Wisdom In an E-mail

I thought to share with you the following words I received from a friend via e-mail:

Life is too short to wake up with regrets.
So love the people who treat you right.
Love the ones who don't just because you can.
Believe everything happens for a reason.
If you get a second chance, grab it with both hands.
If it changes your life, let it.
Forgive quickly.
God never said life would be easy.
He just promised it would be worth it.

Tequila and Salt

1. 1. There are at least two people in this world that you would die for.
   


2. At least 15 people in this world love you in some way.
   


3. The only reason anyone would ever hate you is because they want to be just like you.
   


4. A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone, even if they don't like you.
   


5. Every night, SOMEONE thinks about you before they go to sleep.
   


6. You mean the world to someone.
   


7. You are special and unique.
   


8. Someone that you don't even know exists loves you.
   


9. When you make the biggest mistake ever, something good comes from it.
   


10. When you think the world has turned its back on you take another look.
    


11. Always remember the compliments you received. Forget about the rude remarks.
    

And always remember....
when life hands you Lemons, ask for Tequila and Salt.

Good friends are like stars........
You don't always see them, But you know they are always there.

I would rather have one rose and a kind word from a friend while I'm here than a whole truck load when I'm gone.

Happiness keeps You Sweet,
Trials keep You Strong,
Sorrows keep You Human,
Failures keeps You Humble,
Success keeps You Glowing,
But Only God keeps You Going

-- Author Unknown

The Works of Mercy

Corporal Works:

Feed the hungry.
Give drink to the thirsty.
Clothe the naked.
Shelter the homeless.
Visit the sick.
Visit those in prison.
Bury the dead.


Spiritual Works:

Instruct the ignorant.
Counsel the doubtful.
Admonish the sinner.
Comfort the sorrowful.
Forgive injuries.
Bear wrongs patiently.
Pray for the living and dead.


Source: September 2008 issue of St. Anthony Messenger.

Cancer Is Limited

It cannot cripple love,
It cannot shatter hope,
It cannot corrode faith,
It cannot eat away peace,
It cannot destroy confidence,
It cannot shut out memories,
It cannot silence courage,
It cannot invade the soul,
It cannot reduce eternal life,
It cannot quench the spirit,
It cannot lessen the power of the Resurrection.

Source: Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate

Psalm 23 (for work)

The Lord is my real boss, and I shall not want. He gives me peace, when chaos is all around me. He gently reminds me to pray and do all things without murmuring and complaining.

He reminds me that he is my source and not my job. He restores my sanity everyday and guides my decisions that I might honor him in all that I do.

Even though I face absurd amounts of e-mails, system crashes, unrealistic deadlines, budget cutbacks, gossiping co-workers, discriminating supervisors and an aging body that doesn't cooperate every morning, I still will not stop--- for He is with me! His presence, His peace, and His power will see me through.

He raises me up, even when they fail to promote me. He claims me as His own, even when the company threatens to let me go. His Faithfulness and love is better than any bonus check.

His retirement plan beats every 401k there is!

When it's all said and done, I'll be working for Him a whole lot longer and for that, I WILL BLESS HIS HOLY NAME.

Count God's Blessings

The following words are from an email a friend sent me recently:

أراد رجل أن يبيع بيته لينتقل إلى بيت أفضل
فذهب إلي احد أصدقائه وهو رجل أعمال وخبير في أعمال التسويق...
وطلب منه أن يساعده في كتابه إعلان لبيع البيت وكان الخبير يعرف البيت جيداً فكتب وصفاً مفصلاً له أشاد فيه بالموقع الجميل
والمساحة الكبيرة ووصف التصميم الهندسي الرائع ثم تحدث عن الحديقة وحمام السباحة.....الخ....
وقرأ كلمات الإعلان علي صاحب المنزل الذي أصغى إليه في اهتمام شديد وقال..."أرجوك أعد قراءه الإعلان"....
وحين أعاد الكاتب القراءة صاح الرجل يا له من بيت رائع ..لقد ظللت طول عمري أحلم باقتناء مثل هذا البيت ولم أكن أعلم
إنني أعيش فيه إلي أن سمعتك تصفه ثم أبتسم قائلاً من فضلك
لا تنشر الإعلان فبيتي غير معروض للبيع!!!

هناك مقولة قديمه تقول..أحصي البركات التي أعطاها الله لك واكتبها واحدة واحدة وستجد نفسك أكثر سعادة مما قبل...
إننا ننسى أن نشكر الله لأننا لا نتأمل في البركات ولا نحسب ما لدينا...
ولأننا نرى المتاعب فنتذمر ولا نرى البركات. قال أحدهم: إننا نشكو لأن الله جعل تحت الورود أشواك...
وكان الأجدر بنا أن نشكره لأنه جعل فوق الشوك وردا...!!
ً ويقول آخر: تألمت كثيراً عندما وجدت نفسي حافي القدمين ...ولكنني شكرت الله أكثر حينما وجدت آخر ليس له قدمين...!!!

