Community Chat

[gloriajean]

Never let the abundance of gifts from God cause you to forget the Giver.
Lord, may I start and end each day with a thank you to You for all of my
blessings including those which I take for granted.

Scripture for the day:

"When you send forth your spirit, they are created; and you renew the
face of the ground." ~Psalm 104:30

Meditation for the day:

Worship can be consciousness of God's divine majesty. As we pause to
worship, God can help us experience God's divinity. The earth is
filled with God's presence. God can give to us a divine power, a
divine love and a divine healing. We can open our minds to God and
try to absorb some of God's divine spirit. Pausing quietly in the
spirit of worship, we can turn our inward thoughts to God and realize
that God's divine power may be ours, that we can experience God's love
and healing.

Prayer for the day:

I pray that I may worship God by sensing the eternal spirit. I pray
that I may experience a new power in my life.

Hello my friends! A little cooler today - thanks be to God - today I picked
a lot of chives, washed and cut them in small pieces, and they are in the
fridge now for use until I want to freeze them. I cut all there was almost
to the bottom, but they grow and grow! Also kale keeps growing too, and I
cut some of that along with parsley for use. Tomorrow I'm making some
chicken soup and this will go in it plus other good stuff, stuff in the
fridge, and some cabbage. I've been using the food processor and using
these for scrambled eggs, hash browns, and salads. I'm sure I find all
kinds of ways to use chives. Maybe you can give me some ideas too? My
blessings today is the more bearable weather, garden foods, hearing every
day how Ollie is doing, and today at work the owner of that appliance store
gave Linus hope again, he stopped in at Northern Tool and when he saw him,
he said his name came up again yesterday and they have to stop having to pay
so much overtime so we have more hope. Linus told him he really loves
selling appliances. I pray it won't be too long now and that it works out
for him. Linus doesn't want a job where they'll lay him off around
Christmas time when it's slower, so that has to be mentioned as he's a
little scared of that. Praying for all your intentions and thank you much
for praying for us.

Why Isn´t Everybody Happy?


We seek happiness in almost everything. Food, s$x, money, power, the usual
suspects.
And these things provide a measure of happiness, to be sure.
Indeed, some forms of happiness are nobler than others but even the lowest
are good as far as they go.
A really good piece of chocolate is good, but not as noble and good
as the happiness derived from friendship, or the love of a spouse.
But even these nobler forms of happiness are not, in the end, enough.
After that good marriage, the great job, the involvement in the charitable
work,
the adopted children, even the life of self-sacrifice such as Mother
Teresa's,
the soul still cries out for happiness which is ultimately found only in
God.


Compared to that happiness, all our happiness is like straw, good as it is.
Mother Teresa, who was wise, knew this and sought all her happiness in God,
where she found it.
We, who are often fools, seek ultimate happiness here on earth.
But when what is good becomes the rival of what is best, it becomes an
idol - the tent of the wicked.
That is why our life is a long process of dying to ourselves and living to
God.


God desires that we have what is best, not that we settle for what is second
best.
Today, ask God for what is best and receive it with joy. It's the only way
to happiness.
- - -
Proverbs 17:22 - Being cheerful keeps you healthy.

Thank you Lord

Thank you Lord for all that grows,
Thank you for the sky's rainbows,
Thank you for the stars that shine,
Thank you for these friends of mine,
Thank you for the moon and sun,
Thank you Lord for all you've done!

Help Yourself

A traveling preacher finds himself in a tremendous rainstorm.

Within a few hours the hotel he is staying in becomes flooded. As the water
rises, the preacher climbs to the roof and starts praying.

"Lord, save me so I can continue on my mission of preaching your gospel."

Just then, a coast guard rescue party floats by in a rowboat. "Let's go
mister. Into the boat."

"I'll stay here," says the preacher, "The Lord will save me."

An hour later a second boat reaches the scene and the water is close to the
roof of the hotel. "Sir, you better get in. the water is still rising."

"No thanks. The Lord will be my salvation."

Toward evening, the hotel is almost completely under water and the preacher
is clinging to the satellite dish on the roof. A helicopter is spotted and
on a loudspeaker is heard "HSir, grab on to the line and we will pull you
up. This is your last chance.

"I'm all right," says the preacher, as he looks heavenward. "I know the Lord
will provide sanctuary."

