Community Chat

[gloriajean]

Hello my friends! Even in our -18 degree weather we have many blessings! My husband stayed home, he did some cleaning for me - he even cooked supper! I had a bum day myself being my hand/wrist was hurting all day - must be arthritis, but some day's it's real good. I just offered it up for our intentions. Last night's blessings yet before going to bed I called Wanda, our friend from here, but she's in Fla. now - after seven it's free calling on our cell. Thought it'd be a good idea to call someone every night after seven, if time allows. Just to bless someone!

Jesus came to us to serve not be served. Lord, help me to set aside

my self-serving behaviors and model my life after You.

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

You will be hated by all because of my name, but not a hair on your head

will be destroyed. By your perseverance you will secure your lives."

~Luke 21:12-19

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

It's not easy to be a true Christian. The price is laid out on today's

Gospel. "You will be hated by all because of my name." We may think this

does not apply to us. Then we need to ask ourselves if our faith realy

and truly sets us apart from others around us. And we can be comfroted to

hear, "... but not a hair on your head will be destroyed. By your

perseverance you will secure your lives.

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

I pray that I may be a true Christian. I pray that I may trust in the

security the Lord gives me as He helps me see the importance of working

for those things which last forever.

Such a blessing

Such a blessing, such as this,

That together we are more

when I turn on my computer

It seems like you're at my door !

Welcome my cyber sisters

Welcome brothers "in the Lord"

Today is a new day

Great blessings and great joy !

Father bless my "special" friends

Ones with no faces for me to see

But with the key pads ,

we can feel the love

And pray and intercede !

Keep us forever, remembering

That we are truly blessed

I pray for each new cyber-friend

And for those still to come!

Thank you, Father

Love, me

Mother Teresa said:

At the end of our lives we will not be

judged by how many diplomas we have

received, how much money we have

made or how many great things we

have done.

We will be judged by: I was hungry

and you gave me to eat. I was naked

and you clothed me. I was homeless

and you took me in.

Hungry not only for bread—

but hungry for love.

Naked not only for clothing—

but naked of human dignity and

respect.

Homeless not only for want of a

room of bricks—

but homeless because of rejection.

This is Christ in distressing

disguise.

Meditations by Padre Pio

Stay very close to the crib of this most beautiful Child, especially during

these days of His birth. If you love riches, here you will find the gold the

Kings left Him. If you love the smoke of honors, here you will find that of

incense. And if you love the delicacy of the senses, you will smell the

perfumed myrrh which perfumes the entire Holy stable.

God's Boxes

I have in my hands two boxes,

Which God gave me to hold.

He said, "Put all your sorrows in the black box,

And all your joys in the gold."

I heeded His words, and in the two boxes,

Both my joys and sorrows I stored,

But though the gold became heavier each day,

The black was as light as before.

With curiosity, I opened the black,

I wanted to find out why,

And I saw, in the base of the box, a hole,

Which my sorrows had fallen out by.

I showed the hole to God, and mused,

"I wonder where my sorrows could be!"

He smiled a gentle smile and said,

"My child, they're all here with me.."

I asked God, why He gave me the boxes,

Why the gold and the black with the hole?

"My child, the gold is for you to count your blessings,

The black is for you to let go."

T E N C O M M A N D M E N T S F O R P A R E N T S
from the perspective of a child

1. My hands are small. Please don't expect perfection whenever I make a
bed, draw a picture or throw a ball. My legs are short. Please slow down
so that I can keep up with you.

2. My eyes have not seen the world as yours have. Please let me explore
safely. Don't restrict me unnecessarily.

3. Housework will always be there. I'm only little for such a short time.
Please take time to explain things to me about this wonderful world, and
do so willingly.

4. My feelings are tender. Please be sensitive to my needs. Don't nag me
all day long. (You wouldn't want to be nagged for your inquisitiveness.)
Treat me as you would like to be treated.

5. I am a special gift from God. Please treasure me, holding me
accountable for my actions, giving me guidelines to live by and
disciplining me in a loving manner.

6. I need your encouragement and your praise to grow. Please go easy on
the criticism. Remember, you can criticize the things I do without
criticizing me.

7. Please give me the freedom to make decisions concerning myself. Permit
me to fail so that I can learn from my mistakes. Then someday, I'll be
prepared to make the kind of decisions life requires of me.

8. Please don't do things over for me. Somehow that makes me feel that my
efforts didn't quite measure up to your expectations. I know it's hard,
but please don't try to compare me with my brother or my sister.

9. Please don't be afraid to leave for a weekend together. Kids need
vacations from parents, just as parents need vacations from kids. Besides,
it's a great way to show us kids that your marriage is very special.

10. Please take me to Church regularly, and set a good example for me
to follow.

Author Unknown

[hsawaknow]

I just want you to know I appreciate your thread and read it daily. I'm going thru a difficult time in my life now and if it were not for my faith I don't know how I would make it.

[rondell]

Beautiful thread as always. I'm so thankful to be living in a country that still allows us to worship our Lord without fear of going to prison or losing our life. So many others around the globe are being tortured, locked up, executed - you name it, just for saying they're a Christian and nothing more than that.

We must remember those folks in our prayers. They suffer greatly at the hands of those who are enemies of the cross.

[rondell]

On 1/21/2014 hsawaknow said: I just want you to know I appreciate your thread and read it daily. I'm going thru a difficult time in my life now and if it were not for my faith I don't know how I would make it.