A Piece of Cake

Sometimes we ask ourselves: What did I do to deserve this?
Why does God let these things happen to me?
Here is the explanation…

A daughter tells her mother how everything is going wrong for her. She probably failed her Math exam or her boyfriend just dumped her for her best friend.

In times so sad, a good mother knows just the thing to cheer up her daughter. ’I’ll make a delicious cake.’ In that moment the mother hugged her daughter and walked her to the kitchen, while her daughter attempts to smile.

While the mother prepared the utensils and ingredients, her daughter sat across from her at the counter. Her mother asks, ‘sweetheart, would you like a piece of cake?’

Her daughter replies, ‘sure, mom, you know I love cakes.’

‘alright’ the mother said, ‘drink some of this cooking oil.’

Shocked, the daughter responded, ‘what?!? No way!!’

‘How about a couple of raw eggs?’ To this the daughter responded, ‘Are you kidding?’

‘How about a little flour?’

‘No, mom. I’ll be sick!’

The mother responded, ‘All of these things are uncooked and taste bad. But if you put them together, they make a delicious cake!’

God works in the same way. When we ask ourselves why does he make us go through these difficult times, we don’t realize what or where these events may bring us. Only He knows and he will not let us fail. We don’t need to settle for the raw ingredients, trust in Him and see something fantastic come about!!

God loves us so much He sends us flowers every spring.

He makes the sun rise every morning.

And anything you need to talk, he is there to listen!

He can live anywhere in the universe. But He chooses to live in your heart.

Happy Moments
Praise God.

Difficult Moments
Seek God.

Quiet Moments
Worship God.

Painful Moments
Trust God.

Every Moment
Thank God.

-- Unknown Author

Love Your Enemies

Luke 6:27-38

Jesus said to his disciples:
“To you who hear I say,
love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

To the person who strikes you on one cheek,
offer the other one as well,
and from the person who takes your cloak,
do not withhold even your tunic.

Give to everyone who asks of you,
and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back.

Do to others as you would have them do to you.

For if you love those who love you,
what credit is that to you?
Even sinners love those who love them.

And if you do good to those who do good to you,
what credit is that to you?
Even sinners do the same.

If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment,
what credit is that to you?
Even sinners lend to sinners,
and get back the same amount.

But rather, love your enemies and do good to them,
and lend expecting nothing back;
then your reward will be great
and you will be children of the Most High,
for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

“Stop judging and you will not be judged.

Stop condemning and you will not be condemned.

Forgive and you will be forgiven.

Give, and gifts will be given to you;
a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing,
will be poured into your lap.

For the measure with which you measure
will in return be measured out to you.”

Faith, Hope and Love According to St. Paul

From the first letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians:

Brothers and sisters:
Love is patient, love is kind.
It is not jealous, it is not pompous,
it is not inflated, it is not rude,
it does not seek its own interests,
it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury,
it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth.
It bears all things, believes all things,
hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails.
If there are prophecies, they will be brought to nothing;
if tongues, they will cease;
if knowledge, it will be brought to nothing.
For we know partially and we prophesy partially,
but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.
When I was a child, I used to talk as a child,
think as a child, reason as a child;
when I became a man, I put aside childish things.
At present we see indistinctly, as in a mirror,
but then face to face.
At present I know partially;

then I shall know fully, as I am fully known.
So faith, hope, love remain, these three;
but the greatest of these is love.

Jesus and Science

Written by Unknown Author

In chemistry, he turned water to wine.

In biology, he was born without normal conception.

In Physics, he disapproved the law of gravity when he ascended into heaven and when he walked on water.

In economics, he disapproved the law of diminishing return by feeding 5000 people with two fish and five loaves of bread.

In medicine, he cured the sick and the blind without administering a single dose of drugs.

In history, he is the beginning and the end.

In government, he said he shall be called Prince of Peace.

Isn't It Strange?

Isn't it strange how a 20 dollar bill seems like such a large amount when you donate it to church, but such a small amount when you go shopping?

Isn't it strange how 2 hours seem so long when you're at church, and how short they seem when you're watching a good movie?

Isn't it strange that you can't find a word to say when you're praying, but you have no trouble thinking what to talk about with a friend?

Isn't it strange how difficult and boring it is to read one chapter of the Bible, but how easy it is to read 100 pages of a popular novel?

