Community Chat

[gloriajean]

No gift is so precious as love. Gratefully trust God and give Him your love.
Lord, I give You my heart.

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

"There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has
to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in
love." 1 John 4:18

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

Love and fear cannot dwell together. By their very natures, they cannot
exist side by side. Fear is a very strong force. And therefore a weak
and vacillating love can soon be routed by fear. But a strong love, a
love that trusts in God, is sure eventually to conquer fear. The only
sure way to dispel fear is to have the love of God more and more in our
hearts and souls.

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

I pray that love will drive out the fear in my life. I pray that my
fear will flee before the power of the love of God.

Hello my friends! How was your day? I worked all day at the office, and not long after I got home got a call from Deil that our sister, Sister LaDonna fell after being at a client's house, she fell down 3 steps outside - missed the first step! Remember she is 82 and broke her ankle a few years ago and has Osteo very bad too. After she got herself up, she wasn't far to her car, got into her driver's seat and drove home - and in her garage she had a walker that she got back from Erma, and she used that to get in the apt. She is elevating her ankle, which is swollen, and she also hurt her shoulder and her knee. She wants us to pray that she won't have to lose her clients. Our sister, Ethel, will be taking her in the morning to Urgent Care. After Deil told me I called her and I told her I'd have you people pray for her. Look at the blessings - she got to her car - had the walker in the garage, and that helped her into the apt. Without that, I'm sure she would have had a hard time. Today I did sell one Gift Certificate, and it was cash with the right amount! Lori and I ate at the Pizza Ranch again for lunch, and I had mashed potatoes and gravy again with chicken and green beans plus 2 narrow slices of pizza. That place is so close to the office.
Tomorrow I work there until 6:30. I can check the threads but I can't do emails there so I just catch up on them when I'm home.
Tomorrow morning LInus starts with Dr. Mike for his knee - please say a prayer he can help him?
Hope none of you heard any bad news today - and only had lots of blessings.



Homily of the Day


December 14, 2010


Remember How Long It Takes to Make a Tree
by Monsignor Dennis Clark, Ph.D.

Zep 3:1-2, 9-13 / Mt 21:28-32

A shy young man fell in love, but he was utterly tongue-tied whenever he was with the girl. A friend offered some advice: “Just memorize some great lines, expressing your total admiration. Something like, ‘When I see your face, time stands still.’”

It made sense, so for weeks the young man practiced: “When I see your face, time stands still.” Finally he was ready. He took her to a romantic restaurant. The lights were low. His eyes met hers and he said, “When I see your face, I, time, uh…” He couldn’t remember the words. Again he tried, “Mary, When I see your face, I, er, I mean…” Now he was totally flustered, so in desperation he blurted out, “Mary, your face could stop a CLOCK.”

We laugh, but there’s another part of us that’s a little sad when we hear a story like that, because it reminds us of all the things, large and small, that we’re still struggling to get right. “After all this time,” we say to ourselves, “I’m still stumbling at the same old places in the road. Same old places. Same old cuts and bruises!”

It can be mighty discouraging and can even make us want to give up. But before we do that, it might be a good idea to see what God has to say about it. He’s trying to catch our attention. He’s calling us by name. LISTEN!

“I’ve been walking at your side from the very beginning,” he says, “and following your progress with great hope. And that’s why I asked Jesus to tell you the story about the two sons. Because you are like the both of them: Sometimes you say ‘yes’ to me, but then get distracted or tired and your ‘yes’ accidentally turns into a ‘no.’

“And sometimes you start with a loud ‘NO!’ and then your better self takes over and you turn it round into the beginning of a ‘yes’ — maybe a little shaky at first, but a beginning. And that makes me so proud of you, because I know what turnarounds cost.

“I know,” says the Lord, “that sometimes you don’t see the progress you’re making. You feel disappointed that you haven’t done better, faster. Dear child, I’m not surprised at all. These things take time. I knew that when I made you.

“Look at how long it takes ME to make a tree or even a flower! And that’s simple when compared to all I’m asking you to do. That will take a lifetime of you and me working together. And even when you reach the end of your pilgrimage, I know in advance that I’ll have to help you finish up. And I will do just that, I promise.

“So don’t be discouraged at how much time everything seems to take Just hold to course. Don’t look back or waste time worrying about the past. And know that I am with you and that you are in my heart always!”

That is God’s word to us! Trust him. God is as good as his word.


Mother Teresa said...
May we all have hearts overflowing with love as a reflection of God's love. God's love is what can save our families, our country, and the world.

Every time you smile at someone,
it is an action of love, a gift to that
person, a beautiful thing.
Mother Teresa

The Christmas Envelope

It's just a small, white envelope stuck among the branches of our Christmas tree. No name, no identification, no inscription. It has peeked through the branches of our tree for the past 10 years or so.

It all began because my husband Mike hated Christmas.

Oh, not the true meaning of Christmas, but the commercial aspects of it. Overspending -- the frantic running around at the last minute to get a tie for Uncle Harry and the dusting powder for Grandma -- the gifts given in desperation because you couldn't think of anything else.

