remember i looked at u, u looked at me. we had a love conection between us. u told me u love me i told u i love u i gave u everything from me u took all away u had to leave me u never said good-bye but 2 years later i see u i wrote to u it said i love u u said no later then we never talk to each other we just say hi or good-bye 5 months later u say i love u but i moved one just like u did to me well guess what ur the one with a broken heart just like me
He's walking away from me. His back is tense, and I know he's angry with me. I suppose he's got a right to be angry. He's looking back at me now with that look in his eyes. The look that says I've disappointed him again. I know I'm a coward for not even trying. He's been waiting twenty years, and I can't even try.
He's getting in his truck, Heading back to that empty place he calls home. Soon I'll have to go back to my own empty life, and wait for the next time we can see each other again. It's not so different from what we've done for the last two decades. Except, I have this awful feeling that something's going to happen. This feeling is so over powering, making it hard to breathe.
Every second takes him further and further away from me. I want to go after him. I want to beg him to stay and never leave my side. Why couldn't I just tell him what he wanted to hear? Why couldn't I just tell him I love him?
Instead, I say nothing. I do nothing. I just stand and watch him disappear, not having the courage to call him back.
A tear runs down my cheek. Somehow, I know, deep in my soul, I will never See him again.
Without God's Love for you and I, The days of the week would have been Mournday, Tearsday, Wasteday, Thirstday, Fightday, Shatterday, & Sadday.
So we need to give God the Glory Who made the days a Blessing to us! Have a strong faith in Him that it shall be well with us this year, No matter how many obstacles we come across God is with us. Offer all our goals/plans this year; let go and let God in our lives, With Him, all things are possible
God Bless!
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
dear dhyames,
it's been a along time din bago naulit ang ganitong letter para sa'yo......i really don't know my feelings right now....ofcourse theres a certain reason for that....ang alam ko lang it started when i read a very inspiring story in the net......minsan nga gusto ko talagang i-post yun dito....kaya lang nag-iisip din ako...kasi diko pa nakwento ito sa mga friends ko.....kahit sa mga taong sobrang close sakin....ang alam lang nila may nabasa ako..yun lang...wala silang alam sa pakiramdam ko at nararamdaman ko...kasi di naman ako nagkukwento sa kanila..minsan kasi i just kept na lang sa sarili ko......kasi kung ikuikuwento ko lang sa kanila sasabihin nila...feeling na naman ako or ilusyunada...sa ngaun isang tao lang ang napagsasabihan ko ng feelings ko......but due to age gap namin di lahat nasasabi ko kasi baka di nya din ako magets or maunawaan...si friend naman kasi may problem din kaya ayaw ko na syang guluhin...yung iba naman masyadong busy and worse reaction naman kung sa iba ako magsha-share........bakit unfair ang world at life sakin...bakit..bakit..bakit.......i'm not looking for somebody...kasi i think diko na kailangang gawin yun...masaya din ako kapag kasama ko mga friends ko...but may mga times nalulungkot din ako...kasi di naman kami laging ganito...marami na ring nadagdag at sabit sa barkada....let say affected lahat kami dahil sa mga bago.....pero alangan namang dina kami tumanggap ng ibang friends...mababait naman kami kahit marami ding nagaglit sa barkadahan namin.....anyway diko talaga kayang sabihin at maipaliwanag ang feelings ko...........until then na lang po sana satin na lang toh.....i love you all!!!
1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay "them."
2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.
3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. "An idle mind is the devil's workshop." And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.
4. Enjoy the simple things.
5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.
6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.
7. Surround yourself wit h what you love , whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.
8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.
9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county; to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is.
10. Tell the people you love that you love them , at every opportunity.
AND ALWAYS REMEMBER: Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
We all need to live life to its fullest each day!!
If you're mad with someone , and nobody's there to fix the situation ... You fix it. Maybe today, that person might still want to be your friend . And if you don't, tomorrow can be too late . If you're in love with somebody , but that person doesn't know... tell her/him. Maybe today, that person is also in love with you . And if you don't say it, tomorrow can be too late .
If you still love a person that you think has forgotten you... tell her/him. Maybe that person has always loved you. And if you don't tell her/him today , tomorrow can be too late.
If you need a hug of a friend... ask her/him for it. Maybe they need it more than you do. And if you don't ask for it today, tomorrow can be too late.
If you really have friends who you appreciate tell them. Maybe they appreciate you as well. That if you don't and they leave or go far away today , tomorrow can be too late.
If you love your parents, and never had the chance to show them... do it . Maybe you have them there to show them how you feel. That if you don't and they leave today , and then tomorrow can be too late.
The Maker of all human beings is recalling all units manufactured regardless of make or year, due to a serious defect in the primary and central component of the heart.
This is due to a malfunction in the original prototype units code named Adam and Eve, resulting in the reproduction of the same defect in all subsequent units.
This defect has been technically termed "Subsequential Internal Non-Morality, " or more commonly known as S.I.N., as it is primarily expressed.
Some other symptoms include: 1. Loss of direction 2. Foul vocal emissions 3. Amnesia of origin 4. Lack of peace and joy 5. Selfish or violent behavior 6. Depression or confusion in the mental Component 7. Fearfulness 8. Idolatry 9. Rebellion
The Manufacturer, who is neither liable nor at fault for this defect, is providing factory-authorized repair and service free of charge to correct this SIN defect.
The Repair Technician, Jesus, has most generously offered to bear the entire burden of the staggering cost of these repairs. There is no additional fee required.
The number to call for repair in all areas is: P-R-A-Y-E-R.
Once connected, please upload your burden of SIN through the REPENTANCE procedure. Next, download ATONEMENT from the Repair Technician, Jesus, into the heart component.
No matter how big or small the SIN defect is, Jesus will replace it with: 1. Love 2. Joy 3. Peace 4. Patience 5. Kindness 6. Goodness 7. Faithfulness 8. Gentleness 9. Self control
Please see the operating manual, the B.I.B.L.E. (Believers' Instructions Before Leaving Earth) for further details on the use of these fixes.
WARNING: Continuing to operate the human being unit without correction voids any manufacturer warranties, exposing the unit to dangers and problems too numerous to list and will result in the human unit being permanently impounded.
DANGER: The human being units not responding to this recall action will have to be scrapped in the furnace. The SIN defect will not be permitted to enter Heaven so as to prevent contamination of that facility.
Thank you for your attention!
GOD
PS:* *Please assist where possible by notifying others of this important recall notice, and you may contact the Father any time by "kneemail".
I will always be there for you, and I hope you will be there for me too, for our friendship can never be broken, I will remain loyal through all the good and the bad, and in the end we will be glad, because without you I am nothing, as you are nothing without me, we fill the space a lover couldn't fill, for we hold each others secrets that we would never spill, and the day you're gone, part of me goes too, because I wouldn't want to be here with out you,
Super friends forever you and me, nothing could ever change that; it's destiny!
I use to call him Daddy And then just called him Dad, As I got older I called him 'other things' When he would make me mad.
He planted me before my birth and provided for my needs, He taught me how to ride my bike Mow the lawn and cut the weeds.
He taught me how to walk, then run And was my coach when I played ball. He was not only my coach in sports But warned me of some of 'life's falls.
Dad also taught me how to fish and hunt And how to play games when I was young, He took me out on camping trips And taught me how to hunt, safely handling my gun.
So Dad, I pray you'll forgive me For not writing or calling more than I do. But this is one time of the year I just want to make sure you know Dad, I LOVE YOU!
Most any man can father a child for this we know is true, but to be a good dad there's a whole lot more for all these men to do. They have to have strength to endure long days even though their bodies be tired, the love in their hearts has to show in their eyes to the child who so admires. They have to show honesty through each day and show that life is worth living, they have to show caring in all they do in taking and in giving. Understanding has to be a big part of the father's heart as well, and though he feels pain or hurts at times he may never, never tell. They have a great laughter that shows in their eyes and comes rolling from within, to light up the faces of each little child as each day draws to an end. Hopes for today, Dreams for tomorrow is what they must keep showing, and though they grow old they still feel great joy, for the love of their children keeps growing.
