God bless you in the years ahead.

I am just taking this opportunity to thank everyone , I mean EVERYONE , who made 2010 a fabulous year..
Hoping 2011 will be even better.

· For those that have supported me and made me smile all through ..I salute you!

· For those I've disagreed with, argued with and just never got along with......well, I’m Sorry!!!!!!! Let’s try again next year.

· For those that stuck a knife in my back the past is all forgotten.... forgiveness is the best revenge (MAYBE!!!) J

· For those that have let me down.....oh well.... I should have known better !

· All the true friends that I have : you ROCK!!..Awesome!

· Congratulations to all the new mommies & fathers, newlyweds etc...,

But all in all, you guys have made 2010 a great year; I wish you and your loved ones prosperity, good health, wealth, happiness, greener pastures, abundant blessings,
· And Oh!! a wonderful festive season.

May 2011 be the year you achieve wonderful things in His guidance and strength.

MAY GOD BE WITH YOU AND BE BLESS YOU NOW AND ALWAYS

Give Thanks

Thank God we made it to the last month of the year. Congratulations. The bible says in ALL things we should give thanks. I want to encourage us to be grateful for what we have and what we want. Sometimes it’s very easy to ignore what we have and grumble about those things we think we do not have.

In this “fast” age, it is so easy to be so goal oriented that we rush through life trying to accomplish one thing or the other that we end up living in the future. We feel we would be happier and thankful when we are done with school, get a job, get married, start having children, become grandparents, etc

In learning to develop an attitude of gratitude, I learnt that understanding the power of focus is key. What we continually hold in our mind, meditate on, increases. If we focus too much on our challenges you magnify them and they begin to grow. However you can also choose to give thanks for those challenges and believing that all things would work together for your good. God can turn that challenge into a Golden chance, that test into a Testimony, a mess into a Message, a trial into a Triumph, a victim into a Victory. Remember that God is Good all the time!

It’s also possible to be focused on the success and achievements of others that you ignore what God is doing in your life. The truth in life is that there might always be someone better and ahead of you. Someone would always get a better grade, have a better car, a better job, someone’s family would look happier, their husband might be richer and more handsome than yours, and their wife might look more gorgeous and attractive.

Let’s learn to focus on where we want to be while being grateful to God for where you are right now.

For the next 31 days, I want us to spend time thinking of three things you are grateful for. Celebrate yourself and your achievements both big and small while giving thanks to God.

Gratitude is a state of mind that should be practiced daily instead of yearly. Make everyday Thanksgiving.

Take care and have a great month.

Regards,

How Heavy Is Your Bag?

One of my teachers had each one of us bring a clear plastic bag
and a sack of potatoes. For every person we'd refuse to forgive
in our life experience, we were told to choose a potato, write
on it the name and date, and put it in the plastic bag. Some of
our bags, as you can imagine, were quite heavy.

We were then told to carry this bag with us everywhere for one
week, putting it beside our bed at night, on the car seat when
driving, next to our desk at work.

The hassle of lugging this around with us made it clear what a
weight we were carrying spiritually, and how we had to pay
attention to it all the time to not forget, and keep leaving it
in embarrassing places. Naturally, the condition of the potatoes
deteriorated to a nasty slime.

This was a great metaphor for the price we pay for keeping our
pain and heavy negativity! Too often we think of forgiveness as
a gift to the other person, but it clearly is for ourselves as
much as anyone!!

So the next time you decide you can't forgive someone, ask
yourself...Isn't your bag heavy enough?- Author Unknown

Take care and have a great month.

God is with you!

Malachi 3:3 says:
'He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.'

This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.

One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study.

That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining Silver.

As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities

The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: 'He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.' She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined.

The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed..

The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, 'How do you know when the silver is fully refined?'

He smiled at her and answered, 'Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in it.'

If today you are feeling the heat of the fire , remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.

God is watching over you and whatever you're going through, you'll be a better person in the end

Take care and have a great month ahead.

Cheers!

Four Seasons of Life

There was a man who had four sons. He wanted his sons to learn not to judge things too quickly. So he sent them each on a quest, in turn, to go and look at a pear tree that was a great distance away.

The first son went in the winter, the second in the spring, the third in

Summer and the youngest son in the fall.

When they had all gone and come back, he called them together to describe what they had seen.

The first son said that the tree was ugly, bent, and twisted.

The second son said no it was covered with green buds and full of promise.

The third son disagreed; he said it was laden with blossoms that smelled so sweet and looked so beautiful, it was the most graceful thing he had ever seen.

