Community Chat

[DoubleJ]

The choices we make will affect our lives for better or for worse. Lord, You
have given me all that I need to make wise choices. May I always take time
to listen to You.


Scripture for the day:

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the
mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and
foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult." ~Psalm 46:1-3

Meditation for the day:

We can constantly claim God's strength. Once convinced of the right
of a course of action, once reasonably sure of God's guidance, we can
claim that strength. We can claim all the strength we need to meet
any situation. We can claim a new supply when our own supply is
exhausted. We have a right to claim it and we can use this right. A
beggar supplicates, a son appropriates. When we supplicate, we can be
kept waiting, but when we appropriate God's strength in a good cause,
we can have it at once.

Prayer for the day:

I pray that I may claim God's strength whenever I need it. I pray
that I may try to live as a child of God.

Hello my friends! We had lots of blessings today! Nice day going to my
sister, Deil's, birthday party! She had a great turn out - and we had such
a wonderful time visiting with our cousins, and nephews and nieces and all
my sisters were there. We stayed much longer that we thought we would - it
was such an enjoyable time. We could visit with her son, my nephew and his
wife from Montana and we don't see them often. Sammy was home all alone,
but he did fine, and he's very happy we are back home with him again.
Lori drove us all the way and back again, what a blessing she is for us!!
Praying for all of you for all your needs and thanks so much for including
us in your prayers, too.
God bless you!

A Moment’s Breathing Prayer

Surrender to God’s help by breathing in God’s healing power ... extend
inhalation. Receive God’s peace by exhaling all worries and stress – extend
exhalation.

Breath in what I need from God
Breathe out impurities that harm my soul

Breathe in God’s love
Breathe out any self hatred

Breathe in God’s forgiveness
Breathe out self hurt

Breathe in God’s peace
Breathe out anxiety

Breathe in Jesus’ compassion
Breathe out my pride

Breathe in God’s confidence
Breathe out my doubts and uncertainties

Breathe in God’s clarity
Breathe out confusion

Breathe in God’s peace
Breathe out my fears

Breathe in peace ..... exhale
Breathe in peace ..... exhale
Breathe in peace ..... exhale.

(Tolle Lege; Augustinian Historical Commission, 1997, used with permission.)

SAYING GOODBYE
By George Prins
May 20 2009


It was hard to see him go that September morning. He was so excited
about meeting new opportunities at the university. We felt like our
nest was almost empty.

I remembered the time I wanted to take my three-year-old son on an
afternoon trip for some father-son bonding. I tried to share with him
many particulars of the surroundings through which we traveled. I felt
exhausted. He didn't say anything. A big truck was now passing us. He
said, "Beeg tuck!" That was all he said that afternoon. We still laugh
over that story.

Another time I was trying to teach him to catch the ball. He always
wanted to hold his glove down so it was hard for him to catch the
balls flying over his waist. I encouraged him to hold the glove up,
then backed up and threw the ball. The glove suddenly pointed downward
and the ball hit him square in the eye. He had a real shiner for the
next week or so. Now he throws the baseball further than I can. Many
more memories came to me as he left for the university. He was not
really ours anymore... or was he?

Saying goodbye is always hard. It would be especially hard if a family
member died. That goodbye is so final. A divorce is a strange goodbye
because it kills your self-esteem as well. You wonder what you did
wrong. In that way, a suicide is like a divorce; it kills the soul of
a person.

One of the hardest goodbyes recorded in history is when Jesus Christ
cried out, "My God, why have you forsaken me!" A few minutes later, he
died. But He died a special death. A death in which we may obtain
comfort for when we have to say goodbye to special people and the
memories they give.

Max Lucado says it well: "Airports. Luggage. Embraces. Taillights.
Tight throats. Final waves." "Write me!" "Don't forget to phone."

Question: what kind of God would put people through such agony? What
kind of God would give you friends and families and then ask you to
leave them?

Answer: a God who knows that the deepest love is not built on passion
and romance. A God who knows that we are only pilgrims and that
eternity is so close that any "Goodbye is, in reality, 'See you
tomorrow'."

Really, it is a God who had to say goodbye to a Son that He dearly
loved. That Son had to die to give us the true comfort we all need.
Matthew 11:28 says, "Come to me, all who have heavy hearts and I will
give you rest."

