SERIOUS
WHAT MONEY CAN NOT DO?
IT CAN BUY YOU A HOUSE, BUT NOT A HOME.
IT CAN BUY YOU A BED, BUT NOT SLEEP.
IT CAN BUY YOU A CLOCK, BUT NOT TIME.
IT CAN BUY YOU A BOOK, BUT NOT KNOWLEDGE.
IT CAN BUY YOU A POSITION, BUT NOT RESPECT.
IT CAN BUY YOU MEDICINE, BUT NOT HEALTH.
IT CAN BUY YOU BLOOD, BUT NOT LIFE.
How many more items can you add to the above, brief list?
Galatians 6:7
People harvest only what they have planted.
If you sow stress, guess what you will harvest...?
If you sow anger, guess what you will harvest...?
If you sow trust, guess what you will harvest...?
If you sow negativity, guess what you will harvest...?
....and so on and so on....
THINK OF THE WORD HALT . . .
If you are hungry, angry, lonely, tired . . . stop and change your
viewpoint. GOD has written in the Bible that HE will handle
everything, including your
life if you will but trust HIM. Learn from
the past but do not dwell in it. You have no idea about tomorrow; you really
only have today, this hour, this minute, and this second. Do not wast it . . . !
We are taught that you must blame your father, your sisters,
your brothers, the school, the teachers, but never blame yourself.
It's never your fault, but it is always your fault, because if you wanted
to change, you are the one who has got to change. (Katharine Hepburn)
Compliments of H.B. London, Focus on the Family
EVALUATING STUFF . . .
I travel often and have come to learn that it is not much fun.When you
get to where you are going, it is great, but the getting there . . .not so much .
My luggage was delayed for over a day this week. A series of flight cancellations
separated me form my bag. It was frustrating. It always is. But in the end, you usually
are reunited with the lost article.
I have made a lot of late-night trips to Wal-Mart for necessities, and been
inappropriately dressed for several events. But all-in-all, Flying beats driving.
This week was especially frustrating because nothing could be done about it.
The airline was very compassionate. But if you can't get the plane to the desired
city, what can you do? I was thinking, as impatience began to take over my emotions,
"What if the bag never comes? What if I only have these clothes? Would it really make
a difference to anyone but me?" And then it hit me. You can always replace stuff.
But just think of those things you can never replace.
You can never replace time. You cannot take back a harsh word. You will never
be able to duplicate an opportunity. There will never be a second time to make a
first impression. You can buy "stuff" with money, but just think of all the things money
cannot buy . . . like healing for a broken heart.
We often concern ourselves with "stuff" that has no real eternal value. That is wy,
in times of emergency, people will risk their lives to rescue picture albums and gifts
that could never be replaced. You can never recapture a "kodak" moment. Yet, we seem
to put so much value on "stuff", like possessions and positions. I see so many of our
colleagues who have disqualified themselves form ministry because of their desire to
possess "stuff".
what really matters to you? I talked to a couple this week who had lost their daughter
to a pagan man; to another whose little child had died; to another who was facing
critical health problems; and to another whose wife had walked away. And I was
worried about my "stuff"? What matters most to you? I would imagine if you are
really honest, it will be something you cannot replace. AM I right?
"FOR WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS, THERE YOUR HEART WILL BE ALSO."
Matthew 6:21 . . . BE BLESSSED AND BE A BLESSING . . . H.B.L.
When a man dies, his family, his children, must go on,
to continue to grow and take their lives and live in a
responsible manner.
LIVE IN THE PRESENT. YOU CAN NOT BRING BACK THE PAST
REMEMBER . . .TOMORROW IS FOREVER.
AS LONG AS PEOPLE CAN CHANGE,
THE WORLD CAN ALSO CHANGE.
Remember, If you ever need a helping hand, it's at the
end of your arm. As you get older, remember, you have
another hand; the first is to help yourself and the second is
to help others. (Audrey Hepburn)
A FEW OTHER THOTS ON WISDOM . . .
1. Love God more than you fear Hell
2. Make major decisions in a Cemetery
3. When no one is watching, live as if someone is
4. Succeed at home first
5. Don't spend someone's money today
6. Pray twice as much as you fret
7. God has forgiven you; you'd be wise to do the same
Life does not have to
be perfect to be wonderful
The Secret of Success is to be ready
for Opportunity when it comes.
Read Philippians Chapter 3, verses 13 & 14 .
Paul states that all of us must forget the past and make every
effort to strive for positive thoughts.
