Footprints in the Sand

Last night I had a dream. I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Across the sky flashed scenes from my life. For each scene, I noticed two sets of
footprints in the sand: one belonged to me, the other to the Lord.

After the last scene of my life flashed before me, I looked back at the footprints in
the sand. I noticed that at many times along the path of my life, especially at the
very lowest and saddest times, there was only one set of footprints.

This really troubled me, so I asked the Lord about it. “Lord, you said once I
decided to follow you, You’d walk with me all the way. But I noticed that during
the saddest and most troublesome times of my life, there was only one set of
footprints. I don’t understand why, when I needed You the most, You would leave
me.”

The Lord replied, “My son, my precious child, I love you and I would never leave
you. During your times of suffering, when you could see only one set of
footprints, it was then that I carried you.”

People in our life

People always come into your life for a reason, a season and a lifetime. When
you figure out which it is, you know exactly what to do.

When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you
have expressed outwardly or inwardly. They have come to assist you through a
difficulty, or to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically,
emotionally, or even spiritually. They may seem like a godsend to you, and they
are. They are there for a reason,you need them to be. Then, without any wrong
doing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do
something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die, Sometimes
they just walk away. Sometimes they act up or out and force you to take a stand.
What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilleed; their
work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and it is now time to
move on.

When people come into your life for a SEASON, it is because your turn has come
to share, grow, or learn. They may bring you an experience of peace or make
you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually
give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it! It is real! But, only for a
season. And like Spring turns to Summer and Summer to Fall, the season
eventually ends.

LIFETIME, relationships teach you a lifetime of lessons; those things you must
build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the
lesson, love the person/people (anyway);, and put what you have learned to use
in all other relationships and areas in your life. It is said that love is blind but
friendship is clairvoyant. Thank you for being part of my life.....

Story worth giving thought.

A young man was getting ready to graduate from college. For many months he
had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer's showroom, and knowing his
father could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted.

As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited signs that his father had
purchased the car. Finally, on the morning of his graduation, his father called
him into his private study. His father told him how proud he was to have such a
fine son, and told him how much he loved him. He handed his son a beautifully
wrapped gift box. Curious, but somewhat disappointed, the young man opened
the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible, with the young man's name
embossed in gold. Angry, he raised his voice to his father and said "With all your
money, you give me a Bible?" and stormed out of the house, leaving the Bible.

Many years passed and the young man was very successful in business. He had
a beautiful home and wonderful family, but realized his father was very old, and
thought perhaps he should go to him. He had not seen him since that
graduation day. Before he could make arrangements, he received a telegram
telling him his father had passed away, and willed all of his possessions to his
son. He needed to come home immediately and take care of things.

When he arrived at his father's house, sudden sadness and regret filled his
heart. He began to search through his father's important papers and saw the still
new Bible, just as he had left it years ago. With tears, he opened the Bible and
began to turn the pages. And as he did, a car key dropped from the back of the
Bible. It had a tag with the dealer's name, the same dealer who had the sports
car he had desired. On the tag was the date of his graduation, and the words
PAID IN FULL.

How many times do we miss Spirit's blessings and answers to our prayers
because they do not arrive exactly as we have expected?

Appreciating Our Past

It is easy to be negative about past mistakes and unhappiness. But it is much
more healing to look at ourselves and our past in the light of experience,
acceptance, and growth

Our past is a series of lessons that advance us to higher levels of living and
loving. The relationships we entered, stayed in, or ended taught us necessary
lessons

Some of us have emerged from the most painful circumstances with strong
insights about who we are and what we want. Our mistakes? Necessary. Our
frustrations, failures, and sometimes stumbling attempts at growth and progress?
Necessary too. Each step of the way, we learned. We went through exactly the
experiences we need to, to become who we are today. Each step of the way, we
progressed. Is our past a mistake? No. The only mistake we can make is
mistaking that for the truth.

Today, God, help me let go of negative thoughts I may be harboring about my
past circumstances or relationships. I can accept, with gratitude, all that has
brought me to today.

A Lesson in Life

Everything happens for a reason. Nothing happens by chance or by means of
good or bad luck. Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness and sheer
stupidity all occur to test the limits of your soul. Without these small tests, if they
be events, illnesses or relationships, life would be like a smoothly paved, straight,
flat road to nowhere.

If someone hurts you, betrays you , or breaks you heart, forgive them. For they
have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious to who
you open your heart to.

