Category Archives: Uncategorized

How to be Happy

Posted on by
Reply
flower dahlia

 “STOP and smell the FLOWERS” along the way.

  1. Keep playing. We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing.
  2. You have to laugh and find humor every day.
  3. You’ve got 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!
  4. Be productive. There is a huge 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-nine years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything you 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 opportunity in change. REMEMBER, GROWING OLDER IS MANDATORY. GROWING UP IS OPTIONAL. 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.
  5. Give of yourself: your time and resources. We make a Living by what we get, We make a Life by what we give. And we have happiness and joy when we give.
  6. “STOP and smell the FLOWERS” along the way. Llve your life with a deeper appreciation of the world. Slow down and notice the little things that make life worthwhile. Despite a busy life, it is important to know how to be present in the moment; otherwise those moments will pass you by.

THE STONE AND THE FLOWER

Posted on by
Reply

"The eye that mocks a father, that scorns an aged mother, will be pecked out by the ravens of the valley, will be eaten by the vultures.(Proverbs 30:17 N.I.V)

Most parents labor in obscurity because invisibility of effort is simply an unrewarding condition of parental life. In fact, because they are frequently ignored, discounted, tolerated, criticized, resented, and resisted especially by their adolescents, parents often feel treated as people to put up with, not care-givers who are sacrificing self-interest on a daily basis to help their son or daughter grow.

Teachers and other caregivers are similarly unappreciated.

One struggling mother tired of her daughter asking whether she could not be dressed more fashionably, told her the parable of the Stone and the Flower.

 

 

THE STONE AND THE FLOWER

“You have hardened”, said the flower, bending her petals downward toward the half stone at her roots. “These rains should have softened you, made you more fertile and receptive to the seeds of the fields; but no. You have accumulated minerals and have become more silent and full of calcium. Why do you stay here? Why do you resist the brook that gives us water?”

The stone said nothing.

A number of clouds passed by, the sun set and the night arrived with an immense bronze-colored freckled moon with acne scars upon her worn face and in this manner reflected down upon the silent stone which still had not fallen asleep. The flower, by now, had tucked-in her petals and slept profoundly, and at this time the stone began to answer:

“I stay here because your roots have made me yours. I stay here because it is no longer about my feeling the earth rather because I have become part of that which functions as a support of your stem which resists the wind and the rain. Everything changes, my sweet flower”, said the stone, “but I stay here because love is that microscopic space between your feet and my salted skin. You would only be able to feel it if destiny were ever to separate the two of us.”

The moon followed the fade of the stars. Dawn gave a yawn as the sun began to burn its horizon on the lower lip of the mouth of a new day. The flower awoke and extended her beautiful petals. “Good morning”, she said, “I dreamt that you were singing to me. How foolish of me, don’t you think?”

As for you, remember to appreciate your parents, teachers and all your caregivers and tell them:

“THANKS FOR ALL THE ACTS OF CARE, GREAT AND MOSTLY SMALL, THAT YOU MADE TO HELP ME GROW.”

The Positive Side of Life

Posted on by
Reply

The Positive Side of Life

  • 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 bathroom 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?
  • Most of us go to our grave with our music still inside of us.
  • You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person.
  • 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 colors….but they all exist very nicely in the same box.
  • A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.

Have an awesome day, and know that someone who thinks you’re great has thought about you today!

Building Bridges

Posted on by
Reply

Once upon a time two brothers who lived on adjoining farms …

People are lonely because they build walls instead of bridges

… fell into conflict. It was the first serious rift in 40 years of farming side by side, sharing machinery, and trading labor and goods as needed without a hitch.

Then the long collaboration fell apart. It began with a small misunderstanding and it grew into a major difference, and finally it exploded into an exchange of bitter words followed by weeks of silence.

One morning there was a knock on John’s door. He opened it to find a man with a carpenter’s toolbox. “I’m looking for a few days work” he said. “Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here and there I could help with? Could I help you?”

