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beensetfree

Alfrescian (InfP)
Generous Asset
What Life Can Throw at You!

It is unbelievable what life can throw at you!

All my life I have grown up believing that life was fair and
beautiful. I had the best parents in the world. They are still
together after 57 years. What an inspiration!

The reason I am writing this is to let people know they could
always be worse off.

I am a married woman with three grown children.
My oldest son has AIDS.
I can't except it.
I can't let go and let God.

My other son has been bi-polar and takes heavy doses of meds
every day to keep him normal. He must be monitored daily.
He lives a block away in a place where they have apartments for
the disabled.

My youngest and only girl is a "drug addict."
She can't see her way out.

I pray for all of them every day. The pain is like no other
that I can describe. I ask myself, "What did I do wrong? Am I being punished? Why would God make all my children sick?"


It has taken its toll on my health, mentally and physically.
I have people tell me miracles happen. I don't believe that.

Why has God chosen me for all this heartache? They all live
close by and count on me for everything. All I do is cry and
cry. I have been married to their stepfather for 25 years.
He gives me no emotional support whatsoever. I read the Bible
daily and pray daily to keep HOPE. I will lie in bed all day
wishing I could make things better for them or I wish it was me
and not my children.

My question is... Why Me?

How can one person handle this alone?
I have no friends and do not belong to any church.
I do believe in God, but where is He?
I try to count my blessings, but can't seem to think of any.

Please pray for my children and me.

The reason I am writing this is to let people know they could
always be worse off.
 

beensetfree

Alfrescian (InfP)
Generous Asset
The Six-Letter Word


I was taught a lesson that just six simple letters could make a
difference.

Those six letters made the word - SILENT.

Those letters when rearranged also spell the word - LISTEN.

I never truly understood that until the day I stood silent and
learned there was more to life than everyday living.

When you don't take the time to listen and be silent then
everything is easily taken for granted.

The things I wasn't silent for and listened for, I now miss the
most.

A simple I love you from my children.

The request of a loved one that I was too busy for at the time.

Little did I know, that if I stayed quiet and savored things,
I could have imprinted their voices in my mind and made memories
that would have lasted.

The one thing I always will be thankful for is that I learned my
lesson and heeded the call. But also that God truly is silent
and listened for my every need, but in return if I'm silent,
I can also hear from Him.
 

beensetfree

Alfrescian (InfP)
Generous Asset
Today's Forecast

Due to some underhanded situations at work, I lost my job.

I had to refer to my favorite scripture that says,
"Weeping may endure for a night, but joy will come in the
morning." So 3:00am the morning after I received my termination
notice, I began to write this...

Today's Forecast

Awakened from a slumber, you rise and pray,
"Lord let today be better than yesterday."

For yesterday brought humidity, clouds, and/or rain,
Some were clear, others brought with them pain.

Humidity where situations to handle alone were just too hot,
Yet you wrestled with the idea of giving them to God or not.

Storm clouds are going to rise, that's nothing, we can get by,
The only way through them is by giving God a try.

Rain will fall; it's not unusual that it may last long.
Don't forget, trials come only to make you strong.

To God always remain true,
Remember Kin g David said, "Cast all your cares upon the Lord
For He cares for you."

Humidity, clouds, and/or rain, sun, snow or dew,
What will today's forecast be for you?
 

always1600

Alfrescian
Loyal
tualingong said:
Dear always1600,

You have received an infraction at Sam's Alfresco Coffee.

Reason: Displaying excessive ignorance and/or stupid

How is that consider dumb? Reciting these words calm your trouble mind n help u straighten your thought that enable u a better option in life. What is yr problem?? Don't tualingong here, come in w a solution.
 

beensetfree

Alfrescian (InfP)
Generous Asset
Another Viewpoint


Sometimes, all it takes is to look at things from another point
of view.

When my ex and I had separated for the last time, I just about
had a breakdown.

A friend of mine asked me, "Why did you keep taking him back and
letting your mom take care of your girl?"

I thought I was protecting her from the drinking and cussing and
things that went on in that environment.