Momma said you left her When I was still inside of her She said you never cared And that I deserved far less.
When I was young Towing an exploring mind Sometimes I would pretend How much you missed me It was a daydream that felt real to me.
There were days I'd wait at the gate And everytime a plane passed by I'd look up in the sky Wishing it's because of me You're finally coming home to see.
I grew up not knowing you Always wondering where were you I was the target of ridicule For not having a father to look up to.
I'm now all grown up Have a family of my own Most kids have two grandfathers Mine are blessed with one.
There is one day set aside For you and all the others yet-to-be, and already A very special day to celebrate Just for being a father.
So here's to you, a heartfelt wish Everyday and on Father's Day I send my love your way... Wherever you are, I think of you Whatever you do, God Bless you.
At any moment she’ll be walking through that door She won’t find me behind it cause the feeling is gone and just won’t come back anymore I work so hard to find it
I’ve been up, down, trying to get the feeling again All around, trying to get the feeling again The one that make me shiver Make my knees start to quiver Every time she walks in
I’ve looked high, low Everywhere I possibly can But there’s just no trying to get the feeling again It seemed to disappear as fast as it came
Read every book Look for every meditation and poem Just to bring home that old sweet sensation But it ain’t no used to me, trying to get the feeling again
Where did it run to? I thought I’d done all that I could To keep the love burning But whatever I’ve done, I just haven’t done it too good Cause all that’s left is yearning
I’ve been up, down, trying to get the feeling again Like a bloodhound searching for a long lost friend Could you help me rediscover The way to re be her lover once again
Read every book Look for every meditation and poem Just to bring home that old sweet sensation But it ain’t no used to me, to try and get that feeling I want to get that feeling again
I’ve been up, down, trying to get the feeling again I’ve been up, down, trying to get the feeling again I’ve been up, down, trying to get the feeling again Trying to get the feeling again
Once upon a time the colors of the world started to quarrel. All claimed that they were the best. The most important. The most useful. The favorite.
Green said: "Clearly I am the most important. I am the sign of life and of hope. I was chosen for grass, trees and leaves. Without me, all animals would die. Look over the countryside and you will see that I am in the majority."
Blue interrupted: "You only think about the earth, but consider the sky and the sea. It is the water that is the basis of life and drawn up by the clouds from the deep sea. The sky gives space and peace and serenity. Without my peace, you would all be nothing."
Yellow chuckled: "You are all so serious. I bring laughter, gaiety, and warmth into the world. The sun is yellow, the moon is yellow, the stars are yellow. Every time you look at a sunflower, the whole world starts to smile. Without me there would be no fun."
Orange started next to blow her trumpet: "I am the color of health and strength. I may be scarce, but I am precious for I serve the needs of human life. I carry the most important vitamins. Think of carrots, pumpkins, oranges, mangoes, and papayas. I don't hang around all the time, but when I fill the sky at sunrise or sunset, my beauty is so striking that no one gives another thought to any of you."
Red could stand it no longer he shouted out: "I am the ruler of all of you. I am blood - life's blood! I am the color of danger and of bravery. I am willing to fight for a cause. I bring fire into the blood. Without me, the earth would be as empty as the moon. I am the color of passion and of love, the red rose, the poinsettia and the poppy."
Purple rose up to his full height: He was very tall and spoke with great pomp: "I am the color of royalty and power. Kings, chiefs, and bishops have always chosen me for I am the sign of authority and wisdom. People do not question me! They listen and obey."
Finally Indigo spoke, much more quietly than all the others, but with just as much determination: "Think of me. I am the color of silence. You hardly notice me, but without me you all become superficial. I represent thought and reflection, twilight and deep water. You need me for balance and contrast, for prayer and inner peace."
And so the colors went on boasting, each convinced of his or her own superiority. Their quarreling became louder and louder. Suddenly there was a startling flash of bright lightening thunder rolled and boomed. Rain started to pour down relentlessly. The colors crouched down in fear, drawing close to one another for comfort.
In the midst of the clamor, God began to speak: "You foolish colors, fighting amongst yourselves, each trying to dominate the rest. Don't you know that you were each made for a special purpose, unique and different? Join hands with one another and come to me."
Doing as they were told, the colors united and joined hands.
God continued: "From now on, when it rains, each of you will stretch across the sky in a great bow of color as a reminder that you can all live in peace. The Rainbow is a sign of hope for tomorrow." And so, whenever a good rain washes the world, and a Rainbow appears in the sky, let us remember to appreciate one another.
There are a few things that can be done in times of grave emergencies. Your mobile phone can actually be a life saver or an emergency tool for survival. Check out the things that you can do with it: *I* * The Emergency Number worldwide for **Mobile** is 112.* If you find yourself out of coverage area of your mobile network and there is an emergency, dial 112 and the mobile will search any existing network to establish the emergency number for you, and interestingly this number 112
can be dialed even if the keypad is locked. **Try it out.** *II* * Subject: Have you locked your keys in the car? Does you car have remote
keys?* This may come in handy someday. Good reason to own a cell phone: If you lock your keys in the car and the spare keys are at home, call someone at home on their cell phone from your cell phone. Hold your cell phone about a foot from your car door and have the person at your home press the unlock button, holding it near the mobile phone on
their end. Your car will unlock. Saves someone from having to drive your keys to you. Distance is no object. You could be hundreds of miles away, and if you can reach someone who has the other "remote" for your car, you
can unlock the doors (or the trunk). Editor's Note: *It works fine! We tried it out and it unlocked our car over a cell phone!"* *III* Subject: Hidden Battery power Imagine your cell battery is very low , you are expecting an important call and you don't have a charger. Nokia instrument comes with a reserve battery. To activate, press the keys *3370# Your cell will restart with this reserve and the instrument will show a 50% increase in battery. This
reserve will get charged when you charge your cell next time. AND *IV* How to disable a STOLEN mobile phone? To check your Mobile phone's serial number, key in the following digits on your phone: * # 0 6 # A 15 digit code will appear on the screen. This number is unique to your handset. Write it down and keep it somewhere safe. when your phone get stolen, you can phone your service provider and give them this code. They
will then be able to block your handset so even if the thief changes the SIM card, your phone will be totally useless. You probably won't get your phone back, but at least you know that whoever stole it can't use/sell it either. If everybody does this, there would be no point in people stealing mobile
phones. Please spread this useful information around
Let's imagine then, not just California, but the entire world, waking up one day to discover Filipinos have disappeared. I'm talking here about the six or seven million Filipinos currently working overseas in countries with names that run the entire alphabet, from Angola to Zimbabwe .
Let's not worry first about why or how the Filipinos disappeared; in fact, it becomes academic whether it's a day or a week. Just imagine a world without Filipinos.
Think of the homes that are dependent on Filipino housekeepers, nannies, caregivers. The homes would be chaotic as kids cry out for their nannies. Hong Kong and Singaporean and Taiwanese yuppie couples are now forced to stay home and realizing, goodness, there's so much of housework that has to be handled and how demanding their kids can be and hey, what's this strange language they're babbling in?
It's not just the children that are affected. The problems are even more serious with the elderly in homes and nursing institutions, because Filipino caregivers have provided so much of the critical services they need. When temporary contractual workers are brought in from among non-Filipinos, the elderly complain. They want their Filipino caregivers back because they have that special touch, that extra patience and willingness to stay an hour more when needed.
Hospitals, too, are adversely affected because so many of the disappeared Filipinos were physicians, nurses and other health professionals. All appointments for rehabilitation services, from children with speech problems to stroke survivors, are indefinitely postponed because of disappeared speech pathologists, occupational and physical therapists!
