Truths to Remember

1. Faith is the ability to not panic.

2. If you worry, you didn't pray. If you pray, don't worry.

3. As a child of God, Prayer is like calling home every day.

4. Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.

5. When we get tangled up in our problems, be still. God wants us to be still, So He can untangle the knot.

6. Do the math. Count your blessings.

7. God wants spiritual fruit not religious nuts.

8. Dear God: I have a problem. It's me.

9. Silence is often misinterpreted but never misquoted.

10. Laugh every day; it's like inner jogging.

11. The most important things in your home are the people.

12. Growing old is inevitable; growing up is optional.

13. There is no key to happiness. The door is always open.

14. A grudge is a heavy thing to carry.

15. He who dies with the most toys is still dead.

16. We do not remember days but moments. Life moves too fast, so enjoy your precious moments.

17. Nothing is real to you until you experience it, otherwise it's just hearsay.

18. It is all right to sit on your pity pot every now and again. Just be sure to flush when you are done.

19. Surviving and living your life successfully requires courage. The goals and dreams you're seeking require courage and risk-taking. Learn from the turtle; it only makes progress when it sticks out its neck.

20. Be more concerned with your character than your reputation. Your character is what you really are. While your reputation is merely what others think you are.

Thanksgiving Thoughts

If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, "thank you," that would suffice. ~Meister Eckhart

Thanksgiving Day comes, by statute, once a year; to the honest man it comes as frequently as the heart of gratitude will allow. ~Edward Sandford Martin

He who thanks but with the lips
Thanks but in part;
The full, the true Thanksgiving
Comes from the heart.
~J.A. Shedd

For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.
For flowers that bloom about our feet;
For tender grass, so fresh, so sweet;
For song of bird, and hum of bee;
For all things fair we hear or see,
Father in heaven, we thank Thee!
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Let us remember that, as much has been given us, much will be expected from us, and that true homage comes from the heart as well as from the lips, and shows itself in deeds. ~Theodore Roosevelt

We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures. ~Thornton Wilder

Grace isn't a little prayer you chant before receiving a meal. It's a way to live. ~Jackie Windspear To speak gratitude is courteous and pleasant, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live gratitude is to touch Heaven. ~Johannes A. Gaertner

A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all the other virtues. ~Cicero We can always find something to be thankful for, and there may be reasons why we ought to be thankful for even those dispensations which appear dark and frowning. ~Albert Barnes

Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving. ~W.T. Purkiser

Putting the Pieces Together

A father wanted to read a magazine but was interrupted by his little girl. She wanted to know what the United States looked like.

Finally, he tore a sheet out of his new magazine on which was printed the map of the country.

Tearing it into small pieces for each state, he gave it to his daughter, and said, "See if you can put this together. This will show you our whole country today."

After a few minutes, she handed him the map correctly fitted together with tape.

The father was surprised and asked how she had finished so quickly. "Oh," she said, "on the other side of the paper is a picture of Jesus. When I got all of Jesus back where He belonged, then our country just came together."

Walking With Life

May the desires of your heart be pure.

Seeking not to obtain but to learn.

Soaring as the eagle above the trials and tribulations.

Bringing peace to all who cross your path.

Never allowing the dark clouds to prevail.

Letting the lands remain free and untamed..

Walk tall but softly keeping track of where you tread.

Remember your brothers and sisters with kindness.

Don't let mistrust lead your paths astray.

Waste not what you have been given to survive.

All creatures have a purpose and place.

Keep your arrows true and straight.

For unnecessary plight may come from the crooked.

Ask for nothing in return for giving.

Listen, watch and gather wisdom from the elders.

Their paths have been tried by the fire.

Don't believe because of prominence alone.

Be weary for the thief comes in the night.

Righteousness is the overcoming force.

Truth will always be your friend.

THE BE ATTITUDES

Be understanding to your enemies.
Be loyal to your friends.

Be strong enough to face the world each day.
Be weak enough to know you cannot do everything alone.

Be generous to those who need your help.
Be frugal with what you need yourself.

Be wise enough to know that you do not know everything.
Be foolish enough to believe in miracles.

Be willing to share your joys.
Be willing to share the sorrows of others.

Be a leader when you see a path others have missed.
Be a follower when you are shrouded by the mists of uncertainty.

Be first to congratulate an opponent who succeeds.
Be last to criticise a colleague who fails.

Be sure where your next step will fall, so that you will not tumble.
Be sure of your final destination, in case you are going the wrong way.