She just said, "Did you ever think that if it is not good enough
for your daughter, then it is not good enough for you?"

I had never thought of it in that light.

Once I did, I had no problem giving him up and getting on with
my life.

Another moment was when I was sick and had to have a kidney
transplant. The kidney was damaged when they put it in me and
it almost didn't work. I kept a positive attitude and kept
thinking, "Surely God did not let me go through all of this just
to lose the kidney."

I went back on dialysis for a couple of months, but it kicked in
just when they had given up hope and was going to let me lose
it.

Thank God, I had an optimistic doctor who wouldn't give up on me
and I had a positive attitude.

The doctors by the way, after it was all over with, said that
they would not have given two cents for the kidney they had
given me at the time.

Just goes to show what positive attitude and a different
viewpoint can do for a person.

A lot of people were asking "Why" did that happen to me?

I just said, "Cause I can handle it."
 

beensetfree

Alfrescian (InfP)
Generous Asset
More Faith

God has more faith in you than you do in yourself.

You know what's ON you.
He knows what's IN you.

You know the weight you carry.
He knows your strength.

You know your pain.
He knows where your healing is.

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD.
"They are plans for good and not for disaster,
to give you a future and a hope." (Jer 29:11 NLT)
 

beensetfree

Alfrescian (InfP)
Generous Asset
You Never Know

A few years ago in downtown Denver, my friend, Scott, and I saw
something tiny and insignificant that changed the world, but no
one else even seemed to notice.

It was one of those beautiful Denver days. Crystal clear, no
humidity, not a cloud in the sky. We decided to walk the ten
blocks to an outdoor restaurant rather than take the shuttle bus
that runs up and down the Sixteenth Street Mall. The restaurant,
in the shape of a baseball diamond, was called The Blake Street
Baseball Club. The tables were set appropriately on the grass
infield. Many Colorful pennants and flags hung limply overhead.

As we sat outside, the sun continued to beat down on us and it
became increasingly hot. There wasn't a hint of a breeze, and
heat radiated up from the tabletop. Nothing moved, except the
waiters, of course. And they didn't move very f ast either.

After lunch, Scott and I started to walk back up the mall. We
both noticed a mother and her young daughter walking out of a
card shop toward the street. She was holding her daughter by
the hand while reading a greeting card. It was immediately
apparent to us that she was so engrossed in the card that she
did not notice a shuttle bus moving toward her at a good clip.
She and her daughter were one step away from disaster when Scott
started to yell.

He hadn't even gotten a word out when a breeze blew the card out
of her hand and over her shoulder. She spun around and grabbed
at the card, nearly knocking her daughter over. By the time she
picked up the card from the ground and turned back around to
cross the street, the shuttle bus had whizzed by her. She never
even knew what almost happened.

To this day, two things continue to perplex me about this event:
Where did that one s purt of wind come from to blow the card out
of that young mother's hand? There had not been a whisper of
wind at lunch or during our long walk back up the mall.
Secondly, if Scott had been able to get his words out, the young
mother might have looked up at us as they continued to walk into
the bus.

It was the wind that made her turn back to the card in the one
direction that saved her life and that of her daughter. The
passing bus did not create the wind. On the contrary, the wind
came from the opposite direction. I have no doubt it was a
breath from God protecting them both.

But the awesomeness of this miracle is that she never knew. As
we continued back to work, I wondered how God often acts in our
lives without our being aware. The difference between life and
death can very well be a little thing.
 

beensetfree

Alfrescian (InfP)
Generous Asset
Who You Are

I find myself on the downhill slide of yet another trial in my
life where confusion seemed to be the only thing I was sure of.

Who, what, why, when, how, and how long were the questions I
didn't have answers for.

Last night, I sat quietly and instead of asking,
I just listened.

God whispered to me.

Who I am is a child of His.

What I am is a wife and mother.

Why is something we can only figure out as we go along.
When is always and can never be more than right here and right
now (live for today).

How is only with His help, and how long depends mostly on us.

He explained to me that I am who and what I am
(don't try to be any more or any less) therefore I need to do
and be the best that I can at all times.

