Community Chat

[gloriajean]

Hello my friends! It was -19 when I got up this morning! Fortunately we didn't have to go out until my 4:00 appointment with Lori to massage my hand and arm. It was up to -2 then. It's somewhat better today - she said it's not carpal tunnel, it's in a different place. She works on people who has carpal tunnel. Could be arthritis and I should cold pack it. So glad it's not carpal tunnel! Today I relaxed more and it's better. Glad we can stay home tonight as it's snowing again and cold, and slippery. 'Tis a blessing to be home.

Keep yourself young in spirit always by thinking new thoughts

and getting rid of old habits. Lord, may my spirit never become

frail and my abilities never become barren.

Scripture for the day:

"It is God's will that by doing right you should silence the ignorance

of the foolish. As servants of God, live as free people, yet do not

use your freedom as a pretext for evil. Honor everyone." ~1 Peter

2:15-17

Meditation for the day:

Each new days brings an opportunity to do some little thing that will

help to make a better world, that will bring God's kingdom a little

nearer to being realized on earth. We can take each day's happenings

as opportunities for something we can do for God. In that spirit, a

blessing will attend all that we do. When we offer this day's service

to God, we are sharing in God's work. We do not have to do great

things.

Prayer for the day:

I pray that today I may do the next thing, the unselfish thing, the

loving thing. I pray that I may be content with doing small things as

long as they are right.

Dialogue with Christ: Lord Jesus, I am sometimes afraid of what it means to

die to myself. Help me to use all of my talents for your kingdom. Help me to

realize that I have nothing to lose and everything to gain, and to

courageously take steps to love you.

Resolution: I will practice patience with someone who annoys me today to

show my love for Jesus.

Let Go .....

To "LET GO" Does not mean to stop caring, it means I can't do it for someone

else.

To "LET GO" Is not to cut myself off, it's the realization that I can't

control another human being.

To "LET GO" Is not to enable, but to allow someone to learn from their

natural consequences.

To "LET GO" Is to admit powerlessness , which means the outcome is not in my

hands.

To "LET GO" Is not to try to change or blame another, but to make the most

of myself.

To "LET GO" Is not to care for, but to care about.

To "LET GO" Is not to fix, but to be supportive, and not violate my values.

To "LET GO" Is not to judge, but to allow another to be a human being.

To "LET GO" Is not to be in the middle, arranging all the outcomes , but to

allow God to work in the lives of others.

To "LET GO" Is not to be protective, it's to permit another to face reality.

To "LET GO" Is not to deny, but to accept .

To "LET GO" Is not to nag, scold or argue with another person, but instead

to search out my own shortcomings and allow God to correct them.

To "LET GO" Does not mean to deny the shortcomings in others, but to accept

others unconditionally in love.

To "LET GO" Is not to adjust everything to my desires, but to accept each

day as it comes; knowing God offers it to me for growth.

To "LET GO" Is not to criticize or regulate anybody, but to try to become

the person I understand God wants me to be.

To "LET GO" Does not mean to compete against another human being, but

rather, to compete within myself to learn "self- control" through

circumstances God brings into my life.

To "LET GO" Does mean to fear less and love more.

To "LET GO" Means I don't demand my own way, but that I hold firm to my

values and beliefs-- while allowing others the same privilege.

To "LET GO" Doesn't mean that I expect God to do everything for me, but that

I let God show me how to do His will for my life.

THE FOUR CANDLES

Author Unknown

The Four Candles burned slowly. Their Ambiance was so soft you could

hear them speak...

The first candle said, "I Am Peace, but these days, nobody wants to

keep me lit."

Then Peace's flame slowly diminishes and goes out completely.

The second candle says, "I Am Faith, but these days, I am no longer

indispensable."

Then Faith's flame slowly diminishes and goes out completely.

Sadly the third candle spoke, "I Am Love and I haven't the strength to

stay lit any longer."

"People put me aside and don't understand my importance. They even

forget to love those who are nearest to them."

And waiting no longer, Love goes out completely.

Suddenly...

A child enters the room and sees the three candles no longer burning.

The child begins to cry, "Why are you not burning? You are supposed to

stay lit until the end."

Then the Fourth Candle spoke gently to the little boy, "Don't be

afraid, for I Am Hope, and while I still burn, we can re-light the

other candles."

With Shining eyes the child took the Candle of Hope and lit the other

three candles.

Never let the Flame of Hope go out of your life.

With Hope, no matter how bad things look and are...Peace, Faith and

Love can Shine Brightly in our lives.

CALL TO ME

By Sally I. Kennedy

' Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and

mighty things, which you do not know.' Jeremiah 33:3,

We could hear it before we could see it. One lone goose, honking

loudly on his way in. If any other geese had been on the small lake

this beautiful autumn morning, they would have answered the call.

“Hunters know this”, my husband explained. “That’s the reason for the

turkey callers that they use; they can learn where the birds are.”

The goose paddled around, near the water’s muddy edge by the lily

pads, all alone. No answer. No geese were on this lake. Perhaps

they had all flown south for the winter. It was well into fall, and

there’d been one chilly frost already.

