1. Pray
2. Go to bed on time.
3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.
4. Say No, to projects that won't fit into your time schedule, or that will compromise your mental health.
5. Delegate tasks to capable others.
6. Simplify and unclutter your life.
7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)
8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.
9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't lump the hard things all together.
10. Take one day at a time.
11. Separate worries from concerns. If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you to do and let go of the anxiety. If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it.
12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.
13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.,
14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.
15. Do something for the Kid in You everyday.
16. Carry a Bible with you to read while waiting in line.
17. Get enough exercise.
18. Eat right.
19. Get organized so everything has its place.
20. While driving, listen to a tape that can help improve your quality of life.
21. Write thoughts and inspirations down.
22. Every day, find time to be alone.
23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try and pray.
24. Make friends with Godly people.
25. Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.
26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good "Thank you, Jesus!"
27. Laugh.
28. Laugh some more!
29. Take your work seriously, but yourself not at all.
30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).
31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most).
32. Sit on your ego.
33. Talk less; listen more.
34. Slow down.
35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.
36. Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've never been grateful for before.
GOD HAS A WAY OF TURNING THINGS AROUND FOR YOU.
"If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31)
My instructions were to send this to four people that I wanted God to bless and I picked you. I decided to send it to more than four, because I didn't want to limit blessings.
Have A Happy Day!
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
How to Reduce Stress
Rules for Dating My Daughter
When I was in high school, I used to be terrified of my girlfriend’s father, who I believe suspected me of wanting to place my hands on his daughter. He would open the door and immediately affect a good-naturedly murderous expression, holding out a handshake that, when gripped, felt like it could squeeze carbon into diamonds.
Now, years later, it is my turn to be the Dad. Remembering how unfairly persecuted I felt when I would pick up my dates, I do my best to make my daughter’s suitors feel even worse. My motto: Wilt them in the living room and they’ll stay wilted all night.
“So,” I’ll call out jovially. “I see you have your nose pierced. Is that because you’re STUPID, or did you merely want to APPEAR stupid?”
As a Dad, I have some basic rules, which I have carved into two stone tablets that I have on display in my living room.
Rule One: If you pull into my driveway and honk, you’d better be delivering a package, because you’re sure as heck not picking anything up.
Rule Two: You do not touch my daughter in front of me. You may glance at her, so long as you do not peer at anything below her neck. If you cannot keep your eyes or hands off my daughter’s body, I will remove them.
Rule Three: I am aware that it is considered fashionable for boys of your age to wear their trousers so loosely that they appear to be falling off their hips. Please, don’t take this as an insult, but you and all of your friends are complete idiots. Still, I want to be fair and open minded about this issue, so I propose this compromise:
You may come to the door with your underwear showing and your pants ten sizes too big, and I will not object. However, in order to assure that your clothes do not, in fact, come off during the course of your date with my daughter, I will take my electric staple gun and fasten your trousers securely in place around your waist.
Rule Four: I’m sure you’ve been told that in today’s world, sex without utilizing a “barrier method” of some kind can kill you. Let me elaborate: When it comes to sex, I AM the barrier, and I WILL kill you.
Rule Five: In order for us to get to know each other, we should talk about sports, politics, and other issues of the day. Please do not do this. The only information I require from you is an indication of when you expect to have my daughter safely back at my house, and the only word I need from you on this subject is “early.”
Rule Six: I have no doubt you are a popular fellow, with many opportunities to date other girls. This is fine with me as long as it is okay with my daughter. Otherwise, once you have gone out with my little girl, you will continue to date no one but her until she is finished with you. If you make her cry, I will make YOU cry.
Rule Seven: As you stand in my front hallway, waiting for my daughter to appear, and more than an hour goes by, do not sigh and fidget. If you want to be on time for the movie, you should not be dating. My daughter is putting on her makeup, a process that can take longer than painting the Golden Gate Bridge. Instead of just standing there, why don’t you do something useful, like changing the oil in my car?
Rule Eight: The following places are not appropriate for a date with my daughter:
Places where there are beds, sofas, or anything softer than a wooden stool.
Places where there are no parents, policemen, or nuns within sight.
Places where there is darkness.
Places where there is dancing, holding hands, or happiness.
Places where the ambient temperature is warm enough to induce my daughter to wear shorts, tank tops. Midriff T-shirts, or anything other than overalls, a sweater, and a goose down parka zipped up to her Adam’s apple.
Movies with a strong romantic or sexual theme are to be avoided; movies, which feature chainsaws, are okay.
Hockey games are okay.
Rule Nine:Do not lie to me. I may appear to be a potbellied, balding, middle-aged, dimwitted has-been. But on issues relating to my daughter, I am the all-knowing, merciless god of your universe. If I ask you where you are going and with whom, you have one chance to tell me the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. I have a shotgun, a shovel, and five acres behind the house. Do not trifle with me.