I get discouraged,
but I also have the ability to inspire and be inspired.

I become sad sometimes,
but I can also experience joy.

I can become angry,
but I have the heart to console.

I need to be forgiven sometimes (a lot)
but I can also forgive.

I feel helpless at times,
but can still lend a hand or ear to help others.

I am a teacher,
but I still have much to learn.

I get confused,
but deep down I know the answers are within my grasp.

It is the same grasp that boldly lifts my hands to Heaven,
and gently brings me to my knees.

Sometimes I feel lost,
but that is merely an illusion because it is not only enough for
my Father to know where I am and exactly what I am going
through,

He has every hair on my head numbered.

Life is a series of lessons to be learned.
That is the only way we can grow.

I wish I had all the answers, but sometimes I think (I know) the
only way for us to become stronger and grow into what He wants
us to be, is to walk through the fire.

So, whatever you're going throu gh, hold your head up, guard your
heart, and put all your faith and trust in the only ONE who will
never fail you....... JESUS.......

Remember all the things you can be even when you are sometimes
those things you wish you weren't.
 

GOD IS MY DOG

Alfrescian (Inf)
Asset
then what about all those terrible car accidents where young Caucasian children (Christians) were burnt alive ????


nothing in the Bible can explain why bad things happen to good people...............why things happen in the 1st place.............



when you take Heaven (pure wishful thinking) out of the equation.............no one will even care a damn or believe in God or whatever...........



by the way...........i believe in Darth Vader...........at least i've seen and heard him in books and movies..............
 

beensetfree

Alfrescian (InfP)
Generous Asset
In The Mirror

Someone will always be prettier.

Someone will always be smarter.

Someone's house will be bigger.
Someone will drive a better car.
Someone's children will do better in school.
And her husband will fix more things around the house.

So let it go, and love you and your circumstances.

Think about it.
The prettiest woman in the world can have an ugly heart.
The most highly favored woman on your job may be unable to have
children.

The richest woman you know - she's got the car, the house,
the clothes - might be very lonely.

The Word says if I have not Love, I am nothing.

So, again I suggest, love you.

Love who you are right now and let God be your barometer.
Mirror Him.

Look in the mirror in the morning and see how much of God you see.
He's the only standard and even when you come up short,
He will not leave you or forsake you.

Smile and may God continue to bless you.
 

beensetfree

Alfrescian (InfP)
Generous Asset
Teach the Children

This is how it happened...I'd just finished the household chores
for the night and was preparing to go to bed when I heard a
noise in the front of the house. I opened the door to the front
room and to my surprise, Santa himself stepped out from behind
the Christmas tree.

He placed his finger over his mouth so I would not cry out.
"What are you doing?" I started to ask. The words choked up in
my throat, and I saw he had tears in his eyes. His usual jolly
manner was gone. Gone was the eager, boisterous soul we all
know.

He then answered me with a simple statement.
"TEACH THE CHILDREN!"

I was puzzled; what did he mean? He anticipated my question,
and with one quick movement brought forth a miniature toy bag
from behind the tree. As I stood bewildered, Santa said,
"Teach the children! Teach them the old meaning of Christmas.
The meaning that now-a-days Christmas has forgotten."

Santa then reached into his bag and pulled out a FIR TREE and
placed it before the mantle. "Teach the children that the pure
green color of the stately fir tree remains green all year
round, depicting the everlasting hope of mankind, all the
needles point heavenward, making it a symbol of man's thoughts
turning toward heaven."

He again reached into his bag and pulled out a brilliant STAR.
"Teach the children that the star was the heavenly sign of
promises long ago. God promised a Savior for the world, and the
star was the sign of fulfillment of His promise."

He then reached into his bag and pulled out a CANDLE. "Teach
the children that the candle symbolizes that Christ is the light
of the world, and when we see this great light, we are reminded
of He who displaces the darkness."

Once again he reached into his bag and removed a WRE ATH and
placed it on the tree. "Teach the children that the wreath
symbolizes the real nature of love. Real love never ceases.
Love is one continuous round of affection."

