Community Chat

[gloriajean]

Your spirit is divine, but your personality is human. As you purify your
personality
you will begin to achieve a happiness of which you could not imagine. Lord,
teach
me to think, speak, and live right so that I may come to know You more and
more.


Scripture for the day:

"For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the
same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually
we are members one of another." ~Romans 12:4-5

Meditation for the day:

We can strive for a union between our purposes in life and God's purposes.
There is not bond of union on earth to compare with the union between us and
God. Priceless beyond all earth's rewards is that union. In merging our
heart and mind with God's, a oneness of purpose results, which only those
who experience it can even dimly realize. That oneness of purpose puts us
in harmony with God and with all others who are trying to do God's will.

Prayer for the day:

I pray that I may become attuned to the will of God. I pray that I may be
in harmony with those around me.

Hello my friends! Today was another nice day - I got a lot done - DH picked
beans and cukes, and tomatoes, and I made a good beef soup out of organic
beef bones, and got all the beans in there, plus our own carrots, onions,
potatoes, tomatoes, added celery and basil, put in some of our parsley and
kale, and then I added some quinoa. It was delicious and that's what I'll
be serving tomorrow at 11:00 to Father Mark when he comes here the first
time for lunch. I'll also make a salad to eat first. He said a light
lunch, so that should do. So looking forward to seeing him here!! I know
we'll love him!!! At the appreciation party last night, he came up to us
and said he was looking forward to coming! And he wore an apron, he got as
a gift, it said, Father Pasta!! He's Italian! Thought that was so cute!!
He and Fr. Joe, the newly ordained priest were at the grill grilling brats.
Linus has been busy today at Lori's in getting the invisible fence in -
he'll finish tomorrow sometime. Today's blessings are all the everyday
ones, the house we live in, the birds in the feeders, our one and only
cardinal, food from the garden, good night's sleep, the chance to go to
Daily Mass, what a blessing that it is! And our two new, wonderful priests
that God gave us - great blessings. What are yours? Let us stop here for a
moment to thank our God for all the blessings He showers down upon us, even
when we are not even thinking of them, they are there for us! What an
awesome God we have indeed!! Praise and Honor be His, now and forever!
Praying for all of you for all your needs and the needs of others, and thank
you for your prayers for me.
Remember to keep Jesus as Lord of your Life! May His Holy Name be praised!

THE QUILT
Author Unknown

As I faced my Maker at the last judgment, I knelt before the Lord
along with all the other souls. Before each of us laid our lives like the
squares of a quilt in many piles.

An Angel sat before each of us sewing our quilt squares together into
a tapestry that is our life. But as my angel took each piece of cloth
off the pile, I noticed how ragged and empty each of my squares was. They
were filled with giant holes. Each square was labeled with a part of
my life that had been difficult, the challenges and temptations I was
faced with in everyday life. I saw hardships that I endured, which were the
largest holes of all.

I glanced around me. Nobody else had such squares. Other than a tiny
hole here and there, the other tapestries were filled with rich color
and the bright hues of worldly fortune. I gazed upon my own life and
was disheartened. My angel was sewing the ragged pieces of cloth
together, threadbare and empty, like binding air.

Finally the time came when each life was to be displayed, held up to
the light, the scrutiny of truth. The others rose, each in turn, holding
up their tapestries. So filled their lives had been.

My angel looked upon me, and nodded for me to rise. My gaze dropped
to the ground in shame. I hadn't had all the earthly fortunes. I had
love in my life, and laughter. But there had also been trials of illness,
and death, and false accusations that took from me my world as I knew it.

I had to start over many times. I often struggled with the temptation
to quit, only to somehow muster the strength to pick up and begin again.
I spent many nights on my knees in prayer, asking for help and guidance
in my life. I had often been held up to ridicule, which I endured
painfully, each time offering it up to the Father in hopes that I
would not melt within my skin beneath the judgmental gaze of those who
unfairly judged me. And now, I had to face the truth. My life was
what it was, and I had to accept it for what it was.

I rose and slowly lifted the combined squares of my life to the
light. An awe-filled gasp filled the air.

I gazed around at the others who stared at me with wide eyes. Then, I
looked upon the tapestry before me. Light flooded the many holes,
creating an image, the face of Christ.

Then our Lord stood before me, with warmth and love in His eyes. He
said, "Every time you gave over your life to Me, it became My life,
My hardships, and My struggles. Each point of light in your life is when
you stepped aside and let Me shine through, until there was more of
Me than there was of you.

My prayer is that all our quilts be threadbare and worn, allowing
Christ to shine through.

START OVER


When you've trusted God and walked his way
When you've felt his hand lead you day by day
But your steps now take you another way ...

Start over.

When you've made your plans and they've gone awry
When you've tried your best and there's no more to try
When you've failed yourself and you don't know why ...

Start over.

When you've told your friends what you plan to do
When you've trusted them and they didn't come through
And you're all alone and it's up to you ...

Start over.

When you've failed your kids and they're grown and gone
When you've done your best but it's turned out wrong
And now your grandchildren come along ...

Start over.

When you've prayed to God so you'll know his will
When you've prayed and prayed and you don't know still ...
When you want to stop cause you've had your fill ...

Start over.

When you think you're finished and want to quit
When you've bottomed out in life's deepest pit
When you've tried and tried to get out of it ...

Start over.

When the year has been long and successes few
When December comes and you're feeling blue
God gives a January just for you ...

Start over.

Starting over means "Victories Won"
Starting over means "A Race Well Run"
Starting over means "God's Will Done"
Don't just sit there ..............



The Ten Most Wanted People

The one who tries to be the right example to every child, rather than talk
about it.
The one who has a passion to help, rather than a passion to be helped.
The one who is willing to say, "I was wrong, I'm sorry."
The one who will look at temptation squarely and say, "No."
The one who puts God's business above any other.
The one who throws oneself totally into a project, then give the credit for
its success to his helpers.
The one who has a ready smile and a pat on the back for others.
The one who brings his children to church rather than sending them.
The one who can see his own faults before he sees the faults of others.
The one who gives his money, time and talent without thought of return.

Prayer For Strength and Wisdom

Lord,
Give me strength and wisdom
to live this day as I ought.

Give me strength...
to overcome every temptation which may come to me,
to do well every task which is assigned to me,
to shoulder every responsibility which is laid upon my shoulders.

Give me wisdom...
to know when to speak and when to keep silent,
to know when to act and when to refrain from action,
to know when to speak my mind and when to hold my peace.

So bring me to the end of this day
in goodness,
in happiness
and in peace. Amen.