Living Without Crutches

by Joel Osteen

God will bring the right people into your life at the right time, and He'll also allow the right people to leave at the right time. You see, it's God's desire for us to continue to grow in Him and to take every opportunity that's put before us to use for His glory. Sometimes, there are people in our lives that can keep us from being our best and can actually keep us from our God-given destiny. They might tell us we aren't that talented, or that we can't do a particular task, or they might just be doing something that we are supposed to be doing, but we would never get to do that particular thing until they've moved on in life. By seeing change in the right way and realizing when God closes a door it's because He has something better in store, we won't get bent out of shape and have our joy stolen when these changes happen. When a person has served their purpose in our life, if we don't freely let them go, it's going to keep us from the new things God wants to do. Sometimes you might feel stretched, but during these changes, if you'll keep the right perspective, you'll discover new gifts and talents on the inside of you, and you'll find yourself doing things you never thought were possible!

It's Time to Begin Again

by Joel Osteen

It's time to believe again. You may have situations that look like they're set in stone, but everything you're facing is subject to change. It is not over until God says it is over. Even if you've been praying for a situation for ten or thirty years, God is still at work and has an answer. We shouldn't accept the difficult situations in our lives or unanswered prayers as permanent. Despite what's going on externally, no matter how long things have been the way they are, decide to hope and believe in God. In the natural, things may look the same, but the scripture says in Philippians 2:13 that God is constantly at work in those who believe. We need to have the attitude that we are not moved by what we see, but we are moved by what we know. We know is that the Creator of universe is at work in those who believe in His resurrecting power. Do you believe in the power of Almighty God? If you'll remember how big God is and view every difficult situation as temporary, you will come to a new season of peace, faith and hope. God is always at work in those who believe!

You are an Extraordinary Person

You are an Extraordinary Person
by Joel Osteen

You were created to do extraordinary things. By recognizing this and knowing that God has a bright future for you, it keeps you from getting frustrated and feeling defeated whenever some trying challenges come your way. You'll stay in perfect peace. Without the incredible challenges in life, we would not have the incredible promotion that follows. An example of this is a man in the Bible by the name of Joseph. He never let go of his God-size dream. Even through years of tough disappointment, rejection, time in prison and injustice, he stayed faithful to God and remembered the faithfulness of his God. In the end, he saw incredible promotion. Big people face big problems. The good news is we don't have to be worried. We serve a big God. Stir up what God has put on the inside of you. We're not supposed to have little dreams, little plans and little prayers that nothing challenging comes our way. It's the large challenges that bring us to new levels of God's favor. Look down on the inside of you today, and you will find a God-size dream. Dare to believe for something great in your life because you are an extraordinary person!

Always have a Dream

Forget about the days when its been cloudy,
but don’t forget your hours in the sun

Forget about the times you’ve been defeated
but don’t forget the victories you’ve won

Forget about mistakes that you can't change now
but don’t forget the lessons that you’ve learnt

Forget about misfortunes you encounter
but don’t forget the times your luck has turned

Forget about the days when you’ve been lonely
but don’t forget the friendly smiles you’ve seen

Forget about the plans that didn’t seem to work out right
but don’t forget to always have a dream

Author Amanda Bradley

You and God

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies;
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you;
Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating others could destroy overnight;
Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten.
Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God;
It was never between you and them anyway.

Mother Teresa

No Mountain Is Too High To Reach

We can attain the un-attainable.
No mountain can stand in our way,
if we don't let it overtake us.

No mountain is too high to climb.
We can reach the top in due time,
and simplicity,we will find.

We can also reach for the stars.
It may seem a little farther away,
but it can be attained, just the same.

Don't be mis-lead or taken astray.
Don't let someone cause you dismay,
and make you think, you cannot make it.

We can achieve climbing any mountain,
that we choose to climb,
even it is, the highest of peaks.

All we have to do is believe,
in ourselves,
and the top, we will reach.

Just set your sites, and reach up high.
Seek to find the biggest and best,
and you will conquer,and win the test.

Believing in Something

Believing in something or someone is the beginning to believing in yourself. Believing in God (or goodness), in any way, is beneficial for you. Whether you view God as the creator of all things, no matter what religion or race you belong to, it doesn't matter, just so long as you believe in your God, Prophet, Master or Teacher. This act teaches you to love, respect and tolerate others.

Reach out to all the humans of the world, all living creatures, earth, the stars and planets, the universe and all the galaxies beyond our own. It is endless.

