“Twenty Dollars”

A well known speaker started off his seminar by
holding up a $20 bill. In the room of 200,
he asked. "Who would like this $20 bill?"

Hands started going up. He said, "I am going to give
this $20 to one of you - but first, let me do this."

He proceeded to crumple the 20 dollar note up.
He then asked. "Who still wants it?"
Still the hands were up in the air.

"Well," he replied, "what if I do this?"
He dropped it on the ground and started to grind it
into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up,
now crumpled and dirty. "Now, who still wants it?"

Still the hands went into the air.

"My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson.
No matter what I did to the money,
you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value.
It was still worth $20.

Many times in our lives, we are dropped,
crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions
we make and the circumstances that come our way.
We feel as though we are worthless;
but no matter what happened or what will happen,
you will never lose your value.

Dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased,
you are still priceless to those who love you.
The worth of our lives comes,
not in what we do or who we know,
but by ...WHO WE ARE.

You are special - don't ever forget it."

Author Unknown

There are two days in every week
about which we should not worry,
two days which should be kept free from fear and apprehension.

One of these days is YESTERDAY with its mistakes and cares,
its faults and blunders, it aches and pains.
YESTERSDAY has passed forever beyond our control.

All the money in the world cannot bring back YESTERDAY.
We cannot undo a single act we performed;
we cannot erase a single word we said.
YESTERDAY is gone.

The other day we should not worry about is
TOMORROW with its possible adversities, its burdens,
its large promise and poor performance.
TOMORROW is also beyond our immediate control.

TOMORROW's sun will rise, either in splendor
or behind a mask of clouds - but it will rise.
Until it does, we have no stake in TOMORROW,
for it is as yet unborn.

This leaves only one day - TODAY -
Any man can fight the battles of just one day.
It is only when you and I
add the burdens of those two awful eternities -
YESTERDAY and TOMORROW that we breakdown.

It is not the experience of TODAY that
drives men mad - it is remorse or
bitterness for something which has happened YESTERDAY
and the dread of what TOMORROW may bring.

Let us, therefore, live but one day at a time.

E.W. Laohoo

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire.
He told his employer-contractor of his plans
to leave the house-building business
and live a more leisurely life with his wife
enjoying his extended family.

He would miss the paycheck,
but he needed to retire.
The contractor was sorry to see his
good worker go and asked if he could
build just one more house as a personal favor.
The carpenter said yes,
but in time it was easy to see
that his heart was not in his work.
He resorted to shoddy workmanship
and used inferior materials.
It was an unfortunate way
to end a dedicated career.

When the carpenter finished his
work the employer came to inspect the house.
He handed the front-door key to the carpenter.
"This is your house," he said,"my gift to you."
The carpenter was shocked!
What a shame! If he had only known he
was building his own house,
he would have done it all so differently.

So it is with us.
We build our lives, a day at a time,
often putting less than our best into the
building. Then with shock we realize we have
to live in the house we have built.
If we could do it over,
we'd do it much differently.
But we cannot go back.
You are the carpenter.
Each day you hammer a nail,
place a board, erect a wall.
"Life is a do-it-yourself project,"
someone has said.
Your attitudes and the choices
you make today, build the
"house" you live in tomorrow. Build wisely!

Remember...Work like you don't need the money.
Love like you've never been hurt.
"To the world you might be one person,
but to one person you might be the world."

There was still a steady rain when Amee
trudged into the shelter at the bus stop that evening.
Sitting heavily on the bench, she stared at
a muddy gutter, and wondered when things
would ever change. So much had been wrong,
she felt she was slowly being crushed inside.
The physical therapy after the auto accident
was only supposed to be for a couple weeks.
The weeks had stretched to months,
and although she could walk now, she still
fought for balance on her steps, and the numbing
ache still robbed her of sleep most nights.
Her broken collarbone still ached too,
when it rained, like today. Her stomach growled,
and she grimaced at the thought of food.
All the medications were ruining her appetite.
She was so tired of being sick.
So tired of being tired. Amee sat lost in thought,
as the rain dripped steadily off the awning.

Suddenly, Amee was aware of white service shoes
in front of her line of vision. Startled, she followed
the sturdy uniform-clad legs up to see
pudgy tan hands clasped around an ample waist
within a bright blue scrub shirt.
She looked up into a pair of crinkled-rimmed
kind brown eyes, and realized a woman was speaking to her.