Be loving to those who love you.
Be loving to those who do not love you; they may change.

Above all, be yourself.

Changes

Day 1.

I walk down a street and there's a deep hole in the sidewalk. I fall in. It takes forever to get out. It's not my fault.

Day 2.

I walk down the same street. I fall in the hole again. It still takes a long time to get out. It's my fault.

Day 3.

I walk down the same street. I fall in the hole again. It's becoming a habit. It is my fault. I get out immediately.

Day 4.

I walk down the same street and see the deep hole in the sidewalk. I walk around it.

Day 5.

I walk down a different street.

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'll be a being that's vitally alive.

Reach up

"Ye, though I walk through the valley of shadow of death, I will fear no evil."

The journey each of us walks is not always a meadow full of flowers. Sometimes it is a journey up a mountain, loose rocks and steep inclines.

We so often loose sight of the beautiful scenery because of our attempts to hold on. We have to struggle with many things in this world that makes us feel alone.

Arthritis grips us tight and wrenches pain from within. Diabetes cuts our feelings ulcerates our skin. Cancer files away at the cells of our body and leaves us weak. Blindness takes away our vision and paints our world black. Mental disabilities hold our thoughts and leave us in a lonely room. Cruelty of others cuts our hearts and leaves us empty.

We were born to celebrate, to reach up and believe. We were born to rejoice, to lift our hands to life. We were born to sing, to paint rainbows with our voice. We were born to love, to hold the hands of gentleness. We were born to share, to be a blessing to those around us.

Reach up and believe for that is God's dream. Lift your hands and live for that is God's purpose. Paint your world with songs for that is God's compassion. Hold on with gentleness for that is God's love. Bless those around you for you are God's gift.

No less than a flower planted by angels and nurtured by the hands of God.

Sometimes Love...

Sometimes love can be quiet
And sometimes love can be still
But always love is patient
And is a choice of our will

Sometimes love can be vibrant
Sometimes it's not easily felt
But always love is eternal
And is never boastful or proud

Sometimes love can be tender
Then sometimes hard to express
But always love is truthful
And believes in the very best

Sometimes love can be exciting
And love can sometimes be sweet
For love is always trusting
And chooses never to envy

Sometimes love can be painful
Then sometimes love's like a song
But always love is forgiving
And keeps no record of wrongs

Sometimes love can be gentle
Then sometimes it’s just a word
But always love protects and hopes
And love is always preserved

Love is never self-seeking
And is never angered or rude
Love can never fail us
For God’s love is faithful and true.

It Takes Courage

It takes courage
To refrain from gossip
When others delight in it,
To stand up for the absent person
Who is being abused.

It takes courage
To live honestly
Within your means,
And not dishonestly
On the means of others.

It takes courage
To be a REAL man or a TRUE woman,
To hold fast to your ideals
When it causes you
To be looked upon
As strange and peculiar.

It takes courage
To be talked about,
And remain silent,
When a word would justify you
In the eyes of others,
But which you dare not speak
Because it would injure another.

It takes courage
To refuse to do something
That is wrong
Although everyone else
May be doing it
With attitudes as carefree
As a summer song.

It takes courage
To live according
To your own convictions,
To deny yourself
What you cannot afford.
To love your neighbor
As yourself,
To follow the example
Of our risen Lord!

Be...

Be loyal to your friends.

Be strong enough to face the world each day.
Be weak enough to know you cannot do everything alone.

Be generous to those who need your help.
Be frugal with what you need yourself.

Be wise enough to know that you do not know everything.
Be foolish enough to believe in miracles.

Be willing to share your joys.
Be willing to share the sorrows of others.

Be a leader when you see a path others have missed.
Be a follower when you are shrouded by the mists of uncertainty.

Be the first to congratulate an opponent who succeeds.
Be the last to criticize a colleague who fails.

Be sure where your next step will fall, so that you will not tumble.
Be sure of your final destination, in case you are going the wrong way.

Be loving to those who love you.
Be loving to those who do not love you, and they may change.

Above all, be yourself.

~~The Awakening~~

A time comes in your life when you finally get it... when, in the midst of all your fears and insanity, you stop dead in your tracks and somewhere the voice inside your head cries out - ENOUGH! Enough fighting and crying or struggling to hold on. And, like a child quieting down after a blind tantrum, your sobs begin to subside, you shudder once or twice, you blink back your tears and begin to look at the world through new eyes. This is your awakening.

