Community Chat

[gloriajean]

We don't choose how or when we will die, but we do decide how we will live.
Lord, forgive my frequent drifting and help me to see clearly the best path
for me.


Scripture for the day:

"The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to
sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning he wakens-- wakens my ear
to listen as those who are taught." ~Isaiah 50:4

Meditation for the day:

My five senses are my means of communication with the material world.
They are the links between my physical life and the material manifestations
around me. But I can sever all connections with the material world when I
wish to hold communion with God. I can hush my mind and bid all my senses
be still, before I can become attuned to communicate with the God who
created me and loves me so much.

Prayer for the day:

I pray that I may get my spirit in tune with the Spirit of God. I pray that
through faith and communion with God I may receive all the strength I need.

Hello my friends! Today was Linus last day this week - just 2 days and he's
so tired!! Tomorrow morning he plans on going to Dr. Mike and getting an
adjustment and have him write a note that he cannot do more than 4 or 5
hours a day - it's too hard on him. 6 is too much! That's the least he's
been doing a day, and all on his feet! He's a little nervous about after
he's done there, but I told him we just have to have more TRUST in God - He
wants him to do this, He'll make sure he'll be a success!!! And I know you
all will be praying for him too. And Mary, too, our great intercessor!! I
don't have much else to talk about so I'll go on with the thread - and
thanks much for all your posts - it means so much to me!! Praying for you
all - thanks for your prayers for us!! God bless you!

35 REASONS NOT TO SIN
§ Because to sin is not to love Christ.
§ Because my sin never pleases but always grieves God who loves me.
§ Because a little sin leads to more sin.
§ Because my sin invites the discipline of God.
§ Because sin glorifies God only in His judgment of it and His turning of
it to good use, never because it is worth anything on it’s own.
§ Because my sin may keep others from knowing Christ.
§ Because the time spent in sin is forever wasted.
§ Because my sin places a greater burden on my spiritual leaders.
§ Because in time my sin always brings heaviness to my heart.
§ Because I am doing what I do not have to do.
§ Because my sin always makes me less than what I could be.
§ Because others, including my family, suffer consequences due to my sin.
§ Because my sin saddens the godly.
§ Because my sin makes the enemies of God rejoice.
§ Because sin deceives me into believing I have gained when in reality I
have lost.
§ Because sin may keep me from qualifying for spiritual leadership.
§ Because the supposed benefits of my sin will never outweigh the
consequences of disobedience.
§ Because repenting of my sin is such a painful process, yet I must
repent.
§ Because sin is a very brief pleasure for an eternal loss.
§ Because my sin may influence others to sin.
§ Because sin makes light of the cross, upon which Christ died for the
very purpose of taking away my sin.
§ Because it is impossible to sin and follow the Spirit at the same time.
§ Because God chooses not to respect the prayers of those who cherish
their sin.
§ Because sin steals my reputation and robs me of my testimony.
§ Because others once more earnest than I have been destroyed by just such
sins.
§ Because the inhabitants of heaven and h ell would all testify to the
foolishness of this sin.
§ Because sin and guilt may harm both mind and body.
§ Because sins mixed with service make the things of God tasteless.
§ Because suffering for sin has no joy or reward, though suffering for
righteousness has both.
§ Because my sin is adultery with the world.
§ Because, though forgiven, I will review this very sin at the Judgment
Seat where loss and gain of eternal rewards are applied.
§ Because I can never really know ahead of time just how severe the
discipline for my sin might be.
§ Because my sin may be an indication of a lost condition.
§ Because my unwillingness to reject this sin now grants it an authority
over me greater than I wish to believe.
§ Because I promised God he would be Lord of my life.

The Conqueror

No matter how the storms may rage
Upon the sea of life,
No matter how the waves may beat,
No matter what the strife;
The Lord is just the same today
As when He walked the sea,
And He can conquer every storm
Than life may send to thee.
The waves are raging everywhere
And men are sore distressed,
But all they need is found in Him
Who giveth perfect rest.

So cast your care upon the Lord
Whose strength will never fail,
He calms the waves for your frail bark
His power will e'er prevail.


- Author Unknown

THANKS FOR YOUR TIME
Author Unknown


A young man learns what's most important in life from the guy next
door. It had been some time since Jack had seen the old man. College,
girls, career, and life itself got in the way. In fact, Jack moved
clear across the country in pursuit of his dreams. There, in the rush
of his busy life, Jack had little time to think about the past and
often no time to spend with his wife and son. He was working on his
future, and nothing could stop him.

Over the phone, his mother told him, "Mr. Belser died last night. The
funeral is Wednesday." Memories flashed through his mind like an old
newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days.

"Jack, did you hear me?"

