Community Chat

[gloriajean]

Often times, life is what happens when you're busy making plans.

Lord, help me to notice each moment and not rush through it.

Scripture for the day:

"Jesus straightened up and said to the woman caught in adultery,

'Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?' She said, 'No one,

sir.' And Jesus said, 'Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and

from now on do not sin again.'" ~John 8:10-11

Meditation for the day:

In the new year, I can live one day at a time. I can make each day

one of preparation for better things ahead. I need not dwell on the

past or the future, only on the present. I can bury every fear of the

future, all thoughts of unkindness and bitterness, all my dislikes, my

resentments, my sense of failure, my disappointments in others and in

myself, my gloom and my despondency. I can leave all these things

buried and go forward, in this new year into

a new life!

Prayer for the day:

I pray that God will guide me one day at a time in the new year. I

pray that for each day, God will supply the wisdom and the strength I

need.

Hello my friends! Fr. Jerry was to come today, but he wasn't feeling well, so cancelled until Feb. 1st. It was a blessing for us, too, only because Ollie is here and we were wondering what we were going to do with him if he was too rambunctious. Missed having him over though, so just spoke to him on the phone. Today after Mass we went to Walmart to get some more Earth Balance - we use that instead of butter, tastes good and is better for you, with Omega 3 in it, anyway, it's about 2 dollars cheaper there than at our Health Store. Then we made a few more stops and home again while Ollie was in the kennel - that always works great. That lady wasn't in Church today, I was looking for her - I'd really like to talk to her if possible.

Fr. Jerry said he blessed those coins with the crosses on them. So now I know I have a couple of them that he blessed, in my coat pocket. Tomorrow sometime Darla and Greg come off the ship - I can hardly wait to hear how their cruise was! When Lori comes home late - around midnight - Sunday night, please would you pray that her car will start? It's outside parked by the airport and it's going to get real cold out - I pray God will cover her car with angels to keep it warm!!!! Just so it starts and she won't have any trouble getting back home. She'll be alone.

Alone with Jesus and her Guardian Angel. Praying for you all - thanks for your prayers for us.

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL FLOWER

The park bench was deserted as I sat down to read

Beneath the long, straggly branches of an old willow tree

Disillusioned by life with good reason to frown

For the world was intent on dragging me down

And if that weren't enough to ruin my day

A young boy out of breath approached me, all tired from play

He stood right before me with his head tilted down

And said with great excitement, "Look what I found"

In his hand was a flower, and what a pitiful sight

With its petals all worn - not enough rain, or too little light

Wanting him to take his dead flower and go off to play

I faked a small smile and then shifted away

But instead of retreating he sat next to my side

And placed the flower to his nose

And declared with overacted surprise

"It sure smells pretty and it's beautiful, too"

"That's why I picked it; here, it's for you"

The weed before me was dying or dead

Not vibrant of colors: orange, yellow or red

But I knew I must take it, or he might never leave

So I reached for the flower, and replied, "Just what I need"

But instead of him placing the flower in my hand

He held it mid-air without reason or plan

It was then that I noticed for the very first time

That weed-toting boy could not see: he was blind

I heard my voice quiver; tears shone in the sun

As I thanked him for picking the very best one

"You're welcome," he smiled, and then ran off to play

Unaware of the impact he'd had on my day.

I sat there and wondered how he managed to see

A self-pitying woman beneath an old willow tree

How did he know of my self-indulged plight

Perhaps from his heart, he'd been blessed with true sight

Through the eyes of a blind child, at last I could see

The problem was not with the world; the problem was me

And for all of those times I myself had been blind

I vowed to see the beauty in life

And appreciate every second that's mine

And then I held that wilted flower up to my nose

And breathed in the fragrance of a beautiful rose

And smiled as I watched that young boy

Another weed in his hand

About to change the life of an unsuspecting old man

-- Author Unknown

TO FAIL IS NOT THE SAME AS BEING A FAILURE. One may have many failings and yet still be far from being a failure.

TO FAIL IS NOT THE DISGRACE EVERYONE THINKS IT IS. To err is to do nothing more than to join the human race.

FAILURE IS ONLY A TEMPORARY SETBACK. Failure is never the final chapter of the book of your life unless you give up and quit.

NOTHING WORTHWHILE IS EVER ACHIEVED WITHOUT RUNNING THE RISK OF FAILURE. The man who risks everything to try to achieve something truly worthwhile and fails is anything but a disgraceful failure.

FAILURE IS A NATURAL PREPARATION FOR, SUCCESS. Strange as it may seem to some of you, success is much more difficult to live with successfully than is failure.

EVERY FAILING BRINGS WITH IT THE POSSIBILITIES OF SOMETHING GREATER. Analyze failure under whatever circumstances you choose, and you will discover some seeds for turning failure into success,

WHAT YOU DO WITH FAILURES IN YOUR LIFE IS UP TO YOU. Failure is either a blessing or a curse, depending upon the individuals reaction or response to it.

FAILINGS ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN HOW TO DO THINGS BETTER THE NEXT TIME-TO LEARN WHERE THE PITFALLS ARE AND HOW TO AVOID THEM. The best possible thing to do with failure is to learn all you can from it.

PRACTICING

I once heard a psychologist speak to a group of parents who were frustrated by their teenaged children's undesirable behaviours. The psychologist explained, "Your adolescents are practicing to be adults, and they aren't very good at it yet."

Those words stayed with me. Not only did they enable me to be more patient with my son through his teenage years, but also I draw on them today in relation to my own maturing in Christ. I am practicing to be a good Christian, but I often demonstrate that I'm not very good at it yet. Fortunately, God is more patient with me than I was able to be as a parent.

Now when I do fail, I ask my loved ones to be patient with me. Just as teenagers usually grow up to be responsible adults, I am hoping -- with God's help -- to become a more mature Christian.

Prayer: Dear Lord, forgive us when we fall short of your expectations for us. Help us to become the people you want us to be. Amen.

-- Doris L. Mueller

Thank you God for creating ME!

Thank you God for creating ME!

In your womb I have been fashioned;

Your spirit dwells within me;

Truly I am wonderfully marvelously made!

From your love and wisdom have I come

To this place and time.

To me you have given talent and life and blessings.

To me you have given tasks given to no others.

With joy and gratitude

I celebrate my much-honored existence.

From ages past to eternity,

I have been included in your divine plan.

Thank you God for creating ME!

Morning Prayer

Lord, I approach you today with a heart as humble as this leper’s, who can claim no beauty apart from what you can give him. My willful defects have disfigured your plan for me, and I seek from you today the power to make all my works and words clean. I hope in you and trust in your infinite mercy.

Lord, grant me an unshakeable confidence in your infinite mercy.