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Volume 29, # 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 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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Thought for Lent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jeremiah 6:16 (NIV)
March 5, 2014"This is what the Lord says: ‘Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.…’"
Give Encouragement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . George M. Adams
"Note how good you feel after you have encouraged someone else. No other argument is necessary to suggest that never miss the opportunity to give encouragement."
The Common Good . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . St. Clement, pope
"A person may be faithful; he may have the power to utter hidden mysteries; he may be discriminating in the evaluation of what is said and pure in his actions. But the greater he seems to be, the more zealous he should be for the common good rather than his own interest."
Night Moves to Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Louis Schmier
"It was the time of the canonical hour of Lauds when night moves to day and darkness to light. It is truly for me like the sun, a time to rise and shine, to dive deep into the miracle of that which is life today. The first gleam of light of this tranquil time is a valuable time for my morning contemplation and meditation."
The Christophers Mission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Christophers
It’s better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.
"The Christophers believe that even a tiny flame illuminates the darkness – the simplest kindness contributes to a better world. So, where there is darkness let us bring light. Let us feed one hungry neighbor; cast one intelligent vote or offer one prayer for peace. Let us fulfill God’s mission for each of us by performing acts of kindness using our individual gifts and talents. If we are Christ bearers, or Christophers, we can help change the world for the better and overcome its darkness with God’ light."
What Matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dorothy Thompson
"One cannot exist today as a person…without having to have a showdown with one’s self, without having to define what it is that one lives by, without being clear in one’s own mind what matters and what does not matter."
Courage to Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Earl Nightingale, INSIGHT, # 80
"It does take courage to care, to open your heart and react with sympathy or compassion or indignation or enthusiasm when it is easier – and sometimes safer – not to get involved. But people who take the risk, who deliberately discard the armor of indifference, make a tremendous discovery: The more things you care about, and the more intensely you care, the more alive you become."
Goal of Leadership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Max De Pree, Leadership is an Art
"The goal of leadership is not to produce great, or charismatic, or well-known leaders. The measure of leadership is not the quality of the head, but the tone of the body. The signs of outstanding leadership appear primarily among the followers.
Are the followers reaching their potential? Are they learning? Serving? Do they achieve the required results? Do they change with grace? Manage conflict?"
Try for a Pulitzer Prize. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pulpit & Bible Study Helps, Mar. ‘92, p. 3
"Joseph Pulitzer deserved his own prize for the following advice: ‘Put it before them briefly so they will hear it, clearly so they appreciate it, picturesquely so they will remember it, and above all, accurately so they will be guided by its light.’"
An Irish Saying . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Anonymous
"Always remember to forget
The things that made you sad.
But never forget to remember
The things that made you glad.Always remember to forget
The friends that proved untrue.
But never forget to remember
Those that have stuck by you.Always remember to forget
The troubles that passed away.
But never forget to remember
The blessings that come each day."
The Leader… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chris Lowney, Heroic Leadership, p. 14
[T]he leader figures out where we need to go, points us in the right direction, gets us to agree that we need to get there, and rallies us through the inevitable obstacles that separate us from the promised land."
The Present . . . . . . . . Alice Morse Earle, "Sun Dials and Roses of Yesterday: Garden Delights…," 1902
"The clock is running.
Make the most of today.
Time waits for no man.
Yesterday is history.
Tomorrow is a mystery.
Today is a gift.
That’s why it is called the present."
The Coach’s Role . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Coach Pat Riley
"The coach has a role:
- to organize and direct,
- to create an environment where talent can flourish,
- to do everything possible to enable the team to win."
Maxims of Robert E. Lee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Robert E. Lee, p. 34
"I prefer the Bible to any other book. There is enough in that to satisfy the most ardent thirst for knowledge; to open the way to true wisdom, and to teach the only road to salvation and eternal happiness. It is not above human comprehension, and it is sufficient to satisfy all its desires."
Happiness Lies Within . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Og Mandino
"Realize that true happiness lies within you. Waste no time and effort searching for peace and contentment and joy in the world outside. Remember that there is no happiness in having or in getting, but only in giving. Reach out. Share. Smile. Hug. Happiness is a perfume you cannot pour on others without getting a few drops on yourself."
Two Pockets . . . . . . . . . . . . Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski, Growing Each Day, Kislev 1
The rabbi said that everyone should have two pockets: one to contain, "I am but dust and ashes," and the other to contain, "The world was created for my sake." At certain times, we must reach into one pocket; at other times, into the other. The secret of correct living comes from knowing when to reach into which pocket.
Humility is the finest of all virtues and is the source of all admirable character traits. Yet, if a person considers himself to be utterly insignificant, he may not care about his actions. He may think, "What is so important about what I do? It makes no difference so long as I do not harm anyone." Such feelings of insignificance can cause immoral behavior.
When a person does not feel that his actions are significant, he either allows impulses to dominate his behavior or slouches into inactivity. At such a time, he must reach into the pocket of personal grandeur and read: "I am specially created by God. He has a mission that only I can achieve. Since this is a Divine mission, the entire universe was created solely to enable me to accomplish this particular assignment."
When presidents and premiers delegate missions to their officials, those officials feel a profound sense of responsibility to carry out the mission in the best possible manner. How much more so when we are commissioned by God!
African Speechmaking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Anonymous, More Sower’s Seeds, p. 9
"There used to be a civilized rule about speechmaking among some African tribes. It seems that when a person rose to speak, he had to stand on one foot while delivering his oration. The moment his other foot touched the ground, the speech had to end, or the speaker was forcibly silenced."
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