Stress.....

A lecturer, when explaining stress management to an audience, raised a glass of water and asked,

"How heavy is this glass of water?"

Answers called out ranged from 20g to 500g.

The lecturer replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter.

It depends on how long you try to hold it.

If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem.

If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm.

If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance.

In each case, it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes."

He continued,

"And that's the way it is with stress management.

If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later,

as the burden becomes increasingly heavy,

we won't be able to carry on. "

"As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again.

When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden."

"So, before you return home tonight, put the burden of work down.

Don't carry it home.

You can pick it up tomorrow.

Whatever burdens you're carrying now, let them down for a moment if you can."

So, my friend, why not take a while to just simply RELAX.

Put down anything that may be a burden to you right now.

Don't pick it up again until after you've rested a while.

Life is short. Enjoy it!

Here are some great ways of dealing with the burdens of life:

* Accept that some days you're the pigeon, and some days you're the statue.

* Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them.

* Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.

* Drive carefully. It's not only cars that can be recalled by their maker.

* If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.

* If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it

* It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others.

* Never buy a car you can't push.

* Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time, because then you won't have a leg to stand on.

* Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.

* Since it's the early worm that gets eaten by the bird, sleep late.

* The second mouse gets the cheese.

* When everything's coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.

* Birthdays are good for you. The more you have, the longer you live.

* You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person.

* Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.

* We could learn a lot from crayons...some are sharp, some are pretty and some are dull. Some have weird names, and all are different colors, but they all have to live in the same box.

*A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.

God lives under the Bed!

GOD LIVES UNDER THE BED
I envy Kevin. 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 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, return to eat his favorite
macaroni-and-cheese for dinner, and later to bed.

The only variation in the entire scheme is laundry, 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.

And so goes 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 of power, and he does not
care what brand of clothing he wears or what kind of food he eats. 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 trust them to God's care

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 God.

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!

Talkative Woman

Study: Women Don't Talk More Than Men

Researchers Find That Both Sexes Speak About 16,000 Words a Day
New research is about to blow up stereotypes of the strong, silent man and the overly chatty woman who nags him. According to a study released today, men talk just as much as women — on average 16,000 words in a day. Using digital voice recorders over an eight-year period, researchers at the University of Arizona studied how many words hundreds of American and Mexican college students spoke over several days. The students carried the voice-activated recorders for almost all of their waking hours, on average about 17 hours a day.

The complete story can be found at http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=3348076&page=1&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312

From the above story it is obvious they have not met my wife, just kidding. I guess we have all heard the old adage that women talk more than men and I suppose this stereotype comes from the long running sitcoms that starred extra talkative wives. On these shows the men seem as if they will do what ever it takes to get away from their jabber jaw wives. Well in actuality, we guys run our mouth just as much as you women it seems; why do I feel that there is a bunch of women somewhere saying, “I knew it.” All this talk about talk makes me think, “Is anyone listening?” By listening I mean listening to God and his will for our life; are we spending so much time expressing our selves that we are missing out on what God has to say. I think this may be the case; a lot of people are spending most of their time trying to be heard in stead of listening for the still small voice of God.

I Kings 19:11-13 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. And it was so, when Elijah heard it that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?
Elijah knew to listen for the still small voice of God; I think many times we a waiting around for the mighty wind, earthquake, and fire to speak so we miss the still small voice of God. We have to understand that everyone is not going to have a burning bush experience when it comes to God speaking to us. Many are setting around waiting for a burning bush to speak to them when the still small voice has already told them what to do. Callings are missed and delayed because men and women are waiting for the bush in the back yard to burst into flames and speak to them. We have to be tuned in to God if we want to hear his still small voice.