Eventually, the hospital administrators announce they won't take in any more patients unless the conditions are serious. Patients are told to follow their doctors' written orders and, if they have questions, to seek advice on several Internet medical sites. But within two days, the hospitals are swamped with new complaints. The web sites aren't working because of missing Filipino web designers and web site managers.
Service establishments throughout the world -- restaurants, supermarkets, hotels -- all close down because of their missing key staff involved in management and maintenance. In Asia , hotels complain about the missing bands and singers.
In the United States , many commercial establishments have to close shop, not just because of the missing Filipino sales staff but because their suppliers have all been sending in notices about delays in shipments. Yup, the shipping industry has gone into a crisis because of missing Filipino seafarers.
The shipping firms begin to look into the emergency recruitment of non-Filipino seafarers but then declare another crisis: They're running out of supplies of oil for their ships because the Middle Eastern countries have come to a standstill without their Filipino workers, including quite a few working for the oil industry.
Frantic presidents and prime ministers call on the United Nations to convene a special session of the Security Council but Kofi Annan says he can't do that because the UN system itself is on the edge, with so many of their secretarial and clerical staff, as well as translators, having disappeared from their main headquarters in New York and Geneva, as well as their regional offices throughout the world. Quite a number of UN services, especially refugee camps, are also in danger of closing down because of missing Filipino health professionals and teachers.
Annan also explains that he can't convene UN meetings because the airports in New York , Washington and other major US cities have been shut down. The reason? The disappeared Filipinos included quite a few airport security personnel who used to check passengers and their baggage.
Annan calls on the World Bank and international private foundations for assistance but they're crippled, too, because their Filipino consultants and staff are nowhere to be seen. Funds can't be remitted and projects can't run without the technical assistance provided for by Filipinos.
An exasperated Annan calls on religious leaders to pray, and pray hard. But when he phones the Pope, he is told the Catholic Church, too, is in crisis because the disappeared include the many Filipino priests and nuns in Rome who help run day-to-day activities, as well as missionaries in the front lines of remote posts, often the only ones providing basic social services.
As they converse, Annan and the Pope agree on one thing: the world has become a quieter place since the Filipinos disappeared. It isn't just the silencing of work and office equipment formerly handled by Filipinos; no, it seems there's much less laughter now that the Filipinos aren't around, both the laughter of the Filipinos and those they served.
I know, I know, I'm exaggerating the contributions of Filipinos to the world but I'm doing what the producers of "A Day without Mexicans" had in mind: using a bit of hyperbole to shake people up.
As their blurb for the film goes: "How do you make the invisible, visible? Make them invisible."
As I wrote this column, I did realize I was doing this not so much for the Hong Kong Chinese and Taiwanese and Singaporeans and Americans who don't appreciate us enough, than for us, who as Filipinos, are pretty good at putting ourselves down, at making ourselves invisible.
MANILA, Philippines -- Pinoy is what Filipinos call each other, a term of endearment. You're Pinoy from Pilipino just like you're tisoy from mestizo or chinoy from chino.
It's a nickname just as Minoy is from Maximo, Ninoy from Benigno, Tinay from Florentina and Kikay from Francisca. But now they're Maxi and Ben and Tintin and Cheska.
You've been called indio, goo-goo, Negro, flip, noypits. Or Filipino, a biscuit that is brown outside and white inside, or a word stricken from the dictionary which means domestic. Ay, lintik!
You're Juan de la Cruz or Mang Pandoy. You're common tao, masa, urban poor but also Cecile Licad and Don Jaime, Jose Rizal and Tony Meloto, Shawie and Pacquiao and Nick Joaquin, galing galing.
Born June 12, 1896, the Republic of the RP is a Gemini, good at connecting, good at loving-loving, good at texting and interpersonal skills.
Filipinos like to yakap, akbay, hawak, kalong, kalabit. We sleep side by side, siping-siping, we go out kabit kabit.
There's lots of us to go around. Someone always to listen to a sob story, even in a jeepney, to share-a-load or to share a TV.
Everyone's tito, tita
Who has a hipag, a bayaw, a bilas, a balae, a kinakapatid? Who has an ate, dete, diche, kuya, diko? The maids call her ate, the driver calls him kuya and everybody is tito or tita.
Who has a Lola Baby, a Tito Totoy, a bosing called Sir Peewee, his wife Ma'am Lovely and their kids Cla Cla and Cring Cring?
The Pinoy lives in a condo, a mansion, an apartment, a bahay na bato, ilalim ng tulay, Luneta, Forbes Park, and Paris too!
He's a citizen of the world, he's in all the villages and capitals, colonizing the West, bringing his guitar and his bagoong, his walis na tingting, his tabo, his lolo and lola.
Where there's a beat, there's a Pinoy. You'll find her singing in a nightclub in Tokyo, a musical in London, the Opera House in Sydney. Sure, they've got the infrastructure, the theaters and architecture. Who but Pinoys direct their plays, or trains their company managers, and imports our teachers, by the way?
Viagra to Victoria's Secret
Look at that baggage-all pasalubong, none for herself. From bedsheet to hair color, Toblerone to carpet, Viagra to paella pan, Victoria's Secret to microwave.
Hey, Joe, don't envy me 'cause I'm brown, you'll get ultra violet from that sun and turn red not brown.
Just lucky, I guess. God put us all in the oven, but some were uncooked and some were burned, but me, I came out golden brown!
Hey, Kristoff! Hey David and Ann! Your Pinoy yaya makes your kids gentler, more obedient, she teaches them how to pray. Hey Big Brother! Hey Grandma Moses! Who but Pinoy nurses make your sick days easier all the way?
We made the jeepney, the karaoke, the fluorescent bulb, the moon buggy. We invented People Power and crispy pata; popularized virgin coconut oil, scaled the Everest and made it with Cebu furniture abroad among the best. Ever trying for the Guinness World Record-with the longest swim of a child, the longest kiss, the longest longanisa.
Linguist
The Pinoy is a linguist. As in. As if. For a while. Open the light. Close the light. Paki ganyan naman ang kuwan sa ano. Tuck in. Tuck out. Don't be high blood. If you're ready na, I'll pass for you.
Hayop; Hanep! Bongga ka 'day, feel na feel kita, kilig to the bones ako. Don't make wala, don't make tampo. Taralets na, babes, let's go, nababato na ang syota mo.
I'm inviting you to my party, please RSVP. Oo means "yes" or "maybe," or "yes if you insist," or "maybe if it doesn't rain."
"Yes" is also a nice way of saying "no." Yes, hindi kita sisiputin. "No," eto na ako at ang barkada ko. Please don't ask a Pinoy a question like that!
Just flows
She's not so exact, not so chop-chop, she just flows and flows. Filipino time? Naku, huli din naman ang Kano!
The Pinoy finds time to be nice, to be kind, to apologize, to be there when you're depressed, to help you with your utang and your wedding dress.
The Filipino is a giver, never mind what it does to his liver, never mind what it takes. Hardships of the Third World don't dry up his blood, they just make him more compassionate, more feeling, of the other guy's lot.
Note that the maid sends all her wages home to ailing daddy. She is the OCW whose labor of loneliness created the original katas ng Saudi.
'Bahala na'
The Filipino is fearless, bahala na si Batman, which actually means Bathala na or "leave all to God." Okay lang if I die by bitay, okay lang if I live, okay lang if I survive by the skin of my teeth.
Saway ni Inay: Di ka naman Bill Gates, di ka naman French, mahirap nang magbuhat ng sarili mong bench.
