Community Chat

[gloriajean]

Worry gets in the way of getting what you really want. Lord, help
me use my time in ways to enrich my life rather than focusing on
things I can do nothing about anyway.


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:

We can try not to give way to criticism, blame, scorn or judgment of
others, when we are trying to help them. Effectiveness in helping
others depends on controlling ourselves. We may be swept away by a
temporary natural urge to criticize or blame, unless we keep a tight
rein on our emotions. We can have a firm foundation of spiritual
living which makes us truly humble, if we are going to really help
other people. We can go easy on them and be hard on ourselves. That
is the way we can be used most to uplift a despairing spirit. We need
not seek personal recognition for what we are used by God to
accomplish.

Prayer for the day:

I pray that I may try to avoid judgment and criticism. I pray that I
may always try to build up others instead of tearing them down.

Hello my friends! My day of ordinary blessings was great! Lori took me to
see the dog again - she's leaning on calling him Oliver (Ollie) and now
he'll have to get used to a new name. He's about 10 months old, was found
walking down the road - and no one claimed him as theirs yet, Tuesday it's a
week and if no one claim him then Lori can have him - first they will neuter
him, micro-chip, and after that she can take him home. Today she bought a
big pillow for him and water and food dishes. The big adjustment will be
Phoebe and how she will allow him to live there with her! That will have to
take some time. He's a little taller than Sammy. We don't know if he's
house trained - another interesting factor. On his cage there, there's a
sign saying "Good News! Someone fell in love with me!" I thought that was
so cute. We went to Mass tonight at the Cathedral because he had to work
all weekend - it always is a nice Mass there - very prayerful and good
music. We plan on going to Daily Mass again this week as long as we can.
He's off tomorrow - what a blessing! Praying for all your intentions always
and even for those of you who only come here to read - I'm praying for you
all! Thank you for your prayers for us.

THIS IS GOOD!
Author Unknown


The story is told of a king who had a close friend with whom he grew
up. The friend had a habit of looking at every situation that ever
occurred in his life (positive or negative) and remarking, "This is
good!"

One day the king and his friend were on a hunting expedition. The
friend would load and prepare the guns for the king. In preparing one
of the guns, the friend had apparently done something wrong, for after
taking the gun from his friend, the king fired it and his thumb was
blown off.

Examining the situation the friend remarked as usual, "This is good!"
To which the king replied, "No, this is NOT good!" and proceeded to
send his friend to jail.

About a year later, the king was hunting in a dangerous area.
Cannibals captured him and took him to their village. They tied his
hands, stacked some wood, set up a stake and bound him to it. As they
approached to set fire to the wood, they noticed that the king was
missing a thumb. Being superstitious, they never ate anyone that was
less than whole. So after untying the king, they sent him on his way.

As he returned home, he was reminded of the event that had taken his
thumb and felt remorse for his treatment of his friend. He went
immediately to the jail to speak with his friend. You were right," he
said, "it was good that my thumb was blown off." And he proceeded to
tell the friend all that had just happened. "And so I am very sorry
for sending you to jail for so long. It was bad for me to do this."

"No," his friend replied, "This is good!"

"What do you mean, 'This is good'? How could it be good that I sent my
friend to jail for a year?"

"If I had NOT been in jail, I would have been with you."

Situations may not always seem pleasant while we are in them, but the
promise of God is clear. If we love him and live our lives according
to his precepts, even that which seems to be bleak and hopeless will
be turned by God for His glory and our benefit. Hold on...God is
faithful!

GARBAGE TRUCK
Author Unknown


How often do you let other people's nonsense change your mood? Do you
let a bad driver, rude waiter, curt boss, or an insensitive employee
ruin your day? Unless you're the Terminator, for an instant you're
probably set back
on your heels. However, the mark of a successful person is how quickly
she can get back her focus on what's important.

