PERSPECTIVES!

PERSPECTIVES!

One day, a financially comfortable father decided to take his son to the
country, with the purpose of showing him how poor people live, and that the
son could understand the value of things, and realize how fortunate they
were.

They stayed overnight at a very humble family’s farm for 1 day and 1 night.
As the trip ended, and during their return home, the father asks his son:

So what did you think of the trip?

It was great, dad!

Did you see how poor and needy some people have to live?

Yes!

And what did you learn?

I saw that we have one dog in the house, but they have four. We have a huge
swimming pool, but they have a river that never ever ends. We have imported lamps in the patio, they have the stars. Our backyard ends at the fence,but theirs goes on and on into the horizon. Especially though, dad, I saw that they have time to talk to each other and live as a family. You and Mom have to work all day, and I hardly see you both!

As the conversation ended, the father remained silent, and his son added:
Thanks Dad, for showing me how rich we could be!!

– Author Unknown

I hope you will one day understand….

what is love?

I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me – Proverbs 8:17

It would be better if they love you first. Unfortunately, I am not God. I prefer being loved first, too.

Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs -  Proverbs 10:12

Fine. I guess, I love you that much. Does that mean I have to forgive and forget, too?

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails… – 1 Corinthians 13:4-13

Isn’t it amazing that love is actually that? And if it isn’t? It is not love. Or I’m only human. Or I’ll get there one day…

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. – 1 John 4:18

But I am still afraid…. But I feel like I am being punished most of the time…. Yep, I’m a work in progress….

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. – John 15:13

That would be very sweet….But don’t you dare leave me alone!!!!

lessons from Noah’s ark

ALL WE REALLY NEED TO KNOW WE LEARNED FROM NOAH’S ARK

1. Plan ahead. It wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark.

when I make plans that’s when it doesn’t happen…

2. Stay fit. When you’re 600 years old, someone might ask you to do
something REALLY big.

just make sure it is not when i’m 600…how about within the next 50 years??

3. Don’t listen to critics — do what has to be done.

my critics are very much entertaining and of course, i’ll do what has to be done

4. Build on high ground.

I like that…high ground…

5. For safety’s sake, travel in pairs.

agreed!!!

6. Two heads are better than one.

sometimes I think someone should do the thinking…

7. Speed isn’t always an advantage. The cheetahs were on board, but so were the snails.

I agree and those who walk fast often fall hard on their faces

8. If you can’t fight or flee — float!

I like floating…

9. Take care of your animals as if they were the last ones on earth.

There is really only one jake…

10. Don’t forget that we’re all in the same boat.

And I shouldn’t rock it ;p

11. When the doo-doo gets really deep, don’t sit there and complain –
shovel!!!

how about I don’t complain and don’t shovel??

12. Stay below deck during the storm.

I like that

13. Remember that the ark was built by amateurs and the Titanic was built by
professionals.

Isn’t that amazing?… also by a lone man and a very very old one ;p

14. If you have to start over, have a friend by your side.

That is kinda hard…starting with a clean slate and no one there to know i believe is so much better…less pressure…less accountability

15. Remember that the woodpeckers INSIDE are often a bigger threat than the storm outside.

Interesting.It’s true. Sometimes it’s not what you have to do or say but what it takes to do it and say it ;p

16. Don’t miss the boat.

I sure hope I won’t…or then I’d have to make my own boat ;p

17. No matter how bleak it looks, there’s always a rainbow on the other side.

Just get it over and done with…and may we learn fast …

18. “Stop what you are doing, and do what God says!”

Quite interesting…May I have the ears and heart to listen and may I have the wisdom and courage to obey ;p

– Author Unknown

MEETING GOD

MEETING GOD

There once was a little boy who wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long
trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with Twinkies and a
six-pack of root beer, and he started his journey. When he had gone about
three blocks, he met an old woman. She was sitting in the park just staring
at some pigeons. The boy sat down next to her and opened his suitcase. He
was about to take a drink from his root beer when he noticed that the old
lady looked hungry so he offered her a Twinkie.

He gratefully accepted it and smiled at him. Her smile was so pretty that
the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered her a root beer. Once again,
she smiled at him. The boy was delighted! They sat there all afternoon
eating and smiling, but they never said a word. As it grew dark, the boy
realized how tired he was and he got up to leave, but before he had gone
more than a few steps; he turned around, ran back to the old woman, and gave her a hug. She gave him her biggest smile ever.

When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time later; his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face. She asked him, “What did you do today that made you so happy?” He replied, “I had lunch with God.” But before his mother could respond, he added, “You know what? She’s got the most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen!”

Meanwhile, the old woman, also radiant with joy, returned to her home. Her
son was stunned by the look of peace on her face and he asked, “Mother, what
did you do today that made you so happy?” She replied, “I ate Twinkies in
the park with God.” But before her son responded, she added, “You know he’s much younger than I expected.”

