Community Chat

[gloriajean]

Be a little kinder and gentler today, for this will show your real strength.
Lord, may I become more patient and have the courage to live my life
according to the example You set forth.

Scripture for the day:

"I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and
calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.
I have been a fool! You forced me to it. Indeed you should have been the
ones commending me, for I am not at all inferior to these super-apostles."
~2 Corinthians 12:10-11

Meditation for the day:

We can make a stand for God. Believers in God are considered by some as
peculiar people. We can even be willing to be deemed a fool for the sake of
our faith. We can be ready to stand aside and let the fashions and customs
of the world go by, when God's purposes are thereby forwarded. We can be
known by the marks that distinguish a believer in God. These are honesty,
purity, unselfishness, love, gratitude and humility.

Prayer for the day:

I pray that I may be ready to profess my belief in God before others.
I pray that I may not be turned aside by the skepticism and cynicism of
unbelievers.

Hello my friends! Today was cold - in the 20's out there!! There was a
little covering of snow when we got up! It didn't last all day though. If
you haven't read what I just posted on the last thread - I went into
Facebook and there was a nice picture of my great niece - just born and with
her name already!!! This is why I really like facebook - my nephews and
nieces are on and my daughter and I can see their newest pictures. Love
that!!! All of a sudden, there'll be a picture of Darla and Greg at a
dance - - or somewhere, and we can see them on Facebook. As far as I know,
there is no one there from my class though, and that's okay. I've had lots
of blessings today - which includes friends on line and not, and for this I
am grateful for the computer who keeps me in touch with good friends and
relatives. I'll be calling my sister, Sister LaDonna, tonight yet, and I
know that will be another blessing!! She is great to talk to. A year ago
she was in such bad shape after her fall, which took very long to get well
again, but she did it! She's fine now!! Praise God!! Praying for all of you
for your needs and thanks so much for praying for us.

Teach me to forgive


One day a while back, a man, his heart heavy with grief, was walking in
the woods. As he thought about his life this day, he knew many things were
not right. He thought about those who had lied about him back when he had
a job.

His thoughts turned to those who had stolen his things and cheated him. He
remembered family that had passed on. His mindturned to the illness he had
that no one could cure. His very soul was filled with anger, resentment
and frustration.
Standing there this day, searching for answers he could not find, knowing
all else had failed him, he knelt at the base of> an old oak tree to seek
the one he knew would always be there, and with tears in his eyes, he
prayed

"Lord- You have done wonderful things for me in this life. You have told
me to do many things for you, and I happily obeyed. Today, you have told
me to forgive. I am sad, Lord, because I cannot. I don't know how. It is
not fair Lord. I didn't deserve these wrongs that were done against me
and I shouldn't have to forgive. As perfect as your way is Lord, this one
thing I cannot do, for I don't know how to forgive. My anger is so deep
Lord,
I fear I may not hear you, but I pray that you teach me to do this one thing
I cannot do - Teach me To Forgive.

As he knelt there in the quiet shade of that old oak tree, he felt
something fall onto his shoulder. He opened his eyes. Out of the corner of
one eye, he saw something red on his shirt. He could not turn to see what
it was because where the oak tree had been was a large square piece of
wood in the ground. He raised his head and saw two feet held to the wood
with a large spike through them. He raised his head more, and tears came
to his eyes as he saw Jesus hanging on a cross. He saw spikes in His
hands, a gash in His side, a torn and battered body, deep thorns sunk into
His head. Finally he saw the suffering and pain on His precious face. As
their eyes met, the man's tears turned to sobbing, and Jesus began to
speak.

Have you ever told a lie, he asked?
The man answered - yes Lord.

Have you ever been given too much change and kept it?
The man answered yes Lord. And the man sobbed more and more.

Have you ever taken something from work that wasn't yours, Jesus asked?
And the man answered yes Lord.

Have you ever sworn, using my Father's name in vain?
The man, crying now, answered yes Lord.

As Jesus asked many more times, "Have you ever"? The man's crying became
uncontrollable, for he could only answer yes Lord.

Then Jesus turned His head from one side to the other, and the man felt
something fall on his other shoulder. He looked and saw that it was the
blood of Jesus. When he looked back up, his eyes met those of Jesus, and
there was a look of love the man had never seen or known before. Jesus
said, I didn't deserve this either, but I forgive you.

It may be hard to see how you're going to get through something, but when
you look back in life, you realize how true this statement is Read the
first line slowly and let it sink in. This is simple, and important. Read
on....This first line is deep.

If God brings you to it - He will bring you through it. Lord I love You
and I need You, come into my heart, Today. For without You I can do
nothing.

God bless you.

Dear God,
I'm writing to say I'm sorry
For being angry yesterday
When you seemed to ignore my prayer
And things didn't go my way

First, my car broke down
I was very late for work
But I missed that awful accident
Was that your handiwork?

I found a house I loved
But others got there first
I was angry, then relieved
When I heard the pipes had burst!

Yesterday, I found the perfect dress
But the color was too pale
Today, I found the dress in red
Would you believe, it was on sale!