You realize it's time to stop hoping and waiting for something to change... or for happiness, safety and security to come galloping over the next horizon. You come to terms with the fact that neither of you is Prince Charming or Cinderella and that in the real world there aren't always fairy tale endings (or beginnings for that matter) and that any guarantee of "happily ever after" must begin with you... and in the process a sense of serenity is born of acceptance.

You awaken to the fact that you are not perfect and that not everyone will always love, appreciate or approve of who or what you are ... and that's OK. They are entitled to their own views and opinions. And you learn the importance of loving and championing yourself... and in the process a sense of newfound confidence is born of self-approval.

You stop complaining and blaming other people for the things they did to you (or didn't do for you) and you learn that the only thing you can really count on is the unexpected.

You learn that people don't always say what they mean or mean what they say and that not everyone will always be there for you and that it's not always about you. So, you learn to stand on your own and to take care of yourself... and in the process a sense of safety and security is born of self-reliance.

You stop judging and pointing fingers and you begin to accept people as they are and to overlook their shortcomings and human frailties.... and in the process a sense of peace and contentment is born of forgiveness.

You realize that much of the way you view yourself, and the world around you, is as a result of all the messages and opinions that have been ingrained into your psyche. And you begin to sift through all the junk you've been fed about how you should behave, how you should look, how much you should weigh, what you should wear, what you should do for a living, how much money you should make, what you should drive, how and where you should live, who you should marry, the importance of having and raising children, and what you owe your parents, family, and friends.

You learn to open up to new worlds and different points of view. And you begin reassessing and redefining who you are and what you really stand for. You learn the difference between wanting and needing and you begin to discard the doctrines and values you've outgrown, or should never have bought into to begin with ... and in the process you learn to go with your instincts.

You learn that it is truly in giving that we receive. And that there is power and glory in creating and contributing and you stop maneuvering through life merely as a "consumer" looking for your next fix.

You learn that principles such as honesty and integrity are not the outdated ideals of a bygone era but the mortar that holds together the foundation upon which you must build a life.

You learn that you don't know everything, it's not your job to save the world and that you can't teach a pig to sing.

You learn to distinguish between guilt and responsibility and the importance of setting boundaries and learning to say NO.

You learn that the only cross to bear is the one you choose to carry and that martyrs get burned at the stake.

Then you learn about love. How to love, how much to give in love, when to stop giving and when to walk away.

You learn to look at relationships as they really are and not as you would have them be.

You stop trying to control people, situations and outcomes.

And you learn that alone does not mean lonely.

You also stop working so hard at putting your feelings aside, smoothing things over and ignoring your needs.

You learn that feelings of entitlement are perfectly OK.... and that it is your right to want things and to ask for the things you want... and that sometimes it is necessary to make demands.

You come to the realization that you deserve to be treated with love, kindness, sensitivity and respect and you won't settle for less.

And you learn that your body really is your temple. And you begin to care for it and treat it with respect. You begin to eat a balanced diet, drink more water, and take more time to exercise.

You learn that being tired fuels doubt, fear, and uncertainty and so you take more time to rest. And, just as food fuels the body, laughter fuels our soul. So you take more time to laugh and to play.

You learn that, for the most part, you get in life what you believe you deserve... and that much of life truly is a self-fulfilling prophecy.

You learn that anything worth achieving is worth working for and that wishing for something to happen is different from working toward making it happen. More importantly, you learn that in order to achieve success you need direction, discipline and perseverance.

You also learn that no one can do it all alone...and that it's OK to risk asking for help.

You learn the only thing you must truly fear is the greatest robber baron of all: FEAR itself. You learn to step right into and through your fears because you know that whatever happens you can handle it and to give in to fear is to give away the right to live life on your own terms. And you learn to fight for your life and not to squander it living under a cloud of impending doom.

You learn that life isn't always fair, you don't always get what you think you deserve and that sometimes bad things happen to unsuspecting, good people. On these occasions you learn not to personalize things.

You learn that God isn't punishing you or failing to answer your prayers. It's just life happening.
And you learn to deal with evil in its most primal state -- the ego.

You learn that negative feelings such as anger, envy and resentment must be understood and redirected or they will suffocate the life out of you and poison the universe that surrounds you.

You learn to admit when you are wrong and to build bridges instead of walls.

You learn to be thankful and to take comfort in many of the simple things we take for granted, things that millions of people upon the earth can only dream about: a full refrigerator, clean running water, a soft warm bed, a long hot shower.