We must do everything possible
to stop focusing on the past hurts and failures. If we do not, we can
paralyze ourselves when it comes to things of the present and miss the
joy that GOD has planned for us. Remember, you will not only
miss all of GOD'S Blessings, but you will also allow the 'Root of
BITTERNESS' to grow and fester. You will be the loser.
God's thoughts are not our thoughts, nor are they even like ours.
We aren't even in the
same neighborhood. We're thinking, "Preserve the body.
" HE is thinking, "Save the soul." We dream of a pay raise. HE dreams of raising the dead.
We avoid pain and seek peace. GOD used pain to bring peace. "I'm going
to
live
before I die," we resolve. "Die, so you can live. " HE instructs. We love what rusts.
HE loves what will endure. We show our children
a basketball star with
a million-dollar smile and say, "Be like Mike." GOD points to the crucified
Carpenter with the bloody lips and a torn side and says, "Be like CHRIST."
Homeland Security
This pretty much says it all . . .
HAPPY MOMENTS, PRAISE GOD
DIFFICULT MOMENTS, SEEK GOD.
QUIET MOMENTS, WORSHIP GOD.
PAINFUL MOMENTS, TRUST GOD.
EVERY MOMENT, THANK GOD.
Things to Think about . . .
1 . The most destructive habit WORRY
2. The greatest joy GIVING
3. The greatest loss SELF-RESPECT
4. The most satisfying work HELPING OTHERS
5. The ugliest personality trait SELFISHNESS
6. The most endangered species DEDICATED LEADERS
7. Our greatest natural resource OUR YOUTH
8. The greatest 'shot in the arm' ENCOURAGEMENT
9. The greatest problem to overcome FEAR
10. The most effective sleeping pill PEACE OF MIND
11. The most crippling failure or disease EXCUSES
12. The most powerful force in life LOVE
13. The most dangerous outcast GOSSIP
14. The worlds most incredible computer THE BRAIN
15. The worst thing to be without HOPE
16. The deadliest weapon THE TONGUE
17. The two most power-filled words I CAN
18. The greatest asset FAITH
19. The most worthless emotion SELF-PITY
20. The most beautiful attire A SMILE
21. The most prized possession INTEGRITY
22. The most powerful channel of communication PRAYER
23. The most contagious spirit ENTHUSIASM
24. The most informative book in the world THE BIBLE
25. The best friend you will ever have JESUS CHRIST
A well directed imagination is the source of great deeds.
To the world, you may be one person, but
to one person, you may be the world!
F A I T H . . .
F Follow your dreams and remember you are special.
A Acknowledge that things can go wrong.
I Interest yourself in tomorrow. . . not yesterday
T Try to have patience and strong hope for the best.
H Hold your head up high . . . always.
Things will improve before long.
Some days are hard, but
things will definitely get better. Why will they, you ask . . .?
Because GOD has ordained it and GOD does not make any mistakes.
THINK ABOUT THIS...
We cannot know what we were,
until we discover what we are.
SORROW LOOKS BACK
WORRY LOOKS AROUND
FAITH LOOKS UP!
There is not a victory without a fight.
There is no sunrise without a night.
There is no purchase without a cost.
There is no CROWN without a CROSS.
REMEMBER THE FIVE SIMPLE RULES TO BE HAPPY:
1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live Simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.
AN OBSERVATION
Stopped by a funeral home recently to pay my respects to a good
friend. Could not help but notice the friendly atmosphere in the room.
True.....many people were sad by the passing of their relative and friend,
but they were also happy that the suffering had ended and that their relative
and friend was in the presence of THE LORD. The people also knew that they
would all meet again in Heaven, when their time
came. What a good feeling,
the feeling of peace and security in the hearafter.
Have been to other funeral homes in recent years where
there was much grief,
unhappiness and anguish as the people there had no such hope or peace in GOD.
I thank GOD for HIS PROMISES AND HIS FAITHFULNESS. . . A BELIEVER
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3: 5-6
The Empty Chair
A man's daughter had asked the local minister to
come and pray
with her father. When the minister arrived, he found the man lying
in bed with his head propped up on two pillows.
An empty chair
sat beside his bed. The minister assumed that the old fellow had
been informed of his visit.
"I guess you were expecting me," he said. "No, who are you?"
said the father.
The minister told him his name and then remarked,
"I see the empty chair; I figured you knew I was going to show up."
"Oh yeah, the chair," said the bed ridded man." "Would you mind
closing the door?"
Puzzled, the minister shut the door.
