Community Chat

[gloriajean]

Forgiveness frees the heart and moves us from the victim to the one who
is in control of our lives. Lord, forgive us our trespasses as we forgive
those who trespass against us.


Scripture for the day:

"For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their
life?" ~Matthew 16:26

Meditation for the day:

It is the quality of my life that determines its value to those around me.
In order to judge the value of a person's life, we can set up a standard.
The most valuable life is one of honesty, purity, unselfishness and love.
All our lives can be measured against this standard in determining their
value to the world. by this standard, most of the so-called heroes of
history were not great people. "For what will it profit them if they gain
the whole world but forfeit their life?"

Prayer for the day:

I pray that I may be honest, pure, unselfish and loving. I pray that I may
make the quality of my life good by these standards.

Hello my friends! Today was a good day - Linus was home, although we dog
sat for Lori, Ollie was good, and no problems. He got picked up around six,
so that was good too! He's being better with Sammy and Sammy is tolerating
him more too. Tomorrow we leave for Arnie's funeral in Mpls. Got the GPS
to lead the way! Linus is doing a reading, and so is Sister Ladonna. It'll
be nice to see all my sisters again. Deil is driving (drove already today
to Ethel's and will stay overnight). 90 years old and driving to Mpls yet!
Isn't that something? It's about 60 miles from her place. My blessings
today are some good discussions with my husband, love it when we can just
visit together. When he feels a bit fearful about the New Year with his new
business, I just have to remind him to put his trust in God. He wants us to
trust Him in all things. His neck is hurting quite bad - he went to Dr.
Mike, had an adjustment, and was told it's a tight muscle thing, and he
should alternate with hot and cold on it and he has, but still had to take
iboprofin. And next week isn't so bad yet, but then he has to work almost
every day and long hours before his last day - so he'll have to have a talk
with his manager about that being way too much for him. Praying for all of
you for all your needs - thanks for your prayers for us - much appreciated!!

HE WATCHES
By: Joseph Rotonda


How I respond to everyday living.
How I treat my neighbours. How I treat my body.
How I spend money. Do I give money to the church,
drugs, or sinful objects that add excitement to my life?
He watches my reaction to the utmost
and insignificant jesters that life has to offer.
How I take care of my possessions.
Do I kick animals, or do I treat them with tender care?
Am I abusive to people?
Am I constructive with the quiet time He gives me?
Do I pray? Do I call out His name and ask for His help?
Do I have an ongoing relationship with Satan?
Does astrology slip in and direct my life?
Do I believe in just worldly things,
what I see, what I hear?
He watches how I react to success,
to sickness, to the weather, to the atrocities of life,
to His goodness; He watches.
He watches what I do with His gifts:
the spiritual talent, the mental awareness,
my health, when the Holy Spirit enters my life,
the children He has brought into my life,
and grandchildren, to friends and relatives.
He watches how I respond to the unsaved ones,
to the evil in the world, to the confusion
and chaos that surrounds us all.
He is always in front of that next second.
I cannot run, hide, disappear, from His spiritual eyes.
There is nowhere that He is not always there.
What I do here on earth has eternal rewards in heaven.
There are unheralded responsibilities of grace, joy and laughter.

God watches!

Advent Prayer

Father in heaven, our hearts desire the warmth of Your love and our minds
are searching for the light of Your Word. Increase our longing for Christ
our Savior and give us the strength to grow in love, that the dawn of His
coming may find us rejoicing in His presence and welcoming the light of His
truth. We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. Amen.

Build a Spiritual Crib


Our greatest glory lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we
fall!

The following directions show you how to build a spiritual crib in your
heart for Christ. Use it to put Christ into your Christmas in a real, living
way. Read the thought indicated about Christ's first crib.

Practice it during the day. Do this daily during December and make your
heart a worthy crib for Christ on Christmas Day.

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DEC.1 - THE STABLE

Frequently during the day offer your heart to the little Infant Jesus. Ask
Him to make it His home. - Sweet Jesus, take my heart and make it meek and
pure.

DEC.2 - THE ROOF

See that the roof of the stable is in good condition, so that the Infant
Jesus is protected from rain and snow. This you will do by carefully
avoiding every uncharitable remark. --Jesus, teach me to love my neighbor as
myself.

DEC.3 - CREVICES

Carefully stop every crevice in the walls of the stable, so that the wind
and cold may not enter there. Guard your senses against temptations. Guard
especially your ears against sinful conversations.--Jesus, help me to keep
temptations out of my heart.

DEC.4 - COBWEBS

Clean the cobwebs from your spiritual crib. Diligently remove from your
heart every inordinate desire of being praised. Renew this intention at
least three times today. --My Jesus, I want to please You in all I do today.

DEC.5 - FENCE

Build a fence about the crib of your heart by keeping a strict watch over
your eyes, especially at prayer. --Sweet Jesus, I long to see You.