Isn't it strange how everyone wants front-row-tickets to concerts or games, but they do whatever is possible to sit at the last row in Church?

Isn't it strange how we need to know about an event for Church 2-3 weeks before the day so we can include it in our agenda, but we can adjust it for other events in the last minute?

Isn't it strange how difficult it is to learn a fact about God to share it with others, but how easy it is to learn, understand, extend and repeat gossip?

Isn't it strange how we believe everything that magazines and newspapers say, but we question the words in the Bible?

Isn't it strange how everyone wants a place in heaven, but they don't want to believe, do, or say anything to get there?

Isn't it strange how we send jokes in e-mails and they are forwarded right away, but when we are going to send messages about God, we think about it twice before we share it with others?

It's strange isn't it?

-- Author Unknown

Crying Out For Recognition

People today are crying out for recognition. They want to be persons. They want to be noticed, not in a showy way or because they have money or status, but because they are human beings.

Each of us is on a pilgrimage. We are seeking to encounter others who have the same needs as ourselves.

The greatest need of all is the need to be loved. But we pass one another by without noticing, without the slightest sign of recognition.

As Christians we are united by a close bond. So close that St. Paul called the Christian community "The Body of Christ."

It is time we begin to notice one another. Each person is a brother or sister in Christ. Each person then must be recognized. Each person must be given some sign of friendship, be it only a smile or a node of the head.

-- Catherine De Hueck Doherty
 

Love of Family and Friends

Lord, it was you who planted us on this earth. You fenced us around with the love of our families and friends. Their care towered over us. Under the shelter of this tower we grew in safety and peace.

We put out early blossoms. We filled up with leaves. People had great hopes for us. You had great hopes for us.

But now the year of our life is passing. The harvest is approaching. What have we to show? What fruit have we produced?

What if, after all this care, we should be found to be without the fruits of love? What if we had nothing to offer but your grapes of indifference, selfishness and neglect?

May you, Lord, have mercy on us, and with your patient urging help us to return your love.


-- Author Unknown

Instruments of The Lord

I found the following words on my church bulletin few years ago. They're as good as when I first read them:

This was the farewell command of Christ.
He has no body now on earth but ours.
He has no hands but ours to raise up the fallen.
He has no feet but ours to seek out the lost.
He has no eyes but ours to see the silent tears of the suffering.
He has no ears but ours to listen to the lonely.
He has no tongue but ours to speak a word of comfort to the sad.
He has no heart but ours to love the unloved.
Christ often picks the little unknown people to do his greatest work.

Spirit of The living God

Here's another piece of inspiration I found in my old folders. I'm not sure who wrote the piece:

In the fields, patches of green are appearing, new patches on an old garment. But, given time, spring will weave a completely new garment.

Yet spring is only a facilitator. It doesn't make anything happen. It merely creates the climate in which things can grow.

We too need to grow as human beings and children of God. But growth is slow and painful. We do not easily let go of the old garment, woven out of the old habits and attitudes.

But we have been given a wonderful Facilitator, namely, the Holy Spirit. The Spirit awakens us to mysterious power within us, bids us live, and helps us grow. Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on us.

Something To Think About

Last week was full of surprises in my household. A regular reader sent me the following story. It really helped me when I needed it the most:

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 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 grocer that he would stand good for whatever she needed for her family.

The grocer 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 whatever your grocery list weighs, I will give you that amount in groceries."

Louise, hesitated a moment with a bow ed 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 grocer and the customer showed amazement when the scales went down and stayed down. The grocer, staring at the scales, turned slowly to the customer and said grudgingly, "I can't believe it."

The customer smiled and the grocer 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 grocer stood there in utter disgust. Finally, he grabbed the piece of paper from the scales and looked at it with greater amazement.

It was not a grocery list. It was a prayer which said, "Dear Lord, you know my needs and I am leaving this in your hands".

The grocer gave her the groceries that he had gathered and stood in stunned silence. Louise thanked him and left the store.

The customer handed a fifty-dollar bill to the grocer and said, "It was worth every penny of it."

Only God Knows how much a prayer weighs. Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive. There is no cost but a lot of rewards.

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.

No one can go back and make a brand new start. Anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending. God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, sun without rain, but He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way.

Disappointments are like road bumps, they slow you down a bit but you enjoy the smooth road afterwards. Don't stay on the bumps too long. Move on!

When you feel down because you didn't get what you want, just sit tight and be happy, because God has thought of something better to give you.

When something happens to you, good or bad, consider what it means. There's a purpose to life's events, to teach you how to laugh more or not to cry too hard.

You can't make someone love you, all you can do is be someone who can be loved, the rest is up to the person to realize your worth.