I know you're watching over me
And I'm feeling truly blest
For no matter what I pray for
You always know what's best!

I have this circle of E-mail friends,
Who mean the world to me;
Some days I "send" and "send",
At other times, I let them be.

When I see each name download,
And view the message they've sent;
I know they've thought of me that day,
And "well wishes" were their intent.

I am so blessed to have these friends,
With whom I've grown so close;
So this little poem I dedicate to them,
Because to me they are the "Most"!

So to you, my friends, I would like to say,
Thank you for being a part;
Of all my daily contacts,
This comes right from my heart..

God bless you all is my prayer today,
I'm honored to call you "friend";
I pray the Lord will keep you safe,
Until we write again.

WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?

P - Predictors - they help mould our future
R - Reminders - we are not self sufficient
O - Opportunities - they pull us out of our rut and cause us to think
creatively
B - Blessings- they open doors we don't usually go through
L - Lessons - each new challenge will be our teacher
E - everywhere - no place or person is excluded from them
M - Messages - they warn us about potential disaster
S - Solvable - no problem is without a solution

Emergency Telephone Numbers
These are more effective than 911

When -
You are sad, phone John 14
You have sinned, phone Psalm 51
You are facing danger, phone Psalm 91
People have failed you, phone Psalm 27
It feels as though God is far from you, phone Psalm 139
Your faith needs stimulation, phone Hebrews 11
You are alone and scared, phone Psalm 23
You are worried, phone Matthew 8:19-34
You are hurt and critical, phone 1 Corinthians 13
You wonder about Christianity, phone 2 Corinthians 5:15-18
You feel like an outcast, phone Romans 8:31-39
You are seeking peace, phone Matthew 11:25-30
It feels as if the world is bigger than God, phone Psalm 90
You need Christ like insurance, phone Romans 8:1-30
You are leaving home for a trip , phone Psalm 121
You are praying for yourself, phone Psalm 87
You require courage for a task, phone Joshua 1
Inflation's and investments are hogging your thoughts, phone Mark 10:17-31
You are depressive, phone Psalm 27
Your bank account is empty, phone Psalm 37
You lose faith in mankind, phone 1 Corinthians 13
It looks like people are unfriendly, phone John 15
You are losing hope, phone Psalm 126
You feel the world is small compared to you, phone Psalm 19
You want to carry fruit, phone John 15
Paul's secret for happiness, phone Colossians 3:12-17
With big opportunity/ discovery, phone Isaiah 55
To get along with other people, phone Romans 12
ALTERNATE NUMBERS
For dealing with fear, call Psalm 47
For security, call Psalm 121:3
For assurance, call Mark 8:35
For reassurance, call Psalm 145:18

ALL THESE NUMBERS MAY BE PHONED DIRECTLY.
NO OPERATOR ASSISTANCE IS NECESSARY.
ALL LINES TO HEAVEN ARE AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY.
FEED YOUR FAITH, AND DOUBT WILL STARVE TO DEATH

Broken Spirit

I have heard there is a monastery in Greece perched high on a cliff, several
hundred feet in the air. The only way to reach it is to be suspended in a
basket which is pulled to the top by several monks who pull and tug with all
their strength. Obviously the ride up the steep cliff in that basket is
terrifying.

One tourist got exceedingly nervous about halfway up as he noticed that the
rope by which he was suspended was old and frayed. With a trembling voice he
asked the monk who was riding with him in the basket how often they changed
the rope. The monk thought for a moment and answered serenely, "Whenever it
breaks."

We are shocked that someone would wait that long before changing the rope.
It makes sense that the rope ought to be changed long before reaching that
point. But it dawned on me that God operates the same way in our lives.

If we ask God when He will change our lives, His answer might be, "Whenever
you break." You see, our lives can only change once we have what the Bible
refers to as a "broken spirit." As long as we remain arrogant and determined
to do things our way, God can't shape us and mold us. Like a wild stallion,
we remain useless until we are "broken."


--Alan Smith

Prayer to Blessed Teresa of Calcutta

Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, longing to love Jesus as He had never been loved
before, you gave yourself entirely to Him, refusing Him nothing. In union
with the Immaculate Heart of Mary, you accepted His call to satiate His
infinite thirst for love and souls and became a carrier of His love to the
poorest of the poor. With loving trust and total surrender you fulfilled
His will, witnessing to the joy of belonging totally to Him. You became so
intimately united to Jesus your crucified Spouse that He deigned to share
with you the agony of His Heart as He hung upon the Cross.

Blessed Teresa, you promised to continuously bring the light of love to
those on earth; pray for us that we also may long to satiate the burning
thirst of Jesus by loving Him ardently, sharing in His sufferings joyfully,
and serving Him wholeheartedly in our brothers and sisters, especially those
most unloved and unwanted. Amen.

Guard and protect me St Joseph each day

Guard and protect me St Joseph each day
As onward we journey, to heaven we pray.
I ask when I'm dying that you will be there,
To cheer by thy presence, aid by your prayer.
Now hear me St. Joseph, I count upon thee
To grant my petition whatever it be.