DEC.6 - MANGER

Fix the best and warmest corner of your heart for the manger of Jesus. You
will do so by abstaining from what you like most in the line of comfort and
amusement. --Mary, use these sacrifices to prepare my heart for Jesus in
Holy Communion

DEC.7 - HAY

Supply the manger of your heart with hay, by overcoming all feelings of
pride, anger or envy. Jesus, teach me to know and correct my greatest sins.

DEC.8 - SOFT STRAW

Also provide your manger with soft straw by performing little acts of
mortification; for instance, bear the cold without complaints; or sit and
stand erect. --Dear Jesus, Who suffered so much for me, let me suffer for
love of You.

DEC.9 - SWADDLING CLOTHES

Prepare these for the Divine Infant by folding your hands when you pray, and
praying slowly and thoughtfully. --Jesus let me love you more and more.

DEC.10 - BLANKETS

Provide the manger of your with soft warm blankets. Avoid harsh and angry
words; be kind and gentle to all. --Jesus, help me to be meek and humble
like You.

DEC.11 - FUEL

Bring fuel to the crib of Jesus. Give up your own will; obey your superiors
cheerfully and promptly. --Jesus, let me do Your will in all things

DEC.12- WATER

Bring fresh clean water to the crib. Avoid every untruthful word and every
deceitful act. --Dearest Mary, obtain for me true contrition for my sins.

DEC.13 - PROVISIONS

Bring a supply of food to the crib. Deprive yourself of some food at
mealtime or candy as a treat. --Jesus, be my strength and nourishment.

DEC.14 - LIGHT

See that the crib has sufficient light. Be neat and orderly about your
person; keep everything in its place in your room. --Jesus, be the life and
light of my soul.

DEC.15 - FIRE

Take care to have the crib of your heart warmed by a cozy fire. Be grateful
to God for the love He has shown us in becoming man; behave with grateful
respect towards your parents and relatives. -- Jesus, how can I return Your
love; how can I show my gratitude to You?

DEC.16 - THE OX

Lead the ox to the crib. Obey cheerfully without making excuses and without
asking "why." --I will obey for love of You, Jesus.

DEC.17 - THE DONKEY

Bring the donkey to the crib. Offer to the Divine Infant your bodily
strength; use it in the service of others. --Jesus, accept my service of
love; I offer it for those who do not love You.

DEC.18 - GIFTS

Gather some presents for the Divine Infant and His Blessed Mother. Give alms
for the poor and say an extra decade of the rosary. --Come, Jesus, to accept
my gifts and to take possession of my heart.

DEC.19 - LAMBS

Strive to bring some little lambs, meek and humble of heart, make my heart
like Yours.

DEC.20 - SHEPHERDS

Invite the shepherds to pay homage to our newborn King. Imitate their
watchfulness; stress in your speech and thoughts the idea that Christmas is
important because Jesus will be born again in you. Jesus, teach me to love
You above all things.

DEC.21 - THE KEY

Provide the stable with a key to keep out thieves. Exclude from your heart
every sinful thought, every rash judgment --Dear Jesus, close my heart to
all that hurts you.

DEC.22 - ANGELS

Invite the angels to adore God with you. Cheerfully obey the inspirations of
your guardian angel and of your conscience. -- Holy Guardian Angel, never
let me forget that You are with me always.

DEC.23 - ST. JOSEPH

Accompany Saint Joseph from door to door. Learn from him silently and
patiently to bear refusals and disappointments. Open wide your heart and beg
Him to enter with the Blessed Virgin Mary. --Saint Joseph, help me to
prepare for a worthy Christmas Communion.

DEC.24 - THE BLESSED VIRGIN

Go meet your Blessed Mother. Lead her to the manger of your heart and beg
her to lay the Divine Infant in it. Shorten your chats and telephone
conversations and spend more time today thinking of Jesus and Mary and
Joseph. --Come, dear Jesus, Come; my heart belongs to You. "Devotions in
Preparation for the Coming of the Christ child, and at the Crib, from
Christmas to Purification"

Dialogue with Christ

Dialogue with Christ: My Jesus, I have a very wayward heart. I know that
you are the only one who can fulfill the longing of my soul; yet so often I
put my confidence in the fleeting things of this world instead. Reassure my
heart that you will always provide for me if I put all my trust in you. Keep
me going up the mountain towards your heavenly Kingdom, where you will be
all in all.

Resolution: I will pause sometime during the day––perhaps before lunch––and
make a spiritual communion by inviting Christ into my heart. I will thank
him for the gift of himself in the blessed Eucharist and renew my confidence
in him.

St. Nicholas

O Good Jesus, Saint Nicholas was an archbishop who dearly loved to help the
poor, especially young children. He worked to protect the innocent and
minister to those who were wronged. Eventually, the stories of his kindness
evolved into the legend of Santa Claus. I ask him to intercede for all
children, especially those in my family, and to pray for a good season of
Advent. May we use these days to remember the poor ones as we decide how to
spend our money. May we teach our children to follow the example of this
saint. Dear Lord, help us to honor You in all that we do during the
holidays. Saint Nicholas, pray for us. Amen.