Community Chat

[gloriajean]

Each day offers many opportunities to smile when others don't and be more
patient when others aren't. Lord, may I be an example of Your presence
within me and a reminder to others that You are there for them too.


Scripture for the day:

Jesus straightened up and said to her (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:

We can make use of our mistakes, failures, losses, and sufferings. It
is not what happens to us so much as what use we make of it. We can
take our sufferings, difficulties and hardships and make use of them
to help some unfortunate soul who is faced with the same troubles.
Then something good can come out of our suffering and the world can
become a better place because of it. The good we do each day can live
on, after the trouble and distress have gone, after the difficulty and
the pain
have passed away.

Prayer for the day:

I pray that I may make good use of my mistakes and failures. I pray
that some good may result from my painful experiences.

Greetings, my friends! Well today's blessings are that Ollie is doing
perfectly well at Lori's and knows his name now, and obeys her, and follows
her everywhere. Phoebe will be fine. She isn't hiding at all, and he's not
excited about her which she likes. She said he slept with her on the bed
last night and cuddled - and he's trained! He never messed in the house at
all. Such a sweetie!! Guess they bonded already at the Humane Society,
when she went to visit him, he's good with all her friends, and us - never
barked at all, I think he's thanking his lucky stars he has a home and not
that little kennel there. I'm anxious for Sammy to meet him, but Ollie has
a kennel cough they say he shouldn't be in contact with another dog for two
weeks. Maybe we won't wait that long and take a chance Sammy won't get it.
We're planning on going out to eat in her small town, and then stopping by
to see him, even though she'll have a friend or two over, they won't mind.
Well if that dog is such a blessing for her, he's also a blessing for us!
All the love one dog gives! Another blessing for me is more lettuce I
picked and our raspberries are on a rest, but are blossoming again now so
soon we'll have them again. Praying for all of you for all your intentions,
and I thank you for your prayers for us.


Did You? Can You?

Can you say today in honesty,
As the hours slip by so fast,
That you've helped a single person
Of the many you have passed?
Did you waste the day, or lose it?
Was it well, or properly spent?
Did you leave a trail of kindness,
Or mementos of discontent?

Have you given God a moment,
In humble, devout prayer?
Have you talked with God in honesty,
To let Him know you care?

As you close your eyes in slumber,
Do you think that God would say,
You have made the world much better,
For you lived a lot today?

Author Unknown

Less Is More
Here's a unique story based on the thought that "Less Is More". So often we
feel like we have to explain, convince, argue, etc... when fewer words may
be just what someone needs to hear. Someone once said that it is no
coincidence that God gave us 2 ears, and only 1 mouth... :-)

An insurance agent learned that he would receive his company's award for
having sold more life insurance than anyone else in the state. The big
problem: He had to make a speech at the time he got the award. He was
supposed to tell the other insurance agents how he did it. Joe had a phobia
about public speaking, but he was still expected to give the speech.

So he went to work on this speech. He wrote it and rewrote it. Finally, he
got it just right. He typed it up on cards and taped the cards on his
shaving mirror. Every morning while he was shaving, he memorized that
speech. Finally, Joe had it imprinted into the grooves of his brain cells
like a laser disk. He was ready.

The great evening came. The huge auditorium was filled with insurance
salespeople from all over the state. Then they called him forward to receive
the award. Pressing a plaque into Joe's hand, the president of the company
patted him on the back and said, "Now, tell us, how did you do it?"

Joe turned to his great sea of eyes, waiting expectantly for him to say
something profound. But he could not think of the first line. Groping for
it, he said, "Ah, uh, ah..." He couldn't remember the first line but he
finally thought of a line from down in the middle. (If you are in that kind
of situation, you are willing to start anyplace.) So he said, "Ah, uh - See
the people...."

But Joe was so frightened that he couldn't remember what came after that. So
he started again, "Ah, ah - See the people, ah, uh. See the people!" And he
sat down.

Most of the people in the auditorium thought Joe said exactly what he
intended to say. They heard it as a dramatic speech and gave him a standing
ovation.

