Community Chat

[gloriajean]

It is not as significant to have a good life, but rather to do good things
with your life. Lord, I am grateful for the talents with which You have
blessed me and I pray that they will not go unused.


Scripture for the day:

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you
as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let
them be afraid." ~John 14:27

Meditation for the day:

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you
as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let
them be afraid." Lord, we thank you for the gift of peace. This is
the peace that only God can give in the midst of a restless world and
surrounded by trouble and difficulty. To know that peace is to have
received the stamp of the kingdom of God. When we have earned that
peace, we are fit to judge between true and false values, between the
values of the kingdom of God and the values of all that the world has
to offer.

Prayer for the day:

I pray that I may have inner peace. I pray that today I may be at
peace with myself.

Peace of the Lord be with you all! Hope your day was peaceful - it was very
nice getting to Mass this morning but then it really got cold out! Right
now it's 12 degrees, but will get down to 0. Coldest this season so far.
Today was busy being I start working at Lori's in the morning and won't get
home until after 7, so I made us a chicken soup to take along for lunch, and
I made a chicken stir fry for us for supper tonight, a lot of cooking, but
now we have food in the fridge for when Linus gets home around 5:30 he can
heat something up - left over stir fries too. He'll also grill some chicken
legs that are thawed out. Lori's on this paleo diet now again - no grains,
so I only have veggies and chicken in the soup. That makes it hard to cook
for. Darla is coming home sooner now - Lori will house her cats (2) so she
won't have to leave them, and Greg left today already for NJ to put together
what he designed. This is Darla's last week of school for the year - and
she'll grade the papers when she's here. Really looking forward to her
coming! Thanks for prayers for her safe traveling.

Build a Spiritual Crib


Our greatest glory lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we
fall!

The following directions show you how to build a spiritual crib in your
heart for Christ. Use it to put Christ into your Christmas in a real, living
way. Read the thought indicated about Christ's first crib.

Practice it during the day. Do this daily during December and make your
heart a worthy crib for Christ on Christmas Day.

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DEC.1 - THE STABLE

Frequently during the day offer your heart to the little Infant Jesus. Ask
Him to make it His home. - Sweet Jesus, take my heart and make it meek and
pure.

DEC.2 - THE ROOF

See that the roof of the stable is in good condition, so that the Infant
Jesus is protected from rain and snow. This you will do by carefully
avoiding every uncharitable remark. --Jesus, teach me to love my neighbor as
myself.

DEC.3 - CREVICES

Carefully stop every crevice in the walls of the stable, so that the wind
and cold may not enter there. Guard your senses against temptations. Guard
especially your ears against sinful conversations.--Jesus, help me to keep
temptations out of my heart.

DEC.4 - COBWEBS

Clean the cobwebs from your spiritual crib. Diligently remove from your
heart every inordinate desire of being praised. Renew this intention at
least three times today. --My Jesus, I want to please You in all I do today.

DEC.5 - FENCE

Build a fence about the crib of your heart by keeping a strict watch over
your eyes, especially at prayer. --Sweet Jesus, I long to see You.

DEC.6 - MANGER

Fix the best and warmest corner of your heart for the manger of Jesus. You
will do so by abstaining from what you like most in the line of comfort and
amusement. --Mary, use these sacrifices to prepare my heart for Jesus in
Holy Communion

DEC.7 - HAY

Supply the manger of your heart with hay, by overcoming all feelings of
pride, anger or envy. Jesus, teach me to know and correct my greatest sins.

DEC.8 - SOFT STRAW

Also provide your manger with soft straw by performing little acts of
mortification; for instance, bear the cold without complaints; or sit and
stand erect. --Dear Jesus, Who suffered so much for me, let me suffer for
love of You.

DEC.9 - SWADDLING CLOTHES

Prepare these for the Divine Infant by folding your hands when you pray, and
praying slowly and thoughtfully. --Jesus let me love you more and more.

DEC.10 - BLANKETS

Provide the manger of your with soft warm blankets. Avoid harsh and angry
words; be kind and gentle to all. --Jesus, help me to be meek and humble
like You.

DEC.11 - FUEL

Bring fuel to the crib of Jesus. Give up your own will; obey your superiors
cheerfully and promptly. --Jesus, let me do Your will in all things

DEC.12- WATER

Bring fresh clean water to the crib. Avoid every untruthful word and every
deceitful act. --Dearest Mary, obtain for me true contrition for my sins.

