Community Chat

[gloriajean]

God is better to us than we deserve. Lord, thank you for the strength
You give in my trials and especially thank you for the trials You have
kept from my door.

Scripture for the day:

"Happy are those who observe justice, who do righteousness at all
times." ~Psalm 106:3

Meditation for the day:

Life is not a search for happiness. Happiness is a by-product of living
the right kind of life, of doing the right thing. We need not search
for happiness. We can search for right living and happiness can be our
reward. Life is sometimes a march of duty during dull, dark days. But
happiness can come again, as God's smile of recognition of our
faithfulness. True happiness is the by-product of a life well lived.

Prayer for the day:

I pray that I may not seek happiness but seek to do right. I pray that
I may not seek pleasure so much as the things that bring true happiness.

Hello my friends! Today was just a nice, relaxing day with Angie here. We
didn't do much but I made a chicken soup, and a chicken cassorole and naps
were in order! Watched some TV, and later we'll listen to a Lighthouse CD
that I have here, before going to bed. I emailed Fr. Jerry's sister,
Shirley, so see if she can come here for lunch sometime before Angie has to
leave, but hope she's alright. She had a hernia repaired, had complications
and back in the hospital again. Linus left this morning to help his
brothers build a deck on a lake home which his nephew owns. He'll be gone a
few days. Hope to see more of you back and hope you all have a very
positive day tomorrow - with sunshine. We have a cool week.

DON'T WE ALL
Author Unknown
October 16, 2009


I was parked in front of the mall wiping off my car. I had just come
from the car wash and was waiting for my wife to get out of work.
Coming my way from across the parking lot was what society would
consider a bum. From the looks of him, he had no car, no home, no
clean clothes, and no money. There are times when you feel generous
but there are other times that you just
don't want to be bothered. This was one of those "don't want to be
bothered times."

"I hope he doesn't ask me for any money," I thought.

He didn't.

He came and sat on the curb in front of the bus stop but he didn't
look like he could have enough money to even ride the bus.
After a few minutes he spoke.

"That's a very pretty car," he said.

He was ragged but he had an air of dignity around him. His scraggly
blond beard keep more than his face warm.

I said, "thanks," and continued wiping off my car.

He sat there quietly as I worked. The expected plea for money never
came. As the silence between us widened something inside said, "ask
him if he needs any help." I was sure that he would say "yes" but I
held true to the inner voice.

"Do you need any help?" I asked.

He answered in three simple but profound words that I shall never
forget. We often look for wisdom in great men and women. We expect it
from those of higher learning and accomplishments. I expected nothing
but an outstretched grimy hand. He spoke the three words that shook
me.

"Don't we all?" he said.

I was feeling high and mighty, successful and important, above a bum
in the street, until those three words hit me like a twelve gauge
shotgun.

Don't we all?

I needed help. Maybe not for bus fare or a place to sleep, but I
needed help. I reached in my wallet and gave him not only enough for
bus fare, but enough to get a warm meal and shelter for the day. Those
three little words still ring true. No matter how much you have, no
matter how much you have accomplished, you need help too. No matter
how little you have, no matter how loaded you are with problems, even
without money or a place to sleep, you can give help. Even if it's
just a compliment, you can give that.

You never know when you may see someone that appears to have it all.
They are waiting on you to give them what they don't have. A different
perspective on life, a glimpse at something beautiful, a respite from
daily chaos, that only you through a torn world can see.

Maybe the man was just a homeless stranger wandering the streets.
Maybe he was more than that. Maybe he was sent by a power that is
great and wise, to minister to a soul too comfortable in themselves.

Maybe God looked down, called an Angel, dressed him like a bum, then
said, "go minister to that man cleaning the car, that man needs help."

Don't we all?



Count Your Blessings

Count your blessings instead of your crosses,
Count you gains instead of your losses,
Count your joys instead of your woes,
Count your friends instead of your foes.

Count your courage instead of your fears,
Count your laughs instead of your tears.
Count your full years instead of your lean,
Count your kind deeds instead of your mean.

Count you health instead of your wealth,
Count on God instead of yourself.


~ Author Unknown

OLD JOE
By Melanie Schurr
Jan 21 2009


Old Joe was the local derelict. No one really knew the cause of what
sent him to the streets It was rumored he only had an elementary
education. His disheveled and dirty appearance made him seem older
than his 30 years. When he would walk by, people would whisper behind
his back saying, "Poor old Joe. Will nothing good come of him?"

Old Joe spent his days searching in garbage cans for redeemable
bottles and his nights sleeping in an alley. One day, Joe seemed to
disappear without a trace. Some thought he hopped a train to the
south, but no one knew for sure.

Ten years later, a new preacher came to town; he had a quiet and
relaxed way about him as he stood on the corner handing leaflets out.
On occasion, he could also be seen treating a homeless person to lunch
as they sat and talked and he was also a favorite guest speaker at the
local church.

After one sermon, a group of elderly ladies gathered together,
commenting on how wise the preacher was. "Obviously, he came from a
very good college," remarked one lady. "Yes, it is rumored he came
from a very well to do family," said another.

