Community Chat

[gloriajean]

Determination and faith will carry you through to your goals.
Lord, You and I together can accomplish my dreams.

Scripture for the day:

"I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not
know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because
I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father."
~John 15:15

Meditation for the day:

We can think of God as a great friend and try to realize the wonder of
that friendship. When we give God not only worship, obedience and
allegiance, but also close companionship, God becomes our friend even
as we are God's friends. We can feel that God is working with us.
God can do things for us and we can do things for God. Our prayers
become more real to us when we feel that God counts on our friendship
and we count on God's.

Prayer for the day:

I pray that I may think of God as my friend. I pray that I may feel
that I am working for God and with God.

Hello my friends! Today went well - tonight was the play-offs for our card
club with a pot luck supper and then cards. Always fun seeing those we've
played cards with throughout the year.
We play one couple a month but not the summer months. It was our next door
neighbor who introduced us to the card club when we first moved in. It's a
fund raiser for our Church. Now they are building a new house by the lake
and will be moving and won't be in the club anymore - we drove them there
tonight - for the last time. We will surely miss them and thank our Lord
for good neighbors like them and those across the street. That is truly a
blessing. It's late, and I'm tired, and so here are the inspirations for
tomorrow and hope that they can speak to you somehow. God bless you all!!

A Fervent Prayer For The Sick and Suffering
O Almighty Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God and Savior. The same Lord that so
loves His children as to lay His life down for them. The same Lord that rose
from the dead on the third day, and Ascended into Heaven. The same Lord that
spoke the word and the Centurion’s Servant was immediately healed. The same
Lord that restored sight to the blind; cleansed lepers, cured the halt and
lame. The same Lord that with a word rebuked the seas and they were calm.
The same Lord that raised Lazarus from the dead. The same Lord that has been
given all power both in Heaven and on earth, do Thou, the same Lord visit
and heal Thy servant, (__name__), from the afflictions that they are now
suffering. Strengthen our faith like that of the Roman Centurion, so that we
may ask for this healing with the same faith, trust, and hope that Thy
servant, (__name__) will be healed in the same manner that the Centurion’s
servant was restored to health. O Holy physician of our souls and bodies,
hear this fervent prayer for Thy servant (__name__), and grant this request
as we hold this, Thy servant up before Thy glorious Throne. We ask this in
the victorious and Holy Name of our Lord, God, and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Sermons I See
Author: Edgar A. Guest

I'd rather see a sermon than hear one any day;
I'd rather one should walk with me than merely tell me the way.

The eye's a better pupil and more willing than the ear,
fine counsel is confusing, but example is always clear

And the best of all preachers are the ones who live their creeds,
for to see good in action is what everybody needs.

I soon can learn how to do it if you'll let me see it done;
I can watch your hands in action, but your tongue too fast may run

And the lecture you deliver may be very wise and true,
but I'd rather get my lessons by observing what you do.

For I might misunderstand you and the high advice you give,
But there's no misunderstanding how you act and how you live.

Many of you may have read this before; though it is worth reading again with
a tear in the eye:

IT'S WHAT YOU SCATTER"
I was at the corner grocery store buying some early potatoes... I noticed a
small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily
apprising a basket of freshly picked green peas.

I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green
peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes.
Pondering the peas, I couldn't help overhearing the conversation between
Mr.. Miller (the store owner) and the ragged boy next to me.
'Hello Barry, how are you today?'
'H'lo, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus' admirin' them peas. They sure look
good.'

'They are good, Barry. How's your Ma?'
'Fine. Gittin' stronger alla' time.'
'Good. Anything I can help you with?'
'No, Sir. Jus' admirin' them peas.'

'Would you like to take some home?' Asked Mr. Miller.
'No, Sir. Got nuthin' to pay for 'em with.'

'Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?'

'All I got's my prize marble here.'
'Is that right? Let me see it' said Miller.
'Here 'tis. She's a dandy.'
'I can see that. Hmm mmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go
for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?' the store owner asked.

'Not zackley but almost.'

'Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way
let me look at that red marble'. Mr. Miller told the boy.