How do we tune into God? First of all we have to read his word the Bible consistently; one of the major ways that God can speak to his people is through His written word. Not only does he speak through his word but we know that anything he does tell us to do will not contradict the Bible. He will never ask us to do anything that stands in opposition to the Bible. In addition to reading the Bible, our prayer life has to be sound. We need to be in constant contact with God in order to be sure we do not miss any of his instruction for our lives. In the book of Psalms it says to Pray with out ceasing and we must truly do that if we want to hear and understand the still small voice. The final way to hear from God is to surround you with individuals who seek the will of God in their life. I am someone who still believes that God speaks through individuals who are willing to humble themselves before him. I can not count the times that someone in my life said that they where praying for me and that God gave them a scripture for me, and it has always been exactly what I needed to hear.

I guess it is important that we communicate with each other orally and I guess it really does not matter who talks the most; men or women. The important thing in this life is who is listening to what counts; the still small voice of God.

If you need a Bible, want to talk, have a question, or if you have a prayer request just let us know.


God Bless
No Limits

My Flashers

My Blonde Mother sent me this joke and I cracked up!

A blonde's car gets a flat tire on the Interstate one day. So she eases it over onto the shoulder of the road.

She carefully steps out of the car and opens the trunk. Takes out two cardboard men, unfolds them and stands them at the rear of the vehicle facing oncoming traffic. The lifelike cardboard men are in trench coats exposing their nude bodies to approaching drivers... Not surprisingly, the traffic became snarled and backed up.

It wasn't very long before a police car arrives.

The Officer, clearly enraged, approaches the blonde of the disabled vehicle yelling, "What is going on here?"

"My car broke down, Officer" says the woman, calmly. "

"Well, what the hell are these obscene cardboard pictures doing here by the road?!" asks the Officer...

"Helllllooooo, those are my emergency flashers!" she replied.

8X8

8 x 8... keep it goin'

When you reach the end of your rope you will find the hem of His garment. I'm not breaking this one.

This is ABSOLUTELY beautiful...



I would rather live my life as if there is a God, and die to find out there isn't, than live my life as if there isn't, and die to find out there is. Bishop T.D. Jakes '8 Second Prayer.' Just repeat this prayer and see how God moves!

'Lord, I love you and I need you, come into my heart, and bless me, my family, my home, my finances, and all of my friends,
in Jesus' name. Amen.'

RED MARBLES

.Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted.

RED MARBLES

I was at the corner grocery store buying some early potatoes.
I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but
clean, hungrily apprising a basket of freshly picked green peas.

I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh
green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes.

Pondering the peas, I couldn't help overhearing the conversation
between Mr. Miller (the store owner) and the ragged boy next to me.
"Hello Barry, how are you today?"

"H'lo, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus' admirin' them peas. They
sure look good."

"They are good, Barry. How's your Ma?"

"Fine. Gittin' stronger alla' time."

"Good. Anything I can help you with?"

"No, Sir. Jus' admirin' them peas."

"Would you like to take some home?" asked Mr. Miller.

"No, Sir. Got nuthin' to pay for 'em with."

"Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?"

"All I got's my prize marble here."

"Is that right? Let me see it" said Miller.

"Here 'tis. She's a dandy."

"I can see that. Hmmmmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort
of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?" the store
owner asked.

"Not zackley but almost."

"Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip
this way let me look at that red marble". Mr. Miller told the boy.

"Sure will. Thanks Mr. Miller." Mrs. Miller, who had been standing
nearby, came over to help me. With a smile she said, "There are two

other boys like him in our community, all three are in very poor circumstances.

Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever.

When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he
doesn't like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a

green marble or an orange one, when they come on their next trip to the store."

I left the store smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A
short time later I moved to Colorado , but I never forgot the story of this man,

the boys, and their bartering for marbles.

Several years went by, each more rapid than the previous one. Just
recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho
community and while I was there learned that Mr. Miller had died.
They were having his visitation that evening and knowing my friends
wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them. Upon arrival at the
mortuary we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased
and to offer whatever words of comfort we could.

Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army
uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white
shirts...all very professional looking. They approached Mrs. Miller, standing
composed and smiling by her husband's casket. Each of the young men hugged
her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the
casket.

Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one, each young
man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale
hand in the casket. Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his
eyes.

Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I was and
reminded her of the story from those many years ago and what she had told me
about her husband's bartering for marbles. With her eyes
glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket.

"Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you
about. They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim "traded"
them. Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about color or
size....they came to pay their debt."

"We've never had a great deal of the wealth of this world," she
confided, "but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest
man in Idaho .."

With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her
deceased husband. Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined

red marbles.

The Moral : We will not be remembered by our words, but by our kind
deeds. Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the
moments that take our breath.

Today I wish you a day of ordinary miracles ~
A fresh pot of coffee you didn't make yourself...An unexpected
phone call from an old friend...Green stoplights on your way to work...
The fastest line at the grocery store...A good sing-along song on
the radio...Your keys found right where you left them.



IT'S NOT WHAT YOU GATHER, BUT WHAT YOU SCATTER
THAT TELLS WHAT KIND OF LIFE YOU HAVE LIVED

Do you know the Preamble for your state?

Do you know the Preamble for your state? Important commentary at the

end.

Alabama 1901 , Preamble . We the people of the State of Alabama ,

invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish

the following Constitution.

Alaska 1956, Preamble . We, the people of Alaska , grateful to God

and to those who founded our nation and pioneered this great land.

Arizona 1911, Preamble . We, the people of the State of Arizona ,

grateful to Almighty God for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution...

Arkansas 1874, Preamble We, the people of the State of Arkansas ,

grateful to Almighty God for the privilege of choosing our own form of

government...

California 1879, Preamble . We, the People of the State of California

, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom.

Colorado 1876, Preamble . We, the people of Colorado , with profound

reverence for the Supreme Ruler of Universe.

Connecticut 1818, Preamble. The People of Connecticut, acknowledging

with gratitude the good Providence of God in permitting them to enjoy.

Delaware 1897, Preamble . Through Divine Goodness all men have, by

nature , the rights of worshiping and serving their Creator according to

the dictates of their consciences.

Florida 1885, Preamble . We, the people of the State of Florida,

grateful to Almighty God for our constitutional liberty, establish this

Constitution...

Georgia 1777, Preamble . We, the people of Georgia, relying upon

protection and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish this

Constitution...

Hawaii 1 959, Preamble . We , the people of Hawaii, Grateful for

Divine Guidance .. Establish this Constitution.

Idaho 1889, Preamble . We, the people of the State of Idaho ,

grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings.

Illinois 1870, Preamble . We, the people of the State of Illinois,

grateful to Almighty God for the civil l, political and religious liberty

which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy and looking to Him for a

blessing on our endeavors.

Indiana 1851, Preamble . We, the People of the State of Indiana ,

grateful to Almighty God for the free exercise of the right to choose our

form of government.

Iowa 1857, Preamble We, the People of the State of Iowa, grateful to

the Supreme Being for the blessings hitherto enjoyed, and feeling our

dependence on Him for a continuation of these blessings establish this

Constitution.

Kansas 1859, Preamble . We, the people of Kansas, grateful to

Almighty God for our civil and religious privileges establish this

Constitution.

Kentucky 1891, Preamble. We, the people of the Commonwealth are

grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious

liberties...

Louisiana 1921, Preamble . We, the people of the State of Louisiana,

grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberties

we enjoy.

Maine 1820, Preamble. We the People of Maine acknowledging with

grateful hearts the goodness of the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe in

affording us an opportunity ... And imploring His aid and direction.

Maryland 1776, Preamble We, the people of the state of Maryland ,

grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberty...

Massachusetts 1780, Preamble . We...the people of Massachusetts ,

acknowledging with grateful hearts, the goodness of the Great Legislator

of the Universe . In the course of His Providence, an opportunity and

devoutly imploring His direction ..

Michigan 1908, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Michigan ,

grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of freedom establish this

Constitution.

Minnesota 1857, Preamble We, the people of the State of Minnesota ,

grateful to God for our civil and religious liberty, and desiring to

perpetuate its blessings:

Mississippi 1890, Preamble . We, the people of Mississippi in

convention assembled, grateful to Al mighty God, and invoking His blessing

on our work.

