Community Chat

[gloriajean]

Through God we have the power to triumph over even the most hopeless
of tragedies. Lord, You have said, "Ask and You shall receive", so I ask
that You will prepare me day by day to triumph in my dark hours.

Scripture for the day:

"I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your
progress and joy in faith, so that I may share abundantly in your
boasting in Christ Jesus when I come to you again. Only, live your
life
in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come
and see you or am absent and hear about you, I will know that you are
standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for
the faith of the gospel, and are in no way intimidated by your
opponents. For them this is evidence of their destruction, but of your
salvation." ~Philippians 1:25-28

Meditation for the day:

Spiritual progress is the law of our being. We can try to see around
us more and more of beauty and truth, knowledge and power. Today we
can try to be stronger, braver, more loving as a result of what we did
yesterday. This law of spiritual progress gives meaning and purpose
to our lives. We can always expect better things ahead. We can
accomplish much good through the strength of God's spirit in us. We
need not be discouraged. The world is sure to get better, in spite of
setbacks of war, hate, and greed. We can be part of the cure of the
world's ills, rather than part of the disease.

Prayer for the day:

I pray that I may keep progressing the better life. I pray that I may
be a part of the forces for good in the world.

Happy 4th of July to all of you! Hope you all enjoy it to the fullest!!
I'll be gone all day tomorrow so I'm putting the whole thread together
tonight as I used to do. Maybe you even like that much better than what I
have been doing lately. If so, please say so. Yes, Sister LaDonna turned
84 on the 1st, and all us sisters will be celebrating her birthday together
at one of my sister's. I'm bringing our garden salad - with olive oil
dressing. Deil will bring the cake. We'll have hamburgers and brats and
potato salad and baked beans and more! Always too much food, but then we
take some home and that's always a good thing. It's very hot here today -
even though we had rain, thunder and lightning last night. Hope the
pavement isn't too hot to travel on! I heard today that some car hit a bump
from the heat and it went thru the air! Please do pray for our safety.
It's supposed to be 100 tomorrow. My blessings are Ordinary blessings
which I won't take for granted - This morning Mass, raspberry and peas
picking, family, friends, and all of you! I'm thankful for our good health,
and don't have to be on any drugs, and to this I give our God all the honor
and glory!! Praise His Holy Name for all the blessings He gives us! Happy
Holiday and God bless you!

Tell Me about your plans.

What goals have you set? What goals would you like to set? What would you
like to do with your time? Tell Me about your job, your hobbies, your
leisure activities, your visits with family and friends. How would you like
Me to help you? I died for you; certainly I will help you in all other ways,
too.

With what special graces do you want Me to favor you? About which situations
would you like Me to give you insights? Which gifts of My Spirit do you need
to live a more successful Christian life? Ask Me for these, because I long
to share them with you—and to share them abundantly.

Tell Me which problems you want Me to help you resolve, which ones you want
Me to help you get through as you wait for the resolution. Ask Me to help
you increase your trust in our Father’s plans for these problems. He loves
you, I love you, My Holy Spirit loves you, and we, as One, desire what’s
best for you.

Your tears have touched Me. Tell Me what makes you cry. Lean into My
shoulder and let your tears flow. I will absorb your pain, and your tears
will become as drops in the ocean. Tell Me how much you need Me to relieve
your pain. I already bore your pain on My cross; let Me heal you now.

Perfect Trust

Oh, for the peace of a perfect trust,
My loving God, in thee;
Unwavering faith that never doubts
Thou chooses best for me!
Best, though my plans be all upset;
Best, though the way be rough;
Best, though my earthly store be scant;
In Thee I have enough.
Best, though my health and strength be gone,
Though weary days be mine,
Shut out from much that others have;
Not my will, Lord, but Thine!
And even though disappointments come,
They, too, are best for me,
To wean me from this changing world,
And lead me nearer Thee.
Oh, for the peace of a perfect trust
That looks away from all;
That sees thy hand in everything,
In great events or small.
That hears Thy voice - A Father's voice -
Directing for the best.
Oh, for the peace of a perfect trust,
A heart with Thee at rest.

Jesus -- How Long Do We Have --

What if God decided to give you just a sixty-second test ... to see if You
are ready for heaven, If He asked me, I would beg Him to give me more time.
I have too many things to change about me before I can be tested to be
heaven-worthy. Heaven is "forever" and I sure don't want to miss out
because I only had 60-seconds to shape up.
But then, suppose God said "O.K. ... I will give you a full week for me to
test you for a week to see if you are worthy enough to enter heaven."
Yikes, I would say (that is not fair, I need more time to improve and be out
of all my nasty habits). I need more time.

O.K. God says ... "O.K. ... I will give you five-years to shape up and then
I will test you to see if you are worth heaven after 5-years." Would this be
enough (five years to get ready)? Only God knows.

God knows all things and He knows how much time (each one of us needs to
"get ready"). He gives us each (enough time). We all have exactly enough
time for our testing -- He loves us that way.

TIMES OF REFRESHING

When I linger in Your presence,
All my wants and wishes cease.
From the toiling of a long day
Comes refreshing, comes release.

Gone the little disappointments
And the things which brought me pain.
In Your presence I find solace,
Strength to cope when hope seems vain.

You're aware of every struggle
From my doubts You set me free,
And the time becomes more precious
Which I spend on bended knee.

~ Regina Wiencek

HOLD MY HAND
Author Unknown

Little girl and her father were crossing a bridge.
The father was kind of scared so he asked his little daughter,
"Sweetheart, please hold my hand so that you don't fall into the
river."
The little girl said, "No, Dad. You hold my hand."
"What's the difference?" Asked the puzzled father.
"There's a big difference," replied the little girl.

"If I hold your hand and something happens to me,
chances are that I may let your hand go.
But if you hold my hand, I know for sure that no matter what happens,
you will never let my hand go."

In any relationship, the essence of trust is not in its bind, but in
its bond.

So hold the hand of the person who loves you rather than expecting
them to hold yours...

Trust in God
Into Thy Hands, O Lord, and into the hands of Thy holy Angels, I commit and
entrust this day my soul, my relatives, my benefactors, my friends and
enemies, and all people. Keep us, O Lord, through the day, by
the merits and intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and of all Thy
Saints, from all vicious and unruly desires, from all sins and temptations
of the devil, and from sudden and unprovided death and the pains of h ell.
Enlighten my heart with the grace of Thy Holy Spirit; grant that I may
always be obedient to Thy commandments; suffer me not to be separated from
Thee, O God, who livest and reignest with God the Father and the same Holy
Spirit for ever and ever. Amen.

St. Edmund

MOTHER'S PRAYER TO THE GUARDIAN ANGEL OF HER CHILDREN

I humbly salute you, O you faithful, heavenly Friends of my children! I give
you heartfelt thanks for all the love and goodness you show them. At some
future day I shall, with thanks more worthy than I can now give, repay your
care for them, and before the whole heavenly court acknowledge their
indebtedness to your guidance and protection. Continue to watch over them.
Provide for all their needs of body and soul. Pray, likewise, for me, for my
husband, and my whole family, that we may all one day rejoice in your
blessed company. Amen.