DEC.13 - PROVISIONS

Bring a supply of food to the crib. Deprive yourself of some food at
mealtime or candy as a treat. --Jesus, be my strength and nourishment.

DEC.14 - LIGHT

See that the crib has sufficient light. Be neat and orderly about your
person; keep everything in its place in your room. --Jesus, be the life and
light of my soul.

DEC.15 - FIRE

Take care to have the crib of your heart warmed by a cozy fire. Be grateful
to God for the love He has shown us in becoming man; behave with grateful
respect towards your parents and relatives. -- Jesus, how can I return Your
love; how can I show my gratitude to You?

DEC.16 - THE OX

Lead the ox to the crib. Obey cheerfully without making excuses and without
asking "why." --I will obey for love of You, Jesus.

DEC.17 - THE DONKEY

Bring the donkey to the crib. Offer to the Divine Infant your bodily
strength; use it in the service of others. --Jesus, accept my service of
love; I offer it for those who do not love You.

DEC.18 - GIFTS

Gather some presents for the Divine Infant and His Blessed Mother. Give alms
for the poor and say an extra decade of the rosary. --Come, Jesus, to accept
my gifts and to take possession of my heart.

DEC.19 - LAMBS

Strive to bring some little lambs, meek and humble of heart, make my heart
like Yours.

DEC.20 - SHEPHERDS

Invite the shepherds to pay homage to our newborn King. Imitate their
watchfulness; stress in your speech and thoughts the idea that Christmas is
important because Jesus will be born again in you. Jesus, teach me to love
You above all things.

DEC.21 - THE KEY

Provide the stable with a key to keep out thieves. Exclude from your heart
every sinful thought, every rash judgment --Dear Jesus, close my heart to
all that hurts you.

DEC.22 - ANGELS

Invite the angels to adore God with you. Cheerfully obey the inspirations of
your guardian angel and of your conscience. -- Holy Guardian Angel, never
let me forget that You are with me always.

DEC.23 - ST. JOSEPH

Accompany Saint Joseph from door to door. Learn from him silently and
patiently to bear refusals and disappointments. Open wide your heart and beg
Him to enter with the Blessed Virgin Mary. --Saint Joseph, help me to
prepare for a worthy Christmas Communion.

DEC.24 - THE BLESSED VIRGIN

Go meet your Blessed Mother. Lead her to the manger of your heart and beg
her to lay the Divine Infant in it. Shorten your chats and telephone
conversations and spend more time today thinking of Jesus and Mary and
Joseph. --Come, dear Jesus, Come; my heart belongs to You. "Devotions in
Preparation for the Coming of the Christ child, and at the Crib, from
Christmas to Purification"

It Hurts, Mommy

A mother rushes her three-year-old child to the local
emergency room after she realizes her son is acting
disorientated. The pediatrician, after a few initial tests,
informs the mother her son is suffering from a severe
insulin attack.

"Your child has juvenile diabetes," hurriedly states the
doctor. "We will need to act fast before his blood becomes
completely toxic and he lapses into a coma." The baby boy,
still disoriented, begins to scream as these strangers attempt
to draw blood, administer medicine, and insert an IV, all
involving numerous needles. At the first hint of pain, the
boy kicks wildly and screams.

Nurses race to hold the child's arms and legs down so
others can locate veins and insert needles. The mother tries
to calm the boy, saying, "Mommy's here. It will be okay
sweetie. The doctor is going to make you feel better."

The little boy, still being held down and prodded, looks
into his mother's eyes and cries out, "Mommy, it hurts!
These people are hurting me! Make them stop!" The mother
knows it is the only way to save her son.

There are times when we become disoriented. We
experience the intense pains of life. We cry out in
desperation, "God, it hurts! I don't understand what is
happening here! Please, God, make it stop!"

And in true form, with infinite wisdom and grace, the
Creator of the Universe whispers confidently to us, "I know
you are hurting. Though you are in grief and pain, I will
show you compassion. My love for you is unfailing
(Lamentations 3:32)."