Missouri 1845, Preamble . We, the people of Missouri , with profound

reverence for the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, and grateful for His

goodness .. Establish this Constitution .

Montana 1889, Preamble.. We, the people of Montana , grateful to

Almighty God for the

blessings of liberty establish this Constitution ..

Nebraska 1875, Preamble . We, the people, grateful to Almighty God

for our freedom . Establish this Constitution.

Nevada 1864, Preamble . We the people of the State of Nevada ,

grateful to Almighty God for our freedom establish this Constitution

New Hampshire 1792, Part I. Art. I. Sec. V . Every individual has a

natural and unalienable right to worship God according to the dictates of

his own conscience.

New Jersey 1844, Preamble . We, the people of the State of New

Jersey, grateful to Almighty God for civil and religious liberty which He

hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing on

our endeavors.

New Mexico 1911, Preamble . We, the People of New Mexico, grateful

to Almighty God for the blessings of liberty

New York 1846, Preamble . We, the people of the State of New York,

grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, in order to secure its

blessings.

North Carolina 1868, Preamble We the people of the State of North

Carolina, grateful to Almighty God, the Sovereign Ruler of Nations, for

our civil, political, and religious liberties, and acknowledging our

dependence upon Him for the continuance of those

North Dakota 1889, Preamble . We, the people of North Dakota,

grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty,

do ordain...

Ohio 1852, Preamble . We the people of the state of Ohio, grateful to

Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings and to promote our

common

Oklahoma 1907, Preamble . Invoking the guidance of Almighty God, in

order to secure and perpetuate the blessings of liberty ... establish this

.

Oregon 1857, Bill of Rights, Article I. Section 2. All men shall be

secure in the Natural right, to worship Almighty God according to the

dictates of their consciences..

Pennsylvania 1776, Preamble We, the people of Pennsylvania, grateful

to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, and

humbly invoking His guidance

Rhode Island 1842, Preamble. We the People of the State of Rhode

Island grateful to Almighty God for the civil and religious liberty which

He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing

South Carolina, 1778, Preamble . We, the people of he State of South

Carolina grateful to God for our liberties, do ordain and establish this

Constitution.

South Dakota 1889, Preamble . We, the people of South Dakota,

grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberties

Tennessee 1796, Art. XI.III. That all men have a natural and

indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of

their conscience...

Texas 1845, Preamble . We the People of the Republic of Texas,

acknowledging, with gratitude, the grace and beneficence of God.

Utah 1896, Preamble . Grateful to Almighty God for life and liberty,

we establish this Constitution.

Vermont 1777, Preamble . Whereas all government ought to enable the

individuals who compose it to enjoy their natural rights, and other

blessings which the Author of Existence has bestowed on man

Virginia 1776, Bill of Rights, XVI Religion, or the Duty which we owe

our Creator can be directed only by Reason and that it is the mutual duty

of all to practice Christian Forbearance, Love and Charity towards each

other

Washington 1889, Preamble . We the People of the State of Washington,

grateful to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe for our liberties, do ordain

this Constitution

West Virginia 1872, Preamble . Since through Divine Providence we

enjoy the blessings of civil, political and religious liberty, we, the

people of West Virginia reaffirm our faith in and constant reliance upon

God ..

Wisconsin 1848, Preamble We, the people of Wisconsin, grateful to

Almighty God for our freedom, domestic tranquility

Wyoming, 1890, Preamble . We, the people of the State of Wyoming,

grateful to God for our civil, political, and religious liberties ..

establish this Constitution.

After reviewing acknowledgments of God from all 50 state

constitutions, one is faced with the prospect that maybe, the ACLU and the

out-of-control federal courts are wrong! If you found this to be "Food for

thought" copy and send to as many as you think will be enlightened as I

hope you were .

"One Nation Under God "

Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you, Jesus

Christ

and the American G.I.

~One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.~