Sixteen years ago I learned this lesson. I learned it in the back of a
New York City taxi cab. Here's what happened. I hopped in a taxi, and
we took off for Grand Central Station. We were driving in the right
lane when, all of a sudden, a black car jumped out of a parking space
right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes,
skidded, and missed the other car’s back end by just inches!

The driver of the other car, the guy who almost caused a big accident,
whipped his head around and he started yelling bad words at us. My
taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was
friendly. So,
I said, "Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and
sent us to the hospital!" And this is when my taxi driver told me what
I now call, "The Law of the Garbage Truck."

Many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage,
full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As
their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it. And if you let
them, they'll dump it on you. When someone wants to dump on you, don't
take it personally. You just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on.
You'll be happy you did.

So this was it: The "Law of the Garbage Truck.” I started thinking,
how often do I let Garbage Trucks run right over
me? And how often do I take their garbage and spread it to other
people a work, at home, on the streets? It was that day I said, "I'm
not going to do anymore." I began to see garbage trucks.

Like in the movie "The Sixth Sense," the little boy said, "I see Dead
People." Well, now "I see Garbage Trucks." I see the load they're
carrying. I see them coming to drop it off. And like my Taxi Driver, I
don't make it a personal thing; I just smile, wave, wish them well,
and move on.

One of my favorite football players of all time, Walter Payton, did
this every day on the football field. He would jump up as quickly as
he hit the ground after being tackled. He never dwelled on a hit.
Payton was ready to make the next play his best.

Good leaders know they have to be ready for their next meeting. Good
parents know that they have to welcome their children home from school
with hugs and kisses. Leaders and parents know that they have to be
fully present, and at their best for the people they care about. The
bottom line is that successful people do not let Garbage Trucks take
over their day. What about you? What would happen in your life,
starting today, if you let more garbage trucks pass you by? Here's my
bet. You'll be happier. Life's too short to wake up in the morning
with regrets, so.. Love the people who treat you right. Forget about
the ones who don't.

Mother Teresa said...
Jesus, you have given everything, life, blood, all. Now it is my turn. I put
everything into the field also. The common soldier fights in the ordinary
lines, but the devoted one tries to be near the captain to share his fate.
This is the spirit of Christ.

Every Time I Say MARY

I offer to Almighty God through the Immaculate Heart and hands of our
Blessed Mother all the merits of reparation and propitiation contained in
all the Masses being said over the world for:

1. World-wide reparation to Mary's Immaculate Heart that she asked
for at Fatima.
2. For the conversion of sinners throughout the world
3. For the conversion of Russia, America, and World Peace

I will repeat as often as possible . . .MARY, MARY, MARY. . . . .

(With ecclesiastical approval)

Act of Petition
Give me yourself, O my God, give yourself to me. Behold I love you, and if
my love is too weak a thing, grant me to love you more strongly. I cannot
measure my love to know how much it falls short of being sufficient, but let
my soul hasten to your embrace and never be turned away until it is hidden
in the secret shelter of your presence. This only do I know, that it is not
good for me when you are not with me, when you are only outside me. I want
you in my very self. All the plenty in the world which is not my God is
utter want. Amen.

Saint Augustine of Hippo


I read a story about a young son of a missionary, in Zaire. The boy was
playing in the yard when suddenly he heard his father yell to him from the
porch, "Philip, obey me instantly! Drop to your stomach!"

Without hesitation, the boy did as his father commanded. His father, then,
commanded,
"Now, crawl to me as fast as you can!"

Again, the boy immediately obeyed.


"Now stand up and run to me!" Philip responded, without questioning, and
ran into his fathers arms.

When Philip turned around and looked back at the tree, where he was
standing, he saw a huge poisonous snake hanging from one of the branches.

The boy could have hesitated and asked, "Why?" or "In just a minute." But,
he instantly obeyed. That simple act of obedience saved his life!

Could it save your life, if you let go of your free will and followed what
the Lord has told you to do with your life.