A deliberate refocussing …Be Thankful

Those that are thankless are blind to the many good things in their lives…

Sometimes it is because they have been hurt and wounded by life.

Some are so captured by the ‘tinsel’ of life, that they cannot appreciate the gold.

Some are trapped in a survival for existence, and their lives are days of endless toil.

Some do not want to look deeply into life and frantically seek distraction in work and endless entertainment.

Perhaps being thankful does not come naturally to us, we become complacent…

However,

We can CULTIVATE thankfulness, teach ourselves to see the reasons to be thankful each day.

Each new day to live, and love, is a gift from God, so let us be thankful.

 All that our eyes can see in nature, is created by God, so let us be thankful.

All new life is a promise filled with possibilities, so let us be thankful.

All pain and sorrow can build character, so let us be thankful.

Each person has in their soul the image of God, so let us be thankful.

Each failure is an unforgettable lesson in wisdom, so let us be thankful.

Each compassionate, loving act, makes God’s kingdom come, so let us be thankful.

Each departing soul leaves their mark upon this earth, so let us be thankful.

Each man, woman, child is precious in God’s sight, so let us be thankful.

God loved us so much that He came to earth to tell us of His love, so let us be thankful.

CHANGES TO IMPROVE OUR LIVES

These suggestions are guidelines to start our journey to keep improving the quality of our lives. It would be advisable to make the changes gradually. In this way you can assess the value of the change before proceeding to the next.

1. Developing a clear sense of purpose; meaningful roles and responsibilities.

2.  Discovering your unique talents. Be aware that social pressure can confuse you.

3.  Include physical exercise as a regular part of your day

4. Begin healthy sleep:

   4.1 Check your bedroom for possible irritants e.g. lighting, noise factors ventilation etc, “Good sleep cleans the body cells”

   4.2 Avoid naps in the day and have a regular bedtime.

   4.3 Stress management: Creatively deal with stressful issues early in the dayand develop a ‘plan of action’.

   4.4 Recognise that as we age our stress levels may increase which often are irrational.

   4.5 Check the side-effects of medications and/or supplements you are taking.

   4.6 Check your diet; be aware of any foods, drinks etc. that might be negatively affecting you. These can cause low-grade inflammation, for example - I was unaware for a long time that coffee was upsetting my liver.

   4.7 Include physical exercise as a regular part of your day.

   4.8 Be aware that inhaling/ingesting artificial substances has an effect.

   4.9 Note that social isolation can have detrimental effects.

   4.10 Include a healthy, enjoyable recreation into your lifestyle.

Add years to your life, and, life to your years!

AN INTERESTING EXPERIMENT

On the 12th January, 2007 a man who was dressed casually in a T-shirt and baseball cap played his violin in a Metro station in Washington DC. He played six Bach pieces during the morning rush hour. He played on his 1713 Stradivarius violin, valued at around $3.5 million. His name? Joshua Bell, a world-famous classical violinist. The event was organized by the Washington Post and aimed to assess whether commuters would recognize and appreciate his talent.

What happened?

A middle-aged man noticed there was a musician but did not stop…

A woman threw a dollar in his till without stopping…

A few minutes later, someone leaned against a wall to listen to him, but the man looked at his watch and started walking again. Clearly, he was late for work.

The one who paid the most attention was a three-year-old boy. His mother tugged him along, but he stopped to look at the violinist. Finally, the mother pushed hard, and the child continued to walk. This action was repeated by several other children. All parents, without exception, forced them to move on.

In the 45 minutes the musician played, only six people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money but continued to walk their normal pace. He collected $32. When he finished playing and silence took over, no-one noticed it. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition. Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua sold out at a theatre in Boston where the seats averaged $100.

A question for ourselves; Do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context? Are we too rushed to pause and “smell the roses?” Do we pause to question whether we judge too hastily? What are we missing?

