The only disability in life is a bad attitude. —Scott Hamilton
You cannot control what happens to you, but you can control your attitude toward what happens to you, and in that, you will be mastering change rather than allowing it to master you. — Brian Tracy The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes. — William James If you don't like something change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude. Don't complain. --Maya Angelou You cannot tailor make the situations in life, but you can tailor-make the attitudes to fit those situations before they arise. --Zig Ziglar If you can't change your fate, change your attitude.--Amy Tan You can't always change your situation, but you can always change your attitude.--Larry Hargraves I discovered I always have choices and sometimes it's only a choice of attitude. -- Judith M. Knowlton Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character. -- Albert Einstein Some people are unbelievably cheerful in the midst of difficulty or obstacles; others bemoan the slightest inconvenience. Those who look for the upside of any trouble are the ones who come out ahead in quality of life, and the radiance of their positive attitude sheds light on the paths of others. — Chloe West Of all the attitudes we can acquire, surely the attitude of gratitude is the most important and by far the most life-changing. -- Zig Ziglar On life's report card, attitude counts, enthusiasm counts, a commitment to lifelong learning counts, hard work counts, and helping others counts. If you go all-out, you will feel the difference in the quality of your life. --Steve Lodle Adventure isn’t hanging on a rope off the side of a mountain. Adventure is an attitude that we must apply to the day to day obstacles of life, facing new challenges, seizing new opportunities, testing our resources against the unknown, and in the process, discovering our own unique potential. — John Amatt The one attitude which gives rise to hope amidst misunderstanding and ill-will is a forgiving spirit. Where forgiveness becomes the atmosphere, there hope and healing are possible.—C. Neil Strait The good life is not measured by material wealth or possessions. The good life is an attitude, an act, an idea, a discovery, a search. The good life comes from a lifestyle that is so fully developed--regardless of your bank account--that provides you with a constant sense of joy in living. –Jim Rohn The greatest discovery of all time is that a person can change his future by merely changing his attitude. -- Oprah Winfrey Our attitude toward life determines life’s attitude towards us. –John N. Mitchell
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Quote of the day:
“Let us not bankrupt our today by paying interest on the regrets of yesterday and by borrowing in advance the troubles of tomorrow.” -- Ralph W. Sockman Think about it: The carpenter I hired to help me restore an old farmhouse had just finished a rough first day on the job. A flat tire made him lose an hour of work, his electric saw quit, and now his ancient pickup truck refused to start. While I drove him home, he sat in stony silence. On arriving, he invited me in to meet his family. As we walked toward the front door, he paused briefly at a small tree, touching the tips of the branches with both hands. When opening the door, he underwent an amazing transformation. His tanned face wreathed in smiles. He hugged his two small children and gave his wife a kiss. Afterward, he walked me to the car. We passed the tree and my curiosity got the better of me. I asked him about what I had seen him do earlier. “Oh, that’s my trouble tree,” he replied. “I know I can’t help having troubles on the job, but one thing for sure, troubles don’t belong in the house with my wife and the children. So I just hang them on the tree every night when I come home. Then in the morning I pick them up again.” “Funny thing is,” he smiled, “when I come out in the morning to pick ‘em up, there aren’t nearly as many as I remember hanging up the night before.” Why not take a tip from the carpenter and hang your troubles on the your worry tree, or light post or whatever there is to hang them on outside the house and pick them up in the morning. You might just find, as the carpenter did, there aren’t as many as the night before. You never know what your day will bring when you work in healthcare. When I take care of patients, I don’t really expect to see anything extraordinary from God. I’m a nursing assistant, and my job is to aid the nurse in caring for patients recovering from joint surgery. After all, it’s healthcare.