In times of affliction and suffering, it is a comfort to
know you have unlimited access to the God of all
understanding and comfort. God knows "the way that you
take". Following His steps, treasure His words, and you
will "come forth as gold" (Job 23:10-12). Trust in His
power, that in ALL things, God will work them for the
good of those who love him (Romans 8:28)."

Try Something Different

I'm sitting in a quiet room at the Milcroft Inn, a peaceful little place
hidden back among the pine trees about an hour out of Toronto. It's just
past noon, late July, and I'm listening to the desperate sounds of a
life-or-death struggle going on a few feet away.

There's a small fly burning out the last of its short life's energies in a
futile attempt to fly through the glass of the window pane. The whining
wings tell the poignant story of the fly's strategy: Try harder.

But it's not working.

The frenzied effort offers no hope for survival. Ironically, the struggle is
part of the trap. It is impossible for the fly to try hard enough to succeed
at breaking through the glass. Nevertheless, this little insect has staked
its life on reaching its goal through raw effort and determination.

This fly is doomed. It will die there on the windowsill.

Across the room, ten steps away, the door is open. Ten seconds of flying
time and this small creature could reach the outside world it seeks. With
only a fraction of the effort now being wasted, it could be free of this
self-imposed trap. The breakthrough possibility is there. It would be so
easy.

Why doesn't the fly try another approach, something dramatically different?
How did it get so locked in on the idea that this particular route and
determined effort offer the most promise for success? What logic is there in
continuing until death to seek a breakthrough with more of the same?

No doubt this approach makes sense to the fly. Regrettably, it's an idea
that will kill.

Trying harder isn't necessarily the solution to achieving more. It may not
offer any real promise for getting what you want out of life. Sometimes, in
fact, it's a big part of the problem.

If you stake your hopes for a breakthrough on trying harder than ever, you
may kill your chances for success.

(Price Pritchett)

- - -
Lord of the past, Thanks for the blessings you have given me.
Lord of the present, be with me now.
Lord of the future, guide my steps in your ways.


Give us your words Lord, so we may speak.
Give us your heart so we may love.
Give us your wisdom so we may understand.
Give us your mercy so we may forgive.
Give us your strength so we may persevere.
Give us your joy so we may dance!
Give us your righteousness so we may have peace.
Give us your grace so we may abound in every good work!

May the Lord give you all that you need today, in all things and at all
times to share joyfully with others! In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.


THE LOVE OF GOD

We can talk an hour about it, but not have it.

No vessel can contain it all.

No tongue can explain it all.

It is only explained by living it, and retained by giving it.

When we share it, then we have more than we had;

Withhold it and we have less.

It has no competitors or equals.

Death cannot claim it, but only proclaim it.

Persecution only brings it to the surface.

It turns every experience into a privilege.

It works best under pressure.

It has no faults or failures.

It can turn every living sacrifice into a reasonable service. It has been
cradled in a manger, crucified on a cross, resurrected from a tomb, and
carried into heaven.
I admire it in others, I desire it from others, I require it for others,
but I can only acquire it from God.



GOD ANSWERS PRAYER

I know not by what methods rare,
But this I know - God answers prayer,
I know not when He sends the word
That tells us fervent prayer is heard.
I know it cometh -- soon or late:
Therefore we need to pray and wait.
I know not if the blessing sought
Will come in just the way I thought.
I leave my prayers with Him alone,
Whose will is wiser than my own.

Lord let me capture the pure spirit of a loving child when I speak Your
name.
Let me pray as a child prays, asking little for myself,
much for other souls and for Your beautiful world.
Protect me, sleeping and waking, from evil.
Lead me by the hand to good works.
Let me praise You in simple words and in glorious silence through all
the days and the nights of my life.
Amen.

~ Author Unknown


The Be-Attitudes


Be understanding to your perceived enemies.

Be loyal to your friends.


Be strong enough to face the world each day.

Be weak enough to know you cannot do everything alone.

Be generous to those who need your help.


Be frugal with that you need yourself.

Be wise enough to know that you do not know everything.

Be foolish enough to believe in miracles.

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 by the mists of uncertainty.

Be first to congratulate an opponent who succeeds.

Be last to criticize a colleague who fails.

Be sure where your next step will fall, so that you will not tumble.

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; they may change.

Above all, be yourself.

~Author Unknown~

Good night all - Sweet Dreams - let's all try to have a very positive day
tomorrow, ok?