We humans are fickle, for example, when Jesus came to Jerusalem many took off their coats and laid them before Him. However, only a few days later, Jesus was alone and nailed to a cross….. 

THREE EXERCISES FOR RELAXATION

So often we have unrecognised tension, however, there are ways to release stress and tension leaving us more equipped to deal positively with our lives.

1. CONTROLLED RELAXATION:

   a. Find a comfortable place where you can have an undisturbed ½ hour.

   b.    This exercise involves tensing and relaxing muscles:-

   Tense, hold, release muscles starting from your toes, then feet, ankles, calf muscles, upper leg, lower abdomen, chest area, hands, arms, shoulders, neck, face, and scalp.

   c. This is a slow exercise where you breathe deeply (one of two breaths) each time when you relax.

2. MINI HOLIDAY:

   For a few moments, perhaps when you are lying in bed trying to sleep, think of a place on earth, or even anywhere in the universe that you would love to visit. See yourself travelling there and arriving…look around at everything, take time to enjoy the scene...touch different things, feel them with your hands or feet, feel the warmth of coolness…smell the various aromas…hear the sounds, music, the sea, the birds… enjoy the moment!

3. BREATHING EXERCISE:

Breathe out  anything that is painful, negative, depressing, worrying, frustrating…

Breathe in everything that is beautiful, true, uplifting and precious…

Breathe in God’s love, peace and joy. Feel His presence….

THE HIDDEN PATH TO WISDOM

American psychologist the late James Hillman (writing as an agnostic) wrote these words (paraphrased): Think back, honestly and with courage, and ask yourself: What are the experiences in your life that have made you deep, that have given you character? In almost every case, you will have to admit that it was some humiliation or abuse you had to endure, some experience of powerlessness, helplessness, frustration, illness, or exclusion.

It is not the things that brought glory or adulation into your life that gave you depth and character, the time you were the valedictorian for your class or the time you were the star athlete. These did not bring you depth. Rather the experience of powerlessness, inferiority, is what made you wise.

We all know the incident in the Gospels where James and John come and ask whether they might be given the seats at his right hand and left hand when he comes into his glory. It is significant that he takes their question seriously. He does not (in this instance) chide them for seeking their own glory; what he does instead is redefine glory and the route to it.

Jesus asks them: “Can you drink the cup?” Mark 10:38. They, naïve as to what is being asked of them, responded: “Yes, we can!” Jesus then tells them something to which they are even more naïve. He assures them that they will drink the cup, since eventually everyone will, but tells them that they still might not receive the glory because being seated in glory is still contingent upon something else.

The cup, as is revealed later, is the cup of suffering and humiliation, the one Jesus has to drink during his passion and dying, the cup he asks his Father to spare him from when in Gethsemane he prays in agony: “Let this cup pass from me!”

In essence, what Jesus is telling James and John is this: There is no route to Easter Sunday except through Good Friday. There is no route to depth and wisdom except through suffering and humiliation.

[Ron Rolheiser posted in his blog https://tinyurl.com/2rmbm6tr]

TODAY’S EASTER HUMOUR

Light & classic one liners

Why did the Easter egg hide?
Because it was a little chicken.

What do you call a mischievous Easter egg?
A practical yolker.

Why shouldn’t you tell an Easter egg a joke?
It might crack up.

What kind of stories do Easter eggs tell?
Yolk tales.

The Chocolate Dilemma

A kid asks his mum, “Why do we get chocolate eggs at Easter?”
She says, “It’s a tradition—it represents new life.”
The kid pauses and says, “So… why am I eating all the evidence?”

The Ambitious Eggs

Two eggs are talking.
One says, “I’ve been working on myself—discipline, mindset, really pushing to be better.”
The other asks, “What’s the goal?”
He replies, “I’m trying to get promoted.”
“Promoted to what?”
“Eggs-ecutive level.”