The following Sunday, the preacher began to speak, "Ten years ago I
felt I was a nobody. I had no real family, a limited education, and
couldn't get a job. No one seemed to care, so I, too, began to not
care about my self. A woman reached out to me one day, told me about
someone who DID care, God. She told me that God does not look at the
outer appearance, but at one's heart.
She told me that He loved me so much He sent His Son to die on the
cross for my sins and that, through Him, I could have salvation." The
preacher continued, "On that day, my life changed dramatically because
for once I had a sense of hope. I may not have had an earthly family,
but I had a whole slew of 'brother's and sister's' in the family of
Christ! No longer did I have to be 'poor old Joe,' because in the
Bible, it told me I was now a child of God! ("How great is the love
the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of
God!" I John 3:1)"

The whole congregation sat and stared in awe, now knowing the
distinguished man before them was 'ole Joe. That day, the sharing of
his story of faith, hope, and love changed many lives.

Through the example of Old Joe, we can know ALL things are not only
possible through Christ who strengthens us, but, through Him, former
things are passed away and the new is now upon us! If ole Joe can do
it, so can you! Call on your heavenly Father today.

Help Me To Let Go, and Let God

Dear Lord, Help me to let go and let You. Urge me to let go of my impatience
and to open my heart to Your Loving Patience. Teach me how to let go of my
pompous attitude in thinking I'm the only one capable of solving all of my
problems. Counsel me on how to let go of my cares, my worries and the noises
in my life... and to let You surround me with Your Tranquil Assurances of my
comfort.

Encourage me to let go of my selfishness and let You show me the benefit of
praying for others who seek Your Protection, Your Healings, Your
Forgiveness, Your Compassion and Your Rainbows after raging storms. Remind
me, Lord, of the Holy Benefits when I let go and let You lead me on Your
Path. Smile with me, Lord, when I finally let go and let You take over. Nod
Your Head in Sanctified Approval when I let go of my follies and let You
replace them with positive goals in my life. Amen.

Glory, Honor and Praise to You, Lord, forever and ever.


THANKS FOR YOUR TIME
Author Unknown

A young man learns what's most important in life from the guy next
door. It had been some time since Jack had seen the old man. College,
girls, career, and life itself got in the way. In fact, Jack moved
clear across the country in pursuit of his dreams. There, in the rush
of his busy life, Jack had little time to think about the past and
often no time to spend with his wife and son. He was working on his
future, and nothing could stop him.

Over the phone, his mother told him, "Mr. Belser died last night. The
funeral is Wednesday." Memories flashed through his mind like an old
newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days.

"Jack, did you hear me?"

"Oh, sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you. It's been so long since I thought
of him. I'm sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago," Jack
said.

"Well, he didn't forget you. Every time I saw him he'd ask how you
were doing. He'd reminisce about the many days you spent over 'his
side of the fence' as he put it," Mom told him.

"I loved that old house he lived in," Jack said.

"You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser stepped in to make
sure you had a man's influence in your life," she said.

"He's the one who taught me carpentry," he said. "I wouldn't be in
this business if it weren't for him. He spent a lot of time teaching
me things he thought were important... Mom, I'll be there for the
funeral," Jack said.

As busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the next flight to
his hometown. Mr. Belser's funeral was small and uneventful. He had no
children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away.

The night before he had to return home, Jack and his Mom stopped by to
see the old house next door one more time. Standing in the doorway,
Jack paused for a moment. It was like crossing over into another
dimension, a leap through space and time. The house was exactly as he
remembered. Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece of
furniture... . Jack stopped
suddenly.

"What's wrong, Jack?" his Mom asked.

"The box is gone," he said.

"What box? " Mom asked.

"There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk. I
must have asked him a thousand times what was inside. All he'd ever
tell me was 'the thing I value most,'" Jack said.

It was gone. Everything about the house was exactly how Jack
remembered it, except for the box. He figured someone from the Belser
family had taken it.

"Now I'll never know what was so valuable to him," Jack said. "I
better get some sleep. I have an early flight home, Mom."

It had been about two weeks since Mr. Belser died. Returning home from
work one day Jack discovered a note in his mailbox. "Signature
required on a package. No one at home. Please stop by the main post
office within the next three days," the note read.

Early the next day Jack retrieved the package. The small box was old
and looked like it had been mailed a hundred years ago. The
handwriting was difficult to read, but the return address caught his
attention.

"Mr. Harold Belser" it read. Jack took the box out to his car and
ripped open the package. There inside was the gold box and an
envelope. Jack's hands shook as he read the note inside.

"Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack
Bennett. It's the thing I valued most in my life."

A small key was taped to the letter. His heart racing, as tears
filling his eyes, Jack carefully unlocked the box. There inside he
found a beautiful gold pocket watch. Running his fingers slowly over
the finely etched casing, he unlatched the cover.

Inside he found these words engraved: "Jack, Thanks for your time!
Harold Belser."

"The thing he valued most...was.. .my time."

Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his office and
cleared his appointments for the next two days.

"Why?" Janet, his assistant asked.

"I need some time to spend with my son," he said.

"Oh, by the way, Janet...thanks for your time!"

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the
moments that take our breath away,"

Thank you for your time.....

Enjoy your Wednesday - and may God Bless you!