Who Am I ??

Who Am I ?? - Read on and Reflect on this beautiful Poem and Have a beautiful Sunday and a great year ahead.Wish you all A very Happy New Year and happiness always.

Who Am I?

While praying one day, a girl asked: "Who are you, Lord?"
He answered: "I Am",
"But who are you?" she said.
And He replied: "I Am Love, I Am peace,
I Am Grace, I Am Joy,
I Am the Way, Truth and the Light,
I Am the Comforter, I Am Strength,
I Am Safety, I Am Shelter,
I Am Power, I Am the Creator,
I Am the Beginning and the End,
I Am the Most High."
The girl with tears in her eyes looked towards heaven and said:
"Now I understand, but Lord, who Am I?"
Then GOD tenderly wiped the tears from her eyes and whispered:
"You Are Mine."

Blessings of New Year

Wish you all a Very Happy New Year 2012.....
Hours of happy times with friends and family,
Abundant time for relaxation,
Prosperity,
Plenty of love when you need it the most,
Youthful excitement at life's simple pleasures,
Nights of restful slumber,
Everything you need,
Wishing you love and light,

Years and years of good health,
Enjoyment and mirth,
Angels to watch over you,
Remembrances of a happy year!

A Bird asked a bee:

A Bird asked a bee:
Q : You work so hard, to get honey & people steal that from you.Dont u feel sad?
Bee replied:
Ans : No,because they can never steal my art of making honey!!!
"Be like a little Bee, small in size but big by heart"

Why complicate Life ? - Keep it simple

Why complicate Life ? - Keep it simple

My Hand in God's Hand

My Hand in God's Hand - Beautiful and simple Word's for Life's journey.Read On and Have a beautiful day.

My Hand in God's Hand

Each morning when I wake, I say,
"I place my hand in God's today!"
I know He'll walk close by my side
my every wandering step to guide.

He leads me with such tender care
when paths are dark and I despair,
no need for me to understand
if I but hold fast to His Hand.

My hand in His! No surer way
to walk in safety through each day.
By His great bounty I am fed!
Warmed by His love, and comforted.

When at day's end I seek my rest
and realize how much I am blessed,
My thanks pour out to Him, and then
I place my hand in God's again.

- Florence Scripps Kellogg

Grass..

You may think that the grass is greener on the other side. But if you take the time to water your own grass, it would be just as green.

In Silence...

In silence there is power, depth, beauty and strength. I can never be alone, for God dwells within me. Silently, my prayers go forth to bless a dear one, and silently, I meditate upon the joy within.Be silent, all people, before the Lord.--Zechariah 2:13

It is in the silence that God strengthens my faith and fills me with courage. In the silence are born new aspirations, new inspirations and renewed faith. In the silence, I walk and commune with the indwelling Spirit and rest in God’s sustaining love. Peace, be still. I am in the presence of the Almighty. In glorious wonderment I travel on holy ground.

The joy of brightening other lives...

The joy of brightening other lives, bearing others’ burdens, easing other’s loads and supplanting empty hearts and lives with generous gifts becomes for us the magic of Christmas.
Christmas is more than beauty...
It's more than carols and stars
Christmas is love,Joy, peace and goodwill
That dwell in your heart and mine
May Love, Joy, Peace and goodwill
..be your gift at Christmas
And may God shower you with blessings
all the New Year through !
Wish you all a Very Merry X'mas and a Very Happy New Year.

True Meaning of X'mas

True Meaning of X'mas - Very very beautiful & meaningful. The Old meaning of X'mas and what each decoration on the tree represents which we sometimes forget..Read on ......
Just a week before Christmas I had a visitor. This is how it happened. I 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 him.

The words choked in my throat, as I saw 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 there bewildered, Santa said, Teach the Children! Teach them the old meaning of Christmas. The meaning that a now-a-days Christmas has forgotten!

Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a FIR TREE and placed it on the mantle. Teach the Children that the pure green color 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 Savior for the world, and the star was the sign of fulfillment of that promise.

He then reached into the 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 then removed a WREATH and placed it on the tree. Teach the Children that the wreath symbolizes the eternal nature of love. Real love never ceases. Love is one continuous round of affection.

He then pulled out from his bag an ornament of HIMSELF. Teach the Children that Santa Claus symbolizes the generosity and good will we feel during the month of December.

He reached in again and pulled out a HOLLY LEAF. Teach the Children the holly plant represents immortality. It represents the crown of thorns worn by our Savior. The red holly berries represent blood shed by Him.

Next he pulled out a GIFT from the bag and said, "Teach the Children that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. 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 give gifts in the same spirit as 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 shepherd's staff helps bring back strayed sheep from 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 in the glorious news of the Savior's birth. The angels sang 'Glory to God in the highest, on earth, peace and good will.'