"Oh, sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you. It's been so long since I thought
of him. I'm sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago," Jack
said.

"Well, he didn't forget you. Every time I saw him he'd ask how you
were doing. He'd reminisce about the many days you spent over 'his
side of the fence' as he put it," Mom told him.

"I loved that old house he lived in," Jack said.

"You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser stepped in to make
sure you had a man's influence in your life," she said.

"He's the one who taught me carpentry," he said. "I wouldn't be in
this business if it weren't for him. He spent a lot of time teaching
me things he thought were important...Mom, I'll be there for the
funeral," Jack said.

As busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the next flight to
his hometown. Mr. Belser's funeral was small and uneventful. He had no
children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away.

The night before he had to return home, Jack and his Mom stopped by to
see the old house next door one more time. Standing in the doorway,
Jack paused for a moment. It was like crossing over into another
dimension, a leap through space and time. The house was exactly as he
remembered. Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece of
furniture.... Jack stopped
suddenly.

"What's wrong, Jack?" his Mom asked.

"The box is gone," he said.

"What box? " Mom asked.

"There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk. I
must have asked him a thousand times what was inside. All he'd ever
tell me was 'the thing I value most,'" Jack said.

It was gone. Everything about the house was exactly how Jack
remembered it, except for the box. He figured someone from the Belser
family had taken it.

"Now I'll never know what was so valuable to him," Jack said. "I
better get some sleep. I have an early flight home, Mom."

It had been about two weeks since Mr. Belser died. Returning home from
work one day Jack discovered a note in his mailbox. "Signature
required on a package. No one at home. Please stop by the main post
office within the next three days," the note read.

Early the next day Jack retrieved the package. The small box was old
and looked like it had been mailed a hundred years ago. The
handwriting was difficult to read, but the return address caught his
attention.

"Mr. Harold Belser" it read. Jack took the box out to his car and
ripped open the package. There inside was the gold box and an
envelope. Jack's hands shook as he read the note inside.

"Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack
Bennett. It's the thing I valued most in my life."

A small key was taped to the letter. His heart racing, as tears
filling his eyes, Jack carefully unlocked the box. There inside he
found a beautiful gold pocket watch. Running his fingers slowly over
the finely etched casing, he unlatched the cover.

Inside he found these words engraved: "Jack, Thanks for your time!
Harold Belser."

"The thing he valued most...was...my time."

Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his office and
cleared his appointments for the next two days.

"Why?" Janet, his assistant asked.

"I need some time to spend with my son," he said.

"Oh, by the way, Janet...thanks for your time!"

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the
moments that take our breath away,"

Thank you for your time.....

God Still Comes:
A Meditative Journey
Through Advent

Rev. Johann G. Roten, SM

The Tent
In Genesis 3:18, Abraham leaves Egypt. He and Sarah strike their tent, move,
and dwell in Hebron. In Hebron, Abraham plants his tent and builds an altar
(hence, the word Tabernacle is symbolized by tent). Tents are the dwelling
of nomads. In Genesis 18, Abraham hosts visitors at his tent camp at Hebron.

To be a pilgrim: God's first and preferred dwelling among people was the
tent. At God's command, Abraham left his solidly built townhouse in Ur. He
exchanged the sophisticated way of life of a well-to-do city dweller with
the unprotected and uncertain existence of a homeless nomad. His dwelling
was a tent, his home, the long lonely road. With no permanent place to stay,
tent poles and ropes now secured his shelter instead of protective walls and
sturdy beams. Household supplies were reduced to the bare essentials: a
string of earthernware hanging on the tentpole, water jugs and cooking
utensils, a scale, the loom, the hand-mill, the camel's saddle, the flute.

A symbol of faith: It is here, in the tent, that God lived with Abraham and
his family, the God who commanded Abraham's departure. God intended the
people to internalize the biorhythm of faith as it is concretely expressed
in putting up and taking down the tent. The tent represents a place to stay
without a place to stay. Movable and breakable, the tent repeatedly urges
its dwellers toward departure. The tent points to the road. To be a pilgrim
is our first God-given vocation.

Path and development: The tent image stands for the beginning of our God
experience. God approaches the people as call, promise and miracle. God's
call is a persistent urge and restless drive. The God of the tent is
experienced as path and development; he is experience in process and
constant movement toward a goal. In associating with him, the people learn
the meaning and the demands of loosening and binding. Hence, the God of the
tent became the God of freedom: freedom from all that is not freedom for
God.

Advent Prayer

Father, in the wilderness of the Jordan you sent a messenger to prepare
people's hearts for the coming of your Son. Help me to hear his words and
repent of my sins, so that I may clearly see the way to walk, the truth to
speak, and the life to live for Him, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.