A man was in his front yard mowing grass when his neighbor, a Singh, came out of the house and went straight to the mailbox. He opened it, looked inside, slammed it shut, and stormed back into his house. A little later he came out of his house again, looking nervous, went to the mailbox, again opened it, and slammed it shut again. Angrily, back into the house he went. As the man was getting ready to edge the lawn, here our Singh came again,looking very heated up. He marched to the mailbox, opened it and then slammed it shut harder than ever. Puzzled by his actions, the man asked him,"Is something wrong?" To which the ferocious Singh replied, " There certainly is! My stupid computer keeps telling me I have mail!" ============ ========= ===== One Singh was enjoying the sun at the beach in America . A lady came asked him, "Are you relaxing?" Singh answered, " No, I am Banta Singh." Another guy came and asked him the same question. Singh answered, "No No Me Banta Singh!" Third one came and asked him the same question again. Singh was totally annoyed and decided to shift his place. While walking he saw another Singh soaking in the sun. He went up to him and asked, "Are you Relaxing?" The other Singh was a lot more educated and answered, "Yes, I am relaxing." The Singh slapped him on his face and said, Stupid, idiot. Everyone is looking for you and you are sitting over here!" ============ ========= ========= ======= A Singh died and went to heaven. When he got to the pearly gate Saint Peter told him that new rules were in effect due to the advances in education on earth. In order to gain admittance a prospective heavenly soul must answer two questions: 1. Name two days of the week that begin with "T" 2. How many seconds are in a year? The Singh thought for a few minutes and answered... 1. The two days of the week that begin with "T" are Today and Tomorrow. 2. There are 12 seconds in a year. Saint Peter said, "OK, I'll buy the Today and Tomorrow answer, even though it's not the answer I expected. But how did you get 12 seconds in a year?" The Singh replied, "Well, January 2nd, February 2nd, March 2nd, etc..." Saint Peter lets him in without another word. ============ ========= ========= ======= Jasmeet Kaur caught her husband Santa Singh searching high and low all around his living room. Jasmeet: "What are you searching for?" Santa: "Hidden cameras!" Jasmeet: "And what makes you think that there are hidden cameras here?" Santa: "That guy on TV knows exactly what I am doing. Why every few minutes he keeps saying 'You are watching the Star World channel'. How does he know that?" ============ ========= ========= ======== Having lost his donkey a Singh, got down to his knees and started thanking God. A passerby saw him and asked, "Your donkey is missing; what are you thanking God for?" The Singh replied "I am thanking Him for seeing to it that I wasn't riding the donkey at that time, otherwise I would have been missing too." ============ ========= ========= ====== Sardar Gurbachan Singh is appearing for his University final examination. He takes his seat in the examination hall, stares at the question paper for five minutes, and then in a fit of inspiration takes his shoes off and throws them out of the window. He then removes his turban and throws it away as well. His shirt, pant, socks and watch follow suit. The invigilator, alarmed, approaches him and asks what is going on. "Oye, I am only following the instructions yaar," he says, " it says here, 'Answer the following questions in brief' ." ============ ========= ========= ========= ========= Two Singhs were sitting outside a clinic. One of them was crying like hell. So the other asked, "Why are you crying?" The first one replied, "I came here for blood test" Second one asked, "So? Are you afraid ? " First one replied, " No, not that. During the blood test they cut my finger" Hearing this the second one started crying. The first one was astonished and asked other, "Why are you crying?" The other replied, "I have come for my urine test." ============ ========= ========= ========= A Singh goes to a hotel and eats heartily. After eating he goes to wash his hands but starts washing the basin instead. The manager comes running and asks him, "Mr. Singh, what are you doing?" To this the man replies, "Oye, see the board here, " Wash Basin ".
1) Misconception #1: Paella is a Seafood Dish Paella is a rice dish. It can have seafood in it, just as pizza can, but (also as with pizza) you can put any 'topping' on it you like. The Margarita of paella is paella Valenciana, which was invented in the fields of Valencia, a place where prawns and squid are a bit of a rarity! Paella Valenciana is made up of chicken, pork and rabbit, though in older (poorer) times, snails were often included. 2) Misconception #2: Bullfighting is Spain's National Sport Wrong on two counts – for a start, it's not a sport (the fight isn't even enough for that), and it's not truly national. It is true that you will encounter bullrings throughout Spain, but these were largely built during the reign of Franco (the dictator that ruled Spain from 1939 until 1975), a ruler who had a particular image of Spain that he wanted to promote. Spain's real national sport is futbol (or soccer). 3) Misconception #3: The Drink of Choice in Spanish bars is Sangria Sangria is a party drink, like a tropical punch at one of our cocktail parties. It exists for one purpose – to get everyone drunk cheaply. That isn't to say that it can't be made with a bit of loving care and attention, but there is no 'traditional' recipe. 95% of people drinking sangria in bars are tourists and the bar owners know it and will charge you accordingly. 4) Misconception #4: Flamenco is a Popular Dance in Spain Flamenco often contains dancing, but it isn't predominantly a dance. Flamenco contains four main elements: the guitar, the vocals, the dancing and las palmas (hand claps). In fact, of the four disciplines, the dancing is the part that is the most easily dropped. Flamenco is also specifically an Andalusian art, though through internal migration flamenco has quite a history in Madrid and even Barcelona. You're unlikely to find much flamenco in other parts of Spain. 5) Misconception #5: Bring Sunscreen, not an Umbrella, no Matter When You Visit A friend of mine brought sunscreen when he came to visit me in central Spain in October. He ended up buying an umbrella. Spain is not the tropical paradise that many think it is (though global warming is pushing it in that direction). During autumn and winter, Galicia can expect rain every other day, while Madrid and the cities to its west and north can get exceptionally cold in the winter. 6) Misconception #6: Speaking Spanish Will Always be Appreciated This is largely true, but in the Basque country, Galicia and Catalonia, the local language isn't even Spanish and while you'd be unlucky to meet someone who didn't appreciate your attempts at speaking Spanish, such people are certainly not uncommon (especially in Catalonia). The occasional Basque or Catalan word in the appropriate regions will get you more smiles than a perfectly constructed sentence of 'Castillian' Spanish. 7) Misconception #7: Spanish Food is Hot & Spicy, like Mexican Like in the story of the princess and the pea, put a drop of tabasco in a pot of stew for twenty people and a Spaniard will wave his hand in front of his mouth as if trying to cool the fieriest Mexican chili con carne. Well, that's a slight exaggeration, but not by much – many in Spain genuinely think that a sprinkling of paprika on food qualifies it as 'picante' (spicy). I am amazed when I occasionally encounter genuinely spicy food in Spain and I wonder who (other than the tourists) are actually eating it! Misconception #8: Tapas are a Specific Type of Food Tapas are a way of eating food, not a type of food. Anything can be tapas. Paella, cous cous, shrimps, brochette, even hamburgers. A tapa is a small dish, usually taken with a drink (sometimes it comes free, sometimes you pay for it). You can stick to one bar and order a series of tapas to go with your drinks, but it's far more proper (and fun) to bar hop ( or tapear in Spanish) and sample the culinary delights of a number of different bars. 9) Misconception #9: Tipping is Common in Spain No, no, no and NO! Probably the myth most perpetuated by guide books and Web sites about Spain. Tipping is not common in Spain. The Spanish might leave change from a 50€ bill if the meal has been good, but they don't ever dig into their pockets to give the waitress a few coins. 10) Misconception #10: Traveling by Train is Quicker Than the Bus Trains are always considered to be quicker and easier to take than a bus. But this is not necessarily the case in Spain. While 80% of trains will be quicker than the bus, often the opposite is the case. Also, buses are more frequent, quicker to book (the line at a train station can be horrendous) and less likely to be sold out.
If you give Mom a muffin, She'll want a strong cup of coffee to go with it. She'll make herself some. Her three year old will spill the coffee. She'll wipe it up. Wiping the floor, she'll find dirty socks. She'll remember she has to do laundry. When she puts the laundry in the washer, she'll trip over boots and bump into the box of Goodwill items. Bumping into the Goodwill items will remind her she has to get these boxes in the car and out of her basement. When she puts the boxes in the car, she'll find a bag of groceries and this will remind her she has to cook dinner. She will get out the chicken defrosting in the fridge. She'll look for her cookbook (101 Things To Do With Chicken). The cookbook will be sitting under a pile of mail. She will see the Netflix movie she's meant to mail and the preschool bill, which is due tomorrow. She will look for her checkbook. The checkbook will be in her purse that is being dumped out by her one year old. She'll smell something funny. She'll change the baby's diaper.
