by Inspiration | Oct 17, 2024 | Attitude, Archives
Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow There are two days in every week about which we should not worry. Two days which should be kept free from fear and apprehension. One of these… Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow There are two days in every week about which we should not worry. Two days which should be kept free from fear and apprehension. One of these days is yesterday with its mistakes and cares, Its faults and blunders, Its aches and pains. Yesterday has passed forever beyond our control. All the money in the world cannot bring back yesterday. We cannot undo a single act we performed. We cannot erase a single word we said. Yesterday is gone. The other day we should not worry about is tomorrow. With its possible adversities, Its burdens, Its large promise and poor performance. Tomorrow is also beyond our immediate control. Tomorrow’s Sun will rise, either in splendor or behind a mask of clouds, but it will rise. Until it does, we have no stake in tomorrow, for it is yet unborn. This just leaves only one day… Today. Any person can fight the battles of just one day. It is only when you and I add the burdens of those two awful eternity’s – yesterday and tomorrow that we break down. It is not the experience of today that
;
by Inspiration | Oct 16, 2024 | Spiritual Growth, Archives
The Lonely Ember Story A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the pastor decided to visit him. It… The Lonely Ember Story A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the pastor decided to visit him. It was a chilly evening. The pastor found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his pastor’s visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a big chair near the fireplace and waited. The pastor made himself comfortable but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the play of the flames around the burning logs. After some minutes, the pastor took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone. Then he sat back in his chair, still silent. The host watched all this in quiet fascination. As the one lone ember’s flame diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and “dead as a doornail.” Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. Just before the pastor was ready to leave, he picked up the cold, dead ember and
;
by Inspiration | Oct 15, 2024 | Inspiration, Archives
Has anyone told you lately that you are truly amazing? Probably not unless you are one of the very blessed few who have at least one powerful encourager in your… Has anyone told you lately that you are truly amazing? Probably not unless you are one of the very blessed few who have at least one powerful encourager in your life that truly does care about you. I was 6 feet tall when I was in the 7th grade. I weighed all of 140 lbs. Skinny doesn’t begin to describe it. Toothpick would come a little closer. With the unruly and wiry hair that I tried to grow long and fight to keep straight, most of my friends called me ‘Q-tip.’ You can imagine how that did wonders for my self-esteem. Yeah, not much. I was reminded by my father that I wasn’t planned when I was born. I guess not. Three kids in LESS THAN three years. My brother was two years old, about to turn three. My sister was one year old, nine days before she turned two. My father suffered most of his life with what we now know as bipolar disorder. Major moods swings and a plethora of attitudes that did not serve in my best interest (or anyone else’s for that matter.) He constantly reminded
;
by Inspiration | Oct 14, 2024 | Relationship, Archives
Are You a Bucket-Filler or a Dipper? You have heard of the cup that overflowed. This is a story of a bucket that is like the cup, only larger, it… Are You a Bucket-Filler or a Dipper? You have heard of the cup that overflowed. This is a story of a bucket that is like the cup, only larger, it is an invisible bucket. Everyone has one. It determines how we feel about ourselves, about others, and how we get along with people. Have you ever experienced a series of very favorable things which made you want to be good to people for a week? At that time, your bucket was full. A bucket can be filled by a lot of things that happen. When a person speaks to you, recognizing you as a human being, your bucket is filled a little. Even more, if he calls you by name, especially if it is the name you like to be called. If he compliments you on your dress or on a job well done, the level in your bucket goes up still higher. There must be a million ways to raise the level in another’s bucket. Writing a friendly letter, remembering something that is special to him, knowing the names of his children, expressing sympathy for his loss, giving him
;
by Inspiration | Oct 13, 2024 | Relationship, Archives
The Room Filled I ran home from school, stomped up the worn wooden steps, slammed open the front door and yelled, “Mum! Mum, I’m home!” “Michael, I’m right here!” Mum… The Room Filled I ran home from school, stomped up the worn wooden steps, slammed open the front door and yelled, “Mum! Mum, I’m home!” “Michael, I’m right here!” Mum appeared around the corner. “Stop yelling. What if your father had been sleeping? You know he works nights.” “Sorry, Mum,” I mumbled and hung my head in shame. “I didn’t mean to yell.” “If you had woken him, you know how mad he would have been.” “I just wanted to show you my spelling test.” I handed her my test. “I got a gold star.” “You got another one?” She smiled. “Good for you! You always study so hard, but you have to remember not to yell when you come in the house.” “I know, Mum, but I was excited and wanted to show you.” I lied. Dad drank a lot. If he had too much, he’d argue with Mum. I was afraid she’d leave. My two older brothers and I would be alone with him. What if I came home and she was gone? It was a fear I lived with most of my childhood. I needed to know
;
