PHRASES  and  QUOTES

"Superior leaders are willing to admit a mistake and cut their losses. Be willing to admit that you've changed your mind. Don't persist when the original decision turns out to be a poor one."

The purpose of prayer is not to inform god of our needs, but to invite him to rule our lives.

"Great people choose to be greater than their problems. You have that potential too."

If suffering is accepted and lived through, not fought against and refused, then it is completed and becomes transmuted. It is absorbed and having accomplished its work, it ceases to exist as suffering and becomes part of our growing self.

Happy moments, praise God.
Difficult moments, seek God.
Quiet moments, worship God.
Painful moments, trust God.
Every moment, thank God.

"Be positive, pleasant, patient and easygoing - no matter how busy you really are."

Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you.

Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strength.

We shouldn't deny the pain of what happens in our lives. We should refuse to focus only on the valleys.

Success is....seeking, knowing, loving, and obeying God.
        If you seek, you will know...
        If you know, you will love....
        If you love, you will obey.....

Seventy percent of Americans think it is important to obey God or the Bible when choosing right from wrong, but far fewer believe in moral absolutes. A Gallup poll, conducted for Americans United for Life, found nearly 70 percent agree with the statement: "There are few moral absolutes; what is right or wrong usually varies from situation to situation." Only 27 percent disagreed.
Reported in National & International Religion Report, 4/6/92. "To Verify," Leadership

Despite the results of all the opinion polls, the 70% or so who seem to think that there are few moral absolutes are wrong, if we go to the Bible. Paul's statement in Romans 8:1-2 is enlightening in more than one way. While the emphasis in that passage is on the freedom from condemnation in Christ Jesus, we must acknowledge that there is something from which to be set free if the statement is to have any meaning at all.

If Christ Jesus brings us freedom from condemnation, what is it from which we are set free? If it is nothing, then the condemnation couldn't mean much. The truth is found in Paul's statement that we are freed from the "law of sin and death." That law is best explained this way: "If you sin, you die." That's the law. It has been in operation ever since the creation. It's the "rule of thumb" God used to instruct Adam and Eve about the forbidden fruit. We can paraphrase God's words this way: "if you eat, you die." Stated another way, "If you sin, you die." That's the law of sin and death.

But, here's the kicker. That law can only operate where there are moral absolutes. In other words, there must be some things that are right and others that are wrong. They aren't shades of gray. Some behaviors are morally right, while other behaviors are morally wrong. When we behave in morally wrong ways, we sin, and we die spiritually. But, there is still hope! In Christ, we are freed from the condemnation that comes from morally wrong actions. The law of sin and death does not claim us as its victim. Instead, there is forgiveness, redemption, and salvation. Praise God for an answer to a law that leaves no room for mistakes. That's good news for those of us who have violated the law of sin and death. The answer is not to ignore the reality of moral absolutes, it is to find our freedom in Christ.

"You will either step forward into growth or you will step back into safety."

The harder you work at what you should be, the less you'll try to hide what you are.

In serving the Lord, it's always too soon to quit.

All of us have struggles. They may be related to age, finances, relationships, or a myriad of other difficulties. But if we truly set our hearts on trusting God, and if we stay thankful even in the midst of our troubles, we'll be more likely to acknowledge that we "don't have anything to complain about."

The last of human freedoms is the ability to choose one's attitude.

Patience is something that most people want...quickly."

Attitude
The longer one lives, the more one realizes the impact of attitude on life. Attitude is more important than facts, more important than circumstances, failures or successes, and certainly more important than what other people think or say. It's more important than appearance, talent or skill. Attitude can make or break a man, a home, a family, or an organization, It can shatter dreams, ideas, relationships, and children's futures.

Every day, each one of us has a choice regarding not only the clothes we wear, but the attitude we present for that day. It's the last thing we put on as we leave our home. People should have a mirror by the door, just to make sure their attitude is on straight.

We cannot change, as God cannot change, the past, nor can we guarantee that those we smile at or say "Good Morning" to will be pleasant or even civil, since anger has a way of inserting its sharp words into pleasant as well as strained conversations.

The time we spend interacting with people may vary from a few seconds to hours, and happens under all circumstances, such as walking down the street or school hallway.

We may think that a head nod, or a brief "Hello" is insignificant, but think again. As a clown, I have come to realize that those few moments are what children and people remember.

