that is our life.

But as my angel took each piece of cloth off the pile, I noticed how ragged

and empty each of my squares was. They were filled with giant holes. Each

square was labeled with a part of my life that had been difficult, the

challenges and temptations I was faced with in every day life. I saw

hardships that I endured, which were the largest holes of all.

I glanced around me. Nobody else had such squares. Other than a tiny hole

here and there, the other tapestries were filled with rich color and the

bright hues of worldly fortune. I gazed upon my own life and was

disheartened.

My angel was sewing the ragged pieces of cloth together, threadbare and

empty, like binding air.

Finally the time came when each life was to be displayed, held up to the

light, the scrutiny of truth... The others rose; each in turn, holding up

their tapestries. So filled their lives had been. My angel looked upon

me,and nodded for me to rise.

My gaze dropped to the ground in shame. I hadn't had all the earthly

fortunes. I had love in my life, and laughter. But there had also been

trials of illness, and wealth, and false accusations that took from me my

world, as I knew it. I had to start over many times. I often struggled with

the temptation to quit, only to somehow muster the strength to pick up and

begin again. I spent many nights on my knees in prayer, asking for help and

guidance in my life. I had often been held up to ridicule, which I endured

painfully, each time offering it up to the Father in hopes that I would not

melt within my skin beneath the judgmental gaze of those who unfairly judged

me.

And now, I had to face the truth. My life was what it was,and I had to

accept it for what it was.

I rose and slowly lifted the combined squares of my life to the light. An

awe-filled gasp filled the air. I gazed around at the others who stared at

me with wide eyes.

Then, I looked upon the tapestry before me.

Light flooded the many holes,creating an image, the face of Christ.. Then

our Lord stood before me, with warmth and love in His eyes. He said, 'Every

time you gave over your life to Me, it became My life, My hardships, and

My struggles..

Each point of light in your life is when you stepped aside and let Me shine

through, until there was more of Me than there was of you.'

May all our quilts

be threadbare and worn, allowing Christ to

shine through!

God determines who walks into your life...it's up to you to decide who you

let walk away, who you let stay, and who you refuse to let go.'

When there is nothing left but God

that is when you find

out that God is all

you need.