Inspirational Stories and Thoughts

I thought you may enjoy both of these.

A strong woman works out every day to keep her body in shape.....but a woman of strength kneels in prayer to keep her soul in shape.
A strong woman isn't afraid of anything.....but a woman of strength shows courage iin the midst of her fear.
A strong woman won't let anyone get the best of her.....but a woman of strength gives the best of her to everyone.
A strong woman walks sure footedly.....but a woman of strength knows God will catch her if she falls.
A strong woman wears the look of confidence on her face.....but a woman of strength wears grace.
a strong woman has faith that she is strong enough for the journey.....but a woman of strength has faith that it is in the journey that she will become strong.

Addendum - Philippians 4:3 NKJ "And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life".

SIMPLE FRIEND VS. REAL FRIEND

A simple friend has never seen you cry. a real friend has shoulders soggy from your tears.
A simple friend doesn't know your parent's first names. A real friend has their phone numbers in his/her address book.
A simple friend brings a bottle of wine to your party. A real friend comes early to help you cook and stays late to help you clean up.
A simple friend hates it when you call after he/she has gone to bed. A real friend asks you why you took so long to call.
A simple friend seeks to talk with you about your problems. A real friend seeks to help you with your problems.
A simple friend wonders about your romantic history. A real friend could blackmail you with it.
A simple friend, when visiting, acts like a guest. A real friend opens your refrigerator and helps himself.
A simple friend, thinks the friendship is over when you have an argument. A real friend knows that it's not a friendship until after you've had a fight.
A simple friend expects you to always be there for them. A real friend expects to always be there for you!

There are so many reasons why we should be mindful of the thoughts we have and of the way we think of ourselves. These thoughts can so powerfully influence decisions we make and the way we relate to others.

Proverbs 23:7 states "As a man thinks in his heart so is he."

We need to encourage our young people to guard their thoughts and beliefs about things in the world and also about themselves.

I did not write the article below, but thought you may enjoy reading it.

AND SO IT IS...........By Bob Perks

"I can't do anything right!" the young man said.

I hesitated to say anything. It was really none of my business. I hear people undermining their lives all the time.

"I'm so stupid!" he shouted.

"And so it is!" I said quietly to myself.

At least I thought I did.

"What did you say?" he asked of me.

I was embarrassed for having been heard.

"I guess.....I was really talking to myself," I said.

"Yeah, I do that, too," he replied. "why would anyone else want to?"

"But you are saying all the wrong things," I said.

He stopped what he was doing and approached me.

"What are you talking about? And what business is it of yours?" he asked.

Okay, now I've gone too far into this. He's a bit angry at himself and now me for getting involved.

"Well, I was talking about you and it's really none of my business, you are right."

He stood looking at me, waiting.

"I hear people putting themselves down all the time. "I can't!" "I'm so stupid!" "Dummy!" "I can't do anything right!"

"So?"

"And so it is!"

"And so what is?"

"When you keep feeding yourself things like that it becomes a reality. Say you're stupid enough times and you begin to believe it. Say that you can't and you can't".

"Oh, don't waste that positive stuff on me!" he shouted.

"There you go again. Why is it a waste?"

"Because it just doesn't work on me."

"And so it is!" I said. then standing right in front of him I said, "It works, you don't."

"Hey, do you think I'm stupid?'

"No, but you do. And having just met you for the first time and hearing you say all those things to yourself, I'd have to guess you were right."

"Well, I'm not!" he said as he walked away.

"Now keep saying that to yourself and see what a difference it makes in your life!" I yelled to him as he left the room.

I was frustrated. I spend my life trying to get people to see beauty in the world and love in their life. I write stores to inspire, plant a seed, adjust an attitude, or simply fill a void.

I wish I could say that moments later the young man came rushing back to tell me that he needed to hear what I had to say.

I didn't happen.

You see, the business I'm in is based on faith.

I believe in something bigger than I, but I can't see it.

I believe in hope, but I can't measure it.

I move ahead through life following my dreams, but I can't touch them.

So, I write stories and send them to friends I've never met.

I speak to rooms full of people I will never see again.

I write and speak about those things that touch us all.

Like wanting to believe in something bigger.

Finally knowing that when all appears lost, there's always hope.

Dreams make today worth living and tomorrow worth waiting for.

"And so it is."

"I believe in you!"

At that very moment I thought, "I will never forget this!"

But I did.

There was a song back in the 70's that I can rfemember performing...."Please remember what I told you to forget." The original was by the Four Tops. But the one that I loved to sing was a true reflection of the 70's recorded by Tavares.

When the title for this message came to me, I wondered where God wanted me to go with it. A thousand images of holding hands, saying goodbye, hello and yes even moments of absolute joy rushed into my mind.

Each of them, at the moment they occurred, were so very important I thought for sure that, "I will never forget this."

But I did.

When my mother died I remember looking up at the clock on the wall wanting to burn the memory of the exact minute in time that she stopped breathing.

I can't remember it now. I do know that she died, but I remember more about how she lived.

When my divorce was finalised, I believed that I would never forget the exact date. The form arrived in the mail. I shook when I opened it. There was a day and time stamped on it.

"I will never forget this."

But I did.

I believed, too, that I would always remember every single date of each chemo treatment my son Keith had. There were so manyh it is all a blur now. His cure helped me to forget.

With tear soaked clothing and blood stained hands, I knew I would never forget the exact time that I came upon a car accident.

Seeing the young man pinned in the back on the floor of his car frightened me so that I thought I'd be traumatised forever. I remember running to my car to get a copy of my New Testament, and returning, prayed over him.

As they loaded him in the ambulance I drew a cross on the side of the rain soaked van.

"I will never forget this day."

Today, I can't for the life of me remember what day that was.

I see now what it is that God wants me to tell you with this message.

It would be easy to write this off as part of the aging process. I am 60 and yes, I do forget things. But that's not it.

God wants you to know that life is filled to capacity with "unforgettable moments". So many, in fact, that although your mind has the ability to store them all, you will not remember every detail of every moment.

That's why whatever pain or tragedy you may be facing today, at this very moment, there will be days ahead that will smooth the edges, round out the cutting remarks, the piercing tone of an argument or the loss of your job, home or income.

There are days ahead when the sun will shine reflecting off the fresh fallen snow or the quiet flow of a spring fed pond and you will stand peacefully by and God will gently wash away the pain but not the memory of it ever happening.

There are moments ahead when the tiniest thing will fill your mind with joy, buffering, not totally replacing, the imatges of this day, with calm and tranquility.

You will know the soft caress of a friend or loved one. The warm, heartfelt words spoken b y a stranger, who seeing your anguish, offers a smile, a touch, as he says, "I'll say a prayer for you".

Yes, life is life, so there may also be more painful events, unimaginable at this moment, which willmake today pale in comparison. You will say, "I will never forget this."

But life is like the ocean. Some waves will knock you down, some will carry you safely back to shore. Others will lift you high enough to see that you are not alone. there are more boats on the horizaon, more people on the same journey.

I am sorry for the pain you think you will never forget.

I am sorry for the loss you may be facing.

I am sorry for the fear that is consuming you right now.

Life is exciting. The highs replace the lows and joy washes away the fear.

When your days are filled with love, warmth and joy, my many prayers will be answered.

God wanted me to write this for you today and tell you, "Never forget that I love you!"

"I wish you enough!"

The following article is very thought provoking.

When There's Nothing We Can Do!

"Out of all that you possess, what do you believe is the most valuable?" he asked me.

"Rich, you know me well enough to know I put little value on things in my life. So, this, for me, is a difficult question," I replied.

"It's not the same answer for everyone and yet, most people put little, if any, value on this," he said.

Rich is a man with more energy than any one person should have. When he is speaking with you he talks to everyone around you. When he is in a room everyone knows it. He is not boisterous, rude or obnoxious. He is just super happy and friendly with everyone he meets.

There are times when I see people and wish out loud, "I want to be that happy." I'm not sure I'd want to be as happy as Rich. He sometimes exhausts me.

I thought about what he said for a few minutes while he scanned the people nearby.

"Hey, this is Bobby Perks. He's a big time writer!" he said to someone. I, in turn, wanted to hide.

"Well, I would guess I would say I value my home. It's a simple one, big enough for Marianne and I, but I would guess shelter would have to be at the top of my list."

"Good answer. I knew you wouldn't say your car. You don't drive a fancy one. You don't wear a watch or fancy jewellery. You're right, stuff doesn't matter to you."

"So, what's your answer?"

"Your words. Not because you are a writer and a speaker. I believe that you own your words and many people don't. You care about what you say."

He gives me more credit than I deserve for I have, like some people, said things I regretted later.

I thought about "owning my words."

They say that actions speak louder than words, but people tend to say things without really thinking.

Words build up or tear down.

Words inspire or insult.

The first words spoken have made lovers out of strangers.

The last words whispered may ease a mourner's pain.

Words spoken in anger are often forgiven, but rarely forgotten.

"Just what I needed to hear!" means God spoke through you.

You are what you say and how you say it.

Matthew 12:37 "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."

"You have it easily in your power to increase the sum total of this world's happiness now. How? By giving a few words of sincere appreciation to someone who is lonely or discouraged. Perhaps you will forget tomorrow the kind words you say today, but the recipient may cherish them over a lifetime."

Dale Carnegie quotes (American lecturer, author, 1888-1955)

Sometimes words are all we have when there's nothing we can do.

"I wish you enough!"

~ Bob Perks ~

Good news - Bob Perks' first book, "I Wish You Enough," Embracing Life's Most Valuable Moments... is now available for ordering. To get your copy of Bob's book: "I Wish You Enough", go to Amazon.com.

I found this "poem" recently and thought it was terrific. I am sure that many of us have heard sermons preached on many of these topics or we have read books on such topics. It is virtually a "How To Do Life" for all.

The Greatest.....
The highest aim in life - to know God and do His will!
The most enriching good habit - complimenting others.
The most destructive bad habit - worry.
The greatest joy - giving.
The greatest loss - loss of self-respect.

The most satisfying work - helping others.
The ugliest personality trait - selfishness.
The most endangered species - dedicated leaders.
Our greatest natural resource - our youth.
The ugliest look - a frown.

The greatest "shot in the arm" - encouragement.
The greatest problem to overcome - fear.
The most effective sleeping pill - peace of mind.
The most crippling failure disease - excuses.
The surest way to limit God - unbelief.

The most powerful forces in life - love.
The most dangerous piranha - a gossiper.
The greatest Life-Giver - the Creator.
The world's most incredible computer - the brain.
The worst thing to be without - hope.

The deadliest weapon - the tongue.
The two most power-filled words - "I can".
The greatest asset - faith.
The most worthless emotion - self-pity.
The most beautiful attire - A SMILE!

The most prized possession - self esteem.
The most powerful channel of communication - PRAYER.
The most contagious spirit - enthusiasm
The most urgent need - SALVATION.
The greatest attribute of Jesus - obedience.

The GREATEST - GOD.

Christmas is fast approaching. I hope you have had time to begin Christmas shopping and to do some planning for the Christmas season and family events.

Thank you so much for your support and words of encouragement this year. I pray you have a very happy and joyous Christmas. I look forward to meeting with you again in the new year.

It is important that we remind ourselves of the reason for the season.

Why Jesus is Better Than Santa Claus

* Santa lives at the North Pole...
JESUS is everywhere.

* Santa rides in a sleigh...
JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.

* Santa comes but once a year...
JESUS is an ever present help.

* Santa fills your stockings with goodies...
JESUS supplies all your needs.

* Santa comes down your chimney uninvited...
JESUS stands at your door and knocks, and then enters your heart when invited

* You have to wait in line to see Santa...
JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.

* Santa lets you sit on his lap...
JESUS lets you rest in His arms.

* Santa doesn't know your name, all he can say is "Hi little boy or girl, what's your name?"...
JESUS knew our name before we were born. Not only does He know our name, He knows our address too. He knows our history and future and He even knows how many hairs are on our heads.

* Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly...
JESUS has a heart full of love

* All Santa can offer is HO HO HO...
JESUS offers health, help and hope.

* Santa says "You better not cry"...
JESUS says "Cast all your cares on me for I care for you."

* Santa's little helpers make toys...
JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes and builds mansions.

* Santa may make you chuckle but...
JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.

* While Santa puts gifts under your tree...
JESUS became our gift and died on a tree...the cross.

We need to put Christ back in CHRISTmas, Jesus is still the reason for the season.

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but
have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

It is reassuring to read in the Bible stories of people who God used despite their shortcomings.

It says a lot about the nature of our God and His ability to work through us despite our flaws.

God Can Use You!

There are many reasons why God shouldn't have called you.

But don't worry. You're in good company . . . .

* Moses stuttered.

* David's armour didn't fit.

* John Mark was rejected by Paul.

* Timothy had ulcers.

* Hosea's wife was a prostitute.

* Amos' only training was in the school of fig-tree pruning.

* Jacob was a liar.

* David had an affair.

* Solomon was too rich.

* Jesus was too poor.

* Abraham was too old.

* David was too young.

* Peter was afraid of death.

* Lazarus was dead.

* John was self-righteous.

* Naomi was a widow.

* Paul was a murderer.

* So was Moses.

* Jonah ran from God.

* Miriam was a gossip.

* Gideon and Thomas both doubted.

* Jeremiah was depressed and suicidal.

* Elijah was burnt out.

* John the Baptist was a loudmouth.

* Martha was a worry-wart.

* Mary was lazy.

* Samson had long hair.

* Noah got drunk.

Did I mention that Moses had a short fuse?

So did Peter, Paul -- well, lots of folks did.

But God doesn't require a job interview.

He doesn't hire and fire like most bosses, because He's more our dad than our boss.

He doesn't look at financial gain or loss.

He's not prejudiced or partial, not judging, grudging, sassy, or brassy, not deaf to our cry, not blind to our need.

As much as we try, God's gifts are free.

We could do wonderful things for wonderful people and still not be . . . wonderful.

Satan says, "You're not worthy." Jesus says, "So what? . . . I AM."

Satan looks back and sees our mistakes.

God looks back and sees the cross.

He doesn't calculate what you did in '98. It's not even on the record.

Sure. There are lots of reasons why God shouldn't have called us.

But if we are magically in love with Him, if we hunger for Him more than our next breath, He'll use us in spite of who we are, where we've been, or what we look like.

Pray that as Christians, we will step out of our limitations into the illimitable nature of who God is.

Then our passion for God and our passion to communicate with Him will make mincemeat of our limitations.

I have been reading a book on the 23 Psalm that was written by a shepherd. He has given many meaningful insights to this beautiful and reassuring psalm. My daily devotions recently went through this psalm too. I found this article and thought you may find it helpful -

Praying The 23rd Psalm by Sylvia Gunter

To enter the sheepfolds of the Middle East, a shepherd's sheep had to pass under his rod for him to inspect their condition up close. The shepherd would tend to any obvious needs one by one. Then when all the sheep were in the fold, he lay down across the opening with his own body.

Through the 23rd Psalm we better understand our Good Shepherd in a personal way. Ask God to show you about Himself in this classic psalm, which unfortunately is so familiar that we can recite it without receiving its revelation deep in our spirits.

Listen for what God wants you to know about who He is, what He does, and what you have in your Shepherd.

As you cultivate your personal communion with God in prayer, let Him lead you to pray this psalm for others.

The Lord is my Shepherd

Jehovah-Rohi: God my Shepherd

Jesus said, "I am the Good Shepherd who knows my own sheep by name (John 10:11)." The Lord of the universe knows you personally! Thank Him for your relationship with Him.

Pray it for others: Jesus is the great Shepherd of all His sheep. Pray for someone who is discouraged and thinks God has forgotten them. Pray for them to know God as their Shepherd.

I shall lack nothing

Jehovah-Jireh: the Lord my Provider

If God provided so much in Jesus to meet your spiritual needs, will He not also take care of your daily practical needs? Pray, "Give us this day our daily bread (Mat. 6: 11)," and name specific needs you are trusting Him for. Thank Him, He is your provider.

Pray for others: Pray for those who have real financial needs and for those who are discontent with what they have. Pray they will know Jehovah-Jireh.

He makes me lie down in green pastures He leads me beside quiet waters

Jehovah-Shalom: God my Peace

Pray about anything that is disquieting your peace. Affirm that God is your peace. Pray about God's leading in His work and decisions.

Pray for others. Ask God how to pray for someone in a hard place. Pray for Him to calm all fear, doubt, worry, inadequacy and anxiety with the Prince of Peace in their heart.

He restores my soul

Jehovah-Rapha: The Lord my Healer

Where do you need the healing and restoration of Jesus the Healer?

Pray for others: Pray for God to heal the hurts, bitterness, control, judgments, differences, separation, wrong priorities,
apathy, etc., of someone else.

He guides me in paths of righteousness...

Jehovah-Tsidkenu: The Lord my Righteousness

Pray for God's guidance as you dedicate yourself to follow Him as Lord.

Pray for someone else: Jesus declares us to be righteous, not for what we have done, but because of his perfect righteousness. Pray for salvation for somebody who has not received Jesus as God's perfect sacrifice for their sin.

For His name's sake

Jehovah-M'Kaddesh

God's name is holy. He says, "I the Lord alone am holy, and I make you holy because you are called by my holy name." Pray that you will not dishonor His name.

Pray for others: Pray that someone away from God will desire to bring glory and honor to His name.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me

Jehovah-Shammah: God who is there

Jesus promised His disciples, "I have all authority, and I am always there for you (Mat. 28:19, 20)." Affirm his presence with you that dispels fears and unbelief.

Pray for others: God promised His presence in Exodus 3:12 for leading the children of Israel out of Egypt. In Exodus 33:14 He reaffirmed His presence to finish what he began. Ask God to reveal Himself to your family and friends in powerful new ways.

Your rod and your staff, they comfort me

You can depend on the rod of His protection and the staff of His correction and rescue. Receive the protection and correction of your Good Shepherd.

Pray for others: His comfort is as warm and tender as that of a mother for her child (Isa. 66:13, 49:13, 52:9). Who needs you to pray God's comfort for them?

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies

Jehovah-Nissi: The Lord my banner of victory

Praise God that He gives victory over your enemies and sins, as you depend on the authority of your crucified, resurrected,
victorious Redeemer.

Pray for others: Pray the same prayer for your family and friends.

You anoint my head with oil

Oil was used for medicine, sanctification, appointment to office, and as a sign of fellowship. Oil symbolizes the Holy Spirit, who is all these things. Thank God for the power of the Holy Spirit to heal, restore, soothe, cleanse, appoint to His work, and give a sign of your fellowship with the Father and his Son.

Pray for others: Pray that your family and friends will walk in the Spirit.

My cup overflows

Exercise your attitude of gratitude.

Pray for others: Pray that your family and friends will praise God continually as their source.

Surely goodness and love with follow me all the days of my life

Thank God for a specific evidence of His goodness and love He has shown you daily.

Pray for others: Thank God for people who have shown His goodness and love to you. Tell them so at your first opportunity. Pray that they will see God's goodness to them.

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever

Ask God to show you how to practice His presence with you continually.

Pray for others: Ask God for the body of Christ to worship Him with their whole heart and be committed to living in His presence daily.

Possession..................... The Lord is MY shepherd
Provision......................... I shall not want
Power ............................. He maketh me
Position .......................... to lie down
Place .............................. in green pastures.

Pilotage........................... He leadeth me
Peace.............................. beside the still waters.

Prosperity ....................... He restoreth my soul.

Progress......................... He leadeth me
Piety ............................... in the paths of righteousness
Purpose ......................... for His name's sake.

Pilgrimage ...................... Yea, though I walk
Pain ................................ through the valley of the shadow of death
Protection ....................... I will fear no evil
Presence ........................ for thou art with me.

Punishment .................... Thy rod
Persuasion ..................... and thy staff,
Pleasure ......................... they comfort me.

Preparation .................... Thou preparest a table before me
Persecution .................... in the presence of mine enemies.

Preservation ................... Thou anointest my head with oil
Plenty ............................. my cup runneth over.

Promise .......................... Surely goodness and mercy
Pursuit ............................ shall follow me
Period ............................. all the days of my life
Placement ....................... and I will dwell
Palace ............................. in the hourse of the Lord
Permanence .................... FOR EVER.

No wonder this psalm is so well known, it is so reassuring.

Do parents still teach their children the 23rd Psalm?

The Lord is my Shepherd = That's Relationship!

I shall not want = That's Supply

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures = That's Rest!

He leadeth me beside the still waters = That's Refreshment!

He restoreth my soul = That's Healing!

He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness = That's Guidance!

For His name sake = That's Purpose!

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death = That's Testing!

I will fear no evil = That's Protection!

For Thou art with me = That's Faithfulness!

Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me = That's Discipline!

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies = That's Hope!

Thou annointest my head with oil = That's Consecration!

My cup runneth over = That's Abundance!

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life = That's Blessing!

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord = That's Security!

Forever = That's Eternity!

Face it, the Lord is crazy about you.

What is most valuable, is not what we have in our lives, but WHO we have in our lives!

'Do not ask the Lord to Guide your Footsteps if you are not willing to move your Feet'

Even though you can't see Him, GOD is there for you

Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of yourself less. Rick Warren

A Humble Spirit In his own eyes, Mike was the most popular guy around. "A lot of women are gonna be totally miserable when I marry," he boasted to his date.

"Really?" she said. "And just how many women are you intending to marry?" (Maybe you knew guys like that.)

But I like the story of a young woman who wanted to go to college. Her heart sank, however, when she read the question
on the admission form that asked, "Are you a leader?" Being both honest and conscientious, she wrote, "No" and returned the application form expecting the worst.

To her surprise, she received this letter from the college:

"Dear applicant: A study of the admission forms reveals that this year our school will enroll 1,452 new leaders. We would like to accept you because we feel that it is imperative that they have at least one follower."

Sometimes a little bit of humble pie goes well with a rich meal.

Actually, what passes for conceit in many people is often just a plea for attention. A poor sense of self may cause one to want to be the prominent star in every constellation.

Humility, on the other hand, does not require that one shine less brightly than others, simply that all be given opportunity to shine.

There is a story about the great 19th century African American educator Booker T Washington that exemplified the power of a simple and modest spirit.

It is told that one day when Washington, then a professor at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, happened to pass the mansion of a wealthy woman as he walked to work.

The woman did not recognise him and called out, "Hey you! Come here! I need some wood chopped!"

She was a product of her southern post-Civil War culture and simply perceived him as a black man who was there to do her bidding.

Without a word, Dr Washington peeled off his jacket, picked up the axe and went to work. He not only cut a large pile of wood, he also carried the firewood into the house and arranged it neatly by the fireplace.

He had scarcely left when a servant said to the woman, "I guess you didn't recognise him, ma'am, but that was Professor
Washington!"

Embarassed and ashamed, the woman hurried over to Tuskegee Institute to apologise.

The great educator respectfully replied: "There's no need to apologise, madam. I'm delighted to do favours for my friends."

The professor may have taught one of his greatest lessons that day. It was a lesson about astronomy: he taught that every star can shine without one out-shining all the others.

It was a lesson about peace: he taught how self-interest must often be set aside for the good of the whole. It was also a lesson about spirituality: he taught about the power of a meek and humble spirit in a world where aggression is too often confused with strength.

It is a lesson we are still learning.

"Pride slays thanksgiving, but a humble mind is the soil out of which thanks naturally grow. A proud man is seldom a grateful man, for he never thinks he gets as much as he deserves." Henry Ward Beecher

We just never know what life will throw our way. No one is exempt from problems or challenges in life, not the rich, not the poor, not the young, not the old, not non Christian, not Christians.

It's how we respond to those challenges and what we determine to do with our lives that matters.

Rick Warren makes some very good points. You will enjoy the new insights that Rick Warren has, with his wife now having cancer and him having 'wealth' from the book sales. This is an absolutely incredible short interview with Rick Warren, 'Purpose Driven Life' author and pastor of Saddleback Church in California.

In the interview by Paul Bradshaw with Rick Warren, Rick said: People ask me, What is the purpose of life?

And I respond: In a nutshell, life is preparation for eternity. We were not made to last forever, and God wants us to be with Him in Heaven.

One day my heart is going to stop, and that will be the end of my body - but not the end of me. I may live 60 to 100 years on earth, but I am going to spend trillions of years in eternity. This is the warm-up act - the dress rehearsal. God wants us to practice on earth what we will do forever in eternity.

We were made by God and for God, and until you figure that out, life isn't going to make sense.

Life is a series of problems. Either, you are in one now, you're just coming out of one, or you're getting ready to go into another one.

The reason for this is that God is more interested in your character than your comfort; God is more interested in making your life holy than He is in making your life happy. We can be reasonably happy here on earth, but that's not the goal of life. The goal is to grow in character, in Christ-likeness.

This past year has been the greatest year of my life but also the toughest, with my wife, Kay, getting cancer. I used to think that life was hills and valleys - you go through a dark time, then you go to the mountaintop, back and forth. I don't believe that anymore. Rather than life being hills and valleys, I believe that it's kind of like two rails on a railroad track - at all times you have something good and something bad in your life.

No matter how good things are in your life, there is always something bad that needs to be worked on, and no matter how bad things are in your life, there is always something good you can thank God for. You can focus on your purposes, or you can focus on your problems:

If you focus on your problems, you're going into self-centeredness, which is my problem, my issues, my pain. But one of the easiest ways to get rid of pain is to get your focus off yourself and onto God and others.

We discovered quickly that in spite of the prayers of hundreds of thousands of people, God was not going to heal Kay or make it easy for her. It has been very difficult for her, and yet God has strengthened her character, given her a ministry of helping other people, given her a testimony, drawn her closer to Him and to people.

You have to learn to deal with both the good and the bad of life.

Actually, sometimes learning to deal with the good is harder.

For instance, this past year, all of a sudden, when the book sold 15 million copies, it made me instantly very wealthy. It also brought a lot of notoriety that I had never had to deal with before. I don't think God gives you money or notoriety for your own ego or for you to live a life of ease.

So I began to ask God what He wanted me to do with this money, notoriety and influence. He gave me two different passages that helped me decide what to do, II Corinthians 9 and Psalm 72.

First, in spite of all the money coming in, we would not change our lifestyle one bit. We made no major purchases.

Second, about midway through last year, I stopped taking a salary from the church.

Third, we set up foundations to fund an initiative we call The Peace Plan to plant churches, equip leaders, assist the poor, care for the sick, and educate the next generation.

Fourth, I added up all that the church had paid me in the 24 years since I started the church, and I gave it all back. It
was liberating to be able to serve God for free.