Rule Ten:Be afraid. Be very afraid. It takes very little for me to mistake the sound of your car in the driveway for a chopper coming in over a rice paddy near Hanoi. When my Agent Orange starts acting up, the voices in my head frequently tell me to clean the guns as I wait for you to bring my daughter home. As soon as you pull into the driveway you should exit your car with both hands in plain sight. Speak the perimeter password, announce in a clear voice that you have brought my daughter home safely and early, then return to your car - there is no need for you to come inside. The camouflaged face at the window is mine.
My daughter claims it embarrasses her to come downstairs and find me attempting to get her to recite these ten simple rules from memory. I’d be embarrassed too…there are only ten of them, for crying out loud!
And, for the record, I did NOT suggest to one of these cretins that I’d have these rules tattooed on his arm if he couldn’t remember them. (I checked into it and the cost is prohibitive.) I merely told him that I thought writing the rules on his arm with a ball point might be inadequate; that ink washes off, and my wood-burning set was probably a better alternative.
One time, my wife caught me having one of my daughter’s would-be suitors practice pulling into the driveway, get out of the car, and go up to knock on the front door (he had violated rule number one, so I figured he needed to run through the drill a few dozen times.) She asked me why I was being so hard on the boy.
“Don’t you remember being that age?” she challenged.
Of course I remember. Why do you think I came up with the ten simple rules?
Monday, February 23, 2009
notification
HEALTH WARNING
Supermarket Shelf Poisons
Anybody that takes Vitamin C (and most people should) avoid the following Soft drinks Sunkist, Fanta, Diet Coke, Sprite, & Pepsi Max.
These drinks contain Sodium Benzoate 211 on the label. A chemical reaction between Vitamin C and Sodium Benzoate creates Benzine a highly Carcinogenic chemical (story by Channel 9).
Benzine has the ability to severely damage the DNA in the Mitochondria to the point that it totally inactivates it, knocks it out altogether. The Mitochondria consumes Oxygen to give you energy, and if you damage it, then the cell starts to malfunction very seriously, often fatally, a whole array of Diseases has been tied to the damage to the DNA, including Parkinson's Disease and quite a lot of Neuro-Degenerative Diseases..
This is a follow-up of all the TV station's story on Mentos and Diet Coke. Don't mix these two either, they cause a chemical reaction (explosion) in the stomach, it's not only Mentos but also any Mint products. Mint Life Savers, Tic Tac's, Cool Mint's, etc, the Mint is not the culprit here but the Aspartame in the Diet Drinks, 951 on the label, also avoid 950 Acelsultame F (same thing). Aspartame poisoning has been scientifically linked to 92 Symptoms of Disease ... Still going to drink your Diet Drinks???
Most European countries have forbidden the Importing and use in their Country of Aspartame including all makes of Saccharin, example Equal, Nutra-Sweet, Spoonful & Diet Drinks, including 6,000 consumer Good's and Beverages, sold on the Supermarket shelves . this ban affect's all use of this product in any type o consumable infringement and will carry penalties that go from 9.000 euros to 90,000 Euros.
Mexico is also considering banning all 6,000 products of Aspartame on its Supermarket shelves. In Mexico Aspartame is known as Rumsfeld's Disease, after George Bush's mate Donald Rumsfeld. The Nutra-Sweet company and Searle are owned by Monsanto who appointed Rumsfeld as their General Manager, so they could use his clout with Parliament to get this Deadly Poison passed by the FDA and boost their sales of Aspartame.
Avoid all Toothpastes made in China , especially Colgate's they contain Ethylene Glycol.. This is an Anti-Freezing agent, Highly Toxic and even Fatal -- it destroys the Liver, Kidney, Lung, Blood Cells, Heart and the Nervous System. It is also in some Mouth Washes, Make-up, Aftershave, Baby Powder and Wipes, Shampoo, and Deodorants.
Avoid Smarties; they contain almost every Toxic artificial colour on the market. The worst are 102, 104, and the worst of all 110 Carcinogenic, 124 undesirable, 127 Carcinogenic 128 Extreme Caution, 129,131, and 133 are also carcinogenic. To top it off Smarties are not even made of Chocolate (neither are Tim Tam's). Synthetic Chocolate has non-nutritional food value whatsoever.
Read your labels -- it may one day save your life.
PLEASE SHARE.....
Choose the Voice of Faith
Today's Scripture
"If only you carefully listen to the voice of the Lord your God…" (Deuteronomy 15:5, AMP).