Suddenly I heard a soft twinkling sound, and from his bag he pulled out a BELL. Teach the Children that as the lost sheep are found by the sound of a bell, it should bring people to the fold. The bell symbolizes guidance and return.

Santa looked at the tree and was pleased. He looked back at me and I saw the twinkle was back in his eyes. He said, "Remember, teach the Children the true meaning of Christmas, and not to put me in the center, for I am but a humble servant of the One who is, and I bow down and worship Him, our Lord, our God."

The 5 W's of Life - Have a beautiful day

The 5 W's of Life - Have a beautiful day

The Pessimist and the Optimist

The Pessimist and the Optimist - A short and meaningful story.A family had twin boys whose only resemblance to each other was their looks. If one felt it was too hot, the other thought it was too cold. If one said the TV was too loud, the other claimed the volume needed to be turned up. Opposite in every way, one was an eternal optimist, the other a doom & gloom pessimist.

Just to see what would happen, on the twins’ birthday their father loaded the pessimist’s room with every imaginable toy and game. The optimist’s room he loaded with horse manure.

That night the father passed by the pessimist’s room and found him sitting amid his new gifts crying bitterly.

“Why are you crying?” the father asked.

“Because my friends will be jealous, I’ll have to read all these instructions before I can do anything with this stuff, I’ll constantly need batteries, and my toys will eventually get broken,” answered the pessimist twin.

Passing the optimist twin’s room, the father found him dancing for joy in the pile of manure. “What are you so happy about?” he asked.

To which his optimist twin replied, “There’s got to be a pony in here somewhere!”

Aspire to Inspire before you Expire

Aspire to Inspire before you Expire- Allowing yourself to become inspired and then sharing your thoughts, words and actions with others so that you inspire them in some way, is one of the ultimate fulfillments in this lifetime. We each came here with a gift to share and our responsibility is to uncover it with inspired guidance, allowing inspiration to help it unfold, and then taking inspired action to do it. Inspired living is spirit-driven whereas a usual lifestyle is ego-driven.
To sum up, It simply says to have the desire to arouse and positively influence an individual into action so that they fulfill their innermost desires before they die and leave this planet. And it also applies to you – allowing inspiration to flow through you so that you too experience an inspired life. As always, the choice is yours! Be the inspiration!!!!!!!!

Paid In Full

Paid In Full - Remember reading this beautiful story with a powerful message a few years ago.Read on...A young man was getting ready to graduate from college. For many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer's showroom, and knowing his father could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted.

As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited signs that his father had purchased the car. Finally, on the morning of his graduation, his father called him into his private study. His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine son, and told him how much he loved him. He handed his son a beautifully wrapped gift box. Curious, and somewhat disappointed, the young man opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible, with the young man's name embossed in gold.

Angry, he shouted at his father and said "with all your money, you give me a Bible?" and stormed out of the house.

Many years passed and the young man had become very successful in business. He had a beautiful home and wonderful family, but realized his father now was getting old, and thought perhaps he should go see him. He had not seen him since that graduation day. Before he could make arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father had passed away, and willed all of his possessions to his son. He needed to come home immediately and take care of things.

When he arrived at his father's house, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart. He began to search through his father's important papers and saw the still gift-wrapped Bible, just as he had left it years ago. With tears, he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. His father had carefully underlined a verse, Matt.7:11, "And if ye, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Heavenly Father which is in Heaven, give to those who ask Him?"

As he read those words, a car key dropped from the back of the Bible. It had a tag with the dealer's name, the same dealer who had the sports car he had wanted. On the tag was the date of his graduation, and the words PAID IN FULL.

How many times do we miss God's blessings because we can't see past our own desires? How many times do we miss God's blessings because they are not packaged as we expected?
By: Author Unknown

Be happy today and everyday.

Be happy today and everyday. Feel the joy in your heart and be grateful for all of your gifts in life. You are all safe and protected in this world. Let go and have faith in the knowledge that where you are at this very moment is by divine grace. Please have patience with yourself for all things will be revealed to you in time. Love is the only way for all and is in relationships with one another and your earth. Be kind to yourself for all is well. Release all negative thoughts and begin changing to positive ways. Forgive yourself for everyone is on a learning journey. All is forgiven and remember to forgive and love yourself for you are all from the grace of god and loved dearly.

