Community Chat

[gloriajean]

Avoid negative thinking because this leads to unnecessary worry. Lord, I rely
on You to guide and sustain me and I know that with You I can move easily
around life's obstacles.

Scripture for the day:

"From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. The law
indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus
Christ." ~John 1:16-17

Meditation for the day:

As God's power in our lives in creases, so does our ability to
understand God's grace. The power of God's grace is only limited by
the understanding and will of each individual. God's miracle-working
power is only limited in each of us by our lack of spiritual vision.
God respects our free will, the right of each of us to accept or
reject this miracle-working power. Only the sincere desire of the
soul gives God the opportunity to bestow it.

Prayer for the day:

I pray that I may not limit God's power by my lack of vision. I pray
that I may keep my mind open to day to God's influence.

Greetings my friends! I like the opening words here too! Always avoid negative thinking - good to remember. Hope you are having a wonderful Monday. I made some chicken soup today - and it's cool enough for soup! I also picked our chives, cut off the blossoms on there, and cut some into the soup. Our lilacs are blooming so nicely now, and smell so wonderful, that I cut some for a vase and also some iris's that are blooming and peonies, and cora bells (red). Sure made a beautiful bouquet for the house and Lori's coming home tonight - so excited to see her. After her plane lands she's taking the Executive Express Van home to the Holiday Inn and then we pick her up here around 10:15. Her car is here, and I washed her sheets for her for work tomorrow. It'll be fun to hear about her weekend Seminar and all she learned and the fun she had with her friend there in Ohio. She must be in the air about now. It sure is a blessing to have beautiful flowers in your yard smelling so good! Too bad I don't have a house showing now. Linus is busy watching Wheel of Fortune. Any of you watch that too? I do when I have a chance.

Homily of the Day


June 13, 2011

"Don´t Get Mad, Get Even" Doesn´t Work!
by Monsignor Dennis Clark, Ph.D.

2 Cor 6:1-10 / Mt 5:38-42

Whether accidentally or intentionally, the people around us regularly complicate our lives and often hurt, mistreat, or inconvenience us without a backward glance. In myriad ways, it happens in the supermarket, on the freeway, in the neighborhood, and even at home.

In such cases, there’s a common saying that sometimes just seems to fit the bill: Don’t get mad, get even!

But Jesus offers us an alternative vision. It takes more effort and more self-discipline, and on top of that it isn’t even guaranteed to work every time, but in the long term it builds up our little bit of God’s kingdom instead of tearing it down. Jesus’ alternative to seeking revenge is to work for the conversion of the one who did us wrong. And the strategy he proposes is a simple one: Embarrass the thoughtless and the malefactors into taking a second look at their bad choices and feeling how rotten those choices really were. That’s what the turning of the other cheek is about. Not pacifism or wimpishness, but a strategy for eliciting change.

Jesus understood full well that this won’t work every time and he had no intention of making us permanent victims to every menace who steps into our lives. He recognized the legitimacy of the right to self defense. But before we head straight for that, he asks that we try conversion first. And sometimes we’ll succeed. Those sometimes are worth a little extra effort. Those sometimes can change the whole tone of your life.


Mother Teresa Said...
We are all capable of good and evil. We are not born bad: everybody has something good inside. Some hide it, some neglect it, but it is there. God created us to love and to be loved, so it is our test from God to choose one path or another.

PERSEVERANCE

O Sacred Heart of Jesus, living and life-giving fountain of eternal life, infinite treasure of the Divinity, and glow furnace of love, You are my sanctuary. O adorable and glorious Savior, consume my heart with that burning fire that ever inflames Your Heart.
Pour down on my soul those graces which flow from Your Love. Let my heart be one with, and in all things conformed to, Yours.
May Your Will be the rule of both my desires and my actions. AMEN.

NO MORE WITH ME
Author Unknown


"I'm sorry. Please forgive me! I don't mean to hold you up," he said
as he struggled to get off the escalator.

I'll admit to it. There have been times when walking or driving behind
an older person I've gotten impatient and upset. I've huffed and
zoomed around them because I was in a hurry to get nowhere. Perhaps
I'm more aware of it now because I see myself there one day soon.
Today I saw myself in this old man's shoes and it caused me to slow down,
stop and ask for his forgiveness.