It's better to lose your pride to the one you love, than to lose the one you love because of pride. We spend too much time looking for the right person to love or finding fault with those we already love, when instead we should be perfecting the love we give.

Never abandon an old friend. You will never find one who can take his place. Friendship is like wine, it gets better as it grows older.

Pathways To Peace

Here's another inspirational presentation from the makers of "The Interview With God". Again, the chosen words are the best:

Pathways to peace:
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God."
- Matthew 5:9

Integrity:
"Integrity is one of several paths. It distinguishes itself from the others because it is the right path and the only one upon which you will never get lost."
- M.H. McKee

Joy:
"If the sight of the blue skies fills you with joy, if the simple things of nature have a message that you understand, rejoice, for your soul is alive."
- Eleonora Duse

Kindness:
"Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see."
- Mark Twain

Faith:
"Faith is the strength by which a shattered world shall emerge into the light."
- Helen Keller

Courage:
"This is courage… to bear unflinchingly what heaven sends."
- Euripedes

Hope:
"Hope is faith holding out its hand in the dark."
- George Iles

Charity:
"We must not only give what we have; we must also give what we are."
- Desire-Joseph Mercier

Love:
"I have found the paradox that if I love until it hurts, then there is no hurt, but only more love."
- Mother Teresa

Patience:
"Never think that God's delays are God's denials. Hold on, Hold fast, Hold out. Patience is genius."
- Comte Georges Louis Leclerc de Buffon

Determination:
"The great thing in this world is not so much where we are, but in what direction we are moving."
- Oliver Wendell Holmes

Gratitude:
"A single grateful thought raised to heaven is the most perfect prayer."
- Gotthold Ephraim Lessing

Humility:
"Pride is concerned with who is right. Humility is concerned with what is right."
- Ezra Taft Benson

Forgiveness:
"Forgiveness is the answer to the child's dream of a miracle by which what is broken is made whole again, what is soiled is again made clean."
- Dag Hammarskjold

Peace:
"We must come to see that peace is not merely a distant goal we seek, but it is a means by which we arrive at that goal. We must pursue peaceful ends through peaceful means."
- Martin Luther King, Jr.

The Interview With God

Read the poem first. Then watch the presentation. The author of the poem is unknown.

I dreamed I had an interview with God.

So you would like to interview me? God asked.

If you have the time I said.

God smiled. My time is eternity.
What questions do you have in mind for me?

What surprises you most about humankind?

God answered...
That they get bored with childhood,
they rush to grow up, and then
long to be children again.

That they lose their health to make money...
and then lose their money to restore their health.

That by thinking anxiously about the future,
they forget the present,
such that they live in neither
the present nor the future.

That they live as if they will never die,
and die as though they had never lived.

God's hand took mine
and we were silent for a while.

And then I asked...
As a parent, what are some of life's lessons
you want your children to learn?

To learn they cannot make anyone
love them. All they can do
is let themselves be loved.

To learn that it is not good
to compare themselves to others.

To learn to forgive
by practicing forgiveness.

To learn that it only takes a few seconds
to open profound wounds in those they love,
and it can take many years to heal them.

To learn that a rich person
is not one who has the most,
but is one who needs the least.

To learn that there are people
who love them dearly,
but simply have not yet learned
how to express or show their feelings.

To learn that two people can
look at the same thing
and see it differently.

To learn that it is not enough that they
forgive one another,
but they must also forgive themselves.

"Thank you for your time," I said humbly.

"Is there anything else
you would like your children to know?"

God smiled and said,
Just know that I am here... always.

The Meaning of Prayer

The other day, I found the most inspiring post I've read in a long time. I thought to share it with you.

I think it is true for every cancer patient to think, “Why did this happen to me?” I know I did. Why couldn’t Osama binLaden get cancer and die in some cave in Afghanistan? Why did G-d allow me to get cancer and not some scumbag terrorist?

I don’t have an answer to that. The best thing I can come up with is, it just is. We live in an imperfect world, and sometimes you get hit in the noggin with a curve ball.

Read more...

No matter what your religion is, prayer is an important part of our lives.

Seeds of Faith

By Unknown Author

Parents, teachers, priests and many others spend much of their lives implanting words. Naturally they want to reap the harvest. But the harvest is often slow in coming.

This is also true of God's word. Since the days of our youth, this precious seed has been falling into the soil of our hearts. Yet what results have we to show? Perhaps very little. But we must not despair.

A handful of grains of wheat was found in the tomb of one of the kings of ancient Egypt. Someone planted and watered them. To the amazement of everyone, the grains came to life and began to grow, after five thousand years lying in a tomb.

The word of God, once dropped into the human heart, Never dies.