Community Chat

[gloriajean]

You are a blessed, creative, lovable and needed being created by God.
Lord, may these qualities shine forth and be used to bless those around me.

Scripture for the day:

"For this reason, since the day we heard it, we have not ceased praying for
you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God's will in
all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may lead lives worthy of
the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as
you grow in the knowledge of God." ~Colossians
1:9

Meditation for the day:

We can persevere in all that God's guidance moves us to do. The persistent
carrying out of what seems right and good can bring us to that place where
we would be. If we look back over God's guidance, we can see that God's
leading has been very gradual and that only as we have carried out God's
wishes, as far as we can understand them, has God been able to give us more
clear and definite leading. We can be led by God's touch on a quickened
responsive mind.

Prayer for the day:

I pray that I may persevere in doing what seems right. I pray that I may
carry out all of God's leading as far as I can understand it.

Peace and Love to you my friends! Today was again pretty much on the phone
talking to Darla in Texas - and that was a long call - also for letting
people know about the arrangements for the funeral for Joe, my nephew.
Talked to my sister, Deil, she is sick with a cough and achy all over, not
sure if she'll make it to the funeral on Friday. Two cousins from around
here want to go and want rides so I have to see if I can find rides for
them. the funeral is a little over an hour away from here, I think. Linus
worked today and came home with a sore back - he has no idea what happened
so tomorrow he plans on going to Dr. Mike after his dentist appt. We had a
good supper of a salad and left over pork roast - now it's all gone and he
has to get that again at the Farmer's Market if he can. It felt nice I
didn't have to cook tonight, just heat up on the stove and it was all ready
when he came home. I heard some wonderful things today about Joe - so
comforting. I called Erma, his mother, this morning - she is doing ok - I
told her she is covered with prayer. I found out by another sister that
shortly after Erma was told about Joe her parish priest was told and he came
right over to see her and that helped her a great deal, she said.

Another year is dawning
With the chance to start anew.
May I be kinder, wiser, Lord,
In all I say and do.

Not so caught up in selfish gain
That I would fail to see
The things in life that mean the most
Cost not a fancy fee.

The warm, kind word that I can give,
The outstretched hand to help,
The prayers I pray for those in need--
More precious these than wealth.

I know not what may lie ahead
Of laughter or of tears;
I only need to know each day
That You are walking near.

I'm thankful for this brand new year
As now I humbly pray,
My hand secure in Yours, dear Lord,
Each step along the way.

Kay Hoffman

ABC of Faith


A - Accept anything with joy and peace will then dwell in your hearts.

B - Be willing to change in those areas that are preventing growth

C - Cleanse your soul and live, live the beatitudes

+++


D - Depend on the Divine and He will give you the strength needed.

E - Each must use their time wisely on this earth.

F - Fervently trust, trust, the Divine's mercy and love.

+++

G – Give thanks for all the blessings.

H - Have hope, and be patient, kind and loving.

I - It is so important to remain hopeful and live each day with joy

+++


J – Joy is given to those who do the will of the almighty.

K – Keep your hearts open to the Graces.

L – Let go of hate; and love, love one another.

+++


M – Many Graces are given to those who gather and pray

N – Nothing is impossible with God, so please trust and know that He is
with you.

O – Open your hearts fully to God’s love and mercy.


+++


P – Peace cannot exist if there is unforgiveness and division in your
homes, and community.

Q – Quiet time will truly help to nourish your prayer and spiritual life

R – Receive the grace needed to live a pure and holy life.


+++

S – Share those gifts God has blessed you with.

T – Take a moment today and reflect on all that God is teaching you.

U – Unite in prayer and encourage each other to live a pure and holy life.


+++

V – Victory over evil can be achieve if you keep your focus on the good and
worthy virtues

W – Walk in love and walk as children of light in order to bear fruit.

X – Xeric habits that prevent growth of the soul and spirit must be avoided


+++

Y – You must learn to be more patient with those around you.

Z – Zeal and faithfulness is needed to live a good and blessed life.

Now let Me fill you

I fill you with My Love. I fill you with My forgiveness. I fill you with My
generosity. I fill you with My gifts. I fill you with My strength.

I touch your eyes. See yourself as you really are—as I see you. See Myself
in the people around you. See the needs in the people whom I call you to
serve.

I touch your ears. Hear My voice. Hear My expressions of love and gratitude
for the person you are and the things you do to please Me. Hear the pleas of
the people whom I call you to serve.

I touch your mouth. Speak My words. Hold back all that is unloving, unkind,
unholy. Proclaim the kingdom of God in the way that I call you to serve.