He was about five or six people ahead of me. I was in a hurry and saw
him as an obstacle. I've seen people get off the end of an escalator
and stop dead in their tracks, gather their things and suddenly
there's a pile up of angry
people behind them. You can't stop an escalator full of people behind
you. Like the Energizer bunny, they keep on goin'.

This man was well aware of the challenge. He tried desperately to step
aside. Fumbling with his small packages, struggling to gain his
footing, you could see how troubling this was for him. "I'm sorry.
Please forgive me! I don't mean to hold you up," he said as he
struggled to get off the escalator.

I suddenly saw this in a whole new light. It was like I was watching
my future. I felt sorry for him. I felt sick to my stomach because
this man was apologizing to everyone, when we should have been helping
him and calming
his fears.

One by one, people zipped around him. I heard a few angry comments
whispered as one lady passed by him.

I saw me.

By the time I got to him he was just about steady on his feet.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know there was more," he said.

"No, sir. No more with me," I said. This really hit me hard. I
realized right then how sad it was that the world was in such a hurry.
That, of course, included me. But...no more with me. Count me out.

This wonderful man paid his dues. For whatever time he had spent on
this earth, he most likely walked many rough roads and too many
important miles. Now he should be apologizing for moving slower?

My heart ached as I looked into his eyes. I wished that I could see
what he had seen all those years. His face weathered from life itself,
was creased and wrinkled. The small soft pockets under his eyes and
the gentle lines
that curved up and around them told me he had many happy moments, too.
Those were traces left behind from laughter and a smiling, happy man.

"My friend, can I help you with those things?" I asked.

Hesitant at first, he finally said, "Well, yes, thank you!"

I placed my hand under his left arm and walked with him a safe
distance away from the rush of people.

"So what are you shopping for, sir?"

"Oh, just a little something for my neighbor. She's a young mother
raising kids on her own. She's always so nice to me. I thought a box
of candy for Mother's Day..." he said, stopping suddenly as he
searched his inside pocket of his sport coat.

"Do you need something?" I asked.

"Oh, no. Here. I think I have it right here. I always carry them with
me," he said. Then pulling out a hand full of papers he shuffled
through them and handed me a business card that read:

"John A. Pomicter
Friend to all...enemy to no one!
I said a prayer today and you were the answer. Thank you!"

"That's for you," he said. "Thanks for stopping to help an old man."

"My friend, you helped me. I discovered that I was unhappy with the
world and I was part of the problem. Now I'll be part of the solution.
No more with me!"

"Then this was meant to be," he said smiling.

"You know God sends me gifts every day and always at least one special
person. You were my gift for today! Let's go get some chocolates, my
friend."

Raw Materials Inside You

The wisdom of God is shown in that He left the world unfinished so that we might have the interest and delight in talking the "raw material" and putting the world together.

He left the oil in the trap rock, the aluminum in the clay, the paper in the pulp, the electricity in the clouds. He left the forest un-felled, the mountains unsurveyed, the canals undug, the tunnels unbored.

He left the fields unplowed and unplanted. He left the music unwritten, the poetry undreamed and the dramas unplayed. He left inventions unapplied and cities unbuilt.

He left mind and character unperfected, that we might really be the children of God - created in His own image - with latent powers to take the "raw materials" and put the world together.

Who Does God's Work Will Get God's Pay

Who does God's work will get God's pay.
However long may seem the day,
However weary be the way.
Though powers may thunder "Nay"
No human hand God's hand may stay,
Who does God's work will get His pay.

God hurries not, nor makes delay,
Who works for Him, will get His pay,
Some certain hour, some certain day.
He does not pay as others pay
In gold or land or raiment gay,
In goods that perish and decay,
But God's high wisdom knows a way,
And this is sure, let come what may,
Who does God's work will get God's pay.

Prayer for the Help of the Holy Spirit
by Saint Anthony of Padua (Today is the Feast Day of St. Anthony of Padua)

O God, send forth your Holy Spirit
into my heart that I may perceive,
into my mind that I may remember,
and into my soul that I may meditate.
Inspire me to speak with piety, holiness, tenderness and mercy.
Teach, guide and direct my thoughts and senses from beginning to end.
May your grace ever help and correct me,
and may I be strengthened now with wisdom from on high,
for the sake of your infinite mercy.
Amen.

Good night my friends - sweet dreams and God bless your Tuesday with many more blessings!!