We need to ask ourselves: Am I going to live for possessions? Popularity? Am I going to be driven by pressures? Guilt? Bitterness? Materialism? Or am I going to be driven by God's purposes (for my life)?

When I get up in the morning, I sit on the side of my bed and say, God, if I don't get anything else done today, I want to know You more and love You better. God didn't put me on earth just to fulfill a to-do list. He's more interested in what I am than what I do.

That's why we're called human beings, not human doings.

Happy moments, PRAISE GOD.

Difficult moments, SEEK GOD.

Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD.

Painful moments, TRUST GOD.

Every moment, THANK GOD.

He arrived this morning, we had prayer, spent some time just talking, and He held me for awhile because I was having a bad morning, then, He was on his way to your place.

Challenging and encouraging isn't it?

The winner is always part of the answer.

The loser is always part of the problem.

The winner always has a program.

The loser always has an excuse.

The winner says, "Let me do it for you".

The loser says, "That is not my job".

The winner sees an answer in every problem.

The loser sees a problem for every answer.

The winner sees a green near every sand trap.

The loser sees a sand trap near every green.

The winner says it may be difficult but it is possible.

The loser says it may be possible but it is too difficult.

(Barbara Johnson - from "Fresh Elastic for Stretched out Mums).

BREAKING OUT OF THE RUT

ASSUME responsibility for your own life. Refuse to be either an excuser (rationalise failure) or an accuser (blame others). Instead be a chooser, and choose to break out of the rut you're in.

BELIEVE you can change! Stop saying "I can't" and start saying "I can".

CLARIFY what you really want. Write down specifically how you'd like to change.

DON'T WAIT for ideal circumstances. Stop saying "When things settle down..." Do it now! "One of these days" is really none of these days.

Great advice.

Great story of a great hero.

It happened every Friday evening, almost without fail, when the sun resembled a giant orange and was starting to dip into the blue ocean.

Old Ed came strolling along the beach to his favorite pier.. Clutched in his bony hand was a bucket of shrimp. Ed walks out to the end of the pier, where it seems he almost has the world to himself. The glow of the sun is a golden bronze now.

Everybody's gone, except for a few joggers on the beach. Standing out on the end of the pier, Ed is alone with his thoughts...and his bucket of shrimp.

Before long, however, he is no longer alone. Up in the sky a thousand white dots come screeching and squawking, winging their way toward that lanky frame standing there on the end of the pier.

Before long, dozens of seagulls have enveloped him, their wings fluttering and flapping wildly. Ed stands there tossing shrimp to the hungry birds. As he does, if you listen closely, you can hear him say with a smile, 'Thank you. Thank you.'

In a few short minutes the bucket is empty. But Ed doesn't leave.

He stands there lost in thought, as though transported to another time and place.

When he finally turns around and begins to walk back toward the beach, a few of the birds hop along the pier with him until he gets to the stairs, and then they, too, fly away. And old Ed quietly makes his way down to the end of the beach and on home.

If you were sitting there on the pier with your fishing line in the water, Ed might seem like 'a funny old duck,' as my dad used to say. Or, 'a guy who's a sandwich shy of a picnic,' as my kids might say. To onlookers, he's just another old codger, lost in his own weird world, feeding the seagulls with a bucket full of shrimp.

To the onlooker, rituals can look either very strange or very empty. They can seem altogether unimportant ....maybe even a lot of nonsense.

Old folks often do strange things, at least in the eyes of Boomers and Busters.

Most of them would probably write Old Ed off, down there in Florida . That's too bad. They'd do well to know him better.

His full name: Eddie Rickenbacker. He was a famous hero back in World War II. On one of his flying missions across the Pacific, he and his seven-member crew went down. Miraculously, all of the men survived, crawled out of their plane, and climbed into a life raft.

Captain Rickenbacker and his crew floated for days on the rough waters of the Pacific. They fought the sun. They fought sharks. Most of all, they fought hunger. By the eighth day their rations ran out. No food. No water. They were hundreds of miles from land and no one knew where they were.

They needed a miracle. That afternoon they had a simple devotional service and prayed for a miracle. They tried to nap Eddie leaned back and pulled his military cap over his nose. Time dragged. All he could hear was the slap of the waves against the raft.

Suddenly, Eddie felt something land on the top of his cap. It was a seagull!

Old Ed would later describe how he sat perfectly still, planning his next move. With a flash of his hand and a squawk from the gull, he managed to grab it and wring its neck.. He tore the feathers off, and he and his starving crew made a meal - a very slight meal for eight men - of it. Then they used the intestines for bait.. With it, they caught fish, which gave them food and more bait......and the cycle continued. With that simple survival technique, they were able to endure the rigors of the sea until they were found and rescued (after 24 days at sea...).

Eddie Rickenbacker lived many years beyond that ordeal, but he never forgot the sacrifice of that first lifesaving seagull.. And he never stopped saying, 'Thank you.' That's why almost every Friday night he would walk to the end of the pier with a bucket full of shrimp and a heart full of gratitude.

Reference: (Max Lucado, In The Eye of the Storm, pp..221, 225-226)

PS: Eddie started Eastern Airlines.

FORGIVENESS is not something we do for OTHER PEOPLE - We do it for OURSELVES - To GET WELL and MOVE ON.

Sometimes in life events occur that are hurtful. We Come across this in our dealings with students. In speaking With students, they are always encouraged to forgive And move on. Some television shows do not encourage This response, instead they go for the 'get even' response.

Young people are influenced by this, hence we are seeing A lot of girls fight and an increase in violence, where the Aim is 'to make someone pay.' This is not Christ's way, His Way is one of forgiveness, so we can move on with life. It May not be easy, but it is best.

He Can Heal the Hurt

Grudge is one of those words that defines itself. Its very Sound betrays its meaning. Say it slowly: "Grr-uuuud-GE." It starts with a growl. "Grr" Like a bear with bad Breath coming out of hibernation or a mangy mongrel defending His bone in an alley. "Grrr"

Remove a GR from the word grudge and replace it with SL and you have the junk that grudge bearers trudge Through. Sludge. Black, thick, ankle-deep resentment That steals the bounce from the step. No joyful skips Through the meadows. No healthy hikes up the mountain.

Just day after day of walking into the storm, shoulders Bent against the wind, and feet dragging through all the Muck life has delivered.

Is this the way you are coping with your hurts?

Are you Allowing your hurts to turn into hates?

If so, ask yourself: Is it working?

Has your hatred done you any good?

Has Your resentment brought you any relief, any peace?

Has it Granted you any joy?

Let's say you get even. Let's say you get him back. Let's Say she gets what she deserves. Let's say your fantasy of Fury runs its ferocious course and you return all your pain With interest. Imagine yourself standing over the corpse Of the one you have hated. Will you now be free?

The writer of the following letter thought she would Be. She thought her revenge would bring release. But she Learned otherwise.

I caught my husband with another woman. He swore it Would never happen again. He begged me to forgive him, But I could not-would not. I was so bitter and so incapable Of swallowing my pride that I could think of nothing But revenge. I was going to make him pay and pay dearly. I'd have my pound of flesh. I filed for divorce, even though my children begged me Not to.

Even after the divorce, my husband tried for two years To win me back. I refused to have anything to do with Him. He had struck first; now I was striking back. All I Wanted was to make him pay.

Finally he gave up and married a lovely young widow With a couple of small children. He began rebuilding his Life - without me.

I see them occasionally, and he looks so happy. They all Do. And here I am-a lonely, old, miserable woman who Allowed her selfish pride and foolish stubbornness to ruin Her life.

Unfaithfulness is wrong. Revenge is bad. But the worst Part of all is that, without forgiveness, bitterness is all That is left.

The state of your heart dictates whether you harbour a Grudge or give grace, seek self-pity or seek Christ, drink Human misery or taste God's mercy. No wonder, then, the wise man begs, "Above all else, Guard your heart."

David's prayer should be ours: "Create in me a pure Heart, O God."

This was in my daily devotional book.

I thought I would share it with you, as There are some who are just natural "worry warts". It is important to train Ourselves to be otherwise. Our children Too need to learn how to deal with Worry.

We all worry from time to time, but wise people have Learned to avoid over-anxiety by following these guidelines.

1. Define the situation clearly. What exactly is it you're Worrying about? Be specific. Often when we take time to Clarify the problem, a way to solve it will present itself.

2. Face the worst that can happen. Would you lose your Job? Your relationship? Your investment? In most cases Even if the worst did happen, chances are it wouldn't ruin You. It may be inconvenient or painful, but does it really Warrant all the anxiety you're giving it?

3. Resolve to accept the outcome, whatever it is. Most Of the stress of worry comes from denial, from not being Willing to face the worst that could happen. Once you Make up your mind to accept whatever happens, you'll Find worry loses its power over you.

4. Work to improve the situation. Renowned neurologist James H Austin said, 'Chance favours those in motion.' Do All you can to ensure the best possible outcome, and '... After you have done everything...stand.' (Ephesians 6:13 NIV) Stand on God's promises.

5. Give the problem to God. He's 'the...controller of all things'. (1 Timothy 6:15 PHPS) The psalmist said, 'Those Who know Your name will trust in You, for You, Lord, have Never forsaken those who seek You.' (Psalm 9:10 NIV) Remember, Nothing can happen to you today, or any other Day, that God is not aware of, in control of, and able to See you through.

A hiker with two heavy hold-alls was walking down a Road in 35 degree heat. A truck driver stopped and told Him to hop on. Later when the driver looked in his rearview Mirror, the hiker was standing in the truck-bed still Holding his bags!! We smile, but as Jon Walker points out, Many of us 'stand in the truck of faith still carrying our Burdens, thinking they're independent of the ride we're Taking. We think God can carry us but not our burdens...

The psalmist said, "Cast your burden on the Lord, and He Shall sustain you." Rest in His power and grace...confident He's looking out for your best interests. Rest requires dependence, And one sign that you're not resting in God... Is worry...the need to control...

Next time you feel over-Whelmed...settle into a chair, "Be still, and know that [He Is] God (Psalm 46:10).' In this instance the command to 'be still' here comes from a Hebrew word which means 'to let go, release, lift up'. You've struggled long enough; Give your burden to the Burden Bearer. Set it down! Learn To value solitude.

Turn off the pager and phone. The sign Of a well-ordered mind is the ability to sit quietly in one Place and linger in your own company.

At the time of reading this, I am in the United Kingdom with my husband visiting his mother who lives in Swansea, Wales. This is a very pretty part of Wales - well all of Wales is beautiful - from the rugged coastline to the imposing mountains.

I thought you may enjoy the following that comes from a book Lists to Live By for Simple Living - SEIZE THE DAY

* When you have the choice between taking the escalator or the stairs, take the stairs.

* Place fresh flowers in the places where you live and work.

* Visit the Holy Land once in your life.

* Smile at babies.

*When you take photographs, send some to friends.

* Always go the extra mile ... whether for a friend or for a mint-chocolate ice cream.

* Whenever you look back on your life, be positive.

* If you seek wisdom over opportunity, opportunity will usually follow.

* Change is a process, not an event.

* Plan to be spontaneous.

* Whenever you look ahead, be optimistic.

* Enjoy each day as if it were your last.

~ Bruce Bickel and Stan Jantz

From God Is in the Small Stuff ... and It All Matters

DO LESS

* Do less thinking and pay more attention to your heart.

* Do less acquiring and pay more attention to what you already have.

* Do less complaining and pay more attention to giving.

* Do less controlling and pay more attention to letting go.

* Do less criticising and pay more attention to complimenting.

* Do less arguing and pay more attention to forgiveness.

* Do less running around and pay more attention to stillness.

* Do less talking and pay more attention to silence.

Reprinted from Smile for No Good Reason

Time for a chuckle folks. Have a read of these and see how many you can agree with.

Natural Laws

Now These Really Do Ring True!!

1. Law of Mechanical Repair - After your hands become coated with grease, your nose will begin to itch.

2. Law of the Workshop - Any tool, when dropped, will roll to the least accessible corner.

3. Law of the Telephone - When you dial a wrong number, you never get a busy signal.

4. Law of the Alibi - If you tell the boss you were late for work because you had a flat tyre, the next morning you will have a
flat tyre.

5. Variation Law - If you change lines (or traffic lanes), the one you were in will start to move faster than the one you are in now. (works every time)

6. Bath Theorem - When the body is immersed in water, the telephone rings.

7. Law of Close Encounters - The probability of meeting someone you know increases when you have just rushed out to get something and haven't bothered to get dressed up or (for the ladies) put on make-up.

8. Law of the Result - When you try to prove to someone that a machine won't work, it will.

9. Law of Bio-mechanics - The severity of the itch is inversely proportional to the reach.

10. Theatre Rule - At any event, the people whose seats are furthest from the aisle arrive last.

11. Law of Coffee - As soon as you sit down to a cup of hot coffee, your boss will ask you to do something which will last
until the coffee is cold.

12. Murphy's Law of Lockers - If there are only two people in a locker room, they will have adjacent lockers.

13. Law of Dirty Rugs/Carpets - The chances of an open-faced jelly sandwich of landing face down on a floor covering are directly correlated to the newness and cost of the carpet/rug.

Did some of these ring true for you?

Life's like that isn't it?

I enjoyed reading this story. I thought you may enjoy it too.

Ken Kolek, founder of Prototype Consulting Services, received a typical business education. "You know, the business pyramid looks this way," he says. "It gets smaller at the top, because there's less oxygen up there, and you have to be well conditioned, tough. You have to learn how to throw everybody else off those upper floors." But Ken eventually realized helping other people succeed was not only more fulfilling, it was also the best way to ensure his own company's success.

Passion for Helping Others

Ken has always had a passion for helping others reach their potential. After graduating from college, Ken was drawn immediately towards advising business leaders on how tosucceed. But having never managed a company of his own, Ken didn't really feel qualified to instruct others on how to do it. If he were serious about becoming a consultant, he would have to get some real world experience. Thus, Ken embarked on a ten-year "practicum," during which heserved as CEO of several large companies in the telecommunications, agricultural, chemical and food preparation industries.

During this time, Ken also met his first wife, Dorie. But even as his family life developed, his drive to learn and achieve still came first. "I was a workaholic," Ken says. "When you take these new positions, you're expected to create miracles, so I created miracles. Everywhere except at home." This marriage was put to the ultimate test when Ken and Dorie lost two daughters within a year of each other.

The marriage didn't survive, but the tragedies pushed Ken to find a deeper meaning to life.

I Want That Joy!

In the midst of his grief, Ken was invited to a Bible study. He was impressed by what he saw there. The peoples' lives weren't perfect by any means, but they were still full of joy, and Ken wanted some of that joy for himself. That night, Ken decided to turn his life over to God. "That was the beginning of a tremendous ride," Ken says. "Up to that point, I'd planned every step. And although the business steps seemed to go just fine, the rest of my life was in a shambles."

Shortly afterwards, Ken established a business venture with two other men that combined investments, insurance, real estate and business consulting services. Things ran well for the first year, but when Ken refused to alter his role according
to his partners' demands, he was ousted from the company.

Out on His Own

Still desiring to help businesses in need, Ken decided to strike out on his own as a consultant. Ken sacrificed everything
to get Prototype off the ground. "I slept in a sleeping bag on the floor of my office that was leased, in a car that was mortgaged," he says. But it wasn't long before Ken rolled up his sleeping bag for good. Prototype grew quickly, and soon he was hiring more staff, one of which became his second wife, Ginni.

Ken admits it took time for his faith to influence his business practices, but he credits his focus on people for Prototype's
success. "Once the Lord started moving in my heart, it was more about people and more about how to speak into their lives in a way that helped them become all they could be."

What a contribution to make to life!

To me, the Bible is an amazing book. It is a book that was written thousands of years ago yet it is still so relevant today!!

Six Steps to Helping Others that Jesus Taught

Jesus always stopped what He was doing to help those in need. He was constantly thronged by people, but He always found time to stop what He was doing at that moment.

This is hard for us to do because we are so busy, but it is a lesson we must learn if we are really going to show people we care about them.

1. Jesus always acknowledged the person he was helping. He cared enough to do this. This is an example of how God cares about each of our needs no matter how small when we pray to Him. We must learn to acknowledge others who are hurting and in need of our help so we may be a good example as ambassadors of God's love.

2. Listen to the person who needs help. You won't get very far if you have preconceived ideas about what theyneed without listening. You will miss the mark of what they really need unless you care enough to listen. This was one of the hardest lessons I had to learn as a hospital chaplain---to listen and care and love that person I am talking to. I am still learning it.

3. Look for needs, voiced and unvoiced. The need the person is bringing to your attention may not be the need that really is driving them. We must care enough to look beyond the obvious as Jesus did in His ministry. Sometimes the person He was helping needed more faith beyond what they already had, but He loved them enough to help them with all of their needs, not just the most apparent ones.

4. Care enough, love that person enough to do something about the need presented. Even if you can't do anything personally, you can help them toward a solution. God does not expect us to meet every need in the world, but He expects us to help those He sends our way.

5. In Luke 8:41-56 Jesus was on the way to help Jairus' need of healing for His daughter. But He encountered another need along the way and helped both the woman and Jairus toward greater faith as a result. The point is that distractions are not always to be considered bad. They seem like a nuisance sometimes but it could be that God has a reason for that distraction to happen. We must be close to Him so we can see His hand in these types of situations.

6. Give God the glory for what you do. In John 7:14-18 Jesus admonishes us to do just that. There are other passages of Scripture that teach this also. If you notice the ministry of Jesus, He always gave His Father the glory for what He did. We must learn from this so we can be good examples of Christ's love. Further study: Matt. 10:8: Mark 9:23: Mark 16:17-18. These are a challenge for us to use the tools God has given us so we may be instruments of love and caring in His hands.

Now let's get going and look for needs as we go about our daily lives to show the Love God has for others. God loves you, but pass it on also.

Editor -- "And now I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."
(John_13:34_GNB)

[ by Dan Langerock -- from 'Themestream' -- Ed:anon. ]

One day a man saw an old lady, stranded on the side of the road, but even in the dim light of day, he could see she needed help.

So he pulled up in front of her Mercedes and got out.

His Pontiac was still sputtering when he approached her.

Even with the smile on his face, she was worried.

No one had stopped to help for the last hour or so.

Was he going to hurt her?

He didn't look safe; he looked poor and hungry.

He could see that she was frightened, standing out there in the cold.

He knew how she felt.

It was that chill which only fear can put in you.

He said, 'I'm here to help you, ma'am. Why don't you wait in the car where it's warm? By the way, my name is Bryan Anderson.'

Well, all she had was a flat tyre, but for an old lady, that was bad enough.

Bryan crawled under the car looking for a place to put the jack, skinning his knuckles a time or two.

Soon he was able to change the tyre.

But he had to get dirty and his hands hurt.

As he was tightening up the lug nuts, she rolled down the window and began to talk to him.

She told him that she was from St. Louis and was only just passing through.

She couldn't thank him enough for coming to her aid.

Bryan just smiled as he closed her trunk.

The lady asked how much she owed him.

Any amount would have been all right with her.

She already imagined all the awful things that could have happened had he not stopped.

Bryan never thought twice about being paid.

This was not a job to him.

This was helping someone in need, and God knows there were plenty, who had given him a hand in the past.

He had lived his whole life that way, and it never occurred to him to act any other way.

He told her that if she really wanted to pay him back, the next time she saw someone who needed help, she could give that person the assistance they needed, and Bryan added, 'And think of me.'

He waited until she started her car and drove off.

It had been a cold and depressing day, but he felt good as he headed for home, disappearing into the twilight.

A few miles down the road the lady saw a small cafe.

She went in to grab a bite to eat, and take the chill off before she made the last leg of her trip home.

It was a dingy looking restaurant.

Outside were two old gas pumps.

The whole scene was unfamiliar to her.

The waitress came over and brought a clean towel to wipe her wet hair.

She had a sweet smile, one that even being on her feet for the whole day cches change her attitude.

The old lady wondered how someone who had so little could be so giving to a stranger.

Then she remembered Bryan .

After the lady finished her meal, she paid with a hundred dollar bill.

The waitress quickly went to get change for her hundred dollar bill, but the old lady had slipped right out the door.

She was gone by the time the waitress came back.

The waitress wondered where the lady could be.

Then she noticed something written on the napkin.

There were tears in her eyes when she read what the lady wrote: 'You don't owe me anything. I have been there too. Somebody once helped me out, the way I'm helping you. If you really want to pay me back, here is what you do: Do not let this chain of love end with you.'

Under the napkin were four more $100 bills.

Well, there were tables to clear, sugar bowls to fill, and people to serve, but the waitress made it through another day.

That night when she got home from work and climbed into bed, she was thinking about the money and what the lady had written.

How could the lady have known how much she and her husband needed it?

With the baby due next month, it was going to be hard.

She knew how worried her husband was, and as he lay sleeping next to her, she gave him a soft kiss and whispered soft and low, 'Everything's going to be all right. I love you, Bryan Anderson.

There is an old saying 'What goes around comes around.'

Today I share with you this story, and I'm asking you to pass it on.

Let this light shine.

Sometimes our children can be a challenge, but we need to let them know, that while we do not condone their behaviour, we will always love them no matter what.....

After the divorce, her teenage daughter became increasingly rebellious. It culminated late one night when the police called to tell her that she had to come to the police station to pick up her daughter, who was arrested for drunk driving.

They didn't speak until the next afternoon. Mum broke the tension by giving her daughter a small giftwrapped box.

Her daughter nonchalantly opened it and found a small piece of a rock.

She rolled her eyes and said, "Cute Mum, what's this for?"

"Here's the card," Mum said.

Her daughter took the card out of the envelope and read it. Tears started to trickle down her cheeks. She got up and gave her mum a big hug as the card fell to the floor.

On the card were these words:

"This rock is more than 200 million years old. That's how long it will take before I give up on you."

We all need this gift.

Give Yourself a Gift

Imagine there's a beautifully wrapped gift on your kitchen counter waiting to be opened. By you. The gift is intriguing and it begs for your attention.

But first......before you tear it open like a 4 - year old with no self-control, here are a few things to know about the gift:

1. It's unique because you give this gift to yourself. No one can give this to you. Oh, they might like to, but they can't. You are the only person who can give this gift, and you can give it only to yourself.

2. It's free. Even if you want to purchase it, you can't. It's not for sale. You can't buy it anywhere. Not from a neighborhood department store, a tiny boutique or a catalogue.

3. It may be the perfect gift. It's a WOW gift! Special. One you'll always remember. How's that for sweetness? A perfect gift that is free that you give to yourself. Does it get any better than that? Plus, you don't need a special occasion to give this gift; you can give it at any time.

So.....what is the gift? I don't know. It's different for each of us because this package represents: the gift of a goal.

And that's why only you can answer the question. Only you know what your goal is. Only you know your innermost desires, what motivates you and what gives you strength. The gift of a goal is a unique gift because we give it to ourselves and, in turn, it gives back to us.

A good goal gives us energy. It's not always easy to discover and develop your goal. But you'll know when you have it. You'll see it, know it and feel it in your heart. Mostly, you feel it in your heart. It's a little bit like falling in love. Think about the time(s) you were in love. Remember that glorious feeling of being alive? When your senses were highly refined? The colours are brilliant. Sounds are radiant. Feelings are intense.

Like falling in love, a good goal will dazzle, amaze, tantalize and tease. A good goal will make your heart pound! It's like magic.....the transformation, that greater meaning we have when we are motivated and charging after our goals in an unstoppable manner.

All that can be yours if you give yourself this powerful gift. It's an awesome, magical, life-enhancing gift.

Now is the time to claim the radiant vitality, the joyous passion and the magnificent obsession that is yours, and yours alone.

Now is the time to give yourself the gift of a goal. Your goal is your gift to yourself.

~ Mary Wollney ~

For a number of weeks this term, during assembly, I havebeen encouraging students to set achievable goals for themselves. As each goal is attained, so one grows in confidence and a feeling of accomplishment. Without goals, we tend to drift about in the breeze, not really sure where we are going.

What a great lesson to learn early in life. This is certainly very sound advice. Hopefully these children remembered the lesson and carried it throughout life.

Hated Potatoes

A kindergarten teacher decided to let her class play a game. The teacher told each child in the class to bring along a plastic bag containing a few potatoes. Each potato will be given a name of a person that the child hates, so the number of potatoes that a child will put in his/her plastic bag will depend on the number of people he/she hates.

So when the day came, every child brought some potatoes with the name of the people he/she hated. Some had two potatoes, some three, while some had up to five potatoes. The teacher then told the children to carry with them the potatoes in the plastic bag wherever they go (even to the toilet) for one week.

Day after day passed by, and the children started to complain due to the unpleasant smell let out by the rotten potatoes they were carrying. Those children having five potatoes really began to feel the weight of the heavier bags.

After one week, the children were relieved to hear that the teacher had finally ended the game.

The teacher asked: "How did you feel while carrying the potatoes with you for one week?"

The children let out their frustrations and started complaining of the trouble that they had to go through having to carry the heavy and smelly potatoes wherever they went.

Then the teacher told them the hidden meaning behind the game.

The teacher said: "This is exactly the situation when you carry your hatred for somebody inside your heart. The stench of hatred will contaminate your heart and you will end up carrying an unnecessary burden with you wherever you go. If you cannot tolerate the smell of rotten potatoes for just one week, can you imagine what a burden it would be to have the stench of hatred in your heart for your lifetime???"

Moral of the story:

Get rid of any hatred you might have for others in your heart, so that you won't have to carry around an unnecessary burden during your lifetime. Forgiving others is the best attitude to take! Love others, even if you don't like them...

Have you ever sat and just shaken your head at some government policies and ideas that have been introduced.

You just wonder if they have really thought it through and considered what repercussions there may be.

It's not just government policies but other areas of life too.

How far do we go to try to protect people from themselves?

What has happened to common sense?

A friend past this onto me and I thought it was really good!

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved, old friend, by the name of Common Sense, who has been with us for many years.

No one knows for sure how old he was since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.

He will be remembered as having cultivated such valued lessons as knowing when to come in out of the rain, why the early bird gets the worm and that life isn't always fair.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you earn) and reliable parenting strategies (adults, not kids, are in charge).

His health began to rapidly deteriorate when well intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place.

Reports of a six year old boy charged with sexual harassement for kissing a classmate, teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch, and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student only worsened his condition.

It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer aspirin to a student but could not inform the parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Finally, Common Sense lost the will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband, churches became businesses and criminals received better treatment than their victims.