Ya all right, honey?" she was saying.
Without warning, Amee burst into tears.
In seconds, the woman had stepped close,
and pulled Amee's head to her ample bosom,
and held her quietly close.
The moment passed, and Amee straightened up,
apologizing profusely through her tears.

"Stop Amee," said the soft voice.
"God knows when we're drowning, and need His touch.
The sun will come out again for you."
Gently she kissed Amee's forehead,
and turned to walk away.

"Wait!" cried Amee, "How did you know my name?!"
"God knows all His children by name, child."

As Amee blinked in astonishment,
the bus arrived, blocking her view.
As she stood up, shaking her head,
the voice came again. At the same moment as
the breaking sunbeams. In the mist steaming off
the pavement, Amee distinctly heard,
"He knows you needed to be held in His arms,
for just a moment. To hear His heartbeat.
He sent me to wrap you in it today."

Author unknown~~

Things God Won't Ask...

God won't ask what kind of car you drove,
but will ask how many people you drove who didn't have transportation.

God won't ask the square footage of your house,
but will ask how many people you welcomed into your home.

God won't ask about the fancy clothes you had in your closet,
but will ask how many of those clothes helped the needy.
God won't ask about your social status,
but will ask what kind of class you displayed.

God won't ask how many material possessions you had,
but will ask if they dictated your life.
God won't ask what your highest salary was,
but will ask if you compromised your character to obtain that salary.

God won't ask how much overtime you worked,
but will ask if you worked overtime for your family and loved ones.

God won't ask how many promotions you received,
but will ask how you promoted others.

God won't ask what your job title was,
but will ask if you performed your job to the best of your ability.

God won't ask what you did to help yourself,
but will ask what you did to help others.

God won't ask how many friends you had,
but will ask how many people to whom you were a true friend.

God won't ask what you did to protect your rights,
but will ask what you did to protect the rights of others.

God won't ask in what neighborhood you lived,
but will ask how you treated your neighbors.

God won't ask about the color of your skin,
but will ask about the content of your character.

God won't ask how many times your deeds matched your words,
but will ask how many times they didn't.

When there is nothing left but God,
that is when you find out God is all you need.

Have you got a minute?
All you do is simply say the following small prayer for someone............

God, bless ____________ in whatever it is that you know he/she may be needing this day!
And may _________________'s life be full of your peace,
prosperity and power as he/she seeks to have a closer relationship with you.

Keeping A Relationship

It's best to wait for the one you want than settle for the one available.

Best to wait for the one you love than one who's around.

Best to wait for the right one because life's too short to be wasted on just someone.

"An African proverb states, "Before you get married,keep both eyes open... and after you marry, close one eye."

Before you get involved and make a commitment to someone,
don't let lust, desperation, immaturity, ignorance,
pressure from others or a low self-esteem make you blind to warning signs.

Keep your eyes open, and don't fool yourself that you can change
someone or that what you see as faults aren't really that important.

Once you decide to commit to someone, over time, their flaws, vulnerabilities,
pet peeves, and differences will become more obvious.

If you love your mate and want the relationship to grow and evolve, you've got to learn
how to close one eye and not let every little thing bother you.

You and your mate have many different expectations,
emotional needs, values, dreams, weaknesses, and strengths.

Neither one of you are perfect, but are you perfect for each other?

Do you bring out the best in each other?
Do you compliment and compromise with each other,
or do you compete, compare and control?

What do you bring to the relationship?
Do you bring past relationships, past hurt, past mistrust, past pain?

You can't take someone to the altar because you want to alter them.

You can't make someone love you, or make someone stay.

If you develop self-esteem, spiritual discernment,
and "a life," you won't find yourself making someone
else responsible for your happiness or responsible for your pain.

Manipulation, control, jealousy, neediness, and selfishness are
not the ingredients of a thriving, healthy, loving and lasting relationship.

Seeking status, sex, and security are the wrong reasons to be in a relationship.

What keeps a relationship strong?
- communication
- intimacy
- a sense of humor
- sharing household tasks
- some getaway time without business or children
- daily exchanges(a meal, shared activity, a hug, a call, a touch, a note)
- sharing common goals and interests
- giving each other space to grow without feeling insecure
- giving each other a sense of belonging and assurances of commitment.
If these qualities are missing, the relationship will erode as resentment,
withdrawal, abuse, neglect, dishonesty and pain replace the passion.