Two weeks ago, another clown and I were at a Friendly's restaurant in Concord. We had just finished a parade and were still in costume. We were tired, hot and hungry. Since it was during that heat wave, many parents were there with their children, and you know how clowns react with children. So we made balloons and passed them from table to table until all the kids had at least one. Just as our food arrived, a small boy, about nine years old, came from somewhere and tugged at my sleeve and said, "When I grow up, I want to be just like you." We never did get to eat.

What I'm trying to say is that whether you interact with people in three minutes or three hours, you leave behind a feeling or attitude of caring or not caring, of sensitivity or insensitivity, and as one clown said, "You walk away leaving a legend or a nightmare."

Each one of us should realize that as we walk away, we leave something behind. What we leave depends on us.

10 Commandments of the Tongue

Family Pledge Of Nonviolence - Making peace must start within ourselves and in our family. As a family, we commit ourselves as best we can to become nonviolent and peaceable people.

• To Respect Self and Others
• To respect myself, to affirm others and to avoid uncaring criticism, hateful words, physical attacks and self-destructive behavior
• To Communicate Better
• To share my feelings honestly, to look for safe ways to express my anger and to work at solving problems peacefully
• To Listen
• To listen carefully to one another, especially those who disagree with me, and to consider others' feelings and needs rather than insist on having my own way

God Won't Ask.......
God won't ask what kind of car you drove, but He'll ask how many people you drove who didn't have transportation.

God won't ask the square footage of your house, but He'll ask how many people you welcomed into your home.

God won't ask about the clothes you had in your closet, but He'll ask how many you helped clothe.

God won't ask what your highest salary was, but He'll ask if you compromised your character to obtain it.

God won't ask what your job title was, but He'll ask if you performed your job to the best of your ability.

God won't ask how many friends you had, but He'll ask how many people to whom you were a friend.

God won't ask in what neighborhood you lived, but He'll ask how you treated your neighbors.

God won't ask about the color of your skin, but He'll ask about the content of your character.

God won't ask why it took you so long to seek salvation, but He'll lovingly take you to your mansion in heaven, and not to the gates of Hell.

How To Be A Godly Employee (Based on the Ten Commandments)

"When you are courting a nice girl an hour seems like a second. When you sit on a red-hot cinder a second seems like an hour. That's relativity."

Ten Positive Guides For A Successful Christian Life
Be a man of your word, slow to promise but quick to perform.

Be punctual in your duties. This makes you orderly, disciplined, and progressive

Be willing to give honor where honor is due. What you give, you get.

Be quick to hear but slow and sparse to speak, thus your word will have weight.

Be silent about others if you have nothing good to say of them. The tongue is a toll for good or evil.

Be a friend to the Bible and draw strength from it to do good and avoid evil.

Be brave in the face of difficulties, otherwise you will never mature as a man.

Be just and then generous. You can neither cheat nor outdo God.

Be more eager to give than to receive. Where the body loses, the spirit gains.

Be master of yourself, then you can guide others. You can't give what you have not.

Be all these things in order to please God.

What would happen, if all day long you did nothing more than shovel down Krispy Kreme doughnuts? How do you think you would feel? Lousy! You'd feel weak, sick, and lethargic.

Now let me ask you this: What are you feeding your faith all day long? Are you stuffing yourself full of anxious thoughts? Are you focusing on your inadequacy in the face of your challenges? If so, it's no wonder your faith fades throughout the day! It's no wonder your spirit feels weak, sick, and lethargic.

Take a tip from David in the Psalms: Throughout the day feed your faith with the promises of God. Now, that's health food for the soul! David once wrote: "I've banked your promises in the vault of my heart....". Why did David do that? So that he could make withdrawals throughout the day! Whenever David started to waver in his faith, he'd remind himself of what God had promised him. He fed his faith with the promises of God.

God's promises were like a spiritual lunch box for David. Whenever he felt spiritually hungry, whenever doubt or temptation began to gnaw at the edge of his soul, he would take out a promise and chew on it, digesting it, feeding his faith.

You and I are called to do the same thing. Hebrews 10:23 puts it this way: "Let's keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He (God) always keeps his word."

Are you keeping a firm grip on God's promises? Or are you totally unaware that God has promised you anything? The Bible is filled with promises for you to feed your faith on, things like: "I will never leave you or forsake you." "Nothing could ever separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus." "He who began a good work in you is faithful to complete it." "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

God's promises sustain us throughout the day. Parents use promises all the time to sustain their children. If a child wakes up feeling blue, her mom might promise to take her out for a treat when she comes home. Why does mom do this? Because she knows that the promise will sustain her daughter through the day, giving her something to hang her hope on.

