Memphis

Hello www, Thank you God for all answered prayers. In Jesus' name. Amen. I take communion to the homes of the elderly - sometimes not so elderly - from our church on a fairly regular basis. This is highly rewarding in and of itself, but when I'm also fortunate enough to bond with some of these lovely people, it is truly a providential experience. One such lady that my mom and I are close to is named Lucy. Lucy has a precious grand-baby named Memphis. Memphis turned three this year. She showed us a video of Memphis' first visit to Dallas. He is an adorable, independent, and intelligent child. He is fiercely self-reliant, refusing any kind of help. He can feed himself with a utensil: he learned to poke his food and then turn the utensil so that it fits in his mouth. He is well-mannered and knows certain words like, "Why?" and "Where are you pa-pa?" (his name for his grandfather) Watching him eat cantaloupe made me wish I could hug him tightly. Another moment showed him lying face up on the couch with his t-shirt crumpled a little bit underneath him, revealing a nice, round tummy I wanted to tickle. He climbed up on his grandma's reclining rocking chair and oscillated. Now, you may think all of things I've mentioned aren't very unusual, but what I haven't mentioned is that as a baby Memphis had Bacteria Meningitis. This horrific disease took sweet little Memphis' arms and legs. Lucy told us that the doctor who had to cut away the disease - taking Memphis' limbs with it - came out of the operating room crying. (I can't imagine having a job where removing a baby's arms might be something I'd have to do.) Mom and I immediately loved Memphis when Lucy told us about him, without seeing his photo, but when we saw the above video, we were enchanted. Memphis has artificial limbs and when he's back in Atlanta with his father, Memphis will continue learning how to use them. I am forever changed by meeting Memphis: grateful everyday for my health, and the health of those I love; Lord, thank you for children who are healthy, and please heal those who aren't. I ask myself how God could let something like this happen to such a phenomenal little boy, and the answer returns to me in something I heard from the father of a disabled child, "Children with disabilities are God's way of seeing how others react to these children." If you would like to donate money to help defer some of Memphis' medical bills, and/or take a look at this cute, cute, little boy, check him out at: http://www.memphislynnlafferty.com/ God bless you!

Wanna bet?

Hello www, Some heartfelt prayers for the following people: PW, whose mother has gone to be with the Lord; Jesus, may P feel your presence beside her and take comfort in knowing You walk with her during this difficult time in life, and always; Lord, please help us find a cure for cancer; for all marriages, newlyweds, engaged couples (you know who you are!), and single people - for an openness and awareness to God's guidance and love in our lives; for all children - for their safety, for their health, and happiness; special intentions for CO, BG, NA, SC, JL, VV, ON, JR, JI, VG, PJ, DB, CB, OF, SN, AE, BK, JD, and LH-ES - You know our needs, Lord, Your will be done; for anyone who I said I'd say a prayer for - and for those who have no one to pray for them - may God hear their prayers, and if it be God's will, give them their heart's desire; for peace in all families, and, as always, our gratitude to You, God, for the constant outpouring of blessing on our lives. In Jesus' name. Amen. I like going to places I shouldn't. !!! Casinos. I happily stood amidst a mildly uncomfortable, cold atmosphere, where dimmed lights and the ding-dinging of slot machines pushed against me. At the core of my amusement the sense of sin - no, sinning - loomed. Remember when a Catholic is born our guilt is securely attached to our souls. The Great Guilter - GG - as I affectionately call my 76-year-old mom - ingrained in me at an early age that 'having fun causes woes.' Mom means no harm, literally, with this notion; she wishes for me what all parents want for their children: the preservation of good thoughts, kind actions, and pure, clean love: naivete, basically. Sadly there is no innocence in a casino. We play for greed and power - out of stupidity. I spent $7. Spent? I should have just torn open the lid of a huge garbage can and tossed my money in it. This is the woe my mom is warning me against. A whole dollar, all of it, lol, went to a fancy-silly slot machine. $6 was lost faster than a flash from a digital camera in a Black Jack game. Those $7 could have been exploited wiser, perhaps on a poker game. Kidding. After I lost on the Black Jack game, I walked away wondering what I could have done differently, or if I even had a chance to win. I am no psychologist, but maybe that's how addictions begin - a tiny, seemingly inconsequential action - $7 lost, big woop - can turn a person with a more vulnerable personality into a full-blown, I'll-pawn-all-I-have, I-know-I-can-win gambling addict. Sometimes temptations comes to us and sometimes we go to temptations. I read somewhere on a dream interpretation web-site that if a creature, monster, anything awful, is chasing you, you are to stop running, confront it, and ask it what it wants. I believe this advice is also applicable to our real-life demons. Christ was tempted in the desert. We can expect to be lured by sinful occasions as well. With God on our side, though, we will have the courage to ask our monster, "What do you want?" and with God's grace respond to the answer in a life-affirming way. Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhddddddddddddd bless!