Community Chat

[gloriajean]

If others disappoint you, remember that God alone is perfect.
Lord, forgive me my failings as I forgive others.

Scripture for the day:

"But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute
you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he
makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the
righteous and on the unrighteous." ~Matthew 5:44-45

Meditation for the day:

"He makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on
the righteous and on the unrighteous." God does not interfere with
the working of natural laws. The laws of nature are unchangeable,
otherwise we could not depend on them. As far as natural laws are
concerned,
God makes no distinction between good and bad people. Sickness or
death may strike anywhere. But spiritual laws are also made to be
obeyed. Our success or failure in life can depend on our choice of
good or evil.

Prayer for the day:

I pray that I may choose today the way of the spiritual life. I pray
that I may live today with faith, hope and love.

Hello my friends! Yes, I do pray that I may live today with faith, hope and love - always!!
Today has been just an ordinary day - for me. Linus worked his second day in a row now and his knee isn't bothering him, but his foot is, a lot. So he'll have to see what Dr. Mike says about it, maybe he'll need new shoes for his fallen arches. His old shoes are not that old yet but maybe he wore them out. Still talking and praying about our house situation. Fact is, he needs to work if we stay here, and I wish that didn't have to be. But, my friends, we give this all to God, and He knows what is best, right? He will provide and He is in charge as we put Him in charge of our lives. Jesus is Lord of our lives. May His Will be done!!
Hope your day went well. It is forecasted to be nasty here with freezing rain starting tomorrow night - for a couple days. Hoping it won't be bad when Darla and Greg drive from Mps. to Lori's for her New year's Eve Party. Let's pray for safe traveling for all.


Homily of the Day


December 28, 2010


Walk Fearlessly with Him into the Light
by Monsignor Dennis Clark, Ph.D.

The Feast of the Holy Innocents

1 Jn 1:5-2:2 / Mt 2:13-18

Murder on a large scale was entirely in character for King Herod, who had not flinched at killing members of his own family, to say nothing of countless numbers of political opponents and potential rivals for his throne. Despite all his wealth and power, Herod lived in inner darkness, driven by fear and knowing no peace. His was hardly a life to be envied, even though he thought himself to be the most fortunate man in the kingdom.

Though no kings, we could end up in the same condition, desperately grasping for happiness but living empty-handed in the dark. John reminds us today that this is not what God, Who is light, has in mind for us. “Walk in light,” he says to us, and Jesus “will cleanse us from every wrong.”

What does it mean to walk in the light? It means to open up to God every closed and hidden space in our souls, and to cling to nothing that is darkness. It means living simply and transparently in His presence, letting Him show us the way, and trusting Him so thoroughly that we do not fear to walk where we’ve never walked before.

The Lord is calling us to walk with Him into the new year and to live with Him in a new way, in peace and without fear. Listen to His call and walk fearlessly with Him into the light.



Words of Encouragement


December 28, 2010


The Fourth Day of Christmas!
by Mark Shea

Matthew 9:9

As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax office; and He said to him, “Follow Me.” And he rose and followed Him.

The four Gospel writers were the original “four calling birds.” Like all such talkative critters, calling birds learn to call by being called. Before they met Jesus, the Gospel writers had nothing in common: a tax collector and collaborator with the Romans, a young man at loose ends, a Gentile doctor hundreds of miles away from Judea, a fisherman eking out an existence on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. But then, one by one, they were called, just as Matthew was – and they found their voices and answered. In the call of Jesus there is more than one kind of revelation. For Jesus does not merely reveal the Father to us. He also reveals us to ourselves. In saying “Yes” to Jesus the evangelists found that they could speak in their own voices to the world. They also found that, for all their individuality, they could speak as one in a common love and a common mission. That’s why they went out into the world to call people into the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church of Jesus Christ.

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

The Work of Christmas

When the song of the angels is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flock,
The works of Christmas begins:
To find the lost,
To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry,
To release the prisoner,
To rebuild the nations,
To bring peace among brothers,
To make music in the heart.

The Road of Life

At first, I saw Spirit as my observer, my judge, keeping track of the things I did wrong, so as to know whether I merited heaven or h ell when I die. He was out there sort of like a president, a judge, but I really didn't know Him.