Some people believe in saints, disciples, prophets, angels, guides, messengers, fairies and other beings that help us. Some people behave like saints and angels and we have all heard or known people that fit this bill. Some are even likened to heroes.

No matter what, these people reach beyond themselves to help and care for others. They dedicate themselves to the well being and safety of other people, other living creatures and care about the world they live in. These people generally have an air about themselves, and trust in the fact that they have the ability to cope in all sorts of conditions and situations.

Where does this confidence and strength come from? They have a belief; they trust in something or someone and have a desire to assist others.

Try to reach out yourself, to something beyond yourself, try believing in a God, no matter how you perceive him/her to be. Try to offer goodness and love to all the people around you. Send people love in your mind, even if they have hurt you. It doesn't matter if they don't respond, at least you know you have tried and that you have done something good. And doing something good helps you feel good about yourself. Feeling good about yourself sure feels better than feeling bad.

May you find your guardian angel, try to love all things and peace be with you.

Start Every Day With an Inspiring Thought

I'm very determined and stubborn. There's a desire in me that makes me want to do more and more, and to do it right. Each one of us has a fire in our heart for something. It's our goal in life to find it and to keep it lit.

There is a proverb that well begun is half done. It is very much true with reference to our confidence level when we start the day. We need to understand that there is a link between our state of mind and the quality of thoughts in our mind. Every action originates in our mind. If we have a healthy mind, our actions are healthy. If we have confident and motivating thoughts, our actions are bold and we feel enthusiastic. On the other hand, if we have negative and disempowering thoughts, we are diffident and feel dull.

We can change our mindset by having a quality thought in our mind in the beginning of our day. There are a lot of sources for healthy thoughts as follows:

Quotations: there are books on quotations, some diaries carry quotations, you can browse the websites for inspiring thoughts, there are people who can give a good thought every day.

Motivation stories: there are lots of small stories which carry a good message which will inspire us.

You can read an autobiography of a successful person and recall some incident to inspire you early in the morning.

There are small poems with a very powerful message which will inspire you.

You can type out a powerful motivational quote and place it in front of you which will guide you through out the day. If you are working in an office, you can have a `sunrise meeting' and start the day with a powerful and inspiring thought. You can share a powerful quotation through email or sms.

When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bounds. Your mind transcends limitations, your consciousness expands in every direction, and you find yourself in a new, great and wonderful world. Dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive and you discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be.

Source : inspiration-inbox.com

Let God Guide You

You say: "It's impossible"
God says: All things are possible
(Luke 18:27)

You say: "I'm too tired"
God says: I will give you rest
(Matthew 11:28-30)

You say: "I can't go on"
God says: My grace is sufficient
(II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)

You say: "I can't figure things out"
God says: I will direct your steps
(Proverbs 3:5-6)

You say: "I can't do it"
God says: You can do all things
(Philippians 4:13)

You say: "I'm not able"
God says: I am able
(II Corinthians 9: 8)

Why Don't We Pray

The highest privilege ever afforded to man is the power of prayer.
...then why don't we pray?

The right to talk to the highest potentate in the entire universe...
...then why don't we pray?

The most powerful force accessible to man is the potential of prayer...
...then why don't we pray?

The greatest longing in the heart of God is to talk to His children...
...then why don't we pray?

Nothing is impossible to those who pray...
...then why don't we pray?

No man ever fainted or faltered who gave himself to prayer...
...then why don't we pray?

Every sin is forgiven, every stain is washed clean, all guilt diminished to
The man who prays...
...then why don't we pray?

Hell moves farther away, Satan flees from the man who prays...
...then why don't we pray?

Anointing will come, mountains will be moved, valleys made smooth, rivers made crossable, the inaccessible made accessible, the impossible made possible,
dreams come through to the man who prays...
...then why don't we pray?

God said that men ought always to pray...
...then why don't we pray?

Paul encouraged prayer without ceasing...
...then why don't we pray?

The riches of heaven are open to those who pray in His name...
...then why don't we pray?

Everyone can pray, the young, the old, the rich, the poor, the strong, the weak, the child, the aged, the sinner, the prisoner, in any nation, in any language, all can pray...
...then why don't we pray?

PRAISING GOD IN ALL THINGS

In all things give thanks unto God
for He alone is worthy of all praise,
We have been given abundant blessings,
He will be with us though all of our days.

