Community Chat

[gloriajean]

Do not run ahead of the Lord, but walk with Him, pray for His guidance
and listen to His answers. Lord, let me put Your will first in my life.

Scripture of the day:

"Peace, peace, to the far and the near, says the LORD; and I will heal
them." ~Psalm 57:19

Meditation for the day:

When we look to God for strength to face responsibility and are quiet
before God, God's healing touch can cause the divine quiet to flow
into our very being. When in weakness we cry to God, God's touch can
bring healing, the renewal of our courage, and the power to meet every
situation and be victorious. When we faint by the way or are
distracted by feelings of inferiority, then we can rely on the touch
of God's spirit to support us on our way. Then we can arise and go
forth with confidence.

Prayer for the day:

I pray that I may lay myself open today to the healing touch of God.
I pray that I may not falter or faint by the wayside, but renew my
courage through prayer.

Hello my friends! Boy did the weather ever get cooler and windy today! Went
back to my jeans and socks! I had been going barefoot, but it was too
chilly for that. It sure changed in one day! The storm wasn't as bad as
predicted - we didn't have those high winds they talked about, and the hail
was very little. Lori's granite chips are all laid and all look very nice!
Permanent maintenance now - and so very neat! Today was a laid back day for
us - he had the day off, he works tomorrow, and then not until Sunday. He
had to be there for helping with the last load of the granite chips, and
then he was free. He went to the Nursery where he bought our plants, got
something to kill worms that started to eat the strawberry leaves, and
something to ward off rabbits from eating our beans. Little critters!
Lovely little animals, but I wish they'd leave our garden be. There's
something called liquid fence and that's what they recommend. He says it
stinks! Maybe they won't like the smell and go away. My sister, Sister
LaDonna has a bad cold and cough, her cough was making her fever, she went
to the doctor today and he said she's in good health just has a cold so gave
her a stronger cough medicine with more codeine in it. Hope she'll get over
that soon - I sure know what a bad cough is like, but I take a hot toddy,
hot water, a shot of whiskey, and a tbsp. of honey. That helps me, remember
I had polio in my throat so I use extreme measures! I don't need much and
it takes care of it. We sure felt bad last night that we had to miss Mass
because of the storm. We plan on going the rest of the week morning Mass.
Morning Masses are so nice to start the day off with, and visiting with our
friends there, always great!

HOW TO RECEIVE FORGIVENESS

Everyone will receive forgiveness of sins if seven rules are followed. Those
who follow these seven rules will receive total redemption from sin by the
merit of crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
1.Resolve not to sin anymore
One has enjoyed pleasures of sin so far. Resolve to give up pleasures and
profits of sin. Evil intention comes from human heart. (Ref: Mark7:
21;Sirach37: 16,17). So, take the right decision in your innermost heart. It
will bring the right external actions.

2.Accept Jesus as Lord and Savior
Believe that Jesus has atoned for your sin. Jesus is the atoner and
atonement for your sin. (Ref: 1Tim.2: 6). Cleanse yourself of sin by the
blood of Jesus. (Ref: 1John1: 7). "Jesus has taken upon himself, the
punishment for sin, that was to be upon you." (Rom.8: 1). Accept Jesus as
Lord and Savior. In truth, this means to live only according to the
teachings and messages in the Bible.

3.Forgive your enemies
There are people who have worked or spoken against you. Forgive them. Your
sins will be forgiven. (Ref: Matt.6: 14,15). Always pray that the Holy
Spirit may come upon your enemies and that they may be more blessed than
you. Love them from your heart, and then your forgiveness will be complete.

4.Lead a holy life today and in future
The best atonement for a sinful past is a holy present and future. (Ref:
John8: 11). Try to lead a holy life today and in future as a penance for all
your past sins. God demands only that much as a penance of our sins and to
forgive all our past iniquities. A holy future is the penance of an unholy
past.

5.Evangelization
"My brothers and sisters, if any one among you wanders from the truth and is
brought back by another, you should know that whoever brings back a sinner
from wandering will save the sinner's soul from death and will cover a
multitude of sins." (James5: 19,20).
One should use one's wealth, influence, power and time to bring back those
who have moved away from Jesus or true faith. Helping the poor orphans,
sick, aged and prisoners are included among the works of evangelization.
Interceding for others is the best way of evangelization. Fasting and alms
giving cleanse one of all sins. (Ref: Tobit12: 8,9). Tithing of time,
talents and treasure is also considered as a means of evangelization.

6.Restitution
If you have damaged somebody's property, fame and good name, you have to
restitute it as early as possible. Then you will get forgiveness of sin and
salvation. For example read Luke 19:1-10.

