WHEN I SEE PEOPLE - I SEE STORIES

"Whatever we perceive in the world around us reflects who we are and what we care about most deeply, as in the old saying..... 'When a thief sees a saint, all he sees are his pockets."  --  Robert Frager (USA)

I find that quite intriguing and interestingly played in a gathering of humanoids whatever the occasion may be. On this particular day my daughter and I were at a fast-food store in a mall just some minutes away from the house. While my daughter was at the queue waiting for her turn to be served, I sat at our chosen table in a corner far from the maddening crowd. Noise of any kind is undoubtedly an irritant but unfortunately that word is synonymous to mall. So there!

And now for the people......

- a woman raised her eyebrows on seeing a lady walk past her table with an attractive LV bag in her arm
- an old man frowning at the misbehaving kids in the next table
- a middle-aged woman on seeing a young man sit at the table across hers slowly yet seriously slid her handbag down to her lap
- a man with silver hair smiled through his meal apparently enjoying his time and the crowd
- an old lady with a wistful look in her eyes gazing at the happy family two tables away
- a group of teenagers still in their school uniforms having fun at their table... while one of them smiles shyly while stealing glances at the cute boy sitting opposite her
- a middle-aged couple just sitting there while waiting for their order... not talking, not looking at each other, no spark in their eyes, zombies if you ask me
- and this woman with chin cupped in her hand and looking outside the door her thoughts seemingly far away

Ah yes, when I see people..... I see stories.
And then I write.

It's a big wide world out there -- What do you see? or how do you see it?

YOU CAN NEVER RUN SHORT OF DOING GOOD

If there is something you want to do, some good, but unfortunately for some reason or another beyond your control you can't. Don't lose heart. There is still something that you can do. And that is to . . . . let God.

I say -- 'LET GOD'! -- There can't be anything in this world, below or above it that can be greater than God. He reigns above all.

He can handle anything you may bring to His attention in prayer. Oh yes, He can handle anything. So don't make Him small in your mind or heart. He is a BIG GOD. We are puny creatures in His hands yet He considers us so special that He listens to us like a father dotes on his children. We are His children... no matter who we are or what we are warts and all. He knows... He understands... He is merciful... He always forgives... He cares... He loves.

Let God. Let Him be God in your life..... in other people's lives..... in that person's life you are praying for. Let God ... and the world of miracles will open up to you and to anyone you lead His light and grace to.

Let God.

God bless you all. Have a blessed day.

WORRY EMPTIES TODAY OF ITS STRENGTH

 

Life is such that it can be so wearying.. exhausting.. terrifying.. overwhelming and if you haven't learned to arm yourself against it... it will tear you down to pieces dash you to the ground quite easily. And that worries us. A lot! Indeed we worry about the slightest thing imagined or real that comes crashing through our doors. We steadily worry ourselves to unhappiness - sickness - desperation -- depression.. etc. etc. Geezz... writing about that already makes me feel so exhausted!

Here's a very nice piece I have found in my files last night. A nice one on Positive Energy written by arts4piece at MindSay, year 2006. Yes, I have kept it all of this time to serve as a reminder each time I'm feeling so worry wart-blue.

It may seem long but it's only about 300+ words... very important words. Take a few minutes to read it and you'll be glad you did. Some things no matter if we know them already need to be learned and relearned again and again.

To quote.....

      STOP THE WORRY TRAIN AND LET ME OFF!

"Energy is what runs this universe.....positive energy and negative energy.  The main energy source will bring to you the focus of your energy.  So, if finance is your area of need, focus on living in the lap of abundance.  Do not worry that there is no money for the car payment or next month's rent.  Put your positive energy into seeing the rent paid six months ahead, and "see" the clear car title in your hands.  The universe will give you the object of your focused energies.
 
Now, I'm not suggesting that you quit your job and sit back and focus positive thoughts on getting rich overnight.  Not the point at all.  But if you trust and believe that you are a child of God who created this vast universe, and who is the energy source for all that exists, and that your desires once released into the ether waves to be heard by all his emissaries, become the desires of the universal energy, you will learn to focus on what it is you DO want, not what you don't want.
 
Worry is a huge waste of energy.  It actually causes harm.  It is negative energy that mucks up the whole works.  You have so much power within you.....power to create just what it is you desire.  All you have to do is realize from whence that power comes, make a positive connection with it, believe in it, then trust in it, and start making it work for you.
 
Your thoughts are REAL, and they are just as powerful as hard physical labor.  If you think so long as you don't say negative hateful thoughts out loud, you've done no harm, you are not only fooling yourself, you are harming everyone. Negative thoughts actually lower the vibration of the universe.  Your thoughts are as real as the space where these words go when I push that "publish entry" button. 
 