Our God is mighty in power
There is none other like He,
He who created the world and all within,
Has redeemed our souls and set us free.

When the sun rises in the morning
and we behold the beauty of a brand new day,
Let us take time to praise the Lord,
as we humbly seek His face and pray.

Blessings In Christ,
Jo Ann Kelly © 2007, 2005

Jesus Understands

If you are experiencing problems with your children and are discouraged to the point of giving up, the most important thing I can tell you right now is that Jesus Loves you and He understands completely what you are going through and what you are feeling and it does not matter to Him. He knows your heart and He knows that you love Him. If we truly love Jesus with all of our heart then nothing else matters.

I encourage you and urge you to reach down in your heart and let Jesus light your candle again, the candle that draws people to you and closer to Jesus. There are so many people that need what you and I have to give them, the Love of Jesus. Not everyone can give the Love of Jesus because they do not have His Love in their heart.

Remember Jesus could come back today even before you go to bed and there could be someone who is desperately lonely and maybe even contemplating suicide right now, and you may be the one that He wants to use.

Make It Count

Don't miss out on the value in this moment by wishing that it had somehow been different. Live it for all that it can be.

Don't let this beautiful day slip uselessly through your fingers while consumed with worry about what tomorrow will bring. Make full use of the time you now have, and that will put you in the best position to face anything that may come.

Whatever your age, or level of physical ability, or financial situation, there is something positive and valuable you can do right now. Consider all the beautiful choices that life is currently making available to you, and then seize the best of them.

You already know how satisfying it feels to make a positive difference. Realize that you now have the opportunity to experience that satisfaction again, right where you are.

Life is happening all around you right now. This moment is precisely what you make it.

Make it full, and rich, and memorable and valuable. Give your best to this moment and truly make it count.

Be Thankful For What You Have

A blind boy sat on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet.
He held up a sign which said: 'I am blind, please help.'
There were only a few coins in the hat.

A man was walking by.
He took a few coins from his pocket and dropped them into the hat.
He then took the sign, turned it around, and wrote some words.
He put the sign back so that everyone who walked by would see the new words.

Soon the hat began to fill up.
A lot more people were giving money to the blind boy.
That afternoon the man who had changed the sign came to see how things were.
The boy recognized his footsteps and asked, 'Were you the one who changed my sign this morning? What did you write?'

The man said, 'I only wrote the truth. I said what you said but in a different way.'
What he had written was: 'Today is a beautiful day and I cannot see it.'

Do you think the first sign and the second sign were saying the same thing?

Of course both signs told people the boy was blind.
But the first sign simply said the boy was blind.
The second sign told people they were so lucky that they were not blind.
Should we be surprised that the second sign was more effective?

Moral of the Story: Be thankful for what you have.
Be creative.
Be innovative.
Think differently and positively.

Invite others towards good with wisdom.
Live life with no excuse and love with no regrets.
When life gives you a 100 reasons to cry, show life that you have 1000 reasons to smile.
Face your past without regret.
Handle your present with confidence.
Prepare for the future without fear.
Keep the faith and drop the fear.

Great men say, 'Life has to be an incessant process of repair and reconstruction, of discarding evil and developing goodness…. In the journey of life, if you want to travel without fear, you must have the ticket of a good conscience.'

How to Change People Without Giving Offense or Arousing Resentment

A leader's job often includes changing your people's attitudes and behavior. Some suggestions to accomplish this:
1. Begin with praise and honest appreciation.
2. Call attention to people's mistakes indirectly.
3. Talk about your own mistakes before criticizing the other person.
4. Ask questions instead of giving direct orders.
5. Let the other person save face.
6. Praise the slightest improvement and praise every improvement. Be "hearty in your approbation and lavish in your praise."
7. Give the other person a fine reputation to live up to.
8. Use encouragement. Make the fault seem easy to correct.
9. Make the other person happy about doing the thing you suggest.

40 Do and Don't

A handbook for each and every year indeed!
*Health:*
1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy..
5. Make time to practice meditation and prayer.
6. Play more with your children.
7. Read more books than you did in 2008.
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minutes walk every day.. And while you walk, smile.