Did you know?? The 12 Days of Christmas actually start Christmas NIGHT and continue thru Jan 5-7 (depending on what calendar is used)... Here is one rendition on what the religious symbolism is for the Twelve Days of Christmas: 1 True Love refers to God 2 Turtle Doves refers to the Old and New Testaments 3 French Hens refers to Faith, Hope and Charity, the Theological Virtues 4 Calling Birds refers to the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists 5 Golden Rings refers to the first Five Books of the Old Testament, the "Pentateuch", which gives the history of man's fall from grace. 6 Geese A-laying refers to the six days of creation 7 Swans A-swimming refers to the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments 8 Maids A-milking refers to the eight beatitudes 9 Ladies Dancing refers to the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit 10 Lords A-leaping refers to the ten commandments 11 Pipers Piping refers to the eleven faithful apostles 12 Drummers Drumming refers to the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle's Creed.

In God We Trust

In God We Trust - Read on this thought provoking story and have a wonderful day.A woman of modest means and her husband were invited to spend the weekend at the husband's employer's home. The boss was very wealthy, with an estate home and several cars costing more than the average house.

The woman delighted to experience first hand the life of the extremely wealthy. The boss indulged his guests both at home on his estate as well as out as exclusive dining establishments.

On one occasion as they were about to enter an exclusive restaurant, the boss was walking slightly ahead of them. He stopped suddenly, looking down on the pavement for a long, silent moment.

An awkward silence folllowed. There was nothing on the ground except a single darkened penny that someone had dropped, a few cigarette butts and assorted litter. Quietly, the rich man reached down and picked up the penny.

He held it up and smiled, then put it in his pocket as if he had found a great treasure. How absurd! What need did this man have of a single penny? Why would he even take the time to stop and pick it up?

Throughout dinner, the penny bothered her. Finally, she causally mentioned that her son once had a coin collection, and asked if the penny he had found had been rare.

A smile crept across the man's face as he reached into his pocket for the penny and held it out for her to see.

"Look at it." He said. "Read what it says." She read the words "United States of America."

"No, not that; read further."

"One cent?" "No, keep reading."

"In God we Trust?" "Yes!" "And?"

"And if I trust in God, the name of God is holy, even on a coin. Whenever I find a coin I see that inscription. It is written on every single United States coin, but we never seem to notice it!

God drops a message right in front of me telling me to trust Him? Who am I to pass it by?

When I see a coin, I pray, I stop to see if my trust IS in God at that moment. I pick the coin up as a response to God; that I do trust in Him. For a short time, at least, I cherish it as if it were gold. I think it is God's way of starting a conversation with me. Lucky for me, God is patient and pennies are plentiful!"

Give dignity & respect

Give dignity & respect
Love without hesitation
Share with those in need
Spread a positive message
Do it with no expectations

Farmer and Young son

A very meaningful message- Have a great day.A farmer & his young son went into the wheat fields at harvest time. As they looked across the waving fields of golden grain, the boy exclaimed, "Look, Father, at those wheat heads that hold themselves up so proudly. They must be the ones that are filled with grain, & I would suppose that those with their heads bowed are of no account."

"How foolish you are, my Son!" the farmer said, & taking some of the heads in his hands, he showed the boy that the heads that stood up so proudly had only a few, poor, shriveled grains or were complete empty, while those that bowed their heads humbly were filled with large, full, golden kernels of wheat.

The Desire for Air - Leaders create needs Vs waiting to be imposed on by a need.

The Desire for Air - Leaders create needs Vs waiting to be imposed on by a need.A story about Plato and Socrates, A really good read and worth it....Read on here..

Plato's mentor was Socrates. Plato thought Socrates was the wisest person of this time and he passionately desired to learn all of Socrates' wisdom.

Legend has it that one day Socrates and Plato were walking down the beach deep in conversation. At one point, Socrates said to Plato, "Walk with me into the ocean." They turned and walked into the sea together.

Now, in your imagination, picture that... happening: Student and teacher, two of the greatest philosophers of history, striding into the surf side by side.

The water started out around their ankles, then rose up to their knees. As the water got higher Plato wondered, "What is the lesson my master is trying to teach me?"

When the water was about shoulder height, Socrates abruptly grabbed Plato's head and pushed him down under the water. As Plato was held down, he undoubtedly wondered again what this lesson was all about.

After a time, when Plato ran out of air, he began to struggle to get his head above water. He punched and kicked and grabbed to get free, but Socrates was a strong man and held him down. Finally, Plato blacked out due to lack of oxygen. Socrates pulled him ashore and resuscitated him.

When Plato regained consciousness, he angrily accused Socrates of trying to drown him. Socrates matter-of factly explained, "If that had been my intention, I would not have pulled you ashore."

"Then why did you do that?" Plato demanded.

Socrates calmly replied, "When you desire my knowledge like you desired that breath of air, then you shall have it."

So many people desire things. They wish for a wildly romantic long lasting relationship, for financial independence, for fame, or to make a difference in other people's lives, but for most people, they do not desire it like Plato wanted that breath of air.