"I have never told anyone this,
not even my daughter," said the man. "but all of my life I have never
known how to pray." At church I used to hear the pastor talk about
prayer, but it went right over my head. I abandoned any attempt
at prayer, "the old man continued, "until one day about four
years ago my best friend said to me, "Johnny, prayer is just a
simple matter of having a conversation with JESUS. Here is what
I suggest. Sit down in a chair; place an empty chair in front of you,
and in faith see Jesus on the chair. It's not spooky because
he promised, I'LL BE WITH YOU ALWAYS. "Then just speak to him
in the same way you're doing with me right now." "So, I tried it and
I've liked it so much that I do it a couple of hours every day. I'm
careful though. If my daughter saw me talking to an empty
chair, she'd either have a nervous breakdown or send me
off to the funny farm."
The minister was deeply moved by the story and encouraged the old
man
to continue on the journey. Then he prayed with him, anointed him with oil,
and returned to the church.
Two nights later the daughter called to tell the minister that her
daddy had
died that afternoon. "Did he die in peace?" he asked. "Yes. When I left the
house about two O'clock, he called me over to his bedside, told me he loved
me and kissed me on the cheek. When
I got back from the store an hour
later, I found him dead. But there was something strange about his death.
Apparently, just before Daddy died, he leaned over and rested his head in
the chair beside the bed . What do you make of that?" The minister wiped
a tear from his eye and said, "I wish we could all go like that."
Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive.
There is no cost but a lot of rewards.
Pray for someone you love right now.
He who has health, has hope,
and he who has hope, has everything.
A man is measured not by outward
apperances...but by his love for GOD and family.
Until you can find peace with yourself, you will
have great difficulty finding out who you are.
The Measure of a Person is how they treat
another person who can do them absolutely no good.
THE DASH
I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone from the beginning
-
to the end. He noted that first came the date of her birth and
spoke of the following date with tears. But he said what
mattered most of all was the dash between those years.
For that dash represents all the time that she spent alive
on earth and now only those who loved her know what that
little line is worth. For it matters not, how much we own; the
cars - the house - the cash. What matters is how we live and
love and how we spend our dash. So think about this long and
hard. Are there things you'd like to change? For you never know
how much time is left. (You could be at "dash midrange.")
If we could just slow down enough to consider what's true and real,
and always try to understand the way other people feel.
And be less
quick to anger, and show appreciation more and love the people in
our lives like we've never loved before. If we treat each other with
respect, and more often wear a smile remembering that this special
dash might only last a little while. So, when you eulogy's being read
with your life's actions to rehash would you be proud of the things
they say about how you spent your dash?
- Author unknown
GOOD REMINDERS WHEN OUR LIVES GET SO
HECTIC AND WE LOSE SIGHT OF THE IMPORTANT THINGS:
0. Eat much brown rice.
1. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.
2. Memorize your favorite poem.
3. Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have, or sleep all you want.
4. When you say, "I love you", mean it.
5. When you say, "I'm sorry", look the person in the eye.
6. Be engaged at least six months before you get married.
7. Believe in love at first sight.
8. Never laugh at anyone's dreams.
9. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live
life completely.
10. In disagreements, fight fairly, No name calling.
11. Don't judge people by their relatives.
12. Talk slowly but think quickly.
13. When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask
"Why do you want to know?"
14. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
15. Call you mum.
16. Say "bless you" when you hear someone sneeze.
17. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.
18. Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; Responsibility
for all your actions.
19. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.
20. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
21. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.
22. Marry a man/women you love to talk to. As you get older, their
conversational skills will be as important as any other.
23. Spend some time alone.
24. Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.
25. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
26. Read more books and watch less TV.
27. Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back,
you'll get to enjoy it a second time.
28. Trust in God but lock your car.
29. A loving atmosphere in your home is so important. Do all you can to create
a tranquil harmonious home.
30. In disagreement's with loved ones, deal with the current situtation. Don't
bring up the past.
31. Read between the lines.
32. Share your knowledge. It's a way to achieve immortality.
33. Be gentle with the earth.
34. Pray. There's immeasurable power in it.
35. Never interrupt when you are being flattered.
36. Mind your own business.
37. Don't trust a man/women who doesn't close his/her eyes when you kiss.
38. Once a year, go someplace you've never been before.
39. If you make a lot of money, put it to use helping others while you are living.
That is wealth's greatest satisfaction.
40. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a stroke of luck.
41. Learn the rules then break some.
42. Remember that the best relationship is one where your love for each other is
greater than your need for each other.
43. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.
44. Remember that your character is your destiny.
45. Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.
FORGIVENESS IS A FUNNY THING. IT
WARMS THE HEART AND COOLS THE STING.
