He Sent Me

I don't know how to say it, but somehow it seems to me
That maybe we are stationed, just where God wants us to be
That the little place I am filling, is the reason for my birth
And just to do the things I do, He sent me down to earth
Sometimes I get to thinking and as my labors I review
That I should have a higher place, with greater things to do
But I've come to the conclusion, when my envying is stilled
That the place to which God sent me, was the place he wanted filled
Since God knows and understands, all things of earth and sea
I fancy that He placed me here, just where He wanted me
So I'll plod along and stuggle, in the hopes that when day is through
That I'm really necessary, in the things God wants to do
And there isn't any service, I can give that I would scorn
For it may be just the reason, God allowed me to be born

Rules to being Human

1. You Will Receive A Body
You may like it or hate it, but it will be yours for the entire period you are here.

2.You Will Learn Lessons
You are enrolled in a full-time informal school called life. Each day in this school, you will have the opportunity to learn lessons - you may like the lesson or think them irrelevent and stupid.

3.There Are No Mistakes, Only Lessons
There is a process of trial and error; experimentation. The 'failed' experiments are as much a part of the process as the experiment that ultimately 'works'.

4. A Lesson Is Repeated Until It Is Learned
A lesson will be presented to you in various forms until you have learned it. When you have learned it, you can go on to the next lesson.

5. Learning Lessons Does Not End
There is no part of Life that does not contain its lessons. If you are alive, there are lessons to be learned.

6. "There" Is No Better Than "here'.
When your 'there' has become a 'here', you will simply obtain another 'there' that will again look better than 'here'.

7. Others Are Merely Mirrors Of You.
You cannot love or hate something about another person unless it reflects something you love or hate about yourself.

8. What You Make Of Your Life Is Up To You
You will have all the tools and resources you need. What you do with them is up to you. The choice is yours.

9. Your Answers Lie Inside You
The answers to Life's questions lie inside you. All you need to do is look, listen and trust.

10. You Will Forget All This

11.  You Can Remember It Whenever You Want

Thoughts are Things

I hold it true that thoughts are things
They're endowed with bodies, breath, & wings
And we send them forth to fill
The world with good results or ill
That which we call our secret thought
Speed forth to earth's remotest spot
Leaving it's belssings or it's woes
Like tracks behind it as it goes
We build our future, thought by thought
For good or ill, yet know it not
Yet so the Universe was wrought
Thought is another name for fate
Choose them, thy destiny and wait
For love brings love, and hate brings hate

Listen Christian

I was hungry, and you formed a humanitarian club and discussed my hunger
I was imprisoned, and you crept off quietly to your chapel to pray for my release
I was naked, and in your own mind you debated the imorality of my appearance
I was sick, and you knelt and thanked God for your health
I was homeless, and you preached to me of the shelter of the love of God
I was lonely, and you left me alone to pray for me
You seem so holy, so close to God, but I am still very Hungry, Lonely, and Cold

It is Gonna Take More - Tom Skousen II

Have you ever read a book
    by taking just one look?
How many hills have been topped
    with one single hop?
Have you ever won a race
    by letting up the pace?
How many poems have been craft
    on the very first draft?
Have you ever eaten all you like
    in a solitary bite?

It is gonna take more,
     press on and explore.

Things to Keep

Keep your thoughts positive,
because your thoughts become your words


Keep your words positive,
because your words become your actions


Keep your actions positive,
because your actions become your habits


Keep your habits positive,
because your habits become your lifestyle


Keep your lifestyle positive,
because your lifestyle becomes your destiny

Your Dream

Follow your dream
take one step at a time
and don't settle for less
just continue to climb
     
              Follow your dream
              if you stumble, don't stop
              and lose sight of your goal
              press on to the top

       For only on top
       can we see the whole view
       can we see what we've done
       and what we can do
       can we then have the vision
       to seek something new

Press on and Follow your dream!

Can I Fail

When the task at hand is long and hard,
And the sky above is black;
When fortune has delt you an unkind card
Can you take it and not answer back?

When you think of the worldly things you have lost,
Can you look back at your lot and still be glad
you have chosen to pay the cost?

When everyone turns a cold shoulder to you,
and your message has no avail
When the doors are shut in your face
'till you're blue--just ask yourself "can I fail?"

Then think of the trust of those loved ones dear,
Of their faith exercised in you;
Of your Father-in-Heaven who surely can hear
The prayers of His chosen few.

Just think of the love of that great Mom and Dad
Of the pride they have in you.
Remember those Brothers and Sisters you have.
And perhaps there's a sweetheart too.

Now turn again to your task,
You must take stock of your good of sale
Ask God to help you keep sacred your trust
Then ask yourself, "Can I fail?"

What will Today Bring

This is the beginning of a new day
God has given me this day to use as I wish
I can waste it or use it for good
What I do today is important
because I'm exchanging a day of my life for it

When tomorrow comes
this day will be gone forever
leaving in its place
something I have traded for it

I want it to be a gain, not loss
good, not evil
success, not failure.

