Community Chat

[gloriajean]

Joy does not depend on your circumstances, but rather on your triumph over
your
circumstances. Lord, my joy comes from within where Your spirit fills my
soul
and You bless me with Your strength.


Scripture for the day:

"Be still and know that I am God." ~Psalm 46:10

A scripture that fits the Meditation for today, and is also
appropriate for a person without a computer!

Meditation for the day:

I can keep calm and unmoved in the vicissitudes of life. I can go
back into the silence of communion with God to recover this calm
when it is lost even for one moment. I can accomplish more by this
calmness than by all the activities of a long day. At all cost I can
keep calm. I can solve nothing when I am agitated. I can keep
away from things that are upsetting emotionally. I can run on an
even keel and not get tipped over by emotional upsets. I can seek
for things that are calm and good and true ... and stick to those
things.

Prayer for the day:

I pray that I may not argue or contend, but merely state calmly
what I believe to be true. I pray that I may keep myself in that
state of calmness that comes from faith in God's purpose for the
world.

Hello my friends! Today's blessing was a long phone call from Darla - thanks
for the cells - it was free! Cards tonight with another couple - at their
place, and we won but it was a very close game! A good time was had by all-
Homemade pumpkin pie for dessert - Yum!! Now it's late and so I'll be short
and get everything out here for you - and know that you're all in my
prayers, and thanks much for your prayers for us.

You Are...

You are strong...when you take your grief and teach it to smile.
You are brave...when you overcome your fear and help others to do the same.
You are happy...when you see a flower and are thankful for the blessing.
You are loving...when your own pain does not blind you to the pain of
others.
You are wise...when you know the limits of your wisdom.
You are true...when you admit there are times you fool yourself.
You are alive...when tomorrow's hope means more to you than yesterday's
mistake.
You are growing...when you know what you are but not what you will become.
You are free...when you are in control of yourself and do not wish to
control others.
You are honorable...when you find your honor is to honor others.
You are generous...when you can take as sweetly as you can give.
You are humble...when you do not know how humble you are.
You are thoughtful...when you see me just as I am and treat me just as you
are.
You are merciful...when you forgive in others the faults you condemn in
yourself.
You are beautiful...when you don't need a mirror to tell you.
You are rich...when you never need more than what you have.
You are you...when you are at peace with who you are not.

HEAVEN & H ELL
Author Unknown


A holy man was having a conversation with the Lord one day and said,
"Lord, I would like to know what Heaven and H ell are like. "


The Lord led the holy man to two doors. He opened one of the doors and
the holy man looked in. In the middle of the room was a large round
table. In the middle of the table was a large pot of stew which
smelled delicious and made the holy man's mouth water. The people
sitting around the table were thin and sickly. They appeared to be
famished. They were holding spoons with very long handles that were
strapped to their arms and each found it possible to reach into the
pot of stew and take a spoonful, but because the handle was longer
than their arms, they could not get the spoons back into their mouths.
The holy man shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering. The
Lord said, "You have seen H ell."


They went to the next room and opened the door. It was exactly the
same as the first one. There was the large round table with the large
pot of stew which made the Holy man's mouth water. The people were
equipped with the same long-handled spoons, but here the people were
well nourished and plump, laughing and talking. The Holy man said, "I
don't understand." "It is simple" said the Lord, "it requires but one
skill.


You see, they have learned to feed each other, while the greedy think
only of themselves." When Jesus died on the cross he was thinking of
you!

You Ask Why I Follow This Jesus?

You ask why I follow this Jesus?
Why I love Him the way I do?
When the world's turned away from His teachings
And the people who serve Him are few.

It's not the rewards I'm after
Or gifts that I hope to receive
It's the Presence that calls for commitment
It's the Spirit I trust and believe.

The Lord doesn't shelter His faithful
Or spare them all suffering and pain,
Like everyone else I have burdens,
And walk through my share of rain.

Yet He gives me a plan and a purpose,
And that joy only Christians have known,
I never know what comes tomorrow,
But I do know I'm never alone.

It's the love always there when you need it;
It's the words that redeem and inspire,
It's the longing to ever be with Him
That burns in my heart like a fire.

So you ask why I love my Lord Jesus?
Well, friend, that's so easy to see,
But the one thing that fills me with wonder is
Why Jesus loves someone like me.

S L E E P I N G T H R O U G H T H E S T O R M

Years ago a farmer owned land along the Atlantic seacoast. He
constantly advertised for hired hands. Most people were reluctant to
work on farms along the Atlantic. They dreaded the awful storms that
raged across the Atlantic, wreaking havoc on the buildings and crops.

As the farmer interviewed applicants for the job, he received a steady
stream of refusals. Finally, a short, thin man, well past middle age,
approached the farmer. "Are you a good farmhand?" the farmer asked
him.