If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally, not only because they
love you, but because they are teaching you to love and opening your heart and
eyes to things you would have never seen or felt without them.

Make every day count. Appreciate every moment and take from it everything that
you possibly can, for you may never be able to experience it again.

Talk to people you have never talked to before, and actually listen. Hold your
head up because you have every right to. Tell yourself you are a great individual
and believe in yourself, for if you don't believe in yourself, no one else will believe
in you either.

You can make of your life anything you wish. Create your own life and then go
out and live it.

A BEAUTIFUL PRAYER

I asked God to take away my habit.
God said, No.
It is not for me to take away, but for you to give it up.

I asked God to make my handicapped child whole.
God said, No.
His spirit is whole, his body is only temporary

I asked God to grant me patience.
God said, No.
Patience is a byproduct of tribulations;
it isn't granted, it is learned.

I asked God to give me happiness.
God said, No.
I give you blessings; Happiness is up to you.

I asked God to spare me pain.
God said, No.
Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares
and brings you closer to me.

I asked God to make my spirit grow.
God said, No.
You must grow on your own! ,
but I will prune you to make you fruitful.

I asked God for all things that I might enjoy life.
God said, No.
I will give you life, so that you may enjoy all things

I ask God to help me LOVE others, as much as He loves me.
God said...Ahhhh, finally you have the idea.

May God Bless You,
"To the world you might be one person, but to one
person you just might be the world"

"Even the word 'IMPOSSIBLE' says 'I M POSSIBLE'"

The Lord is my strength,
My eternal guiding light.
He stands with me in the sunshine,
Calms me through the stormy nights.

He stands with me on the mountain tops.
He walks with me upon the beach,
When it is His guidance
That my heart does seek.

Always there to pick me up,
When I fall on bended knees;
He is The Captain of my ship,
As we sail across the seas.

He is in each and every breath I take,
In every path within my sight.
When I take life's daily journey,
I pray my choices have been right.

He greets me with the morning,
As each new day awakes.
His canvas is the earth and sky.
What a beautiful sight it makes.

He renews the strength with in my heart.
My faith shall never falter.
For, when I sing His loving praise,
My soul becomes even stronger.

TODAY'S's affirmation: "Today I look beyond the obvious and allow miracles to
be created in my life."

Building Your House

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his
plans to leave the house-building business to live a more leisurely life with his
wife and enjoy his extended family. He would miss the paycheck each week, but
he wanted to retire. They could get by.
The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go & asked if he could build just
one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes, but over 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, his employer came to inspect the house.
Then he handed the front-door key to the carpenter and said, "This is your
house... 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 a shock, we realize we have to live in the house
we have built. If we could do it over, we would do it much differently.

But, you cannot go back. You are the carpenter, and every day you hammer a
nail, place a board, or erect a wall. Someone once said, "Life is a do-it-yourself
project." Your attitude, and the choices you make today, help build the "house"
you will live in tomorrow. Therefore, Build wisely!

Allow Your Own Inner Light to Guide You

There comes a time when you must stand alone

You must feel confident enough within yourself to follow your own dreams.

You must be willing to make sacrifices.

You must be capable of changing and rearranging your priorities so that your
final goal can be achieved.

Sometimes, familiarity and comfort need to be challenged.

There are times when you must take a few extra chances and create your own
realities.

Be strong enough to at least try to make your life better.

Be confident enough that you won't settle for a compromise just to get by.

Appreciate yourself by allowing yourself the opportunities to grow, develop, and
find your true sense of purpose in this life.

Don't stand in someone else's shadow when it's your sunlight that should lead

Work hard at what you like to do and try to overcome all obstacles

Laugh at your mistakes and praise yourself for learning from them

Pick some flowers and appreciate the beauty of nature

Say hello to strangers and enjoy the people you know

Don't be afraid to show your emotions laughing and crying make you feel better

Love your friends and family with your entire being they are the most important
part of your life

Feel the calmness on a quiet sunny day

Find a rainbow and live your world of dreams always remember life is better than
it seems

BE THANKFUL

Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire. If you did, what
would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don't know something, for it gives you the opportunity to
learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times. During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations, because they give you opportunities for
improvement.

Be thankful for your mistakes. They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you're tired and weary, because it means you've made a
difference.

It's easy to be thankful for the good things.

A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are also thankful for the setbacks.

Find a way to be thankful for your troubles, and they can become your blessings