Far too many Christians fail to feast on the promises of God, and their faith suffers. God's Word is filled with promises that God has given us to sustain us when times get tough. They are like deposits into our spiritual account. The question is: Are you writing any checks, or do you doubt God and his promises?

Quit feeding your faith junk food! God's word is a banquet table for the soul. Quit living in spiritual poverty. Bank God's promises in the vault of your heart and make regular withdrawals. Your soul will be healthier and richer for it!

"To forgive is the highest, most beautiful form of love. In return, you will receive untold peace and happiness."

"One of the secrets of a long and fruitful life is to forgive everybody everything every night before you go to bed."

"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle."

"Let us not be content to wait and see what will happen, but give us the determination to make the right things happen."

When life caves in, you do not need reasons - you need comfort. You do not need some answers - you need someone. And Jesus does not come to us with an explanation - He comes to us with His presence.

"A positive attitude is perhaps more important at home than anywhere else. As spouses and parents, one of our most vital roles is to help those we love feel good about themselves."

An Attitude of Gratitude

A foursome of golfers hit the course with waning enthusiasm for the sport.

"These hills are getting steeper as the years go by," one complained.

"These fairways seem to be getting longer too," said one of the others.

"The sand traps seem to be bigger than I remember them too," said the third senior.

After hearing enough from his buddies, the oldest and wisest of the four of them at 87 years old, piped up and said, "My friends, just be thankful we're still on this side of the grass!"

It is easy to find things to complain about (and some people seem to enjoy it!). Very few things around us are just the way we would like them if we were living in an "ideal" world. However, we need to be careful that we do not get so caught up in our complaints that we overlook the great blessings that abound in our lives.

May the "attitude of gratitude" be evident in our daily lives.

Have a great day!

"The best index to a person's character is (a) how he treats people who can't do him any good, and (b) how he treats people who can't fight back."

"Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny."

"Your attitude is an expression of your values, beliefs and expectation."

Prayer is the most powerful form of energy that one can generate.

"We sometimes feel that what we do is just a drop in the ocean, but the ocean would be less because of that missing drop."

If we spend sixteen hours a day dealing with tangible things and only five minutes a day dealing with God, is it any wonder that tangible things are two hundred times more real to us than God?

"Don't play for safety. It's the most dangerous thing in the world."

"Follow the path of the unsafe, independent thinker. Expose your ideas to the dangers of controversy. Speak your mind and fear less the label of 'crackpot' than the stigma of conformity. And on issues that seem important to you, stand up and be counted at any cost."

"One of the marks of superior people is that they are action-oriented. One of the marks of average people is that they are talk-oriented."

"You can't be a winner and be afraid to lose."

Make a game of finding something positive in every situation--95 percent of your emotions are determined by how you interpret events to yourself.

Optimists are right. So are pessimists. It's up to you to choose which you will be.

"Work as if you were to live a hundred years. Pray as if you were to die tomorrow."

"It's the constant and determined effort that breaks down all resistance and sweeps away all obstacles."

"When every physical and mental resource is focused, one's power to solve a problem multiplies tremendously."

"Concentrate your powers. Identify what you are particularly good at doing and do more of it."

"The best advice I ever came across on the subject of concentration is: Wherever you are, be there. When you work, work. When you play, play. Don't mix the two."

"Leaders think and talk about the solutions. Followers think and talk about the problems."

"The most successful people in our society think the furthest into the future. They are willing to make sacrifices in the short-term in order to enjoy greater rewards in the long-term."

"When you focus on what might have been, it gets in the way of what can be."

"Leadership is the ability to decide what has to be done and then get people to want to do it."

"Leaders and Managers are different...managers ask How? Leaders ask Why? Managers say 'Do!'... Leaders say 'Let us Do'..."

"Failure is not about insecurity. It's about lack of execution."

"Challenges make you discover things about yourself that you never really knew. They're what make the instrument stretch; what makes you go beyond the norm?"

"A feeling of confidence and personal power comes from facing challenges and overcoming them."

"What we see depends mainly on what we look for."

"Age is a matter of feeling...not of years."

God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with Him.

"Human beings have the remarkable ability to turn nothing into something. They can turn weeds into gardens and pennies into fortunes."

"It is not who you think you are...or even who you think you are not that really determines success...it's who you think you are becoming..."

"Every situation can be a positive situation if you look upon it as an opportunity for growth and self-improvement."

"Step into a new you each day. Reach out to greater health, happiness, fitness, friendship, love and greater pride in yourself."

"The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."