Only with a large hunger will you put up with the large discomfort and inconvenience required to be successful. This is the single biggest reason why people aren't more successful in life and work. They don't truly NEED it.

The answer is to first create the NEED, then you shall have it.This is a practical reason for thinking bigger. It is too easy to provide for yourself and even your family. You must go on a hunt to find something more or better that moves you.Open up to how awful it feels to not be able to read and how you can do something about it, and you will be compelled to take action.

Question: How bad do you want to achieve your goals? And what are you going to do in order to make that a reality?

TAKEAWAY!!!!!!!
Develop a hunger for something important. Challenge and test the people you are mentoring or who are your next layer of management or leadership.

Action Step #1

Pick something that truly matters to you that you desire. Visit it. Literally, spend time with that desire and recall all the specific reasons you want that. Share your desire and reasons with select family members and friends.

An Example

Let’s say you want a new home. Write down the tangible reasons (i.e. investment value, shorter commute, etc.), pleasure reasons (i.e. recreation, relaxation, etc.), and emotional reasons (i.e. how it will make you feel in terms of freedom, security, self-esteem, etc.).

Action Step #2

Pick prospective leaders from among your key business partners or teammates and give them a test. Individually, have them tackle an ongoing problem. Perhaps it is a negative person or a situation that isn’t being resolved. Give them something meaningful to do, but put them in over their head, too. This is how they get stronger and build muscles. You can be their lifeline if they start to drown.

An Example

The major mentor in my life for eight years was a man named Tom Willhite. He died in a plane accident at the age of 43.

Tom’s dream was to build a college, but he didn’t live long enough to see that. To pay him back for all I learned from him, I committed to raising $4 million dollars and putting up an educational facility.

To build my desire into a bonfire of passion, I started by looking at the original plans Tom had and later at the actual architectural drawings. In the middle of the fund-raising campaign, I brought many of the key donors to the actual land and we walked around as the building was going up. I visualized memories of conversations Tom and I had about his dream and I pretended I was showing him the completed buildings in my mind. I imagined his satisfaction and my pride.

This fanning of the flames of desire is crucial, especially when you hit tough spots where things aren’t working as planned or going as well as you want. It helps you refocus and recommit and gives you renewed energy to complete your project.

“The more thou dost advance, the more thy feet pitfalls will meet. The Path that leadeth on is lighted by one fire-the light of daring burning in the heart. The more one dares, the more he shall obtain. The more he fears, the more that light shall pale–and that alone can guide.”
–Aristotle
(Source - Klemmer and Associates)
(Painting - By Raphael, Socrates in Athens speaking with Plato)

Dear Lord.

Dear Lord, as I thank you for the gift of life, I also thank you for the gift of wonderful people I have met along this journey. Some of them inspire me, stretch me, challenge me, love me and encourage me. All of them helped me to realize how meaningful and beautiful my life is. I love them so much. Bless them Lord with good health, security, wealth, success, peace and joy. Grant their prayers too.Amen.

How much does a prayer weigh?

How much does a prayer weigh? - Read on this short story on prayer and have a very beautiful Sunday.
Louise Redden, a poorly dressed lady with a look of defeat on her face, walked into a grocery store. She approached the owner of the store in a most humble manner and asked if he would let her charge a few groceries. She softly explained that her husband was very ill and unable to work, they had seven children and they needed food. John Longhouse, the grocer, scoffed at her and requested that she leave his store.

Visualizing the family needs, she said: 'Please, sir! I will bring you the money just as soon as I can." John told her he could not give her credit, as she did not have a charge account at his store.

Standing beside the counter was a customer who overheard the conversation between the two. The customer walked forward and told the grocery man that he would stand good for whatever she needed for her family.

The grocery man said in a very reluctant voice, "Do you have a grocery list? Louise replied "Yes sir" "O.K." he said: "Put your grocery list on the scales and what ever your grocery list weighs, I will give you that amount in groceries."

Louise, hesitated a moment with a bowed head, then she reached into her purse and took out a piece of paper and scribbled something on it. She then laid the piece of paper on the scale carefully with her head still bowed. The eyes of the grocery man and the customer showed total amazement when the scales went down and stayed down.

The grocery man, staring at the scales, turned slowly to the customer and said begrudgingly, "I can't believe it." The customer smiled and the grocery man started putting the groceries on the other side of the scales.

The scale did not balance so he continued to put more and more groceries on them until the scales would hold no more. The grocery man stood there in utter disgust. Finally, he grabbed the piece of paper from the scales and looked at it with even greater amazement. It was not a grocery list, it was a prayer, which simply said: "Dear Lord, you know my needs and I am leaving this all in your hands."

The grocery man gave her the groceries that he had gathered and placed on the scales and stood in stunned silence. Louise thanked him and left the store. The customer handed a fifty-dollar bill to John as he said, "It was worth every penny."