'Sure will. Thanks Mr. Miller.'
Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me. With a
smile she said, 'There are two other boys like him in our community, all
three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them
for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever.
When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides
he doesn't like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce
for a green marble or an orange one, when they come on their next trip to
the store.'
I left the store smiling to myself, impressed with this man.. A short time
later I moved to Colorado , but I never forgot the story of this man, the
boys, and their bartering for marbles.
Several years went by, each more rapid than the previous one. Just recently
I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while I
was there learned that Mr. Miller had died. They were having his visitation
that evening and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany
them. Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the relatives
of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could.
Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform and the
other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts...all very
professional looking. They approached Mrs. Miller, standing composed and
smiling by her husband's casket.
Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly
with her and moved on to the casket.
Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one; each young man
stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the
casket. Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes.
Our turn came to meet Mrs.. Miller. I told her who I was and reminded her of
the story from those many years ago and what she had told me about her
husband's bartering for marbles. With her eyes glistening, she took my hand
and led me to the casket.

'Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about.

They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim 'traded' them.. Now,
at last, when Jim could not change his mind about color or size....they came
to pay their debt.'
'We've never had a great deal of the wealth of this world,' she confided,
'but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho ..'
With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased
husband. Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles.

The Moral:
We will not be remembered by our words, but by our kind deeds. Life is not
measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath.
Today I wish you a day of ordinary miracles ~ A fresh pot of coffee you
didn't make yourself...
An unexpected phone call from an old friend.... Green stoplights on your way
to work....
The fastest line at the grocery store....
A good sing-along song on the radio...
Your keys found right where you left them.

How do I find You, God?

God is Love.
If you have ever loved,
If you have ever been loved,
You have experienced God
from Within and Without
God is Truth.
If you have ever told the truth,
If you have ever discovered Truth,
You have experienced God
from Within and Without


God is Beauty.
If you have ever helped to create something beautiful,
If you have ever witnessed beauty in any of it's myriad forms,
You have experienced God
from Within and Without


God is Good.
If you have ever done or thought something good,
If you have ever recognized goodness in or through another,
You have experienced God
from Within and Without


All of those experiences, those gifts,
of Love, Truth, Beauty and Goodness
were directly from God through you


My Second Father

My father died, when I was five. It was hard on us all. With time the wounds
healed. My brother, who is eight years older than me, began to watch over my
mother and me.

Taking on many more responsibilities than was expected of him, I remember he
made sure the trash was taken out, and the yard mowed. He did this on his
own, without being told to do so.

Because of my father's death, my mother was forced to get a full time job.
My brother took it upon himself, to get up early every morning.

He would get me up for school, and make me breakfast. While I was eating he
would lay out my clothes, make my bed, and gather my school books up.

Hand in hand we would walk to the bus stop. As we waited, he would play
games my father used to play with me. He did his best to make me happy, and
he succeeded every time.

When we arrived home from school, we were alone for about a half hour, until
mom was home from work. He would sit me down with three cookies and a glass
of milk. If I had home work then this was the time I would do it. My brother
would start laundry, and do dishes if there were any. He would find
something for supper, and have everything ready for mom, so she could start
cooking.

Mom would greet us with a hug and kiss. This was our queue to go outside and
have some fun. This was my brother's time to be a kid.

It was a Saturday in June a couple years later. My mother and I were at the
store. They had the Father's day cards out. I stared at the rack of cards.
My mom said "Honey, I know this is a hard time for you." I said "No, mom
that's not it. Why don't they have Brother's day cards?"

She smiled and said, "You're right, your brother has definitely been a
father to you. Go ahead pick out a card." So I did, and on Father's Day my
mother and I sat my brother down and gave him the card.

As he read it, I saw the tears forming in his eye's. I felt a lump in my
throat, as he threw his arms around me and my mother. I heard the crackling
in mom's voice as she said, "Son, your father is proud of you, seeing that
he raised a good man, and that you do your best to fill his shoes. We love
you, and thank you."


Author unknown

Blessings upon your Tuesday!!