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a
listening ear, and honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of
which have the potential to turn a life around. People come into our lives
for a reason, a season, or a lifetime.

Embrace all equally!

– Author Unknown

God is under the bed

GOD IS UNDER THE BED

My brother Kevin thinks God lives under his bed. At least that’s what I
heard him say one night. He was praying out loud in his dark bedroom, and I
stopped outside his closed door to listen. Are you there, God?” he said.
Where are you? Oh, I see. Under the bed.” I giggled softly and tiptoed off
to my own room. Kevin’s unique perspectives are often a source of amusement.
But that night something else lingered long after the humor. I realized for
the first time the very different world Kevin lives in. He was born 30 years
ago, mentally disabled as a result of difficulties during labor. Apart from
his size (he’s 6-foot-2), there are few ways in which he is an adult. He
reasons and communicates with the capabilities of a 7-year- old, and he
always will. He will probably always believe that God lives under his bed,
that Santa Claus is the one who fills the space under our tree every
Christmas, and that airplanes stay up in the sky because angels carry them.

I remember wondering if Kevin realizes he is different. Is he ever
dissatisfied with his monotonous life? Up before dawn each day, off to work
at a workshop for the disabled, home to walk our cocker spaniel, returning
to eat his favorite macaroni-and-cheese for dinner, and later to bed. The
only variation in the entire scheme are laundry days, when he hovers
excitedly over the washing machine like a mother with her newborn child. He
does not seem dissatisfied. He lopes out to the bus every morning at 7:05,
eager for a day of simple work. He wrings his hands excitedly while the
water boils on the stove before dinner, and he stays up late twice a week to
gather our dirty laundry for his next day’s laundry chores. And Saturdays -
oh, the bliss of Saturdays! That’s the day my dad takes Kevin to the airport
to have a soft drink, watch the planes land, and speculate loudly on the
destination of each passenger inside. “That one’s goin’ to Chi-car-go!”
Kevin shouts as he claps his hands. His anticipation is so great he can
hardly sleep on Friday nights. I don’t think Kevin knows anything exists
outside his world of daily rituals and weekend field trips. He doesn’t know
what it means to be discontent.

His life is simple. He will never know the entanglements of wealth or power,
and he does not care what brand of clothing he wears or what kind of food he
eats. He recognizes no differences in people, treating each person as an
equal and a friend. His needs have always been met, and he never worries
that one day they may not be. His hands are diligent. Kevin is never so
happy as when he is working. When he unloads the dishwasher or vacuums the
carpet, his heart is completely in it. He does not shrink from a job when it
is begun, and he does not leave a job until it is finished. But when his
tasks are done, Kevin knows how to relax. He is not obsessed with his work
or the work of others. His heart is pure. He still believes everyone tells
the truth, promises must be kept, and when you are wrong, you apologize
instead of argue. Free from pride and unconcerned with appearances, Kevin is
not afraid to cry when he is hurt, angry or sorry. He is always
transparent, always sincere. And he trusts God. Not confined by intellectual
reasoning, when he comes to Christ, he comes as a child. Kevin seems to know
God to really be friends with Him in a way that is difficult for an
“educated” person to grasp. God seems like his closest companion. In my
moments of doubt and frustrations with my Christianity, I envy the security
Kevin has in his simple faith. It is then that I am most willing to admit
that he has some divine knowledge that rises above my mortal questions. It
is then I realize that perhaps he is not the one with the handicap, I am. My
obligations, my fear, my pride, my circumstances they all become
disabilities when I do not submit them to Christ. Who knows if Kevin
comprehends things I can never learn?

After all, he has spent his whole life in that kind of innocence, praying
after dark and soaking up the goodness and love of the Lord. And one day,
when the mysteries of heaven are opened, and we are all amazed at how close
God really is to our hearts, I’ll realize that God heard the simple prayers
of a boy who believed that God lived under his bed. Kevin won’t be surprised
at all.

“Father, I ask you to bless my friends reading this right now Lord, show
them a new revelation of your love and power. Holy Spirit, I ask you to
minister to their spirit at this very moment. Where there is pain, give them
your peace and mercy. Where there is self doubting, release a renewed
confidence in your ability to work through them. Where there is tiredness,
or exhaustion, I ask you to give them understanding, patience, and strength
as they learn submission to your leading. Where there is spiritual
stagnation, I ask you to renew them by revealing your nearness, and by
drawing them into greater intimacy with you. Where there is fear, reveal
your love, and release to them your courage. Where there is a sin blocking
them, reveal it, and break its hold over my friend’s life. Bless their
finances, give them greater vision, and raise up leaders, and friends to
support, and encourage them. Give each of them discernment to recognize the
ignorance and error of thought around them, and reveal to them the power
they have in you to bring light to these places For all of this and more, we
are so grateful.

In Jesus’ name we pray.

