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beensetfree

Alfrescian (InfP)
Generous Asset
The Collaboration
========================
Art is a collaboration between God and the artist,
and the less the artist does the better.

~Andre Gide~
 

beensetfree

Alfrescian (InfP)
Generous Asset

MEMO FROM GOD

-----

To: YOU
Date: TODAY
From: THE BOSS
Subject: YOURSELF
Reference: LIFE

I am God.

Today I will be handling all of your problems. Please remember that I do not need your help.

If life happens to deliver a situation to you that you cannot handle, do not attempt to resolve it. Kindly put it in the SFGTD (something for God to do) box. All situations will be resolved... but in My time, not yours.

Once the matter is placed into the box, do not hold onto it by worrying about it. Instead, focus on all the wonderful things that are present in your life now

If you find yourself stuck in traffic; Don't despair. There are people in this world for whom driving is an unheard of privilege.

Should you have a bad day at work; Think of the man who has been out of work for years.

Should you despair over a relationship gone bad; Think of the person who has never known what it's like to love and be loved in return.

Should you grieve the passing of another weekend; Think of the woman in dire straits, working twelve hours a day, seven days a week to feed her children.

Should your car break down, leaving you miles away from assistance; Think of the paraplegic who would love the opportunity to take that walk.

Should you notice a new gray hair in the mirror; Think of the cancer patient in chemo who wishes she had hair to examine.

Should you find yourself at a loss and pondering what is life all about, asking what is my purpose? Be thankful. There are those who didn't live long enough to get the opportunity.

Should you find yourself the victim of other people's bitterness, ignorance, smallness or insecurities; Remember, things could be worse. You could be one of them!

Should you decide to send this to a friend, thank you. You may have touched a life in ways you will never know!
 

beensetfree

Alfrescian (InfP)
Generous Asset
Clear Data
===============
I was upgrading my computer and clearing my old computer.

The computer had two hard drives. One hard drive for programs
and one for data. One thing you always need to do when getting
rid of an old computer is to wipe the hard drive. I wiped the
data drive with a military grade shredding program.

Most don't realize that anyone can easily recover data from a
hard drive that has had the files simply deleted.

For the drive with the programs I made sure to clear the browsing.
Browsing data can have passwords still embedded.

I clicked on "settings" and scrolled to the appropriate field.
There were five periods of time to clear the browsing data.

I looked at the five periods and thought that we should have a
clear browsing data setting for our lives.

Especially in the area of forgiveness.

Do have data you need to clear from...
the past hour
the past day
the past week
the last 4 weeks
the beginning of time
 

beensetfree

Alfrescian (InfP)
Generous Asset
Blown Stuff On The Rear End
======================================

My wife told me that her passenger side rear turn signal light
was blown on her Chrysler Town and Country Van and asked if I
could change it. "Of course," I said. Reminiscing on the how
many so and so's does it take to change a light bulb jokes;
I figured changing the bulb would be a breeze.

First, I had to find out what kind of bulb was needed. A quick
check in the owner's manual indicated a type 3157 bulb was
needed for the turn signal and another type for the other light.

I bought two packs of twin bulb packs just to have a couple of
spares. Several days later I was still at the rear light. So why
did it take several days? Stuff...

The days when the bulb socket stuck out in the trunk and you
just reached in, twisted the socket out and popped in a new bulb
are gone. The removal of the light assembly looked simple
enough. There were only two screws that appeared to be holding
the assembly.

The problem was that they weren't two ordinary screws. They were
neither Phillips head nor slot screws, they were Torx screws. I
had to find a Torx driver. I found a Torx bit. I couldn't find a
driver handle that fit the bit. An hour later, I had the driver
with the right bit.

I took out the two Torx screws. The light assembly was loose but
it wasn't coming out. It was rattling but not really moving and
I didn't want to put a lot of pressure on the plastic fitting. I
looked on the inside of the van to see if there were other
screws. Nothing showed. There was a panel but I didn't see how
to remove it.

I came inside, got on the computer and searched for "change
tail..." Before I could add the rest, the auto complete showed
"change tail light for Chrysler Town and Country".

Either Google was real smart (which it is but not THAT smart) or
a lot of people had back bulb issues with that van. I found a
You Tube video that explained it. It began with pop out the two
plugs and remove it with a pair of needle nose pliers AND a pair
of hook nosed needle nosed pliers. Our van didn't have plugs, it
had Torx screws. That video covered up to 2007 models and we had
a 2009.

I looked at how many views the video had. Over 33,000!

I found a write-up that described our van and found out you have
to use a fiber stick to pry the tail light assembly from the
van's body. I didn't have a fiber stick so I improvised.

So how many so and so's does it take to change a blown rear
bulb?

When I counted all of the time it took looking for the right
stuff, it took me nearly two hours to change the blown bulb. I
decided since only one of the four was blown, I might as well
change them all. The other bulb was also a 3157 despite what the
owner's manual said. When I went to the other side, it took
about 4 minutes to change both bulbs.

Right tools and know how... four minutes.
Ignorant and improper tools... two hours.

Such is life.

Such is blown stuff on the back end.
 

beensetfree

Alfrescian (InfP)
Generous Asset
The Silent Years
======================

There are times when God will speak to you and then be silent
for an extended period of time. Silence does not mean you have
been forsaken by God. It simply means that God has spoken,
and now is the time to allow the word that He spoke to germinate
and come to pass.