The Honest Child

A child asks, “Why do we celebrate Easter with chocolate?”
The parent replies, “It’s a way to celebrate something meaningful with joy.”
The child thinks for a moment and says,
“So… we’ve turned a profound event into a sugar-based coping mechanism?”

The Experienced Bunny

A young bunny asks an older one, “What’s the secret to surviving Easter?”
The older bunny says, “Simple. Deliver the eggs, keep your head down, and don’t ask questions about how any of this actually works.”

PRACTICAL COMMANDMENTS

1. You shall not worry for worry is the most unproductive of all human activities.

2. You shall not be fearful, for most of the things we fear never come to pass.

3. You shall not carry grudges, for they are the heaviest of all life’s burdens.

4. You shall face each day as it comes. You can only handle one day at a time anyway.

5. You shall not take problems to bed with you, for they make very poor bedfellows.

6. You shall not borrow other people’s problems. They can better care for them than you.

7. You shall not try to relive yesterday for good or ill; it is forever gone. Concentrate what is happening in your life and be happy now!

8. You shall be a good listener, for only when you listen do you hear ideas different from your own,

9. You shall not become “bogged down” by frustrations, for 90% of it is rooted in self-pity and will only interfere with positive action.

10. You shall count all your blessings, not overlooking the small ones.

(From the book “A Bucket of Surprises” by J.John & Mark Stibble)

HOW TO HANDLE ANGER

 HOW WE RESPOND TO ANGER, AND A BETTER WAY TO HANDLE IT…

 1.      We suppress/repress anger:

To suppress anger, we ignore our feelings saying, “I’m not angry!”  This is like putting it into a barrel that will eventually explode. 0r, we are aware of our feelings, and we try and contain ourselves by pushing it under the surface. 

Refusing to accept that we are angry, when we, actually are, is not healthy. John Powell says, “When I repress my emotions my stomach keeps score.”

Dr William Menniger writes: “Sometimes we push each other away and the problem between us festers and festers. Just as in surgery, free and adequate drainage is essential if healing is to take place.”

 2.      We incorrectly express our anger:

Anger is a strong emotion, and it needs to be expressed in some way. Expressing anger with violent passion, yelling, sharp words and high emotions may get results, however, the outcome is not positive.
Concentrating on ‘scoring’ points against someone.
Blaming the other person (as loudly as you can).
Walk out and feel sorry for yourself.

3.      We correctly confess our anger:

Be in touch with your own emotional state. Admit that you are angry before it gets out of control. There is no shame in that, only gain. Anger is a normal human reaction, but it is important how we correctly handle our anger.

 Consider what the actual reason is behind the feeling. Is it something personal that you are struggling with?  Is it a relationship issue? Is it a new issue, or a reoccurring scenario? Does it have its roots in a situational/circumstantial cause? E.g. loss of sleep through worry, a new-born irregular hour, or an unresolved issue of concern?

A good Bible teaching is this; “In your anger do not sin; when you are in your beds, search your hearts and be silent” (Psalm 4:4)

Our anger is a gift, an alert signal, a way to resolve, or prevent, a negative in our lives.

Oscar Romera

“Give generously to them and so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.” (Deuteronomy 15:10)

The transcendence that the church preaches is not alienation, it is not going to heaven to think about eternal life and forget about the problems on earth. It’s transcendence from the human heart. It is entering into the reality of a child, of the poor, of those wearing rags, of the sick, of a hovel, of a shack.

It is going to share with them. And from the very heart of misery, of this situation, to transcend it, to elevate it, and to say to them, “You aren’t trash. You aren’t marginalized.” It is to say exactly the opposite, “You are valuable.”

Oscar Romera

Who was Oscar Romera?