"Well, I can sleep when the wind blows," answered the little man.
Although puzzled by this answer, the farmer, desperate for help, hired
him. The little man worked well around the farm, busy from dawn to
dusk, and the farmer felt satisfied with the man's work.
Then one night the wind howled loudly in from offshore. Jumping out
of bed, the farmer grabbed a lantern and rushed next door to the hired
hand's sleeping quarters. He shook the little man and yelled, "Get
up! A storm is coming! Tie things down before they blow away!"

The little man rolled over in bed and said firmly, "No sir. I told
you, I can sleep when the wind blows."

Enraged by the old man's response, the farmer was tempted to fire him
on the spot. Instead, he hurried outside to prepare for the storm. To his
amazement, he discovered that all of the haystacks had been
covered with tarpaulins. The cows were in the barn, the chickens were in
the coops, and the doors were barred. The shutters were tightly secured.
Everything was tied down. Nothing could blow away. The farmer then
understood what his hired hand meant, and he returned to bed to also sleep
while the wind blew.

When we are prepared, we have nothing to fear. We can secure ourselves
against the storms of life by grounding ourselves firmly in God's Word and
God's love.

"I Don't Fit In"

A friend of mine witnessed what I am about to tell you.

Several years ago, a well dressed older gentleman entered an elevator in a
tall office building, apparently consumed with whatever business he was
taking care of that day.

It was mid-afternoon of the work day, and there were only three people on
that elevator -- the gentleman, a middle-aged woman and my friend -- all
being transported down to the street level.

Out of the blue, the woman starts crying. Taken aback, the gentleman and my
friend didn't know what to say or do.

"I'm sorry. I'm making a spectacle of myself," said the woman, sobbing and
searching her purse for a handkerchief.

The gentleman offered her his. "Thank you," she said, "I just don't know
anymore. I'm usually not like this, but I just don't know anymore."

"I'm sure everything will turn out fine -- don't you worry, Miss," he said.

"No. No. It's not that. I have so much to be grateful for," she said as
she shook her head. "It's not what you think."

Not wanting to pry, her elevator mates stood speechless.

"It's just that I don't fit in. I've never fit in. I do everything I'm
supposed to do, but I don't feel like I belong," she said, wiping the tears
from her eyes.

The elevator continued its downward journey as the distraught woman tried to
compose herself.

"I'm so embarrassed. You'll have to pardon me. Things have just caught up to
me," she said.

"Miss, I have something I want to tell you, if you have just a minute," the
old man said.

The elevator opened as they reached the lobby.

"Oh yes, please, I need to get my mind focused on something," she said.

They left the elevator and walked into the busy lobby. The old man turned to
my friend, and invited him to join them. By this time, my friend's
curiosity had got the best of him.

The old man's face had some well worn lines. His gray hair bespoke of his
experience, and his dark eyes peered over his bifocals, lending confidence
to his words.

"I don't know what your situation is Ma'am," he said politely. "However, I
was in the same boat many years ago. And while I was in my little personal
crisis, I felt the same way. Moreover, I came to find out that everyone,
sooner or later, feels like they don't fit in."

"Sometimes it happens early in life in school. Teenagers are thrown
together with strangers and told to fit in. It's almost an impossible
situation. Then, the same thing happens at work, or with your neighbors at
home. You always feel like you are the odd man out. Everyone else seems to
be happy. They look comfortable. They look like they belong, and you always
feel like you are an intrusion. I know all about that," said the old man.

"I know exactly what you're saying," the woman said as she nodded in
agreement.

"A lot of people avoid those feelings by limiting contact. Watching
television, or reading books, or sitting in front of a computer provides a
comfort zone, and if you can afford to do that, I suppose that's fine if
that's what you want to do. However, for many of us, the real world cannot
be escaped. We have to work. We have to make a living. And we have to
interact with relatives and strangers in settings everyday. And, Ma'am, this
is what I want to tell you..."

"You see, it's all in how you look at it. Some people face those feelings
and settings with a sense of adventure. Others face the same situation with
dread. Yes, we all have different personalities and some of us are more
sensitive and vulnerable than others. However, if you can remember just a
couple of things, it will make your life a whole lot easier," he said.

"Do you work in this building?" he asked.

"Yes," she said.

"Well, this is my first time here and I had no idea where I was going, and
had never met the person I was going to see. Now, who is the one who feels
like they don't fit in?" he asked. "But, somehow, I got through it, and
I'll be walking out that front door in a minute without a scratch."

She and my friend chuckled.

"You can safely assume that the people you are interacting with feel as out
of place as you do. So, you simply practice the Golden Rule and make them
feel as comfortable as you can. They don't teach the Golden Rule in school,
so this is something you have to pick up along the way. Suffice it to say,
if you make others feel comfortable, they will reciprocate."

