Community Chat

[gloriajean]

Study who you are and follow your heart because it will often lead you

to miracles. Lord, in knowing who I am, I will become better able to know

and serve You.

Scripture for the day:

"But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and

persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act--they will

be blessed in their doing." ~James 1:25

Meditation for the day:

When something happens to upset us and we are discouraged, we can try

to feel that life's difficulties and troubles are not intended to

arrest our progress in the spiritual life, but to test our strength

and to

increase our determination to keep going. Whatever it is that must be

met, we can either overcome it or use it. Nothing need daunt us for

long, nor need any difficulty entirely overcome or conquer us. God's

strength is always there, waiting for us to use it. Nothing can be

too great to be overcome, or if not overcome, then used.

Prayer for the day:

I pray that I may know that there can be no failure with God. I pray

that with God's help I may live a more victorious life.

Hello my friends! Tomorrow we find out for sure about the results of Ron's surgery but we did find out that he's doing fine now. It was his first surgery ever! I don't know how long he'll be at the Mayo clinic yet. Today's blessings - 1) Being with my husband giving him the broths, jello, and coffee - I'll be going along with him in the morning for his colonoscopy. 2) Sammy is getting better!! Horrah!! I'm only giving him a half tablet now instead of the whole one. Still doesn't want to eat it, but have to make him, I use pill pockets and stick it in there. Anther blessing, Lori will give us a wake up call at 4 in the morning for him to take more solution. 8:30 is his appointment. He's feeling fine now and went to bed. Praying for you all, thanks for your prayers for us! Can you name at least 3 blessings again? That's what this is all about! Let's give God the credit - it is He Who sends us His blessings daily!

Psalms 48:1 "Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised."

Psalms 3:3 -the Lord is a shield.

Psalms 4:8 - my source of safety.

Psalms 5:2 -my King

Psalms 7:8 -the Judge

Psalms 7:17 -the Most High

Psalms 9:9 -my Refuge

Psalms 10:14 -the helper of the fatherless

Psalms 10:16 -the King forever and ever

Psalms 11:7 -righteous

Psalms 18:1 -God is my strength vs2 rock, fortress, my deliver vs3 stronghold

Psalms 18:18 -my support

Psalms 19:14 -my Redeemer, my strength

Psalms 23:1 -He is my Shepherd

Psalms 24:7 -the King of glory

Psalms 24:10 -the Lord of hosts

Psalms 25:5 -the God of my salvation

Psalms 27:1 -my light and my salvation

Psalms 28:1 -my rock

Psalms 29:3 -He is the God of Glory

Psalms 31:5 -the Lord of truth

Psalms 42:2 -the living God

Psalms 46:1 -my refuge, my help in trouble

Psalms 47:2 -the King over all the earth

Unanswered Letters

There are many times when we begin a certain task that God lays on our hearts and because we think our efforts are minimal and not making a difference, we quit the job that God told us to pursue.

The enemy loves to plant seeds of doubt and lure us into thinking that we are not capable of making a difference in this world, but with God's help we can overcome and fulfill the destiny that God has for every believer.

If you are going through a situation of doubting your task unto the Lord, then I hope this story will bless and encourage you to never quit what God has laid on your heart because you may never know of the lives that you are touching.

I read of a man who was involved in a tragic accident. He lost both legs and his left arm and only a finger and thumb remained on the right hand.

But he still possessed a brilliant mind, enriched with a good education and broadened with world travel. At first he thought there was nothing he could do but remain a helpless sufferer.

A thought came to him. It was always nice to receive letters, but why not write them--he could still use his right hand with some difficulty. But to whom could he write?

Was there anyone shut-in and incapacitated like he was who could be encouraged by his letters? He thought of men in prison--they did have some hope of release, whereas he had none--but it was worth a try.

He wrote to a Christian organization concerned with prison ministry. He was told that his letters could not be answered because it was against prison rules, but he still decided to commence this one-sided correspondence.

He wrote twice a week, and it taxed his strength to the limit. But into the letters he put his whole soul, all his experience, all his faith, all his wit, and all his Christian optimism.

Frequently he felt discouraged and was tempted to give it all up. But it was his one remaining activity, and he resolved to continue as long as he could.

At last he got a letter. It was very short, written on prison stationery by the officer whose duty it was to censor the mail.