Common Sense finally gave up the ghost after athletes and CEOs salaries increased to between 9,000 and 90,000 per HOUR, and a woman failed to realise that a steaming cup of coffee was hot, spilled it in her lap, and was awarded a huge settlement for simply being stupid.

Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust, his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason.

He is survived by two stepbrothers; My Rights and Ima Whiner.

Not many attended his funeral because so few realised he was gone.

Sometimes we bury hurts and pretend they did not happen, except they can resurface every so often, or we go to visit the graveside and spend time with our hurts.

Sometimes we carry our hurts with us like a big burden and so they weigh us down.

They never let us be free, they affect how we relate to others.

BUT our awesome God is waiting to set us free from our hurts.

He is able to help us work through those hurts and how they have affected our lives.

It is a process, but freedom from the hurt is achievable.

We can move forward.

HEALED AND WHOLE:

One day I dug a little hole,
and put my hurt inside
I thought that I could just forget
I'd put it there to hide.
But that little hurt began to grow,
I covered it every day
I couldn't leave it and go on
It seemed the price I had to pay.

My joy was gone,
my heart was sad,
pain was all I knew.
My wounded soul enveloped me
Loving seemed too hard to do.
One day, while standing by my hole,
I cried to God above
And said, "If You are really there,
They say, You're a God of love!"

And just like that,
He was right there,
And just put his arms around me
He wiped away my tears,
his hurting child there was no safer place to be.
I told Him all about my hurt,
I opened up my heart
He listened to each and every word
to every sordid part.

I dug down deep and got my hurt
I brushed the dirt away
And placed it in the Master's hand
and healing came that day.
He took the blackness from my soul
and set my spirit FREE!
Something beautiful began to grow
where the hurt used to be.

And when I look at what has grown
Out of my tears and pain
I remember every day
to give my hurts to GOD
And never bury them again.

Have faith in our loving God.
There is nothing in this world
too big for our LORD

As parents, most of us are unprepared For the change-over from child to teenager.

What happened to that easy-going Daughter who now becomes so easily upset With a perfectly innocent comment By Mum?

What happened to that chatty Boy who now answers in monosyllables?

What has happened?

Where have they gone??

When will They be back??

Given time and good boundaries, that person Will be back - but don't hold your breath - he may be Twenty (or older) before it happens.

Just keep praying daily - in fact, many times daily.

On another note (and this is connected) I have always Been a dog lover.

Some people on the other hand are cat Lovers.

I just love the way a dog runs to greet you when you Get home, prancing around as happy as can be.

A cat however May come to see you or they may wait until it is dinner Time.

There are so many differences between cat behaviour And dog behaviour.

What are you - cat person or dog lover?

Read on - hopefully you can appreciate the article below.

Children As Pets - The Cat Years

I just realized that while children are dogs -- loyal and Affectionate -- teenagers are cats.

It's so easy to be a dog owner.

You feed it, train it, boss It around.

It puts its head on your knee and gazes at you as If you were a Rembrandt painting.

It bounds indoors with Enthusiasm when you call it.

Then around age 13, your adoring little puppy turns into a Big old cat.

When you tell it to come inside, it looks amazed, As if wondering who died and made you emperor.

Instead of Dogging your doorsteps, it disappears.

You won't see it again Until it gets hungry -- then it pauses on its sprint through the Kitchen long enough to turn its nose up at whatever you're Serving.

When you reach out to ruffle its head, in that old affectionate Gesture, it twists away from you, then gives you a Blank stare, as if trying to remember where it has seen you Before.

You, not realizing that the dog is now a cat, think Something must be desperately wrong with it.

It seems antisocial, So distant, sort of depressed.

It won't go on family Outings.

Since you're the one who raised it, taught it to fetch and Stay and sit on command, you assume that you did something Wrong.

Flooded with guilt and fear, you redouble your Efforts to make your pet behave.

Only now you're dealing With a cat, so everything that worked before now produces The opposite of the desired result.

Call it, and it runs away.

Tell it to sit, and it jumps on the counter.

The more you go Toward it, wringing your hands, the more it moves away.

Instead of continuing to act like a dog owner, you can Learn to behave like a cat owner.

Put a dish of food near The door, and let it come to you.

But remember that a cat Needs your help and your affection too.

Sit still, and it will Come, seeking that warm, comforting lap it has not entirely Forgotten.

Be there to open the door for it.

One day your grown-up child will walk into the kitchen, Give you a big kiss and say, "You've been on your feet all Day. Let me get those dishes for you."

Then you'll realize your cat is a dog again.

Teenagers - you have to love them.

They make life so interesting.

But at the end of the day, they want boundaries And consistency, they want a pat on the back - or head - (if You can reach it) - if they have done well and above all they Just want to know that they are loved - regardless.

Happy parenting.

Remember the cat will become A dog again.

Some gifts to help you, and let you know God loves you! This pack contains all the ingredients for a sound life.

SOME MARBLES for when you have lost yours!

Jesus said "Let not your heart be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in Me." (John 14:1)

A THUMB-TACK for when you can't see the point!

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowlege Him and He will direct your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

SOME STICKY TAPE for when you become unstuck!

For God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in time of trouble. Therefore we will not hear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea. (Psalm 46:1-2)

STRING for when you need to hold it together!

Have mercy on me, O God according to your unfailing love, according to your great compassion blot out my many transgressions. Create in me a clean heart of God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. (Psalm 51:1)

AN ELASTIC BAND for the days when you are stretched to the limits!

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving present your requests to God, and the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)

A SCREW obviously for those with a screw loose!

What is man that You think so much of him, that You give him so much attention that You examine him every morning and test him every moment? Will You never look away from me, or let me alone even for an instant? (Job 7:17-19)

A BALL to keep you on the ball!

My son keep your father's commands and do not forsake your mother's teaching. Bind them upon your heart forever; ....When you walk they will guide you: when you sleep they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you. For these commands are a lamp, the teaching a light, and the corrections of discipline are the way of life. (Proverbs 6:20-23)

A CANDLE to shed light on the situation!

I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go: I will counsel you and watch over you. (Psalm 32:8)

AN ERASER to rub out all the mistakes of the day!

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

Isn't it great to know that the Lord has every situation covered!!

As parents we all know the importance of giving our children sound guidance to live by throughout their lives. We tend to become a little upset when they do not accept that well-meant guidance easily. How do we adults fare as God's children when it comes to accepting guidance.

I read this the other day, it prompted me to have a good think.

When I meditated on the word GUIDANCE, I kept seeing "dance" at the end of the word. I remember reading that doing God's will is a lot like dancing. When two people try to lead, nothing feels right. The movement doesn't flow with the music, and everything is quite uncomforable and jerky.

When one person realises and lets the other lead, both bodies begin to flow with the music. One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back or by pressing lightly in one direction or another. It's as if two become one body, moving beautifully. The dance takes surrender, willingness, and attentiveness from one person and gentle guidance and skill from the other.

My eyes drew back to the word GUIDANCE. When I saw, "G", I thought of God, followed by "u" and "i". "God", "u' and "i" dance." God, you and I dance. This statement is what guidance means to me.

As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust that I would get guidance about my life. Once again, I became willing to let God lead.

My prayer for you today is that God's blessings and mercies be upon you and your family on this day and everyday. May you abide in Him as He abides in you. Dance together with God, trusting Him to lead and to guide you through each season of your life.

Glory to the Lord of life.

It is hard
To forget
To apologise
To save money
To be unselfish
To avoid mistakes
To keep out of a rut
To begin all over again
To make the best of all things
To keep your temper at all times
To think first and act afterwards
To maintain a high standard
To keep on keeping on
To shoulder blame
To be charitable
To admit error
To take advice
To forgive
But it pays!

Have a great week - God bless

Just recently I was speaking with someone about being flexible. We were discussing the need to be flexible in life - I have coined the phrase: "Blessed are the flexible, for they shall survive".

It is so important to adopt a positive attitude to life.

Here are some fun things to remember (with thanks to Sandra who sent them to me):

* Working for God on earth does not pay much, but his Retirement Plan is out of this world.

* Living on earth is expensive, but it does include a free trip around the sun every year.

* How long a minute is depends on what side of the bath room door you're on.

* Birthdays are good for you; the more you have, the longer you live.

* Happiness comes through doors you didn't even know you left open.

*Ever notice that the people who are late are often much jollier than the people who have to wait for them?

* You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person.

* Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once. (Not sure about that one).

* Don't cry because it's over; smile because it happened.

* We could learn a lot from crayons: Some are sharp, some are pretty, some are dull, some have weird names, and all are different colours.....but they all exist very nicely in the same box.

* A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.

Trusting you will have a wonderful week and see the blessings on the way.

It seems that we have just finished Celebrating Easter and dwelling on the Supreme sacrifice of our Lord Jesus so That we may have life and have it more Abundantly.

The gift of eternal life is Ours through Jesus' willingness to give His life for us.

This week we take time To remember the sacrifices of those who have fought in wars Overseas.

We take time to thank the brave men and women Who have fought, and still fight today, for our freedom and The freedom of others.

It is also time to give a thought to The families of these brave men and women and the sacrifice They have made, or may ultimately make, through the Loss of a loved one.

A Soldiers Farewell to his Son

I stand and watch you, little son,

Your bosom's rise and fall,

An old rag dog beside your cheek,

A gayly coloured ball.

Your curly hair is ruffled as you

Rest there fast asleep,

And silently I tip-toe in

To have one last long peep.

I come to say farewell to you,

My little snowy son.

And as I do I hope that you will

Never slope a gun,

Or hear dive-bombers and

Their dreadful whining roar,

Or see or feel their loads of death

As overhead they soar.

I trust that you will never need

To go abroad to fight,

Or learn the awful lesson soon

That might to some is right,

Or see your cobbers blown to scraps

Or die a lingering death,

With vapours foul and filthy

When the blood-flow chokes the breath.

I hope that you will never know

The dangers of the sea.

And that is why I leave you now

To hold your liberty,

To slay the demon War God

I must leave you for a while

In mother's care - till stars again

From peaceful heaven smile.

Your mother is your daddy now,

To guard your little ways,

Yet ever I'll be thinking of you both

In future days.

I must give up your tender years,

The joys I'll sorely miss,

My little man, farewell, so long,

I leave you with a kiss.

By Sapper Bert Beros

Lest we forget.

DID YOU KNOW?

Part of the ANZAC Day service is the playing of The Last Post. It gave a warning to any soldiers still 'at large' that it was time to retire for the evening. The Last Post is incorporated into funeral and memorial services as a final farewell and symbolises that the duty of the dead is over and that they can rest in peace.

"They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them."

- an extract from Laurence Binyon's 'For the Fallen', which was first published in The Times in September 1914.

I thought I would leave you with just A few thoughts regarding Easter.

I pray That the Easter weekend will be a time Of prayer, renewal and revelation to you.

May you draw closer to our Lord and Saviour At this time.

Easter says you can put Truth in a grave, But it won't stay there. ~ Clarence W. Hall.

Easter is the demonstration of God that life is essentially Spiritual and timeless. ~ Charles M. Crowe.

Easter spells out beauty, the rare beauty of new life. ~ S.D. Gordon.

Tomb, thou shalt not hold Him longer; Death is strong, but Life is stronger; Stronger than the dark, the light; Stronger Than the wrong, the right; Faith and Hope triumphant say Christ will rise on Easter Day. ~ Phillips Brooks.

"Nothing in my hand I bring, Simply to Thy cross I cling" ~ Augustus M. Toplady

Earth's saddest day and gladdest day were just three days Apart! ~ Susan Coolidge.

The spirit of Easter is all about Hope, love, and joyful living. ~ Anonymous

The great gift of Easter is hope - Christian hope which makes Us have that confidence in God, in his ultimate triumph, and In his goodness and love, which nothing can shake. ~ Basil C. Hume.

Let every man and woman count himself immortal. Let him Catch the revelation of Jesus in his resurrection. Let him say Not merely, "Christ is risen," but "I shall rise." ~ Phillips Brooks

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope Through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead... ~ 1 Peter 1:3.

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He Who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever Lives and believes in me will never die. ~ John 11:25-26.

I wish you and yours a happy and safe holiday.

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me.

It is the most-requested column I've ever written.

My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

01. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

02. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

03. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

04. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

05. Pay off your credit cards every month.

06. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

07. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

08. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

09. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past, so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. No one is in charge of your happiness, but you.

25. Frame every so-called disaster with these words "In five years, will this matter?".

26. Always choose life.

27. Forgive everyone everything.

28. What other people think of you is none of your business.

29. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.

30. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

31. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

32. Believe in miracles.

33. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

34. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

35. Growing old beats the alternative - dying young.

36. Your children get only one childhood.

37. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

38. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

39. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

40. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

41. The best is yet to come.

42. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

43. Yield.

44. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

Friends are the family that we choose for ourselves."

1. Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

2. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.

3. Follow the three R's - Respect for self - Respect for others - Responsibility for all your actions.

4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.

5. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.

6. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

7. When you realise you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

8. Spend some time alone every day.

9. Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.

10. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

11. Live a good, honourable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll be able to enjoy it a second time.

12. A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.

13. In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don't bring up the past.

14. Share your knowledge. It's a way to achieve immortality.

15. Be gentle with the earth.

16. Once a year, go someplace you've never been before.

17. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.

18. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.

19. Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.

What could possibly be more astonishing than a sunrise?

The display itself is magnificent beyond belief, and yet it goes virtually unnoticed by millions each day.

Beyond that, the meaning of the sunrise is even more spectacular, because it heralds the dawn of a new day, a day filled with bright possibilities.

In an unimaginably vast expanse of nothingness, the sun which lights our every day is the only source of warmth and light within trillions of miles. The distance to the next closes star we cannot even comprehend, much less traverse in a thousand lifetimes. And yet here we are....warm, bright, full of life and energy.

The sun appears around the horizon each morning and makes it all possible.

When you find yourself ready to complain about what you don't have, stop for a moment to consider what incredible things you do have. And resolve to make the most of it all.

Each day arrives like an empty box, waiting to be filled.
We can pack the box with treasures, or load it down with ballast.
Many things we put in by habit, without thinking, just because it is easy and comfortable.

Sometimes there's little room for anything else.
If you were to open today's box a year from now, what things of true and lasting value would you find?

Would you be able to distinguish today's box from all the rest?

Once the box for today is packed, that's it. You can't take anything out, nor put anything else back in.

Once the day is done, the treasures you could have had are either yours or they are not.

Yet tomorrow dawns early, another box that's empty while at the same time full.....of possibilities.

Each day comes fresh. Make them all special.

Stuff them full of life and living.

Receive the treasures that can be yours.

Everybody knows.....
You can't be all things to all people.
You can't do all things at once.
You can't do all things equally well.
You can't do all things better than everyone else.
Your humanity is showing just like everyone else's.

So.....
You have to find out who you are, and be that.
You have to decide what comes first, and do that.
You have to discover your strengths, and use them.
You have to learn not to complete with others,
Because no one else is in the contest of being YOU.

And then.....
You will have learned to accept your own uniqueness.
You will have learned to set priorities and make decisions.
You will have learned to live with your limitations.
You will have learned to give yourself the respect that is due.
And you'll be a most unique and happy human being.

Always believe.....
That you are a wonderful, unique person.
That you are a once in all history event.
That it's more than a right, it's your duty to be who you are.
That life is not a problem to solve, but a gift to cherish.
And you'll always be able to stay one up on what used to get you down!

You don't need a special occasion or any money at all......
Give a free gift to someone you love today!

Give the gift of cheerfulness.....
Try to be cheerful around those you love, and always have a smile and a kind word.

Give the gift of a compliment.....
A simple "You look great today!" or "The dinner was delicious!" can be of great value to those who may feel they are being taken for granted.

Give the gift of affection.....
Be free with all those little hugs and kisses and squeezes of the hand. Let these little actions show the love you have inside and that you care.

Give the gift of listening.....
Give this to someone who has something to say. And you must really listen. No interrupting, no daydreaming, no planning your responses. Just Listen.

Give the gift of laughter.....
Tell a funny joke, cut out a cartoon, save a clever article to make someone smile. Your gift will say, "I love to laugh with you".

Give the gift of a favour.....
Help with the dishes, run an errand, do a little something to make someone's day easier, and do it with a smile.

Give the gift of solitude.....
There are times in everyone's day when they want nothing better than to be left alone. Be sensitive to those times and give solitude and quiet.

Give the gift of a note.....
It can be as simple as "I Love You" scribbled on a note pad, or as creative as a sonnet on fancy stationery, or as quick as a thought sent through email. Surprise your loved ones with a little note where they will find it, or a smile in their mailbox!

Give a free gift to someone every day, and make the world a better place!

To "let go" does not mean to stop caring, it means I can't do it for someone else.

To "let go" is not to cut myself off; it's the realisation I can't control another.

To "let go" is to admit powerlessness, which means the outcome is not in my hands.

To "let go" is to enable, but allow learning from natural consequences.

To "let go" is not to try to change or blame another, it's to make the most of myself.

To "let go" is not to judge, but to allow another to be a human being.

To "let go" is not to be in the middle arranging all the outcomes, but to allow others to affect their destinies.

To "let go" is not to be protective, it's to permit another to face reality.

To "let go" is not to criticise and regulate, but to try to become what I dream I can be.

To "let go" is not to nag, scold, or argue, but instead to search out my own shortcomings and correct them.

To "let go" is not to regret the past, but to grow and live for the future.

To "let go" is not to deny, but to accept.

To "let go" is to fear less, and love more.

EVen though I clutch my blanket and growl when the alarm rings, thank you, Lord, that I can hear. There are many who are deaf.

Even though I keep my eyes closed against the morning light as long as possible, thank you, Lord, that I can see. Many are blind.

Even though I huddle in my bed and put off rising, thank you, Lord, that I have the strength to rise. There are many who are bedridden.

Even though the first hour of my day is hectic, when socks are lost, toast is burned and tempers are short, my children are so loud, thank you, Lord, for my family. There are many who are lonely.

Even though our breakfast table never looks like the pictures in magazines and the menu is at times unbalanced, thank you, Lord, for the food we have. There are many who are hungry.

Even though the routine of my job ogten is monotonous, thank you, Lord, for the opportunity to work. There are many who have no job.

Even though I grumble and bemoan my fate from day to day and wish my circumstances were not so modest, thank you, Lord, for life!

I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it may be better tomorrow.

I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles a rainy day and lost luggage.

I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life.

I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.

I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back.

I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.

I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.

I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone.

People love that human touch - holding hands, a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.

I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.

Keep reading to the bottom of the page -- (You'll see).

Two traveling angels stopped to spend the night in the home of a wealthy family.

The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in the mansion's guest room.

Instead the angels were given a small space in the cold basement.

As they made their bed on the hard floor, the older angel saw a hole in the wall and repaired it.

When the younger angel asked why, the older angel replied,

"Things aren't always what they seem"

The next night the pair came to rest at the house of a very poor, but very hospitable farmer and his wife.

After sharing what little food they had the couple let the angels sleep in their bed where they could have a good night's rest.

When the sun came up the next morning the angels found the farmer and his wife in tears.

Their only cow, whose milk had been their sole income, lay dead in the field.

The younger angel was infuriated and asked the older angel how could you have let this happen?

The first man had everything, yet you helped him, she accused.

The second family had little but was willing to share everything, and you let the cow die..

"Things aren't always what they seem," the older angel replied.

"When we stayed in the basement of the mansion, I noticed there was gold stored in that hole in the wall.

Since the owner was so obsessed with greed and unwilling to share his good fortune, I sealed the wall so he wouldn't find it."

"Then last night as we slept in the farmers bed, the angel of death came for his wife I gave him the cow instead.

Things aren't always what they seem."

Sometimes that is exactly what happens when things don't turn out the way they should.

If you have faith, you just need to trust that every out come is always to your advantage.

You just might not know it until some time later...

Some people come into our lives and quickly go..

Some people become friends and stay awhile...leaving beautiful footprints on our hearts... and we are never quite the same because we have made a good friend!!

Yesterday is history.
Tomorrow a mystery.
Today is a gift.
That's why it's called the present!

I think this is special...live and savour every moment... This is not a dress rehearsal!

TAKE THIS LITTLE ANGEL AND KEEP HER CLOSE TO YOU SHE IS YOUR GUARDIAN ANGEL SENT TO WATCH OVER YOU
____

THIS IS A SPECIAL GUARDIAN ANGEL... SHE WILL WATCH OVER YOU FOREVER....

Right Now -

-somebody is thinking of you.
-somebody is caring about you.
-somebody misses you
-somebody wants to talk to you.
-somebody wants to be with you.
-somebody hopes you aren't in trouble.
-somebody is thankful for the support you have provided.
-somebody wants to hold your hand.
-somebody hopes everything turns out all right.
-somebody wants you to be happy.
-somebody wants you to find him/her.
-somebody is celebrating your successes.
-somebody wants to give you a gift.
-somebody thinks that you ARE a gift.
-somebody loves you.
-somebody admires your strength.
-somebody is thinking of you and smiling.
-somebody wants to be your shoulder to cry on.

SOMEBODY NEEDS YOU TO SHOW THIS TO THEM

Never take away anyone's hope.

That may be all they have.

Please show this to family and friends but only if you mean it!

'Tomorrow morning,' the surgeon began, 'I'll open up your heart....'

'You'll find Jesus there,' the boy interrupted.

The surgeon looked up, annoyed 'I'll cut your heart open,' he continued, to see how much damage has been done...'

'but when you open up my heart, you'll find Jesus in there,' said the boy.

The surgeon looked to the parents, who Sat quietly. 'When I see how much damage has been done, I'll sew your heart and chest back up, and I'll plan what to do next.'

'But you'll find Jesus in my heart. The Bible says He lives there. The hymns all say He lives there. You'll find Him in my heart.'

The surgeon had had enough. 'I'll tell you what I'll find in your heart. I'll find damaged muscle, low blood supply, and weakened vessels. And I'll find out if I can make you well.'

'You'll find Jesus there too. He lives there.'

The surgeon left.

The surgeon sat in his office, recording his notes from the surgery, '...damaged aorta, damaged pulmonary vein, widespread muscle degeneration.

No hope for transplant, no hope for cure.

Therapy: painkillers and bed rest. Prognosis:

Here he paused, 'death within one year.'

He stopped the recorder, but there was more to be said. 'Why?' he asked aloud. 'Why did You do this? You've put him here; You've put him in this pain; and You've cursed him to an early death. Why?'

The Lord answered and said, 'The boy, my lamb, was not meant for your flock for long, for he is a part of My flock, and will forever be. Here, in My flock, he will feel no pain, and will be comforted as you cannot imagine.

His parents will one day join him here, and they will know peace, and My flock will continue to grow.'

The surgeon's tears were hot, but his anger was hotter. 'You created that boy, and You created that heart. He'll be dead in months Why?'

The Lord answered, 'The boy, My lamb, shall return to My flock, for He has done his duty: I did not put My lamb with your flock to lose him, but to retrieve another lost lamb.' The surgeon wept...

The surgeon sat beside the boy's bed; the boy's parents sat across from him.

The boy awoke and whispered, 'Did you cut open my heart?'

'Yes,' said the surgeon.

'What did you find?' asked the boy.

'I found Jesus there,' said the surgeon.

Author Unknown - Celebrate Jesus in 2010

If you aren't ashamed to do this, please follow the directions listed below:

Jesus said, 'If you are ashamed of me, I will be ashamed of you before my Father.'

I Am Not Ashamed.

Show everyone you know this only if you mean it.

'Yes, I do Love God. He is my source of existence and Saviour. He keeps me functioning each and everyday. Without Him, I will be nothing. Without him, I am nothing, but with Him I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me.'
(Phil 4:13)

One evening I was parked in front of the mall wiping off my car. I had just come from the car wash and was waiting for my wife to get out of work.

Coming my way from across the parkiing lot was what society would consider a bum. From the looks of him, he had no car, no home, no clean clothes, and no money.

There are times when you feel generous but there3 are other times that you just don't want to be bothered. This was one of the "Don't want to be bothered" times.

"I hope he doesn't ask my for money," I thought. He didn't.

He came and sat on the curb in front of the bus stop and he didn't look like he could have enough money to even ride a bus. After a few minutes he spoke. "That's a very nice car," he said. He was ragged but had an air of dignity around him.

I said "Thanks," and continued wiping off my car.

He sat there quietly as I worked. The expected plea for money never came. As the silence between us widened something inside said, "ask him if he needs any help". I was sure that he would say yes, but I held true to the inner voice.

"Do you need any help?' I asked.

He answered in three simple but profound words that I shall never forget.

We often look for wisdom in great men and women. We expect it from those of higher learning and accomplishments. I expected nothing but an outstretched grimy hand. He spoke three words that shook me.

"Don't we all?" he said.

I needed help. Maybe not for a bus fare or a place to sleep, but I needed help.

I reached in my wallet and gave him not only enough for bus fare but enough to get a warm meal and shelter for the day.

Those three little words still ring true.

No matter how much you have, no matter how much you have accomplished, you need help too.

No matter how little you have, no matter how loaded you are with problems, even without money or a place to sleep, you can give help. Even if it's just a compliment, you can give that.

You never know when you may see someone that appears to have it all. They are waiting on you to give them what they don't have.

A different perspective on life, a glimpse at something beautiful, a respite from daily chaos, that only you through a torn world can see.

Maybe the man was just a homeless stranger wandering the streets. Maybe he was more than that. Maybe he was sent by a power that is great and wise to minister to a soul too comfortable in themselves.

Maybe God looked down, called an Angel, dressed him like a bum, then said, "Go minister to that man cleaning the car, that man needs help.

"Don't we all?"

A water bearer in India has two large pots each hung on each end of a pole, which he carried across his neck.

One of the pots had a crack in it. The other pot was perfect.

While the perfect pot always delivered a full portion of water at the end of a long walk from the stream to the master's hours, the cracked pot arrived only half full.

For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water in his master's hours.

Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made.

But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.

After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream.

"I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologise to you."

"Why?" asked the bearer, "What are you ashamed of?"

The pot said, "I have been able, for these past two years to deliver only half my load because this crack iin my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master's house. Because of my flaws, you do all of this work and don't get full value from your efforts."

The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, "As we return to master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path."

INdeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some.

But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again it apologised to the bearer for its failure.

The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other pots side?" "That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path and every day while we walked back from the stream, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master's table. Without you being just the way you are he would not have this beauty to grace his house."

Each of us has our own unique flaws.

We're all cracked pots.