As she finishes up, she'll realize she brought the hand sanitizer down to the kitchen. While she is throwing away the diaper and searching for the hand sanitizer, the phone will ring. Her three year old will answer and hang up. She'll remember she wants to phone a friend not for coffee but a very strong drink. Thinking of drinking will remind her that she was going to have a cup of coffee in order to stay awake for the rest of the day. And chances are...
If she finds her cup of coffee (which she has to reheat by now),
Her kids will have eaten the muffin that went with it. __._,_.___
"Do visit Bryce Canyon," a man advised. "But do it later, after you've driven through the other parts of Utah. It's like the icing on the cake." So it is with forgiveness. It's the icing on the cake.
Forgiveness is a simple word, but a difficult, complicated process. Forgiveness is also essential if we want to find happiness and joy.
To forgive too soon, before we've felt all we needed to feel along the way, is incomplete. Forgiveness based on denial won't work. And not to forgive, after we've felt our emotions---our anger, rage, pain and betrayal---will harden our hearts and keep us closed. We'll have loose ends to tie up, an unfinished connection to our past. We'll have unfinished business with others, even though we may not see them, speak to them, or consciously think about them any longer. We won't be free, and neither will they.
Sometimes we need to seek forgiveness because we've tried everything else and nothing works to bring us back to peace. Sometimes forgiveness finds us, unexpectedly transforming our hearts, softening us, opening us, and renewing our hearts and our relationships.
Sometimes forgiveness surprises us because it's the last thing we thought we would need to feel whole again. Forgiveness is often the completion of the process. It's the icing on the cake.
50. Where the most happening places are where the gang wars happen, where women strip and where the people overthrow a president.
49. Where doctors, lawyers and engineers are unemployed.
48. Where everyone has his own personal ghost story and superstition
47. Where mountains like Makiling and Banahaw are considered holy places.
46. Where everything can be forged., even the presidency.
45. Where the mall is considered the second home.
44. Where people readily buy Starbucks coffee but complains of expensive gas price.
43. Where every street has a basketball court and every town has only one public school.
42. Where all kinds of animals are edible.
41. Where it is fast becoming unfashionable to speak English/Spanish.
40. Where students pay more money than they will earn afterwards.
39. Where call-center employees earn more money than teachers and nurses, where doctors study to become nurses for employment abroad.
38. Where driving 4 kms can take as much as 4 hours.
37. Where flyovers brings you from the freeway to the side streets.
36. Where tourist spots are where Filipinos do not (or cannot) go.
35. Where the personal computer is mainly used for games and Friendster.
34. Where military generals decides who is president.
33. Where colonial mentality is dishonestly denied!
32. Where 4 a.m. is not yet considered bedtime.
31. Where the government urge the people to pay and defy the law.
30. Where everything and everyone is spoofed.
29. Where even the poverty-stricken gets to wear Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger (fake)!
28. Where democracy applies only to the government and their ass-kissers.
27. Where being a bum is a way of life.
26. Where during rainy seasons streets become rivers.
25. Where everyone has a relative abroad who keeps them and the government alive.
24. Where sidewalks and crossing the streets involves running for your dear life.
23. Where everyone is ashame to wear the national colors.
22. Where billiards is a sport, and darts is a bar game.
21. Where even the poverty-stricken has the latest cell phones.
20. Where insurance is a lucrative industry because it does not work.
19. Where water can only be classified as tap and dirty - clean water is for sale (35 pesos per gallon). 18. Where the church governs the people and where the government makes the people pray for miracles. (Amen to that!)
17. Where University of the Philippines is where all the weird people go. Ateneo is where all those who have influence go. La Salle is where all the rich go. College of Saint Benilde is where all the stupid rich go, and University of Asia and the Pacific is where all the irrelevantly rich people go to say they go to college. 16. Where fast food is a diet meal.
15. Where traffic signs are merely suggestions, not regulations.
14. Where cops hide behind misleading traffic signs to earn his living.
13. Where being held up happens to everyone everywhere even in broad daylight with lots of people.
12. Where kids dream of becoming actors, singers, basketball players, or politicians.
11. Where rodents are normal house occupants.
10. Where the definition of traffic is the "non-movement" of vehicles.
9. Where the fighter planes of the 1940s are used for military engagements, and the new fighter planes are displayed in museums.
8. where the population knows showbiz stars and gossips better than their national heroes, past presidents, national history and current events.
7. Where cigarettes and alcohol are a necessity, and where the lottery is a way out of poverty.
6. Where soap operas tell the realities of life and where the news provides the drama.
5. Where actors make the rules and where politicians provide the entertainment.
4. Where olympics are not for the athletes but out of town vacation for the government.
3. Where people can steal trillions of pesos, kill and still run for a government office.
2. Where being an hour late is still considered punctual.
1. Where the squatters have more to complain (even if they do not pay their tax) ---- than those employed and have their tax automatically deducted from their salaries.
and finally......
0. Where non- government people wants to leave the country!
What is fear of rejection? Fear of rejection is the:
Irrational fear that others will not accept me for who I am, what I believe, and how I act.
Pervasive motivator for caution in my behavior and interactions with others.
State of mind that makes me incapable of doing or saying anything for fear of others' rejection, lack of acceptance, or disapproval.
State of being of individuals who are over-dependent on the approval, recognition, or affirmation of others in order to feel good about themselves. In order to sustain personal feelings of adequacy these individuals are constantly concerned with the reactions of others to them.
Self-censoring attitude that inhibits creativity, productivity, and imagination in one's approach.
Driving force behind many people that keeps them from being authentic human beings. They are so driven by the need for acceptance of others that they lose their own identity in the process. They mimic the ways in which others act, dress, talk, think, believe, and function. They become the three-dimensional clones of the ``role models'' they so desperately need to emulate in order to gain acceptance.
Underlying process in the power of ``peer pressure'' that grabs hold and makes people act in stereotypic, ``pop'' culture, counter culture, punk, new wave, preppie, yuppie, and other styles. They crave recognition and acceptance from the reference group with whom they want to be identified.
Energy-robbing attitude that leads to self immobilization, self-defeating, and self-destructive behavior. This attitude encourages ongoing irrational thinking and behavior, resulting in personal stagnation, regression, and depression.
Driving force of some people for all actions in their lives. It plays a part in their choices concerning their education, career direction, work behavior, achievement level, interpersonal and marital relationships, family and community life, and the ways in which they spend leisure time.
Act of giving to others more power than I give to myself over how I feel about myself. What the others say or feel about me is the determinant of how I feel about myself. I am completely at the mercy of others for how happy or sad I will be. My self-satisfaction and belief in myself is in their hands. Fear of rejection is the abdication of power and control over my own life.
What common behavior patterns exist for people who operate out of a fear of rejection? People who operate out of a fear of rejection:
Display little or no assertiveness.
Do not speak up and let others know how they feel about something, especially if their opinions differ.
Function as enablers. They have neither the courage nor the ability to assist others in discontinuing self-destructive behavior, e.g., alcohol or drug abuse, underachievement or workaholism.
Lack the courage to function differently from others, even when they don't enjoy the behavior in which they are involved.
Resort to passive/aggressive behavior; that is dishonest, sneaky, and allows for no open communication.
Play games with people. They will keep their personal feelings hidden. They are in tune with what is in and make every effort to emulate it in their lives.
Privately express a great deal of anger or depression over how unfortunate and unhappy their current lifeBstyle is. Yet, when helped to look at alternatives involving confrontation with others, they take a ``yes, Y but'' attitude.