All it said was: "Please write on the best paper you can afford. Your letters are passed from cell to cell till they literally fall to pieces."

No matter what your situation may be like, you still have the ability to encourage someone who is discouraged and lift up someone who is feeling low.

Take this story as an encouragement to give your all for someone else and do not worry about the results. No good work will go unseen and only God knows of the impact that your life can have on someone else.

Let us not do our good works so that we may be praised, but let us do good works so that others may be lifted up and God be praised because of our intervention.

The only thing that we can take with us into eternity is what we have done for the Lord. There are no bank accounts in heaven to show how much your net worth was on the earth, but there will be accounts in heaven of what you did to show your life as an example in leading others to Him.

- Author Unknown

Jesus Is My Everything

He is my Song that I sing

He is the Joy that a new day brings

He is my Strength when I am weak

He is my Voice when I speak

He is my Friend when I need a hug

He is my Lover, when I need real love

He is the Lawyer who pleads my case

He is the only Righteous Judge who forgives me, then all me sins He erases

He is the Doctor who heals my wounds

He is my Redeemer, and He's coming back soon

He is my Comforter when I'm feeling down

He is my Angel that is ever-present, always around

He is my Provider always supplying when I need help

He is my Water, my Bread, stored up on the shelf

He is my Teacher, who shows me what to do

He is my Encourager, when I really don't want to

He is that Fire burning deep down in my soul

He is my Fortune-teller, for in His hands, my future He holds

He is the Repairman who comes to fix my stuff

He is the Everlasting Father, who is more than enough

He is the Prince of Peace, yes a Peacemaker is He

He is my Eyes, my Light, my Pathway, when I can't see

He is my Mighty Counselor when I need some advice

He is my Debt Consolidator, for He paid the ultimate price

He is my Hope for tomorrow

He is my Everflowing Income, so I don't have to beg, steal, nor borrow

He is the Mercy which He renews for me everyday

He is my Truth, my Life, the Only Way

He is the Warden, who unlocks the chains and sets me free

He is my Role Model, for I always look up to Thee

He is the Author, the Finisher of my faith

He is the Patience that always tells me to wait

Jesus is my Everything, although with my natural eyes, Him, I cannot see

Jesus is my Everything, my Everything, Everything I want to be

Author Unknown

WHAT GOES AROUND, COMES AROUND

Author Unknown

The man slowly looked up. This was a woman clearly accustomed to the

finer things of life. Her coat was new. She looked like that she had

never missed a meal in her life.

His first thought was that she wanted to make fun of him, like so many

others had done before.

'Leave me alone,' he growled.

To his amazement, the woman continued standing. She was smiling --her

even white teeth displayed in dazzling rows. 'Are you hungry?' she

asked. 'No,' he answered sarcastically. 'I've just come from dining

with the President. Now go away.' The woman's smile became even

broader. Suddenly the man felt a gentle hand under his arm.

'What are you doing, lady?' the man asked angrily. 'I said to leave me

alone.

Just then a policeman came up. 'Is there any problem, ma'am?' he

asked.

'No problem here, officer,' the woman answered. 'I'm just trying to

get this man to his feet. Will you help me?'

The officer scratched his head. 'That's old Jack. He's been a fixture

around here for a couple of years. What do you want with him?'

'See that cafeteria over there?' she asked. 'I'm going to get him

something to eat and get him out of the cold for awhile.'

'Are you crazy, lady?' the homeless man resisted. 'I don't want to go

in there!' Then he felt strong hands grab his other arm and lift him

up.

'Let me go, officer. I didn't do anything.'

'This is a good deal for you, Jack,' the officer answered. 'Don't blow

it.'

Finally, and with some difficulty, the woman and the police officer

got Jack into the cafeteria and sat him at a table in a remote corner.

It was the middle of the morning, so most of the breakfast crowd had

already left and the lunch bunch had not yet arrived. The manager

strode across the

cafeteria and stood by his table.

'What's going on here, officer?' he asked. 'What is all this. Is this

man in trouble?'

'This lady brought this man in here to be fed,' the policeman

answered.

'Not in here!' the manager replied angrily. 'Having a person like that

here is bad for business.'

Old Jack smiled a toothless grin. 'See, lady. I told you so. Now if

you'll let me go. I didn't want to come here in the first place.'