Slowly, you begin to take responsibility for yourself by yourself and you make yourself a promise to never betray yourself and to never, ever settle for less than your heart's desire.

And you hang a wind chime outside your window so you can listen to the wind.

And you make it a point to keep smiling, to keep trusting, and to stay open to every wonderful possibility.

Finally, with courage in your heart and God by your side you take a stand, you take a deep breath, and you begin to design the life you want to live as best you can.

You Are...

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 mistake.

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 honorable...
when you find your honor is to honor 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.

Thoughts...

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.

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!

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 lies 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.

A house is a house is a house - until love comes through the door, that is. And love intuitively goes around sprinkling that special brand of angel dust that transforms a house into a very special home for very special people: your family.

Money, of course, can build a charming house, but only love can furnish it with a feeling of home.


Duty can pack an adequate sack lunch, but love may decide to tuck a little love note inside.

Money can provide a television set, but love controls it and cares enough to say no and take the guff that comes with it.


Obligation sends the children to bed on time, but love tucks the covers in around their necks and passes out kisses and hugs (even to teenagers!).

Obligation can cook a meal, but love embellishes the table with a potted ivy trailing around slender candles.

Duty writes many letters, but love tucks a joke or a picture or a fresh stick of gum inside.

Compulsion keeps a sparkling house. But love and prayer stand a better chance of producing a happy family.

Duty gets offended quickly if it isn't appreciated. But love learns to laugh a lot and to work for the sheer joy of doing it.

Obligation can pour a glass of milk, but quite often love will add a little chocolate.

Along The Way

Don't undermine your worth by

comparing yourself to others.

It is because we are different that each

of us is special.

Don't set your goals by what other people

deem important.

Only you know what is best for you.

Don't take for granted the things closest

to your heart.

Cling to them as you would your life,

for without them, life is meaningless.

Don't let life slip through your fingers

by living in the past, or for the future.

By living life one day at a time,

you live ALL the days of your life.

Don't give up when you still have

something to give.

Nothing is really over until

the moment you stop trying.

Don't be afraid to admit that you are

less than perfect.

It is this fragile thread that binds

us to each other.

Don't be afraid to encounter risks.

It is by taking chances that we learn

to be brave.

Don't shut love out of your life by saying

it is impossible to find.

The quickest way to receive love

is to give love.

The fastest way to lose love

is to hold it too tightly...

and the best way to keep love

is to give it wings.

Don't dismiss your dreams.

To be without dreams is to be without hope.

To be without hope is to be without purpose.

Don't run through life so FAST that you forget

not only where you have been....

but, also where you are going.

Life is not a race...but...a journey

to be savored each step of the way.

Love Is...

Love is the best thing in the world

...And the thing that lives longest.

Love isn't something to be taken for granted

...It's something to be nurtured,

And cared for and caressed.

Love can last forever

...If you want it to.

Love isn't tough and tentative .

..It's wonderful and gentle and tender.

Love is mysterious

...But it asks that you keep no secrets.

Love is blind

...But it asks that you see how happy it can make you.

Love is more like a flower than a tree

...The wrong things can hurt it so easily.

But the right things can make it more beautiful

Than anything else your life has ever know.

Love is...

Slow to suspect

... Quick to trust.

Slow to condemn

... Quick to justify.

Slow to offend

... Quick to defend.

Slow to reprimand

... Quick to forbear.

Slow to belittle

...Quick to appreciate.

Slow to demand

... Quick to give.

Slow to provoke

... Quick to conciliate.

Slow to hinder

... Quick to help.

Slow to resent

... Quick to forgive.

Thoughts

The best way to get even is to forget.

Feed your faith and your doubts will starve to death.

Some folks wear their halos much too tight.

Some marriages are made in heaven, but they ALL have to be maintained on earth.

Unless you can create the WHOLE universe in 5 days, then perhaps giving "advice" to God isn't such a good idea!

Sorrow looks back, worry looks around, and faith looks up.

Standing in the middle of the road is dangerous. You will get knocked down by the traffic from both ways.

Words are windows to the heart.

A sceptic is a person who when he sees the handwriting on the wall, claims it's a forgery.

It isn't difficult to make a mountain out of a molehill, just add a little dirt.

A successful marriage isn't finding the right person - it's being the right person.

The mighty oak tree was once a little nut that held its ground.

Too many people offer God prayers, with claw marks all over them.