7.Confession
Why confess?

1. Confession is a sacrament. Sacrament means that which sanctifies one's
life. So confession helps a person to grow in holiness.
2. Confession bestows humility. Pride is the source of all sin.
3. Confession reconciles one with God and man. Confession is the Sacrament
of Reconciliation. (Ref: Luke15: 11-23).
4. Confession can be instrumental in physical healing.
5. Confession is the re-enactment of the Word of God - "Your sins are
forgiven" (Ref: Mark2:5). The priest is the representative of Jesus. Jesus
has given him the authority to forgive sins. (Ref: John20: 23). One is
filled with the Holy Spirit when he listens to the Word of God. (Ref:
Acts10:44-48).
6. Confession is a means to receive personal advice.
7. Confession is the final stage of forgiveness of sin for all Catholics.
That is a sealing prayer.
8. Finally, it is the rule of the Catholic Church that all Catholics should
make at least one confession in an year.
"I have swept away all your transgressions like a cloud, and your sins like
mist; return to me, for I have redeemed you." (Is.44: 22)

Decide not to sin any more. Do not sin anymore. Pray earnestly that your
sins may be forgiven by the merits of the crucifixion of Jesus. Dedicate
your life to glorify God.

"The blood of Jesus, His son, cleanses us from all sin." (1John1: 7). Our
spirit is healed when we get forgiveness of sin. Reconciliation between man
and God is made possible through the sacrament of reconciliation. Grace is
received. The best atonement for a sinful past is to dedicate the future to
a holy life.
An explanation of confession is found in the letter to St James and in The
Gospel according to Matthew.
St James' epistle 5:16 says, "Therefore confess your sins to one another, so
that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and
effective."
St Matthew 3:6 says, "and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan,
confessing their sins."


CAN YOU SLEEP WHEN THE WIND BLOWS
Author Unknown

Years ago a farmer owned land along the Atlantic seacoast. He
constantly advertised for hired hands. Most people were reluctant to
work on farms along the Atlantic. They dreaded the awful storms that
raged across the Atlantic, wreaking havoc on the buildings and crops.

As the farmer interviewed applicants for the job, he received a steady
stream of refusals. Finally, a short, thin man, well past middle age,
approached the farmer. "Are you a good farmhand?" the farmer asked
him. "Well, I can sleep when the wind blows," answered the little man.
Although puzzled by this answer, the farmer, desperate for help, hired him.

The little man worked well around the farm, busy from dawn to dusk,
and the farmer felt satisfied with the man's work. Then one night the
wind howled loudly in from offshore. Jumping out of bed, the farmer
grabbed a lantern and rushed next door to the hired hand's sleeping
quarters. He shook the little man and yelled, "Get up! A storm is
coming! Tie things down before they blow away!" The little man rolled
over in bed and said firmly, "No sir. I told you, I can sleep when the
wind blows."

Enraged by the response, the farmer was tempted to fire him on the
spot. Instead, he hurried outside to prepare for the storm. To his
amazement, he discovered that all of the haystacks had been covered
with tarpaulins. The cows were in the barn, the chickens were in the
coops, and the doors were barred. The shutters were tightly secured.
Everything was tied down. Nothing could blow away. The farmer then
understood what his hired hand meant, so he returned to his bed to
also sleep while the wind blew.

MORAL: When you're prepared, spiritually, mentally, and physically,
you have nothing to fear. Can you sleep when the wind blows through
your life? The hired hand in the story was able to sleep because he
had secured the farm against the storm. We, as believers in Christ,
secure ourselves against the storms of life by grounding ourselves in
the Word of God. We don't need to understand, we just need to hold His
hand to have peace in the midst of the storms. I hope you sleep well!
Enjoy the day! May God Bless You and Yours


A Prayer For the Gift of Understanding

Lord Jesus Christ, grant me the gift of understanding. Help me to understand
the feelings of others, the desires of others, the goals of others. At the
same time, help me to understand myself in my actions and reactions. Widen
my vision beyond my own small world to embrace with knowledge and love the
worlds of others.

Help me, Lord, to always see you at work in my own life and in the lives of
others. Bless me with insight, acceptance and love that is tempered by you
who are all things to all men. Help me to understand, Lord.

Amen.

WHY DID JESUS FOLD THE NAPKIN?
Author Unknown
June 11, 2012


Why did Jesus fold the linen burial cloth after His resurrection? I
never noticed this....


The Gospel of John (20:7) tells us that the napkin, which was placed
over the face of Jesus, was not just thrown aside like the grave
clothes.