"Second, remember that in order to sense that feeling of belonging, you have
to feel you belong to yourself. In other words, if you aren't settled and
comfortable with yourself first, you'll be a fish out of water. Be confident
about what you believe. Be true to your feelings. You don't have to pretend
to be someone else. Just be yourself and let the world appreciate what you
have to offer. Everyone is good at something, including you. Offer what you
are good at, and who knows, maybe the world might even pay you for it!", the
old man said as he started to laugh.

"You're not alone," he said as he patted the woman's shoulder.

"Don't go nuts trying to force yourself to fit in. There are too many holes
and too many pegs out there to even try. Just have a little faith in
yourself, associate with people who lift you up, and you'll soon find folks
coming to you for help. And when you get lost in helping them, you won't
even think about fitting in. At that point, you won't be looking at life,
you'll be a part of it."

"Oh, thank you," she said, as the old man walked toward the street.

My friend just stood there, not saying a word. At that split second of
awkwardness, the woman and my friend extended their hands and shook.

"Nice to meet you," they both said at the same time. And then, just as
quickly and simultaneously, they said, "Have a nice day," as they both went
in different directions.

While they never knew each others' names, it was an encounter they would
never forget.

- Author Unknown

Prayer for Protection for oneself

Lord God, Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ,
I come before you in the name of the Lord Jesus.

I ask that I may have the powerful protection that comes form the Precious
Blood of Your Son that was poured out for me on the cross at Calvary. In the
name of Your Son, the Lord Jesus, I ask that you send angels to protect and
defend me from any attack of the enemy and to defend all the members of my
family, my friends and loved ones.

Protect and bless everyone who has asked me to pray for them. Give me the
grace to hear your voice and the courage to walk in your ways. I ask this in
the name of Jesus Christ, who will come again in the fullness of his glory.
To him be glory and praise, now and forever. Amen.

God rewards humility
God appeared to Moses in the shape of a burning bush, from there he asked
him to remove the sandals off his feet because he was standing on holy
ground (Exodus 3:5).

The Lord considered Moses a very humble man and yet he made him humble
before Him in order to teach us who He is. I am who am (Exodus 3:14), in
other words I am the one who exists or I am existence itself in other words
your existence comes from me. This is the holy name of God, I am who I am,
existence and life.

Every time we say I am, we are claiming the gift of life that God has given
us. Everything that we do is done because God allows us to do it.

Just as we have the power to turn off a switch and make a room dark at
night, God has the power to switch our lives off whenever he wants because
he is the author of life.

We should stop and meditate on this great mystery contained in the words "I
am", since it is a reflection of God Himself who gives us life.

It was suggested to Moses that he should remove the sandals of his feet as
to teach us that we must humble ourselves before God's Presence. So prayer
must start with a very special recollection, with sincere respect for God,
with the highest reverence for the one who loves us so much that allows us
to exist.

God chose the people of Israel as his people and yet he allowed them to be
slaved by the Egyptians in order to humble them, but that wasn't enough,
after they were freed by Moses God allowed them to be humbled in the desert
for forty years and yet they worshipped false Gods and put God to the test.

God allows sin to humiliate us so that we feel the need to be purified to
stand before him, we need to be humble in order to face God in our
repentance. God allows sufferings and commands us to follow his laws in
order to humble us into submission to his will, otherwise we will perish in
eternal flames.

Jesus the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Son of the Living God, the
Almighty came to teach us his ways, he was born in poverty, his parents fled
to Egypt to escape the persecution of Herod who wanted to kill him, Jesus
was rejected by his own people and did not perform miracles in Nazareth, he
said that no one is prophet in his own land. He was the Word of God, the one
who said "let there be light "and light was created, yet many people did not
believe his words, he performed many miracles and was accused of being with
the devil. He was the Master of the Apostles and yet he washed their feet,
finally he was put to shame by his passion and death on the cross, but in
this way demonstrating his humility and obedience.

His reward is to be seated at the right hand of the Father, to reign with
Him as our King forever and ever. Those who follow Him and learn from
humility will share His Kingdom of Peace, Love and Joy for all eternity.

For so says the Lord, Isaiah 66:1-2
1 Thus says the LORD:
Heaven is my throne
and the earth is my footstool;
what is the house that you would build for me,
and what is my resting place?
2 All these things my hand has made,
and so all these things are mine,
says the LORD.
But this is the one to whom I will look,
to the humble and contrite in spirit,
who trembles at my word.

(Psalm 25:9) He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble
his way.
(Proverbs 11:2) When pride comes, then comes disgrace; but wisdom is with
the humble.

Mary was the most humble of women and the Lord rewarded her humility by
exalting her to be the Mother of Jesus and the Queen of Heaven and all
creation.
Luke 1:48-49
for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name. (NRSV)