Community Chat

[gloriajean]

Forgiveness frees the heart and moves us from the victim to the one who
is in control of our lives. Lord, forgive us our trespasses as we forgive
those who trespass against us.

S C R I P T U R E F O R T H E D A Y

"O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are
all the work of your hand." ~Isaiah 64:8

M E D I T A T I O N F O R T H E D A Y

I believe that the future is in God's hands. God knows better than I what
the future holds for me. I am not at the mercy of fate or buffeted about by
life. I am being led in a very definite way, as I try to rebuild my life. I
am the builder, but God is the architect. It is mine to follow God's
guidance and to build as best I can.

P R A Y E R F O R T H E D A Y

I pray that I may depend on God, since God has a plan for my life. I pray
that I may live my life as I believe God wants me to live it.
Greetings to you all! Hope you all had blessings today! Today was Linus' day off - he and his brothers went to visit their cousin today - had a great time. Her mother, their aunt, died about last year at the age of almost 102. Then tonight we were invited out for supper at our friend's house - two Benedictine nuns we met many years ago on a retreat, and they became our life-long friends. Sister Pat loves to cook and she served us turkey, brocolli, fresh bread, and sweet potatoes after a delicious salad. Wonderful dessert! We started out with wine. We haven't seen each other for awhile so we visited - otherwise we'd play cards. Lori just lives a few blocks away from them. Sister Phyllis is a retired biology teacher - taught college students, now she is busy with all kinds of other things - in the summer the community garden - and the Farmer's Market. She is 85 and in good health. We always enjoy visiting with them. What a great blessing to have them for friends!

Homily of the Day
January 25, 2011
Don´t Be Timid!
by Fr. Frank Jindra
Acts 22:3-16; Mk 16:15-18
Our reading from Mark 16 today has Jesus telling us not to be timid in our presentation of the Gospel. In the reading from Acts 22, Paul is giving us an example of exactly that kind of treatment of the message of Jesus.
Paul understood the audience he was facing, and knew that they were in some ways intractable. So while presenting the Gospel truth, he pits one side against the other. Some people question whether Paul was right in doing this (20-20 hindsight, or so they think). Personally, I think it was the brilliance of the Holy Spirit. After all, Jesus did tell us he would send the Holy Spirit to fill us with the words we need at the time we need. We too will face intractable opponents at times when we try to present the fullness of the Gospel. Yet, we cannot avoid or water down the truth that Christ has come to set us free.
Another point to note is that Paul does not shy away from describing his personal encounter with Jesus. It is this personal encounter with Jesus that we need to highlight in our own lives. In today’s world that wants to push Jesus and Christianity off to the side we need to bring it back to center stage, not just the center stage of public opinion, but the center stage of our own lives.
Some people use the quote from St. Francis of Assisi that we should speak the gospel in all situations and sometimes use words (or something like that) to shy away from being upfront about our faith in Christ. I am convinced we need both words and action more today than ever. That is precisely what Jesus called for in Mark’s Gospel today: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned…” He goes on to talk about handling poisons and serpents as though they were nothing! In fact, this is what happens in Acts 28: Paul is shipwrecked on Malta, bitten by a viper, cures many people, and spends the winter bringing the faith to the people of Malta.
We cannot remain timid in the face of the world any longer. We need to expect God to work with us as we approach a world not interested in the Truth. We need to present that Truth, and ask God to grant us great things that cannot be set aside in the eyes of the world. Christianity again needs to be bold and strong. Christ has ever called us to that. May we not disappoint Him.

Prayers to Saint Paul the Apostle
O Glorious Saint Paul, after persecuting the Church you became by God's grace its most zealous Apostle. To carry the knowledge of Jesus, our divine Savior, to the uttermost parts of the earth you joyfully endured prison, scourgings, stonings, and shipwreck, as well as all manner of persecutions culminating in the shedding of the last drop of your blood for our Lord Jesus Christ.
Obtain for us the grace to labor strenuously to being the faith to others and to accept any trials and tribulations that may come our way. Help us to be inspired by your Epistles and to partake of your indomitable love for Jesus, so that after we have finished our course we may join you in praising him in heaven for all eternity. Amen.
+ + + + + + + + + +
Great convert and Apostle of the Gentiles, you became Christlike and knew only Christ Crucified. Though extremely learned, you relied completely on the Wisdom received from the Spirit and taught from the abundance of your heart. Instruct modern evangelists - those who preach Christ to others. Let them realize that their actions speak louder than any words they may use. Teach them to use their talents in conveying their God-given message but to rely above all on the promptings of the Spirit. Amen.