Today's Word from Joel and Victoria
All through the day there are two voices that compete for our attention–the voice of faith and the voice of defeat. You'll hear a voice saying, "You'll never rise any higher. You don't have what it takes. You've reached your limit." But if you listen carefully, you'll hear another voice saying, "You are well able. You can do all things through Christ. Your best days are still up ahead." You are the one who gets to choose which voice comes to life by speaking it out of your own mouth. The moment you verbalize that thought, you give it the right to come to pass. When you speak faith, you're in agreement with God. When you speak defeat, you're in agreement with the enemy. God–talk brings God on the scene. Enemy–talk brings the enemy on the scene.
Why don't you get in agreement with God today? That negative voice may be louder, but you can override it. You can take away all of its power by simply choosing the voice of faith. Choose to declare favor, blessing, and increase over your life so that you can walk in the victory the Lord has in store for you.
A Prayer for Today
Heavenly Father, today and everyday, I choose the voice of faith and victory. I declare that today I am rising up higher in You, that I can do all things because You give me strength. I bless and honor You in everything I do. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Copyright (c) 2009 by Joel Osteen Ministries.
2-dimensional Grace
TWO-DIMENSIONAL GRACE
by Charles R. Swindoll
Psalm 85:2 NLT
Grace comes to us in two dimensions, vertical and horizontal. Vertical grace centers on our relationship with God. It is amazing. It frees us from the demands and condemnation of the Mosaic Law. It announces hope to the sinner---the gift of eternal life, along with all its benefits.
Horizontal grace centers on our human relationships. It is charming. It frees us from the tyranny of pleasing people and adjusting our lives to the demands and expectations of human opinion. It gives relief---the enjoyment of freedom along with all its benefits. It silences needless guilt and removes self-imposed shame.
Few people realize better than non-Christians how guilt-ridden many Christians are. A lady in our congregation tells of a conversation she had with a fellow student while the two of them were students at the Berkeley campus of the University of California. He knew she was a Christian, and he made it painfully clear that he had no interest whatsoever in her faith. When she asked why, his answer bore the sting of reality: "Because the most guilt-ridden people I know are Christians. No thanks."
This is a good time for me to ask you two probing questions. Only you can answer them:
Do you add to others' guilt or do you lessen it?
Are you the type who promotes another's liberty or restrains it?
Both questions have to do with attitude, don't they? We do what we do with others because of the way we think. Our attitude, therefore, is crucial. It is also at our mercy. We have full control of which attitude we shall have: charming and gracious or restrictive and rigid. Liberty or legalism will be the result. Depending on our attitude, we are grace givers or grace killers.
Noble Plans, Noble Deeds
Noble Plans, Noble Deeds
Marybeth Whalen
"Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"
Matthew 6:27 (NIV)
Devotion:
Recent spikes in gas prices. A collapsing housing market. A stock market that fluctuates dramatically. Record foreclosures. Inflation. Bank bailouts and eleventh hour negotiations. It's hard not to notice the economic turmoil our nation has been facing in the last several months. It's also hard not to feel anxiety when we see the latest news reports. When will we come out of this? How far will things go? And yet, Jesus told us not to worry about anything. Right now we might be asking ourselves: How can we not?
Isaiah 32:8 says, "But the noble man makes noble plans, and by noble deeds he stands." One part of learning to live without worry as Jesus commands is to begin making wise plans for our financial future. God doesn't want us to leave things to chance or foolishly count on things to never change. Noble plans will bear up in the most shaky environment. Noble deeds will stand even when everything else is crumbling.
About five years ago, my husband and I made the decision to do whatever it took to eliminate our debt and live financially free. When we did, we began living a life that was drastically different from the status quo. I can't say it was easy. But we set our sights on our plan and, with God's help, worked towards the future. Today we are breathing a sigh of relief that we aren't where we once were. There is no doubt in my mind that, had we not made the changes we made five years ago, we would be in serious financial trouble right now. Our monthly debt payments would have been too much on top of the significant increase in the cost of living.
Even though we are out of debt now, we still have to keep working our plan lest we fall back into old habits and rack up new debt. When we sold our home this past summer, some lenders told us we could afford a lot more home than we were anticipating. I will admit that it was tempting to buy the big "dream home" and throw caution to the wind, hoping that my husband would always make his commission and we would "get by." As we prayed about our decision, we knew that wasn't what God wanted us to do. We bought a house that was a much smarter choice financially. It wasn't the "fun" solution and the house we bought wasn't fancy or impressive. And yet, as we have watched the continually declining financial picture of our nation, we know with certainty that we made the right choice. By following God's guidelines and seeking His will, we have experienced the freedom of being able to stand on solid financial ground. Left to our own devices, we would be in a big mess.
