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Volume 29, # 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . February 2014 |
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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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On Learning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Abigail Adams
"Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and diligence."
The Greatest Gift . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Earl Nightingale
"Few people, it seems develop an awareness of daily living. In possession of the miracle of life, they pass through their days like automatons. In possession of the greatest gift on earth – life itself – they tell us by their actions that they don’t even know they have it and haven’t the slightest conception of its value, let alone an awareness that it is to be enjoyed to the fullest every day."
Good Example . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . St. Mary Joseph Rosello
"Good example is the most efficacious apostolate. You must be as lighted lanterns and shine like brilliant chandeliers among men. By your good example and your words, animate others to know and love God."
"Lectio Divina" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fr. Peter Cameron, OP, Magnificat, July 2011, p. 3
"Early in his pontificate, Pope Benedict XVI made this confident claim: ‘Assiduous reading of Sacred Scripture accompanied by prayer makes that intimate dialogue possible in which, through reading, one hears God speaking, and through prayer, one responds with a confident opening of the heart. If this practice is promoted with efficacy, I am convinced that it will produce a new spiritual springtime in the Church.’
For these reasons as the pope tells us that there is a need for ‘a prayerful approach to the sacred text as a fundamental element in the spiritual life of every believer…’ with particular reference to lectio divina."
Dare to Dream . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dr. Laura Schlesinger
"When you dare to dream, dare to follow that dream; dare to suffer through the pain, sacrifice, self-doubts and friction from the world."
God Chooses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Source Unknown
"God chooses ordinary people for extraordinary work."
Be the Person . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Zig Ziglar
"Before a person can achieve the kind of life he wants, he must think act, walk, talk and conduct himself in all of his affairs as would the person he wishes to become."
Clarify Before You Judge . . . . . . . . . . . Rabbi Zelig Pliskin, Gateway to Happiness, p. 202
"Be careful not to become angry if you hear that someone has done something against you, for frequently the actual story is not what you had originally thought it to be.
Learn to react with the following question, ‘How do I really know that what I heard is true?’ People often get angry over incidents that supposedly took place and later found that details had been distorted or left out, and what actually took place was much different from what was originally reported. Also, the context and tone of voice of a given statement can easily be misunderstood. Always be aware of the possibility that what you have heard may not be accurate."
Anger is More Harmful . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Winning Words of Champions
"Anger is often more harmful than the injury that caused it."
God Gives Two Things . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Coach Keith Swift
"God gives you two things every day…Every morning when you wake up, the Good Lord blesses you with a measure of ability and a measure of opportunity. What you do with that ability and opportunity is up to you."
Love Follows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Source Unknown
"It was said of the parents of Laura Ingalls Wilder, Charles and Caroline Ingalls, that she would follow him wherever he went, but he would never go somewhere she would not follow."
This Day Is Mine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Douglas A. Cox, p. 6
"Today I will re-open my heart to the world. Whatever the hurts of yesterday, I will be myself and believe in myself. I am not what I own and I am not defined or limited by my surroundings. Today I will find joy in the accomplishments of others, for envy will keep me in their shadow.…I will forgive those things done to me in ignorance or anger, and magnify my own inner strength by promising never to inflict such pain on others. Today I will give up my hatred and desire for revenge, for these above all else are the thieves of my power. This day is mine!"
A Better Way to Live . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Og Mandino, p. 122
"RULE SEVENTEEN…Realize that true happiness lies within you. Waste no time and effort searching for peace and contentment and joy in the world outside.…Reach out. Share. Smile, hug."
Guard Thoughts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Marcus Aurelius
"The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts: therefore, guard accordingly, and take care that you entertain no notions unsuitable to virtue and reasonable nature."
Courage to Dare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Abraham Lincoln
"It often requires more courage to dare to do right than to fear to do wrong."
Homeless Man Preaches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Anonymous
It was a cold winter Sunday; the church parking lot was filling up quickly. Jake noticed, as he got out of his car, that fellow parishioners were whispering and pointing among themselves. As Jake got closer, he saw a man leaning against the church’s wall, apparently asleep, or drunk.
The man wore a long trench coat that was in tatters. His hat was pulled down low concealing his face. His shoes were past well-worn with holes where his toes poked through. Jake assumed he was another street person, so he walked past him and entered the church.
A group had gathered in the back of the church discussing the man leaning against the church wall. Several people snickered and gossiped but no one bothered to check on his condition; then the opening cords of the entrance song began to play.
After the celebrant proclaimed the Gospel, the doors of the church clanged open. The street person entered lurching down the center aisle with his head down. Parishioners gasped and whispered, as he made his way into the sanctuary heading straight for the pulpit, whereon he removed his coat and hat.
The gasps crescendoed, there stood the pastor. The pastor was the street person. No one uttered a word during a long pause.
The pastor reached for this Bible and placed it on the pulpit. "Folks, I don’t think I have to tell you what I planned to preach about today. How often have you turned a deaf ear, or a blind eye, to the needs or plights of others because you disregard their humble circumstances? But if you show considerateness to the least of these it is as if you are doing it for Christ."
Twenty Bucks Worth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Anonymous
A speaker began a seminar, pulling a crisp, new bill from his pocket, and asked, "Who would like this $20 bill?"
Hands started going up. He said, "I’m going to give this $20 bill to one of you, but first let me do this." he proceeded to crumple up the bill. He then asked, "Who still wants it?" Still the hands were up in the air.
"Well," he replied, "what if I do this?" He dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor, so now the bill was not only crumpled, but also dirty. "Now who still wants it?" Still the hands went into the air.
"My friends, you have all learned a valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $20. Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value in the eyes of those who love you. You are special – don’t ever forget it."
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