In order that I shall not regret
the price I have paid for it
Because the future
is just a whole string of now

Blow out the Wishbone

Yesterday I gave Johnny his first wishbone. Holding one side of it, I said to him, "Make a wish, Johnny!" "Okay" he said. Then he took a deep breath, looked straight at the wishbone, and blew!


Do it any way you want, Johnny. Blow out the candles, blow out the stars, blow out the wishbone. Just wish. Let your wonderful mind burst with all the possibilities of being. Fasten your eyes on the ones that set you on fire. And then wish, with all your breath, with all your heart, with all your soul.


Wishers and dreamers are the people who bring the future. They are not content with the world as it is. A brighter, better vision pulses in their imagination and they will it into reality.


The wish comes first, and then the work. Without work, the wish will dry up like an unwatered flower. But without the wish, work will go on and on, as hard and bare as flowerless ground.


Do both, my dear. But if ever you find yourself full of work and dry of dreams, run - do not walk - to the nearest wishbone, think up a great one - and blow!

The Empty Box

Even though it was only September, the air was crisp and children were already whispering about Christmas plans and Santa Claus. It made the already long months until Christmas seem even longer. With each passing day the children became more anxious, waiting for the final school bell. Upon its ringing everyone would run for coats, gloves and the classroom door, racing to see who would be the first one home; everyone except David.


David was a small boy with messy brown hair and tattered clothes. I had often wondered what kind of home life David had and often asked myself what kind of mother could send her son to school dressed so inappropriately for the cold winter months without coat, boots, or gloves. But something made David special. It wasn't his intelligence or manners for they were as lacking as his winter clothes, but I can never recall looking at David and not seeing a smile. He was always willing to help and not a day passed that David didn't stay after school to straighten chairs and clean erasers. We never talked much, he would just simply smile and ask what else he could do, then thank me for letting him stay and slowly head for home.


Weeks passed and the excitement over the coming Christmas grew into restlestness until the last day of school before the holiday break. I can't recall a more anxious group of children as that final bell rang and they scattered out the door. I smiled in relief as the last of them hurried out. Turning around I saw David quietly standing by my desk. "Aren't you anxious to get home David?" I asked. "No", he quietly replied. Ready to go home myself I said, "Well, I think the chairs and erasers will wait, why don't you hurry home. "I have something for you," he said and pulled from behind his back a small box wrapped in old paper and tied with string. Handing it to me he said anxiously, "Open it!" I took the box from him, thanked him and slowly unwrapped it. I lifted the lid and to my surprise saw nothing. I looked at David's smiling face and back into the empty box and said, "The box is nice David, "It's full of love. My mom told me before she died that love was something you couldn't see or touch unless you know it's there. . .  can you see it?" Tears filled my eyes as I looked at the proud dirty face I had rarely given attention to. "Yes, David, I can see it," I replied, "Thank you."


David and I became good friends after that Christmas and I can say that with the passing years, I never again let the uncombed hair or dirty faces bother me, and I never forgot the meaning behind the little empty box that sat on my desk.

Becoming Butterfly - Trina Paulus

One day a grey-haired caterpillar hanging upside down on a branch, surprised Yellow. He seemed caught in some hairy stuff. "You seem in trouble," she said. "Can I help?"

"No, my dear, I have to do this to become a butterfly."

Her whole insides leapt. "Butterfly - that word," she thought. "Tell me, sir, what is a butterfly?"

"It's what you are meant to become. It flies with beautiful wings and joins the earth to heaven. It drinks only the nectar from flowers and carries the seeds of love from one flower to another. Without butterflies the world would soon have few flowers."

"It can't be true!" gasped Yellow. "How can I believe there's a butterfly inside you or me when all I see is fuzzy worm? How does one become a butterfly?"
"You must want to fly so much that you are willing to give up being a caterpillar."

"You mean to die?" asked Yellow, remembering the three who fell out of the sky.

"Yes and no," he answered. "What looks like you will die, but really you will still live. Life is changed, not taken away. Isn't that different from those who die without ever becoming butterflies?"

"And if I decide to become a butterfly," said Yellow hesitantly, "what do I do?"

"Watch me. I'm making a cocoon. It looks like I'm hiding but a cocoon is no escape. It's an in-between house where the change takes place. It's a big step since you can never return to caterpillar life. During the change, it will seem to you and to anyone who might peek that nothing is happening - but a butterfly is becoming."

"It just takes time."

From "Hope For Flowers" by Trina Paulus

Blessed among men

Be more interested in people then in things.
Be unselfish, think wholesome thoughts,
keep a construtive attitude of soul and
your face will become a true reflection of your real self.
You will be a joy to behold to all whom you meet
and pass on your way.
You will be an inspiration and help to all
whose lives are intertwined with yours
in daily communion and daily association.
You will be in deed and in fact "blessed among men."

Blind man's lantern

An English writer tells of a blind man who always carried a lantern.
People would ask of what use the lantern could be to his sightless eyes.
"I do not carry it to prevent my stumbling over others, but to keep them from stumbling over me"
.... Let your light so shine that somebody else will not stumble because of you.