It was sometime later that John Longhouse discovered the scales were broken; Therefore, only God knows how much a prayer weighs.

~Author Unknown~

Awakening to a Happy Journey and the 7 Secrets.

Awakening to a Happy Journey and the 7 Secrets - Laugh when you can, apologize when you should, and let go of what you can't change.Life's too short to be anything but happy. Happiness is not something anyone else can give us or take away from us. Happiness is what we make of our lives or don't. Whatever our circumstances, we can create a joyful life or a miserable life. It is up to us. Here are a few ways to create our own destiny in life.It's so beautiful and worth it .So read on the secrets.........
"Awakening to a Happy Journey"

1. Respect Yourself: If I don't love and respect myself, who will? It all starts right here with ME. If I think that I'm a pretty good person, it doesn't much matter what anyone else thinks. And the irony is that once I like myself, most everyone else will like me too. People enjoy being around people who speak well of themselves - not in an arrogant boastful way, but with honest self-appreciation.

2. Forgive Everyone for Everything: Angry and happy don't mix. Flush out the angry, and the happy has a place to put down roots. Until we forgive everyone for everything, we hold on to anger and resentment. (The pesky ego I always talk about has to go) Once we forgive, we can become happy. Forgiving is not a gift to someone else - Forgiving is our gift to ourselves - a great gift - the gift of happiness.

3. Be Grateful for All of Life: Each of us has been infinitely blessed - beginning with the gift of life. Whatever may appear to be missing or broken on any particular day, our glass is not half full, it is 99.9% full. (YES!!! you read that correctly 99.9% full.) More practically, when we feel ungrateful, we become unhappy. When we choose to feel and express our gratitude, the act of feeling and speaking our thanks creates a happiness within us. The more we express our gratitude, the more we have for which to be grateful. Today and every day, take time to celebrate life - whether an hour's meditation in a quiet natural space, or a brief moment's conscious pause to breathe deeply and celebrate gratitude for life.

4. Choose Happiness: Everything in life is a choice. There is never anything we ever "need" to do. Every action and thought is a choice and has consequences - pleasant or unpleasant. Whether you go to work today, change jobs, smile at the bank teller, yell at your kids, HA!, complain about life, hold a daily celebration of gratitude for life - they are all choices. Happiness is a choice. Stay alert and make conscious choices for happiness.

5. Begin at the End: You can never reach your destination if you don't have a destination. Decide what accomplishments you want recorded on your tombstone. Take a whole quiet day to consider your life. Be very clear that your happiness does NOT depend on reaching your goal. In fact, it's the reverse. Your happiness depends on accepting whatever life throws at you while you walk the path toward your goal. What is important for your happiness is having a goal, and working toward it.

6. Start Today: Whatever you want in life, start today. Begin right where you are at this very moment. Not tomorrow - today. Let it be a small beginning - a tiny beginning. Your happiness depends on starting today - every day.

7. Accept that Life is NOT "Supposed to be Fair": Know that there is no single way that life is "supposed" to be. Demanding that life meet our expectations is a sure fire recipe for a miserable existence. Life is a game with no rules. Life just happens to us regardless of our best intentions. Our only path to happiness lies in being open to receiving whatever life throws at us - with Gratitude. Have NO Expectations of life.

Sending you all lots of love and happiness your way.Have a beautiful and joyful day.

Love through a child's eyes

Love through a child's eyes - This is so sweet and lovely.Kids are little angels on earth.Make sure you read till the end, otherwise you'll miss something.
''Find the person who will love you because of your differences and not in spite of them and you have found a lover for life.'' A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds, "What does love mean?" The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined. See what you think:

"When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and pain...t her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all even when his hands got arthritis, too. That's Love."
- Rebecca - age 8
When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth."
-Billy - age 4
"Love is what makes you smile when you're tired."
-Terri - age 5
"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen."
-Bobby - age 7 (Wow!)
"If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate."
-Nikka - age 6
"Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday."
-Noelle - age 7
"During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore."
-Cindy - age 8
"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford."
-Chris - age 7
"Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day."
-Mary Ann - age 4
"You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget."
-Jessica - age 8
And the final one -- Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about contest he was asked to judge. The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child. The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his Mother asked him what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, "Nothing, I just helped him cry."

Stress Management made easy - A short story on stress management and few amazing tips.

Stress Management made easy - A short story on stress management and few amazing tips.
A lecturer, when explaining stress management to an audience,raised a glass of water and asked 'How heavy is this glass of water?'

Answers called out ranged from 20g to 500g.The lecturer replied, 'The absolute weight doesn't matter.It depends on how long you try to hold it.

If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem..
If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm.
If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance.

In each case, it's the same weight,but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.'

