Community Chat

[DoubleJ]

Today do what you can and expect no more of yourself. Lord, I will
feel joy in my accomplishments today and gratitude for the things
I have to do tomorrow.


Scripture for the day:

"Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not
be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given
to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be
put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get
back." ~Luke 6:37-38

Meditation for the day:

I can try never to judge. The human mind is so delicate and so complex that
only God can know it wholly. Each mind is so different, actuated by such
different motives, controlled by such different circumstances, influenced by
such different sufferings, we cannot know all the influences that have gone
to make up a personality.
Therefore, it is impossible for us to judge wholly that personality.
But God knows that person wholly and God can change it. We can leave to God
the unraveling of the puzzles of personality. We can leave it to God to
teach us the proper understanding.

Prayer for the day:

I pray that I may not judge other people. I pray that I may be certain that
God can set right what is wrong in every personality.

Hello my friends! I called Corporate again, and I missed a phone call
tonight while we were at Mass - so will have to try again tomorrow. On the
voice message she wondered if I had another computer - no, it has to work on
this one - no other one to work with. But my blessings were the nice Mass
tonight to celebrate the Year of Faith in our Churches. The Lighthouse
Catholic Media - CD's etc. stand was there that Linus sold the priest. It
is very impressive and after Mass a bunch stood around it and bought some
CD's. It was a blessing to see that there and some parishioners were so
excited and happy our Parish has it now. Our Sammy went back to the vet
again today - again his fever was 103 - he has fluid in his elbow, and has
some anti-biotics to take and another med. in pill form to be mixed with
food. Also some liquid med. If he's not better by Monday he should go back
and they'll put him on steroids. So we pray for his healing. He's 8, not
too old yet. Thanks to Juanita for keeping this thread alive! Praying for
all of you for your intentions, and thanks for your prayers for us.

FIND PEOPLE WORTHY OF YOUR LOVE
By Francis J. Kong
May 12, 2009

A teacher asked her third grader to write about their personal
heroes.

One little girl brought the essay home and showed it to her parents.
Her father was flattered that her daughter had chosen him.

"Why did you pick me?" he asked expectantly. And the sweet little girl
replied: "Because I couldn't spell
Schwarzennegger. " Who are the people you admire? Who are your heroes
and role models in life? Who would make it to your personal "5 Most
Successful People list?"

To many business people I know the five names on their Successful
People list would most likely be found in the world's richest people
list. But what about yours? Who would make it to your list? Michael
Josephson takes it a step farther. He says: "Think of the five most
successful people you know. Now think of the five happiest. How many
made both lists?" Amazing isn't it? The five most successful people in
the world for you may not exactly turn out to be the five happiest
people in the world too. Here is the
reason why.

My heroes in life are certainly not the names you find in business
magazines.

They are heroes because they have positively impacted my life and
inspired me to become better.

In real life, the greatest heroes are often found among the most
ordinary people.

Josephson says: "Most people think of success in terms of possessions
and achievements, while happiness is a state of mind. It's common to
think success will bring happiness, but that's often not the case."
Think about what the people on your happy list have in common. I'll
bet they have better-than- average relationships, especially with
their spouses and children. Of course, other factors besides good
relationships also tend to produce happiness – like good health,
enjoying one's work, and having fun. And people driven by spiritual
and ethical values usually are more content than those who measure
success in terms of prosperity, pleasure, and peer approval. Why are
many successful people unhappy?
I guess one of the reasons is that in their quest to succeed, the
journey getting there has been littered with a lot of relationship
casualties along the way while those who are happy have very healthy
relationships. And if I were to choose the one thing most essential to
happiness, it would be good relationships.

Many leaders fail to understand this. They would sacrifice
relationships just to achieve their own versions of "success" and then
one day looked at themselves in the mirror and say: "It's lonely at
the top." If that is the case, then there is something wrong. Real
successful people are those who do not only have healthy
accomplishments they have healthy relationships along the way and they
share the joy with other people at the top.

Think about it. The happiness quotient of people who live high-flying
lives of the rich and famous or the swinging lives of the young and
beautiful is surprisingly low. Yes, these people experience plenty of
moments of soaring satisfaction, but they become harder to duplicate
and sustain. Often such people are left with an "Is that all there
is?" feeling that can lead to depression and boredom.

No matter how rich, sexy, or famous one is, happiness is almost
impossible for people who have hurtful and unsatisfying relationships.
Yet people surrounded by the affection, love, and respect of others
can
find their way to happiness in spite of economic hardship, hard work,
and even ill health. That's good news. We can't all be rich, famous,
or beautiful, but we can all find people worthy of our love.
And when you have it you are successful aren't you? I don't know about
you but as long as I know that there is a God who loves me and I live
my life for Him, I am both successful and happy and you should be
too.



The Optimistic Creed

Promise Yourself
To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.

To talk health, happiness and prosperity to everyone you meet.

To make all your friends feel there is something special in them.

To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.

To think only the best, to work only for the best and to expect only the
best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your
own.

To forget the mistakes of the past and press on the greater achievements of
the future.

To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature
you meet a smile.

To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to
criticise others.

To be too large for worry,

Too noble for anger,

Too strong for fear,

And too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

DON´T WORRY

To worry does no good at all,
But does a lot of harm;

It puts cross lines upon your face,
and dissipates your charm.

Whatever is to be, will be;
That, worry cannot change;

It only serves to dim your joy,
And all your friends estrange.

'Tis lack of confidence in self
That causes worry's fright;

A lack of faith in God's design
Your happiness will delight.

Then case aside those gloomy thoughts,
That bring on doubt and fear;

Just live your faith, and trust in Him,
And worry will disappear.

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is
faithful. Hebrews 10:23

The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave
you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Deuteronomy
31:8

Deserts

It didn’t exactly look like a real sand desert, but there’d been a drought
and everything and everyone was suffering from the lack of rain. The river
behind our apartment wasn’t it’s usual bubbly, busy self, rushing loudly
among the rocks and boulders. The animals were scrounging for food; bears
were boldly coming into town in broad daylight to forage from the crabapple
trees. Winter would be coming, and they were anxious to store away the
needed 20,000 calories a day to hold them through winter.

Not a desert, just a temporary drought. Deserts are dry, dusty, and hot.
They feel and look lifeless and unending. Spiritual deserts can be difficult
places in our lives, for sure.

In the book of Exodus, beginning in the third chapter, we find the amazing
and awesome account of Moses, beginning in the desert. At the time, Moses
was simply and faithfully carrying out his day to day tasks, being a
shepherd. It was a far cry and a long way from where he’d grown up.

After he had an encounter with the Lord in a burning bush, his life took a
dramatic turn. During the time he was there, God had fine-tuned his hearing
(he could hear and recognize the Lord loud and clear), he had his priorities
straight (he couldn’t figure out how this was going to happen but he trusted
God and was obedient to His leading) and GOD PROVIDED (He gave him a staff
to do miracles with, and a person to talk for him since he stuttered).

One thing to remember in the desert is that God is not absent. He may be
‘invisible’, but He is nonetheless there, watching over us and putting
together situations, people, and circumstances in our lives that will
strengthen and equip us for where He is bringing us. He has not forgotten
us. God has a plan for us, and it is good.* Even in the deserts.

That’s good news.