Are confused as to their true identity, wearing ``masks'' to please others.
Become so obsessed with functioning, looking, and acting in a ``prescribed' ' manner that they become rigid, inflexible, and closed to alternative behavior. This is true even if they are unhappy in the lifeBstyle they hold to so rigidly.
Are dishonest with themselves, so much so that it carries over into their interactions with others and they become habitual liars.
How do others react to people who operate out of a fear of rejection? People who care for the person who operates out of fear of rejection:
Encourage the person to be more assertive.
Plead with the person to change their style of life and to become true to themselves.
Recognize the lies and find it hard to trust the integrity and honesty of the person.
Become turned off to the person's behavior, which they know to be unreal.
Become frustrated when their offers of help to the person continuously go ignored.
Find themselves asking the person how they are feeling in fear that they will tell them.
Become nervous around the person, afraid that their discomfort with the person's unfortunate choice of life style will be misread as rejection or disapproval.
Find it difficult to carry on a normal conversation with the person because the problems emanating out of fear of rejection are, sadly, always evident.
Recognize that the person for whom they care is in a self-defeating, dead-end cycle.
Begin to avoid the person so much so that it looks like an out and out rejection of the person for whom they care.
Result: The person who operates out of a fear of rejection ends up pushing away the very friends, family, and helpers who care for him. The pulling away of these caring ones appears to be rejection, and the vicious cycle goes on with negative results.
Those whom the person fears being rejected by:
Take the person for granted.
Do not recognize that he is making great sacrifices to be accepted by them.
Ignore the rights of the person.
Apply pressure consciously or unconsciously for the person to continue to conform to their desires or wishes.
Play on guilt feelings and press for ``their way'' so that ``awful'' consequences can be avoided.
Are unaware that the person fears their rejection and do not take this person seriously.
Ignore the input or ideas of the person and never incorporate the person into their inner circle.
Find it humorous how the person bends over backwards to please them.
Manipulate the person to do a multitude of favors for them and are ready to dump the person once the favors become unnecessary.
Openly reject the person once they have ``used'' him and have no further use for him. Often they'll reject him once he gets up the nerve to confront them about how they really feel about him.
Result: The person who operates out of a fear of rejection ends up being rejected by the very people from whom he fears rejection.
What are some underlying causes for operating out of a fear of rejection? People who act out of a fear of rejection may:
Lack healthy self-concepts, self-worth, or self-esteem because they were never fully affirmed in their families of origin.
Have had a traumatic experience of rejection, for example, in a divorce or separation that deeply scarred them.
Be bound up in irrational thinking and realize that this behavior is neither rational nor necessary.
Have lacked appropriate role models in life who accepted them for who they really were.
Be insecure in their personal identity, with a debilitating lack of self-confidence.
Have never been exposed to healthy ways of dealing with conflict or disagreement.
Lack the social skills to adapt to a reference group.
Have suffered from social isolation in their early lives.
Lack certain personal accomplishments, which they feel set them apart and which contribute to their lack of self-confidence.
Be unaware that they are operating out of a fear of rejection and may even deny it if it is pointed out to them.
Have a physical condition that they believe makes them unattractive to others.
Have been told all their life that they were ``second best'' or different.
Steps to overcome the fear of rejection Step 1: Read through the material in this chapter and decide whether or not you operate out of a fear of rejection.
Step 2: Identify in your journal the person(s) from whom you fear rejection.
The people whose rejection I fear include:
Step 3:Identify in your journal how your fear of rejection is displayed in your behavior toward the people you identified in Step 2.
The behavior patterns reflecting my fear of rejection include:
Step 4: Identify in your journal healthy, productive, and rational alternative behavior patterns to those identified in Step 3.
Alternative behavior patterns to those coming from my fear of rejection include:
Step 5: Identify in your journal what the consequences would be of using the alternative behavior patterns listed in Step 4.
The consequences of using alternative behavior patterns would be:
Step 6: Identify in your journal what obstacles, other than your fear of rejection, exist in your adopting the alternative behavior listed in Step 4.
The obstacles that block my adopting the alternative behavior in Step 4 include:
Step 7: Analyze the obstacles listed in Step 6 and identify in your journal whether they are irrational beliefs or actual obstacles to change. If they are irrational beliefs use the Tools for Coping Series refutation of irrational beliefs, in Tools for Personal Growth. If the obstacles are not irrational beliefs use the five dimensional problem-solving model found in Productive Problem Solving, to find alternatives to rid yourself of these obstacles.
Step 8: Implement alternate behavior patterns not based on a fear of rejection.
Step 9: If you still have problems and are operating out of a fear of rejection, return to Step 1 and begin again. A professional or objective helper may be necessary to guide you.
Finally , the guys' side of the story. ( I must admit, it's pretty good.) We always hear "the rules " From the female side.
Now here are the rules from the male side. These are our rules! Please note.. these are all numbered "1" ON PURPOSE!
1. Men are NOT mind readers.
1. Learn to work the toilet seat. You're a big girl. If it's up, put it down. We need it up, you need it down. You don't hear us complaining about you leaving it down.
1. Sunday sports. It's like the full moon or the changing of the tides. Let it be.
1. Shopping is NOT a sport. And no, we are never going to think of it that way.
1. Crying is blackmail.
1. Ask for what you want. Let us be clear on this one: Subtle hints do not work! Strong hints do not work! Obvious hints do not work! Just say it!
1. Yes and No are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question.
1. Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it. That's what we do. Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.
1. A headache that lasts for 17 months is a Problem. See a doctor.
1. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument. In fact, all comments become null and void after 7 Days.
1. If you won't dress like the Victoria's Secret girls, don't Expect us to act like soap opera guys.
1. If you think you're fat, you probably are. Don't ask us.
1. If something we said can be interpreted two ways and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one
1. You can either ask us to do something Or tell us how you want it done. Not both. If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself.
1. Whenever possible, Please say whatever you have to say during commercials.
1. Christopher Columbus did NOT need directions and neither do we.
1. ALL men see in only 16 colors, like Windows default settings. Peach, for example, is a fruit, not A color. Pumpkin is also a fruit. We have no idea what mauve is.
1. If it itches, it will be scratched. We do that.
1. If we ask what is wrong and you say "nothing," We will act like nothing's wrong. We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle.
1. If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, Expect an answer you don't want to hear.
1. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine. Really .
1. Don't ask us what we're thinking about unless you are prepared to discuss such topics as SEX, CARS, the shotgun formation, or NASCAR .
1. You have enough clothes.
1. You have too many shoes.
1. I am in shape. Round IS a shape!
1. Thank you for reading this. Yes, I know, I have to sleep on the couch tonight;
But did you know men really don't mind that? It's like camping.
Pass this to as many men as you can - to give them a laugh.
Pass this to as many women as you can - to give them a bigger laugh
One of the main hindrances to living your best life now is selfishness. As long as you are focused on what you want, what you need, you will never experience God’s best. But if you really want to thrive, you must learn to be a giver.
The Scripture says, “Whatsoever a man sows, that he will also reap.” All through the Bible, we find the principle of sowing and reaping. Just as a farmer must plant some seed if he hopes to reap the harvest, we, too, must plant some good seed in the fields of our families, careers, businesses, and personal relationships. What if the farmer decided that he didn’t really feel like planting, that he was tired, so he “felt led” to sit around and hope the harvest would come in? He’d be waiting around his whole life! No, he must get the seed in the ground. That’s the principle God established. In the same way, if we want to reap good things, we, too, must sow some good seeds. Notice, we reap what we sow if you want to reap happiness, you have to sow some “happiness” seeds by making other people happy if you want to reap financial blessings, you must sow financial seeds in the lives of others. If you want to reap friendships, you should sow a seed and be a friend. The seed always has to lead. The reason many people are not growing is because they are not sowing. They are living self-centered lives. Unless they change their focus and start reaching out to others, they will probably remain in that condition. Some people say, “Joel, I’ve got a lot of problems. I don’t care about sowing seeds. I want to know how I can get out of my mess.” This is how you can get out of your mess, if you want God to solve your problems, help solve somebody else’s problem. Get some seed in the ground!