The last son disagreed with all of them; he said it was ripe and drooping with fruit, full of life and fulfillment.

The man then explained to his sons that they were all right, because they had each seen but only one season in the tree's life.

He told them that you cannot judge a tree, or a person, by only one season, and that the essence of who they are and the pleasure, joy, and love that come from that life can only be measured at the end, when all the seasons are up.

If you give up when it's winter, you will miss the promise of your spring, the beauty of your summer, fulfillment of your fall.

Moral:

Don't let the pain of one season destroy the joy of all the rest.

Don't judge life by one difficult season.

Persevere through the difficult patches and better times are sure ahead.

There are times in life when we become discouraged because of something bad that happened that we don't fully understand. When this happens, we are to be conscious to the fact that we have not seen the full picture of what is yet to come and should not judge that situation as purely negative. All of us have been through situations that seemed bad at the time, but when we look back on it months and years later, we see how that "bad" situation helped us grow in wisdom, strength and faith. We are to trust that God is in control and will work all things out for our good in His time. We must also trust in His wisdom and remember that we're in safe Hands no matter the trial or tribulation that comes before us. (Isaiah 49:13-16) (Proverbs 3:5)

Glass of Milk

One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door
to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin
dime left, and he was hungry.

He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house.
However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened
the door.

Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water! . She
thought he looked hungry so brought him a large glass of
milk. He drank it so slowly, and then asked, How much do I
owe you?"

You don't owe me anything," she replied. "Mother has taught
us never to accept pay for a kindness."

He said ... "Then I thank you from my heart."

As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger
physically, but his faith in God and man was strong also. He
had been ready to give up and quit.

Many year's later that same young woman became critically
ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her
to the big city, where they called in specialists to study
her rare disease.

Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When
he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light
filled his eyes.

Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital
to her room.

Dressed in his doctor's gown he went in to see her. He
recognized her at once.

He went back to the consultation room determined to do his
best to save her life. From that day he gave special
attention to her case.

After a long struggle, the battle was won.
Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the final
bill to him for approval. He looked at it, then wrote
something on the edge, and the bill was sent to her room.
She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the
rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally she looked, and
something caught her attention on the side of the bill. She
read these words ...

"Paid in full with one glass of milk"

(Signed) Dr. Howard Kelly.

Tears of joy flooded her eyes as her happy heart prayed:
"Thank You, God, that Your love has spread broad through human hearts
and hands."

There's a saying which goes something like this: Bread cast
on the water comes back to you. The good deed you do today
may benefit you or someone you love at the least expected
time. If you never see the deed again at least you
will have made the world a better place - And, after all,
isn't that what life is all about?

Take care and stay blessed

Regards,

Why shout at each other?

A theology professor was teaching about Anger;

He asked his students, "Why do we shout in anger? Why do people shout at each other when they are upset?

The students thought for a while. One of them said, because we lose our calm, we shout for that.

"But why shout when the other person is just next to you?" asked the professor. "Isn't it possible to speak to him or her with a soft voice? Why do you shout at a person when you are angry?"

The students gave some other answers but none satisfied the professor.

Finally he explained, "When two people are angry at each other, their hearts psychologically distance themselves. To cover the distance, they must shout to be able to hear each other. The angrier they are, the stronger they will shout to hear each other through that great distance.

Then the professor asked, "What happens when two people fall in love? They don't shout at each other but talk softly, why? Because their hearts are psychologically very close. The distance between them is very small. The professor continued, "When they love each other even more, what happens? They do not speak, only whisper and they even get even closer to each other in their love. Finally they even need not whisper, they only look at each other and that's all....

So next time you shout at a loved one, know that you are creating distance between your heart and that person's heart.

God is working on your behalf. Keep trusting!

I came across this and it blessed me, would like to share :

We know that God will work all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose”(Romans 8:28).

God has placed dreams and desires in each of our hearts. Are you believing for something that seems to be taking a long time? Are you tempted to quit? Maybe you've already given up on that dream. Today is a new day—it's time for you to get your fire back! It may be taking a long time, but God is faithful! He promises to complete the work He began in your life. Don't fall into the temptation to get complacent and think it's never going to happen. Right now, whether you see it or not, God is working behind the scenes and arranging things in your favor. When you develop an attitude of expectancy, you open the door to His miracle-working power in your life. Decide today to declare His Word and speak words of victory. Start declaring today, "My time is coming...God is working behind the scenes on my behalf…I will fulfill my destiny…I will fulfill the plan God has for my life!" As you declare and expect God to move, your faith will grow. Your hope will grow. Keep expecting and waiting for the appointed time. As you do, you'll step into the victorious destiny God has planned for you!