But it's our cracks and flaws that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding.

You've just got to take each person for what they are, and look for the good in them.

Remember to appreciate all the different people in your life!

If it wasn't for the cracked pots, life would be pretty boring and not so beautiful.

Now imagine you and the Lord Jesus walking down the road together.

For much of the way, the Lord's footprints go along steadily, consistently, rarely varying the pace.

But your prints are a disorganised stream of zigzags, starts, stops, turn-arounds, circles, departures and returns.

For much of the way it seems to go like this.

But gradually, your footprints come more in line with the Lord's, soon paralleling His consistently.

You and Jesus are walking as true friends.

This seems perfect, but then an interesting thing happens: your footprints that once etched the sand next to the Master's are now walking precisely in His steps.

Inside His larger footprints is the small 'sandprint', safely enclosed.

You and Jesus are becoming one.

This goes on for many miles.

But gradually you notice another change.

The footprint inside the larger footprint seems to grow lar4ger.

Eventually it disappears altogether.

There is only one set of footprints.

They have become one.

Again, this goes on for a long time.

But then something awful happened.

The second set of footprints is back. And this time it seems worse.

Zigzags all over the place, Stops, Starts, Deep gashes in the sand. A veritable mess of prints.

You're amazed and shocked. But this is the end of your dream.

Now you speak. "Lord, I understand the first scene with the zigzags and fits and starts and so on. I was a new Christian, just learning. But You walked on through the storm and helped me learn to walk with you."

"That is correct."

"Yes, and when the smaller footprints were inside of Yours, I was actually learning to walk in Your steps. I followed You very closely."

"Very good you have understood everything so far."

"Then the smaller footprints grew and eventually filled in with Yours. I suppose that I was actually growing so much that I was becoming like you in every way."

"Precisely."

"But this is my question, Lord. Was there a regression or something? The footprints went back to two, and this time it was worse than the first."

The Lord smiles, then laughs. "You didn't know?" He says. "That was when we danced."

* To change everything... Simply change your attitude.

* A friend is a person who knows all about you, but likes you anyway.

* He who goes out of his house in search of happiness runs after a shadow.

* Good manners sometimes means simply putting up with other people's bad manners.

* Do you always want to be right, or do you want to be happy?

* It is my observation that too many of us are spending money we haven't earned, to buy things we don't need, to impress people we don't like.

* The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother.

* To be bitter is to waste precious moments of a life that is too short already.

* There's no limit to what you can achieve if you don't mind who gets the credit.

* Only GOD is in a position to look down on anyone.

* No matter how hard you hug your money, it never hugs back.

* No one is guaranteed happiness. Life just gives each person time and space. It's up to us to fill it with joy.

* Your religion is what you do when the sermon is over.

* Criticism never built a house, wrote a play, composed a song, painted a picture, or improved a marriage.

* Almost all of our unhappiness is the result of comparing ourselves to others.

* Sign above an office clock: "This clock will never be stolen; too many employees are watching it."

* Every day we are given stones. What do we build with them? A bridge, or a wall?

* You wouldn't be worried about what people thought of you if you knew how seldom they actually do.

* Our character is what we do when we think no one is looking.

* When you have nothing important or interesting to say, don't let anyone persuade you to say it.

* Of all the things you wear, your expression is the most important. If someone remembers your suit and not your smile, you didn't smile enough.

* The surest way to make yourself happy is to make someone else happy.

* Be smarter than people... Just don't tell them so.

* Beginning today, treat everyone you meet as if they were going to be dead by midnight. Extend to them all the care, kindness, and understanding you can muster, and do it with no thought of any reward. Your life will never be the same again.

* "Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven."

I hope you enjoyed reading those and giving them some thought

Today I will be handling all of your problems.

Please remember that I do not need your help.

If life happens to deliver a situation to you that you cannot handle, do not attempt to resolve it.

Kindly put it in the SFGTD (something for God to do) box.

It will be addressed in My time, not yours.

Once the matter is placed into the box, do not hold onto it.

If you find yourself stuck in traffic; Don't despair.

There are people in this world for whom driving is an unheard of privilege.

Should you have a bad day at work; think of the man who has been out of work for years.

Should you despair over a relationship gone bad; think of the person who has never known what it's like to love and be loved in return.

Should you grieve the passing of another weekend; think of the woman in dire straits, working twelve hours a day, seven days a week to feed her children.

Should your car break down, leaving you miles away from assistance; think of the paraplegic who would love the opportunity to take that walk.

Should you notice a new grey hair in the mirror; think of the cancer patient in chemo who wishes she had hair to examine.

Should you find yourself at a loss and pondering what is life all about, asking what is my purpose?

Be thankful.

There are those who didn't live long enough to get the opportunity.

Should you find yourself the victim of other people's bitterness, ignorance, smallness or insecurities; remember, things could be worse. You could be them!

Diane, a young Christian university student, was home for the summer.

She had gone to visit some friends one evening and the time passed quickly as each shared their various experiences of the past year.

She ended up staying longer than she had planned.

Evening came and Diane had to walk home alone.

But she wasn't afraid because it was a small town and she lived only a few blocks away.

As she walked along under the tall elm trees, Diane asked "God" to keep her safe from harm and danger.

When she reached the alley, which was a short cut to her house, she decided to take it.

Hoever, halfway down the alley, she noticed a man standing at the end, as though he were waiting for her.

She became uneasy and began to pray, asking for "God's" protection.

Instantly a comforting feeling of quietness and security wrapped around her; she felt as though someone was walking with her.

When she reached the end of the alley, she walked right past the man and arrived home safely.

The following day, she read in the paper that a young girl had been raped in the same alley, just twenty minutes after she had been there.

Feeling overwhelmed by this tragedy and the fact that it could have been her, she began to weep.

Thanking the Lord for her safety and to help this young woman, she decided to go to the police station.

She felt she could recognise the man, so she told them her story.

The police asked her if she would be willing to look at a lineup to see if she could identify him.

She agreed and immediately pointed out the man she had seen in the alley the night before.

When the man was told he had been identified, he immediately broke down and confessed.

The officer thanked Diane for her bravery and asked if there was anything they could do for her, she asked if they would ask the man one question.

Diane was curious as to why he had not attacked her.

When the policeman asked him, he answered, "Because she wasn't alone. She had two tall men walking on either side of her."

NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF PRAYER

There was a woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and had been given three months to live.

So as she was getting her things "in order", she contacted her pastor and had him come to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes.

She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, what scriptures she would like read, and what outfit she wanted to be buried in.

The woman also requested to be buried with her favourite Bible.

Everything was in order and the pastor was preparing to leave when the soman suddenly remembered something very important to her.

"There's one more thing," she said excitedly.

"What's that?" came the pastor's reply.

"This is very important," the woman continued. "I want to be buried with a fork iin my right hand."

The pastor stood looking at the woman, not knowing quite what to say.

"That surprises you, doesn't it? the woman asked.

"Well, to be honest, I'm puzzled by the request," said the pastor.

The woman explained.

"In all my years of attending church socials and potluck dinners, I always remember that when the dishes of the main course were being cleared, someone would inevitably lean over and say, 'Keep your fork'.

It was my pavourite part because I knew that something better was coming....like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie.

Something wonderful, and with substance!

So, I just want people to see me there in the casket with a fork iin my hand and I want them to wonder, "What's with the fork?"

Then I want you to tell them:

"Keep your fork....The best is yet to come."

The pastor's eyes welled up with tears of joy as he hugged the woman good-bye.

He knew this would be one of the last times he would see her before her death.

But he also knew that the woman had a better grasp of heaven than he did.

She KNEW that something better was coming.

At the funeral people were walking by the woman's casket and they saw the pretty dress she was wearing and her favourite Bible and the fork placed in her right hand.

Over and over, the pastor heard the question, "What's with the fork?"

And over and over he smiled.

During his message, the pastor told the people of the conversation he had with the woman shortly before she died.

He also told them about the fork and about what it symbolised to her.

The pastor told the people how he could not stop thinking about the fork and told them that they probably would not be able to stop thinking about it either.

He was right.

So the next time you reach down for your fork, let it remind you oh so gently, that the best is yet to come.

Around the corner I have a friend
In this great city that has no end,
Yet the days go by and weeks rush on,
And before I know it, a year is gone
And I never see my old friend's face,
For life is a swift and terrible race,
He knows I like him just as well,
As in the days when I rang his bell,
And he rang mine.

If, we were younger then,
And now we are busy, tired men.
Tired of playing a foolish game,
Tired of trying to make a name.
"Tomorrow" I say "I will call on Jim"
"Just to show that I'm thinking of him".
But tomorrow comes and tomorrow goes,
And distance between us grows and grows.

Around the corner! - yet miles away,
"Here's a telegram sir - "Jim died today."

And that's what we get and deserve in the end.
Around the corner, a vanished friend.

If you love someone, tell them.

Remember always to say what you mean.

Never be afraid to express yourself.

Take this opportunity to tell someone what they mean to you.

Seize the day and have no regrets.

Most importantly, stay close to your friends and family,For they have helped make you the person that you are today And are what it's all about anyway.

Share this with your friends.

Let it make a difference in your day and theirs.

The difference between expressing love and having regrets is that the regrets may stay around forever.

If you are reading this it is because someone cares for you.

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
ANd you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit rest if you must,
But Don't You Quit!

Life is strange with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a fellow turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out.
Don't give up though the pace seems slow
You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than
It seems to a faint and faltering man
Often the struggler has given up
When he might have captured the victor's cup
And he learned too late when the night came down
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out
the silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems afar
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit
It's when things seem the worst
That You Mustn't Quit!

If tomorrow, I should never wake up, I wanted to say I'm sorry.

I'm sorry for what I've done, and what I haven't done. I could have done more, I should have done more.

If I harmed you, yelled at you, ignored you, or didn't care .... I'm Sorry.
If tomorrow, I should never wake up, I wanted to say.... Thank You.

If me and you were the best of friends, Thank You....for always being there.
If You and I only talked once and a while, and didn't do the same things, and weren't the best of friends...Thank You for humbling me.

You are not perfect, but I am not either, but thank you for having a part in my life.
If tomorrow, I should never wake up, I wanted to say everything I never had time to.

We convince ourselves that life will be better once we are married, have a baby, then another.

Then we get frustrated because our children are not old enough, and that all will be well when they are older.

Then we are frustrated because they reach adolescence and we must deal with them. Surely we'll be happier when they grow out of the teen years.

We tell ourselves our life will be better when our spouse gets his/her act together, when we have a nicer car, when we can take a vacation, when we finally retire.

The truth is that there is no better time to be happy than right now.

If not, then when?

Your life will always be full of challenges. It is better to admit as much and to decide to be happy in spite of it all.

For the longest time, it seemed that life was about to start.

Real life.

But there was always some obstacle along the way, an ordeal to get through, some work to be finished, some time to be given, a bill to be paid.

Then life would start.

I finally came to understand that those obstacles were life.

That point of view helped me see that there isn't any road to happiness.

Happiness IS the road.

So, enjoy every moment.

Stop waiting for school to end, for a return to school, to lose ten pounds, to gain ten pounds, for work to begin, to get married, for Friday evening, for Sunday morning, waiting for a new car, for your mortgage to be paid off, for spring, for summer, for fall, for winter, for the first or the fifteenth of the month, for your song to be played on the radio, to die, to be reborn before deciding to be happy.

Happiness is a voyage, not a destination.

There is no better time to be happy than NOW!

Live and enjoy the moment.

-Author unknown

Now, think and try to answer these questions:

1 - Name the 5 richest people in the world.

2 - Name the last 5 Miss Universe winners.

3 - Name the last 10 Nobel Prize winners.

4 - Name the last 10 winners of the Best Actor Oscar.

Can't do it? Rather difficult, isn't it?

Don't worry, nobody remembers that.

Applause dies away!

Trophies gather dust!

Winners are soon forgotten.

Now answer these questions:

1 - Name 3 teachers who contributed to your education.

2 - Name 3 friends who helped you in your hour of need.

3 - Think of a few people who made you feel special.

4 - Name 5 people that you like to spend time with.

More manageable? It's easier, isn't it?

The people who mean something to your life are not rated "the best", don't have the most money, haven't won the greatest prize.....
They are the ones who care about you, take care of you, those who, no matter what, stay close by.

Think about it for a moment.

Life is very short!

And you, in which list are you? Don't know?

Let me give you a hand.

You are not among the most "famous", but among those to whom I remember to send this message.......

Some time ago, at the Seattle Olympics, nine athletes, all mentally or physically challenged, were standing on the start line for the 100 m race.

The gun fired and the race began. Not everyone was running, but everyone wanted to participate and win.

They ran in threes, a boy tripped and fell, did a few somersaults and started crying.

The other eight heard him crying.

They slowed down and looked behind them.

They stopped and came back ........ All of them

A girl with Down's Syndrome sat down next to him, hugged him and asked, "Feeling better now?"

Then, all nine walked shoulder to shoulder to the finish line.

The whole crowd stood up and applauded.

And the applause lasted a very long time.........

People who witnessed this still talk about it.

Why?

Because deep down inside us, we all know that the most important thing in life is much more than winning for ourselves.

The most important thing in this life is to help others to win.

Even if that means slowing down and changing our own race.

If you share this story, perhaps we will succeed in changing our heart, perhaps someone else's heart, as well.......

A candle loses nothing if it is used to light another one."

So, what have you decided? Trash this or share it?

'Twas the night before Jesus came and all through the house not a creature was praying, not one in the house.

Their Bibles were lain on the shelf without care, in hopes that Jesus would not come there.

The children were dressing to crawl into bed, not once ever kneeling or bowing a head.

And Mum in here rocker with baby on her lap was watching the Late Show while I took a nap.

When out of the East there arose such a clatter, I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash tore open the shutters and threw up the sash!

When what to my wondering eyes should appear but angles proclaiming that Jesus was here.

With a light like the sun sending forth a bright ray I knew in a moment this must be THE DAY!

The light of His face made me cover my head, it was Jesus returning just like He had said.

And though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth, I cried when I saw Him in spite of myself.

In the Book of Life, which was held in His hand, was written the name of every saved man.

He spoke not a word as He searched for my name; when He said "It's not here" my head hung in shame.

The people whose names had been written with love He gathered to take to His Father above.

With those who were ready He rose without a sound while all the rest were left standing around.

I fell to my knees, but it was too late; I had waited too long and thus sealed my fate.

I stood and I cried as they rose out of sight; Oh, if only I had been ready tonight.

In the words of this poem the meaning is clear; The coming of Jesus is drawing near.

There's only one life and when comes the last call we'll find that the Bible was true after all!

The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn't already know.

I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder.

I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that lit up her entire being.

She said, "Hi, handsome. My name is Rose. I'm eighty-seven years old. Can I give you a hug?"

I laughed and enthusiastically responded, "Of course you may!" and she gave me a giant squeeze.

"Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?" I asked.

She jokingly replied, "I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, have a couple of children, and then retire and travel."

"No seriously," I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age.

"I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting one!" she told me.

After class we walked to the student union building and shared a chocolate milkshake. We became instant friends.

Every day for the next three months we would leave class together and talk non-stop. I was always mesmerized listening to this "time machine" as she shared her wisdom and experience with me.

Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon and she easily made friends wherever she went.

She loved to dress up and she reveled in the attention bestowed upon her from the other students. She was living it up.

At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet. I'll never forget what she taught us.

She was introduced and stepped up the the podium.

As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she dropped her three by five cards on the floor. Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply said "I'm sorry I'm so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and this whiskey is killing me! I'll never get my speech back in order so let me just tell you what I know."

As we laughed she cleared her throat and began:

"We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing. There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success.

You have to laugh and find humour every day.

YOu've go to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die. We have so many people walking around who are dead and don't even know it!

There is a hugh difference between growing older and growing up. If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don't do one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old. If I am eighty-seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything I will turn eighty-eight. Anybody can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding the opportunity in change.

Have no regrets. The elderly usually don't have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets."

She concluded her speed by courageously singing "The Rose".

She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives.

At the years end Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those years ago.

One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep.

Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example that it's never too late to be all you can possibly be.

If you read this, please send this peaceful word of advice to your friends and family, they'll really enjoy it!

GROWING OLDER IS MANDATORY, GROWING UP IS OPTIONAL.

Last week I threw out WORRYING,
It was getting old and in the way.
It kept me from being me;
I couldn't do things my way.

I threw out those INHIBITIONS;
They were just crowding me out.
Made room for my NEW GROWTH,
Go rid of my old dreams and doubts.

I threw out a book on MY PAST
(didn't have time to read it anyway).
Replaced it with NEW GOALS,
Started reading it today.

I threw out CHILDHOOD TOYS
(remember how I treasured them so)?
God me a NEW PHILOSOPHY too,
Threw out the one from long ago.

Bought in some NEW BOOKS too,
called I CAN, I WILL, and I MUST.
Threw out I MIGHT, I THINK and I OUGHT.
WOW, You should've seen the dust.

I ran across an OLD FRIEND,
Haven't seen him in a while.
I believe his name is GOD,
Yes, I really like His style.

He helped me to do SOME CLEANING
and added some thing's Himself.
Like PRAYER, HOPE and FAITH,
Yes I placed them right on the shelf.

I pice up this special thing
and placed it at the front door.
I FOUND IT - its called PEACE.
Nothing gets me down anymore.

Yes, I've got my house lookiing nice.
Looks good around the place.
For things like Worry and Trouble
there just isn't any place.

It's good to do a little house cleaning,
Get rid of the old things on the shelf.
It sure makes things brighter;
Maybe you should TRY IT YOURSELF.

Maybe God wants us to meet a few wrong people before meeting the right one so that when we finally meet the right person, we will know how to be grateful for that gift.

When the door of happiness closes, another opens, but often times we look so long at the closed door that we don't see the one which has been opened for us.

The best kind of friend is the kind you can sit on a porch and swing with, never say a word, and then walk away feeling like it was the best conversation you've ever had.

It's true that we don't know what we've got until we lose it, but it's also true that we don't know what we've been missing until it arrives.

Giving someone all your love is never an assurance that they'll love you back! Don't expect love in return; just wait for it to grow in their heart but if it doesn't, be content it grew in yours. It takes only a minute to get a crush on someone, an hour to like someone, and a day to love someone, but it takes a lifetime to forget someone.

Don't go for looks; they can deceive. Don't go for wealth; even that fades away. Go for someone who makes you smile because it takes only a smile to make a dark day seem bright. Find the one that makes your heart smile.

There are moments in life when you miss someone so much that you just want to pick them from your dreams and hug them for real!

Dream wshat you want to dream; go where you want to go; be what you want to be, because you hav e only one life and one chance to do all the things you want to do.

May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, enough hope to make you happy.

Always put yourself in others' shoes. If you feel that it hurts you, it probably hurts the other person, too.

The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way.

Happiness lives for those who cry, those who hurt, those who have searched, and those who have tried, for only they can appreciate the importance of people who have touched their lives. Love begins with a smile, grows with a kiss and ends with a tear. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past, you can't go on well in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.

When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling. Live your life so that when you die, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying.

This is as insightful, as it is scary. A Columbine student wrote it.

"The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings, but shorter tempers; wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints; we spend more, but have less; we buy more, but enjoy it less.

We have multiplied our pssessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We've learned how to make a living, but not a life; we've added years to life, not life to years.

We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet the neighbour.

We've conquered outer space, but not inner space; we've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul; we've split the atom, but not our prejudice.

We have higher incomes, but lower morals; we've become long on quantity, but short on quality. These are the times of tall men, and short character; steep profits, and shallow relationships.

These are the times of world peace, but domestic warfare; more leisure, but less fun; more kinds of food, but less nutrition. These are the days of two incomes, and more divorce; of fancier houses, but broken homes."

It is a time when there is too much in the show window and nothing in the stockroom; a time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to make a difference, or just hit delete.

Thank you to Katie for this forward.

Life is wonderful - most of the time.

As Christians, because of our belief in The risen Lord, we know we have a hope And a future.

We can rejoice!!

However, We are still human and have our Short-comings.

There are times when We would love to blame others for the Way we behave.

We could say - "He was so rude, he caused Me to be rude back." Really - did "he", or did we allow Ourselves to respond negatively to this person?

We have a Choice in how we respond to situations.

The story below Caused me to stop and think about such things.

Stop Being Everybody's Victim

(Adapted by Louis Lapides from John Powell, Why I am Afraid to Tell You Who I Am?, Argus Comm.)

The late US syndicated columnist Sydney J. Harris accompanied His friend George to his favorite newsstand.

George Greeted the man selling the newspapers courteously, but in Return he received gruff service.

He barely acknowledged His customer and never even looked up at him when he requested The late night edition.

Accepting the newspaper, Which was shoved rudely in his direction, George politely Smiled and wished the newsman a pleasant weekend.

The Proprietor grunted an indiscernible sound and seemed relieved That the two men had completed their transaction.

As the two friends walked down the street the columnist Asked, "Does he always treat you so rudely?"

"Yes, unfortunately, He does," George responded.

"And are you always So kind and friendly to him?"

"Yes, I am!" George continued As they turned a corner.

"Why are you so nice when he is So unfriendly to you?"

With a look of deep contemplation, George explained, "Because I don't want him to decide how I am going to act."

Who decides how you are going to act?

Is it your circumstances Or the difficult people in your life that determine Your responses?

When we allow our conflicts to control us, We behave as though getting rid of our predicaments is our Only priority.

Therefore, it doesn't really matter how we Treat one another.

For example, we say, "This person is causing me distress Right now so I don't care about exercising patience, selfcontrol, And loving kindness.

Instead, I want to let him know How angry I am because of his actions."

We forget our trials will eventually subside.

But the way We handle conflicts will influence our lives for a long time.

Will you only respond to the momentary crisis or will you Be more concerned about the enduring value of what kind Of person you are becoming?

Who decides how you will act When the pressure is on?

It is good character we want to develop so that we can Govern our response to situations.

After all, human as we Are, are we not trying to be more Christ-like?

Some day when my children are old enough to understand the logic that motivates a parent, I will tell them......

I love you enough to ask where you were going, with whom, and what time you would be home.

I loved you enough to insist that you save your money and buy a bike for yourself even though we could afford to buy one for you.

I loved you enough to be silent and let you discover that your new best friend was a creep.

I loved you enough to make you take a Milky Way back to the drugstore (with a bite out of it) and tell the clerk, "I stole this yesterday and want to pay for it."

I loved you enough to stand over you for two hours while you cleaned your room, a job that would have taken 15 minutes.

I loved you enough to let you se anger, disappointment, and tears in my eyes.

Children must learn that their parents aren't perfect.

I loved you enough to let you assume the responsibility for your actions even when the penalties were so harsh they almost broke my heart.

But most of all, I love you enough to say NO when I knew you would hate me for it.

Those were the most difficult gbattles of all.

I'm glad I won them, because in the end you won, too.

Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.

Life is beauty, admire it.

Life is bliss, taste it.

Life is a dream, realise it.

Life is a challenge, meet it.

Life is a duty, complete it.

Life is a game, play it.

Life is a promise, fulfill it.

Life is sorrow, overcome it.

Life is a song, sing it.

Life is a struggle, accept it.

Life is a tragedy, confront it.

Life is an adventure, dare it.

Life is luck, make it.

Life is to precious, do not destroy it.

Life is life, fight for it.

Don't be too busy today........

Mother Teresa is someone Who I believe really knew God and Showed Jesus' love to so many. She lived Her life serving others and encouraging other young women To do so. She has left such a godly legacy to this world.

YOU AND GOD

People are often unreasonable,
Irrational, and self-centred;

Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse
You of selfish, ulterior motives;

Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some
Unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies;

Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere
People may deceive you;

Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating
Others could destroy overnight;

Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness,
Some may be jealous;

Be happy anyway.

The good you do today,
Will often be forgotten.

Do good anyway.

Give the best you have,
And it may never be enough;

Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis,
It is between you and God;

It was never between you and them anyway.

Mother Teresa

How powerful is that!!

Recite these vows every morning. Keep them with you and review them when you're stuck in traffic, trapped in a tense meeting, tossing and turning at night, preparing to meet a deadline, or sitting down for a serious talk with your child.

by Herman Sherman

1. I will never give up so long as I know I'm right.

2. I will believe that all things will work out for me if I hang on until the end.

3. I will be courageous and undismayed in the face of odds.

4. I will not permit anyone to intimidate me or deter me from my goals.

5. I will fight to overcome all physical limitations and setbacks.

6. I will try again and again and yet again to accomplish my dreams.

7. I will take new faith and resolution from the knowledge that all successful people have had to overcome defeat and adversity.

8. I will never surrender to discouragement or despair, no matter what.

If I knew it would be the last time
That I'd see you fall asleep,
I would tuck you in more tightly
And pray the Lord, your soul to keep.

If I knew it would be the last time
That I see you walk out the door,
I would give you a hug and kiss
And call you back for one more.

If I knew it would be the last time
I'd hear your voice lifted up in praise,
I would video tape each action and word,
So I could play them back day after day.

If I knew it would be the last time,
I could spare an extra minute or two
To stop and say I love you,
Instead of assuming you would KNOW I do.

If I knew it would be the last time
I would be there to share your day,
Well I'm sure you'll have so many more,
So I can let just this one slip away.

For surely there's always tomorrow
To make up for an oversight,
And we always get a second chance
To make everything right.

There will always be another day
To say our I love you's,
And certainly there's another chance
to say our "Anything I can do's?"

But just in case I might be wrong,
And today is all I get,
I'd like to say how much I love you
And I hope we never forget.

Tomorrow is not promised to anyone,
Young or old alike,
And today may be the last chance you get
To hold your loved one tight.

So if you're waiting for tomorrow,
Why not do it today?
For if tomorrow never comes,
You'll surely regret the day.

That you didn't take that extra time
For a smile, a hug, or a kiss
And you were too busy to grant someone,
What turned out to be their one last wish.

So hold your loved ones close today,
Whisper in their ear,
Tell them how much you love them
And that you'll always hold them dear.

Take time to say "I'm sorry, please forgive me,"
"Thank you" or "It's okay".
And if tomorrow never comes,
You'll have no regrets about today.

A certain daughter complained to her father about her life and how things had been so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and she wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed that just as one problem was solved another arose.

Her father, a chef, took her to the kitchen, filled three pots with water and placed the fire on high. Soon the three pots came to a boil. In one he placed carrots, in the other he placed eggs, and in the last he placed ground coffee beans. He let them sit and boil, without saying a word.