"As long as we have memories, yesterday remains. As long as we have hope,
tomorrow awaits. As long as we have friendship, today is beautiful."

Love is when you take away the feeling, the passion, and the romance in
a relationship and find out that you still care for that person.

Love is being able to walk arm in arm..... even when you don't see eye to eye!

Never say goodbye when you still want to try.
Never give up when you still feel you can take it.
Never say you no longer love a person when you can't let go.

If you love someone, tell them, for hearts are often broken by words left unspoken!

"Whoever you are, there is some younger person who thinks you are perfect.
There is some work that will never be done if you don't do it.
There is someone who would miss you if you were gone.
There is a place that you alone can fill."

Jacob M. Braude

Is it funny??

To all of us who seem to be so busy with our lives...please read on!
Funny how we set our clocks to arise at 4:00 am or 5:00 am to be at the job by 7:30,
yet when Sunday comes we can't get to church at 11:00am to praise the one who gave us the jobs!
Funny how we call God our Father and Jesus our brother, but find it hard to introduce them to our family.

Funny how small our sins seem, but how big "their" sins are.

Funny how we demand justice from others, but expect mercy from God.

Funny how much difficulties some have learning the gospel well enough to tell others,
but how simple it is to understand and explain the latest gossip about someone else.

Funny how we can't think of anything to say when we pray,
but don't have any difficulty thinking of things to talk about to a friend.
Funny how we are so quick to take directions from a total stranger when we are lost,
but are hesitant to take God's direction for our lives.

Funny how so many churchgoers sing "Standing on the Promises" but all they do is sit on the promises.
Funny how people want God to answer their prayers but refuse to listen to His counsel.

Funny how we sing about heaven, but live only for today.

Funny how people think they are going to Heaven but don't think there is a Hell.

Funny how it is okay to blame God for evil and suffering in the world,
but it is not necessary to thank Him for what is good and pleasant.

Funny how when something goes wrong, we cry,"Lord, why me?"
but when something goes right, we think, "Hey, it must be me!"
Oh wait...maybe all this isn't so "funny" after all.

Funny how we probably all read this e-mail,
but few of us take the time to pass it on... I took the time..........WILL YOU?

TAKE HOLD OF EVERY MOMENT

A friend of mine opened his wife's underwear drawer and picked up a silk paper wrapped package:

"This, - he said - isn't any ordinary package."
He unwrapped the box and stared at both the silk paper and the box.

"She got this the first time we went to New York, 8 or 9 years ago.
She has never put it on. Was saving it for a special occasion.
Well, I guess this is it.
He got near the bed and placed the gift box next to the other clothings he was taking to the funeral house,
his wife had just died. He turned to me and said:

"Never save something for a special occasion.
Every day in your life is a special occasion".
I still think those words changed my life.
Now I read more and clean less.
I sit on the porch without worrying about anything.
I spend more time with my family, and less at work.
I understood that life should be a source of experience to be lived up to,
not survived through. I no longer keep anything.
I use crystal glasses every day.
I'll wear new clothes to go to the supermarket,
if I feel like it. I don't save my special perfume for special occasions,
I use it whenever I want to.

The words "Someday..." and "One Day..." are fading away from my dictionary.
If it's worth seeing, listening or doing, I want to see, listen or do it now.
I don't know what my friend's wife would have done if she knew she wouldn't be there the next morning,
this nobody can tell. I think she might have called her relatives and closest friends.
She might call old friends to make peace over past quarrels.
I'd like to think she would go out for Chinese, her favourite food.
It's these small things that I would regret not doing, if I knew my time had come.
I would regret it, because I would no longer see the friends I would meet,
letters... letters that i wanted to write "One of this days".
I would regret and feel sad, because I didn't say to my brothers and sons,
not times enough at least, how much I love them.
Now, I try not to delay, postpone or keep anything that could bring laughter and joy into our lives.

And, on each morning, I say to myself that this could be a special day.
Each day, each hour, each minute, is special.
If you got this, it's because someone cares for you and because, probably, there's someone you care about.
If you're too busy to send this out to other people and you say to yourself that you will send it "One of these days",
remember that "One day" is far away... or might never come...