I would encourage you to seek out that comfort by asking Jesus Christ
to come into your life and fill that vacuum, that void. I have heard
of so many individuals who had empty lives. When they asked Christ to
fill their life with His comfort, they suddenly could see brightness.
Darkness was gone. Gloom and despair vanished. Jesus Christ can fill
your void also!




Forgive me Lord, for not being patient
Forgive me Lord, for not being kind
Forgive me Lord, for being envious and not generous
Forgive me Lord, for being arrogant
Forgive me Lord, for being rude
Forgive me Lord, for wanting things my own way
Forgive me Lord, for seeking my own advantage
Forgive me Lord, for being irritable
Forgive me Lord, for being so easily offended
Forgive me Lord, for not forgiving quickly
Forgive me Lord, for storing up resentments
Forgive me Lord, for rejoicing in wrongdoing
Forgive me Lord, for not hating evil
Forgive me Lord, for not rejoicing in the truth
Forgive me Lord, for not bearing all things
Forgive me Lord, for not making allowances
Forgive me Lord, for not having more faith
Forgive me Lord, for not trusting in you more
Forgive me Lord, for not enduring everything in acceptance of your will.

Author: Joseph of Jesus and Mary


Lessons of Love

A ninety-one-year-old woman died after living a long, dignified life.
When she met God, she asked Him about something that had
long bothered her:


"If Man was created in God's image, and if all men are created
equal, why do people treat each other so badly?"


God replied that each person who enters our life has a unique
lesson to teach us. And it is only through these lessons that we learn
about life, people, relationships, and God. This confused the woman,
so God began to explain:


"When someone lies to you, it teaches you that things are not always as
they seem. The truth is often far beneath the surface. Look beyond the
masks people wear if you want to know their heart. And remove your own
masks to let people know yours.


"When someone steals from you, it teaches you that nothing is forever.
Always appreciate what you have, for you never know when you might
lose it. And never, ever, take your friends and family for granted because
today is the only guarantee you have.


"When someone inflicts an injury upon you, it teaches you that the
human state is a fragile one. Protect and take care of your body as best
you can; it's the only thing you are sure to have forever.


"When someone mocks you, it teaches you that no two people are alike.
When you encounter people who are different from you, don't judge them
by how they look or act; instead, base your opinion on the contents of
their hearts.


"When someone breaks your heart, it teaches you that loving someone
does not always mean that person will love you back. But don't turn your
back on love because when you find the right person, the joy that that one
person brings will make up for all the past hurts put together. Times ten.


"When someone holds a grudge against you, it teaches you that everyone
makes mistakes. When you are wronged, the most virtuous thing you can
do is forgive the offender without pretense. "Forgiving those who have
hurt us is the most difficult, the most courageous, and the most noble thing
Man can do.


"When a loved one is unfaithful to you, it teaches you that resisting
temptation is Man's greatest challenge. Be vigilant in your resistance
against all temptation. By doing so, you will be rewarded with an
enduring sense of satisfaction far greater than the temporary pleasure
by which you were tempted.


"When someone cheats you, it teaches you that greed is the root of all
evil. Aspire to make your dreams come true, no matter how lofty they
may be. Do not feel guilty about your success, but never let an
obsession with achieving your goals lead you to engage in malevolent
activities.


"When someone ridicules you, it teaches you that nobody is perfect.
Accept people for their merits and be tolerant of their flaws. Do not
ever reject someone for imperfections over which they have no control."

Upon hearing the Lord's wisdom, the old woman became concerned
that there were no lessons to be learned from Man's good deeds. God
replied that Man's capacity to love is the greatest gift he has. At the
root
of all kindness is love, and each act of love also teaches us a lesson.

The woman's curiosity deepening, God once again began to explain:


"When someone loves us, it teaches us that love, kindness, charity,
honesty, humility, forgiveness, and acceptance can counteract all the
evil in the world.

"For every good deed, there is one less evil deed. Man alone has the
power to control the balance between good and evil, but because the
lessons of love are not taught often enough, the power is too often
abused.


"When you enter someone's life, whether by plan, chance, or
coincidence, consider what your lesson will be. Will you teach love
or a harsh lesson of reality?