*Personality: *
11. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don't over do. Keep your limits.
14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake..
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need..
18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a life time.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

*Society:*
25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything.
28. Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day..
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

*Life:*
32. Do the right thing!
33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
34. GOD heals everything.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up..
37. The best is yet to come.
38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
39. Your inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

*Last but not the least:*
40. Please Forward this to everyone you care about

Positive Thinking Can Bring Good Health

Your thoughts are in your control, and they can be very powerful. Positive thoughts can motivate healthy behaviors, such as eating right and being active. It's simple really. If you believe you can take 10,000 steps a day, you will be more likely to take an extra walk to meet your goal. If you know you can avoid holiday weight gain, you'll feel great when you pass the tempting dessert buffet, and fit comfortably in your winter clothes.

But the reverse is also true. Your thoughts can be defeating. "I'm already overweight, so it doesn't matter if I eat a second piece of cake." Or, "I only have 10 minutes. It's not enough time to walk." Negative thoughts, often called negative self-talk, may sabotage your good intentions.

"I think I can"
Remember the famous children's book "The Little Engine that Could"? The theme, with its chant, "I think I can, I think I can," helped the small train make it up the hill. The book's message is as true today as it was when it was first published in 1930. If you set your mind to something, you can do it.

One in four Americans are trying to lose weight at any given time, and older adults are joining gyms in record numbers. If you are one of them, you are more likely to reach your health and fitness goals with the right attitude. Positive thinking can help you achieve and maintain healthy behaviors, such as becoming more physically active or limiting your sugar intake.

Studies have measured the success of positive-thinkers and found that those who think they can lose weight, or increase their physical activity, do! These people are more successful than people with less faith in themselves. The confidence you have in performing a certain behavior is called self-efficacy; and self-efficacy is a key in successful behavior change.

Want Results? Can Do!
Many professional athletes get top sports training and coaching in positive thinking to help them achieve their goals. And it works! The same can apply for you and me. A "can-do" attitude may be just what it takes to jumpstart a healthier lifestyle. Best of all, your attitude is something you can control. You have the choice to have a positive outlook. Chances are when you choose to think positively, you'll feel better about yourself and be able to perform better in whatever you do.

Losing 20 pounds or running a marathon this year may be unrealistic. But there are small goals in your reach that do not require drastic life changes. For example, your weight loss goal may be to cut 100 calories a day. Try leaving two bites of hamburger on your plate, hold the jam but skip the butter on your bagel, or have water instead of fruit juice. You can also burn 100 calories more by taking the stairs, parking further from store entrances, or walking to a lunch spot further away from your office.
Keep Pushing

Like the "Little Engine", sometimes you need an extra push. There will be days when you don't floss, slip from eating right, or lose your temper. Small setbacks are normal. Learn from your past success and failures. Think about what sets you off course. Maybe it was the business travel that hurt your nutritional plan and exercise habits. Or maybe it was the looming deadlines and tight back-to-back appointments you had last week.

Take a minute to consider how you might have handled the situation differently. Maybe you could have shared a dish with a colleague at the business dinner or skipped the cocktail hour and the dessert tray. Don't dwell on the past. Move on and learn, so next time you will make healthier choices toward positive change.

How to Stay Positive
Positive thinkers admit when they feel frustrated or depressed. They don't ignore it. But they also don't blame themselves. Instead, they try to understand the negative thoughts and feelings and counter them with more positive ones.

So how do you stay positive, maintain momentum and sustain healthy behaviors? Here are some tips:
* Look for a good role model. There is always someone who seems to be doing just what you want to be doing. Maybe they've scheduled exercise into their workday and switched from coffee to herbal tea. Learn from a successful friend, family member or colleague. Ask them how they keep healthy and follow in their footsteps.
* Try some positive self-talk and avoid negative-talk. Take a minute to give yourself an ego boost. Repeat some motivational words out loud or to yourself. Negative talk, "I can't do it," "I'm fat," is dangerous for your well-being and healthy goals. Try to avoid the negative self-talk before it harms you. Remind yourself that you deserve happiness and can make positive changes.
* Get support. Tell your friends and family about your healthy habits. It helps to have an encouraging network.
* Reward yourself. Give yourself a pat on the back for your healthy efforts. Take a nice bath, get a massage, and enjoy a new DVD or CD.
* Have a plan. Making a plan to exercise or eat healthy lunches with a friend can mean the difference of sticking with your goals or falling off track. If you've planned for an activity, you'll likely stick with it. You may even find that writing down your goals and steps to achieve them can help you stay on track. Take it day by day or week by week. The process of writing down your personal action plan is a good way to keep you honest and watch your progress or pitfalls.