The Kindness Pledge
I Resolve to:

1. Speak kindly of someone at least once a day.
2. Think kindly about someone at least once a day.
3. Act kindly toward someone as least once a day.
4. Avoid speaking unkindly of anyone.
5. Avoid acting unkindly toward anyone.
[Source: The Hidden Power of Kindness, by Lawrence G. Lovasik]

There was
a blind girl who hated herself because she was blind. She
hated everyone, except her loving boyfriend. He was always
there for her. She told her boyfriend, 'If I could only see
the world, I will marry you.'

One day,
someone donated a pair of eyes to her. When the bandages
came off, she was able to see everything, including her
boyfriend.

He asked
her,'Now that you can see the world, will you marry me?' The
girl looked at her boyfriend and saw that he was blind. The
sight of his closed eyelids shocked her. She hadn't expected
that. The thought of looking at them the rest of her life
led her to refuse to marry him.

Her
boyfriend left in tears and days later wrote a note to her
saying: 'Take good care of your eyes, my dear, for before
they were yours, they were mine.'

This is
how the human brain often works when our status changes.
Only a very few remember what life was like before, and who
was always by their side in the most painful situations.

Life Is a
Gift

Today
before you say an unkind word - Think of someone who can't
speak.

Before
you complain about the taste of your food - Think of someone
who has nothing to eat.

Before
you complain about your husband or wife - Think of someone
who's crying out to GOD for a companion.

Today
before you complain about life - Think of someone who went
too early to heaven.

Before
whining about the distance you drive Think of someone who
walks the same distance with their feet.

And when
you are tired and complain about your job - Think of the
unemployed, the disabled, and those who wish they had your
job.

And when
depressing thoughts seem to get you down - Put a smile on
your face and think: you're alive and still
around.

I PRAY
THIS MOVES AROUND

THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE...

A Prayer for Loved Ones

Lord, be their Shepherd,
Keep them with the flock,
Watch them and tend him,
Be their solid rock.

Don't let them falter,
Don't let them fall,
Wait with them, Father,
Be there for their call.

Hold their hand firmly,
The path grows so steep,
Wipe their tears gently,
Should they start to weep.

Teach them to follow,
In Your humble way,
Help them to walk,
In Your shadow each day.

Strengthen their body,
Weaken their will,
Should they deny You,
Stay with them still.

Give them Your shoulder,
On which they may rest,
Embrace them warmly,
Next to Your breast.

Please place Your hand,
Upon their dear head,
And give them Your blessing,
As their spirit is fed.

Quiet their mind,
Comfort their soul,
Put peace in their heart,
Make their life whole.

Give them a vision,
Of Your tender smile,
Let them feel loved,
All of the while.

The Bible in Fifty Words

God made
Adam bit
Noah arked
Abraham split
Joseph ruled
Jacob fooled
Bush talked
Moses balked
Pharaoh plagued
People walked
Sea divided
Tablets guided
Promise landed
Saul freaked
David peeked
Prophets warned
Jesus born
God walked
Love talked
Anger crucified
Hope died
Love rose
Spirit flamed
Word spread
God remained.


- Unknown

GOOD ADVICE TO LIVE BY
Author Unknown


If you want your dreams to come true, don't oversleep.

The smallest good deed is better than the grandest intention.

Of all the things you wear, your expression is the most important.

The best vitamin for making friends....B1.

The 10 commandments are not multiple choice.

The happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts.

Minds are like parachutes...they function only when open.

Ideas won't work unless YOU do.

One thing you can't recycle is wasted time.

One who lacks the courage to start has already finished.

The heaviest thing to carry is a grudge.

Don't learn safety rules by accident.

We lie the loudest when we lie to ourselves.

Jumping to conclusions can be bad exercise.

A turtle makes progress when it sticks it's head out.

One thing you can give and still keep...is your word.

A friend walks in when everyone else walks out.

AND FINALLY...

The pursuit of happiness is the chase of a lifetime!!!