(((hsawaknow))) I'll say a prayer for you.

[Puzzle Piece]

Hello to All!

Blessings - I am blessed with opportunities and adventures at this time. Not travel or 'cash and prizes'. I am given everyday routines and obligations that I must meet so I work them through with a positive and focused heart and mind. I apply myself the best I know how and the outcomes will be a learning lesson or a welcome blessing as the result. In doing the tasks, I find adventure. In completing the job, I open doors to potential and blessings.

I am grateful for a nation so very blessed. I am thankful for her people, her outstanding troops, her resilience, her generosity, her allies, her strength, her liberties, her privileges, her rights and opportunities. It is good to experience this journey we call life. May you find the inner peace and light that is beyond beauty and explanation. May you all know love.

[marmot24]

Hello Gloria & all. Frigid again here in PA, but I am thankful for a warm cozy house. It's over 100 yrs old, not fancy, but sturdy & comfortable. Tomorrow is my yearly mammogram, I'm a 6 yr br. cancer survivor. I thank God for my recovery & my wonderful doctor. Blessings to all who read this inspiring daily positive. Marmot

[DoubleJ]

Hello everyone,

Times of trouble are times for trust.

Our temps have taken a nose dive, and today is supposed to be the best of the next three days. Yikes! I am thankful for my home, as my heart aches for those who have no home and are living on the streets. May God move people to help those who are in need, whether its finding a place for them to lay down their heads or putting food in their bellies, whatever the need I ask that God leads the right people to those in need.

Serenity4ever, thank you for your kind words. As for having "strong faith" it's definitely a work in process. I have my days of doubt, fear, anger, and tears. There have been times, I was like the Israelites, just wanting to run back to Egypt, feeling so downhearted, and then a spark of encouragement, knowing that God is our deliverer, even when we can't see what is going on, He is always working on our behalf.

Exodus 6:6 "I will rescue you..., and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm."

Hsawaknow, I will keep you in my prayers as you go through this season. Dear Lord please help me/us to trust You despite my discouragement. Lord we invite You to fill us with hope, through the power of the Holy Spirit. Let my life, our lives testify of Your faithfulness. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Rondell, I also am so glad that I live in the United States. It's truly is a blessing. Thank you for reminding us to pray for those who have to fear that at any time they may lose their life for believing in our Savior Lord Jesus Christ.

Love Roses, good to hear from you! I was wondering if you were near those fires. I have many warm thoughts and prayers that your state receives the much need snow/rain that is needed.

Marmot24, prayers that everything goes well for you tomorrow. Stay warm!

Gloriajean, I hope your wrist will be feeling better soon. Are you eating the raisins? This cold weather can make anybody ache.

Another reading from "Jesus Calling," by Sarah Young

"Strive to trust Me in more and more areas of your life. Anything that tends to make you anxious is a growth opportunity. Instead of running away from these challenges, embrace them, eager to gain all the blessings I have hidden in the difficulties. If you believe that I am sovereign over every aspect of you life, it is possible to trust Me in all situations. Don't waste energy regretting the way things are or thinking about what might have been. Start at the present moment-accepting things exactly as they are-and search for My way in the midst of those circumstances.

Trust is like a staff you can lean on, as you journey uphill with Me. If you are trusting in Me consistently, the staff will bear as much of your weight as needed. Lean on, trust, and be confident in Me with all your heart and mind."

Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."

It sure was a blessing to receive the above mentioned book from a friend. Until next time...

Take Care and God Bless!

[gloriajean]

What a blessing it is to come here and see 6 replies!! Praise our Lord, Jesus!! You've made my day already!!

First of all, a very warm welcome to hsawaknow! So happy you are here with us and thanks for reading this daily!! I am very sorry you are going through a hard time right now, we are too, financially, and know what it's like, and we have to keep our Faith! It's a must! Wish I'd know your first name, I could put you on my prayer line where quite a number are willing to pray for others, me included. But I"ll certainly pray for you! Keep you Faith, know that this, too, shall pass, and Jesus is right with us always and forever. He won't let us down. Again thank you so much for posting and please, do come again - it would be nice if you would be a regular here like some are, so we can get to know you better. May God be with you!

rondell - It's so true, we are so fortunate indeed! Thanks for reminding us to pray for those people who are so mistreated. I can't imagine living like that!

Love Roses - very good positive attitude! That's the way to be! May God keep giving you strength to overcome any hurdles in life! Keep up the good work!

Marmot - Your house must be from your parents? Ours was over 100 years old at the farm I grew up in. Great to have heat! In those days, it was cold in the house, well especially upstairs where my bedroom was. We had an old Ziegler Heater Stove in the living room. Loved that old stove!! I wish to congratulate you on your 6 yr. br. cancer survivor! Praise God. My 91 year old sister, is too, maybe 20 years now. No chemo or radiation then at that time. Blessings upon your appointment tomorrow.

Juanita - I think we all feel like that in hard times, I know it's hard to keep positive when it seems like everything is going wrong! Yet! the devil wants us to feel that way, and not trust in God, so we lean toward God's blessings and know He'll guide us through it. Yes, we both are still eating the gin and raisins, and like it said, it comes and goes. Today it seems to be gone! My husband has not had pain in his neck since the third day of the raisins. Before that, he'd make a lot of trips to the chiropractor. This works better.

Today it is very windy out and cold! I'm dog-sitting and they (Ollie and Sammy) don't stay out long at all!! Before the wind almost flipped Sammy over!