AMEN”

– Author Unknown
from emailministry.org

SUCCESS

SUCCESS

An American businessman was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican
village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the
small boat were several large yellow fin tuna. The American
complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long
it took to catch them. The mexican replied only a little while. The
American then asked why didn’t he stay out longer and catch more fish?

The Mexican said he had enough to support his family’s immediate needs.
The American then asked, but what do you do with the rest of your time?
The Mexican fisherman said, “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my
children, take siesta with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each
evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos, I have a full
and busy life, senor.

The American scoffed, “I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You
should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds buy a bigger boat,
with the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several boats,
eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling
your catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the processor,
eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product,
processing and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal
fishing village and move to Mexico City, then LA and eventually NYC
where you will run your expanding enterprise.”

The Mexican fisherman asked, “But senor, how long will this all take?”
To which the American replied, “15-20 years.”

“But what then, senor?”

The American laughed and said that’s the best part. “When the time is
right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the
public ad become very rich, you would make millions.”

“Millions, senor? Then what?”

The American said, “Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal
fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with
your kids, take siesta with your wife, stroll to the village in the
evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your
amigos.”

– Author Unknown

WHAT MATTERS MOST

WHAT MATTERS MOST

In the mid 1970’s, Ed Roberts created the world’s first commercially
successful personal computer (PC). He hired a 19 year old named Bill
Gates to write software for him.

Roberts sold his computer business in 1977 and bought a farm. Seven
years later, at age 41, he entered medical school. Today Bill gates is
the head of the largest computer software company in the world. Ed
Roberts is a physician in a small Georgia town.

Roberts says, “The implication is that the PC is the most important
thing I’ve ever done, and I don’t think that’s true. Every day I deal
with things that are equally if not more important here with my
patients.”

How can we evaluate the significance of our lives? Something deep inside
tells us such a thing cannot be measured by wealth and fame.

As we look at the apostle Paul’s turbulent life, it seems noteworthy
that he approached the end with a peaceful sense of successful
completion. He wrote, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the
race, I have kept the faith.” (2 timothy 4:7) Paul looked confidently
not to the world but to “the Lord, the righteous Judge” for approval and
reward (vs 8).

Since sooner than later we’ll face our creator,
Whose gaze pierces through to the heart,
Let’s make sure our dreams, our goals and grand schemes
Have Christ in our plans from the start.

The measure of a life is determined by the Ruler of the Universe.

– Author Unknown

Neverland

I’m having problems dealing with Neverland.

Only kids live there. They never grow up. They just love having so much fun. I don’t understand what fun or funny means to them. They think they could fly just by thinking of their “happy moments”. Plus, they live in an imaginary world of colored junk food ;p.

I get goosebumps just thinking of Neverland. I think it’s one of those places I really don’t want to set foot in. I don’t mind the junk food or the flying. It’s the irresponsibility of doing whatever you want whenever you want. Also, having whatever you want. Or maybe just because of how the people think and see things there. It doesn’t matter how good a place is if those who live in it are careless and childish ;p.

I left Paradise – where everything you want and need are served in golden platters – for the same reason. OK, not really, I got more complicated reasons. But it still requires growing up. I wanna grow up. I’ve grown up. I know what I want to do. I know what I have to do. Here. Now.  I know what matters most to me. I know what is important. I’m not perfect but I will keep trying to be better. Not only through my eyes but through others’, too.

I like my Jungle. I think it’s in a grown up world. It is where a good job, a good house, a good car and a big fat bank account is necessary. It is also about who you know and who you keep. It is where people are rough and tough. And it takes less than a heart and a brain to survive.Yeah, a lot of dumb people have every chance to be better and be more…

Well, I was once in Neverland. I’m a backslider ;p. I got tired of doing whatever I want whenever I want and with whomever I want. I got tired of sugarcoating and freelancing. I’d rather be surrounded by the brutally honest kinds ;p. It’s a jungle with lots of wolves and snakes.

I’ve seen it happen. In the grown up world, everything is temporary. When you get to the top, you don’t always stay there. It’s a non-stop whirlwind of wanting, needing, slipping and sliding. Not to mention the innovations and inventions which surrounds you. Not like a world full of illusions and hallucinations like Neverland.

There is one thing I hate about my jungle. The importance they give your bank account. Money makes life convenient and comfortable. But it could never buy me the most important things in life. Though, it could get me the toys and entertainment I want. Eventhough money could make my life so much more convenient, comfortable and entertaining, the pursuit of money is not that important to me anymore. To be responsible with whatever I value more is much more important.

I prefer those that money could not buy. I don’t think any amount of discipline, money or whatever could get me those really precious and important things. They are priceless – no amount of money could take or give me that. Well maybe make it easier or could actually make it happen but it’s not all about the money. They require time and effort.

Neverland is a fantasy. The Paradise is a luxury. The Jungle is my reality.