“Yes,” said the older brother. “I do have a job for you. Look across the creek at that farm. That’s my neighbor, in fact, it’s my younger brother. Last week there was a meadow between us and he took his bulldozer to the river levee and now there is a creek between us. Well, he may have done this to spite me, but I’ll go him one better. See that pile of lumber by the barn? I want you to build me a fence–an 8-foot fence–so I won’t need to see his place or his face anymore.”

The carpenter said, “I think I understand the situation. Show me the nails and the post hole digger and I’ll be able to do a job that pleases you.”

The older brother had to go to town, so he helped the carpenter get the materials ready and then he was off for the day. The carpenter worked hard all that day measuring, sawing, nailing.

About sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished his job. The farmer’s eyes opened wide, his jaw dropped. There was no fence there at all. It was a bridge–a bridge stretching from one side of the creek to the other! A fine piece of work handrails and all–and the neighbor, his younger brother, was coming across, his hand outstretched.

“You are quite a fellow to build this bridge after all I’ve said and done.” The two brothers stood at each end of the bridge, and then they met in the middle, taking each other’s hand. They turned to see the carpenter hoist his toolbox on his shoulder.

“No, wait! Stay a few days. I’ve a lot of other projects for you,” said the older brother.

“I’d love to stay on,” the carpenter said, “but, I have many more bridges to build.”

 

 

 

WHY GO TO CHURCH

Posted on by
Reply

He feeds my Soul

WHY GO TO CHURCH?

A  committed Christian wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to CHURCH.
‘I’ve gone for 30 years now, he wrote, and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons. But for the life of me, I can’t remember a single one of them. So, I think I’m wasting my time and the preachers are wasting theirs by giving services at all.. ”
This started a real controversy in the ‘Letters to the Editor’ column, much to the delight of the editor.. It went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher: I’ve been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But, for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals. But I do know this… They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today. Likewise, if I had not gone to the church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!”
Thank God for our physical AND our spiritual nourishment!

My Lord Jesus,

You gave me strength to carry on,
When my body was so torn.
And lifted me on wings of love,
When my spirit was so worn.

Through all the times in despair,
When I hung my head in shame.
You came to me when I knelt down,
As I called upon your name.

And when my heart was troubled,
With more heartache than I could bear.
You caught each and every tear I shed,
In a bottle you have up there.

And when I get to Heaven,
I’ll kneel before your feet.
You’ll wipe away all my tears,
For my soul is yours to keep.

The Way Ahead

Posted on by
1

“Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” Proverbs 16:3 (NIV)

What do you hope to achieve in the future, and how will you accomplish it? In order to make plans, you have first to establish your mission or purpose in life and then commit it to the Lord for guidance, strength, and all the resources you will require. When we commit our plans to Him, we lay the burden of our success on Him, in accordance to His divine will. That way we live in joy and contentment rather than anxiety and discouragement, because we know that whatever happens will be for the good.

God is the only one who can complete the good work He started in us (Philippians 1:6). We need to incorporate our faith in everything we do. Our greatest ambition should be to please God.

*****

Wise Quote
Four steps to achievement: Plan purposefully. Prepare prayerfully. Proceed positively. Pursue persistently.

William A. Ward

*****

DO YOU HAVE A VISION?

Posted on by
1

“Of the sons of Issachar, men who understood the times, with knowledge of what Israel should do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their kinsmen were at their command”

1 Chronicles 12:32 (NASB)

David had many warriors in his army, brave, loyal, experienced, and carrying all manner of weapons. But there was a distinctive characteristic for the sons of Issachar; they understood the times and knew what Israel should do.

Do you understand the times and what you should do? Knowledge and judgment is needed in making decisions. You need to have information on where you, your mission or job is in relation to what is happening in the world and the society around you. You also need a vision of where you are going or what you intend to achieve, and then you can plan the best course of action or strategy to take you there. Having a vision brings passion and energy to one’s cause and also motivates others towards a common goal.

The name Issachar means “His reward will come”. A reward could mean a return on investment, wages, compensation, etc. Whatever you do, for your service to God, or the world, work diligently and may you have a rich reward.