One night, the evening shift is going as usual, and patients are all doing well, but the workload stacks up in the surgery center across the hall. It’s unusual for them to call me for help this late in the evening, but that’s exactly where my night takes a turn. Feeling a bit put-out about having to leave my comfort zone, I roll up my sleeves, take a deep breath and begin. My first task is to bring a patient down in a wheelchair to surgery pickup at the back of the building. We make it down to the vehicle, and I wish them well. Turning to push the wheelchair back to the door, I notice a man walking toward me from his station wagon piled with linen. “Excuse me, ma’am,” he says, “I need to find out where to deliver these blankets.” As I explain where to deliver the load, I consider how strange this situation is. It just so happens I’m the only person in the building who knows what linen we ordered and where to bring it. In a thankful spirit, he tells me, “I whispered a prayer that God would send someone to help me because I didn’t know where to go.” Well, guess what? God sent me at this exact moment in this exact place where he needed the help. Friend, God sees us and knows our situations—just like He knows the predicament the linen delivery man faced. Not only does He see it, but God cares about it. As He reminds us in Psalm 139:2, “You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.” God cares enough about the delivery man’s prayer to pull me out of my normal duties and bring me to surgery pickup in the back of the building. Just so I can help him find his way. Do you think God cares just as much about you and me? God is not distant, but close. He reaches down as we lift our eyes up to Him. He is our help and our deliverer who moves mountains (or people) as we whisper a prayer. The way God moves is mysterious and is certainly not at our every whim. But earnest prayers are dear to God’s heart, just like the whisper of a daughter to her loving dad. That night I found wonder in the fact that God moves in our lives when we least expect it and that we get to be a part of His plan! I wonder what He will do next!—Mary Peterson “Patience is not simply the ability to wait—it’s how we behave while we’re waiting.”—Joyce Meyer
“You cannot make your life move faster than it’s moving. No matter how urgent your situation may seem to be, things are going to happen when they happen, not a minute sooner. Be patient with yourself. Be patient with others. Be patient with life. Patience always pays off.”—Iyanla Vanzant “We could never learn to be brave and patient, if there were only joy in the world.”—Helen Keller “Patience is the companion of wisdom.”—St. Augustine “Patience is not the ability to wait, but the ability to keep a good attitude while waiting.”—Unknown “Being a good teacher takes patience; being a good doctor also takes patience. In fact, if you want to excel in anything, master any skill, patience is an asset.”—Eknath Easwaran “A waiting person is a patient person. The word patience means the willingness to stay where we are and live the situation out to the full in the belief that something hidden there will manifest itself to us.”—Henri J. M. Nouwen “Patience is the ability to suffer a long time under the mistreatment of others without growing resentful or bitter.”—Jerry Bridges “Never cut a tree down in the wintertime. Never make a negative decision in the low time. Never make your most important decisions when you are in your worst moods. Wait. Be patient. The storm will pass. The spring will come.”—Robert H. Schuller “Think of the ills from which you are exempt, and it will aid you to bear patiently those which now you may suffer.”—Richard Cecil “Spiritual growth is not like fast food. It takes time for its roots to grow, and that requires us to be receptive and patient.”—Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi “Have patience. All things are difficult before they become easy.”—Saadi Quote of the day:
To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose. -- Proverb Think about it: There was a man who had four sons. He wanted his sons to learn to not 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 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 have passed. If you give up when it’s winter, you will miss the promise of your spring, the beauty of your summer, and the fulfillment of your fall. Let’s judge life by looking at a mix of all the seasons. Let the joy and challenges of the seasons of life weave a beautiful tapestry. The great British writer Gilbert Keith Chesterton wrote a brilliant series of short stories about a parish priest, Father Brown, with a knack for forensics. This lowly priest investigated criminal cases while maintaining compassion and understanding toward the guilty.
