Community Chat

[gloriajean]

Our words are powerful tools and can influence even when we are not aware.
Lord, help me to speak with kindness and sensitivity and to be a positive
source of encouragement and support to others.

Scripture for the day:

"Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in
you?" ~1 Corinthians 3:16

Meditation for the day:

God is all around us. God's spirit pervades the universe. And yet we often
do not let God's spirit in. We sometimes try to get along without God's
help and we make a mess of our lives. We can do nothing of any value
without God's help. All our human relationships depend on this. When we
let God's spirit rule our lives, we can learn how to get along with others
and how to help them.

Prayer for the day:

I pray that I may let God run my life. I pray that I will never again make
a mess of my life through trying to run it myself.

Hello my friends! Tonight was a blessing by having a friend over for
chicken soup, and then we went to the Marian retreat together, but I forgot
dessert, so had her come back after the meeting for dessert and we had a
really nice visit. Linus had to work until just a few minutes before having
to leave so had to eat quickly and get there, so our visit was mostly
afterwards then. Another blessing was when Lori came home and picked up
Ollie - the weekend dog sitting came to an end, and Sammy is much more
content now. I think the steroids are already helping him, and am think of
more natural methods for later instead of the steroids. I dream of him
walking on all fours again, but maybe that won't happen. But then again,
he's getting a lot of prayers. I just can't believe all the energy Ollie
has!! Praying for all your needs, and thanks for your prayers for us. God
bless you!

Not our fruit alone

A voyaging ship was wrecked during a storm at sea and only two of the
men on it were able to swim to a small, desert like island.

The two survivors, not knowing what else to do, agreed that they had no
other recourse but to pray to God. However, to find out whose prayer was
more powerful, they agreed to divide the territory between them and stay on
opposite sides of the island.

The first thing they prayed for was food. The next morning, the first
man saw a fruit-bearing tree on his side of the land, and he was able to eat
its fruit. The other man's parcel of land remained barren.

After a week, the first man was lonely and he decided to pray for a
wife.
The next day, another ship was wrecked, and the only survivor was a woman
who swam to his side of the land. On the other side of the island, there was
nothing.

Soon the first man prayed for a house, clothes, more food. The next
day, like magic, all of these were given to him. However, the second man
still
had nothing.

Finally, the first man prayed for a ship, so that he and his wife would
leave the island. In the morning, he found a ship docked at his side of
the island. The first man boarded the ship with his wife and decided to
leave
the second man on the island.

He considered the other man unworthy to receive God's blessings, since
none of his prayers had been answered.

As the ship was about to leave, the first man heard a voice from heaven
booming, "Why are you leaving your companion on the island?"

"My blessings are mine alone, since I was the one who prayed for them,"
the first man answered. "His prayers were all unanswered and so he does
not deserve anything."

"You are mistaken!" the voice rebuked him. "He had only one prayer,
which I answered. If not for that, you would not have received any of my
blessings."

"Tell me," the first man asked the voice, "What did he pray for that I
should owe him anything?"

"He prayed that all your prayers be answered."

For all we know, our blessings are not the fruits of our prayers
alone,but those of another praying for us.

This is too good not to share. With obedience come blessings. My
prayer for you today is that all your prayers are answered.

THE 7 UPS!
Author Unknown

1. Wake Up !!

Decide to have a good day.
"This is the day the Lord hath made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it."
Psalms 118:24

2. Dress Up !!

The best way to dress up is to put on a smile.
A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.
"The Lord does not look at the things man looks at.
Man looks at outward appearance,
But the Lord looks at the heart."
I Samuel 16:7

3. Shut Up!!

Say nice things and learn to listen.
God gave us two ears and one mouth,
So He must have meant for us to do twice as much listening as
talking.

"He who guards his lips guards his soul."
Proverbs 13:3

4. Stand Up!!

. . . For what you believe in.
Stand for something or you will fall for anything.
"Let us not be weary in doing good; for at the proper time,
We will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good..."
Galatians 6:9-10

5. Look Up !!

. . . To the Lord.
"I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me".
Philippians 4:13

6. Reach Up !!
. . . For something higher.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not unto your own understanding.
In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path."
Proverbs 3:5-6

7. Lift Up !!
. . . Your Prayers.
"Do not worry about anything; instead
PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING."
Philippians 4:6

REAL FRIEND TEST
Author Unknown

A simple friend, when visiting, acts like a guest. A real friend opens
your refrigerator and helps himself (and doesn't feel even the least
bit weird shutting your 'beer/Pepsi drawer' with her foot!)

A simple friend has never seen you cry. A real friend has shoulders
soggy from your tears..

A simple friend doesn't know your parents' first names. A real friend
has their phone numbers in his address book.

A simple friend brings a bottle of wine to your party. A real friend
comes early to help you cook and stays late to help you clean.

A simple friend hates it when you call after they've gone to bed. A
real friend asks you why you took so long to call.

A simple friend seeks to talk with you about your problems. A real
friend seeks to help you with your problems.

A simple friend wonders about your romantic history. A real friend
could blackmail you with it.

A simple friend thinks the friendship is over when you have an
argument. A real friend calls you after you had a fight.

A simple friend expects you to always be there for them. A real friend
expects to always be there for you!

Gifts

Each of us brings to the world unique talents, gifts and abilities.
Even if you don't know what it is, or value what you do, someone, somewhere,
will benefit from your presence.

No one can do what you do exactly the way you do it.
It is this uniqueness that makes you valuable to the world.

We are each as unique and valuable as the other.
It was designed that way. A gift from God.

Gifts are not given on the basis of race or gender.
As a matter of truth, gifts come in many shapes, sizes and colors.

When you do what you do, exactly the way you do it,
You are sharing God's gifts, bestowed for the good of the world.

TO SEE IN THE DARK
By: Bro. Andrew Maria, MMHC

A boy and his father are walking through a large forest. To cross to
the other side, they have to pass through a long dark tunnel. The boy
hesitates at the entrance.

"Father," the boy says, "how can I walk in there when it is so dark?
I
will not see where I am going. We have neither candles nor torches to
light our way."

The father calmly tells his son, "Once inside, close your eyes for
several minutes to give them a chance to get accustomed to the dark.
When you open them again, I assure you that you will be able to see
the way through the tunnel."

The boy does what his father has told him. After closing his eyes for
sometime, he is able to see inside the tunnel. Through it is very
dark, he and his father are able to cross safely to the other side.

"Son," the father tells him, "if you don't have anything with which
to light the darkness, use darkness to see in the dark."

Eucharistic Prayer of Our Lady of Akita

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, truly present in the Holy Eucharist,
I consecrate my body and my soul to be entirely one with Your Heart
being sacrificed at every instant on all the altars of the world and
giving praise to the Father, pleading for the coming of His Kingdom.
Please receive this humble offering of myself. Use me as You will
for the glory of the Father and the salvation of souls.

Most holy Mother of God, never let me be separated from Your
Divine Son. Please defend and protect me as Your Special Child.
Amen.