A Life Worth Saving

• A Life Worth Saving   
• A man risked his life by swimming through the treacherous riptide to save a youngster being swept out to sea. After the child recovered from the harrowing experience, he said to the man, ;Thank you for saving my life. The man looked into the little boy's eyes and said, ;That's okay, kid. Just make sure your life was worth saving.
• Focus For Life
•    Whatever you dwell upon in your mind, you give power to. So of course it makes sense to focus on what you want rather than what you don't want. Yet there are many ways in which the things you don't want can sneak into your thinking. Worry and doubt focus your thinking on what you don't want. Rather than worrying about the bad things that might happen, direct your actions toward making positive things happen. Complaining can also get your mind sidetracked into thinking about what you don't want. What do you complain about? The things you don't like. Rather than complaining, take action. Action moves you toward what you do want. Anger is one more way to get your thinking negatively directed. Rather than getting angry about what you don't like, use that energy to give you determination for what you want to achieve. Keep your mind positively focused on the good things that life can offer. Those things will grow stronger and more abundant in your world.  

  

• If And When   
• IF and WHEN were friends. Every week they met and had lunch. Their conversation usually centered on all the things they were going to achieve. They both had many dreams and they loved to talk about them. This particular Saturday when they met, WHEN sensed that IF was not in a great mood. As usual they sat at the table reserved for them and ordered their lunch. Once they placed their order, WHEN questioned IF. ;IF what is wrong with you? You don't seem your usual cheery self? IF looked at WHEN and replied, ;I'm not sure, I just don't feel like I am making any progress. This last week I saw a course I wanted to take if only I had the time to take it. WHEN knew exactly how IF felt. ;Yeah, replied WHEN, I too saw a course and I am going to register when I get enough money together. WHEN then said, ;well what about that new job you were going to apply for. You were so excited about it last week, did you apply? IF responded, ;If my computer didn't break down last week, I would have applied. But, my computer is not working, so I could not type my resume.Don't worry about it IF, when you are ready another job will come through. I have been thinking about looking for another job also, but I will wait and when the weather gets nicer I will look then. WHEN then went on to tell IF about his week, hoping that it would cheer him up a bit. The man at the next table couldn't help overhear WHEN and IF. They both were talking about when this and if that, finally he couldn't take it anymore. ;Excuse me gentlemen, the man said. IF and WHEN both looked at the man and wondered what he wanted. The man continued, ;I'm sorry, but I couldn't help hearing your conversation. I think I know how you could solve your problems. IF smiled and thought, how could a complete stranger know how to solve all of their problems. If only he knew. When he realized the challenges they faced there was no way he could solve their problems! Curious, IF asked the gentleman, ;How do you think you can solve our problems? The gentleman smiled and said, ;You only need listen to yourselves. It reminds me of an old proverb: 'If and When were planted, and Nothing grew' IF and WHEN looked puzzled. The gentleman smiled and said, ;Start counting how many times you use the words 'if' and 'when'. Rather than thinking 'if and when', start doing, take action, stop talking about 'if and when'. IF and WHEN both looked surprised, and suddenly realized that what the gentleman had said was so true. Both of them were guilty of thinking, acting and living their life for the ;ifs and whens;. The gentleman left and IF and WHEN's conversation changed. They made a pact that when they met for lunch next week, there would be no ;ifs and whens;; they would only talk about what they accomplished.
• Life Is   
• Life is a challenge - meet it. Life is a gift - accept it. Life is an adventure - dare it. Life is a sorrow - overcome it. Life is a tragedy - face it. Life is a duty - perform it. Life is a game - play it. Life is a mystery - unfold it. Life is a song - sing it. Life is an opportunity - take it. Life is a journey - complete it. Life is a promise - fulfill it. Life is a beauty - praise it. Life is a struggle - fight it. Life is a goal - achieve it. Life is a puzzle - solve it. Life is eternal - believe it.     
• Nine Requisites For Contended Living   
• 1. HEALTH enough to make work a pleasure. 2. WEALTH enough to support your needs. 3. STRENGTH to battle with difficulties and overcome them. 4. GRACE enough to confess your sins and forsake them. 5. PATIENCE enough to toil until some good is accomplished. 6. CHARITY enough to see some good in your neighbor. 7. LOVE enough to move you to be useful and helpful to others. 8. FAITH enough to make real the things of God. 9. HOPE enough to remove all anxious fears concerning the future.
• Priceless Things   
• Life holds so many priceless things. The falling rain, the wind that sings. Each star on a high, a big full moon. And sunbeams dancing in your room. The river as it rushes on. A sunset when day is gone. No wealth can buy a mountain tall. These priceless things belong to all. An autumn tree lends beauty rare. With leaves piled deep most everywhere. As nature wears a glowing smile. To make each day a day worthwhile. Could anything be quite as dear? As laughing children that we hear? The gift of friendship that is ours? The miracle of growing flowers? Each magic moment, treasured time These priceless gifts are Yours and mine. 