Whatever happens, trust in the Lord and trust in the power of hope! My hope is in God who never changes. Nothing is impossible with Him. He is a big God, and I'm believing Him for big things. How about you?

Take care and stay blessed.

Tosyne

Building Bridges of Life

Once upon a time two brothers, who lived on adjoining farms, fell into conflict. It was the first serious rift in 40 years of farming side by side, sharing machinery, and trading labor and goods as needed without a conflict. Then the long collaboration fell apart. It began with a small misunderstanding and it grew into a major difference, and finally it exploded into an exchange of bitter words followed by weeks of silence.
One morning there was a knock on John’s door. He opened it to find a man with a carpenter’s tool box. “I’m looking for a few days’ work” he said. “Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here and there I could help with? Could I help you?” “Yes,” said the older brother. “I do have a job for you.”

“Look across the creek at that farm. That’s my neighbor; in fact, it’s my younger brother. Last week there was a meadow between us and he took his bulldozer to the river levee and now there is a creek between us. Well, he may have done this to spite me, but I’ll do him one better.”

“See that pile of lumber by the barn? I want you to build me a fence –an 8-foot fence — so I won’t need to see his place or his face anymore.” The carpenter said, “I think I understand the situation. Show me the nails and the post-hole digger and I’ll be able to do a job that pleases you.”

The older brother had to go to town, so he helped the carpenter get the materials ready and then he was off for the day. The carpenter worked hard all that day measuring, sawing, nailing. About sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished his job.

The farmer’s eyes opened wide, his jaw dropped. There was no fence there at all. It was a bridge — a bridge stretching from one side of the creek to the other! A fine piece of work, handrails and all — and the neighbor, his younger brother, was coming toward them, his hand outstretched.

“You are quite a fellow to build this bridge after all I’ve said and done.” The two brothers stood at each end of the bridge, and then they met in the middle, taking each other’s hand.

They turned to see the carpenter hoist his toolbox onto his shoulder. “No, wait! Stay a few days. I’ve a lot of other projects for you,” said the older brother. “I’d love to stay on,” the carpenter said, but I have many more bridges to build.

It’s so easy to get carried away building walls or fences but rather we are called to build bridges of love and care towards others. So which are you building?

Take care and have a great week ahead.

Regards,
Tosin

Sharks In Your Life

The Japanese have always loved fresh fish. But the waters close to Japan have not held many fish for decades.

So to feed the Japanese population, fishing boats got bigger and went farther than ever. The farther the fishermen went, the longer it took to bring in the fish. If the return trip took more than a few days, the fish were not fresh. The Japanese did not like the taste.

To solve this problem, fishing companies installed freezers on their boats. They would catch the fish and freeze them at sea. Freezers allowed the boats to go farther and stay longer. However, the Japanese could taste the difference between fresh and frozen and they did not like frozen fish. The frozen fish brought a lower price.

So fishing companies installed fish tanks. They would catch the fish and stuff them in the tanks. After a little thrashing around, the fish stopped moving. They were tired and dull, but alive. Unfortunately, the Japanese could still taste the difference. Because the fish did not move for days, they lost their fresh-fish taste.

The Japanese preferred the lively taste of fresh fish, not sluggish fish. So how did Japanese fishing companies solve this problem? How do they get fresh-tasting fish to Japan? How Japanese managed to keep the fish fresh?

To keep the fish tasting fresh, the Japanese fishing companies still put the fish in the tanks. But now they add a small shark to each tank. The shark eats a few fish, but most of the fish arrive in a very lively state. The fish are challenged.

Have you realized that some of us are also living in a pond but most of the time tired & dull, so we need a Shark in our life to keep us awake and moving? Basically in our lives Sharks are new challenges to keep us active and taste better….. The more intelligent, persistent and competent you are, the more you enjoy a challenge.

If your challenges are the correct size, and if you are steadily conquering those challenges, you are Conqueror.. You think of your challenges and get energized. You are excited to try new solutions. You have fun. You are alive!

Recommendations for us:

Instead of avoiding challenges, jump into them. Beat the heck out of them. Enjoy the game. If your challenges are too large or too numerous, do not give up. Failing makes you tired. Instead, reorganize. Find more determination, more knowledge, more help.

God didn’t promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, sun without rain, but he did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears and light for the way.

Disappointments are like road bumps, they slow you down a bit but you enjoy the smooth road afterwards.. Don’t stay on the bumps too long. Move on!