FAMINE IN THE LAND
In biblical times, a great famine struck the land of Canaan. People didn’t have any food or water, and they were in desperate need. So Isaac did something that people without insight may have thought rather odd: “In the middle of that famine, Isaac sowed a seed in the land. And in the same year he received one hundred times what he planted and the Lord rewarded him greatly.” In his time of need, Isaac didn’t wait around, expecting someone else to come to his rescue. No, he acted in faith. He rose up in the midst of that famine and sowed a seed. God supernaturally multiplied that seed, and it brought him out of his need. Maybe you are in some sort of famine today. It could be a financial famine; or maybe you’re simply famished for friends, it’s possible you need a physical healing. Perhaps you need peace in your home. Whatever the need, one of the best things you can do is to get your mind off yourself and help meet somebody else’s need. If you’re down and discouraged today, don’t sit around feeling sorry for yourself. Go find somebody to cheer up. Sow some seeds of happiness. That’s the way to receive a harvest. The seed always has to lead.
When you meet other people’s needs, God has promised that He will make sure your needs are supplied. If you want to see healing and restoration come to your life, go out and help somebody else get well. The Bible says, “In times of difficulty; trust in the Lord and do good.” It’s not enough to say, “God, I trust You. I know You are going to meet all my needs.” That’s tantamount to the farmer not planting any seeds and expecting a fabulous harvest. Scripture says there are two things we must do in times of trouble. First, we must trust in the Lord: and second, we must go out and do something good. Go out and sow some seeds. If you need a financial miracle, go buy somebody a cup of coffee tomorrow morning, or give a little extra in the offering at church. If you don’t have any in money, do some physical work for somebody; mow somebody’s lawn, pull some weeds, wash their windows. Make someone a pie. Do something to get some seed in the ground. If you are lonely or lacking in friends, don’t sit at home month after month, all alone, feeling sorry for yourself. Go to the nursing home and find someone else who is lonely whom you can befriend. Go to the hospital and find somebody you can cheer up. If you’ll start sowing those seeds of friendship, God will bring somebody great into your life. When you make other people happy, God will make sure that your life is filled with joy. We need to be more seed-oriented than need-oriented. In your time of need, don’t sit around thinking about what you lack. Think about what kind of seed you can sow to get yourself out of that need.
Plant Some Seed
When I was a young boy; Lakewood Church launched its first building program. We didn’t have much money, but there was a little Spanish church down the street in a building program, too. One Sunday morning my dad got up and announced to the congregation that we were going to take up a special offering, not for our new building, but for that little Spanish church. Several thousand dollars came in that morning, and we sent the check straight down the road. Truth is, we needed the money more than they did, but Daddy understood this principle. He knew he had to get some seed in the ground. He knew one of the best things he could do in that time of famine was to plant some seed. It wasn’t long before we had all the money we needed to get to work on our building project. We built that building, plus several others, and down through the years, we’ve lived by that principle: In the time of need, sow a seed. An intriguing Scripture verse says, “It is possible to give away and become richer! It is also possible to hold on too tightly and lose everything. Yes, the liberal man shall be rich! By watering others, he waters himself.” Daddy understood that if he generously took care of others. God would take care of his own needs. The same goes for you. If you will focus on giving generously to others, God will make sure your own life is refreshed, even if you must go through a dry, dreary wilderness. A few years back, Dan lost his beautiful wife of many years. He was heartbroken. But he decided instead of staying focused on his pain, hurt, and loss, he wanted to help somebody else. He was retired from the phone company, so he wasn’t sure how his skills could benefit anyone else. He said, “All I really know how to do is comfort other people who have lost a loved one.” His attitude was: I’ve been there. I know what you are going through. Dan started showing up at funerals where my dad was conducting the service. He often had no personal connection with the grieving family; sometimes he didn’t even know the person who had passed away, but he went to the funerals simply to encourage other people, to show them love and compassion. Over time, my dad noticed that Dan had a gift for comforting mourners. One day Daddy invited Dan to be a part of the church staff, and today, Daniel Kelley heads Lakewood’s “Comfort Ministry” Daniel didn’t stay focused on his problems. He didn’t develop the selfish attitude of: Who’s going to help me make my life better? He was proactive and on the offensive. As he began to meet other people’s needs, God began to turn his own situation around. Not only did God bring him through that difficult period, but recently, God brought a beautiful woman into his life. Now he and Shirley are happily married, and together they continue to sow seeds of God’s goodness. God will do something similar for you. If you’ll dare to sow a seed in your time of need, God will do more than you can ask or think. I rely on this principle in my own life. When I’m tempted to feel discouraged, I turn my attention away from myself and go help somebody else. I like to go to the hospitals and visit people when I’m starting to feel low. If I don’t have time to do that, I keep a stack of prayer requests right next to my desk. Recently, I had one of those days where everything that could go wrong, did. I had some major disappointments. I came home drained and discouraged. I sat down in my favorite chair and started watching TV, just thinking about all my troubles. The more I thought, the worse I felt. Finally I decided to sow a seed in my time of need. I went to my office and found one of those prayer requests. I called a young man who had been in the hospital for several months. I couldn’t recall meeting him before, but as I began to encourage him, I could feel my joy coming back. I could feel my spirit being lifted. By the time I hung up the phone, I was a new person. I felt like I could leap over a wall. Friend, in your times of difficulty, don’t sit around feeling sorry for yourself. Go sow a seed. Moreover, you don’t need to wait until you have a problem before you start sowing. We should constantly be on the lookout for ways that we can be a blessing, not just when our backs are against the wall. We should get up each day looking for ways to help others. If you will do that, the Bible says God’s blessings will chase you down and overtake you. Granted, the temptation to be selfish is strong. Many good people get sucked into the trap of living with the attitude: What’s in it for me? How can you help me? How can you make my life better? How can you solve my problems? Our attitude should be just the opposite: Whom can I bless today? Where is a need that I can meet? Whom can I encourage? Whom can I cheer up? I’ve made up my mind. I’m going to be a giver in life. I’m going to do something good. I am looking for opportunities to sow some seeds. Why? I’ve simply learned that planting seeds works! And I want to make sure that I keep my harvest coming in, in a big way
Do Something Out of the Ordinary
Somebody once wrote to me, “Joel, I sure like that tie you wore last week on television.” So I just boxed it up and mailed it to him. I thought, That is too good an opportunity to pass up. (Now, don’t write me and tell me you like my suit, or the car I drive. That’s cheating. You know my secret!) You may say, “Joel, I could never do something like that, giving something to somebody simply because they paid me a compliment.” Fine, but do what you can do. You can give somebody a ride. You can call somebody and encourage them. You can go to the grocery store for an elderly person. You can do something. Start today! Learn to stretch your faith. Do something out of the ordinary. If you want an extraordinary harvest, sow an extraordinary seed. Instead of sitting at home watching TV every night, why not spend some of that time doing something good for somebody else? Instead of going out to eat at an expensive restaurant, why not save that money and sow it as a seed? If you normally give 10 percent of your income, stretch your faith a bit and give 11 percent. Get a little more seed in the ground and watch what God will do. The Scripture says, “For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” In other words, if you give with a teaspoon, it’s going to he given back to you with a teaspoon. If you give with a shovel, it’s going to be given back with a shovel. And if you give with a dump truck, you’re going to get dump truck loads of blessings in your life! The Bible clearly says, “He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sow bountifully will reap bountifully.” If you re not satisfied with where you are in life, increase the amount of seed you are sowing. The size of your harvest depends on the amount of your seed. Certainly, some people live on limited incomes. It takes everything they have to make it each month. In my heart, I want to tell them, “Just hold on to what you have. You need that