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Volume 27, # 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . December 2011 |
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![inspiration, motivation, Apple Seeds, [Apple]](AppleSeeds-1c.jpg)
![inspiration, motivation, Apple Seeds, [Apple]](AppleSeeds-2c.jpg)
Plant these "seeds" well and water often. Enjoy!
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A Mother’s Influence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Strickland Gillian
"You may have tangible wealth untold;
Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.
Richer than I you can never be –
I had a mother who read to me."
Truly Feel Valued . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M. Scott Peck, The Road Less Traveled, 24
"[W]hen people know that they are valued, when they truly feel valued in the deepest parts of themselves, then they feel valuable. The feeling of being valuable – ‘I am a valuable person’ – is essential to mental health and is a cornerstone of self-discipline.
This feeling of being valuable is a cornerstone of self-discipline because when one considers oneself valuable one will take care of oneself in all ways that are necessary. Self-discipline is self-caring."
Powerful Words . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rev. Robert H. Schuller
"[W]ords, however colorful, however powerful, are nothing if they are not words that encourage, uplift, heal and restore."
Called to be Witnesses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Connections, 12/11/94
"…[W]e are called to be witnesses of God by the love we extend to others; precursors of his justice by our unfailing commitment to what is right and good; lamps reflecting the light of God’s Christ in our forgiveness, mercy and compassion; harvesters of souls through our humble and dedicated servanthood."
An Encouraging Friend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . William Arthur Ward
"What creation is more beautiful, what treasure more valuable, than a warm, encouraging friend?"
The Joy of Being Human . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Eugene Kennedy
"Each step we take strengthens the meaning of hope both for ourselves and for others. When we speak of people we can count on, we are referring to the solid persons who are there when we really need them, the individuals with some depth who do not scatter at the first sign of pain or danger. They generate hope by the fact that they are alive and always prepared to share themselves. Hope, like many other precious realities, is learned only through experiencing it."
Seasons of Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jim Rohn, 83
"Do not doubt yourself, for where doubt resides, confidence cannot. Do not neglect yourself, for with neglect comes loss. Do not imagine yourself to be less than you are, not more than you are, but seek always to become all of which you are capable. Do not allow yourself to become arrogant or discourteous, for both are characteristics adopted by those who seek to cover their weaknesses. Do not spend time regretting the past, but invest that time wisely by preparing a better future. You are a fertile seed of the Creator of all things, destined not to lie dormant, but to spring forth from the soil called life, and grow upward toward the unlimited horizons – overcoming all obstacles in the process. It is your destiny to tap your talents and to achieve all that of which you believe yourself to be worthy…to love more, anticipate more, overcome more, plan more, attract more, and to enjoy more than you ever dreamed possible. Such is the standard of life awaiting your mental decision and outstretched hand. You are deserving – you are becoming – and you shall succeed."
In Solitude . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Charles Swindoll, The Quest For Character, 63
"It is in lonely solitude that God delivers His best thoughts, and the mind needs to be still and quiet to receive them."
Price of Success . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bill E. Deardon, Hershey Foods
"In my career I have never met anyone who did not want to be a success. But I have met many otherwise able people who were not willing to pay the price of success. They just were not willing to work hard enough."
Spiritual Teachers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ernest Kurtz, et al, The Spirituality of Imperfection, 142
"Spiritual teachers (who are never ‘experts’) do three things: First and foremost, they listen. Second, they ask questions. Third, they tell stories."
On Truth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Henri Frederic Amiel
"Truth is not only violated by falsehood;
it may be outraged by silence."
Work – Wait . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mrs. Charles Cowman, Springs in the Valley, 237
"It is easier to work than to wait. It is often more important to wait than to work. We can trust God to do the needed working while we are waiting; but if we are not willing to wait, and insist upon working while He would have us be still, we may interfere with the effective and triumphant working that he would do in our behalf. Our waiting may be the most difficult thing we can do; it may be the severest test that God can give us."
Leaders’ Foresight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kouses & Posner, The Leadership Challenge, 20
"Being forward-looking…We expect our leaders to have a sense of direction and a concern for the future of the organization.…But whether we call it vision, dream, calling, goal, or personal agenda, the message is clear: admired leaders must know where they are going."
Life of Success . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Greg Werner, TopAchievement.com
"Some men throw their gifts away on a life of mediocrity,
Great men throw everything they have into their gifts and achieve a life of success."
Affirmations of Christmas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Anonymous
I believe that Christmas is more than a time for parties and ornaments; it is a time for remembering Christ and the incarnation of God’s love in human flesh.
I believe there are gifts more important than the ones under the Christmas tree, the things we teach our children, the way we share ourselves with friends, and the industry with which we set about reshaping the world in our time.
I believe that the finest carols are often sung by the poorest voices; from hearts made warm by the wonder of the season.
I believe in the angel’s message that we should not be afraid – that the Child of Bethlehem is able to overcome all anxieties and insecurities.
I believe in prayer and quietness as a way of appropriating Christmas – that if I wait in silence I will experience the presence of the one born in the manger, for he lives today as surely as he lived then.
I believe in going away from Christmas as the wise men went: "another way." I want to be different when these days are past – more centered, more thoughtful, more caring.
And I believe God will help me. Amen.
Is Your Family Holy? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mitch Finley, Catholic Digest, Jan. 1993, 39
"When the Bible says holy it means ‘separate’ or ‘different.’ The word implies being healthy and whole in a world where much is un-healthy and fragmented. The English phrase hale and hearty sums up true holiness.
Holiness includes such concepts as humor and laughter, compassion and understanding, and the capacity to forgive and be forgiven, to love and be loved. That’s holiness.
Holy families are not free from conflict, nor do they never hurt one another. Holiness in families, rather, comes from learning to forgive and to be reconciled, and learning to face our problems and do something about them.
In family life, holy means striving to surrender to God’s light within us when the darkness around us seems overwhelming. It means struggling day after day to bring creative order – if only a bit of it – to the chaos in our lives. When we work at cultivating forgiveness, reconciliation, and community, we embody God’s holy will in the context of family life.
A family embodies holiness by striving to be ‘hale and hearty,’ not by trying to be ‘perfect’ according to a set of other worldly standards."
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