The daughter sucked her teeth and impatiently wondered what he was trying to do. She had problems, and he was making this strange concoction. In half an hour he walked over to the oven and turned down the fire. He pulled the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. He pulled the eggs out and pleaced them in a bowl. Then he ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl.

Turning to her he asked, "Darling, what do you see?"

Smartly, she replied, "carrots, eggs and coffee."

He brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots.

She did and noted that they were soft. He then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg.

Finally, he asked her to sip the coffee. Her face frowned from the strength of the coffee. Humbly, she asked, "what does it mean, father?'

He explained. "Each of them faced the same adversity, 212 degrees of boiling water. However, each reacted differently.

The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. But after going through boiling water, it softened and became weak.

The egg was fragile. A thin outer shell protected a liquid centre. But after sitting through the boiling water, it's inside became hardened.

The coffee beans are unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, the coffee bean became stronger and richer.

"Which are you?" he asked his daughter.

"When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?

Are you the carrot that seems hard, but with a smallest amount of pain, adversity, heat, you wilt and become soft with no strength?

Are you the egg, which starts off with a malleable heart? A fluid spirit. But after a death, a breakup, a divorce, a layoff, you became hardened and stiff. Your shell looks the same, but you are bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and heart.

Or are you like the coffee bean? The bean does not get its peak and robust flavour until it reaches 212 degrees Fahrenheit. When the water gets the hottest, it just tastes better. When things are their worst, you get better. When the hour is the darkest, trials are their greatest, your worship elevates to another level."

How do you handle adversity?

Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?

You can't be all things to all peoople.
You can't do all things at once.
You can't do all things equally well.
You can't do all things better than everyone else.
Your humanity is showing just like everyone else's.

So:

You have to find out who you are, and be that.
You have to decide what comes first, and do that.
You have to discover your strengths, and use them.
You have to learn not to compete with others.
Because no one else is in the contest of "being you".

Then:

You will have learned to accept your own uniqueness.
You will have learned to set priorities and make decisions.
You will have learned to live with your limitations.
You will have learned to give yourself the respect that is due.
And you'll be a most vital mortal.

Dare To Believe:

That you are a wonderful, unique person.
That you are a once in all history event.
That it's more than a right, it's your duty, to be who you are.
That life is not aproblem to solve, but a gift to cherish.
And you'll be able to stay one up on what used to get you down.

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a Well. The animal cried piteously for hours as The farmer tried to figure out what to do.

Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the Well needed to be covered up anyway; It just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.

He invited all his neighbors to come over and Help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began To shovel dirt into the well.

At first, the Donkey realized what was happening and cried Horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement he Quieted down.

A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally Looked down the well. He was astonished at what He saw.

With each shovel of dirt that hit his Back, the donkey was doing something amazing.

He would shake it off and take a step up.

As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel Dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it Off and take a step up.

Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey Stepped up over the edge of the well and Happily trotted off!

Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds Of dirt.

The trick to getting out of the well Is to shake it off and take a step up.

Each of Our troubles is a stepping stone.

We can get out Of the deepest wells just by not stopping, Never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up.

Remember the five simple rules to be happy:

Free your heart from hatred - Forgive.

Free your mind from worries - Most never happen.

Live simply and appreciate what you have.

Give more.

Expect less.

NOW ............

The donkey later came back, And bit the farmer who had tried to bury him.

The gash from the bite got infected and The farmer eventually died in agony from septic shock.

MORAL FROM TODAY'S LESSON:

When you do something wrong, and try to cover Your ass, it always comes back to bite you.

Read this

LET IT REALLY SINK IN......

THEN CHOOSE .

John is the kind of guy you love to hate.

He is always in a good mood and always has something positive to say.

When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, 'If I were any better, I would be twins!'

He was a natural motivator..

If an employee was having a bad day, John was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation.

Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up and asked him, 'I don't get it!' 'You can't be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?'

He replied, 'Each morning I wake up and say to myself, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or...you can choose to be in a bad mood I choose to be in a good mood.'

Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or...I can choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it.

Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or...I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life.

'Yeah, right, it's not that easy,' I protested.

'Yes, it is,' he said. 'Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people affect your mood.

You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood. The bottom line: It's your choice how you live your life.'

I reflected on what he said.

Soon hereafter, I left the Tower Industry to start my own business..

We lost touch, but I often thought about him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it.

Several years later, I heard that he was involved in a serious accident, falling some 60 feet from a communications tower.

After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, he was released from the hospital with rods placed in his back.

I saw him about six months after the accident When I asked him how he was, he replied, 'If I were any better, I'd be twins...Wanna see my scars?'

I declined to see his wounds, but I did ask him what had gone through his mind as the accident took place.

'The first thing that went through my mind was the well-being of my soon-to-be born daughter,' he replied. 'Then, as I lay on the ground, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live or...I could choose to die. I chose to live.'

'Weren't you scared? Did you lose consciousness?' I asked.

He continued, '..the paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the ER and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read 'he's a dead man'. I knew I needed to take action.'

'What did you do?' I asked..

'Well, there was a big burly nurse shouting questions at me,' said John. 'She asked if I was allergic to anything 'Yes, I replied.' The doctors and nurses stopped work ing as they waited for my reply. I took a deep breath and yelled, 'Gravity''

Over their laughter, I told them, 'I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead.'

He lived, thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude...I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully.

Attitude, after all, is everything.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.' Matthew 6:34.

After all today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday.

I have had a lot of fun doing These articles. The Lord has been faithful In providing me with articles and Ideas, just as He said He would when I first started this venture In faith. Thank you so much to those of you who have Encouraged me throughout the year. Your kind words and Encouragement have been greatly appreciated. I would like To share with you these two versions of the Twelve Days of Christmas.

TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

On the first day of Christmas, JESUS gave to me Salvation Full and free.

On the second day of Christmas, JESUS gave to me Everlasting Life, and Salvation full and free.

On the third day of Christmas, JESUS gave to me Peace in My heart, Everlasting Life, and Salvation full and free.

On the fourth day of Christmas, JESUS gave to me Love for All men, Peace in my heart, Everlasting life, and Salvation Full and free.

On the fifth day of Christmas, JESUS gave to me Joy for my Soul, Love for all men, Peace in my heart, Everlasting life, And Salvation full and free.

On the sixth day of Christmas, JESUS gave to me power from On high, Joy for my soul, Love for all men, Peace in my Heart, Everlasting life, and Salvation full and free.

On the seventh day of Christmas, JESUS gave to me a Body Glorified, Power from on high, Joy for my soul, Love for all Men, Peace in my heart, Everlasting Life, and Salvation full And free.

On the eighth day of Christmas, JESUS gave to me A Robe And a Crown, a Body Glorified, Power from on high, Joy for My soul, Love for all men, Peace in my heart, Everlasting Life, and Salvation full and free.

On the ninth day of Christmas, JESUS gave to me mansions Above, A Robe and a Crown, a Body Glorified, Power from on High, Joy for my soul, Love for all men, Peace in my heart, Everlasting Life, and Salvation full and free.

On the tenth day of Christmas, JESUS gave to me Streets Of Pure Gold, Mansions above, a Robe and a Crown, a Body Glorified, Power from on high, Joy for my soul, Love for all Men, Peace in my heart, Everlasting Life, and Salvation full And free.

On the eleventh day of Christmas, JESUS gave to me A thousand Songs to sing, Streets of pure gold, Mansions above, a Robe and a Crown, a Body Glorified, Power from on high, Joy for my soul, Love for all men, Peace in my heart, Everlasting Life, and Salvation full and free.

On the twelfth day of Christmas, JESUS gave to me Eternity that's free

A thousand songs to sing

Streets of pure gold,

Mansions above,

A robe and a Crown,

A Body Glorified,

Power from on high,

Joy for my soul,

Love for all men,

Peace in my heart,

Everlasting Life,

And Salvation full and free!! THANK YOU, JESUS

TWELVE DAYS OF GRACE

A partridge in a pear tree Jesus Christ, the Son of God

Two turtle doves Old and New Testament

Three French hens Faith, Hope and Charity, The Christian Virtues

Four calling birds The four Gospels

Five Golden rings The first five books of the Old Testament The Pentateuch

Six geese a-laying Six days of creation

Seven swans a swimming The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit

Eight maids a-milking The eight Beatitudes

Nine ladies dancing The nine Fruit of the Holy Spirit

Ten lords a-leaping The Ten Commandments

Eleven pipers pipering The eleven faithful apostles

Twelve drummers drumming The twelve points of doctrine In the Apostle's Creed

I pray that you will have happy and safe holidays.

Happy parenting.

Faith, hope and love.

Sometimes - second Chances.

Savour the chocolate.

Enjoy the coffee.

Don't look Back.

Have a greater purpose.

More ice-cream and dark chocolate.

Keep pedalling.

Be happy.

God looks at the heart, He Knows your worth.

Think of the coffee.

Attitude is everything.

Know the 'joy', share the 'joy'.

Listen to the prompting.

Set For life on the inside.

Enjoy God's beautiful gifts.

Just put it Out there.

You and God.

Hope and vision.

Biblical vitamins.

Teach the children.

Have a blessed Christmas.

God bless and Keep you in His care.

Just a week before Christmas I had a visitor. This is how It happened.

I had just finished the household chores for The night and was preparing to go to bed, when I heard a Noise in the front of the house.

I opened the door to the Front room, and to my surprise, Santa himself stepped out From behind the Christmas tree. He placed his finger over His mouth so I would not cry out.

"What are you doing?" I started to ask.

The words choked up in my throat, and I saw that he had Tears in his eyes. His usual jolly manner was gone. Gone was The eager, boisterous soul we all know.

He then answered Me with a simple statement: "TEACH THE CHILDREN!"

I was puzzled, what did he mean?

He anticipated my question, and with one quick movement Brought forth a miniature toy bag from behind the Tree.

As I stood bewildered, Santa said, "Teach the children. Teach them the real meaning of Christmas. The meaning of Christmas that nowadays has been forgotten."

Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a FIR TREE And placed it before the mantle.

Teach the children that the Pure green Colour of the stately fir tree remains green all Year round, depicting the everlasting hope of mankind.

All The needles point heavenward, making it a symbol of man's Thoughts turning toward heaven.

He again reached into his bag and pulled out a brilliant STAR.

Teach the children that the star was the heavenly sign Of promises long ago. God promised a Saviour for the world, And the star was the sign of the fulfillment of His promise.

He then reached into his bag and pulled out a CANDLE.

Teach the children that the candle symbolizes that Christ is The light of the world, and when we see this great light, we Are reminded of He who displaces the darkness.

Once again he reached into his bag and removed a WREATH and placed it on the tree.

Teach the children that The wreath symbolizes the real nature of love Christ showed For us. Real love never ceases. Love is one continuous round Of affection.

He then pulled from his bag an ornament of HIMSELF.

Teach the children that I, Santa Claus, symbolize the generosity And good will we feel during the month of December.

He then brought out a HOLLY LEAF.

Teach the children That the holly plant represents immortality. It represents The crown of thorns worn by our Saviour. The red holly berries Represent the blood that He shed for us.

Next he pulled from his bag a GIFT and said, "Teach the Children that God so loved the world that whoever believes In Him shall have everlasting life." (John 3:16) Thanks be To God for His unspeakable gift. Teach the children that the Wise men bowed before the Holy Babe and presented Him With gold, frankincense and myrrh. We should always give Gifts in the same spirit of the wise men.

Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a CANDY CANE and hung it on the tree.

Teach the children that the Candy cane represents the shepherd's crook. The crook on The staff helps to bring strayed sheep back to the flock. The Candy cane is the symbol that we are our brother's keeper.

He reached in again and pulled out an ANGEL.

Teach the Children that it was the angels that heralded the glorious News of the Saviour's birth. The angels sang "Glory to God in The highest and on earth peace to men of good will".

Suddenly I heard a soft tinkling sound, and from his bag he Pulled out a BELL.

Teach the children that as the lost sheep Are found by the sound of the bell, it should bring mankind To the fold. The bell symbolizes guidance and return.

Santa looked around and was pleased.

He looked back At me and I saw that the twinkle was back in his eyes.

He Said, "Remember, TEACH THE CHILDREN the true meaning Of Christmas and do not put me in the Centre for I am but a Humble servant of the One that is, and I bow down to worship Him, Our Lord, Our God, and Saviour.

I think it is so important for children to learn the meaning Of some of the symbols of Christmas. It is good for them to Have that heritage and understanding of the traditions of Christmas. They feel a sense of security, consistency and Connection when the family has its meaningful traditions.

Sometimes, when you're feeling your lowest, the real you is summoned.

And you understand, maybe for the first time ever, how grand you are,

because you discover that vulnerable doesn't mean powerless,

scared doesn't mean lacking in beauty,

and uncertainty doesn't mean that you're lost.

These realisations alone will set you on a journey that will take you far beyond what you used to think of as extraordinary.

There is always a bright side.

Don't disguse your tears,

Don't hide your sadness,

Don't be afraid to find out who you really are.

Because in those fleeting moments you'll summon such beauty and strength.

Life, what a trip!

One minute you're born, the next you die.

Then, one day, you stand back and say:

"Aye Yai Yai! Was that ever believable, or what?

First I thought I was this and then I thought I was that, then I became this and then that.

Hold on now, why are you looking at me like that?

Wait a minute.....

OH MY GOSH!

There was a pattern!

Holy Cow!

You mean I could have.....

Thought anything.....and been anything?

But what about limits?

How could that be?

What do you mean pie in the sky?

Dreams come true?

Infinite possibilities?"

Fortunately, there's still time......

"Now imagine you and the Lord Jesus walking down the road together. For much of the way, the Lord's footprints go along steadily, consistently, rarely varying the pace. But your prints are a disorganised stream of zigzags, start, stops, turnarounds, circles, departures and returns.

For much of the way it seems to go like this. But gradually, your footprints come more in line with the Lord's, soon paralleling His consistently, you and Jesus are walking as true friends.

This seems perfect, but then an interesting thing happens: your footprints that once etched the sand next to the Master's are now walking precisely in His steps. Inside His larger footprints is the small 'sandprint', safely enclosed. You and Jesus are becoming one.

This goes on for many miles. But gradually you notice another change. The footprint inside the larger footprint seems to grow larger. Eventually it disappears altogether. There is only one set of footprints. They have become one. Again, this goes on for a long time. But then something awful happened. The second set of footprints is back. And this time it seems worse. Zigzags all over the place. Stops. Starts. Deep gashes in the sand. A veritable mess of prints.

You're amazed and shocked. But this is the end of your dream. Now you speak. 'Lord, I understand the first scene with the zigzags and fits and starts and so on. I was a new Christian, just learning. But You walked on through the storm and helped me learn to walk with you.'

'That is correct'.

'Yes, and when the smaller footprints were inside of Yours, I was actually learning to walk in Your steps. I followed You very closely'.

'Very good. You have understood everythiing so far.'

'Then the smaller footprints grew and eventually filled in with Yours. I suppose that I was actually growing so much that I was become like you in every way.'

'Precisely'.

'But this is my question, Lord....Was there a regression or something? The footprints went back to two, and this time it was worse than the first.'

The Lord smiles, then laughs.

'You didn't know?' He says. 'That was when we danced'."

There are two days in every week we should never worry about, two days that should be kept free from fear and apprehension.

One is yesterday, with its mistakes and cares, its aches and pains, its faulty and blunders. Yesterday has passed forever beyond our control.

All the money in the world cannot bring back yesterday. We cannot undo a single act we performed, nor erase a single word we've said.

Yesterday is gone.

The other day we should not worry about is tomorrow, with its impossible adversaries, its burden, its hopeful promise and unknown performance. Tomorrow is beyond our control.

Tomorrow's sun will rise either in splendor or behind a mask of clourds - but it will rise. And until it does, we have no stake in tomorrow, for it is as yet unborn.

This leaves only one day - today!

Anyone can fight the battles of just one day. It is only when we add the burdens of yesterday and tomorrow that we break down.

It is not the experience of today that drives people mad. It is the remorse of bitterness for something that happened yesterday, and the dread of what tomorrow may bring.

Make TODAY the best day it can be, and live one day at a time!

Guest of Honour: Jesus Christ

Date: Every day. Traditionally, December 25 but He's always around, so the date is flexible.....

Time: Whenever you're ready. (Please don't be late, though, or you'll miss out on all the fun!)

Place: In your heart.....He'll meet you there. (You'll hear Him knock)

Attire: Come as you are.....grubbies are OK. He'll be washing our clothes anyway. He said somthing about new white robes and crowns for everyone who stays till the last.

Tickets: Admission is free. He's already paid for everyone..... (He says you wouldn't have been able to afford it anyway.....it cost Him everything He had. But you do need to accept the ticket)

Refreshments: New wine, bread, and a far-out drink He calls "Living Water", followed by a supper that promises to be out of thid world!

Gift Suggestions: YOur life. He's one of those people who already has everything else. (He's very generous in return though. Just wait until you see what He has for you!)

Entertainment: Joy, Peace, Truth, Light, Life, Love, Real Happiness, Communion with God, Forgiveness, Miracles, Healing, Power, Eternity in paradise, Contentment, and much more! (All "G" rated, so bring your family and friends.)

R.S.V.P. Very Important!

He must know ahead so He can reserve a spot for you at the table. Also, He's keeping a list of His friends for future reference. He calls it the "Lamb's Book of Life."

Party being given by His Kids (that;s us!)

Hope to see you there!

Look at the Candy Cane

What do you see?

Stripes that are red

Like the blood shed for me

White is for my Saviour

Who's sinless and pure!

"J" is the Jesus My Lord, that's for sure!

Turn it around and a staff you will see

Jesus my shepherd was born for me!

Many years ago, a candy maker wanted to make a candy at Christmas time that would serve as a witness to this Christian faith.

He wanted to incorporate several symbols for the birth, ministry and death of Jesus.

He began with a stick of pure white hard candy; white to symbolise the Birgin Birth and the sinless nature of Jesus; hard to symbolise the solid rock, the foundation of the Church; firmness to represent the promise of God.

The Candy maker made the candy in the form of a "J" to represent the name of Jesus, who came to earth as our Saviour.

He thought it could also represent the staff of the Good Shepherd, with which he reached down into the ditches of the world to lift out the fallen lambs, who, like all sheep, have gone astray.

Thinking that the candy was somewhat plain, the candy maker stained it with red stripes.

He used three small stripes to show the stripes of the scourging Jesus received, by which we are healed.

The large red stripe was for the blood shed by Christ on the cross so that we could have the promise of eternal life.

Unfortunately, the candy became known as a candy cnae - a meaningless decoration seen at Christmas time.

But the true meaning is still there for those who have eyes to see and ears to hear.

I so admire people who come to this Country and set about learning the English Language. It must be so difficult for Them with all the inconsistencies in the English language.

This will have you concentrating And smiling at the same time -

An Ode To English Plurals

We'll begin with a box, and the plural is boxes, But the plural of ox becomes oxen, not oxes.

One fowl is a goose, but two are called geese, Yet the plural of moose should never be meese.

You may find a lone mouse or a nest full of mice, Yet the plural of house is houses, not hice.

If the plural of man is always called men, Why shouldn't the plural of pan be called pen?

If I speak of my foot and show you my feet, And I give you a boot, would a pair be called beet?

If one is a tooth and a whole set are teeth, Why shouldn't the plural of booth be called beeth?

Then one may be that, and three would be those,Yet hat in the plural would never be hose,

And the plural of cat is cats, not cose.

We speak of a brother and also of brethren, But though we say mother, we never say methren.

Then the masculine pronouns are he, his and him, But imagine the feminine: she, shis and shim!

Let's face it - English is a crazy language.

There is no egg in eggplant nor ham in hamburger;

Neither apple nor pine in pineapple.

English muffins weren't invented in England.

We take English for granted, but if we explore its paradoxes, We find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are Square, and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a Pig.

And why is it that writers write but fingers don't fing, Grocers don't groce and hammers don't ham?

Doesn't it seem crazy that you can make amends but not One amend.

If you have a bunch of odds and ends and get rid of all but One of them, what do you call it?

If teachers taught, why didn't preachers praught?

If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian Eat?

Sometimes I think all the folks who grew up speaking English Should be committed to an asylum for the verbally insane.

In what other language do people recite at a play and play At a recital?

We ship by truck but send cargo by ship.

We have noses that run and feet that smell.

We park in a driveway and drive in a parkway.

And how can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same,

While a wise man and a wise guy are opposites?

You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in Which your house can burn up as it burns down,

In which you fill in a form by filling it out, and in which an Alarm goes off by going on.

And in closing, if Father is Pop, how come Mother's not Mop?

King's is about preparing Christian Leaders for tomorrow's generation. All Students leaving our college can be leaders With strong character and principles Wherever they choose to work and live.

They can become the moral fibre of society - those who choose to live by high Principles and yet be non-judgemental, but people who will Encourage others to adopt those principles.

Principles To Live By

Groucho Marx quipped, "Those are my principles, and if You don't like them... Well, I have others." Though he is joking, I wonder if he is actually hitting close to Home.

I need To regularly check in with myself and ask questions like, "Is The thing I'm doing now guided by sound principles?"

Principled people are the heart and soul of a society. But Who teaches our young people about character?

Who teaches Them how important it is to be honest and to do what is Right?

Even ETHICS classes might not touch on matters of character.

They discuss the medical ethics of cloning, stem cell Research and genetic engineering. They consider euthanasia, Abortion and capital punishment. And they Even look at The ethics of governments and multi-national corporations.

But one college professor recently made a disturbing discovery:

She assumed her students shared her principles of Honesty, honor, integrity, and the like. She taught ethics, But assumed that her students shared her personal Ethical Standards.

Then one day she dropped an armful of final exams on her Desk in disgust and complained that over 50% of her students CHEATED on their social justice Exam. (Do you think they Caught the irony here?)

They'd spent months learning about Ethical issues most societies face, but they never discussed Personal morality. They could talk convincingly about good And bad behaviours of corporations, governments and societies, But they cheated on their exams. They just didn't get It: cheating is wrong.

And can we expect societies, governments And businesses to do better than the people who run Them and live in them?

Principled people are the heart and soul of our lives together.

Church leader John Wesley simplifies it for us. In Regards to what is right and wrong, he says simply this:

Do all the good you can,

By all the means you can,

In all the ways you can,

In all the places you can,

At all the times you can,

To all the people you can,

As long as ever you can.

I think those are principles I want to live by.

There was this little girl sitting by herself in the park.

Everyone passed by her and never stopped to see why she looked so sad.

Dressed in a worn pink dress, barefoot and dirty, the girl just sat And watched the people go by.

She never tried to speak.

She never said a word.

Many people passed by her, but no one would stop.

The next day I decided to go back to the park in curiosity to see If the little girl would still be there.

Yes, she was there, right in the very spot where she was Yesterday, and still with the same sad look in her eyes.

Today I was to make my own move and walk over to the little girl.

For as we all know, a park full of strange people is not a place for young children to play alone.

As I got closer I could see the back of the little girl's dress.

It was grotesquely shaped.

I figured that was the reason people just passed by and made no Effort to speak to her.

Deformities are a low blow to our society and, heaven forbid if you make a step toward assisting someone who is different.

As I got closer, the little girl lowered her eyes slightly to Avoid my intent stare.

As I approached her, I could see the shape of her back more clearly.

She was grotesquely shaped in a humped over form.

I smiled to let her know it was OK, I was there to help, to talk.

I sat down beside her and opened with a simple, 'Hello' The little girl acted shocked, and stammered a 'hi, after a long stare into my eyes.

I smiled and she shyly smiled back.

We talked until darkness fell and the park was completely empty.

I asked the girl why she was so sad.

The little girl looked at me with a sad face and said, 'Because, I'm Different....' I immediately said, 'That you are!'; and smiled.

The little girl acted even sadder and said, 'I know.'

'Little girl,' I said, 'you remind me of an angel, sweet and innocent..'

She looked at me and smiled, then slowly she got to her feet and Said, 'Really?'

'Yes, you're like a little Guardian Angel sent to watch over all the people walking by.'

She nodded her head yes, and smiled.

With that she opened the back of her pink dress and allowed her Wings to spread, then she said 'I am.'

'I'm your Guardian Angel,' with a twinkle in her eye.. I was speechless... sure I was seeing things.

She said, 'For once you thought of someone other than yourself.

My job here is done'.. I got to my feet and said, 'Wait, why did no one stop to help an Angel?'

She looked at me, smiled, and said, 'You're the only one that could see me,' and then she was gone.

And with that, my life was changed dramatically.

So, when you think you're all you have, remember, your angel is Always watching over you.

Like the story says, we all need someone... And, every one of your friends is an Angel in their own way.

The value of a friend is measured in the heart.

I hope your Guardian Angel watches over you always.

When you are feeling alone like no one cares, read this cuz its absolutely true:

Every night, someone thinks about you before they go to sleep.

At least fifteen people in this world love you.

The only reason someone would ever hate you is because they want to be just like you.

There are at least two people in this world that would die for you.

You mean the world to someone.

Someone that you don't even know exists loves you.

When you make the biggest mistake ever, something good comes from it.

When you think the world has turned its back on you, take a look.

Always remember the compliments you've received.

Forget the rude remarks.

This is a good story and is true, please read it all the way through until the end!

(After the story, there are some very interesting facts!):

I am a mother of three (ages 14, 12, 3) and have recently completed my college degree.

The last class I had to take was Sociology.

The teacher was absolutely inspiring with the qualities that I wish every human being had been graced with.

Her last project of the term was called, 'Smile.'

The class was asked to go out and smile at three people and document their reactions.

I am a very friendly person and always smile at everyone and say hello anyway. So, I thought this would be a piece of cake, literally.

Soon after we were assigned the project, my husband, youngest son, and I went out to McDonald's one crisp March morning.

It was just our way of sharing special playtime with our son.

We were standing in line, waiting to be served, when all of a sudden everyone around us began to back away, and then
even my husband did.

I did not move an inch.... an over whelming feeling of panic welled up inside of me as I turned to see why they had moved.

As I turned around I smelled a horrible 'dirty body' smell, and there standing behind me were two poor homeless men.

As I looked down at the short gentleman, close to me, he was 'smiling'

His beautiful sky blue eyes were full of God's Light as he searched for acceptance..

He said, 'Good day' as he counted the few coins he had been clutching.

The second man fumbled with his hands as he stood behind his friend. I realized the second man was mentally challenged and the blue-eyed gentleman was his salvation.

I held my tears as I stood there with them.

The young lady at the counter asked him what they wanted.