He continued,'And that's the way it is with stress management.If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later,As the burden becomes increasingly heavy,
We won't be able to carry on.''As with the glass of water,
You have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again.When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden.'

'So, before you return home tonight,Put the burden of work down.Don't carry it home.You can pick it up tomorrow.

Whatever burdens you're carrying now,Let them down for a moment if you can.'So, my friend, Put down anything that may be a burden to you right now.Don't pick it up again until after you've rested a while.

Here are some great ways of dealing with the burdens of life:

* Accept that some days you're the pigeon,
And some days you're the statue....

* Always keep your words soft and sweet,
Just in case you have to eat them.

* Always wear stuff that will make you look good
If you die in the middle of it.

* Drive carefully. It's not only cars that can be
"Recalled" by their maker.

* If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.

* If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again,It was probably worth it.

* It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to be kind
to others..

* Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time,
Because then you won't have a leg to stand on.

* Nobody cares if you can't dance well.
Just get up and dance.

* Since it's the early worm that gets eaten by the bird, sleep late...

* The second mouse gets the cheese.

* When everything's coming your way,
You're in the wrong lane.

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

* 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.

* We could learn a lot from crayons...
Some are sharp, some are pretty and
Some are dull. Some have weird names,
and all are different colors,
but they all have to live 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 has thought about you today...I did.

Ordinary acts

The ordinary acts we practice every day at home are of more importance to the soul than their simplicity might suggest -Quote by Thomas Moore and Art by Robert Duncan

Window through which We Look - A short and meaningful story....

Window through which We Look - A short and meaningful story....A young couple moved into a new neighborhood. The next morning while they were eating breakfast, the young woman watched her neighbor hanging wash outside.

“That laundry is not very clean,” she said. ”She doesn’t know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better laundry soap.”

Her husband looked on, but remained silent.

Every time her neighbor would hang her wash to dry, the young woman would make the same comments.

About one month later, the woman was surprised to see a nice clean wash on the line and said to her husband,

“Look, she has learned how to wash correctly.I wonder who taught her this.”

The husband said, “I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows.”

And so it is with life. What we see when watching others may depend on the purity of the window through which we look.Before we critisize, it might be a good idea to check our state of mind and ask ourselves if we are ready to see the good rather than to be looking for something in the person we are about to judge. "
Picture credit - http://www.writerscafe.org/

Great dream

“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.”

I found Jesus there - Heart Surgeon - A short and meaningful story.Read on and Have a beautiful day.

I found Jesus there - Heart Surgeon - A short and meaningful story.Read on and Have a beautiful sunday.

The surgeon sat beside the boy’s bed; the boy’s parents sat across from him. “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.” 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.

The Essence of Destiny

The Essence of Destiny -
"Watch your thoughts: for They become your words.
Choose your words: for They become your actions.
Understand your actions: for They become your habits.
Study your habits: for They become your character.
Develop your character: for It becomes your destiny"

What goes Around Comes Around - Loved this beautiful story, a little long but there is a surprise at the end.

What goes Around Comes Around - Loved this beautiful story, a little long but there is a surprise at the end.

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 those chills 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 tire, 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 tire. 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 couldn’t erase. The lady noticed the waitress was nearly eight months pregnant, but she never let the strain and aches 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.”

Moral: What Goes around Comes Around. You do good, You will get good in return. Always be Helpful.

Let this light shine...God or whatever the Source of your understanding might be often works in mysteries ways and sometimes puts people in our lives whether it be for a reason, a season or a lifetime.

We can never know which it is for sure but one thing we can know is that it always serves a greater purpose. One that can and always does benefit all involved.

When it doesn't "seem" that way, it's simply a matter of looking below the surface with an open mind and heart, enabling us to "see" for ourselves just how real and true that is. And it ALWAYS is.
Sometimes we just have to look a little harder than other times.

Have a beautiful day :)

3 Simple Rules of Life :)

Do you know her or remember her??

Do you know her or remember her?? Here is an inspiring and miraculous true life story of Wilma Rudolph ,who was paralytic and still went on and achieved her dream of becoming the fastest woman in the world. Read on......
Wilma Rudolph was the 20th of 22 children. She was born prematurely & her chances for survival were slim.When she was 4, she contacted double pneumonia and scarlet fever, leaving her with a paralyzed left leg.

She had to wear a brace and the doctor said she would never put her foot on the earth. But her mother encouraged her and told Wilma that with God-given
ability, persistence and faith she could do anything she wanted. Wilma said, "I want to be the fastest woman on the track on this earth."
At age 9, she removed the metal leg brace she had been dependent on and began to walk without it.By 13, she had developed rhythmic walk, which doctors said was a miracle.
That same year she decided to become a runner and her coach Temple said, "With your spirit nobody can stop you and besides, I will help you."