"When you die, will your life have resulted in more loving or hurting?
More comfort or pain? More joy or sadness? Each one of us has
power over the balance of love in the world. Use it wisely.

"Don't miss an opportunity to nudge the world's scale in the right
direction.


"Pass these lessons of love on to those you love and to those you
have hurt.

"For each person who receives this, there will be a little less evil in
the world and a little more love."


Tissue Alert!!!!!


A GOOD-BYE KISS

By Thomas Charles Clary

The Board Meeting had come to an end. Bob started to stand up and
jostled the table, spilling his coffee over his notes. "How
embarrassing. I am getting so clumsy in my old age." Everyone had a
good laugh, and soon we were all telling stories of our most
embarrassing moments. It came around to Frank who sat quietly
listening to the others. Someone said, "Come on, Frank. Tell us your
most embarrassing moment." Frank laughed and began to tell us of his
childhood.

"I grew up in San Pedro. My Dad was a fisherman, and he loved the
sea. He had his own boat, but it was hard making a living on the sea.
He worked hard and would stay out until he caught enough to feed the
family. Not just enough for our family, but also for his Mom and Dad
and the other kids that were still at home." He looked at us and
said, "I wish you could have met my Dad. He was a big man, and he was
strong from pulling the nets and fighting the seas for his catch.
When you got close to him, he smelled like the ocean. He would wear
his old canvas, foul-weather coat and his bibbed overalls. His rain
hat would be pulled down over his brow. No matter how much my Mother
washed them, they would still smell of the sea and of fish." Frank's
voice dropped a bit. "When the weather was bad he would drive me to
school. He had this old truck that he used in his fishing business.
That truck was older than he was. It would wheeze and rattle down the
road. You could hear it coming for blocks. As he would drive toward
the school, I would shrink down into the seat hoping to disappear.
Half the time, he would slam to a stop and the old truck would belch
a cloud of smoke. He would pull right up in front, and it seemed like
everybody would be standing around and watching. Then he would lean
over and give me a big kiss on the cheek and tell me to be a good
boy. It was so embarrassing for me. Here, I was twelve years old, and
my Dad would lean over and kiss me good-bye!"

He paused and then went on, "I remember the day I decided I was too
old for a good-bye kiss. When we got to the school and came to a
stop, he had his usual big smile. He started to lean toward me, but I
put my hand up and said, 'No, Dad.' It was the first time I had ever
talked to him that way, and he had this surprised look on his face.
I said, 'Dad, I'm too old for a good-bye kiss. I'm too old for any
kind of kiss.' My Dad looked at me for the longest time, and his
eyes started to tear up. I had never seen him cry. He turned and
looked out the windshield. 'You're right,' he said. 'You are a big
boy....a man. I won't kiss you anymore.'" Frank got a funny look on
his face, and the tears began to well up in his eyes, as he
spoke. "It wasn't long after that when my Dad went to sea and never
came back. It was a day when most of the fleet stayed in, but not
Dad. He had a big family to feed. They found his boat adrift with its
nets half in and half out. He must have gotten into a gale and was
trying to save the nets and the floats."

I looked at Frank and saw that tears were running down his cheeks.
Frank spoke again. "Guys, you don't know what I would give to have my
Dad give me just one more kiss on the cheek....to feel his rough old
face....to smell the ocean on him....to feel his arm around my neck.
I wish I had been a man then. If I had been a man, I would never have
told my Dad I was too old for a good-bye kiss."


May we never get too old to show our love..

Lord Sometimes...

...You allow Breakage's,
so You can Rebuild;

...You allow Wounds,
so You can Heal;

...You allow me to Walk in Darkness,
so that I see Your Light;

...You allow me to be Perplexed,
so I seek Your Truth;

...You allow me to be Empty,
so You can Fill Me;

...You allow me to be Lonely,
so I can see what a Friend - You are;

...You allow me to Learn hard Things,
so I can be a gentle Teacher;

...You allow me to be void of Feelings,
so I learn to walk by Faith;

...You take away my future Plans,
to Teach me to Live one Day at a Time;

...You allow me to suffer Pain,
so I may be Sympathetic to the Hurts of Others;

...You allow me to see the Futility of Life,
so I will see Everything is Loss,
Compared to the Excellency of Knowing Your Son, Jesus.

- Author Unknown