Touch Of The Masters Hand

It was battered and scarred and the auctioneer thought it hardly worth his while
to waste his time on the old violin. Be he held it up with a smile..
"What am I bid good folks, one dollar, now two, and who will make three.
Three dollars once, three dollars twice."
From the room far back, came a gray haired man and picking up the old violin
and tightening up all it's strings played a melody so pure and sweet, sweet as the angels sing.

As the music ceased, the auctioneer with a voice that was soft and low, said
"What am I bid good folks, one thousand dollars, now two, and who will make three.
Three thousand dollars once, three thousand dollars twice, going, going, gone said he."
And the people cheered and some of them cried,
"We do not quite understand what changed it's worth."
It was the touch of the master's hand.

And many a man with life out of tune, battered and scarred with sin
is auctioned off to the foolish crowd much like the old violin.
A mess of pottage, a glass of wine, a game and he travels on.
Going once, going twice, going and almost gone.
But the master comes and the foolish crowd can never quite understand
the worth of a soul and the change that is wrought by the "Touch of the masters hand."

Whenever your life is out of tune and no melody soothes your soul,
Look the the master whose gentle touch, will bless you and make you whole.

Like an old violin with so little worth, a life may be far less than grand,
But may be transformed in a moment you see,
By the touch of the Master's Hand.

A moments anger...

"He who can suppress a moments anger,      
may prevent a day of sorrow."

Most favorable light

               "Make it a practice to judge persons
and things in the most favorable light
                at all times, in all circumstances."
                                                                            St Vincent de Paul

Improve the world Anne Frank

"How wonderful it is that nobody
               need wait a single moment
       before starting to improve the world."   
                                                            Anne Frank

We love persons....Jacques Maritain

"We don't love qualities,
                    we love persons,
         sometimes by reason of their defects
                           as well as of their qualitites." 
                                                Jacques Maritain

Great perils... Victor Hugo

"Great perils have this beauty,
                   that they bring to light
                             the fraternity of strangers."
                                                  Victor Hugo

I Believe - Walls Cellar

    "I Believe...
          I believe in the sun....
                even when it is not shining.
         I believe in love...
                     even when feeling it not.
     I believe in God...
            even when God is silent."


                        ~Walls Cellar
                                Colagne Germany

Life isn't always fair

"There are certain things

that may never be fully understood

for life isn't always fair...

but it's still pretty darn good."

First Impressions

"Do not rely on first impressions
for things aren't always as they seem.
Sometimes the very smallest player
is the best one on the team."

Words are Permanent

"Words are permanent;

hearts cannot be unbroken

and saying "I'm sorry"

cannot retrieve angry words

that I have spoken."

Less is More

        "The phrase 'less is more'                            
                     is absolutely true...
          with too much of what you don't need,

      it's hard to find the things you do."

Success ...alone

"Success should not be measured

in what you will buy or own,

but in the pride you feel

in the person you're with...

when you are all alone."

opportunity....Walter P Chrysler

"The reason so many people

never get anywhere in life

is because when opportunity knocks,

they are out in the backyard

looking for four-leaf clovers."

                                                                       ~Walter P. Chrysler

get started

"You don't have to be great to get started,

but you have to get started to be great." Les Brown

difference...W Clement Stone

"There is little difference in people,

but that little difference,

makes a big difference.

The little difference is attitude.

The big difference

is whether it is positive or negative."

W Clement Stone

try....faith...believe.... Rich Devos

"The only thing that stands between a person
and what they want from life
is often the will to try it
and the faith to believe it's possible." 
Rich DeVos

you can... Henry Ford

Whether or not you think you can or you can't 
 Either way, you are right!
~Henry Ford

Decisions...Wilfred A Peterson

"Decision is the spark that ignites action.
Until a decision is made, nothing happens."
~Wilfred A. Peterson

have everything.....Zig Ziglar

"You can have everything in life you want
if you will just help enough other people
get what they want." ~Zig Ziglar

words...manners..actions..habits... W Arthur Ward

"Our words reveal our thoughts;
our manners mirror our self-esteem;
our actions reflect our character;
our habits predict the future."
~William Arthur Ward

successful performance...Dr Wayne Dyer

‎"Being relaxed, at peace with yourself, confident, emotionally neutral, loose,and free-floating
these are the keys to successful performance
in almost everything you do."
 Dr. Wayne Dyer

last years...

"For last years words
      belong to last year's language
and next year's words
               await another voice."
                                      T.S. Eliot

a better man...Benjamin Franklin

"Be always at war with your vices,
                      at peace with your neighbors,
                              and let each new year find you a better man."
                                                                                                                              Benjamin Franklin

Look at what could be..

"Stay away from what might have been,
and look at what can be." 
Marsha Petrie Sue

look for potential

"Maybe this year...
          walk through the rooms of our lives
not looking for flaws, but potential."  Ellen Goodman

first step...Martin Luther King

"You don't have to see the whole staircase,
                                            just take the first step."
                                                                                 Dr Martin Luther King Jr

A New Year

"The object of a new year
is not that we should have a new year.
It is that we should have a new soul."
GK Chesterton