I thought, good thing we can call to God ANY time at all, and He is

never gone. Isn’t it amazing? This almighty God of the universe, who

is unchanging, sovereign, steadfast, and ever-faithful, is the same

God who keeps a listening ear out for those calling out- for

companions, for help, for whatever. And, He will answer. It’s a

promise.

That is good news.

God used an important divine inspiration to prove to us that our Holy

Scriptures contains truth... God used prophecy; this is the ability predict

the future. Nobody else can do this, because only God is the creator of

time and only God is above time to know what will happen in the future.

The Old Testament was written hundreds, even thousands, of years before the

time of Jesus.

Arguably, the most important prophecy given to us was the prediction that

Jesus will come to earth to save us. There are hundreds of biblical

predictions concerning the birth, life, and death of Jesus in the Old

Testament and which have been realised and confirmed in the New Testament.

Below are just a few of them which you may find familiar...

In the Old Testament, we read about

a virgin who will become pregnant and it will be a sign that God is with us.

(Isaiah 7:14)

In the New Testament, we are told that

the Virgin Mary, will give birth to Jesus, the Son of the Most High God.

(Luke 1:31-32)

In the Old Testament, we read about

a star that will announce the birth of a king. (Numbers 24:17)

In the New Testament, we are told that

wise men followed the star that led them to baby Jesus. (Matthew 2:2)

In the Old Testament, we read about

a ruler that will be born in Bethlehem. (Micah 5:2)

In the New Testament, we are told that

Jesus was born in Bethlehem. (Luke 2:4-6)

In the Old Testament, we read about

a King who will be known as the Son of God. (Psalms 2:7)

In the New Testament, we are told that

heaven announces Jesus as the Son of God. (Matthew 3:17)

In the Old Testament, we read about

one being betrayed by a close friend for 30 silver coins. (Psalms 41:9 and

Zechariah 11:9,12)

In the New Testament, we are told that

Jesus was betrayed by one of His apostles, Judas, for 30 silver coins.

(Matthew 26:14-15 and Matthew 27:4)

In the Old Testament, we read about

a servant who is treated harshly and yet remaining silent. (Isaiah 53:7)

In the New Testament, we are told that

Jesus kept quiet during harsh accusations. (Matthew 26:63)

In the Old Testament, we read about

one being rejected by one's own people. (Isaiah 53:3)

In the New Testament, we are told that

the crowds chanted for the death of Jesus. (Luke 23:18)

In the Old Testament, we read about

the cry and anguish of a man and the pains of his hands and feet. (Psalms

22:16)

In the New Testament, we are told that

Jesus had his hands pierced by nails. (John 20:25)

In the Old Testament, we read about

a man calling out for God and being humiliated by other people who shook

their heads at him. (Psalms 22:7)

In the New Testament, we are told that

people hurled insults, shook their heads at Jesus, and humiliated him.

(Matthew 27:39 and Luke 23:35)

In the Old Testament, we read about

God's servant who is numbered amongst the criminals. (Isaiah 53:12)

In the New Testament, we are told that

Jesus was crucified with bandits. (Mark 15:27)

In the Old Testament, we read about

God's servant who is being harshly treated and yet still praying that they

might be forgiven. (Isaiah 53:12)

In the New Testament, we are told that

Jesus prays for forgiveness to those who are killing Him. (Luke 23:34)

In the Old Testament, we read about

a victim whose clothes were gambled for and divided up amongst evil men.

(Psalms 22:18)

In the New Testament, we are told that

the soldiers who killed Jesus threw dice and gambled for Jesus' clothes.

(Luke 23:34)

In the Old Testament, we read about

a suffering man who is felt forsaken by his father. (Psalms 22:1)

In the New Testament, we are told that

Jesus felt abandoned by God. (Matthew 27:46)

In the Old Testament, we read about

the good man whom the Lord preserves completely and none of his bones will

be broken. (Psalms 34:20)

In the New Testament, we are told that

the soldiers did not break the legs of Jesus, as they did to the others who

were crucified. (John 19:33)

In the Old Testament, we read about

the one who was stabbed to death and they mourn for him like those who mourn

for an only child. (Zechariah 12:10)

In the New Testament, we are told that

Jesus, the only Son of God, had his side pierced by a soldier's spear. (1

John 4:9 and John 19:34)

In the Old Testament, we read about

a devoted servant who would bear the punishment of many. (Isaiah 53:11)

In the New Testament, we are told that

Jesus died for our sins. (1 Corinthians 15:3)

In the Old Testament, we read about

an innocent man who was buried with the rich. (Isaiah 53:9)

In the New Testament, we are told that

Jesus was taken by a rich man to be buried in the rich man's tomb. (Matthew

27:59-60)

In the Old Testament, we read about

a wise man who is saved from the power of death. (Psalms 49:15)

In the New Testament, we are told that

Jesus rises from the dead. (Luke 24:34)

Prophecy is God's signature on the scriptures. So christians can rejoice,

because God came to earth to save us. And we knew He would... We knew a

thousand years before it happened.

No other book in the history of the world can approach the impact of the

Bible. It has transformed countless lives. It has inspired great works of

art, music and literature. The very wealthy have drawn success secrets from

its pages; the most poor have found comfort and challenge in its words. And

it is the basis for much of "civil" society in many parts of the globe.