But later on, when I really met and began to understand Spirit, it seemed as though life were rather like a bike ride, but it was a tandem bike, and I noticed that Spirit was in the back helping me pedal. I don't know just when it was that He suggested we change places and I agreed... and life has not been the same since.

When I had control, I knew the way. It was rather boring, but predictable... It was the shortest distance between two points. I always did things my way. But when He took the lead, He knew delightful long cuts, up mountains, and through rocky places at breakneck speeds; it was all I could do to hang on!

Even though it looked like madness, He said, "Pedal!" I worried and was anxious and asked, "Where are you taking me?" He laughed and didn't answer, and I started to learn to trust.

I forgot my boring life and entered into the adventure. And when I'd say, "I'm scared," He'd lean back and touch my hand. He took me to people with gifts that I needed, gifts of healing, acceptance and joy. They gave me gifts to take on my journey, Spirit's and mine. And we were off again.

He said, "Give the gifts away; they're extra baggage, too much weight." So I did, to the people we met, and I found that in giving I received, and still our burden was light.

I did not trust Him, at first, in control of my life. I thought He'd wreck it; but He knows bike secrets, knows how to make it bend to take sharp corners, knows how to jump to clear high rocks, knows how to fly to shorten scary passages. And I am learning to shut up and pedal in the strangest places, and I'm beginning to enjoy the view and the cool breeze on my face with my delightful constant companion, Spirit.

And when I'm sure I just can't do anymore, He just smiles and says... Pedal."

- Author Unknown

The Most
The most destructive habit..............................Worry
The greatest Joy.............................................Giving
The greatest loss......................Loss of self-respect

The most satisfying work....................Helping others
The ugliest personality trait....................Selfishness
The most endangered species........Dedicated leaders

Our greatest natural resource....................Our youth
The greatest "shot in the arm"...........Encouragement
The greatest problem to overcome......................Fear

The most effective sleeping pill.........Peace of mind
The most crippling failure disease................Excuses
The most powerful force in life..........................Love

The most dangerous pariah......................A gossiper
The world's most incredible computer.......The brain
The worst thing to be without......................... Hope

The deadliest weapon.............................The tongue
The two most power-filled words................."I Can"
The greatest asset.........................................Faith

The most worthless emotion......................Self-pity
The most beautiful attire................................SMILE!
The most prized possession....................... Integrity


The most contagious spirit....................Enthusiasm

This was written by my good friend, Mel for today was the Feast of the Holy Innocents:

Little Innocents

Holy Innocents who died as little Martyrs
Their blood poured, now God's Partners
Because of the reigning King Herod's fears
Those stripped parents shed copious tears.

Wailing in sorrow in every tomorrow
Not one hour could one parent borrow
Hearts rended in indescribeable pain
Never would mourning their babes wane.

Is it not the same today here and now
Babies are ripped apart somehow
Hearts rended in indescribeable pain
Never to know why the seed became.

O Lord, send your Holy Spirit
That a pregnancy they might not fear it.
Give insight to the new mother to be
To deliver her baby because of Thee.

© Mel Patterson, 12-28-10

Closing Prayer:

Prayer to Achieve Inner Peace

Slow me down, Lord. Ease the pounding of my heart by the quieting of my mind. Steady my hurried pace with a vision of the eternal reach of time. Give me, amid the confusion of the day, the calmness of the everlasting hills. Break the tensions of my nerves and muscles with the soothing music of the singing streams that live in my memory.
Help me to know the magical, restoring power of sleep. Teach me the art of taking minute vacations---of slowing down to look at a flower, to chat with a friend, to pat a dog, to read a few lines from a good book.
Remind me each day of the fable of the hare and the tortoise, that I may know that the race is not always to the swift---that there is more to life than increasing its speed. Let me look upward into the branches of the towering oak and know that it grew great and strong because it grew slowly and well.
Slow me down, Lord, and inspire me to send my roots deep into the soil of life's enduring values that I may grow toward the stars of my greater destiny.
Amen.

Good night everyone - sweet dreams to all and may your Wednesday be filled with God's blessings.
Prayers going for you all for all of your intentions and your loved ones.
Thanks for your prayers for us.
God bless you!