He said, 'Coffee is all Miss' because that was all they could afford. (If they wanted to sit in the restaurant and warm up, they had to buy something. He just wanted to be warm).

Then I really felt it - the compulsion was so great I almost reached out and embraced the little man with the blue eyes.

That is when I noticed all eyes in the restaurant were set on me, judging my every action.

I smiled and asked the young lady behind the counter to give me two more breakfast meals on a separate tray..

I then walked around the corner to the table that the men had chosen as a resting spot.

I put the tray on the table and laid my hand on the blue-eyed gentleman's cold hand.

He looked up at me, with tears in his eyes, and said, 'Thank you.'

I leaned over, began to pat his hand and said, 'I did not do this for you.. God is here working through me to give you hope.'

I started to cry as I walked away to join my husband a nd son.

When I sat down my husband smiled at me and said, 'That is why God gave you to me, Honey, to give me hope..'

We held hands for a moment and at that time, we knew that only because of the Grace that we had been given were we able to give.

We are not church goers, but we are believers..

That day showed me the pure Light of God's sweet love.

I returned to college, on the last evening of class, with this story in hand.

I turned in 'my project' and the instructor read it.

Then she looked up at me and said, 'Can I share this?'

I slowly nodded as she got the attention of the class.

She began to read and that is when I knew that we as human beings and being part of God share this need to heal people and to be healed.

In my own way I had touched the people at McDonald's, my son,the instructor, and every soul that shared the classroom on the last night I spent as a college student.

I graduated with one of the biggest lessons I would ever learn:

UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE.

Much love and compassion is sent to each and every person who may read this and learn how to

LOVE PEOPLE AND USE THINGS - NOT LOVE THINGS AND USE PEOPLE.

Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart

To handle yourself, use your head.. To handle others, use your heart.

God Gives every bird it's food, but He does not throw it into its nest.

Many years ago when I was young, Halloween Was not celebrated in Australia.

It has slowly crept in over the past 20 Years or so. One can hardly miss Halloween Now because of how commercial it Has become. In some stores now there Is an abundance of costumes, ugly masks And other ornaments associated with Halloween.

Most people think 31 October (Halloween) is just a harmless Fun night. People dress up in fun costumes and go door To door "trick or treating".

But this day has a lot more significance.

Did you know that, modern witches celebrate eight Special days and Halloween is the most special?

About 300 BC the Celtic people of England, France and Scotland celebrated the last day of their year on 31 October.

They believed that on this night their most powerful god the Lord of Death, Samhain allowed everyone who had died during The year to return home. On this night the 'veil between The worlds' was at its thinnest. Then Samhain would decide if They would be reincarnated as humans or as animals.

When the Celtic people were introduced to Christianity, Pagan customs started to die out. As some still remained, The church established All Saints Day on 1 November. This Was first celebrated in 610 AD to remember all the saints, and Later extended to remember all Christians who had died for Their faith.

The Church believed that celebrating evil was Wrong, and started All Saints day as an alternative. Instead Of concentrating on evil, people should be concentrating on God and everything that is good.

Halloween has become a time for some people to be involved In making mischief, for running wild, for causing discord And for destructiveness at the expense of others.

Things to think about -

Does celebrating Halloween desensitise us to evil?

Is it better to dwell on evil or celebrate good?

Should we act out modern day versions of pagan rituals?

What are the long term consequences of thinking evil is Fun?

An Alternative -

The biggest appeals of Halloween are the lollies and dressing Up. Instead of dressing up in ugly costumes and walking Around the streets at night, why not have an All Saints dressup Party on 1 November.

This is a day for honouring good People who have been killed for being Christians.

It is also a Day to remember Jesus, who finally conquered evil by dying On the cross and being raised to life. We do not need to be Afraid of evil.

What should we think about?

Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, Whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is - admirable If anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such Things. Philippians 4:8

Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of Evil. 1 Thessalonians 4:21, 22

Last weekend I read an article in the Sunday Mail that was telling people how To add years to their life.

One point They made was "Get Spiritual". It was Claimed it could add 4 - 7 years to your Life.

It also stated that scientists speculate That prayer may improve health by Inspiring optimism. The Christian is also encouraged to be outward looking rather than concentrating on self and this Too adds to the enjoyment of life.

Here is a list of vitamins That Christians can take -

Spiritual Vitamins, A to Z

Remember to take your vitamins every day!

Anxious? Take Vitamin A. "All things work together for Good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28)

Blue? Take Vitamin B. "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all That is within me, bless His holy name." (Psalm 103:1)

Crushed? Take Vitamin C. "Cast all your anxiety on Him, Because He cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7)

Depressed? Take Vitamin D. "Draw near to God, and He Will draw near to you." (James 4:8)

Empty? Take Vitamin E. "Enter His gates with thanksgiving, And His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His Name." (Psalm 100:4)

Fearful? Take Vitamin F. "Fear not, for I am with you, do Not be afraid, for I am your God." (Isaiah 41:10)

Greedy? Take Vitamin G. "Give, and it will be given to You. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running Over, will be put unto your lap; for the measure you Give will be the measure you get back." (Luke 6:38)

Hesitant? Take Vitamin H. "How beautiful upon the mountains Are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, Who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says To Zion, 'Your God reigns.'" (Isaiah 52:7)

Insecure? Take Vitamin I. "I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13)

Jittery? Take Vitamin J. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday And today and forever." (Hebrews 13:8)

Know nothing? Take Vitamin K. "Know this that the Lord Is God, it is He that made us and not we ourselves. (Psalm
100:3)

Lonely? Take Vitamin L. "Lo, I am with you always, even To the end of the age." (Matthew 28:20)

Mortgaged? Take Vitamin M. "My grace is sufficient for You, for power is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Nervous? Take Vitamin N. "Never, no never will I leave you Nor forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5)

Overwhelmed? Take Vitamin O. "Overcome evil with Good." (Romans 12:21)

Perplexed or puzzled? Take Vitamin P. "Peace I leave with You; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world Gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let Them be afraid." (John 14:27)

Quitting? Take Vitamin Q. "Quit you like men and women, Be strong." (1 Corinthians 16:13)

Restless? Take Vitamin R. "Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently For Him." (Psalm 37:7)

Scared? Take Vitamin S. "Stay with me, and do not be Afraid; for the one who seeks My life seeks your life; you will Be safe with Me." (1 Samuel 22:23)

Tired? Take Vitamin T. "Those who wait for the Lord shall Renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like Eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and Not faint." (Isaiah 40:31)

Uncertain? Take Vitamin U. "Understand that I am (the Lord). Before Me no god was formed, nor shall there be any After Me." (Isaiah 43:10)

Vain? Take Vitamin V. "Vexed with unclean spirits: and They were healed every one. (Acts 5:16)

Wondering what to do? Take Vitamin W. "What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8)

EXhausted? Take Vitamin X. "Exercise thyself rather unto Godliness." (1 Timothy 4:7)

Yearning for hope? Take Vitamin Y. "Yea, though I walk Through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no Evil; for You art with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort Me." (Psalm 23:4)

Zapped? Take Vitamin Z. "Zealous for good deeds." (Titus 2:14)

With Christ as our Saviour life is GOOD!!

Happy parenting.

Faith, hope and love.

Sometimes - second Chances.

Savour the chocolate.

Enjoy the coffee.

Don't Look back.

Have a greater purpose.

More ice-cream and dark Chocolate.

Keep pedalling.

Be happy.

God looks at the Heart, He knows your worth.

Think of the coffee.

Attitude is everything.

Know the "joy", share the "joy".

Listen to the Prompting.

Set for life on the inside.

Enjoy God's beautiful gifts.

Just put it out there.

You and God.

Hope and vision.

Biblical Vitamins.

Teach the Children.

ASAP.

Remember the Recall.

Response Decisions.

Lifelong learning.

Sacrifice.

Easter - triumph and Hope.

Lest We Forget

Remember the cat will become A dog again. (Read Parenting with Power Story Child to Teenager great article, put this link into your brower www.squidoo.com/parentingwithpower)

Check out Professional Development for Mothers.

Encourage Common Sense

Healed and Whole

Media literacy.

Forgive quickly.

The gift.

Follow the directions.

Check the Habits.

Laugh, often and loud.

Be still and know that I am God.

Cast your burden on the Lord.

Psalm 23.

And So It Is.......

The author of this poem had a very difficult childhood and youth, but came to know Jesus who turned her life around.

EMBRACE LIFE: With all its flaws and imperfections, it's the only one you have.

KEEP SMILING: It brings a touch of sunshine to those who receive one.

LOVE FAITHFULLY: It's the secret of a happy life.

BE HONEST - CONSTANTLY: Honesty, integrity and trust are still worth more than silver and gold.

ENJOY - DON'T USE YOUR FRIENDS: They're a treasured gift.

ALWAYS BE KIND: It deposits love and worth into our hearts.

CRY A LITTLE - LAUGH A LOT: Tears cleanse the soul and laughter is good - like a medicine.

BE A REAL HERO: Care for someone who needs it.

DON'T JUDGE OTHERS ON THE FRACTION OF WHAT YOU SEE: A compassionate heart sees behind the mask of life.

MAKE TIME FOR THE ELDERLY: They're a reservoir of wisdom and besides, you'll be old one day.

HAVE FAITH: Faith, hope and love are the super glue of life.

HUG SOMEONE FOR NO REASON AT ALL: God gave us arms for hugging and lips for kissing.

BE HUMBLE: It truly is your greatest strength.

FORGIVE THOSE WHO HURT YOU: Unforgiveness is cancer to the soul - please don't be a carrier.

ENCOURAGE AT LEAST FIVE PEOPLE EVERY DAY: An encouraging word unspoken dies in your heart.

INVEST TIME IN YOUR FAMILY: It's the only thing you can take with you to heaven.

LISTEN TO YOUR HEART - LOVE WITH YOUR SOUL - FIND THE BEAUTY INSIDE YOURSELF - AND PLEASE - SHARE IT WITH THE WORLD.

We only have one chance at this life. Let's live it so that at the end of our days, we have very few regrets.

He arrived this morning, we had prayer; spent some time just talking, and He held me for a while because I was having a bad morning. Then, He was on His way to your place.

When He gets to your place, escort Him to the next stop. The message He is carrying is very important and needs to go round.

May God bless you!

AMEN

Our assignment is to love and spread the gospel throughout the world.

Have a blessed day and touch somebody's life today! I just did.

The Last Supper was painted by Leonardo Da Vinci, a noted Italian artist; and the time engaged for its completion was seven years.

The figures representing the twelve Apostles and Christ Himself were painted from living persons.

The life-model for the painting of the figure of Jesus was chosen first.

When it was decided that Da Vinci would paint this great picture, hundred and hundreds of young men were carefully viewed, in an endeavour to find a face and personality exhibiting innocence and beauty, free from the scars and signs of dissipation caused by sin.

Finally, after weeks of labourious searching, a young man, 19 years of age, was selected as a model for the portrayal of Christ.

For six months, Da Vinci worked on the reproduction of this leading character in his famous painting.

During the next six years, Da Vinci continued his labours on this sublime work of art. One by one, fitting persons were chosen to represent each of the eleven Apostles; space being left for the painting of the figure representing Judas Iscariot, as the final task of this masterpiece.

This was the Apostle, you remember, who betrayed his Lord for thirty pieces of silver, worth $16.96 in our present day currency.

For weeks, Da Vinci searched for a man with a hard callous face, with a countenance marked by scars of avarice, deceit, hypocrisy, and crime; a face that would delineate a character, who would bettray his best friend.

After many discouraging experiences, in searching for the type of person required to represent Judas, word came to Da Vinci that a man, whose appearance fully met his requirements, had been found in a dungeon in Rome, sentenced to die for a life of crime and murder.

Da Vinci made the trip to Rome at once, and this man was brought out from his imprisonment in the dungeon and led out into the light of the sun.

There Da Vinci saw before him a dark, swarthy man; his long, shaggy and unkempt hair sprawled over his face, which betrayed a character of viciousness and complete ruin.

At last, the famous painter had found the person he wanted to represent the character of Judas in his painting.

By special permission from the king, this prisoner was carried to Milan where the picture was being painted; and for months he sat before Da Vinci at appointed hours each day, as the gifted artist diligently continued his task of transmitting to his painting this base character in the picture representing the traitor and betrayer of our Saviour.

As he finished his last stroke, he turned to the guards and said, "I have finished. You may take the prisoner away."

As the guards were leading their prisoner away, he suddenly broke loose from their control and rushed up to Da Vinci, crying as he did so, "Oh, Da Vinci, look at me! Do you not know who I am?"

Da Vinci, with the trained eyes of a great character student, carefully scrutinized the man, upon whose face he had constantly gazed for six months and replied, "No, I have never seen you in my life, until you were brought before me out of the dungeon in Rome."

Then, lifting his eyes toward heaven, the prisoner said, "Oh, God, have I fallen so low?" Then turning toward the painter he cried, "Leonardo Da Vinci! Look at me again, for I am the same man you painted just seven years ago as the figure of Christ."

Many lessons can be learned from this true story of the painting of The Last Supper. This is a story of how we often perceive others - how easily we overlook the Christ within the people we meet, and judge by outward appearances.

This also strongly teaches the lesson of the effects of right or wrong thinking, on the life of an individual.

Here was a young man whose character was so pure and unspoiled by the sins of the world, that he presented a countenance of innocence and beauty fit to be used for the painting of a representation of Christ.

But within seven years, following the thoughts of sin and a life of crime, he was changed into a perfect picture of the most traitorous character ever known in the history of the world.

A young man was at the end of his road, seeing no way out, he dropped to his knees in prayer.

"Lord, I can't go on," he said. "I have too heavy a cross to bear."

The Lord replied, "My son, if you can't bear its weight, just place your cross inside this room. Then, open that other door and pick out any cross you wish."

The man was filed with relief and said, "Thank you, Lord," and he did as he was told.

Upon entering the other room, he saw many crosses; some so large the tops were not visible. Then, he spotted a tiny cross leaning against a far wall.

"I'd like that one, Lord," he whispered. The Lord replied, "My son, that is the cross you just brought in."

When life's problems seem overwhelming, it helps to look around and see what other people are coping with. You may consider yourself far more fortunate than you imagined.

YOUR CROSS - Author Unknown

Whatever your cross
Whatever your pain
There will always be sunshine
After the rain
Perhaps you may stumble
Perhaps even fall
But God's always there
To help you through it all.

You are strong.....
When you take your grief and teach it to smile.

You are brave.....
When you overcome your fear and help others to do the same.

You are happy.....
When you see a flower and are thankful for the blessing.

You are loving....
When your own pain does not blind you to the pain of others.

You are wise....
When you know the limits of your wisdom.

You are true....
When you admit there are times you fool yourself.

You are alive....
When tomorrow's hope means more to you than yesterday's mistakes.

You are growing....
When you know what you are but not what you will become.

You are free....
When you are in control of yourself and do not wish to control others.

You are honourable....
When you find your honour is to honour others.

You are generous....
When you can take as sweetly as you can give.

You are humble....
When you do not know how humble you are.

You are thoughtful....
When you see me just as I am and treat me just as you are.

You are merciful....
When you forgive in others the faults you condemn in yourself.

You are beautiful....
When you don't need a mirror to tell you.

You are rich....
When you never need more than what you have.

You are you....
When you are at peace with who you are not.

Throw out all the non-essential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctor worry about them - that is why you pay him.

Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down. If you really need a grouch, there are probably a few of your relatives to do the job.

Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Just never let your brain idle.

Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath. Laugh so much that you can be tracked in the store by your distinctive laughter.

The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person who is with you our entire life is yourself.

Surround yourself with what you love, whether it is family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.

Cherish your health. If it is good - preserve it. It is is unstable - improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve - get help.

Don't take guilt trips. Go to the mall, the next county, a foreign country....but not to guilt.

Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.

And remember that Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take....but by the moments that take our breath away!

Pray for your enemies - the Bible tells Us we should do this. It is difficult, we don't really feel like it, but if we want To be truly obedient to God's word, it is Necessary for us to do this. The Lord has Said it, so we need to do it; and of course As we do this, amazingly, we find that the Lord was right, it changes how we feel about that person And therefore our relationship with them changes too.

A Lesson for a Lifetime

When I arrived at 6am in the large hospital kitchen, Rose Was already checking name tags on the trays against the Patient roster. Stainless steel shelves held rows of breakfast Trays which we would soon be serving.

"Hi, I'm Janet." I tried to sound cheerful, although I already Knew Rose's reputation for being impossible to work With. "I'm scheduled to work with you this week."

Rose, a middle-aged woman with graying hair, stopped What she was doing and peered over her reading glasses. I Could tell from her expression she wasn't pleased to see a Student worker.

"What do you want me to do? Start the coffee?"

Rose sullenly nodded and went back to checking name Tags.

I filled the 40-cup pot with cold water and began making The coffee when Rose gruffly snapped, "That's not the way To make coffee." She stepped in and took over.

"I was just doing it the way our supervisor showed us to do It," I said in astonishment.

"The patients like the coffee better the way I do it," she Replied curtly.

Nothing I did pleased her. All morning her eagle eyes Missed nothing and her sharp words stung. She literally Trailed me around the kitchen.

Later, after breakfast had been served and the dishes Had been washed, I set up my share of trays for the next Meal. Then I busied myself cleaning the sink. Certainly Rose couldn't criticize the way I did that.

When I turned around, there stood Rose, rearranging all of The trays I had just set up!

Totally exhausted, I trudged the six blocks home from the University of Minnesota Hospital late that June afternoon.

As a third year university student working my way through School, I had never before encountered anyone like Rose.

Fighting back tears, I wrestled with my dilemma alone in My room. "Lord, what do you want me to do? I can't take Much more of Rose."

I turned the possibilities over in my mind. Should I see If my supervisor would switch me to work with someone Else? Scheduling was fairly flexible. On the other hand, I didn't want to be a quitter. I knew my older co-workers Were watching to see if my actions matched my words.

The answer to my prayer caught me completely by surprise -- I needed to love Rose.

Love her? No way! Tolerate, yes, but loving her was impossible.

"Lord, I can't love Rose. You'll have to do it through Me."

Working with Rose the next morning, I ignored the barbs Thrown in my direction and did things Rose's way as much As possible to avoid friction. As I worked, I silently began to Surround Rose with a warm blanket of prayers. "Lord, help Me love Rose. Lord, bless Rose."

Over the next few days an amazing thing began to happen. As I prayed for this irritating woman, my focus shifted From what she was doing to me, and I started seeing Rose as The hurting person she was. The icy tension began to melt Away.

Throughout the rest of the summer, we had numerous opportunities To work together. Each time she seemed genuinely Happy to see me. As I worked with this lonely woman, I listened to her--something no one else had done.

I learned that she was burdened by elderly parents who Needed her care, her own health problems, and an alcoholic Husband she was thinking of leaving.

The days slipped by quickly as I finished the last several Weeks of my summer job. Leaves were starting to turn yellow And red, and there was a cool, crispness in the air. I Soon would be returning as a full-time university student.

One day, while I was working alone in one of the hospital Kitchens, Rose entered the room. Instead of her blue uniform, She was wearing street clothes.

I looked at her in surprise. "Aren't you working today?"

"I got me another job and won't be working here no More," she said as she walked over and gave me a quick Hug. "I just came to say good-bye." Then she turned abruptly And walked out the door.

Although I never saw Rose again, I still remember her vividly.

That summer I learned a lesson I've never forgotten. The world is full of people like Rose--irritating, demanding, unlovable - yet hurting inside. I've found that love is the best way to turn an enemy into a friend.

"Love your enemies! Do good to them! Lend to them! And don't be concerned that they might not repay. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to the unthankful and to those who are wicked."

Luke 6:35 NLT

by: Janet Seever, Copyright © 2002 (jseever1@shaw.ca) -- from '2TheHeart' ]

Do you know someone like this? Is there something you can be doing to show them God's love?

It is easy to love the lovable, but oh so hard to love the unlovable. It is a real challenge but with God's help we can do this.

$106,000,000 Powerball

I think it was during the holidays that There was all the hype about the biggest Powerball figure ever. So many people Bought tickets in fact they were happy To queue for quite some time in order To get a ticket. All of this so that they Could be set for life. I wonder if the People who shared the prize money and Received $53,000,000 are truly happy Now. It has been found that often people who win huge Amounts in lotteries often lose it within a few years and the Happiness has only been temporary. I enjoyed reading this Story that informs us that real living is so much more than Having a lot of money.

SET FOR LIFE ~ Joseph J. Mazzella

I saw an advertisement for a new game show on television The other day. It was called Set for Life and people In it will compete for a monthly cheque that will supposedly set them for life.

For some reason seeing this advertisement Reminded me of a moment when my own family was Definitely not set for life. It was just after a fire had destroyed Our home when I was a boy. We had no insurance And the fire had taken everything we had except our own Lives.

When my Dad looked through the ashes he could only Find one thing: the plastic case that my Mum always kept Her wedding and Mother's rings in. It had melted around Them and saved them from the flames. I can remember Mum Crying when he brought them to her.

They were not worth Much money but they symbolized the priceless love and joy That our family shared. I can see now that this love and joy Were our true treasures. They were all we really needed to Be set for life.

When it comes to truly being set for life we have to look Away from our paycheques and look within ourselves. Making A living is not the same as living.

Money and stuff may be Nice to have but the pleasures they bring are momentary And fleeting. True happiness comes from real treasures and The real treasures in life are the treasures of heaven. They Are the treasures that lie in each of our souls. They are the Treasures that bless ourselves our families our lives and Our world. They are love joy peace patience goodness kindness and oneness with God.

Don't keep looking for the spare change that this world Gives you when you have a treasure box of priceless gems Within yourself. If you want to be set for life then get yourself Set to live. Give your love share your joy and shine Your light to everyone you meet. Pray and thank God for Your life everyday. Smile laugh sing hug and help everyone You can. Enjoy the true treasures of your soul and let Others do the same. Then you will be set for this life and the Next.

YOUR BASIC ATTITUDE AFFECTS YOUR BELIEF IN YOUR POTENTIAL FOR SUCCESS.

A negative attitude causes you to doubt your ability to Achieve, while belief in your potential makes you willing to Take the necessary action for success.

YOUR ATTITUDE DETERMINES WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT FACING A CHALLENGE.

People with a negative attitude see a challenge as overwhelming Or threatening. A positive attitude lets you see a Challenge as an opportunity rather than a threat.

YOUR ATTITUDE DETERMINES YOUR CONFIDENCE.

People with negative attitudes have so often thought I can't Or I doubt that belief in their individual potential is nonexistent.

Each time you act from a positive attitude, your Self-confidence is enhanced, your ability to achieve is proven, And you know you can succeed.

YOUR ATTITUDE AFFECTS HOW YOU SEE OPPORTUNITY.

People who have a negative attitude have buried the ability To see opportunity. A positive attitude, by contrast, opens Your eyes to so many opportunities that your challenge becomes Which opportunity to choose.

Paul J. Meyer - Adapted from 'Unlocking your Legacy'

When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often We look so long at the closed door that we do not see The one which has been opened for us.
Helen Keller

The greatest discovery of our generation is that human beings Can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind. As you think, so shall you be.
William James

We who lived in concentration camps can remember the Men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving Away their last piece of bread. They may have been few in Number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can Be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human Freedoms -- to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, To choose one's own way.
Victor Frankl

It's attitude not aptitude that gets you altitude.
Anon.

The greatest part of our happiness depends on our dispositions, Not our circumstances.
Martha Washington

There is all this fuss at the moment About Susan Boyle who is a competitor In Britain's Got Talent. Apparently, when She came on stage, there were sniggers And comments about her. She did not fit The "norm" of what is considered the "acceptable" look for A contestant. Yet when she began to sing, the audience was Amazed - she has the most beautiful voice. She received a Standing applause. The same happened to Paul Potts when He was a contestant in the same competition.

It just goes To show that we do not know what is on the inside of a Person. But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not consider his Appearance or his height, ... The Lord does not look at the Things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, But the Lord looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7

The Lord Knows what gifting, what talent, what beauty lies within Each person. He knows their worth. One American interviewer even dared to ask her if she Was going to change her appearance for the remainder of The competition. She replied "Why should I, this is who I Am."

It is such a sad fact of life that in today's world, people Are increasingly judged on their appearance. So much emphasis Is placed on how we look. Our girls are under such Pressure to look beautiful. Some begin to feel inadequate, Judge their appearance too harshly, are too critical of how They look.

At school the main result of this, is the wearing Of make-up. We do battle with some girls on a daily basis.

The importance of how one looks, is not a problem just For teenagers. There is increasing pressure for older people To hide their wrinkles, to try to look younger, to go to all sorts of measures to keep a youthful appearance.

Over the years I have written several articles on this topic As I feel very strongly about it and the impact on our students. I came across this article in relation to Susan Boyle that I Would like to share with you.

Your Wake Up Call!

You've already heard about her. Perhaps you have even Seen her. If you haven't you should. Above all the roar and thunder, above all the praise and Cheering, far above all else, there is a message here for all Of us.

I love happy endings. I love when the underdog wins against All odds. The David and Goliath stories take my heart and Squeeze it until I can no longer restrain myself. I will jump Up and cheer. I will shout from roof tops in celebration.

Every once in awhile the world is reminded that we put Frivolous, fake and superficial, ahead of reason, compassion And dignity.

Then God steps in and says "look...you are a masterpiece. You are a bright shining example of my work. Lift up your Head and hold it high! Your gifts may not be obvious to the World, but who are they to judge my creation!"

Today, break the bonds that tie you down. Loosen the grip You have held on words like "not good enough," "failure," "ugly," "useless," "unworthy," and "hopeless."

You may indeed need to work harder. You may have to Fight prejudice. You may be ridiculed and mocked for even Thinking you can succeed. But you are His child. You are better Than all of that. You are more than you ever imagined And greater than all you believe.

Stand up! Get moving! Start planning! Discover today What God sees in you, by asking Him to reveal it in all of Its glory.

You need not stand on a stage, in a spotlight, write an Epic novel or discover the cure for cancer. But you must, I Repeat, you MUST, live up to your full potential. Perhaps as A wife, mother, husband, father, teacher, mechanic, singer, Dancer, painter, friend, lover, janitor, plumber or anything You believe is your gift to the world.

For as the ugly duckling became the graceful swan, you Will develop into the perfection only you can be. The greatest, Shining example of YOU!