• What Goes Around   
• His name was Fleming, and he was a poor Scottish farmer. One day, while trying to make a living for his family, he heard a cry for help coming from a nearby bog. He dropped his tools and ran to the bog. There, mired to his waist in black muck, was a terrified boy, screaming and struggling to free himself. Farmer Fleming saved the lad from what could have been a slow and terrifying death. The next day, a fancy carriage pulled up to the Scotsman's sparse surroundings. An elegantly dressed nobleman stepped out and introduced himself as the father of the boy Farmer Fleming had saved. ;I want to repay you, said the nobleman. ;You saved my son's life.No, I can't accept payment for what I did, the Scottish farmer replied, waving off the offer. At that moment, the farmer's own son came to the door of the family hovel. ;Is that your son? the nobleman asked. ;Yes, the farmer replied proudly. ;I'll make you a deal. Let me provide him with the level of education my own son will enjoy. If the lad is anything like his father, he'll no doubt grow to be a man we both will be proud of. And that he did. Farmer Fleming's son attended the very best schools and in time, he graduated from St. Mary's Hospital Medical School in London, and went on to become known throughout the world as the noted Sir Alexander Fleming, the discoverer of Penicillin. Years afterward, the same nobleman's son who was saved from the bog was stricken with pneumonia. What saved his life this time? Penicillin. The name of the nobleman? Lord Randolph Churchill. His son's name? Sir Winston Churchill. Someone once said: ;What goes around comes around.Work like you don't need the money. Love like you've never been hurt. Dance like nobody's watching. Sing like nobody's listening. Live like it's Heaven on Earth. 
• Dreams   
• The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn't already know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder. I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that that lit up her entire being. She said, ;Hi, handsome. My name is Rose. I'm eighty-seven years old. Can I give you a hug? I laughed and enthusiastically responded, ;Of course you may! and she gave me a giant squeeze. ;Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age? I asked. She jokingly replied, ;I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, have a couple of children, and then retire and travel. No seriously, I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age. ;I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting one! she told me. After class we walked to the student union building and share a chocolate milkshake. We became instant friends. Every day for the next three months we would leave class together and talk nonstop. I was always mesmerized listening to this ;time machine; as she shared her wisdom and experience with me. Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon and she easily made friends wherever she went. She loved to dress up and she reveled in the attention bestowed upon her from the other students. She was living it up. At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet. I'll never forget what she taught us. She was introduced and stepped up to the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she dropped her three by five cards on the floor. Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply said, ;I'm sorry I'm so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and this whiskey is killing me! I'll never get my speech back in order so let me just tell you what I know. As we laughed she cleared her throat and began: ;We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing. There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success. ;You have to laugh and find humor every day. You've got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die. We have so many people walking around who are dean and don't even know it!
• Dreams
• ;There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up. If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don't do one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old. If I am eighty-seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything I will turn eighty-eight. Anybody can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding the opportunity in change. Have no regrets. The elderly usually don't have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets. She concluded her speech by courageously singing The Rose. She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives. At the years end Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those years ago. One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep. Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example that it's never too late to be all you can possibly be. If you read this, please send this peaceful word of advise to your fiends and family. We send these words in loving memory of ROSE. Remember, GROWING OLDER IS MANDATORY, GROWING UP IS OPTIONAL.
• Fisherman   
• The American businessman was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellow fin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them. The Mexican replied ;only a little while;. The American then asked why didn't he stay out longer and catch more fish? The Mexican said he had enough to support his family's immediate needs. The American then asked, ;but what do you do with the rest of your time? The Mexican fisherman said, ;I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siesta with my wife, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos, I have a full and busy life, senor. The American scoffed, ;I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds buy a bigger boat with the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several boats, eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then LA and eventually NYC where you will run your expanding enterprise. The Mexican fisherman asked, ;But senor, how long will this all take? To which the American replied, ;15-20 years.But what then, senor? The American laughed and said that's the best part. When the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich, you would make millions. ;Millions, senor? Then what? The American said, ;Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siesta with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar.   
• Fruits Of The Spirit   
• It's quiet. It's early. My coffee is hot. The sky is still black. The world is still asleep. The day is coming. In a few moments the day will arrive. It will roar down the track with the rising of the sun. The stillness of the dawn will be exchanged for the noise of the day. The calm of the solitude will be replaced by the pounding pace of the human race. The refuge of the early morning will be invaded by decisions to be made and deadlines to be met. For the next twelve hours I will be exposed to the day's demands. It is now that I must make a choice. Because of Calvary, I'm free to choose. And so I choose. I choose love... No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness, I choose love. Today I will love God and what God loves. I choose joy... I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical... the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God. I choose peace... I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live. I choose patience... I will overlook the inconveniences of the world. Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I'll invite him to do so. Rather than complaining that the wait is too long, I will thank God for a moment to pray. Instead of clenching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage. I choose kindness... I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone. Kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to the unkind, for such is how God has treated me. I choose goodness... I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one. I will be overlooked before I will boast. I will confess before I will accuse. I choose goodness. I choose faithfulness... Today I will keep my promises. My debtors will not regret their trust. My associates will not question my word. My loved ones will not question my love. And my children will never fear that their parent will not come home. I choose gentleness... Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle. If I raise my voice, may it be only in praise. If I clench my fist, may it be only in prayer. If I make a demand, may it be only of myself. I choose self-control... I am a spiritual being. After this body is dead, my spirit will soar. I refuse to let what will rot, rule the eternal. I choose self-control. I will be drunk only by joy. I will be impassioned only by my faith. I will be influenced only by God. I will be taught only by Christ. I choose self-control. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. To these I commit my day. If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek His grace. And then when this day is done, I will place my
• Wanted To Change The World  
• When I was a young man, I wanted to change the world. I found it was difficult to change the world, so I tried to change my nation. When I found I couldn't change the nation, I began to focus on my town. I couldn't change the town and as an older man, I tried to change my family. Now, as an old man, I realize the only thing I can change is myself, and suddenly I realize that if long ago I had changed myself, I could have made an impact on my family. My family and I could have made an impact on our town. Their impact could have changed the nation and I could indeed have changed the world
• I've Learned   
• I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it may be better tomorrow. I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles a rainy day and lost luggage. I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life. I've learned that making a ;living; is not the same thing as making a life. I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance. I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back. I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision. I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one. I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love that human touch - holding hands, a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back. I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.