Ever thought about that?  Where your words go when you do this blogging?  That same energy that takes your words where you want them to go takes your thoughts and stores them forever. 
 
Be mindful of your thought processes.  They carry great power."           

-- Unquote

God bless you!

SHINE WITH YOUR LIGHT

I liked this right after having stumbled upon it in a book recently. Just had to bring it here so that I could come back to it again and again. To quote -

"Everyone has inside of him a piece of good news. The good news is that you don't know how great you can be! How much you can love! What you can accomplish! And what your potential is!"  -- Anne Frank (Germany)

Unquote.

I think that's a good reminder of who we are. We are not meant to live mediocre lives but were meant to live outstanding lives. We are each given a talent by which God expects us to put to good use. And this putting to good use should not only benefit the self but should contribute to the well-being of the other or others. I think that is just what we are supposed to do.

We were designed for a life that should shine with who we are with our God-given talents. To shine does not necessarily have to mean being on the center stage of achievement or drama or grandiose trappings or show. That could be nice but isn't the only way. I believe that there are a diversity of ways to shine as there are many different talents God has poured upon each and every person.

Here's another quote I like too:

"We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully."  -- Romans 12:6-8

The trick I believe is to discover what yours is. Because truly you can be great, you can love amazingly, you can accomplish wonderful things, and you definitely have potential. That, incidentally, is by God's design.

So shine with your light.

MIRACLES EVERYDAY

-------------------
Thich Nhat Hanh (Vietnam) said this about miracles..............

"I like to walk alone on country paths, rice plants and wild grasses on both sides, putting each foot down on the earth in mindfulness, knowing that I walk on the wondrous earth. In such moments, existence is a miraculous and mysterious reality. People usually consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle. But I think the real miracle is....... to walk on earth. Everyday we are engaged in a miracle which we don't even recognize:  a blue sky, white clouds, green leaves, the black curious eyes of a child - our own two eyes. All is a miracle."  --     (Unquote)

Nothing more or much can be added to that. Oh but yes, one more thing if I may  ..... you, him, her, them, others more, and lil' ole me are miracles too! Looks like we got a lot to be thankful for to Someone up there. Let's start thanking. Miracles everyday.

Blessings everyone! Stay blessed. Be a blessing.

BELIEVE IN PRAYER

http://www.meetmeinthemeadow.com/2013/05/prayer-3/ 

Honestly, I'm a believer in prayer. It's not the traditional kind of prayer others may be expecting but it's one which my God and I share ... akin to a chat... heart to heart, mind to mind, like a child to a father --- a supreme all-knowing merciful forgiving loving Divine Father. Sometimes it may be just a sigh.. a tear.. a whisper.. a silent plea... an ardent please... or simply the stillness of the soul connecting to the Master. I remember long ago as a kid asking God to spank little Stephen because he broke my favorite toy (nagsusumbong). Or a happy simple grateful 'thank you, daddy'.

Try prayer, it works all the time. You can't have a better listener than God our Father. And how He answers!!! It can blow your mind away! Make prayer a habit. God simply waits to hear from you.

May God bless you with peace, joy, love, and faith.

MAKE TODAY COUNT

One day I woke up in the morning with this strange feeling of....    Ohhhh there's so much to do.... What am I doing! I should be doing this (or that) ..... Time flies; gotta hurry or I'll be running out of time ..... Nothing's happening - can you believe that?! Nothing's happening! .... This doesn't seem to work; so what will??!! .....

When I told my best friend about this on the phone, she simply brushed it aside in one clean sweep with this quote...........

"Think not of the amount to be accomplished, the difficulties to be overcome, but set earnestly at the little task near your elbow, letting that be sufficient for the day;  for surely our plain duty is not to see what lies dimly at a distance but to do what lies clearly at hand." ----- Lifted from  'A Way Of Life'. Sir William Osler's speech to the students of Yale University

But what put me back safe and sane on the ground once more was this precious wisdom I remembered from the Book.............

Jesus said...

"So don't worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will have its own worries. Each day has enough worries of its own."  ----- Matthew 6:34

So, people, the next time you get into this same kind of frenzy look into the mirror, take a deep breath, and say... 'Today is what you have...  tomorrow has yet to come. Make TODAY count.'   And swiftly shall  peace, love, and happiness be restored in your spirit.

Okay, folks, be seeing you around;  got this something to do in a bit. Small stuff but I think it would be great to do it. Bye for now. Blessings!