Now, go and watch this ordinary, simple, woman who was Mocked by the crowd and judges until...until God said "Shut Up and listen! She is my child!" And the self centred opened their hearts. The cynical became Believers. The world was reminded that everyone is A gift given by God. Yes, that includes you, my friend. Go To the website www.youtube.com and search for - Britain's Got Talent 2009 Susan Boyle. Watch, listen and then thank God, for this day. It is "Your Wake Up Call!"

Thank you, Susan Boyle!

As we watch the tragedy of Australia's Worst bush fires in history, we can only be Thankful that we have not had to endure Such a shocking event where we live.

It is at times like this that we utter a Prayer to our Lord for those who are suffering And to thank Him for how blessed We are. It is at such times that people really realize what is Important to them. So many said they had lost everything, Home, car, personal effects, but were so happy that they Were still alive and their family and loved ones were safe.

These people are about to make a fresh start. Many were Optimistic and determined to overcome. The tragedy and Horror of this time will stay with these people for life, but Many are looking forward. We can draw inspiration from These folk.

DON'T LOOK BACK - By: June Marie Johnson

As you travel through life there are always those times When decisions just have to be made, When the choices are hard, and solutions seem scarce, And the rain seems to soak your parade.

There are some situations where all you can do Is simply let go and move on, Gather your courage and choose a direction That carries you toward a new dawn.

So pack up your troubles and take a step forward - The process of change can be tough, But think about all the excitement ahead If you can be stalwart enough!

There might be adventures you never imagined Just waiting around the next bend, And wishes and dreams just about to come true In ways you can't yet comprehend!

Perhaps you'll find friendships that spring from new things As you challenge your status quo, And learn there are so many options in life, And so many ways you can grow!

Perhaps you'll go places you never expected And see things that you've never seen, Or travel to fabulous, faraway worlds And wonderful spots in between!

Perhaps you'll find warmth and affection and caring And somebody special who's there To help you stay centred and listen with interest To stories and feelings you share.

Perhaps you'll find comfort in knowing your friends Are supportive of all that you do, And believe that whatever decisions you make, They'll be the right choices for you.

So keep putting one foot in front of the other, And taking your life day by day... There's a brighter tomorrow that's just down the road - Don't look back! You're not going that way!

"Reflect upon your present blessings - of which Every man has many - not on your past misfortunes, Of which all men have some." In all of this too, it is heartening to see the generosity of Australians as they give to the Bush Disaster Appeal. How Wonderful that we care about our fellow Australians and can Reach out to help them in a time of need.

Let us look ahead with hope to what the Lord has in store For us.

The most destructive habit.......................................................Worry

The greatest joy.......................................................................Giving

The greatest loss......................................................................Loss of self-respect

The most satisfying work...........................................................Helping others

The ugliest personality trait.......................................................Selfishness

The most endangered species..................................................Dedicated leaders

Our greatest natural resource...................................................Our youth

The greatest "shot in the arm"...................................................Encouragement

The greatest problem to overcome............................................Fear

The most effective sleeping pill..................................................Peace of mind

The most crippling failure disease..............................................Excuses

The most powerful force in life....................................................Love

The most dangerous pariah........................................................A gossiper

The world's most incredible computer.........................................The brain

The worst thing to be without.......................................................Hope

The deadliest weapon..................................................................The tongue

The two most power-filled words..................................................."I can"

The greatest asset........................................................................Faith

The most worthless emotion..........................................................Self-pity

The most beautiful attire................................................................SMILE!

The most prized possession..........................................................Self esteem

The most powerful channel of communication................................Prayer

The most contagious spirit..............................................................Enthusiasm

I read of a man who stood to speak

At the funeral of a friend

He referred to the dates on his tombstone

From the beginning to the end

He noted that first came his date of his birth

And spoke the following date with tears,

But he said what mattered most of all

Was the dash between those years

For that dash represents all the time

That he spent alive on earth.

And now only those who loved him

Know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not how much we own;

The cars, the house, the cash,

What matters is how we live and love

And how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard.

Are those things you'd like to change?

For you never know how much time is left,

That can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough

To consider what's true and real

And always try to understand

The way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger,

And show appreciation more

And love the people in our lives

Like we've never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect,

And more often wear a smile

Remembering that this special dash

Might only last a little while.

So, when your eulogy is being read

With your life's actions to rehash

Would you be proud of the things they say

About how you spent your dash?

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.

I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.

As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.

The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.

The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's Death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are Shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why."

Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation.

He said, "People are born so that they can learn how to live a good Life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?" The Six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."

Live simply.

Love generously.

Care deeply.

Speak kindly.

Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.

Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy.

Take naps.

Stretch before rising.

Run, romp, and play daily.

Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.

On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.

When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Be loyal.

Never pretend to be something you're not.

If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.

ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY!

One day a teacher asked her students to list the names of the other students in the room on two sheets of paper, leaving a space between each name.

Then she told them to think of the nicest thing they could say about each of their classmates and write it down.

It took the remainder of the class period to finish their assignment, and as the students left the room, each one handed in the papers.

That Saturday, the teacher wrote down the name of each student on a separate sheet of paper, and listed what everyone else had said about that individual.

On Monday she gave each student his or her list. Before long, the entire class was smiling. "Really?" she heard whispered. "I never knew that I meant anything to anyone!" and, "I didn't know others liked me so much," were most of the comments.

No one ever mentioned those papers in class again. She never knew if they discussed them after class or with their parents, but it didn't matter. The exercise had accomplished its purpose. The students were happy with themselves and one another. That group of students moved on.

Several years later, one of the students was killed inVietNam and his teacher attended the funeral of that special student. She had never seen a serviceman in a military coffin before. He looked so handsome, so mature.

The church was packed with his friends. One by one those who loved him took a last walk by the coffin. The teacher was the last one to bless the coffin.

As she stood there, one of the soldiers who acted as pallbearer came up to her. "Were you Mark's math teacher?" he asked. She nodded: "yes." Then he said: "Mark talked about you a lot."

After the funeral, most of Mark's former classmates went together to a luncheon. Mark's mother and father were there, obviously waiting to speak with his teacher.

"We want to show you something," his father said, taking a wallet out of his pocket "They found this on Mark when he was killed. We thought you might recognize it."

Opening the billfold, he carefully removed two worn pieces of notebook paper that had obviously been taped, folded and refolded many times. The teacher knew without looking that the papers were the ones on which she had listed all the good things each of Mark's classmates had said about him.

"Thank you so much for doing that," Mark's mother said. "As you can see, Mark treasured it."

All of Mark's former classmates started to gather around. Charlie smiled rather sheepishly and said, "I still have my list. It's in the top drawer of my desk at home."

Chuck's wife said, "Chuck asked me to put his in our wedding album."

"I have mine too," Marilyn said. "It's in my diary"

Then Vicki, another classmate, reached into her pocketbook, took out her wallet and showed her worn and frazzled list to the group. "I carry this with me at all times," Vicki said and without batting an eyelash, she continued: "I think we all saved our lists"

That's when the teacher finally sat down and cried. She cried for Mark and for all his friends who would never see him again.

The density of people in society is so thick that we forget that life will end one day. And we don't know when that one day will be.

So please, tell the people you love and care for, that they are special and important. Tell them, before it is too late.

Every special person who touches our life
leaves their own unique mark on our heart;
a mark which can never be chiseled away
even if the years eventually pull us apart.

We can take on their expressions and
such the more we share of ourselves together.
It's those little things about another person
that can remain a part in us forever.

People who we have met throughout
our life become a part of the person.
Who we are today, we learn and
we grow from the relationships.

Each one touching us, in it's own special way.
We laugh about spending too much time together
when we think we have become like each other.
But it just shows how much we've been
touched by the relationship
we have found with another.

Those special people who can touch
our lives are like precious jewels
Amongst life's treasure, they shine on us and
leave a lasting impression,
a unique mark on our heart, a gift without measure.

A Boy Singing to his little sister.....
"You are My Sunshine, My only Sunshine"
(Be prepared to get watery eyes!)

Like any good mother, when Karen found out that another baby was on the way, she did what she could to help her 3-year-old son, Michael, prepare for a new sibling.

They found out that the new baby was going be a girl, and day after day, night after night, Michael sang to his sister in mommy's tummy.

He was building a bond of love with his little sister before he even met her.

The pregnancy progressed normally for Karen, an active member of the Panther Creek United Methodist Church in Morristown ,Tennessee.

Every 20 minutes, the labor pains came. Soon it was every five minutes, every three, every minute. But serious complications arose during delivery and Karen found herself in hours of labor..

Would a C-section be required?

Finally, after a long struggle, Michael's little sister was born.

But she was in very serious condition.

With a siren howling in the night, the ambulance rushed the infant to the neonatal intensive care unit at St. Mary's Hospital, Knoxville , Tennessee.

The days inched by.

The little girl got worse.

The pediatrician had to tell the parents there is very little hope. Be prepared for the worst.

Karen and her husband contacted a local cemetery about a burial plot.

They had fixed up a special room in their house for their new baby but now they found themselves having to plan for a funeral.

Michael, however, kept begging his parents to let him see his sister.

I want to sing to her, he kept saying.

Week two in intensive care looked as if a funeral would come before the week was over.

Michael kept nagging about singing to his sister, but kids are never allowed in Intensive Care.

Karen decided to take Michael whether they liked it or not.

If he didn't see his sister right then, he may never see her alive.

She dressed him in an oversized scrub suit and marched him into ICU.

He looked like a walking laundry basket.

The head nurse recognized him as a child and bellowed, 'Get that kid out of here now. No children are allowed!!!!'

The mother rose up strong in Karen, and the usually mild-mannered lady glared steel-eyed right into the head nurse's face, her lips a firm line..

'He is not leaving until he sings to his sister' she stated..

Then Karen towed Michael to his sister's bedside.

He gazed at the tiny infant losing the battle to live.

After a moment, he began to sing. In the pure-hearted voice of a 3-year-old, Michael sang:

'You are my sunshine, my only sunshine,

you make me happy when skies are gray.'

Instantly the baby girl seemed to respond...

The pulse rate began to calm down and become steady.

'Keep on singing, Michael,' encouraged Karen with tears in her eyes.

'You never know, dear, how much I love you,

please don't take my sunshine away.'

As Michael sang to his sister, the baby's ragged, strained breathing became as smooth as a kitten's purr

'Keep on singing, sweetheart.'

'The other night, dear, as I lay sleeping,

I dreamed I held you in my arms'

Michael's little sister began to relax as rest, healing rest, seemed to sweep over her.

'Keep on singing, Michael.'

Tears had now conquered the face of the bossy head nurse.

Karen glowed.

'You are my sunshine, my only sunshine.

Please don't take my sunshine away.'

The next day...the very next day, the little girl was well enough to go home

Woman's Day Magazine called it The Miracle of a Brother's Song.

The medical staff just called it a miracle.

Karen called it a miracle of God's love..

NEVER GIVE UP ON THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE..

LOVE IS SO INCREDIBLY POWERFUL.

Life is good.

Have a Wonderful Day!

There is no cost, but lots of rewards.

In God We Trust!

'The evidence of God's presence far outweighs the proof of His absence.'

The man slowly looked up.

This was a woman clearly accustomed to the finer things of life. Her coat was new. She looked like she had never missed a meal in her life. His first thought was that she wanted to make fun of him, like so many others had done before.

"Leave me alone," he growled...

To his amazement, the woman continued standing. She was smiling -- her even white teeth displayed in dazzling rows. "Are you hungry?" she asked.

"No," he answered sarcastically. "I've just come from dining with the president. Now go away." The woman's smile became even broader. Suddenly the man felt a gentle hand under his arm.

"What are you doing, lady?" the man asked angrily. "I said to leave me alone.

Just then a policeman came up. "Is there any problem, ma'am?" he asked..

"No problem here, officer," the woman answered. "I'm just trying to get this man to his feet. Will you help me?"

The officer scratched his head. "That's old Jack. He's been a fixture around here for a couple of years. What do you want with him?"

"See that cafeteria over there?" she asked. "I'm going to get him something to eat and get him out of the cold for awhile."

"Are you crazy, lady?" the homeless man resisted. "I don't want to go in there!" Then he felt strong hands grab his other arm and lift him up. "Let me go, officer. I didn't do anything."

"This is a good deal for you, Jack," the officer answered. "Don't blow it."

Finally, and with some difficulty, the woman and the police officer got Jack into the cafeteria and sat him at a table in a remote corner. It was the middle of the morning, so most of the breakfast crowd had already left and the lunch bunch had not yet arrived.The manager strode across the cafeteria and stood by his table.

"What's going on here, officer?" he asked. "What is all this, is this man in trouble?"

"This lady brought this man in here to be fed," the policeman answered.

"Not in here!" the manager replied angrily. "Having a person like that here is bad for business."

Old Jack smiled a toothless grin. "See, lady. I told you so. Now if you'll let me go. I didn't want to come here in the first place."

The woman turned to the cafeteria manager and smiled. "Sir, are you familiar with Eddy and Associates, the banking firm down the street?"

"Of course I am," the manager answered impatiently. "They hold their weekly meetings in one of my banquet rooms."

"And do you make a goodly amount of money providing food at these weekly meetings?"

"What business is that of yours?"

I, sir, am Penelope Eddy, president and CEO of the company."

"Oh."

The woman smiled again. "I thought that might make a difference." She glanced at the cop who was busy stifling a giggle. "Would you like to join us in a cup of coffee and a meal, officer?"

"No thanks, ma'am," the officer replied. "I'm on duty.

"Then, perhaps, a cup of coffee to go?"

"Yes, ma'am. That would be very nice."

The cafeteria manager turned on his heel, "I'll get your coffee for you right away, officer."

The officer watched him walk away. "You certainly put him in his place," he said.

"That was not my intent. Believe it or not, I have a reason for all this."

She sat down at the table across from her amazed dinner guest She stared at him intently. "Jack, do you remember me?"

Old Jack searched her face with his old, rheumy eyes "I think so -- I mean you do look familiar."

"I'm a little older perhaps," she said. "Maybe I've even filled out more than in my younger days when you worked here, and I came through that very door, cold and hungry."

"Ma'am?" the officer said questioningly. He couldn't believe that such a magnificently turned out woman could ever have been hungry.

"I was just out of college," the woman began.. "I had come to the city looking for a job, but I couldn't find anything.. Finally I was down to my last few cents and had been kicked out of my apartment. I walked the streets for days. It was February and I was cold and nearly starving. I saw this place and walked in on the off chance that I could get something to eat."

Jack lit up with a smile. "Now I remember," he said. "I was behind the serving counter. You came up and asked me if you could work for something to eat. I said that it was against company policy."

"I know," the woman continued. "Then you made me the biggest roast beef sandwich that I had ever seen, gave me a cup of coffee, and told me to go over to a corner table and enjoy it. I was afraid that you would get into trouble.Then, when I looked over, I saw you put the price of my food in the cash register I knew then that everything would be all right."

"So you started your own business?" Old Jack said.

"I got a job that very afternoon. I worked my way up. Eventually I started my own business that, with the help of God, prospered.." She opened her purse and pulled out a business card. "When you are finished here, I want you to pay a visit to a Mr. Lyons.He's the personnel director of my company.

I'll go talk to him now and I'm certain he'll find something for you to do around the office." She smiled. "I think he might even find the funds to give you a little advance so that you can buy some clothes and get a place to live until you get on your feet.

If you ever need anything, my door is always opened to you."

There were tears in the old man's eyes.. "How can I ever thank you?" he said.

"Don't thank me," the woman answered. "To God goes the glory. Thank Jesus... He led me to you."

Outside the cafeteria, the officer and the woman paused at the entrance before going their separate ways."Thank you for all your help, officer," she said.

"On the contrary, Ms. Eddy," he answered. "Thank you. I saw a miracle today, something that I will never forget. And thank you for the coffee."

If you have missed knowing me, you have missed nothing.

But, if you have missed knowing my LORD and SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST, you have missed everything in the world.

Have a Wonderful Day. May God Bless You Always.

And don't forget that when you "cast your bread upon the waters," you never know how it will be returned to you.

God is so big He can cover the whole world with his Love and so small He can curl up inside your heart.

When God leads you to the edge of the cliff, trust Him fully and let go, only 1 of 2 things will happen, either He'll catch you when you fall, or He'll teach you how to fly!

'The power of one sentence!

God is going to shift things around for you today and let things work in your favour. God closes doors no man can open & God opens doors no man can close..

Have a blessed day and remember to be a blessing...

When things in your life seem, Almost too much to handle, when 24 Hours in a day is not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and 2 cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls..

He then asked the students, if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly and the pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls.

He then asked The students again if the jar was full... They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous 'yes..'

The professor then produced Two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand.

The students laughed.

'Now,' said the professor, as the laughter subsided, 'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things - God, family, children, health, friends, and favourite passions - things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter Like your job, house, and car.

The sand is everything else -- the small stuff.

'If you put the sand into the jar first,' he continued, 'there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life.

If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

So...

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.
Play With your children.
Take time to get medical checkups.
Take your partner out to dinner..

There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal.

'Take care of the golf balls first -- the things that really matter..
Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.'

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented.

The professor smiled. 'I'm glad you asked'.

It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for A couple of cups of coffee with a friend.'

It might be too little too late but then who knows?

Read below, a Principal's dilemma in today's world. May it bless you.

I FIND IT INTERESTING THAT A HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL CAN SEE THE PROBLEM, BUT OUR SOCIETY CANNOT. IF I OFFEND ANYONE BY THIS, I REALLY DON'T APOLOGIZE.

This is a statement that was read over the PA system at the football game at Roane County High School, Kingston, Tennessee, by school Principal, Jody McLeod

"It has always been the custom at Roane County High School football games, to say a prayer and play the National Anthem, to honor God and Country."

Due to a recent ruling by the Supreme Court, I am told that saying a Prayer is a violation of Federal Case Law.

As I understand the law at this time, I can use this public facility to approve of sexual perversion and call it "an alternate life style," and if someone is offended, that's OK.

I can use it to condone sexual promiscuity, by dispensing condoms and calling it, "safe sex." If someone is offended, that's OK.

I can even use this public facility to present the merits of killing an unborn baby as a "viable! means of birth control." If someone is offended, no problem...

I can designate a school day as "Earth Day" and involve students in activities to worship religiously and praise the goddess "Mother Earth" and call it "ecology.."

I can use literature, videos and presentations in the classroom that depicts people with strong, traditional Christian convictions as "simple minded" and "ignorant" and call it "enlightenment.."

However, if anyone uses this facility to honor GOD and to ask HIM to Bless this event with safety and good sportsmanship, then Federal Case Law is violated.

This appears to be inconsistent at best, and at worst, diabolical.

Apparently, we are to be tolerant of everything and anyone, except GOD and HIS Commandments.

Nevertheless , as a school principal, I frequently ask staff and students to abide by rules with which they do not necessarily agree. For me to do otherwise would be inconsistent at best, and at worst, hypocritical... I suffer from that affliction enough unintentionally. I certainly do not need to add an intentional transgression.

For this reason, I shall "Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's," and refrain from praying at this time.

"However, if you feel inspired to honor, praise and thank GOD and ask HIM, in the name of JESUS, to Bless this event, please feel free to do so. As far as I know, that's not against the law----yet."

One by one, the people in the stands bowed their heads, held hands with one another and began to pray.

They prayed in the stands. They prayed in the team huddles. They prayed at the concession stand and they prayed in the Announcer's Box!

The only place they didn't pray was in the Supreme Court of the United States of America- the Seat of "Justice" in the "one nation, under GOD."

Somehow, Kingston, Tennessee Remembered what so many have forgotten. We are given the Freedom OF Religion, not the Freedom FROM Religion. Praise GOD that HIS remnant remains!

JESUS said, "If you are ashamed of ME before men, then I will be ashamed of you before MY FATHER.."

DEATH!!

DID YOU KNOW THESE FACTS?

I SURE DIDNT TILL NOW Death is certain but the Bible speaks about untimely death!

Make a personal reflection about this........

Very interesting, read until the end.......

It is written in the Bible (Galatians 6:7):

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: For whatsoever a man sow, that shall he also reap.

Here are some men and women who mocked God :

John Lennon (Singer):

Some years before, during his interview with an American Magazine, he said: Christianity will end, it will disappear. I do not have to argue about that. I am certain. Jesus was ok, but his subjects were too simple, today we are more famous than Him' (1966). Lennon, after saying that the Beatles were more famous than Jesus Christ, was shot six times.

Tancredo Neves (President of Brazil):

During the Presidential campaign, he said if he got 500,000 votes from his party, not even God would remove him from Presidency. Sure he got the votes, but he got sick a day before being made President, then he died.

Cazuza (Bi-sexual Brazilian composer, singer and poet):

During A show in Canecio ( Rio de Janeiro ), while smoking his cigarette, he puffed out some smoke into the air and said:'God, that's for you.' He died at the age of 32 of LUNG CANCER in a horrible manner.

The man who built the Titanic After the construction of Titanic, a reporter asked him how safe the Titanic would be. With an ironic tone he said: Not even God can sink it' The result: I think you all know what happened to the Titanic

Marilyn Monroe (Actress)

She was visited by Billy Graham during a presentation of a show.. He said the Spirit of God had sent him to preach to her. After hearing what the Preacher had to say, she said:
I don't need your Jesus'. A week later, she was found dead in her apartment

Bon Scott (Singer)

The ex-vocalist of the AC/DC. On one of his 1979 songs he sang: Don't stop me; I'm going down all the way, down the highway to hell'. On the 19th of February 1980, Bon Scott was found dead, he had been choked by his own vomit.

Campinas (IN 2005)

In Campinas , Brazil a group of friends, drunk, went to pick up a friend..... The mother accompanied her to the car and was so worried about the drunkenness of her friends and she said to the daughter holding her hand, who was already seated in the car:

My Daughter, Go With God And May He Protect You.' She responded: 'Only If He (God) Travels In The Trunk, Cause Inside Here......It's Already Full ' Hours later, news came by that they had been involved in a fatal accident, everyone had died, the car could not be recognized what type of car it had been, but surprisingly, the trunk was intact.

The police said there was no way the trunk could have remained intact. To their surprise, inside the trunk was a crate of eggs, none was broken Christine Hewitt

(Jamaican Journalist and entertainer)

Said the Bible (Word of God) was the worst book ever written. In June 2006 she was found burnt beyond recognition in her motor vehicle.

Many more important people have forgotten that there is no other name that was given so much authority as the name of Jesus.

Many have died, but only Jesus died and rose again, and he is still alive.

Jesus said 'If you are embarrassed about me, I will also be embarrassed about you before my father.

I'M TOLD THIS WORKS!!!!!

Bishop T.D. Jakes '8 Second Prayer..' Just repeat this prayer and see how God moves!!

Lord, I love you and I need you, come into my heart, and bless me, my family, my home, and my friends, in Jesus' name. Amen.

I Hope that you don't ignore and let God bless you.

From time to time we find that "life is not always fair but that's life". We need to know how to deal with what life sends our way.

WHAT IS LIFE?

Life is a gift.....................................ACCEPT IT.

Life is an adventure........................DARE IT.

Life is a mystery..............................UNFOLD IT.

Life is a game..................................PLAY IT.

Life is a struggle..............................FACE IT.

Life is beauty...................................PRAISE IT.

Life is a puzzle.................................SOLVE IT.

Life is opportunity............................TAKE IT.

Life is sorrowful.................................EXPERIENCE IT.

Life is a song....................................SING IT.

Life is a goal.....................................ACHIEVE IT.

Life is a mission................................FULFIL IT.

David McNally from 'Even Eagles Need a Push', it is wonderful to know that despite the above, there are some core truths which make life worthwhile and meaningful.

CORE TRUTHS

In God's economy, nothing that happens to you is ever wasted.

Planning, organization, and maintenance can help make your hard times easier.

Relationships - with God and with others - are the most important treasures you can stock up in your life.

Time is short. Do not put off doing what you know to do.

God can use even your negative experiences for His good purposes.

Do not worry! When you open your hands in need - even if you've neglected to prepare - God will not let you down.

Enile Barnes from 'A Different Kind of Miracle'.

Life is so wonderful and precious. I praise God for life's experiences that He can use to mould us into the people He would have us be. We however need to be willing to walk with Him, talk with Him and give Him authority to work in our lives. He will always work for our good and not for harm. He is a mighty and loving Father.

I love my garden. Every year I plant flowers for spring and summer. I so enjoy tending my garden and enjoying to variety of shape and Colour in the flowers and plants. God's imagination and creativity is incredible. Just last year I planted some vegetables and herbs. The following is a wonderful garden to plant.

Plant three rows of peas:

Peace of mind
Peace of heart
Peace of soul.

Plant four rows of squash:

Squash gossip
Squash indifference
Squash grumbling
Squash selfishness.

Plant four rows of lettuce:

Lettuce be faithful
Lettuce be kind
Lettuce be obedient
Lettuce really love one another.

No garden is complete without turnips:

Turnip for meetings
Turnip for service
Turnip to help one another.

Water freely with patience and Cultivate with love.

There is much fruit in your garden

To conclude our garden we must have thyme:

Thyme for reflection
Thyme for study
Thyme for prayer.

I like the ideas of this type of garden - what a beautiful life it will grow if we but follow the advice.

Enjoy the beauty of your garden.

This is good advice. We know that we are a work-in-progress, that it is important to seek to be the best we can be, but we also need to not demand too much of ourselves.

Steps to Happiness

Everybody Knows:

You can't be all things to all people.
You can't do all things at once.
You can't do all things equally well.
You can't do all things better than everyone else.
Your humanity is showing just like everyone else's

So:

You have to find out who you are, and be that.
You have to decide what comes first, and do that.
You have to discover your strengths, and use them.
You have to learn not to compete with others,
Because no one else is in the contest of "being you".

Then:

You will have learned to accept your own uniqueness.
You will have learned to set priorities and make decisions.
You will have learned to live with your limitations.
You will have learned to give yourself the respect that is due.
And you will be a most vital mortal.

Dare To Believe:

That you are a wonderful, unique person.
That you are a once-in-all-history event.
That it is more than a right, it's your duty, to be who you are.
That life is not a problem to solve, but a gift to cherish.
And we'll be able to stay one up on what used to get to us.

May God bless you and keep you safe.

A Birth Certificate shows that we were born.

A Death Certificate shows that we died.

Pictures show that we lived!

Have a seat . . . Relax . . . And read this slowly...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I Believe....

That just because two people argue, that doesn't mean they don't love each other.
And just because they don't argue, that doesn't mean they do love each other.

I Believe...

That sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.