LOVE TO PRAY

Feel during the day the need for prayer
and take trouble to pray.
Prayer enlarges the heart.
Until it is capable of containing God's gift of Himself.
Ask and seek, and your heart will grow
big enough to receive Him
and keep Him as your own.
Bl. Mother Teresa

Authored By Grace
Have you considered how the story of your life would read in book form? Especially if it were written by someone who knew it as well as you. Remember each decision is a step in the journey that is your life. With Jesus as your editor in chief, the resulting story will be an eternal best seller.
One story of life is unfolding
With events occurring each day
The continuing story of my life
From a babe to hairs of gray.
God is moving my hand to write
A journal of my walk on earth,
Page upon page of decisions
Of fear and sorrow and mirth.
He helps me pick up the pen
And lays His great hand over mine,
Teaching me to write in His will
With strokes so artful and fine.
A mystically wonderful saga
Of a life lived in time and space,
This diary of daily living
One that is authored by grace.
Like a child who is learning
To write the language of school,
Help from the master's hand
Gives guidance in using the tool.
We, like the child appreciate
The initial aid of His hand
But soon strive to be free and
Independent whenever we can.
Desiring to write by ourselves
A story line authored by me,
With choices that I get to make
About new chapters yet to be.
Looking back on my journal
I can see each twist and turn,
And the times I wrote on my own
The hard lessons I had to learn.
Jesus take control of my hand
Guide the choice of each letter
Each word, sentence, and phrase.
As I write the rest of my days.
Let the conclusion of the matter
Show your hand set in place,
Writing the drama of my life
One that was authored by grace
Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:2

Paradoxes Of A Child Of God
Strong enough to be weak;
Successful enough to fail;
Busy enough to take time;
Wise enough to say, "I don't know."
Serious enough to laugh.
Rich enough to be poor;
Right enough to say "I'm wrong."
Compassionate enough to discipline;
Conservative enough to give freely;
Mature enough to be childlike.
Righteous enough to be a sinner;
Important enough to be last;
Courageous enough to fear God;
Planned enough to be spontaneous;
Controlled enough to be flexible.
Free enough to endure captivity;
Knowledgeable enough to ask questions;
Loving enough to be angry;
Great enough to be anonymous;
Responsible enough to play.
Assured enough to be rejected;
Stable enough to cry;
Victorious enough to lose;
Industrious enough to relax;
Leading enough to serve.
Pass this on...
- Author Unknown

The Value of Time
Read quietly then send it back on its journey
To realize
The value of a sister/brother
Ask someone
Who doesn't have one.
To realize
The value of four years:
Ask a graduate.
To realize
The value of one year:
Ask a student who
Has failed a final exam.
To realize
The value of nine months:
Ask a mother who gave birth to a stillborn.
To realize
The value of one month:
Ask a mother
Who has given birth to
A premature baby .
To realize
The value of one week:
Ask an editor of a weekly newspaper.
To realize
The value of one minute:
Ask a person
Who has missed the a train, bus or plane.
To realize
The value of one-second:
Ask a person
Who has survived an accident.
Time waits for no one.
Treasure every moment you have.
You will treasure it even more when
You can share it with someone special.
To realize the value of a friend or family member:
LOSE ONE

UPLIFTING THINGS TO DO TODAY
Author Unknown
January 25, 2011
* Smile at a stranger
* Drop a coin where a child can find it
* Learn something new and teach it to someone
* Tell someone you love them
* Hug someone
* Forgive someone who has wronged you
* Try saying "I'm sorry" when you ought to
* Tell a child how great they are
* Sing a song about Jesus to yourself
* Keep a promise
* Call someone just to say hello
* Try listening more than talking
* Stand up for what you believe in
* Thank God for His beautiful Creation
* Encourage someone who is feeling down
* Cherish today as if it were your last one
* Tell someone about Jesus

Closing Prayer:

Prayer for Peace of Heart
Almighty and Eternal God
Give me, I beseech You
the great gift of inward peace
Command the winds and storms
of my unruly passions.
Subdue, by your grace, my proneness
to love created things too much,
Give me a love of suffering for your sake.
Make me forbearing and kind to others,
that I may avoid quarrels and contentions.
And teach me constantly to seek after
and to acquire that perfect resignation
to Your Holy Will
which alone brings interior peace. Amen

Good night my friends! Sweet dreams and may your Wednesday be filled with lots of blessings!! See you then!