Community Chat

[gloriajean]

God is better to us than we deserve. Lord, thank you for the strength
You give in my trials and especially thank you for the trials You have
kept from my door.

Scripture for the day:

"Happy are those who observe justice, who do righteousness at all
times." ~Psalm 106:3

Meditation for the day:

Life is not a search for happiness. Happiness is a by-product of living
the right kind of life, of doing the right thing. We need not search
for happiness. We can search for right living and happiness can be our
reward. Life is sometimes a march of duty during dull, dark days. But
happiness can come again, as God's smile of recognition of our
faithfulness. True happiness is the by-product of a life well lived.

Prayer for the day:

I pray that I may not seek happiness but seek to do right. I pray that
I may not seek pleasure so much as the things that bring true happiness.

Hello my friends! Well the weekend 's over, hope you all had a good one.
It was way too busy for us, with the family reunion yesterday, Darla and
Greg's birthday party at his parent's, I've been doing a lot of cooking! It
was so nice today to not have any plans, but just have a laid back day. I
did get some garden things picked, our carrots are looking great! Our
tomatoes are starting to ripen - praise the Lord. I'm so looking forward to
having Father Mark over for lunch on Friday - we can have some of our fresh
garden produce! Got fresh beans, too! Sorry to see the summer end the end
of this month though, and September starts fall. I love summers! I don't
have much to say tonight - my blessings today are the wonderful food that
God gives us from our garden, plus numerous other blessings - wonderful Mass
this morning - wonderful priest - great homily! We are blessed at this
Parish for sure!! Praise God for all His blessings! Praying for all of you
and thanks for your prayers for us.

What the Pine Trees Told Me

I paused by a quiet lake in the moonlight and listened, and this is what the
pine trees said to me:

"We have grown tall, because we have grown straight. We have grown big
because we have reached for the stars. We have learned that the way to
increase our height is to keep growing. We have grown strong because we have
rooted deep in the good earth. We have been patient, for we have learned
that it takes time to grow a great tree.

We have faced life bravely as it came: sunshine, and storm, snow and rain.
We have filled the air with the sweet aroma of our needles and have given
shade to those who came our way. We have known the joy of service by
sheltering with our branches the nests of birds. We have been still and
listened to God and we have seen His face in the dawning of each new day."

The pines were silent then, swaying as though in benediction. And I walked
away beneath the stars meditating on their message.

We need to get away at times
From life's demanding ways
And find some quiet, little nook
in which to dream or pray

A small escape from daily trials
that temper joys of life
and burden us with little fears
that add to tears of strife

a private place where we can be
alone in God's embrace
and dream, a little, and dwell, a little
in arms of Holy Grace

A place to rest our heart and soul
against what is to be
when return to what we left
and what we can't foresee.

--author unknown


Ask, Search, Knock

We can be embarrassed by prayer of petition for sometimes we feel that we
pray only when we want something. Jesus tells us not to have such
inhibitions. The prayer of petition is natural because it expresses our
awareness of our relationship with God. We are creatures who are not our own
beginning or last end. Christ is glorified by what we ask the Father in his
name. Because of God´s love for us we can ask for anything.

Prayer

Father, teach me to pray. Fill my lips with words that you want to hear. You
are the Holy One whom all should honor and revere. May your Kingdom come in
the fullness of time. I pray that the love of you may permeate the universe.

Give us the food we need each day, food for body, food for soul. I need your
forgiveness for my faults and failings. I am often proud and over-confident,
not remembering that I can do little without your help. Teach me the way to
forgive and forget. Help me not to have bitterness within me. Give me the
spirit, Lord, to forgive those who sinned against me. Do not let me wander
to occasions of sin.

Help me to love you with all my heart, loving my neighbor as myself. May I
always be humble enough to say "Your will be done". You know, Lord, what is
best for me and those around me. As I storm heaven with prayer, you are
listening, giving what I need. Thank you, Lord, for all you did for me.
Don´t forget me in the months and years to come. Give me the chance to honor
and praise you for all eternity. Amen.

God's Minute

I've only just a minute,
Only sixty seconds in it.
Forced upon me, can't refuse it,
Didn't seek it, didn't choose it,
But it's up to me to use it.
I must suffer if I lose it,
Give an account if I abuse it,
Just a tiny little minute,
But eternity is in it.

By Dr. Benjamin E. Mays

Mother Teresa Said...
The fullness of our heart is expressed in our eyes, in our touch, in what we
write, in what we say, in the way we walk, the way we receive, the way we
need. That is the fullness of our heart expressing itself in many different
ways.

To Save Just One

One beautiful and sunny day a man was taking a stroll along the beach
when he came across a young girl who was frantically throwing starfish
into the ocean.

The man asks the young girl, "Why are you throwing the starfish
into the ocean?" The girl replied, "The starfish were washed upon
the shore last night in a storm, and if I don't get them back into
the ocean then they will die."

The man looked around and to his amazement there were hundreds
of starfish lying upon the sand. He looked at her and cackled saying
"Why are you wasting your time? There is no possible way you can
save all of these creatures. By throwing back a few, how is it that you
expect to make a difference?"

The young girl looked around sadly at the starfish that surrounded them
on the beach, and then she looked back at the man and replied "Even if I
save the life of only one, then I have made a difference." And with that
she continued to save as many as she could.

Author Unknown