I Believe...

That we don't have to change friends if we understand that friends change..

I Believe...

That no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.

I Believe...

That true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love.

I Believe...

That you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.

I Believe...

That it's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.

I Believe...

That you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.

I Believe...

That you can keep going long after you think you can't.

I Believe...

That we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.

I Believe...

That either you control your attitude or it controls you.

I Believe...

That heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.

I Believe...

That money is a lousy way of keeping score.

I Believe....

That my best friend and I can do anything, or nothing, and have the best time.

I Believe...

That sometimes the people you expect to kick you When you're down will be the ones to help you get back up.

I Believe...

That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had, and what you've learned from them...and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated.

I Believe...

That it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes, you have to learn to forgive yourself.

I Believe...

That no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop for your grief.

I Believe...

That our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.

I Believe...

That you shouldn't be so eager to find out a secret. It could change your life forever.

I Believe....

Two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.

I Believe...

That your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don't even know you.

I Believe...

That even when you think you have no more to give, if A friend cries out to you...you will find the strength to help.

I Believe...

That credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.

I Believe....

That the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.

I Believe...

The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; They just make the most of everything.

For all the wonderful people who help us throughout the journey of life...

God Bless You!

When changes happen in our lives,
what really matters is that we
try our best to deal
with the situation.

If we make an effort
towards working things out,
then we give ourselves the opportunity
to decide our fate and make choices
about which way our futures may lead us.

Being happy and content doesn't mean
living in a world of perfect harmony;
rather, it means that you
allow yourself to flow with
the music that plays in your life.

Enjoy the different melodies
of each unique day.

Be flexible and easygoing;
you'll be surprised at how much
better you feel when you don't try
to control everything.

But also be ready to make choices
and follow through on them,
because they are the decisions
that will influence all aspects
of your life.

Always remember that positive thinking
allows the songs in your heart
to make beautiful sounds for
everyone to enjoy.

Laughter is good Medicine and it doesn't have any nasty side effects.

For Lexophiles (lovers of words)

A bicycle can't stand alone because it is two-tired.

What's the definition of a will? (It's a dead giveaway.)

Time flies like an arrow -- Fruit flies like a banana.

A backward poet writes inverse.

In a democracy, it's your vote that counts; In feudalism, it's Your count that votes.

If you don't pay your exorcist you get repossessed.

With her marriage she got a new name and a dress.

Show me a piano falling down a mine shaft and I'll show you A-flat minor.

When a clock is hungry it goes back four seconds.

The man who fell into an upholstery machine is fully recovered.

A grenade thrown into a kitchen in France would result in Linoleum blown apart.

You feel stuck with your debt if you can't budge it.

He often broke into song because he couldn't find the key.

A lot of money is tainted. 'Taint yours and 'taint mine.

A boiled egg in the morning is hard to beat.

He had a photographic memory that was never developed.

The short fortune teller who escaped from prison was a small Medium at large.

Those who get too big for their britches will be exposed in The end.

When you've seen one shopping Centre you've seen a mall.

Bakers trade bread recipes on a knead to know basis.

Santa's helpers are subordinate clauses.

Acupuncture is a jab well done.

Marathon runners with bad footwear suffer the agony of defeat.

An optometrist fell into a lens grinding machine and made a Spectacle of himself.

Truly Moving - A must See

Copy and paste the link below into your web browser and Please keep your speakers ON.

http://www.teachermovie.com

i really enjoyed this story. I hope you enjoy it too.

The pickle jar, as far back as I can remember sat on the floor beside the dresser in my parents' bedroom.

When he got ready for bed, Dad would empty his pockets and toss his coins into the jar. As a small boy I was always fascinated at the sounds the coins made as they were dropped into the jar. They landed with a merry jingle when the jar was almost empty, then the tones gradually muted to a dull thud as the jar was filled.

I used to squat on the floor in front of the jar and admire the copper and silver circles that glinted like a pirate's treasure when the sun poured through the bedroom window. When the jar was filled, we would sit at the kitchen table and roll the coins before taking them to the bank.

Taking the coins to the bank was always a big production. Stacked neatly in a small cardboard box, the coins were placed between Dad and me on the seat of his old truck.

Each and every time, as we drove to the bank, Dad would look at me hopefully. "Those coins are going to keep you out of the textile mill, son. You're going to do better than me. This old mill town's not going to hold you back."

Each and every time as he slid the box of coins across the counter toward the teller at the bank, he would grin proudly and say "These are for my son's college fund. He'll never work at the mill all his life like me."

We would always celebrate each deposit by stopping for an ice-cream cone. I always got chocolate. Dad always got vanilla. When Dad got his change, he would show me the few coins nestled in his palm. "When we get home, we'll start filling the jar again." He always let me drop the first coins into the empty jar. As they rattled around with a brief, happy jingle, we grinned at each other. "You'll get to college on loose change," he said "but you'll get there. I'll see to that."

The years passed, and I finished college and took a job in another town. Once, while visiting my parents, I used the phone in their bedroom, and noticed that the pickle jar was gone. It had served its purpose and had been removed. A lump rose in my throat as I stared at the spot beside the dresser where the jar had always stood.

My Dad was a man of few words, and never lectured me on the values of determination, perseverance and faith. The pickle jar taught me all these virtues far more eloquently than the most flowery of words could have done.

When I married, I told my wife Susan about the significant part the lowly pickle jar had played in my life as a boy. In my mind, it defined, more than anything else, how much my Dad had loved me. No matter how rough things got at home, Dad continued to doggedly drop his coins into the jar.

Even the summer when Dad got laid off from the mill, and Mum had to serve dried beans several times a week, not a single dime was taken from the jar. To the contrary, as Dad looked cross the table at me, pouring catsup over my beans to make them more palatable, he became more determined than ever to make a way out for me. "When you finish college, you'll never have to eat beans again - unless you want to."

The first Christmas after our daughter was born, we spent the holiday with my parents. My wife had occasion to enter my parent's bedroom after dinner one night. She came to get me.

To my amazement, there, as if it had never been removed, stood the old pickle jar, the bottom already covered with coins. I walked over to the pickle jar, dug down into my pocket, and pulled out a fistful of coins. With a gamut of emotions choking me, I dropped the coins into the jar. I looked up and saw that Dad, carrying my daughter, had slipped quietly into the room. Our eyes locked, and I knew he was feeling the same emotions I felt. Neither one of us could speak.

This truly touched my heart. I know it has yours as well.

Sometimes we are so busy adding up our troubles that we forget to count our blessings.

Never underestimate the power of your actions. With one small gesture you can change a person's life, for better or for worse.

God puts us all in each other's lives to impact one another in some way.

Look for God in others.

"the best and most beautiful things cannot be seen or touched - they must be felt with the heart." Helen Keller.

Happy moments - praise God

Difficult moments - seek God

Quiet moments - worship God

Painful moments - trust God

Every moment - thank God.

Some of you reading this are probably a lot younger than me and do not remember this happening in your home when you were a child.

As I read this it brought memories flooding back of my Mum washing out plastic bags to reuse, and left-overs put in the fridge to reheat for breakfast the next morning.

My Father resoling shoes and he'd buy a new element for the electric jug when the one in it wore out.

My parents went through the depression then World War II, so learnt to be very careful to look after things and to not waste.

I grew up with practical parents - a Mother, God love her, who washed aluminium foil after she cooked in it, then reused it. She was the original recycle queen, before they had a name for it....

A Father who was happier getting old shoes fixed than buying new ones.

Their marriage was good, their dreams focused. Their best friends lived barely a wave away. I can see them now.

It was the time for fixing things - a curtain rod, screen door, the oven door, the hem of a dress. Things we keep.

It was a way of life, and sometimes it made me crazy.

All that re-fixing, reheating, renewing, I wanted just once to be wasteful.

Waste meant affluence. Throwing things away meant you knew there's always be more.

But then my Mother died, and on that clear summer's night, in the warmth of the hospital room, I was struck with the pain of learning that sometimes there isn't any "more".

Sometimes, what we care about most gets all used up and goes away....never to return.

So....while we have it....it's best we love it....and care for it....and fix it when it's broken....and heal it when it's sick.

This is true....for marriage....and old cars....and children with bad report cards....and dogs with bad hips....and aging parents....and grandparents.

We keep them because they are worth it, because we are worth it.

Some things we keep.

Like a best friend who moved away - or - a class mate we grew up with.

There are just some things that make life important, like people we know who are special....and so, we keep them close.

Today some things are not made to fix, you can't, even if you wanted to.

It's throw-away and get another one.

Times have changed, but hopefully not our attitudes in relation to people.

Tonight I watched one of the current affairs programs after the news and heard about a preschool child's parents being told their child is obese. The child did not appear to be so at all.

The concern is, what messages are being sent to that child, if at age four judgements are being made on how she looks.

Recently I read an article regarding the world's obsession with how people look and the danger of judging a person's worth depending on outward appearance.

I came across the following Beauty Tips which are far more important to instil in our children.

* For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.

*For beautiful eyes, look for the good in other people.

* To lose weight, let go of stress, hatred, anger, discontentment and the need to control others.

* To improve your ears, listen to the Word of God.

* Rather than focus on the thorns of life (or the "imperfections" of one's body), smell the roses and count your blessings, giving thanks for each one of them.

* For poise, walk with knowledge and self-esteem.

* To strengthn you arms, hug at least 3 people a day; touch someone with your love.

* To strengthn your heart, forgive yourself and others.

* Don't worry and hurry so much. Rather than walk this earth lightly, walk firmly with determination and leave your mark.

* For the ultimate in business, casual or evening attire, put on the robe of Christ; it fits like a glove but allows room for growth. Best of all, it never goes out of style and is appropriate for any occasion.

* Doing these things on a daily basis will certainly make you a more beautiful person.

Addendum - 1 Peter 3-4 (NLT)

"You should be known for the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God."

A beautiful spirit is reflected in the face and the whole person.

A Winner says, "Let's find out" A Loser says "Nobody knows".

When a Winner makes a mistake he says "I was wrong". When a Loser makes a mistake he says "it wasn't my fault".

A Winner makes a commitment. A Loser makes a promise.

A Winner goes through a problem. A Loser goes around and never gets past it.

A Winner says "I'm good but not as good as I ought to be", a Loser says "I'm not as bad as a lot of other people."

A Winner tries to learn from those who are superior to themselves. A Loser tries to tear down those who are superior to themselves.

A Winner says "There ought to be a better way to do it", A Loser says "That's the way it's always been done before."

It is almost daily that I am amazed at how God works in our lives - if you look you can see His work even in the small things: that misplaced item that you prayed about has now been found; a solution to that problem; a fellow worker blesses you; the answer to a prayer that was not what you expected; but in hindsight it was the best answer and so on.

God is so good and faithful and a miracle worker as we see in this story.

My Mother's father worked as a carpenter. On this particular day, he was building some crates for the clothes his church was sending to some orphanage in China.

On his was home, he reached into his shirt pocket to find his glasses, but they were gone.

When he mentally replayed his earlier actions, he realised what happened; the glasses has slipped out of his pocket unnoticed and fallen into one of the crates, which he had nailed shut. His brand new glasses were heading for China!

The Great Depression was at it's height and Grandpa had six children. He had spent $20 for those glasses thaat very morning. He was upset by the thought of having to buy another pair.

"It's not fair," he told God as he drove home in frustration. "I've been very faithful in giving of my time and money to Your work, and now this."

Several months later, the director of the orphanagae was on furlough in the United States. He wanted to visit all the churches that supported him in China, so he came to speak one Sunday at my grandfather's small church in Chicago.

The missionary began by thanking the people for their faithfulness in supporting the orphanage. "But most of all," he said, "I must thank you for the glasses you sent last year."

"You see, the Communists had just swept through the orphanage, destroying everything, including my glasses. I was desperate."

"Even if I had the money, there was simply no way of replacing those glasses. Along with not being able to see well, I experienced headaches every day, so my co-worker and I were much in prayer about this. Then your crates arrived. When my staff removed the covers, they found a pair of glasses lying on top."

The missionary paused long enough to let his words sink in.

Then, still gripped with the wonder of it all, he continued: "Folks, when I tried on the glasses, it was as though they had been custom-made just for me! I want to thank you for being a part of that."

The people listened, happy for the miraculous glasses. But the missionary surely must have confused their church with another, they thought.

There were no glasses on their list of items to be sent overseas. But sitting quietly in the back, with tears streaming down his face, an ordinary carpenter realised the Master Carpenter had used him in an extraordinary way.

Isn't that an amazing story? You know sometimes we can bless someone and not even be aware of it.

Isn't that great?!!

Life is wonderful.

I received this email from a friend. I would like to share it as it relates to coffee.

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor.

Conversation turned into complaints about stress in work and life.

Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups - porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite - telling them to help themselves to the coffee.

When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said: "If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones.

While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress.

What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups and were eyeing each other's cups.

Now consider this:

Life is the coffee, and the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life and do not change the quality of Life.

Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee."

So, don't let the cups drive you, enjoy the coffee instead.

This week we were privileged to be addressed by Pastor Hong Seng from Full Gospel Tabernacle, Malaysia. I thoughtly enjoyed his sessions.

I would like to pass on to you information from one of his talks.

He spoke to us about kindness and while we have heard of the need to be kind many times, it is sometimes very timely when it is spoken into our lives again.

Proverbs 19:22 "What is desired in a man is kindness. And a poor man is better than a liar."

Six Characteristics of a kind person:

1. Be Sensitive - Philippians 2:4 "Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others."

2. Be Supportive - Speak kindly. Proverbs 15:4 "a wholesome tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit."

Proverbs 10:32 "kind people don't embarrass others."

Proverbs 10:32 (NLT) "the godly speak words that are helpful, but the wicked speak only what is corrupt."

3. Be Sympathetic - Romans 12:15 (New King James Version) "Rejoice with those who rejoice, and week with those who weep."

4. Be Straightforward - Proverbs 27:6 (New King James Version) "Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful."

5. Be Spontaneous - Gal 6:10 (New King James Version) "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially those who are of the household of faith."

The two greatest enemies of kindness are apathy and busyness.

6. Be Silent - Proverbs 10:19 (New King James Version) "In the multitude of words sin is not lacking. But he who restrains his lips is wise."

Action Points:

1. Don't be suspicious

2. Be kind to someone this week

3. Start a kindness conspiracy

One of the most important points to remember is that we need to start with being kind to those we love.

It is sometimes easy to be kind to the girl on the check-out, or the person we work with, but because of familiarity, we forget to be kind to those who are closest to us.

Life is so busy these days. We always seem to have so much that we need to do. Every now and then we need a reminder, like the story below, that we should take time to think, take time to be with loved ones and to take time with God.

Enjoy.

A young and successful executive was travelling down a neighbourhood street, going a bit too fast in his new Jaguar.

He was watching for kids darting out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw something.

As his car passed, no children appeared. Instead, a brick smashed into the Jag's side door!

He slammed on the brakes and spun the Jag back to the spot from where the brick had been thrown.

He jumped out of the car, grabbed some kid and pushed him up against a parked car shouting, "What was that all about and who are you? Just what do you think you're doing?"

Building up a head of steam he went on. "that's a new car and that brick you threw caused a lot of damage that will cost a lot of money to repair. Why did you do it?"

"Please, mister, please. I'm sorry, I didn't know what else to do," pleased the youngster. "I threw the brick because no one else would stop,,,," Tears were dripping down the boy's chin as he pointed around the parked car.

"It's my brother," he said. "He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheel chair and I can't lift him up."

Sobbing, the boy asked the executive, "Would you please help me get him back into his wheel chair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me."

Moved beyond words, the driver tried to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. He lifted the young man back into the wheel chair and took out his handkerchief and wiped the scrapes and cuts, checking to see that everything was going to be okay.

"Thank you and may God bless you," the grateful child said to him.

The man then watched the little boy push his brother down the sidewalk toward their home. It was a long walk back to his Jaguar....a long, slow walk.

He never did repair the side door. He kept the dent to remind him not to go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to get your attention.

God whispers in your soul and speaks to your heart. Sometimes when you don't have time to listen, He has to throw a brick at you.

It's your choice:

Listen to the whisper....or wait for the brick.

I have a number of stories which teach us important lessons.

1. First Important Lesson -

Cleaning Lady

During my second month in college, our professor gave us a quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions until I read the last one:

"What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?"

Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50's, but how would I know her name?

I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade.

"Absolutely," said the professor. "In your careers, you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say "hello."

I have never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy.

I have a number of stores which teach us important lessons.

2. Second Important Lesson -

The Obstacle in Our Path:

In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock.

Some of the King's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it.

Many loudly blamed the King for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way.

Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon appraching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded.

After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the King indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway.

The peasant learned what many of us never understand!

Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition.

I have a number of stores which teach us important lessons.

3..Third Important Lesson -

Giving When It Counts

Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz. She was suffering from a rare and serious disease.

Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her 5 year old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness.

The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the little boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister.

I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, "Yes, I'll do it if it will save her."

As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the colour returning to her cheek.

Then his face grew pale and his smile faded. He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, "Will I start to die right away?"

Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the doctor: he thought he was going to have to give his sister all of his blood in order to save her.

I have a number of stores which teach us important lessons.

4. Fourth Important Lesson -

Pickup in the rain:

One night, at 11.30pm, an older African American woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway trying to endure a lashing rainstorm.

Her car had broken down and she desperately needed a ride. Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car.

A young white man stopped to help her, generally unheard of in these conflict-filled 60's. The man took her to safety, helped her get assistance and put her into a taxicab.

She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down his address and thanked him.

Seven days went by and a knock cam to his door. To his surprise, a giant console colour TV was delivered to his home.

A special note was attached. It read:

"Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night. The rain drenched not only my clothes, but also my spirits. Then you came along. Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying husband's bedside just before he passed away. God bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving others."

I held in my hands two boxes
which God gave me to hold,
He said "Put all your sorrows in the black,
and all your joys in the gold".

I heeded His words, and in the two
my sorrows and joys I stored,
but though the gold became fuller each day,
the black was a light as before.

Curious, I opened the black box,
as I wanted to find out why,
and I saw in the base of the box a hole
which my sorrows had fallen out by.

I showed the hole to God, and mused,
"I wonder where my sorrows could be".
He smiled a gentle smile and said,
"My child, they're all here with me".

I asked, "god, why give me the boxes,
Why the gold, and the black with the hole?"
He said, "The gold is to count your blessings,
and the black is for you to let go".

As I faced my Maker at the last judgement, I knelt before the Lord along with the other souls.

Before each of us laid our lives, like the squares of a quilt, in many piles. An Angel sat before each of us sewing our quilt squares together into a tapestry that is our life.

But, as my Angel took each piece of cloth off the pile, I noticed how ragged and empty each of my squares was.

They were filled with giant holes. Each square was labelled with a part of my life that had been difficult, the challenges and temptations I was faced with in everyday life. I saw hardships that I had endured, which were the largest holes of all.

I glanced around me. Nobody else had such squares. Other than a tiny hole here and there, the other tapestries were filled with rich colour and the bright hues of worldly fortune.

I gazed upon my own life and was disheartened. My Angel was sewing the ragged pieces of cloth together, threadbare and empty, like binding air.

Finally the time came when each life was to be displayed, held up to the light, the scrutiny of truth. The others rose, each in turn, holding up their tapestries. So filled their lives had been.

My Angel looked upon me, and nodded for me to rise. My gaze dropped to the ground in shame.

I hadn't had all the earthly fortunes, I had love in my life, and laughter.

But there had also been trials of illness and death, and false accusations that took from me my world as I knew it. I had to start over many times.

I often struggled with the temptation to quit, only to somehow muster the strength to pick up and begin again.

I had spent many nights on my knees in prayer, asking for help and guidance in my life. I had often been held up to ridicule, which I endured painfully; each time offering it up the the Father in hopes that I would not melt within my skin beneath the judgemental gaze of those who unfairly judged me.

And now, I had to face the truth. My life was what it was, and I had to accept it for what it had been.

I rose and slowly lifted the combined squares of my life to the light.

An awe-filled gasp filled the air. I gazed around at the others who stared at me with eyes wide.

Then, I looked upon the tapestry before me. Light flooded the many holes, creating an image. The face of Christ. Then our Lord stood before me, with warmth and love in His eyes.

He said, "Every time you gave over your life to Me, it became My life, My hardships, and My struggles. Each point of light in your life is when you stepped aside and let Me shine through, until there was more of Me than there was of you".

May all our quilts be threadbare and warn, allowing Christ to shine through.

The key to love is understanding...
The ability to comprehend not only the spoken word,
but those unspoken gestures,
the little things that say so much by themselves.

The key to love is forgiveness...
to accept each others faults and pardon mistakes,
without forgetting, but with remembering
what you learn from them.

The key to love is sharing...
Facing your good fortunes as well as the bad, together;
both conquering problems, forever searching for ways
to intensify your happiness.

The key to love is giving...
without thought of return,
but with the hope of just a simple smile,
and by giving in but never giving up.

The key to love is respect...
realising that you are two separate people, with different ideas;
that you don't belong to each other,
that you belong with each other, and share a mutual bond.

The key to love is inside us all...
It takes time and patience to unlock all the ingredients
that will take you to its threshold;
it is the continual learning process that demands a lot of work...
but the rewards are more than worth the effort...
and that is the key to love.

'Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.'

A sharp tongue can cut your own throat.

If you want your dreams to come true, you mustn't oversleep.

Of all the things you wear, your expression is the most important.

The best vitamin for making friends..... B1.

The happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts.

The heaviest thing you can carry is a grudge.

One thing you can give and still keep...is your word.

You lie the loudest when you lie to yourself.
.
If you lack the courage to start, you have already finished.

One thing you can't recycle is wasted time.

Ideas won't work unless ' You' do..

Your mind is like a parachute...it functions only when open..

The 10 commandments are not a multiple choice.

The pursuit of happiness is the chase of a lifetime!

It is never too late to become what you might have been.

Life is too short to wake up with regrets.

So love the people who treat you right.. Forget about the one's who don't.

Believe everything happens for a reason.

If you get a second chance, grab it with both hands.

If it changes your life, let it.

Nobody said life would be easy, they just promised it would be worth it.

Friends are like balloons; once you let them go, you might not get them back.

Sometimes we get so busy with our own lives and problems that we may not even notice that we've let them fly away.

Sometimes we are so caught up in who's right and who's wrong that we forget what's right and wrong.

Sometimes we just don't realize what real friendship means until it is too late.

I don't want to let that happen so I'm gonna tie you to my heart so I never lose you.

This is a great story, but I must say that What happened here may not be the result For some people. I want to encourage All to have a hope and a vision for Their lives. When we have hope, much Can be achieved.

A Miracle Of Miracles:

Realizing An Impossible Dream

"So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then They seem improbable, and then, when we summon the Will, they soon become inevitable." Christopher Reeve

Recently, for the first time in five years I simply went out Back, put my cane down, and started walking. I made it 42 Yards.

Today I walked five miles. My medical team had said this would be impossible. My Brain could no longer send the signals for walking because Those nerves in my spinal cord had been destroyed. Though Certainly unintentional, my doctors did take something very Important away from me: hope.

A while back, a psychologist pal of mine urged me to try To help myself.

I was angry. I said, "They're four of Boston's Leading neurologists. They all said I'd never get any better."

"They could have all been wrong."

"They said there's nothing I can do! No rehabilitation. No Physical therapy. I'm not putting any effort into trying to Walk and then be miserable when I fail."

"Trying is never failure."

I'd get steaming mad at people like her. What did they Know? They came out in droves. I heard various things I Should try: a soy-based diet, massage, yoga, acupuncture, Positive thinking. All of these well-meaning non-experts believed That traditional medical doctors do not know everything About human potential.

However, there was a common denominator in my friends' Advice. And that was the word, "Try."

What made me finally try?

The answer is simpler than I'd Have ever imagined. That day I tried walking on my own, I Had simply said to myself, "Why not?"

When I walk I have a Frankenstein-style gait. I get embarrassed So I explain. I met a gal who said, "Stop excusing Yourself. Walk proud!"

She's just one of the many who've Taught me that if I open my heart to acceptance, the world Is filled with support teams.

I've also resolved to open my obstinate mind and really Listen to others, experts or not.

This not only fosters my Own sometimes-frail belief in my abilities; it fosters faith In miracles.

One morning my husband, Bob, said there was a huge Present for me in our driveway.

He had researched "bicycles For disabled people." It was a 300 pound cycle for two. The Seats were side by side. He could pedal while I sat by him And enjoyed the outdoors again.

Um . . . Did I mention it came assembled with a set of Pedals for me too?

Now, hundreds of miles later, after exhaustive hours of Pedalling along beautiful bike trails, I only wish that we Owned stock in Ben-Gay.

Bob needs a tube a day to keep up with me.

Last week he repeated, "There's a huge present in our Driveway." He led me outside. "Viola!" he said. "Oh no," I moaned. Bob dubbed it "The One-Woman Dynamo Power Bike."

"Sweetheart? You know I can't bike on my own."

He laughed sweetly. "I know. And you can't walk either.

Then why does the pedometer I bought you have 74 miles On it?"

And so, I made a now often repeated declaration that I Am praying others will say to themselves as well. "Yes. I Can."

Think I love my bike? You bet. Think I love Bob? Of course.

Think I love life again after cloistering myself in a self imposed No-can-do closet?

Goodness! You have to ask?

How do we find hope when hope seems impossible?

Do we Simply believe in our hearts, our minds and our very souls That we can beat the odds?

Yes.

Christopher Reeve said, "When we have hope, we discover Powers within ourselves we may have never known. Once We choose hope, everything is possible."

His immutable words still ring in my heart and I so hope They will in everyone else's: "And you don't have to be a 'Superman' to do it." ~ Saralee Perel ~

And so, Lord, where do I put my hope?

My only hope is In You. Psalm 39:7

Without wavering, let us hold tightly to the hope we say We have, for God can be trusted to keep His promise. Hebrews 10:23

Hope in the LORD; for with the LORD there is unfailing Love and an overflowing supply of salvation. Psalm 103:7

Faith, hope and love. Sometimes - second Chances. Savour the chocolate. Enjoy the coffee.

Don't Look back. Have a greater purpose. More ice-cream and dark Chocolate.

Keep pedalling. Be happy. God looks at the heart, He knows your worth. Think of the coffee.

Attitude is everything. Know the 'joy', share the 'joy'. Listen to the prompting.

Set for life on the inside. Enjoy God's beautiful gifts. Just put it out there. You and God. Hope and vision.