Knowing he felt this way, I decided one year to bypass the usual shirts, sweaters, ties and so forth. I reached for something special just for Mike. The inspiration came in an unusual way.

Our son Kevin, who was 12 that year, was wrestling at the junior level at the school he attended, and shortly before Christmas, there was a non-league match against a team sponsored by an intercut church. These youngsters, dressed in sneakers so ragged that shoestrings seemed to be the only thing holding them together, presented a sharp contrast to our boys in their spiffy blue and gold uniforms and sparkling new wrestling shoes.

As the match began, I was alarmed to see that the other team was wrestling without headgear, a kind of light helmet designed to protect a wrestler's ears. It was a luxury the ragtag team obviously could not afford.

Well, we ended up walloping them, taking every weight class. As each of their boys got up from the mat, he swaggered around in his tatters with false bravado, a kind of street pride that couldn't acknowledge defeat.

Mike, seated beside me, shook his head sadly, I wish just one of them could have won; he said. They have a lot of potential, but losing like this could take the heart right out of them. Mike loved kids-all kids-and he knew them, having coached little league football, baseball and lacrosse.

That's when the idea for his present came. That afternoon, I went to a local sporting goods store and bought an assortment of wrestling headgear and shoes and sent them anonymously to the inner-city church.

On Christmas Eve, I placed the envelope on the tree, the note inside telling Mike what I had done and that this was his gift from me. His smile was the brightest thing about Christmas that year and in succeeding years.

For each Christmas, I followed the tradition -- one year sending a group of mentally handicapped youngsters to a hockey game, another year a check to a pair of elderly brothers whose home had burned to the ground the week before Christmas, and on and on.

The envelope became the highlight of our Christmas. It was always the last thing opened on Christmas morning and our children, ignoring their new toys, would stand with wide-eyed anticipation as their dad lifted the envelope from the tree to reveal its contents. As the children grew, toys gave way to more practical presents, but the envelope never lost its allure.

The story doesn't end there.

You see, we lost Mike last year due to dreaded cancer. When Christmas rolled around, I was still so wrapped in grief that I barely got the tree up. But Christmas Eve found me placing an envelope on the tree, and in the morning, it was joined by three more.

Each of our children, unbeknownst to the others, had placed an envelope on the tree for their dad. The tradition has grown and someday will expand even further with our grandchildren standing around the tree with wide-eyed anticipation watching as their fathers take down the envelope.
Mike's spirit, like the Christmas spirit, will always be with us.

May we all remember Christ, who is the reason for the season, and the true Christmas spirit.

- Author Unknown

The Anatomy Of A True Friend

Eyes:
Will always see you for the way you really are, your true self.

Ears:
Will always have them open to listen.

Mouth:
To always tell you the truth and give their opinions, tell you when you
mess up or do something good.

Shoulder:
Will offer when you need one to cry on, will be your strength when you
find it hard to carry yourself. Will always let you lean on them.

Heart:
To love you for who you are and not judge, Will always have a place there
for you.

Hands:
To hold yours when you need a little guidance, to lend when you need
help, and to help you up when you may fall.

Arms:
Will always make you feel comfortable in them and to offer hugs when you
need one. Will try to warm when you are cold.

Feet:
To walk with you throughout your life and be the best friend they can be.

A Special "Birthday Cake" For Jesus

Put in a cup of humility,
A cup of love goes in too.
Add a cup of caring and sharing,
I'm making it just for you.
You're my Savior and redeemer
So I'll add my heart as well,
For dying on that cross for me
And saving my soul from H ell.
I'll put in lots of forgiveness
For my fellow man,
For many here on Earth
Refuse God's perfect plan.
I'll add a cup of "glad" and "thankfuls"
Because God has for me,
A perfect place in His Kingdom
To live for eternity.
I'll add my cup of cheer as well,
And a cup or two of faith,
That my friends and family near to me,
Will enter in that pearly gate.
I'll stir it all up in my soul,
And offer it to my King.
For myself is all I have to give,
I haven't any other thing.
I'll ice it all over with my prayers,
To be a lamp so bright,
So others may see in me
God's perfect wondrous light.
Happy Birthday Jesus!

~ Author Unknown ~

A True Christmas Poem


C is for the Christ child lying in a manager.
H is for the Holy One who saved us all from danger.
R is to Remember Him who died that we may live.
I is to Inspire us that we may always give.
S is for joyful Songs and sacred hymns that praise.
T is to Thank the Lord for showing us the way.
M is for the Miracles that bless us each day.
A is for the Almighty who always puts us first.
S is for the Shepherd who guides us on earth.

Good night dear friends! Sweet Dreams and may you all have a very blessed Wednesday! Enjoy the Gift of God's Day!

Closing prayer:

Advent Prayer

Father in heaven, the day draws near when the glory of your Son
will make radiant the night of the waiting world.
May the lure of greed not impede us from the joy
which moves the hearts of those who seek him.
May the darkness not blind us to the vision of wisdom
which fills the minds of those who find him.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. Amen.