All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.—Walt Disney
Dream as if you’ll live forever. Live as if you’ll die today. —James Dean Reality is wrong. Dreams are for real. —Tupac Shakur A dream doesn’t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination, and hard work. —Colin Powell Dream no small dreams, for they have no power to move the hearts of men. —Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world. —Harriet Tubman Dreams are today’s answers to tomorrow’s questions. —Edgar Cayce A man is not old until regrets take the place of dreams. —John Barrymore To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe. —Anatole France
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Quote of the day:
When I came to believe in Christ's teaching, I ceased desiring what I had wished for before. The direction of my life, my desires, became different. What was good & bad changed places. -- Leo Tolstoy Think about it: In the days before the Civil War in the United States, a young black girl was being sold at an auction. She was a beautiful girl, tall and slender. The bidding was intense, and quickly mounted higher and higher until at last only two were left vying for her ownership: one a coarse man who cursed and swore as he raised his bids against the other, a dignified gentleman. Finally the bidding stopped, and to the quiet man who had so earnestly bid were given the papers which made him the lawful owner of the young girl. With a shove the auctioneer presented her to her new master. She stood defiantly before him, hating him with every fiber of her being. Suddenly a change came over her face; a look of amazement changed to incredulity as she saw her owner ripping up the papers of ownership. With a kind smile he said, "My dear, you are free. I bought you that I might free you." Too stunned for speech, the girl merely stared until finally she threw herself at his feet, crying out with tears and happiness, "Oh master! I'll love and serve you all my life!" What the papers of ownership could not do, the man's kindness had won completely. Someone has loved you and has "paid" for you with His life!--A high price indeed! By suffering a cruel death in your place, Jesus paid the price that was necessary for the bonds of evil to be loosed from you. Whatever has bound you--your past, your sins, your weaknesses--He has broken those bonds, and all you need to do to experience the freedom He gives is to accept Jesus as your Lord and Master, to invite Him into your heart and to let Him have His way in your life. He has "bought" you, so that He can set you free. "Ye are bought with a price.... If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed" (1 Corinthians 6:20; John 8:36, KJV). ** If you’re not sure if you’ve met this Man who was dead and is now alive, why don’t you seek Him out? Just ask Him to come and make Himself real to you. He says, “Behold, I stand at the door [of your heart] and knock. If any man hear My voice and open the door, I will come in to him” (Revelation 3:20). Invite Him in. If you have questions please write Coach Dana at [email protected]. Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore. —André Gide
Decision is the spark that ignites action. Until a decision is made, nothing happens. Decision is the courageous facing of issues, knowing that if they are not faced, problems will remain forever unanswered. —Wilferd Peterson “Sir, what is the secret of your success?” a reporter asked a bank president. “Two words.” “And, sir, what are they?” “Good decisions.” “And how do you make good decisions?” “One word.” “And sir, what is that?” “Experience.” “And how do you get experience?” “Two words.” “And, sir, what are they?” “Bad decisions.” – Author Unknown We make our decisions, and then our decisions turn around and make us. —Frank Boreham Never make a permanent decision based on a temporary storm. No matter how raging the billows are today, remind yourself, “This too shall pass.” —T. D. Jakes Men must be decided on what they will not do, and then they are able to act with vigor in what they ought to do. —Mencius Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We only have today. Let us begin. —Mother Teresa Don’t ask God to guide your footsteps unless you are willing to move your feet. —Author Unknown Quote of the day:
“Knowing what’s right doesn’t mean much unless you do what’s right.” -- Theodore Roosevelt Think about it The quote reminds me of a story. In the tale, three little animals build a house. The first house is made of straw, because the little animal who builds it wants quick results so he can go out quick and play. The second is a cheapskate and builds his house with sticks, because he doesn’t want to invest in strong materials. The third one builds his house of solid rock. Though it takes longer to build, this little animal is happy to invest the time and materials needed because he wants it to last. When the big bad wolf comes, he blows away the first two houses and eats the inhabitants, but he can’t break the house built with solid rock; in fact, it is so strong that the wolf dies trying to destroy it. This is not only sound business advice but also good life advice. Be sure to build a strong character and encourage your loved ones to do the same. We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children. —Native American Proverb
We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong we may begin to use it with love and respect. —Aldo Leopold The ultimate test of man’s conscience may be his willingness to sacrifice something today for future generations whose words of thanks will not be heard. —Gaylord Nelson The activist is not the man who says the river is dirty. The activist is the man who cleans up the river. —Ross Perot Waste is a tax on the whole people. —Albert W. Atwood There is hope if people will begin to awaken that spiritual part of themselves, that heartfelt knowledge that we are caretakers of this planet. —Brooke Medicine Eagle When we heal the earth, we heal ourselves.—David Orr Environmental sustainability is not an option—it is a necessity. For economies to flourish, for global poverty to be banished, for the wellbeing of the world’s people to be enhanced—not just in this generation but in succeeding generations—we have a compelling and ever more urgent duty of stewardship to take care of the natural environment and resources on which our economic activity and social fabric depends. —Gordon Brown What we are living with is the result of human choices, and it can be changed by making better, wiser choices. —Robert Redford By accepting responsibility, we take effective steps toward our goal: an inclusive human society on a habitable planet, a society that works for all humans and for all nonhumans. By accepting responsibility, we move closer to creating a world that works for all.—Sharif M. Abdullah Quote of the day:
I say that all the armies that ever marched, and all the navies that ever were built, and all the parliaments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned, put together have not affected the life of man upon this earth as power- fully as has that one solitary life. — James Allan Francis Think about it: The British scholar C.S. Lewis commented, "A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher." A mere mortal claiming to be the Son of God would not be taken seriously by others. He would probably be ridiculed, put away in a mental institution, or considered mentally challenged. Lewis goes on to say that if Jesus were not the Son of God as He claimed to be, "He would either be a lunatic--on a level of a man who says he is a poached egg--or else he would be the Devil of Hell." "You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else He is a madman ... or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool; you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God." Many people who don't believe Jesus was divine nevertheless say they believe He was a great man whose positive influence has reached over the centuries and around the world. But as Lewis explains, God didn't leave us the option of considering Jesus simply a great man or a great teacher. God wants you to believe in Jesus as your Savior, and then to take Him into your heart and life. Why? Because God wants to live with you, and in you, in order to give you all the good things that He has for you out of His limitless love. How does He do that? In the Bible He says, "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you" (Ezekiel 36:26). What years of psychoanalysis, self-help methods, group therapy or even personal determination can't do, God can do in one instant, as an answer to the prayer of a believing heart: He can give you a new spirit. It's the start on the road to a new life. For more information contact Coach Dana at [email protected] Sunday April 22 is Earth Day.
I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in.—George Washington Carver Nature is man’s teacher. She unfolds her treasures to his search, unseals his eye, illumes his mind, and purifies his heart; an influence breathes from all the sights and sounds of her existence. —Alfred Billings Street Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.—Lao Tzu. Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves. —John Muir I believe that there is a subtle magnetism in nature, which, if we unconsciously yield to it, will direct us aright. —Henry David Thoreau Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair. —Khalil Gibran Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better. —Albert Einstein To sit in the shade on a fine day and look upon verdure is the most perfect refreshment. —Jane Austen Happiness flutters in the air whilst we rest among the breaths of nature. —Kelly Sheaffer There is a way that nature speaks, that land speaks, most of the time we are simply not patient enough, quiet enough to pay attention to the story. —Linda Hogan If the sight of the blue skies fills you with joy, if a blade of grass springing up in the fields has power to move you, if the simple things of nature have a message that you understand, rejoice, for your soul is alive. —Eleonora Duse Quote of the day:
“No one is born hating another person. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love.” – Nelson Mandela Think about it: Nelson Mandela was South African. Since his death, there has been a lot of emotion poured out by his countrymen. People wept. Eulogies flowed. Facebook grieved. Flags hung limply at half-mast. Everyone referred to him by using his intimate family names—Madiba and Tata. It felt like everyone in South Africa had lost a relative. World leaders paid homage. The man-in-the-street gave honor. What’s not to pay tribute to? Jailed for 27 years in a tiny cell. Sentenced to hard labor in Robben Island prison quarry. Tortured by racists for being anti-racist. And then to be released and actively promote love for the enemy, all the while selflessly handing over power to a successor. He disarmed everybody—literally. He charmed everybody—universally. He loved everybody—equally. He unified everybody—charismatically. His aim was to liberate both the oppressor and the oppressed. “For to be free,” he famously said, “is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.” He was the Leading Light of Forgiveness. “No one is born hating another person,” he said. “People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love.” Forgiveness is the ability to treat an unworthy person as if they were altogether worthy. It is the planet’s most urgent need, for we all require it. Mourn the great man by all means. But why not also mourn the ways we do not forgive? We are in contradiction if we mourn the one but not the other. We don’t have to be sentenced to hard labor on Robben Island to get an opportunity to forgive. We just need a boss, a spouse, a friend, a fellow train commuter, members of another race group in our community, or 20 minutes in rush hour. If we think we are superior, we’ll never forgive anyone. Mandela thought the interests of others were superior to his own. It promoted a unique brand of kindness. The problem is not that we can’t be kind; it’s that we think we are superior and therefore have no need to be kind. Opportunities for forgiveness are rife. They accost us every day. Sometimes I think people deify a hero in exchange for not having to act like the hero. It’s a transaction to ease the conscience. And heroes aren’t determined by the size of the audience. They are determined by the quality of their actions. We can forgive those who injure us. It’s just the sort of thing Mandela would do. How about you? (From Activated Magazine adapted) —Author unknown
