Community Chat

[DoubleJ]

Everything we need to deal with life's problems lies within us. Our trials
are tests to see if we can discover the solution. Lord, I call out Your name
when I face my difficulties and together we will overcome them.


Scripture for the day:

"What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is
spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, 'You must be born from
above.' The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but
you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with
everyone who is born of the Spirit." ~John 3:6-8

Meditation for the day:

Once I am "born of the spirit," that is my life's breath. Within me is the
life of life, so that I can never perish. The life that down the ages has
kept God's children through peril, adversity and sorrow. I can try never to
doubt or worry, but follow where the life of the spirit leads. How often,
when little I know it, God goes before me to prepare the way, to soften a
heart, or to overrule a resentment. As the life of the spirit grows, natural
wants become less important.

Prayer for the day:

I pray that my life may become centered in God more than in self. I pray
that my will may be directed toward doing God's will.

Hello my friends! Tonight we went to Elisha's (Lori's friend) house warming
party - she moved just a block away - it was a bunch of people, lots to eat
and drink, and I tired out fast!! Linus took me home to rest, but I got on
the phone and talked to both Darla and Sister LaDonna instead until he came
back home. It was nice talking to them without coughing. It was a blessing
visiting with them, also today we were blessed by free squash in our garden
from the compost and Linus cooked them all on the grill, and got them out of
the shells, baked with apples, and I put them thru the vita mix, and then we
packaged them and froze. Have more to do. Trying to think of more
blessings, but almost fell asleep here, there are many more, plus all of you
are my blessings. Praying for all your intentions and thanks for your
prayers for us.

Ever wonder about the abbreviation A.S.A.P.? Generally we think of it in
terms of even more hurry and stress in our lives. Maybe if we think of this
abbreviation in a different manner, we will begin to find a new way to deal
with those rough days along the way.
*************
There's work to do, deadlines to meet;
You've got no time to spare,
But as you hurry and scurry-
ASAP - ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER

In the midst of family chaos,
'Quality time' is rare.
Do your best; let God do the rest-
ASAP - ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER.


Dear Lord,

Even though I clutch my blanket and growl when the alarm rings,
thank you, Lord, that I can hear. There are many that are deaf.

Even though I keep my eyes closed against the morning light as long as
possible,
thank you, Lord, that I can see. Many are blind.

Even though I huddle in my bed and put off rising,
thank you, Lord, that I have the strength to rise. There are many that are
bedridden.

Even though the first hour of my day is hectic, when socks are lost, toast
is burned and tempers are short, my family are so loud,
thank you, Lord, for my family. There are many that are lonely.

Even though our breakfast table never looks like the pictures in magazines
and the menu is at times unbalanced,
thank you, Lord, for the food we have. There are many that are hungry.

Even though the routine of my job often is monotonous,
thank you, Lord, for the opportunity to work. There are many that have no
job.

Even though I grumble and bemoan my fate from day to day and wish my
circumstances were not so modest,
thank you Lord, for life!

May I always thank you Lord. Amen

The Most Selfish One-Letter Word
"I"
Avoid It

The Most Satisfying Two-Letter Word
"WE"
Use It

The Most Poisonous Three-Letter Word
"EGO"
Kill It

The Most Used Four-Letter Word
"LOVE"
Value It

The Most Pleasing Five Letter Word
"SMILE"
Keep It

The Fastest Spreading Six-Letter Word
"RUMOUR"
Ignore It

The Hardest Working Seven Letter Word
"SUCCESS"
Achieve It

The Most Enviable Eight-Letter Word
"JEALOUSY"
Distance It

The Most Powerful Nine-Letter Word
"KNOWLEDGE"
Acquire It

The Most Essential Ten-Letter Word
"CONFIDENCE"
Trust It

Author Unknown

Someone Else

Our church was saddened to learn this week of the death of one of our most
valued members, Someone Else. Someone's passing creates a vacancy that will
be difficult to fill. Else has been with us for many years and for every one
of those years, Someone did far more than a normal person's share of the
work.

Whenever there was a job to do, a class to teach, or a meeting to attend,
one name was on everyone's list, "Let Someone Else do it." Whenever
leadership was mentioned, this wonderful person was looked to for
inspiration as well as results; "Someone Else can work with that group." It
was common knowledge that Someone Else was among the most liberal givers in
our church. Whenever there was a financial need, everyone just assumed
Someone Else would make up the difference.

Someone Else was a wonderful person; sometimes appearing superhuman. Were
the truth known, everybody expected too much of Someone Else. Now Someone
Else is gone! We wonder what we are going to do.

Someone Else left a wonderful example to follow, but who is going to follow
it? Who is going to do the things Someone Else did? When you are asked to
help this year, remember - we can't depend on "Someone Else" anymore.


Author Unknown

A Bird Feeder?

A blue jay, by nature, is a glutton. A magnificent bird yes, but a glutton.
He can clean out a bird feeder in the time it takes for a sparrow to return
thanks.
He swoops into a feeder, gobbles up everything and squawks for more. Such an
irritable
disposition at mealtime would in itself be sufficient reason for ulcers, but
the blue jay
who dominates my bird feeder has even further reason to be aggravated.

My tomcat keeps him under constant surveillance. Every time wings flutter on
the horizon Sir. Purrcival Van mouser comes stiffly to attention. Should the
blue jay
catch him at ease his reaction is immediate and swift an enormous leap, a
wild gallop down the
hall and Purrcival is at his post. I fear one day his breaks may fail, and
he will
crash through the window. At present, however, he displays magnificent
restraint, for which
the blue jay should be thankful. But instead, the jay is indignant that a
tomcat has the
audacity to peer at him through the glass while he's eating.

And yet for all his faults of gluttony, ingratitude, and irritability ( or
perhaps because of them) I can identify with that blue jay. Flying hither
and thither in the course
of the day's work, I can swoop into Scripture and skim a whole chapter in
the time it takes for a
scholar to collect his thoughts. Such a superficial approach toward the Word
reveals an ungrateful
attitude that can in itself be a serious hindrance to in-depth Bible study.
But even more
frightening is the thought that while I hastily gobble up snatches of
Scripture here, there
and everywhere, my adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion
seeking someone to
devour, (1 Peter 5:8).
The more brilliant my spiritual "plumage," the greater his efforts to thwart
my digestion of the Scripture.

What the blue jay and I must both learn is that the presence of the enemy
does not mean he will prevail. The tomcat may lick his chops in anticipation
of a blue jay
brisket, but he is helpless to inflict any harm because the bird feeder is
beyond his reach.
So long as the blue jay exercise diligence and care, he receives both
protection and nourishment.

In my case, the see is the Word of God, and while Satan may lie in wait to
catch me, claw at my inconsistencies, or pounce on my mistakes, his
threatening demeanor is but
futile threats so long as I prayerfully appropriate scriptural truths on a
daily basis.
Contrary to what Satan may expect, the close scrutiny of his evil eye simply
promotes a more careful
walk, encourages a more disciplined life-style and calls me to complete
reliance upon God.
Engrossed in His Word, I am both fortified and fed.

Light: "How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the
wicked, nor stand
in the path of sinners, not sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is
in the law of the Lord,
and in His law he meditates day and night." (Psalms 1:1-2).

Reflection: Despite the presence of evil around us, we should still be
determined to feed on God's Word!

Quote of the Day
One cannot desire freedom from the Cross when one is especially chosen for
the Cross.
-Edith Stein…