The woman turned to the cafeteria manager and smiled. 'Sir, are you

familiar with Eddy and Associates, the banking firm down the street?'

'Of course I am,' the manager answered impatiently. 'They hold their

weekly meetings in one of my banquet rooms.'

'And do you make a goodly amount of money providing food at these

weekly meetings?'

'What business is that of yours?'

'I, sir, am Penelope Eddy, president and CEO of the company.'

'Oh'

The woman smiled again. 'I thought that might make a difference' She

glanced at the cop who was busy stifling a giggle. 'Would you like to

join us in a cup of coffee and a meal, officer?'

'No thanks, ma'am,' the officer replied. 'I'm on duty.'

'Then, perhaps, a cup of coffee to go?'

'Yes, ma'am. That would be very nice.'

The cafeteria manager turned on his heel . 'I'll get your coffee for

you right away, officer.'

The officer watched him walk away. 'You certainly put him in his

place,' he said.

'That was not my intent. Believe it or not, I have a reason for all

this.'

She sat down at the table across from her amazed dinner guest. She

stared at him intently. 'Jack, do you remember me?'

Old Jack searched her face with his old, rheumy eyes 'I think so - I

mean you do look familiar.'

'I'm a little older perhaps,' she said. 'Maybe I've even filled out

more than in my younger days when you worked here, and I came through

that very door, cold and hungry.'

'Ma'am?' the officer said questioningly. He couldn't believe that such

a magnificently turned out woman could ever have been hungry.

'I was just out of college,' the woman began. 'I had come to the city

looking for a job, but I couldn't find anything. Finally I was down to

my last few cents and had been kicked out of my apartment. I walked

the streets for days. It was February and I was cold and nearly

starving. I saw this place and walked in on the off chance that I

could get something to eat.'

Jack lit up with a smile. 'Now I remember,' he said. 'I was behind the

serving counter. You came up and asked me if you could work for

something to eat. I said that it was against company policy.'

'I know,' the woman continued. 'Then you made me the biggest roast

beef sandwich that I had ever seen, gave me a cup of coffee, and told

me to go over to a corner table and enjoy it. I was afraid that you

would get into trouble. Then, when I looked over, I saw you put the

price of my food in the cash register. I knew then that everything

would be all right.'

'So you started your own business?' Old Jack said.

'I got a job that very afternoon. I worked my way up. Eventually I

started my own business that, with the help of God, prospered.' She

opened her purse and pulled out a business card. 'When you are

finished here, I want you to pay a visit to a Mr. Lyons. He's the

personnel director of my

company. I'll go talk to him now and I'm certain he'll find something

for you to do around the office.' She smiled. 'I think he might even

find the funds to give you a little advance so that you can buy some

clothes and get a place to live until you get on your feet.

'If you ever need anything, my door is always opened to you.'

There were tears in the old man's eyes. 'How can I ever thank you?' he

said.

'Don't thank me,' the woman answered. 'To God goes the glory. Thank

Jesus... He led me to you.'

Outside the cafeteria, the officer and the woman paused at the

entrance before going their separate ways. 'Thank you for all your

help, officer,' she said.

'On the contrary, Ms. Eddy,' he answered.

'Thank you. I saw a miracle today, something that I will never forget.

And... And thank you for the coffee.'

If you have missed knowing me, you have missed nothing. If you have

missed some of my emails, you might have missed a laugh.

But, if you have missed knowing my LORD and SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST, you

have missed everything in the world .

Have a Wonderful Day. May God Bless You Always. And don't forget that

when you 'cast your bread upon the waters,' you never know how it will

be returned to you.

God is so big He can cover the whole world with His Love and so small

He can curl up inside your heart.

My Daily Offering For Lent

by

Father Paul M. Keeling, CRSP

(With Ecclesiastical Approval)

Lord, God,

Trinity of Love,

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,

I praise You,

I worship You,

I adore You,

I love You.

Father, Creator,

I thank You

for the gift of life.

May I do Your will

this day.

Jesus, Son, Savior,

by Your death on the Cross,

You showed me the Father's love.

May I be willing to die to myself

in order to live for You.

May I share Your "Good News"

this day with all those around me.

May Your love be reflected

in every kind word, thought, and deed.

And if I fail, be there to raise me up.

Spirit, Sanctifier,

shower Your life

upon all the peoples of the world.

Grant us the gifts of peace and love.

Amen.