St. Oscar Romero (born in 1917) was a Salvadoran Roman Catholic archbishop who was a vocal critic of the violent activities of the government armed forces, right-wing groups, and leftist guerrillas involved in El Salvador’s civil conflict. Although Romero had been considered a conservative before his appointment as archbishop in 1977, he denounced the regime of dictator Gen. Carlos Humberto Romero (no relation). The archbishop also refused to support the right-wing military-civilian junta that replaced the deposed dictator. Further, his outspoken defence of the poor—who were powerless victims of widespread violence—brought repeated threats to his life. In the face of those threats, Romero declared his readiness to sacrifice his life for the “redemption and resurrection” of El Salvador. His unreserved advocacy for human rights made him a hero to many, and he was nominated for the 1979 Nobel Prize for Peace by several U.S. congressmen and 118 members of the British Parliament. The following year Romero was assassinated on the 24th March,1980 at the hands of an unknown assailant while saying mass. The “Truth Commission for El Salvador”, approved by the United Nations, later concluded that Romero’s death had been carried out by a right-wing death squad. During his funeral a bomb or bombs went off outside the Metropolitan Cathedral of San Salvador, where tens of thousands of mourners were gathered at what has been considered one of the largest demonstrations in the country’s history. Gunfire then rained down on the panic-stricken crowd, leaving an estimated 27 to 40 people dead and more than 200 wounded from the violence and subsequent stampede. (Britannica)

My comment: human beings are capable of the highest good and the worst atrocities…

DISCOVERING WHO YOU ARE

By   Maurice Boyd 

Searching questions that reveal your character: -

1. If you could have an autograph, whose would it be?
   Who are your hero’s?
   If you could have tea with someone who would that be?   

2. What are the important things to know about somebody else?

3.  If you could write your own epitaph, what would it be?

4.  If your last words were to be remembered, what would they be?

5. What is the quality of your anger? Your tears? Your loneliness?

6. What is the quality of your moral indignation?
   (Martin Luther- “When I am angry, I pray and preach well”)

7. If you had three wishes, what would you wish for?

8. That are the hungers of your heart?
   (Prayer refines our desire, the very nature of Jesus stops us asking certain things)

9. What is it you rather die than do?

10. What are your incentives for living?

11. What is your favourite text in the bible?

12. What do you personify? What have you become?
    (Jesus – He did not preach the Kingdom, He was the kingdom)

Each of us are unique and wonderfully made. However, often in our lives we focus on the negatives more than celebrating the positives. So, take some time to celebrate who you are, and celebrate the uniqueness of others!

THE LAST WISHES OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT

On his death bed, Alexander summoned his generals and told them his three ultimate wishes:

1. The best doctors should carry his coffin:

2. The wealth he has accumulated (money, gold, precious stones) should be scattered along the procession to the cemetery, and

3. His hands should be let loose, hanging outside the coffin for all to see.

One of his generals who was surprised by these unusual requests asked Alexander to explain.

Here is what Alexander the Great has to say:

1. I want the best doctors to carry my coffin to demonstrate that, in the face of death, even the best doctors in the world have no power to heal

2. I want the road to be covered with my treasure so that everybody sees that material wealth acquired on earth, stays on earth

3. I want my hands to swing in the wind, so that people understand that we come to this world empty handed and we leave this world empty handed after the most precious treasure of all is exhausted, and that is time.

TIME is our most precious treasure because it is LIMITED.
We can produce more wealth, but we cannot produce more time.

When we give someone our time, we actually give a portion of our life that we will never take back.

Our time is our life.

May God grant us plenty of TIME and may we have the wisdom to give it away.

‘There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven’ (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

TODAYS HUMOUR

CHURCH LADIES WITH TYPEWRITERS
They're Back! Those wonderful Church Bulletins! Thank God for the church ladies with typewriters. These sentences actually appeared in church bulletins or were announced at church services:

• The Fasting & Prayer Conference includes meals.

• Scouts are saving aluminium cans, bottles and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.

• The sermon this morning: “Jesus Walks on the Water.”
  The sermon tonight: “Searching for Jesus.”

• Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your husbands.

• Don't let worry kill you off - let the Church help.