She entered a race and finished last. For the next few years every race she entered, she finished last. Everyone told her to quit, but she kept running. Then she actually won a race. And then another. From then on she won every race she entered. Eventually this little girl, who was told she would never walk again, went on to win 3 Olympic gold medals.It became history: That a paralytic woman became the fastest woman on this earth at the 1960 Olympics.

Lessons to Learn from Wilma Rudolph :
Wilma Rudolph is a great reminder to us that we can overcome life’s adversity with determination and sheer will power. Some reflections :

(1) Your Reality is Formed By What You Think Not What Others Think - Now, if Wilma’s mother had believed in the doctors’ advice, what would have happened? Pardon me, I’m not trying to say doctors’ advice is not necessary or important. It is. But what I’m conveying is this : Restrictions set upon by others is merely a perception of what they think is right for you at that moment of time. It’s still your perception of your reality that determines the result. If you choose to assume theirs as yours, most likely you’ll find yourself living in someone’s expectations of you, both good or bad.

(2) Humility to Learn from Your Failures - Wilma easily picked herself up to learn from her competitors even after losing every race of her first official meet. While most people would shut themselves in their rooms, crying over their defeat, Wilma Rudolph spent her time analyzing areas that she was weak at (i.e. starts) and kept practicing until she got it right or even much better than her competitors.
Frankly speaking, this is a true display of a strong psychological buildup. No,its not wrong to cry.You can cry or do whatever it takes to get that frustration and sadness out of your system, but once you’re done, please remember there’s so much you can still learn from what you’ve just been through. Learning from your outcomes takes a lot of courage, But the pain of not learning from them takes even more.

(3) Action & Persistence Are the Keys - Wilma had dreams, goals.But it was not having dreams or goals that allowed her to have such achievements, it was action. She wanted to be able to walk like every kid on the block, so she worked on her therapy exercises and practiced walking without the braces. She wanted to be in the starting lineup for the basketball team so, she honed her techniques and acquired her coach’s analytical skills and fought
for an opportunity to perform. She wanted to win a gold medal for her races in the 1960 Olympics and hence, she kept a 4 year intensive training schedule! 4 years! How many of us have given up after just 6 months or even a month’s work on something we wanted to achieve?

If you wonder why these people have the patience to stick it thorough, it boils down to 1 thing: Burning desire.
Ask yourself today, what is your burning reason? Or do you have one in the first place?

The greatest gift you can give to a special someone is your TIME.

The greatest gift you can give to a special someone is your TIME. Its like you're giving the portion of your life that you can never bring back!!!A very beautiful and powerful message.Read more....
When life on earth is ending, people don't surround themselves with objects. What we want around us is people--people we love and have relationships with.
In our final moments we all realize that love is what life is all about. Don't wait until you're on your deathbed to figure out that nothing matters more.The importance of things can be measured by how much time we are willing to invest in them.

You may think you have tomorrow to make time for that person, but you're wrong. What will they think if you're just leaving them alone all the time? The more time you give to something, the more you reveal its importance and value to you. You can make more money, but you can't make more time. When you give someone your time, you are giving them a portion of your life that you'll never get back. Your time is your life.Time is the greatest gift you can give to someone.

It is not enough just to say relationships are important; we must prove it by investing time in them. Words alone are worthless. The essence of love is not what we think or do to provide for others, but how much we give of ourselves. You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving. Love means giving up--yielding my preferences, comfort, goals, security, money, energy, or time for the benefit of someone else.

Now is the time to express your love for someone else. Why now? Because you don't know how long you will have the opportunity. Circumstances change. People die. Children grow up. You have no guarantee of tomorrow. So ask yourself these questions: Who do you need to start spending more time with? What do you need to cut out of your schedule to make that possible? What sacrifices do you need to make? Don't say you can't when you really can. Anything is possible, so make it happen.

The best use of life is love. The best expression of love is time. The best time to love is today.

Love those around you and be good to all.The one quality that best expresses the essence of God is (unselfish) Love. To be a true child of God is to be a child of Love!

"19 Horses and a Wise Man's Soln - Add God"

"19 Horses and a Wise Man's Soln - Add God" - A beautiful story with a solution and words of wisdom.Add God’s Name in our daily life. Have you ever come across problems in life that are seemingly insurmountable? Then read on.......
One rich man owned 19 horses when he died. In his last will and testament he had written that upon his death, 1/2 the horses he owned should go to his only son; 1/4th to the village temple and 1/5th to the faithful servant.

The village elders could not stop scratching their heads. How can they give half of the 19 horses to the son? You cannot cut up a horse. They puzzled over this dilemma for more than 2 weeks and then decided to send for a wise man who was living in a neighboring village.

