Community Chat

[gloriajean]

If you want peace and goodness in your life you must be kind and loving.

Lord, may I avoid creating misery so that my life will reflect my love for

You.

Scripture for the day:

"My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it

nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces

endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature

and complete, lacking in nothing." ~James 1:2-4

Meditation for the day:

As we look back over our lives, it is not too difficult to see that what we

went through was for a purpose and helped to prepare us for some valuable

work in life. Everything in our lives can help make us of some use in the

world. Each person's life is like the pattern of a mosaic. Each thing that

happens to us is like one tiny stone in the mosaic, and each tiny stone fits

into the perfected pattern of the mosaic of our life, which has been

designed by God.

Prayer for the day:

I pray that I may not need to see the whole design of my life. I pray that

I may trust the Designer.

Hello my friends! Today was a good day - cold, but warm inside of us! Wonderful Mass, coffee and donuts after Mass, visiting with my classmate, lunch with Lori - she cooked, and what could be more wonderful! So many blessings God gives us - and all we have to do is accept them, and appreciate them. Father Mark was gone to Guatamala for 10 days, and he took with him 12 of our parishioners with him, for the experience of helping those there in need. He mentioned about their water, how we take water for granted, they have to walk a long way for a bucket of water! He said the weather was perfect there - in the 70's - here we have close to zero or below zero weather now.

What are your blessings? Any you'd like to share with us? Praying for you all - thanks for your prayers for us.

One of our friends died very suddenly from an aneurism so I'll post this:

If tomorrow starts without me,

And I'm not there to see,

If the sun should rise and find your eyes

All filled with tears for me;

I wish so much you wouldn't cry The way you did today,

While thinking of the many things, We didn't get to say.

I know how much you love me, As much as I love you,

And each time that you think of me, I know you'll miss me too;

But when tomorrow starts without me, Please try to understand,

That an angel came and called my name, And took me by the hand,

And said my place was ready, In heaven far above,

And that I'd have to leave behind All those I dearly love.

But as I turned to walk away, A tear fell from my eye,

For all my life, I'd always thought, I didn't want to die.

I had so much to live for, So much left yet to do,

It seemed almost impossible, That I was leaving you.

I thought of all the yesterdays, The good ones and the bad,

I thought of all that we shared, And all the fun we had.

If I could relive yesterday, Just even for a while,

I'd say good-bye and hug you And maybe see you smile.

But then I fully realized, That this could never be,

For emptiness and memories, Would take the place of me.

And when I thought of worldly things I might miss some tomorrow,

I thought of you, and when I did, My heart was filled with sorrow.

But when I walked through heaven's gates, I felt so much at home.

When God looked down and smiled at me, From His great golden throne,

He said, "This is eternity, And all I've promised you.

Today your life on earth is past, But here life starts anew.

I promise no tomorrow, But today will always last,

And since each day is the same way, There's no longing for the past. "

So when tomorrow starts without me, Don't think we're far apart,

For every time you think of me, I'm right there, in your heart.

The More You Get

The more you give, the more you get

The more you do unselfishly

The more you live abundantly.

The more of everything you share,

The more you laugh, the less you fret.

The more you'll always have to spare.

The more you love, the more you'll find

That life is good and friends are kind.

For only what we give away,

Enriches us from day to day.

With a Little Help from My Friends

I was sitting in a train, waiting for it to start. Across from me sat a

small boy, asking questions as children do. He asked his mother, "When will

the train start?" I saw my chance and volunteered to answer. I said, "The

train will start when we start pushing." The child opened his big eyes in

surprise, "Really!" "Of course," I said. "Unless we push, it doesn't start."

"Then let's push," he exclaimed.

"Just a minute," I said. "The passengers are not all on. I'll tell you when

to push." I watched for the signal light at the station and heard the

station master's shrill whistle. Then I shouted to the boy, "Now! Push for

all you're worth." He and I started to push in the direction of the engine.

We pushed and pushed against the back of the seat .... and soon a contented

smile lit up the boy's face. The train was moving ... very slowly at first,

but then gaining speed little by little.

I congratulated the lad on his success. "We DID it! We DID it! Wasn't that

great?" he exclaimed. He looked immensely pleased with himself. He was

traveling in a train he had helped to start. I did not have the heart to

tell him about the monstrous engine chugging up in front. Eventually he

would find out for himself...

We usually attribute great success to our little actions, forgetting that

behind them all is that almighty unseen power called God, whose power often makes us look powerful.

Through Me

Through me let there be kind words, a warm smile,

and a caring heart.

Through me let there be a willingness to listen

and a readiness to understand.

Through me let there be dependability, steadfastness,

trust and loyalty.

Through me let there be compassion, forgiveness,

mercy and love.

Through me let there be every quality I find,

O Lord, in Thee.

Prayer To Bring Christ's Peace to the World

God, our Father, Your Word, Jesus Christ, spoke peace to a sinful world and brought mankind the gift of reconciliation by the suffering and death He endured. Teach us, the people who bear His name, to follow the example He gave us: may our faith, hope, and charity turn hatred to love, conflict to peace, and death to eternal life. Amen.