When you feel down because you didn’t get what you want, just sit tight and be happy, because God has thought of something better to give you. When something happens to you, good or bad, consider what it means. There’s a purpose to life’s events, to teach you how to laugh more or not to cry too hard.

No one can go back and make a brand new start. But anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.

Burnt Biscuits

When I was a kid, my mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. And I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work.

On that evening so long ago, my mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage and extremely burned biscuits in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed! Yet all my dad did was reach for his biscuit, smile at my mom and ask me how my day was at school.. I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that biscuit and eat every bite!

When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my mom apologize to my dad for burning the biscuits. And I'll never forget what he said: "Honey, I love burned biscuits."

Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his biscuits burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said, "Your Momma put in a hard day at work today and she's real tired. And besides – a little burnt biscuit never hurt anyone!"

Life is full of imperfect things....and imperfect people. I'm not the best at hardly anything, and I forget birthdays and anniversaries just like everyone else. But what I've learned over the years is that learning to accept each others faults - and choosing to celebrate each others differences - is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship.

And that's my prayer for you today. That you will learn to take the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of your life and lay them at the feet of God. Because in the end, He's the only One who will be able to give you a relationship where a burnt biscuit isn't a deal-breaker!

We could extend this to any relationship. In fact, understanding is the base of any relationship, be it a husband-wife or parent-child or friendship!

"Don't put the key to your happiness in someone else's pocket - keep it in your own."

God Bless You..... Now, and Always....

So Please pass me a biscuit, and yes, the burnt one will do just fine.!.!.!.!

IT IS WELL!!!!!!!

Take care and have a great month ahead.

Stay blessed

Be Thankful

I Thessalonians 5:18 – In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

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 each new challenge,
because it will build your strength and character.


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.
Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles,
and they can become your blessings.

No matter what situation we face in life, there is always someone worse off than we are. Let's be grateful to God for all the blessings in our lives.

Take care and have a great weekend.

Cheers!

What Is Failure?

Failure doesn't mean you are a failure...
...it does mean you haven't succeeded yet.


Failure doesn't mean you have accomplished nothing...
...it does mean you have learned something.


Failure doesn't mean you have been a fool...
...it does mean you had a lot of faith.


Failure doesn't mean you have been disgraced...
...it does mean you were willing to try.


Failure doesn't mean you don't have it...
...it does mean you have to do something in a different way.


Failure doesn't mean you are inferior...
...it does mean you are not prefect.


Failure doesn't mean you've wasted your life...
...it does mean you've a reason to start afresh.


Failure doesn't mean you should give up...
...it does mean you should try harder.


Failure doesn't mean you'll never make it...
...it does mean it will take a little longer.


Failure doesn't mean God has abandoned you....
...it does mean God has a better idea.

Don't Give up

Don’t give up and don’t give in
It’s all in the Lord’s hands
No matter what you’re facing
HE is the one who can.
In any situation
HIS grace can turn it around
So you can be victorious
As HIS love does abound.
The Beginning and the end HE knows
And all that’s in between
So put all your total trust in HIM
To HIM it’s all foreseen.
HE knows about your struggles
HE knows about your pain
Your hardships and your sorrows
And HE will help you to reign.
So don’t give up and don’t give in
Don’t quit before it’s time
God’s grace will give you power
To make it to the finish line.
In HIS way and time… (Janet Mullaly)

Can you Listen?

When I ask you to listen to me
and you start giving advice,
you have not done what I asked.
When I ask you to listen to me
and you begin to tell me why I shouldn't feel that way,
you are trampling on my feelings.

When I ask you to listen to me
and you feel you have to do something to solve my problem,
you have failed me, strange as that may seem.
Listen! All I asked was that you listen.
Not to talk or do-just hear me.
Advice is cheap. Ten cents will get you both Dear Abby and
Bill Graham in the same newspaper.
And I can do for myself. I'm not helpless.
Maybe discouraged and faltering, but not helpless.

When you do something for me that I can and need to do for myself,
you contribute to my fear and weakness.
But, when you accept as a single fact that I do feel what I feel,
no matter how irrational, then I can quit trying to convince
you and get to the business of understanding what's
behind this irrational feeling.
And when that's clear, the answers are obvious
and I don't need advice.
Irrational feelings make sense when we understand
what's behind them.

So, please listen and just hear me. And if you want to talk,
wait a minute for your turn;
and I'll listen to you.

Listening is silently loving another person and only requires an open heart. Listen to someone you love