Years ago, while an American named David Morse was living and working in India, he met and became friends with a pearl diver, Rambhau. Morse spent many evenings in Rambhau's cabin, reading to him from the Bible and explaining its central theme: God's love and salvation in Jesus. Rambhau enjoyed listening to the Word of God, but whenever Morse would encourage Rambhau to accept Christ as his Savior, Rambhau would shake his head and reply, "Your Christian way to Heaven is too easy for me! I cannot accept it. If I gained admittance to Heaven in that manner, I would feel like a pauper there—like a beggar who has been let in out of pity. I may be proud, but I want to deserve my place in Heaven. I want to earn it, and so I am going to work for it." Nothing that Morse could say seemed to have any effect on Rambhau's decision. Years passed. Then one evening Morse heard a knock on his door. It was Rambhau. "Come in, friend," said Morse. "Will you come with me to my house?" asked the old diver. "I have something to show you. Please don't say no." "Of course I'll come," replied Morse. As they neared his cabin, Rambhau said, "In a week's time I will start working for my place in Heaven. I am leaving for Delhi, and I am crawling there on my knees." "That's crazy!" Morse exclaimed. "It's nine hundred miles to Delhi. The skin will break on your knees, and you will have blood poisoning before you get there—if you ever get there!" "No, I must get to Delhi," affirmed Rambhau, "the immortals will reward me for it! The suffering will be sweet, for it will purchase Heaven for me!" "Rambhau, friend, you can't. How can I let you do that, when Jesus Christ has already suffered and died to purchase Heaven for you?" But the old man could not be moved. "You are my dearest friend on earth. You have stood by me in sickness, in want. Sometimes you have been my only friend. But even you cannot turn me from my desire to purchase eternal bliss. I must go to Delhi!" Once inside the small cabin, Rambhau walked to a back room and returned shortly with a small but heavy strongbox. "I have had this box for years," he said. "I keep only one thing in it. Now I will tell you about it. I once had a son. ..." "A son! Rambhau, you have never once mentioned him!" "No, I couldn't." As he spoke, the diver's eyes filled with tears. "But now I must tell you. My son was a diver too. He was the best pearl diver on the coasts of India. He had the swiftest dive, the keenest eye, the strongest arm, and the longest breath of any man who ever dived for pearls. What joy he brought me!" "As you know," Rambhau went on, "most pearls have some defect or blemish that only an expert can discern, but my boy always dreamed of finding the perfect pearl. One day he found it! But in gathering it, he stayed under water too long. He died soon after. That pearl cost him his life." The old pearl diver bowed his head. For a moment his whole body shook, but there was no sound. "All these years," he continued, "I have kept this pearl. Now I am going and may not return, so to you, my best friend, I am giving my pearl." Rambhau worked the combination on the strongbox and drew from it a carefully wrapped package. Gently parting the cotton packing, he picked up a mammoth pearl and placed it in Morse's hand. It was astoundingly large, almost unreal, and glowed with a luster never seen in cultured pearls! It would have brought a fabulous sum in any market. For a moment Morse gazed with awe and was speechless. Then he exclaimed, "Rambhau! What a pearl!" "That pearl, my friend, is perfect," replied the Indian quietly. Then Morse was struck with a new thought: This was the very opportunity he had prayed for to help Rambhau understand the value of Jesus' sacrifice. "Rambhau," he said, "this is a wonderful pearl, an amazing pearl! Let me buy it. I will give you ten thousand dollars for it." "What? What do you mean?" Rambhau asked. "I will give you fifteen thousand dollars for it, or if it takes more, I will work for it." Rambhau stiffened his whole body. "This pearl is beyond price. Not a man in the world has money enough to pay what this pearl is worth to me. On the market, a million dollars could not buy it. I will not sell it to you. You may only have it as a gift." "No, Rambhau, I cannot accept that. As much as I want the pearl, I cannot accept it that way. Perhaps I am proud, but that is too easy. I must pay for it, or work for it." The old pearl diver was stunned. "You don't understand at all, my friend. Don't you see? My only son gave his life to get this pearl. Its worth is in the lifeblood of my son. I cannot sell this, but I can give it to you. Just accept it as a token of my love for you." Morse was choked, and for a moment could not speak. Then he gripped the hand of the old man. "Rambhau," he said in a low voice, "don't you see? My words are just what you have been saying to God all the time." The diver looked long and searchingly at Morse. Slowly he began to understand. "God is offering you salvation as a free gift," Morse said. "It is so great and priceless that no man on earth can buy it. No man on earth could earn it. If he were to work for it all his life, his life would be millions of years too short. No man is good enough to deserve it. It cost God the lifeblood of His only Son to gain entrance for you into Heaven. In a million years, in a hundred pilgrimages, you could not earn that entrance. All you can do is accept it as a token of God's love for you, a sinner. "Rambhau, of course I will accept the pearl in deep humility, praying God I may be worthy of your love. Rambhau, won't you accept God's great gift of Heaven, too, in deep humility, knowing it cost Him the death of His Son to offer it to you?" Tears rolled down the old man's cheeks. The veil that had clouded his understanding was beginning to lift. "I see it now. I could not believe that salvation was free. Now I understand. Some things are too priceless to be bought or earned. I will accept His salvation, my friend!" For more information please write Coach Dana at [email protected] |
AuthorThe goal of the blog is to provide interesting, motivational, soul feeding material. All to help remind us that God loves us all and wants a personal relationship with each of us and will take care of us in times of trouble. I aspire to be a force for good by providing you with positive input. I encourage you to share the blog with others. Archives
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