• Life Is A Do-It-Yourself Project   
• An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer-of his plans to leave the house building business and live a more leisurely life with his wife enjoying his extended family. He would miss the paycheck, but he wanted to retire. They could get by. The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes, but his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end his career. When the carpenter finished his work and the builder came to inspect the house, the contractor handed the front-door key to the carpenter. ;This is your house, he said, ;my gift to you. What a shock! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently. Now he had to live in the home he had built none too well. So it is with us. If we build our lives in a distracted way, reacting rather than acting, willing to put up less than the best. At important points we do not give the job our best effort. Then with a shock we look at the situation we have created and find that we are now living in the house we have built. If we had realized that we would have done it differently. Think of yourself as the carpenter. Think about your house. Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. Build wisely. It is the only life you will ever build. Even if you live it for only one day more, that day deserves to be lived graciously and with dignity. The plaque on the wall says, ;Life is a do-it-yourself project. Your attitudes and the choices you make today will be your life tomorrow, build it wisely.    
• May This Encourage You, Always   
• Don't spend major time with minor people. If there are people in your life who continually disappoint you, break promises, stomp on your dreams, are too judgmental, have different values and don't have your back during difficult times...that is not friendship. To have a friend, be a friend. Sometimes in life as you grow, your friends will either grow or go. Surround yourself with people who reflect values, goals interests and lifestyles. When I think of any of my successes, I am thankful to God from whom all blessings flow, and to my family and friends who enrich my life. Over the years my phone book has changed because I changed, for the better. At first, you think you're going to be alone, but after awhile, new people show up in your life that make it so much sweeter and easier to endure. Remember what your elders used to say, ;Birds of a feather flock together. If you're an eagle, don't hang around chickens: Chickens can't fly!
• On The Wings Of A Prayer   
• Just close your eyes and open your heart, And feel your worries and cares depart. Just yield yourself to the Father above, And let Him hold you secure in His love. For life on earth grows more involved, With endless problems that can't be solved. But God only ask us to do our best, Then He will take over and finish the rest. So when you are tired, discouraged and blue, There is always one door that is open to you. And that is the door to The House of Prayer, And you'll find God waiting to meet you there. And The House of Prayer is no further away, Than the quiet spot where you kneel and pray. For the heart is a temple when God is there, As we place ourselves in His loving care. And He hears every prayer and answers each one, When we Pray in His name - Thy will be done. The burdens that seemed too heavy to bear, Are lifted away on the wings of a prayer.
• Stronger Than I Am   
• Things around here haven't changed much. It's still pretty much the same stuff Day after day. The only thing that keeps me going Seems to be our baby girl I'm trying to raise. She's my life, my morning angel. Always seems to find the rainbow After the rain. Lately, she's so busy growing I don't even think she knows you've gone away. She finally learned to say good-bye And she's sleeping through the night. She don't wake up crying. And she's walking on her own. She don't need no one holding to her hand. And I hate to admit, she's stronger than I am. She ain't cracking under pressure. First one step and then another She goes along. And if she falls and skins her knee, She cries a while then smiles at me And just goes on. So many things that she can teach me. Full of life and so completely innocent. She stills says she loves her daddy Goes on just like nothing happened. Forgives and forgets. She's just like her old man, She's stronger than I am..
• The Boy And A Starfish   
• One day an old man was walking along the beach in the early morning and noticed the tide had washed thousands of starfish up on the shore. Up ahead in the distance he spotted a boy who appeared to be gathering up the starfish and one by one tossing them back into the ocean. He approached the boy and asked him why he spent so much energy doing what seemed to be a waste of time. The boy replied, ;If these starfish are left out here like this they will bake in the sun, and by this afternoon they will all be dead. The old man gazed out as far as he could see and responded, ;But, there must be hundreds of miles of beach and thousands of starfish. You can't possibly rescue all of them. What difference is throwing a few back going to make anyway? The boy then held up the starfish he had in his hand and replied, ;It's sure going to make a lot of difference to this one!