I touch your heart. Your stony heart is replaced by My sacred and pure
heart. I heal the pain from old and new wounds, and I give you the pain that
I feel in My heart, caused by the sins and wounds of others, and through
this I call you to love the sinners unconditionally.

I touch your hands. Reach out and heal others with Me. Give to them My
embrace. Stroke their shoulders to give them My encouragement, and pat their
backs to give them My affirmation.

I touch your feet. Go wherever our Father sends you. I will be with You
always. I walk with you. My Spirit guides you, keeping you on the right
path. Be assured, you will not make lasting mistakes, you will not stray for
long, for I am walking with you. I have everything in My control. Fear
nothing, My wonderful, dear, dear friend. Fear nothing, for My love for you
is all consuming, and always victorious.

I LOVE YOU!

FISHERMEN


Now it came to pass that a group existed who called themselves fishermen.
And lo, there were many fish in the streams and lakes throughout the
surrounding area.
Week after week, month after month, and year after year, those who
called themselves fishermen met in meetings and talked about …

The call to fish.
The abundance of fish.
How they might go about fishing as an occupation.
They declared that fishing is always to be the primary task of
fishermen, but they never fished!

These fishermen built large, beautiful buildings for local fishing
headquarters. The plea was that everyone should be a fisherman and every
fisherman should fish. One thing they didn't do, however, was fish.

In addition to meeting regularly, they organized a board to send out
fishermen to other places where there were many fish. The board was formed
by those who had great vision and courage to speak about fishing, to define
fishing, to promote the idea of fishing in far-away streams and lakes where
many other fish of different color lived. Also the board hired staffs and
appointed committees and held many meetings to …

Define fishing.
Defend fishing
Decide what new streams should be thought about.
But the staff and committee members did not fish.

A speaker bureau was provided to schedule special speakers on the
subject of fishing. After one stirring meeting on "The Necessity of
Fishing," one young fellow left the meeting and went fishing. The next day
he reported that he had caught two outstanding fish. He was honored for his
excellent catch, and he was scheduled to visit all the big meetings to tell
how he did it. So he quit his fishing in order to have time to tell about
the experience to the other fishermen. He was also placed on the Fisherman's
General Board as a person having considerable experience.

Now it's true that many of the fishermen sacrificed and put up with all
kinds of difficulties. Some lived near the water and bore the smell of dead
fish. They received ridicule of some who made fun of their fishermen's clubs
and the fact that they claimed to be fishermen, yet never fished.

They wondered about those who felt it was of little use to attend the
talks about fishing. After all, were they not following the Master, who
said, "Follow Me, and I will make you become fisher of men"? (Mark 1:17)

Imagine how hurt some were when one day a person suggested that those
who didn't fish were not really fishermen, no matter how much they claimed
to be. Yet it did sound correct.

Is a person a fisherman if, year after year, he never catches a fish?
Is one following if he isn't fishing?

PARABLE OF THE PENCIL
Author Unknown


The Pencil Maker took the pencil aside, just before putting him into
the box. There are 5 things you need to know, he told the pencil,
before I send you out into the world. Always remember them and never
forget, and you will
become the best pencil you can be.

One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow
yourself to be held in Someone's hand.

Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, but
you'll need it to become a better pencil.

Three: You will be able to correct mistakes you will make.

Four: The most important part of you will always be what's inside.

And Five: On every surface you are used on, you must leave your mark.
No matter what the condition, you must continue to write.

The pencil understood and promised to remember, and went into the box
with purpose in its heart.

Now replacing the place of the pencil with you; always remember them
and never forget, and you will become the best person you can be.

One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow
yourself to be held in God's hand. And allow other human beings to
access you for the many gifts you possess.

Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, by
going through various problems, but you'll need it to become a
stronger person.

Three: You will be able to correct mistakes you might make or grow
through them.

Four: The most important part of you will always be what's on the
inside.

And Five: On every surface you walk, you must leave your mark. No
matter what the situation, you must continue to serve God in
everything.

By understanding and remembering, let us proceed with our life on this
earth having a meaningful purpose in our heart and a relationship with
God daily.

A Prayer
Let us all become a true and fruitful branch on the vine Jesus, by accepting
Him in our lives as it pleases Him to come:
as the Truth - to be told;
as the Life - to be lived;
as the Light - to be lighted;
as the Love - to be loved;
as the Way - to be walked;
as the Joy - to be given;
as the Peace - to be spread;
as the Sacrifice - to be offered, in our families and within our
neighbourhood.
Amen.

From the Prayerbook of the Missionaries of Charity (that is Mother Teresa's
Order.)

Peace be with you all - remember to look for His blessings all around you!!
They are there! They are always there!