In one episode, Father Brown gives some advice to a guilty individual who has climbed up into the church spire. He tells him: “You know, it can be dangerous when individuals place themselves in high places. Even to pray from a high place can be dangerous. Good people who allow themselves to gain a lofty opinion of themselves will begin to look down upon others and become judgmental towards others. Soon, they will feel comfortable with putting other people down verbally, and then they may even grow comfortable with criminal acts of violence. But humility is the mother of giants, and one can see great things down in the valley, in one’s rightful place.” After this, Father Brown tells the man that what he knows about him can remain confidential, but he asks him to take the path of honest repentance, to turn himself in. In the series, Father Brown is depicted as a good example of making the most of one’s humble station in life and being content and useful there. He doesn’t own a car, but he often wears a smile while riding his bicycle. If others insult him, he’s hardly moved and will often reply with a simple compliment for the other person or point out something that they can together be grateful for. He just keeps moving forward with what he believes he should do each day. His keen eye for solving criminal cases is sharpened by a favorite pastime: reading murder mysteries. Others try to persuade him to stay strictly in the traditional activities of a parish priest. He attends to those well but knows deep down that he was meant to meddle in the serious affairs of solving crime. His interest becomes part of his vocation, his niche, enabling him to right some of the wrongs that he sees around him. Father Brown also prays for unjust situations to be found out. He plays “second fiddle” to the chief inspector, whose office and responsibility is to investigate local crimes. The inspector repeatedly resents the priest’s intruding into his investigations; Father Brown politely obeys the chief inspector and bows out of taking any credit for solving the mysteries, but returns again and again, proving himself indispensable. God made each of us with a specific place and purpose in mind. Perhaps more of us could find deeper fulfillment in our station of life if we would learn to make the most of our position by equipping ourselves to do our best, wherever we find ourselves in life’s journey. There’s nothing wrong with aspiring to be good at what we do and receiving recognition for it, but we can become disheartened and discontent if we allow ourselves to belittle our own place in life and long for a seemingly more preeminent position. Certainly there are many individuals who excel in positions of great usefulness or prominence. But many of us fill a place in life that would be considered more common and ordinary. Nevertheless, we are each given valuable, hidden skills that can be developed in our current circumstances. And when we accept our situation, and do all we can in it, we will often find ourselves developing those hidden or formerly dormant talents, and we can use those to help others, which also brings us contentment and fulfillment. Virtue and depth of character are formed this way as well. Wherever He has us placed in this world, and for whatever length of time, we accept it as our place, and with His help, we learn to make it better. That is what Father Brown did. Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy. —Norman Vincent Peale
Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication. Remember all things are possible for those who believe. —Gail Devers In my deepest, darkest moments, what really got me through was a prayer. Sometimes my prayer was ‘Help me.’ Sometimes a prayer was ‘Thank you.’ What I’ve discovered is that intimate connection and communication with my Creator will always get me through because I know my support, my help, is just a prayer away. —Iyanla Vanzant The foundation stones for a balanced success are honesty, character, integrity, faith, love, and loyalty.—Zig Ziglar With faith, discipline and selfless devotion to duty, there is nothing worthwhile that you cannot achieve.—Muhammad Ali Jinnah I think you need to go through some stuff to really appreciate life and understand what it means to persevere, overcome, and have faith. I think those tough times make you a stronger person. —Judith Hill The keys to patience are acceptance and faith. Accept things as they are, and look realistically at the world around you. Have faith in yourself and in the direction you have chosen. —Ralph Marston Indeed, this life is a test. It is a test of many things—of our convictions and priorities, our faith and our faithfulness, our patience and our resilience, and in the end, our ultimate desires. —Sheri L. Dew My faith helps me understand that circumstances don’t dictate my happiness, my inner peace. —Denzel Washington To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible. —Thomas Aquinas He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree. —Roy L. Smith