WHERE WORDS FAIL, MUSIC SPEAKS.
I don't want any new worlds to
conquer until I make peace with this one
If you find no peace within, it is useless to seek it elsewhere.
A parents life is a child's handbook.
A GOOD MEMORY TEST - WHAT WERE YOU
WORRYING ABOUT THIS TIME LAST YEAR?
PRAISE IS LIKE CHAMPAGNE IT SHOULD
BE SERVED WHILE IT IS STILL BUBBLING
MUSIC IS HEARD WITH THE EARS,
UNDERSTOOD WITH THE HEART
THE DEVIL DOESN'T CARE HOW MUCH GOOD
WE DO, JUST SO LONG AS WE DON'T DO IT TODAY.
"FRIENDS ARE ANGELS WHO LIFT US TO OUR FEET WHEN
OUR WINGS HAVE TROUBLE REMEMBERING HOW TO FLY"
With God as our Captain, our boat may rock but it will not sink.
Whoever does not LOVE, Does not know God Because God is LOVE!
MUSIC IS HEARD WITH THE EARS,
UNDERSTOOD WITH THE HEART
Live your own life... for you will die you own death.
Think about this....You could be a mentor to someone...or add three
letters at the beginning and become a TORMENTOR. (YOUR CHOICE.)
You can sympathize with a child who is afraid of the dark,
but the tragedy of life is, that most people are afraid of the light.
SEVEN RULES FOR LIFE:
BE SILENT...BE PATIENT...BE KIND...BE READY
BE FAITHFUL...BE JOYFUL...BE THANKFUL.
Life takes on a new meaning
when you encourage others.
This is the beginning of a New Day.
God has given me this day to use as I will.
I can waste it or grow in its light and be of service to others.
But what I do with this day is important
because I have exchanged a day of my life for it
When tomorrow comes, today will be gone forever.
I hope I will not regret the price I paid for it.
Why is it Lord, when I am in the wrong, you
bring me flowers and the milk of human kindness?
THINGS TO DO:
Give something away with no strings attached.
Do a kindness and forget it. Don't expect to be "repaid".
Spend time with the aged because the experience is priceless.
Look intently into a baby's eyes and marvel.
Laugh often. it's life's lubricant.
Give thanks for your blessings many times a day.
Pray, or you will lose the way.
Play as though you will live forever.
Live your life today as though you will die tomorrow.
PINT-SIZE FACTS
An adult body contains 8-12 pints of blood.
It takes 6-10 minutes to donate a pint of blood
and 24 hours for the body to replace your blood.
One unit of blood can be separated into components
and used to treat up to 4 patients.Less than 10% of
eligible adults donate blood for the entire southeastern MI population.
The most common blood type is O positive. The rarest blood is AB negative.
The average healthy person is eligible to give blood every 56 days.
Donating blood rarely hurts. To see what it feels like, pinch the skin
on your elbow joint.It is impossible to get HIV/AIDS from donating blood.
American Red Cross - 1-800-GIVE-LIFE
Every new dawn, before you awaken,
life makes a delivery to your front door, rings
the doorbell, and runs. Each package is
cleverly wrapped. Put together they
comprise a series of challenging
opportunities brilliantly disguised as
unsolvable problems. They are wrapped in
paper with big print. One package reads:
"Watch out - better worry about this!"
"Danger - this will bring fear!" And another:
"Impossible - you'll never handle this one!"
When you hear the ring in the morning,
try something new.
Have Jesus Christ answer the door for you.
LORD PUT YOUR ARM AROUND
MY SHOULDERS AND YOUR
HAND OVER MY MOUTH.
THE GREATEST ACTS OF LOVE ARE
DONE BY THOSE WHO HABITUALLY
PERFORM SMALL ACTS OF KINDNESS.
A GOOD RULE FOR GOING THROUGH
LIFE IS TO KEEP THE HEART A LITTLE
SOFTER THAN THE HEAD.
EVERYONE LIVES IN A TENT....EITHER
CONTENT OR DISCONTENT. IT'S UP TO
YOU TO DECIDE.
Killing time is not murder, it's suicide
WHERE WORDS FAIL, MUSIC SPEAKS
You may be disappointed if you fail, but
you are doomed if you don't try....Beverly Sills
THE FUTURE IS NO MORE UNCERTAIN THAN THE PRESENT.
THE BEST THING SPENT ON YOUR CHILDREN IS .....T I M E ! !
THE GREATEST OBSTACLE OF THE FUTURE IS THE PAST. ( CHURCHILL)