• Miss Charlene Mason sang “I will not pass this way again”, giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.

• For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs.

• Next Thursday there will be try-outs for the choir. They need all the help they can get.

• Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days.

• A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow…

• At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be 'What Is Hell?' Come early and listen to our choir practice.

• Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered.

• The church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment and gracious hostility.

• Pot-luck supper Sunday at 5:00 PM - prayer and medication to follow.

• The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon.

• Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 PM . Please use the back door.

• Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church. Please use large double door at the side entrance.
  

LIFE STAGES

(A quote from William Shakespeare’s play “As you like it”)

All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts,

His acts being seven ages. At first the infant,
Muling and puking in the nurse’s arms,..

Then the whining school-boy, with his satchel,
And shining morning face,
Creeping like a snail
Unwillingly to school.

And then the lover,
Sighing like a furnace, with woeful ballard
Made to his mistress’ eyebrow.

Then a soldier,
Full of strange oaths and bearded like a pard,
Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel,
Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the canon’s mouth.

And then the justice.
In fair round belly, with good capon lin’d,
With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,
Full of wise saws and modern instance;
And so he plays his part. 

The sixth age shifts
Into the lean and slippered pantaloon,
With spectacles on nose and pouch on side;
His youthful hose, well sav’d a world too wide
For his shrunk shank, and his big manly voice,
Turn again towards childish treble, pipes
And whistles in his sound.

Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
In second childishness and mere oblivion,
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans.. Everything.

A challenge…. Write a poem/story of your own life journey 😊

 Mine would start like this: “There was a girl named Margaret Ann, but everyone called her Margie. She lived in a small town called Waterfall Boven (meaning town above the waterfall)…. Etc. 

CHILDREN LEARN WHAT THEY LIVE

If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.
If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.
If children live with ridicule, they learn to be shy.
If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.
If children live with tolerance, they learn to be patient.
If children live with encouragement, they gain confidence.
If children live with praise, they learn to appreciate.
If children live with fairness, they learn justice.
If children live with security, hey learn to have faith.
If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.
If children live with acceptance and friendship, they learn to find love in the world.

THE DESPISED

Today we come to you, Lord, we, the despised. We are not a sorry procession, but a repugnant one. We do not even arouse compassion or hatred, tenderness or sympathy. We are simply despised; we disgust people. The leper arouses compassion. The fiercest criminal stirs up hatred or terror. The mentally ill or retarded inspire pity or protectiveness. But there is no place reserved for us in the Catalogue of the works of mercy.

I, Lord, am a drug addict; for all practical purposes, I have resigned from the human race. I have lost all hope of gaining my self-control, of becoming myself again. There are other people who have not drugged, not their bodies, but their consciences and hearts. But nobody despises them. At worst they are feared.

I, Lord, am a homosexual. I don’t like women. Now and then, I go with another man. I commit fewer sins than my brother who certainly does like women and who even takes up with other men’s wives. But no one at home or outside turns their noses up at him; they don’t find him repugnant; on the contrary they even seem to admire him. But everyone, both men and women, shy away from me. And I am acceptable  only to someone, like me, also feels that he is cast out of normal society.

I, Lord, am a drunkard, but a poor one. I’ve been on the bottle for many years. They don’t want me at home because they are ashamed of me, so I am left to stagger around the streets like a sick dog. When people see me coming, they hastily cross to the other side of the street. Even a beggar occasionally has the consolation of having someone approach him and, although hurriedly, put a small coin in his hand, which, as you yourself have told us, is also in your hand. But nobody comes near me; except perhaps a policeman to hustle me off to jail. Yet, Lord, there are others who also get drunk but they do it at exclusive parties in the suburbs and, because they are influential, people only laugh good-naturedly at their drunken antics. They are readily forgiven and, if necessary, excuses are found for them by their hangers-on, who cover up for them. No policeman ever lays a finger o them. I wonder- am I more repugnant when drunk than they are, just because I get loaded on cheap wine, while they do it on expensive whiskey, vodka and gin?