Christmas is not a date. It is a state of mind. —Mary Ellen Chase Christmas is the season for kindling the fire of hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart. —Washington Irving Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love! —Hamilton Wright Mabie Christmas is forever, not for just one day, for loving, sharing, giving, are not to put away like bells and lights and tinsel, in some box upon a shelf. The good you do for others is good you do yourself. —Norman Wesley Brooks, Remember this December, that love weighs more than gold! —Josephine Dodge Daskam Bacon The joy of brightening other lives, bearing each others’ burdens, easing others’ loads, and supplanting empty hearts and lives with generous gifts becomes for us the magic of Christmas. --W. C. Jones Christmas takes place in the heart. It is opening our hearts to others, giving of our time and energy to others, forgiving when needed, and accepting others as they are, in our hearts. It’s doing for others what Jesus did for us. It’s letting God’s Spirit reign in our hearts, and giving His love preeminence in our relations with others. —Robert Rider Christmas is not as much about opening our presents as opening our hearts. —Janice Maeditere The spirit of Christmas fulfils the greatest hunger of mankind. —Loring A. Schuler Open your presents at Christmastime but be thankful year round for the gifts you receive. —Lorinda Ruth Lowen The message of Christmas is that the visible material world is bound to the invisible spiritual world. —Author unknown The earth has grown old with its burden of care, but at Christmas it always is young. —Phillips Brooks Let Christmas not become a thing Merely of merchant’s trafficking, Of tinsel, bell and holly wreath And surface pleasure, but beneath The childish glamour, let us find Nourishment for soul and mind. Let us follow kinder ways Through our teeming human maze, And help the age of peace to come From a Dreamer’s martyrdom. —Madeline Morse Let us remember that the Christmas heart is a giving heart, a wide open heart that thinks of others first. The birth of the baby Jesus stands as the most significant event in all history, because it has meant the pouring into a sick world of the healing medicine of love which has transformed all manner of hearts for almost two thousand years. Underneath all the bulging bundles is this beating Christmas heart. --George Matthew Adams Quote of the day:
“If you want to be happy, practice compassion.” -- Dalai Lama Think about it: The world can be a harsh place. That’s why even small acts of kindness matter. If you think small courtesies and helpful acts are just “a drop in the bucket,” think again! You can make someone’s day with a compassionate comment or a helpful act. And all those “drops in the bucket” could end up creating an ocean of kindness. The story of “World Kindness Day” (Nov. 13) is inspiring in itself. According to this article in TheWashington Post, the president of Tokyo University started the “Small Kindness Movement” in Japan in 1963 after no one came to his aid when he was mugged. The motto of this movement is: “Let us show whatever kindness we can, so that kindness will be the norm in society.” This wonderful slogan reminds us that not only might we make one person’s day better with gentle kindness, but also that we might create a culture of kindness, step-by-step. Just so you know, ample research supports the idea that performing acts of kindness will make you happier, too. When college students were asked to perform five random acts each week for six weeks, they experienced a significant boost in happiness. Sometimes virtue truly is its own reward! In honor of the founder of World Kindness Day, and because it’s the right thing to do, decide you will call 911, or the emergency number in your country, if someone needs emergency help. Also you might decide to deliberately cultivate the habit of kindness as a personal goal. If so, you’ll soon become more alert to a broad variety of opportunities for compassion. And if anyone asks how they can repay you, just say what someone said recently to a friend of mine after paying for his groceries when he had forgotten his wallet: “Pass it on.” The ways you can be kind to others are endless as you use your own creativity and thoughtfulness. Just be mindful of how you could be of service to someone. A few sensible guidelines: If someone doesn’t want help, back off. Be sensitive to other people’s needs for privacy and space. Show respect. Many years ago, a clergyman in a poor part of London became burdened for the dockworkers in his parish. Their work was hard, thankless, and poorly paid, and he decided that if he was ever to reach them with the Gospel of Christ he must become one of them. Day after day he dressed like them and stood in line waiting for a job, never telling who he really was. Finally one winter’s day he was hired to help unload a freighter, moving goods in a wheelbarrow from boat to dock along a narrow plank. On one trip he felt the plank rock violently and he lost his footing and fell into the cold river. Laughter rang out, and he realized one of the men had deliberately jiggled the plank to make him fall.
His first impulse was to react in anger (for he had often struggled with his temper)—but almost instantly he sensed the power of the Holy Spirit overcoming his anger and giving him peace. He grinned and joined in their laughter, and to his surprise, the culprit dropped his load and helped him out of the muck. His tormentor-turned-rescuer, taken aback by his calm reaction, began talking with him. Later the man shamefacedly revealed that he had once been a highly respected physician, but alcohol had robbed him of both his profession and his family. The clergyman led him to Christ, and in time the man was reunited with his family and restored to his position. But here is the point: it would never have happened if the Spirit of God hadn’t conquered the clergyman’s temper and replaced it with the gentleness and love of Christ. The Holy Spirit made the difference. |
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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