The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the napkin was neatly
folded, and was placed at the head of that stony coffin.


Early Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to
the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the
entrance.


She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom
Jesus loved. She said, 'They have taken the Lord's body out of the
tomb, and I don't know where they have put him!'


Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb to see. The other
disciple outran Peter and got there first. He stooped and looked in
and saw the linen cloth lying there, but he didn't go in.

Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen
wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus' head
was folded up and lying to the side.


Was that important? Absolutely!


Is it really significant? Yes!


In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have
to understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that day. The
folded napkin had to do with the Master and Servant, and every Jewish
boy knew this tradition.


When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure
that it was exactly the way the master wanted it.


The table was furnished perfectly, and then the servant would wait,
just out of sight, until the master had finished eating, and the
servant would not dare touch that table, until the master was
finished.


Now if the master were done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe
his fingers, his mouth, and clean his beard, and would wad up that
napkin and toss it onto the table.

The servant would then know to clear the table. For in those days, the
wadded napkin meant, 'I'm done'.


But if the master got up from the table, and folded his napkin, and
laid it beside his plate, the servant would not dare touch the table,
because.........


The folded napkin meant, 'I'm coming back!'

A Blessing Prayer


This day is full of beauty and adventure,
help me Lord to be fully alive to it all.
During this day, may I become a more thoughtful person,
a more prayerful person, a more generous and kindly person.
Help me not to be turned in on myself but
to be sensitive and helpful to others.
Let me do nothing today that will hurt anyone,
but let me help at least a little,
to make life more pleasant for those I meet.


When night comes, may I look back on this day without regrets;
and may nobody be unhappy because of anything
I have said or done or failed to do.


Lord God, bless this day for me and all of us.
Make it a day in which we grow a little more
like your Son, and gentle as Mary His Mother.
Amen.

Be Yourself

Be strong enough to face the world each day.
Be weak enough to know you cannot do everything.

Be generous to those who need your help.
Be frugal with what you need yourself.

Be willing to share your joys.
Be willing to share the sorrows of others.

Be a leader when you see a path others have missed.
Be a follower when you are shrouded in the midst of uncertainty.

Be the first to congratulate an opponent who succeeds.
Be the last to criticize a colleague who fails.

Be sure where your next step will fall, so that you will not stumble.
Be sure of your final destination, in case you are going the wrong way.

Be loving to those who love you.
Be loving to those who do not love you, and they may change.

Above all, be yourself!

Quotes of Mother Teresa

"When I was crossing into Gaza, I was asked at the check post whether I was
carrying any weapons. I replied: ‘Oh yes, my prayer books.’"

"God has created us to love and to be loved, and this is the beginning of
prayer—to know that He loves me, that I have been created for greater
things."

"Each time people come into contact with us, they must become different and
better people because of having met us. We must radiate God's love."

"Love begins at home. Everything depends on how we love each other."

"If God chose me, He chose you. If He loves me, He loves you. If He trusts
me, He trusts you. Never use ugly words for each other. Don't try to see
what is bad. Find out what is nice in each other."

"Looking at the terrible suffering & fruit of war—[the] same thing, I was
thinking, can happen through uncharitable words & actions. We do not destroy
buildings—but we destroy the very heart of love, peace and unity."

"Have that deep respect for each other...what you have I do not have, [what]
I can do, you cannot do, but together we do something beautiful for God."

"Please listen to the will of God. God has created us to be loved by His
love, and not to be destroyed by our hatred."

"Let love and peace triumph and let your names be remembered for the good
you have done, the joy you have spread and the love you have shared."

"If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten we belong to each
other."

"The people re asking for spiritual help, for consolation, they are so
afraid, discouraged, in despair, so many commit suicide. That's why we must
concentrate on being God's love, God's presence—not by words, but by
service, concrete love, listening."

"Hope is the great gift from God. Hope is the sign of life."

"If you pray more you will pray better."

"We need to pray to be able to be so one with Christ, one with God that
nothing can separate us from the love of Christ."

"You must learn to pray - maybe not big prayers but talk from the heart to
God, open your heart to God."

"You are the co-workers of Christ Himself and He wants you to be so totally
His wherever you are, whatever work you are doing, there to be that sunshine
of God's love.

"Be very careful not to allow partialities to spoil the beautiful work of
love God has entrusted to us - giving in to likes and dislikes, treating
differently people of different caste or creed. This could easily happen if
we do not pray."

"There are only two ways: either we love—and love in action is service - or
we put hatred into action and destroy."

Enjoy the Gift of God's blessings upon your Tuesday! God bless you all!