As the boat departs, the satellite dish is hit by lightning and the preacher
is killed. When he arrived at the Pearly Gates he was furious.

"What happened, " he shouts. "I thought the Lord would provide!"

Moments later a thunderous voice is heard. "Gimmie a break pal. I sent you 2
boats and a chopper"

Our Lady, Help of Christians

Most Holy and Immaculate Virgin, Help of Christians, we place ourselves
under your motherly protection. Throughout the Church's history you have
helped Christians in times of trial, temptation and danger. Time and time
again, you have proven to be the Refuge of sinners, the Hope of the
hopeless, the Consoler of the afflicted, and the Comforter of the dying. We
promise to be faithful disciples of Jesus Christ, your Son, to proclaim His
Good News of God's love for all people, and to work for peace and
justice in our world. With faith in your intercession, we pray for the
Church, for our family and friends, for the poor and abandoned, and all the
dying. Grant, O Mary, Help of Christians, the graces in which we stand in
need. (Mention your intentions) May we serve Jesus with fidelity and love
until death. Help us and out loved ones to attain the boundless joy of being
forever with our Father in heaven. Amen

MARY, HELP OF CHRISTIANS, PRAY FOR US!

[ Education for Life ]

If you give a man fish, he will eat at once. If you teach a man to fish, he
will eat for the rest of his life.

If you are thinking a year ahead, sow seed. If you are thinking ten years
ahead, plant a tree.

If you are thinking one hundred years ahead, educate the people.

By sowing seed, you will harvest much. By planting a tree, you will harvest
tenfold. By educating the people, you will harvest one hundredfold.


A PRAYER WHEN YOU NEED PATIENCE

Forgive me, Dear God,
If today I have been impatient, especially with people.
If today I have made anyone feel a nuisance.
If today I did not show understanding for others mistakes.
If today there were times when I was too head strong,
too sure I was right.
If today I have ridden rough shod over the feelings
of someone else.
If today I have been
unapproachable to talk to,
difficult to work with,
critical of others,
harsh and quick in my judgement.
I cannot undo what I have done, but help me tomorrow
to be more loving and kind, as you are to me. Amen.


THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA
-- Author Unknown
August 18, 2009


After a few of the usual Sunday evening hymns, the church's pastor
once again slowly stood up, walked over to the pulpit, and gave a very
brief introduction of his childhood friend. With that, an elderly man
stepped up to the pulpit to speak, "A father, his son, and a friend of
his son were
sailing off the Pacific Coast," he began, "when a fast approaching
storm blocked any attempt to get back to shore. The waves were so
high, that even though the father was an experienced sailor, he could
not keep the boat upright, and the three were swept into the ocean."

The old man hesitated for a moment, making eye contact with two
teenagers who were, for the first time since the service began,
looking somewhat interested in his story. He continued, "Grabbing a
rescue line, the father had to make the most excruciating decision of
his life....to which boy he would throw the other end of the line. He
only had seconds to make the
decision.

The father knew that his son was a Christian, and he also knew that
his son's friend was not. The agony of his decision could not be
matched by the torrent of waves. As the father yelled out, 'I love
you, son!' he threw the line to his son's friend. By the time he
pulled the friend back to the
capsized boat, his son had disappeared beyond the raging swells into
the black of night. His body was never recovered."

By this time, the two teenagers were sitting straighter in the pew,
waiting for the next words to come out of the old man's mouth. "The
father," he continued, "knew his son would step into eternity with
Jesus, and he could not bear the thought of his son's friend stepping
into an eternity without Jesus. Therefore, he sacrificed his son. How
great is the love of God that He should do the same for us." With
that, the old man turned and sat back down in his chair as silence
filled the room.

Within minutes after the service ended, the two teenagers were at the
old man's side. "That was a nice story," politely started one of the
boys, "but I don't think it was very realistic for a father to give up
his son's life in hopes that the other boy would become a Christian."

"Well, you've got a point there," the old man replied, glancing down
at his worn Bible. A big smile broadened his narrow face, and he once
again looked up at the boys and said, "It sure isn't very realistic,
is it? But I'm standing here today to tell you that THAT story gives
me a glimpse of what
it must have been like for God to give up His Son for me."

"You see....I was that father, and your pastor was my son's friend."