I, Lord, am a prostitute. I can’t claim to be one of the girls, not any more. Because now I’m old and fat and tired. I have no one now to pay the rent of an apartment for me and buy me nice things. I am the one of those who have to be satisfied with what the “customers” feel like giving them. I no longer have a nice apartment to entertain my clients in, and I don’t have money to advertise in the newspaper as a “masseuse”. I have to be satisfied with hanging around cheap bars in the slims or on the street corners in the cold and the rain, hoping that some poor wretch will be willing to pay  me a few coins for the remnants of my favours. People passing in their cars look down their noses at me and quickly turn away so as not to meet my eyes. I am despised even by the high-class girls who, glittering with jewels and wrapped in furs, glide by in cars driven by their so-very-respectable “patrons”.

We and so many others whom society does not even pity; we the despised of the earth, who arouse neither hatred not even pity; we are the despised of the earth, who arouse neither hatred nor pity nor fear, but only disgust, today we come to you, who are sinless, because we believe that, if you exist, you will not despise but will even forgive us.

We aren’t trying to hide or make excuses for the sins that have caused us to be cast off by society. We only hope that perhaps you, who not only forgive but also excuse, will be able to avoid humiliating us further and to tell us, as you once told the man possessed by the devil, that saving us will let others see your glory and mercy in us. Remember, you said you came to  save what was lost. And who is more lost than we who do not even arouse pity? Sometimes a ray of hope lets us dream for a moment that perhaps you may bring yourself to love even us.

“The Fount Book of Prayer” edited by Robert van de Weyer. HarperCollins Publisher.(Harper Collins Religious) Great Britain. 1993 

AT THE START OF EACH DAY

As I wake, I will give thanks for a new day; my yesterdays are gone, and I need to let them go.

I will endeavour this day to live a simple, sincere, and serene life, promptly repelling every negative thought.

 I will ensure that I spend time in quiet contemplation, dealing with the issues on my heart, mind and soul.

I will endeavour to be peaceful, cheerful, loving and understanding to all I meet.

I will care for my body (correct eating, diet, exercise...), my mind (study, reading, writing, podcasts, discussions, lectures, ...), my soul (worship, meditation, prayer…)

I will be mindful of how I use my money; wisdom in saving, expenditure and giving.

I will endeavour to be trustworthy in all I do.

I will be ever mindful of the needs of others, recognizing that we belong to the human race and each person; regardless of colour, creed, status, nationality, is of infinite value.

I will try to be faithful in those habits of prayer, work, study, physical exercise, eating, and sleep which the Holy Spirit has shown me to be right.

And as I cannot in my own strength do this, nor even with a hope of success attempt it, I look to You O Lord God; my Father, Jesus my Saviour and ask for the gift of the Holy Spirit to guide me.       

WHEN LOVE COMES LOOKING FOR YOU.

Valentine’s Day isn’t just about romance—it’s about love that pursues, forgives, and restores. Discover a story that reflects the relentless, welcoming love of our Heavenly Father.

What emotions does Valentine’s Day stir within you? Is it a sense of grieving lost relationships, failures in your love life? Perhaps that you have not yet had a close relationship? Or do you feel a sense of security, and, joy in your present relationship?

Whatever your situation, let this day be a reminder that you are deeply known and unconditionally loved by the One who created love itself.

I found this moving story by Max Lucardo very telling, of a mother in Brazil whose tireless search for her daughter mirrors the very heart of God.

Christina an 18-year-old beautiful young lady, who lived in a small village wanted to see the world. She dreamed of a better life in the city. One morning she slipped away, breaking her mother’s heart. Knowing what life on the streets would be like for her young, attractive daughter, Maria hurriedly packed to go find her.