He then pulled from his bag an ornament of himself. "Teach the
children that I, Santa Clause symbolize the generosity and good
will we feel during the month of December."

He then brought out a HOLLY LEAF. "Teach the children that the
holly plant represents immortality. It represents the crown of
thorns worn by our Savior. The red holly represents the blood
shed by Him."

Next he pulled from his bag a GIFT and said, "Teach the children
that God so loved the world that HE gave HIS begotten SON...
Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift.

"Teach the children that the wise men bowed before the Holy BABE
and presented HIM with gold, frankincense and myrrh. We should
always give gifts in the same spirit of the wi se men."

Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a CANDY CANE and
hung it on the tree. "Teach the children that the candy cane
represents the shepherds' crook. The crook on the staff helps
to bring back strayed sheep to the flock. The candy cane is the
symbol that we are our brother's keeper."

He reached in again and pulled out an ANGEL. "Teach the
children that it was the angels that heralded in the glorious
news of the Savior's birth. The angels sang 'Glory to God in
the highest, on earth peace and good will toward men."

Suddenly I heard a soft twinkling sound and from his bag he
pulled out a BELL. "Teach the children that as the lost sheep
are found by the sound of the bell, it should ring mankind to
the fold. The bell symbolizes guidance and return."

Santa looked back and was pleased. He looked back at me and I
saw that the twinkle was back in his eyes. He said, "Remember,
teach the children the true meaning of Christmas and do not put
me in the center, for I am but a humble servant of the One who
is, and I bow down to worship HIM, our LORD, our GOD."
 

fishbuff

Alfrescian
Loyal
[video=youtube;-jIUFFc4SLg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jIUFFc4SLg&feature=watch_response_rev[/video]
 

beensetfree

Alfrescian (InfP)
Generous Asset
Teach the Children


This is how it happened...I'd just finished the household chores
for the night and was preparing to go to bed when I heard a
noise in the front of the house. I opened the door to the front
room and to my surprise, Santa himself stepped out from behind
the Christmas tree.

He placed his finger over his mouth so I would not cry out.
"What are you doing?" I started to ask. The words choked up in
my throat, and I saw he had tears in his eyes. His usual jolly
manner was gone. Gone was the eager, boisterous soul we all
know.

He then answered me with a simple statement.
"TEACH THE CHILDREN!"

I was puzzled; what did he mean? He anticipated my question,
and with one quick movement brought forth a miniature toy bag
from behind the tree. As I stood bewildered, Santa said,
"Teach the children! Teach them the old meaning of Christmas.
The meaning that now-a-days Christmas has forgotten."

Santa then reached into his bag and pulled out a FIR TREE and
placed it before the mantle. "Teach the children that the pure
green color of the stately fir tree remains green all year
round, depicting the everlasting hope of mankind, all the
needles point heavenward, making it a symbol of man's thoughts
turning toward heaven."

He again reached into his bag and pulled out a brilliant STAR.
"Teach the children that the star was the heavenly sign of
promises long ago. God promised a Savior for the world, and the
star was the sign of fulfillment of His promise."

He then reached into his bag and pulled out a CANDLE. "Teach
the children that the candle symbolizes that Christ is the light
of the world, and when we see this great light, we are reminded
of He who displaces the darkness."

Once again he reached into his bag and removed a WRE ATH and
placed it on the tree. "Teach the children that the wreath
symbolizes the real nature of love. Real love never ceases.
Love is one continuous round of affection."

He then pulled from his bag an ornament of himself. "Teach the
children that I, Santa Clause symbolize the generosity and good
will we feel during the month of December."

He then brought out a HOLLY LEAF. "Teach the children that the
holly plant represents immortality. It represents the crown of
thorns worn by our Savior. The red holly represents the blood
shed by Him."

Next he pulled from his bag a GIFT and said, "Teach the children
that God so loved the world that HE gave HIS begotten SON...
Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift.

"Teach the children that the wise men bowed before the Holy BABE
and presented HIM with gold, frankincense and myrrh. We should
always give gifts in the same spirit of the wi se men."

Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a CANDY CANE and
hung it on the tree. "Teach the children that the candy cane
represents the shepherds' crook. The crook on the staff helps
to bring back strayed sheep to the flock. The candy cane is the
symbol that we are our brother's keeper."

He reached in again and pulled out an ANGEL. "Teach the
children that it was the angels that heralded in the glorious
news of the Savior's birth. The angels sang 'Glory to God in
the highest, on earth peace and good will toward men."

Suddenly I heard a soft twinkling sound and from his bag he
pulled out a BELL. "Teach the children that as the lost sheep
are found by the sound of the bell, it should ring mankind to
the fold. The bell symbolizes guidance and return."

Santa looked back and was pleased. He looked back at me and I
saw that the twinkle was back in his eyes. He said, "Remember,
teach the children the true meaning of Christmas and do not put
me in the center, for I am but a humble servant of the One who
is, and I bow down to worship HIM, our LORD, our GOD."
 

beensetfree

Alfrescian (InfP)
Generous Asset
Making Everyday Life Joyous and Extraordinary

Take time to smell the roses.
Take a nap on Sunday afternoon.
Trust in God
but lock your car.
Never deprive anyone of hope.
It may be all they have.
If you see someone without a smile,
give them one of yours.
Eat inspiring food.
Be thankful for every meal.
Don't take good health for granted.
Wear outrageous underwear
under the most formal business attire.
Enjoy your job and
you'll never work another day in your life.
Turn to the person next to you and say
"YOU'RE GREAT!"
Make it a habit to do nice things
for people who will never find out.
T.G.I.T
Thank God It's Today!
Judge your success by the degree to which you are enjoying
peace, health and love.
When you lose
don't lose the lesson.
Be generous.
Be honest.
Be romantic.
Live so that when your children think of
fairness, caring and integrity,
they think of you.
Be gentle with the earth,
with others,
with yourself.
Never interrupt when someone is complimenting you.
Just take a deep breath and say
"Thanks - please tell me more"
Don't be an A-DULL-T.
Allow your child to come out and play.
Take your dog to obedience school.
You'll both learn a lot.
Don't nag.
Don't gossip.
Don't tailgate.
Say thank you a lot.
Say please a lot.
Think of the most difficult people you know and
learn to love them.
Don't postpone joy.
There's no time like the present to be
JOYOUS.
Stop blaming others.
Take responsibility for every part of your life.
Never give up on anyone.
Miracles happen everyday.
Remember the two things that people cannot take away from you:
Your dignity.
Your birthdate.
Do more than is expected and
do it cheerfully.
Live life with passion and
give others the permission to do the same.
Wake up every morning and say
"I am so happy to be alive!"
(even on Mondays)
Learn to put love into everything you do.
Take care of your soul.
Breathe - deeply and often.
Life is short.
Play hard. Pray hard.
Remember that no one can make you feel bad without your permission.
Embrace all your feelings.
And choose what to do with them.
Be a friend to money.
Not a slave.
Attitudes are contagious.
Is yours worth catching?
You will at times forget these suggestions.
You can remember anytime you wish.
Remember to Remember.
Notice and Adjust.
Enjoy the Journey.
The Choice is Yours.
 

beensetfree

Alfrescian (InfP)
Generous Asset
A King May Move A Man

A king may move a man.
A father may claim a son.

But remember that even when those who move you be kings
or men of power...

your soul is in your keeping alone.

When you stand before God, you cannot say,
"But I was told by others to do thus, or that virtue was not
convenient at the time."

This will not suffice.
Remember that.
 

beensetfree

Alfrescian (InfP)
Generous Asset
The SIX Times The Devil Is Most Likely To Attack

1. When you are physically tired.

2. Whenever you face a major decision regarding your assignment
in life.

3. Whenever you are birthing a child that is destined to become
a spiritual leader.

4. When a specific miracle is on its way to you.

5. When you make an effort to launch a new ministry for God.

6. When you are next in line for a promotion from God.
 
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