This time in our nation can be viewed as either devastating or as a needed wake-up call. Has it got your attention? Are you searching for solutions for your money issues? We can either let it shake us or let it serve as an impetus to make noble plans--plans that line up with God's design for our spending, saving and tithing. We can sign up for a class at church or purchase resources to help us finally create that budget or assess our spending habits. We can talk to our children about scaling back our lifestyle. We can draw closer to our spouse and pray together for God's guidance as we navigate these uncertain times. Most of all, we can discover a new reliance on God as our Provider, our Protector and the source of our peace, no matter what the financial reports say.
Dear Lord, I want to live a financially responsible life. I want to honor You with my financial choices and make plans that reflect Your purpose in my life. Help me to seek You in my finances just like in the rest of my life. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Reflections:
What is one step you can take today that will help you plan for your financial future?
Is God nudging you to make changes in your spending habits or the way you view money?
Do you have a noble plan for your finances that can serve as a comfort in these uncertain times?
Power Verses:
I Timothy 6:5, "People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction."
Proverbs 20:18a, "Make plans by seeking advice."
Optimism
OPTIMISM
by Charles R. Swindoll
Vision---the one essential ingredient for being an original in a day
of copies---gets lost, overwhelmed by the odds. Too bad! We start
focusing on the trouble. Then we start comparing the odds. The result is predictable:
We become intimidated and wind up defeated.
What is your challenge? Which giants make you feel like a grasshopper when you face them? What does your
future resemble when you measure it on the basis of facts and figures? You'd
like not to surrender, right? You'd like
to be courageous, wouldn't you? There is a way through, but you'll need one
essential quality---vision.
Vision is the ability to see God's presence, to perceive God's power, to focus
on God's plan in spite of the obstacles.
When you have vision it affects your attitude. Your attitude is optimistic
rather than pessimistic. Your attitude stays positive rather
than negative. Not foolishly positive, as though in fantasy, for you
are reading God into your circumstances. So when a situation comes
that cuts your feet out from under you, you don't throw up your arms and panic.
You don't give up. Instead, you say, "Lord, this is Your
moment. This is where You take charge.
You're in this."
This is nothing more than having a strong belief in the power of God; having confidence in others
around you who are in similar battles with
you; and, yes, having confidence in yourself, by the grace of God.
Refusing to give in to temptation, cynicism, and doubt. Not allowing
yourself to become a jaded individual. Belief in oneself is terribly important.
Determination is hanging tough when the going gets rough. I have no
magic wand to wave over your future and say, "All of a sudden
everything is going to fall into place." Vision requires determination,
a constant focus on God who is watching and smiling. Even in a world
that is negative and hostile. Even in a world where the majority says,
"We can't," you can. Trust God today. With eyes of faith, get back in
the game. Play it with great enthusiasm!
Heart Attacks and Drinking Warm Water
This is a very good article. Not only about the warm water after your meal, but about Heart Attacks. The Chinese and Japanese drink hot tea with their meals, not cold water, maybe it is time we adopt their drinking habit while eating.
For those who like to drink cold water, this article is applicable t o you. It is nice to have a cup of cold drink after a meal. However, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you have just consumed. It will slow down the digestion. Once this 'sludge' reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine. Very soon, this will turn into fats and lead to cancer. It is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal.
Common Symptoms Of Heart Attack....
A serious note about heart attacks - You should know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting. Be aware of intense pain in the jaw line.
You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack. Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms. 60% of people who have a heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up. Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know, the better chance we could survive.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Sunday, February 1, 2009
40 Tips for a Better Life
40 Tips for a Better Life - 2009
1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.
2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
3. Buy a DVR and tape your late night shows and get more sleep.
4. When you wake up in the morning complete the following
statement, 'My purpose is to __________ today.'
5. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.
6. Play more games and read more books than you did in 2008.
7. Make time to practice meditation and prayer. They provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives.
8. Spend time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6.
9. Dream more while you are awake.
10. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants. Eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
11. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.
12. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
13. Clear clutter from your house, your car, your desk and let new and flowing energy into your life.
14. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, or issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead
invest your energy in the positive present moment.
15. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime
16. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.
17. Smile and laugh more. It will keep the negative blues away.
18. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
20. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
21. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
22. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
23. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
24. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
25. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'
26. Forgive everyone for everything.
27. What other people think of you is none of your business.
28. Always remember that God can heal everything.
29. However good or bad a situation is, it will change
30. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
31. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
32. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
33. The best is yet to come.
34. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
35. Do the right thing!
36. Call your family often. (Or email them to death!!!)
37. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I am thankful for __________. Today I accomplished _________.
38. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.
39. Enjoy the ride. Remember this is not Disney World and you certainly don't want a fast pass. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it and enjoy the ride.
40. Please Forward this to everyone you care about. I just did.
Do what you can where you are with what you have.