The wise man came riding on his horse and asked the villagers if he can be of any help to them. The village elders told him about the rich man's last will and testament which stated that half of the (19) horses must be given to his only son, one fourth must go to the temple and one fifth to the faithful servant.

The wise man said he will immediately solve their problem without any delay whatsoever. He had the 19 horses placed in a row standing next to one another. Then he added his own horse as the 20th horse. Now he went about giving half of the 20 horses – that is ten horses to the son. One fourth of 20- that is 5 horses were given to the temple committee. One fifth of twenty- that is 4 horses were given to the faithful servant. Ten plus five plus four made 19 horses. The remaining 20 th horse was his own which he promptly mounted, spoke a few inspiring words, and rode back home.

The villagers were simply dumbfounded, full of disbelief and filled with admiration. And the parting words of the wise man were inscribed in their hearts and minds which they greatly cherished and passed on to their succeeding generations till today.

The wise man said: In our daily lives, in our daily affairs, simply add God's name and then go about facing the day's happenings. Ever come across problems in life that are seemingly insurmountable? (Like the villagers, do we feel that such problems cannot be solved?).

The wise man continued: Add the God Principle in our daily lives and the problems will become lighter and eventually will disappear. In the manner of the ice which, with the addition of the heat principle will turn into water, and that will eventually evaporate as steam and disappear.

And how do we add God's name in our daily lives?

Through prayers, filled with true love and devotion with sincerity of purpose and dedication that only total faith can bring about. Meditation is a powerful means of directing the mind Godward.

But without true love and devotion entering into it, it remains like a boat without water. It is not difficult to push a boat that is floating in water, but extremely hard to drag the same boat on dry land.

In the same way, if our life's boat floats on the waters of true love and devotion, we can sail easily in it. The principle of love of God and devotion with total faith, (like water) makes easy the voyage of our lives. When the mind is pure and the heart full of simplicity and holiness, such a devotee becomes an instrument in the service of the Lord.
So start adding God’s Name in our daily lives.

Feel Good About who you are - Here's some good old Chinese wisdom to share, A Really beautiful story.

Feel Good About who you are - Here's some good old Chinese wisdom to share, A Really beautiful story.

An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which she carried across her neck..

One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water. At the end of the long walks from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full...

For a full two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots of water...

Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it could only do half of what it had been made to do.

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

'I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house.' The old woman smiled, 'Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side?' 'That's because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you water them.' For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house.'

Each of us has our own unique flaw. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have 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.

Embrace the flaws and imperfections in ourselves and others. Perhaps the very things you perceive as faults in yourself and others are precisely the things that make us special and useful to the world.So, to all of my cracked pot pallies, I love you just the way you are. Have a great day and remember to smell the flowers on your side of the path!!!!!

Be Thankful...Be Happy

Be Thankful...Be Happy
It is not happy people who are thankful.
It is thankful people who are happy.
Wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving day.

Bible Emergency Numbers :)

A sweet and Short story that carries a lot of feelings :

A sweet and Short story that carries a lot of feelings :
A little girl and her father were crossing a bridge.The father was kind of scared so he asked his little daughter:
"Sweetheart, please hold my hand so that you don't fall into the river." The little girl said:
"No, Dad. You hold my hand."
"What's the difference?"
Asked the puzzled father....
"There's a big difference," replied the little girl.
"If I hold your hand and something happens to me, chances are that I may let your hand go. But if you hold my hand, I know for sure that no matter what happens, you will never let my hand go."
In any relationship, the essence of trust is not in its bind, but in its bond. So hold the hand of the person whom you love rather than expecting them to hold yours...

Character and Reputation

"Worry about your character, not your reputation. Your character is who you are, your reputation is who people think you are."
Sometimes we get too caught up in what people think about us and forget to worry about what really matters in life, like the people who love us for who we really are, and who we really are deep down inside of our hearts. In order to not worry about our reputations, we have to live our own lives, being confident in the goals we have set for ourselves, and also being confident in the fact that though not everyone may like us, and though not everyone will believe in what exactly we are doing.

If we do what is right for ourselves, and if we do everything that we do out of love, there is truly not a thing, person, or situation in this world that can stop us from being where we want to be, and who we want to be. Life will throw many obstacles at us in order to try to deter us from the places and from the growth as people in which we really deserve. There will be many tests in life, but one test we should never fail is a test of our character. We should always be who we really are deep down on the inside, at all times, never let life make you live as a person that you really aren't.

Life is Art

i think everything in life is art.
what you do. how you dress.
the way you love someone,
and how you talk. your smile
and your personality. what you
believe in, and all your dreams.
the way you drink your drinks.
how you decorate your home.
or party. the way you write your grocery list. the
food you make. how your
handwriting looks. and the way you feel.
Life is art.