Community Chat

[DoubleJ]

Actions have consequences. Lord, may my actions not create difficulties,
but rather bring peace and joy to my life.


Scripture for the day:

"Now when Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on
from there to teach and proclaim his message in their cities."
~Matthew 11:1

Meditation for the day:

God's eternal quest can be the tracking down of souls. We can join God in
this quest. Through briars, through waste places, through glades, up
mountain heights, down into valleys, God can lead us. With God's leadership
can go our helping hand. We can help God seek lost sheep. We can bring the
good news into places where it has not been known before. We may not know
which soul we will help, but we can leave all results to God. We can just go
with God in God's eternal quest for souls.

Prayer for the day:

I pray that I may follow God in God's eternal quest for souls. I pray that
I may offer God my helping hand.

Hello my friends, Hopefully you don't lose internet, Juanita, but if that
happens, Carolina has offered to help out in getting the thread out. Let me
know somehow if you are still able to or is she should start soon? Last
night was a rough night for both of us - in the middle of the night he went
to get some cough med. that didn't even work. I was hacking a lot and not
getting sleep. Good thing he has these days off. Did you know they quit
making my favorite Vick's Cough Drops? I wanted him to go to Walgreens to
pick some up for me but the pharmacist told them they don't make them
anymore. Why quit something when it works? I was sad to hear that. We are
both hoping for a good night's sleep tonight. Please pray it happens.
Praying for you all and thanks for praying for us.

Motherly Love

A teacher in one school put this question to
little Jimmy in the math class, "James, suppose
your mother made a cake and there were ten of you
at table - your mother and father and eight
children. How much of the pie would you get?"

"A ninth, ma'am," was the prompt answer.

"No, no, James. Now pay attention, "said the
teacher. "There are ten of you. Ten, remember.
Don't you know your fractions?"

"Yes, ma'am," was the swift reply of little
Jimmy, "I know my fractions. But I know my
mother, too. She'd say she didn't want any."

"I Have These Holes"


Last night my sadness woke me up,
And I sobbed uncontrollably.
The world was sleeping,
So I turned to the Lord for conversation.

I feel like I'm getting my life together, Lord,
Except for these holes.
The losses I have had have left these holes in me,
And now my life keeps seeping out the holes.

I've tried filling the holes with all kinds of things:
Busyness, food, sympathy from others,
But nothing works.
I still have these holes.

And the grief from memories past enveloped me again.
And I sat rocking myself, holding myself,
Trying to give comfort to my pain.
Wanting to gain understanding.

This pain sure hurts, Lord.

And then as early morning came,
I heard Him softly call my name.
With nail-scared hands out stretched to me,
He said so very tenderly,
"I have holes too."

And then I knew,
He understood as no one could!

By Anne Peterson in 1994

If I Had My Life To Live Over
by Erma Bombeck
(written after she found out she was dying from cancer).

I would have talked less and listened more.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained
and the sofa faded.

I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much
less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his
youth.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day
because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in
storage.

I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass
stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while
watching life.

I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth
would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't
show soil or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy,I'd have cherished every
moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only
chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later. Now go
get washed up for dinner."

There would have been more "I love you's".. more "I'm sorry's"

But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute...look at
it and really see it... live it...and never give it back.

I Feared...

I feared being alone
Until I learned to like Myself.

I feared failure
Until I realized that I only Fail when I don't try.

I feared success
Until I realized that I had to try in order to be happy with myself.

I feared people's opinions
Until I learned that people would have opinions about me anyway.

I feared rejection
Until I learned to have faith in myself.

I feared pain
Until I learned that it's necessary for growth.

I feared the truth
Until I saw the ugliness in lies.

I feared life
Until I experienced its beauty.

I feared death
Until I realized that it's not an end, but a beginning.

I feared my destiny,
Until I realized that I had the power to change my life.

I feared hate
Until I saw that it was nothing more than ignorance.

I feared love
Until it touched my heart, making the darkness fade into endless sunny days.

I feared ridicule
Until I learned how to laugh at myself.

I feared growing old
Until I realized that I gained wisdom every day.

I feared the future
Until I realized that Life just kept getting better.

I feared the past
Until I realized that it could no longer hurt me.

I feared the dark
Until I saw the beauty of the starlight.

I feared the light
Until I learned that the Truth would give me Strength.

I feared change,
Until I saw that even the most beautiful butterfly had to undergo a
Metamorphosis before it could fly.

--- Author Unknown

Father,
May I always remember
that all the parts of my body are good because you made them,
that my body does not belong to me but to you,
who bought it at my Baptism
at the price of Christ's Cross
and that my body is the living temple of the Holy Spirit.
Give me self-control over my passions, appetites and imaginations;
give me respect for the opposite s-ex
and esteem for my own;
create in me that wholeness and integrity
that all my powers may be consecrated to your service
according to my state in life.
May Mary the Blessed Virgin Mother,
watch over me through Christ our Lord. Amen.

- - -
Matthew 5:8 - "Happy are the pure in Heart; they will see God!"

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 - Don't you know that your body is a temple for the
Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not
belong to yourselves but to God; he has bought you for a price. So use your
bodies for God's glory.

Prayer for Missionaries

O almighty God, Lord of the harvest of souls, we ask You to guide and bless
all who have gone forth to preach the gospel. Endow them with the gifts of
generosity and concern. Send your Holy Spirit on them, that He may
strengthen them in weakness, comfort them in trials and direct their
efforts. May He open the hearts of their hearers to receive Your message.
Let Your revelation enlighten all minds for the salvation of souls, and let
Your love heal every heart and body for the happiness of each person. May
all people consciously acknowledge You and serve You by living the teachings
of Your Son. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.