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ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER

Ever wonder about the abbreviation A.S.A.P.? Generally we think of it in terms of even more hurry and stress in our lives.  If we think of this abbreviation in a different manner, we may begin to find a new way to deal with our rough times.

There's work to do, deadlines to meet.
You have no time to spare.
But as you hurry and scurry...
A.S.A.P. - ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER

In the midst of family chaos,
"quality time" is rare.
Do your best; let God do the rest.
A.S.A.P. - ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER.

It may seem like your worries
Are more than you can bear.
Slow down and take a breather...
A.S.A.P. - ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER

God knows how stressful life can be,
and He wants to ease your cares,
 He'll respond to all your needs...
A.S.A.P. - ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER.

NOT SO BAD

Things are never quite as bad as they appear to be– When you’re in a cheerless mood no brightness can you see… Nothing’s quite so hopeless as at first it seems to you– Wait before you take the pessimistic point of view.

Skies aren’t quite as black as clouds would lead you to suppose. At the edges there are patches where the silver glows. No load is as heavy as it looks to weary eyes– Once set squarely on the back it seems to shrink in size.

Life is never half as hard as grumblers make it out. There is always something good to make a song about– something to be grateful for whatever be your plight. There’s no cross that can’t be carried if the heart is light.

IT'S TRUE

It’s true that Winter ends in Spring and brings the new-born flowers– It’s true that Summer follows with its sunny golden hours– It’s true that roses bloom in June to make our gardens more than grey– It’s true that birds make melodies upon the leafy spray...it’s true that in the hush of dawn the lawn is dew-impearled– It’s true that God has given us the beauty of this world – This wonderland of hills and streams, of mountains, woods and vales – These things are real – not fabled wonders of old fairy tales...It’s that you will meet your love no matter where you stray – It’s true that Love can never die though all things pass away...No matter if the storm clouds come to dim  the radiant light– God’s in His heaven-all is well– why fear the darkest night?- You cannot slip from out His grasp – His love is set on you – the evidence is all around – Believe it – for it’s true.

GOD'S BOXES

I have in my hands two boxes
Which God gave me to hold.
He said, "Put all your sorrows in the black box,
And all your joys in the gold."

I heeded His words, and in the two boxes
Both my joys and sorrows I stored.
But though the gold became heavier each day
The black was as light as before.

With curiosity, I opened the black,
I wanted to find out why,
And I saw, in the base of the box, a hole
Which my sorrows had fallen out by.

I showed the hole to God, and mused aloud,
"I wonder where my sorrows could be."
He smiled a gentle smile and said,
"My child, they're all here with me."

I asked God, why He gave me the boxes,
Why the gold, and the black with the hole?
"My child, the gold is for you to count your blessings,
The black is for you to let go."

FOOTPRINTS

One night a man had a dream.  He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life.

For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand; one belonging to him, and the other to the LORD.

When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand.

He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life.

This really bothered him, and he questioned the LORD about it.

“LORD, you said that once I decided to follow you, you’d walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don’t understand why when I needed you most you would leave me.”

The LORD replied, “My precious, precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.”

PASS THE GLASS ON

A lecturer was giving a lecture to his students on stress management. He raised a glass of water and asked the audience, "How heavy do you think this glass of water is?" The students' answers ranged from 20g to 500g.

"It does not matter which the absolute weight is, it depends on how long you hold it. If I hold it for a minute, it is OK. If I hold it for an hour, I will have an ache in my arm. If I hold it for a day, you will have to call an ambulance. for me it is the exact same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it seems to become."

"If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, we will not be able to carry on, the burden becoming increasingly heavier."

"What you have to do is to pass the glass in to God's hands.

"We have to give God our burden , so that we can be refreshed and are able to carry on. So before you return home from work tonight, give him the burden of your work. Don't carry it back home. Whatever burden you are having now, put it on God's shoulders rather than yours.

"Do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own" (Matt 6:34)