money” But I know that God’s principles are true. And I know it is imperative that the people with the greatest need continue to sow Victoria and I were at a hotel eating breakfast one morning and a young man was waiting on us. When he brought our check, I opened it and found a note that said, “Thank you.” He had paid for our breakfast. My first thought was, Oh, my! That’s so nice of him, but he is just a young man. He’s probably not making more than minimum wage. He needs this money a lot more than we do. Beyond that, our breakfast was included with the price of our hotel room! All we had to do was sign the check, and it would be free anyway. What a dilemma! Victoria and I quietly discussed what we should do. She said “Joel, don’t you think we should tell him, so maybe he could get his money back?” “Well, we could, but I don’t think we should,” I said. “Even though we want to do that, we can’t rob him of his blessing. He’s planted a seed by doing something good for us. We don’t want to pull his seed out of the ground and give it back. That would be doing him a disservice. Although we knew he needed that money, we also knew that when he planted that seed in the ground. God was going to multiply it back to him. We knew God would give him a greater harvest. So we accepted his generous gift and whispered a prayer that God would bless him abundantly Understand, sowing seed is not a replacement for tithing. In fact, it is usually when you give over and above the first 10 percent of your income that this principle kicks into high gear. The Bible says, “The tithe is the Lord’s. And it is holy” That means the first tenth of your income doesn’t belong to you. It belongs to God and should he given to your local church. When you hold on to it, you’re really robbing from God. So if you are not sowing at all, the tithe is a good place to start! You may he thinking, Joel, I just can’t afford to tithe. No, the truth is, you can’t afford to not tithe. First, it would be foolish to try to rob God; and second, you need to get some seed in the ground. If you will dare to take a step of faith and start honoring God in your finances, He’ll start increasing your supply in supernatural ways. God will take that 90 percent you have left over, and He’ll cause it to go further than the 100 percent with which you started. The Scripture says that when we tithe, God not only opens up the windows of heaven, but He will rebuke the devourer for your sake. That means He’ll keep the enemy off your money, off your crop, off your children, and away from your home. He’ll make sure you get promoted. He’ll cause you to get the best deals in life. Sometimes, He’ll keep you from sickness, accidents, and harm that might cause other unnecessary expenses. All kinds of blessings come your way when you honor God in the area of your finances. On the other hand, you can’t rob God and expect Him to bless you at the same time. You must realize, God doesn’t need your money or your time or your talent. When God asks us to give, it’s riot because He’s trying to get something from us. No, it’s because He’s trying to get us to put some seed in the ground so we can reap a harvest. God abides by the laws He has established, and if you don’t sow, you will not reap. It’s as simple as that. But if you are faithful and do what God tells you to do, God will honor the law of reaping and sowing. You may not have a lot to give, but God will bless you if you start where you are. Don’t wait until you have more; start now. That’s the way you will receive more from God. You sow some seed, and then God will bless you with more. Then you can sow a little more seed, and on and on. That’s how you increase. But if you are not being faithful with what you have right now how can God trust you with more? The Scripture is not ambiguous about this matter. It says, “In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success.” If you want to prosper in your finances, put God first. If you want to prosper in your business, put God first. When you honor God, God will always honor you. And it’s interesting, the only place in the Bible where God tells us to prove Him—which means to test Him, or check Him out—is in the area of our finances. If you will be faithful and show God that you’re trustworthy with what you have right now, there’s no limit to what God will do in your life
Our life is actually a reflection of our thoughts and actions.
Long ago in a small, far away village, there was place known as the House of 1000 Mirrors.
A small, happy little dog learned of this place and decided to visit. When he arrived, he bounced happily up the stairs to the doorway of the house.
He looked through the doorway with his ears lifted high and his tail wagging as fast as it could.
To his great surprise, he found himself staring at 1000 other happy little dogs with their tails wagging just as fast as his.
He smiled a great smile, and was answered with 1000 great smiles just as warm and friendly.
As he left the House, he thought to himself, "This is a wonderful place. I will come back and visit it often."
In this same village, another little dog, who was not quite as happy as the first one, decided to visit the house.
He slowly climbed the stairs and hung his head low as he looked into the door. When he saw the 1000 unfriendly looking dogs staring back at him, he growled at them and was horrified to see 1000 little dogs growling back at him.
As he left, he thought to himself, "That is a horrible place, and I will never go back there again."
ALL THE FACES IN THE WORLD ARE MIRRORS.
JUST OBSERVE WHAT KIND OF REFLECTIONS DO YOU SEE IN THE FACES OF THE PEOPLE YOU MEET?
1. QUIT WORRYING: Life has dealt you a blow and all you do is sit and worry. Have you forgotten that I am here to take all your burdens and carry them for you? Or do you just enjoy fretting over every little thing that comes your way?
2. PUT IT ON THE LIST: Something needs done or taken care of. Put it on the list. No, not YOUR list. Put it on MY to-do-list. Let ME be the one to take care of the problem. I can't help you until you turn it over to Me. And although My to-do-list is long, I am after all... God. I can take care of anything you put into My hands. In fact, if the truth were ever really known, I take care of a lot of things for you that you never even realize.
3. TRUST ME: Once you've given your burdens to Me, quit trying to take them back. Trust in Me. Have the faith that I will take care of all your needs, your problems and your trials. Problems with the kids? Put them on My list. Problem with finances? Put it on My list. Problems with your emotional roller coaster? For My sake, put it on My list. I want to help you. All you have to do is ask.
4. LEAVE IT ALONE: Don't wake up one morning and say, "Well, I'm feeling much stronger now, I think I can handle it from here." Why do you think you are feeling stronger now? It's simple. You gave Me your burdens and I'm taking care of them. I also renew your strength and cover you in my peace. Don't you know that if I give you these problems back, you will be right back where you started? Leave them with Me and forget about them. Just let Me do my job.
5. TALK TO ME: I want you to forget a lot of things. Forget what was making you crazy. Forget the worry and the fretting because you know I'm in control. But there's one thing I pray you never forget. Please, don't forget to talk to Me - OFTEN! I love YOU! I want to hear your voice. I want you to include Me in on the things going on in your life. I want to hear you talk about your friends and family. Prayer is simply you having a conversation with Me. I want to be your dearest friend.
6. HAVE FAITH: I see a lot of things from up here that you can't see from where you are. Have faith in Me that I know what I'm doing. Trust Me; you wouldn't want the view from My eyes. I will continue to care for you, watch over you, and meet your needs. You only have to trust Me. Although I have a much bigger task than you, it seems as if you have so much trouble just doing your simple part. How hard can trust be?
7. SHARE: You were taught to share when you were only two years old. When did you forget? That rule still applies. Share with those who are less fortunate than you. Share your joy with those who need encouragement. Share your laughter with those who haven't heard any in such a long time. Share your tears with those who have forgotten how to cry. Share your faith with those who have none.
8. BE PATIENT: I managed to fix it so in just one lifetime you could have so many diverse experiences. You grow from a child to an adult, have children, change jobs many times, learn many trades, travel to so many places, meet thousands of people, and experience so much. How can you be so impatient then when it takes Me a little longer than you expect to handle something on My to-do-list? Trust in My timing, for My timing is perfect. Just because I created the entire universe in only six days, everyone thinks I should always rush, rush, rush.
9. BE KIND: Be kind to others, for I love them just as much as I love you. They may not dress like you, or talk like you, or live the same way you do, but I still love you all. Please try to get along, for My sake. I created each of you different in some way. It would be too boring if you were all identical. Please, know I love each of your differences.!
10. LOVE YOURSELF: As much as I love you, how can you not love yourself? You were created by me for one reason only -- to be loved, and to love in return. I am a God of Love. Love Me. Love your neighbors. But also love yourself. It makes My heart ache when I see you so angry with yourself when things go wrong. You are very precious to me. Don't ever forget......