The tongue must be heavy indeed, because so few people can hold it.

To forgive is to set the prisoner free, and then discover the prisoner was you.

You have to wonder about humans, they think God is dead and Elvis is alive!

It's all right to sit on your pity pot every now and again. Just be sure to flush when you are done.

You'll notice that a turtle only makes progress when it sticks out its neck.

If the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, you can bet the water bill is higher.

You are richer today if you have laughed, given or forgiven.

What Life is About

Life isn't about keeping score.
It's not about how many friends you have
Or how accepted you are.
Not about if you have plans this weekend or if you're alone.

It isn't about who you have kissed,
It isn't about who your family is or
how much money they have
Or what kind of car you drive.

Or where you are sent to school.
It's not about how 'beautiful' or 'ugly' you are.
Or what clothes you wear, what shoes you have on,
Or what kind of music you listen to.

It's not about if your hair is blonde, red, black, or brown,
Or if your skin is too light or too dark.
Not about what grades you get how smart you are, how smart
everybody else thinks you are, or how smart
standardized tests say you are.

Life just isn't.

Life is about who you love and who you hurt.
It's about who you make happy or unhappy purposely.
It's about keeping or betraying trust.
It's about friendship, used as a sanctity or as a weapon.

It's about what you say and mean, maybe hurtful, maybe heartening.
It's about starting rumors and contributing to petty gossip.
It's about what judgments you pass and why.
And who your judgments are spread to.

It's about who you've ignored with full control and intention.
It's about jealousy, fear, ignorance, and revenge.
It's about carrying inner hate and love,
letting it grow and spreading it.

But most of all, it's about using your life to touch or poison
other people's hearts in such a way that could have
never occurred alone.

Only you choose the way those hearts are affected, and those
choices are what life's all about.

Meanings

Standing for what you believe in,

Regardless of the odds against you,

and the pressure that tears at your resistance,

...means courage

Keeping a smile on your face,

When inside you feel like dying,

For the sake of supporting others,

...means strength

Stopping at nothing,

And doing what's in your heart,

You know is right,

...means determination

Doing more than is expected,

To make another's life a little more bearable,

Without uttering a single complaint,

...means compassion

Helping a friend in need,

No matter the time or effort,

To the best of your ability,

...means loyalty

Giving more than you have,

And expecting nothing

But nothing in return,

...means selflessness

Holding your head high,

And being the best you know you can be

When life seems to fall apart at your feet,

Facing each difficulty with the confidence

That time will bring you better tomorrow's,

And never giving up,

...means confidence.

I....

I am capable. I am worthwhile.

I am beautiful. I am lovable.

I shall accept both my strengths

and my weaknesses for they are me.

I shall never again believe the "lie"

that if I make a mistake,

I am a mistake.

My mistakes are the learning tools

that I shall encounter on my life journey.

When I learn from my mistakes,

I give them meaning

When I give my mistakes meaning,

I can begin to forgive myself,

I can begin to heal.

I shall not use my mistakes as excuses

to give up on me.....

My mistakes are not me.

I shall seek the wisdom to nurture
my heart, mind, body, and soul

so that I may feel more centered

providing an energy reserve that allows

me to climb the mountains in my own life

providing an energy reserve that allows

me to love and support others

who are climbing a different mountain

providing an energy reserve that allows

time for friends, play

and the celebration of life.

I shall allow myself to feel capable

so that I may seek excellence.

I shall allow myself to feel sadness

so that joy may return.

I shall allow myself to feel joy

so that I may be revitalized.

I shall allow myself to feel afraid

so that I may find courage.

I shall allow myself to feel alone

so that I may know me.

I shall allow myself to feel beautiful

so that I may feel free.

I shall allow myself to feel lovable

so that the loving may seek me.

I shall allow myself to feel pain

so that I may heal.

I shall allow myself to feel worthy

so that I may fulfill my purpose.

When I am centered,

I see the perfection in the world,

myself and others.

When I find the world to be imperfect,

I will take responsibility

for painting it that way.

I will look into the heart of a rose,

or the eyes of a newborn baby

and again know perfection.

I take responsibility

for creating my own life story

through the choices I have made;

to blame others is to give away

my personal power.

Who will I allow to write

the next chapter of my life?

I shall seek the courage to believe

in God

who will laugh with me in the sunlight

or cry with me in the darkness.

I shall make a small difference on this planet

through the work I do.

When I leave I will have done my share.

I shall live, love, laugh,and learn on my journey.