On her way to the bus stop she entered a drugstore to get one last thing. Pictures. She sat in the photograph booth, closed the curtain, and spent all she could on pictures of herself. With her purse full of small black-and-white photos, she boarded the next bus to the city.

Maria began her search in bars, hotels, and nightclubs, any place with a bad reputation. She went to them all. And at each place she left her picture—taped on a bathroom mirror, tacked to a hotel bulletin board, fastened to a corner phone booth. And on the back of each photo she wrote a note.

Both the money and the pictures ran out, and Maria had to go home. It was a few weeks later that young Christina descended the hotel stairs. Her young face was tired. Her brown eyes no longer danced with youth but spoke of pain and fear. Her laughter was broken. Her dream had become a nightmare.

As she reached the bottom of the stairs, her eyes noticed a familiar face. She looked again, and there on the lobby mirror was a small picture of her mother.

Christina’s eyes burned and her throat tightened as she walked across the room and removed the small photo. Written on the back was this compelling invitation.

“WHATEVER YOU HAVE DONE, WHATEVER YOU HAVE BECOME, IT DOESN’T MATTER. PLEASE COME HOME.”

This is our heavenly Father’s love, reaching out to the world, no one excluded.

Let this Valentines Day be a reminder that you are deeply known and unconditionally loved by the One who created love itself.

May I encourage you on this Valentine's Day, to set aside time for a 'date' with God. Have a deep conversation with Him through prayer, meditate on His Word and let His love fill your heart.

TODAYS JOKES

• What did the flame say to his buddies after he fell in love?
  “I found the perfect match!”

• Did you hear about the bedbugs who fell in love?
  They’re getting married in the spring.

• How did the phone propose to his girlfriend on Valentine’s Day?
  He gave her a ring.

• Where do all the hamburgers take their dates on Valentine’s Day?
  To a meatball. 

• What did one plate say to the other on Valentine’s Day?
  “Tonight, dinner’s on me.

• ”Did you hear about the two radios that got married?
  The reception was amazing

• Did you hear about the spider wedding?
  They’re newlywebs.

• What did the bat say to his girlfriend?
  “You’re fun to hang around with.”

• Why did the skeleton break up with his girlfriend before Valentine’s Day?
  Her heart wasn’t in it.

EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE

1. DEFINITION: Able to recognize, understand, and manage emotions in self and others” (positivepsychology.com)  

2. SELF-AWARENESS: How aware am I of myself; my joys, what I like, what I dislike, my loves, my hates and my fears?  Am I aware of my ‘crumple buttons’, and  what  the reasons are for these sensitivities?

3. How good am I at SELF-REGULATION?  Managing my internal states, impulses, my financial resources, my physical well-being, behaviour patterns?

4. MOTIVATION: What guides my thinking, my hopes, my dreams, my decisions?

5. If I lack motivation, what has caused this in my life?

6. SOCIAL SKILLS: Clear communication, ability to listen empathically, sensitivity to the needs of others, observing etiquette in different situations, and assisting others to feel at ease.

7. TEAM CAPABILITIES: Perceptive of group dynamics, individual needs and struggles, creating group synergy in pursuing collective goals.
   

   What can I do to improve my emotional intelligence?

FORGIVE THEM ANYWAY

• People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centred. 
  Forgive them anyway. 

• If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
  Be kind anyway.

• If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies.
  Succeed anyway.

• If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you.
  Be honest and sincere anyway.

• What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.
  Create anyway.

• If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.
  Be happy anyway.

• The good you do today, will often be forgotten.
  Do good anyway.

• Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.
  Give your best anyway.

• In the final analysis, it is between you and God.
  It was never between you and them anyway.
  

  This version is credited to Mother Theresa – was found written on the wall in Mother Teresa’s home for children in Calcutta. Based on the “The Paradoxical Commandments” by Dr. Kent M. Keith.

         (Quoted from Karin Stathakis’s booklet “A Labyrinth of Prayers, Poems, Prose and Promise”)