Silence is not the same as peace. Silence is the absence of
noise, but peace is the presence of God! While you are going
through "silent years," you should focus on inner peace.

Inner peace produces outward confidence in the face of negative
circumstances so that we can go forward in the assurance that
even though tribulation is coming against us, we are more
than conquerors over it!

The Greek word for peace actually describes a spiritual
equilibrium no matter whatever may seek to upset us. The
biblical meaning of peace never denotes the absence of trouble.
Peace is not the absence of negatives but the presence of
positives. God's peace is inward and spiritual and never
predicated by contrary circumstances or negative events.

Poverty, sickness, death nor debt can override internal peace!

Silent years should indicate a time of reflection, introspection
and listening. The quieter we become, the more we hear.
However, we cannot rush the silent years.

Silent years are times of transition. Transition is always
uncomfortable and appears to last forever. We must ENDURE the
silent years! Whenever you see the word endure, it means that
there is no short cut through it. It must be endured.
You cannot circumvent what must be endured.

We are told to ENDURE unto the end. (Matt. 24:13)
We are told to ENDURE persecution and tribulation. (II Th. 1:4-10)
We are told to ENDURE hardness. (II Tim. 2:1-3)
We are told to ENDURE affliction. (II Tim. 4:5)
We are told to ENDURE chastening. (Heb. 12:7)

The key to being able to ENDURE is to see the END (ENDure).

Now, here are some things for you to question during the silent
years:

Is my life really submitted to God?
Am I submitted at home, work, church and to the government?
Have I learned my lesson?
What is God trying to teach me?
Am I humble enough to be teachable?
Has the fruit of patience been sufficiently developed in me?
Do I still have an appetite for the world in me?
Did I properly respond to the last thing God told me to do?
Have I attained a deeper faith?
Is my attitude right toward God and others?
Am I harboring unforgiveness?
What am I becoming?
Have I sufficiently developed and matured as a person?
Have I taken the time to minister to the Lord? (Acts 13:2)

During your silent years you should:

1. Practice and develop your gifts. Study.
2. Clarify. Define goals. Reorder priorities.
3. Serve (even while you are hurting).
4. Trust God.
5. Pray

Your silent years should change your life! You should come out
as a new person! When you come out, you should have a new level
of:

1. Knowledge
2. Responsibility
3. Authority/Power
4. Faith
5. Trust

Remember, problems never come to last, they only come to pass!

~by Bishop Dale C. Bronner~
 

beensetfree

Alfrescian (InfP)
Generous Asset
Sarah Finkel
=================

A woman called Mount Sainai Hospital. She said "Mount Sainai
Hospital? Hello, Darling. I'd like to talk with the person who
gives the information about the patients. But I don't want to
know if the patient is better or doing like expected, or worse.
I want all the information from top to bottom, from A to Z."

The voice on the other line said "Would you hold the line please,
that's a very unusual request." Then a very authoritative voice
came on and said, "Are you the lady who is calling about one of
the patients?"

She said: "Yes, darling! I'd like to know the information about
Sarah Finkel in Room 302."

He said "Finkel. Finkel. Let me see. Farber, Feinberg -- Finkel.
Oh yes, Mrs. Finkel is doing very well. In fact, she's had two
full meals, her doctor says if she continues improving as she is,
he is going to send her home Tuesday at twelve o'clock."

The woman said "Thank God! That's wonderful! She's going home at
twelve o'clock! I'm so happy to hear that. That's wonderful nows."

The guy on the other end says: "From your enthusiasm, I take it
you must be one of the close family."

She said "What close family? I'm Sarah Finkel!
My doctor don't tell me anything!
 

beensetfree

Alfrescian (InfP)
Generous Asset
My attorney


After living what I felt was a "decent" life, my time on earth
came to the end. The first thing I remember is sitting on a
bench in the waiting room of what I thought to be a court
house. The doors opened and I was instructed to come in and
have a seat by the defense table. As I looked around I saw
the "prosecutor." He was a villainous looking
gent who snarled as he stared at me. He definitely was the
most evil person I have ever seen.

I sat down and looked to my left and there sat My Attorney, a
kind and gentle looking man whose appearance seemed so
familiar to me, I felt I knew Him.

The corner door flew open and there appeared the Judge in full
flowing robes. He commanded an awesome presence as He moved
across the room. I couldn't take my eyes off of Him. As He
took His seat behind the bench, He said, "Let us begin."

The prosecutor rose and said, "My name is Satan and I am here
to show you why this man belongs in hell."

He proceeded to tell of lies that I told, things that I stole,
and in the past when I cheated others. Satan told of other
horrible perversions that were once in my life and the more he
spoke, the further down in my seat I sank. I was so
embarrassed that I couldn't look at anyone, even my
own Attorney, as the Devil told of sins that even I had
completely forgotten about. As upset as I was at Satan for
telling all these things about me, I was equally upset at My
Attorney who sat there silently not offering any form of
defense at all. I know I had been guilty of those things, but
I had done some good in my life - couldn't that at least equal
out part of the harm I'd done?

Satan finished with a fury and said, "This man belongs in
hell, he is guilty of all that I have charged and there is not
a person who can prove otherwise."

When it was His turn, My Attorney first asked if He might
approach the bench. The Judge allowed this over the strong
objection of Satan, and beckoned Him to come forward. As He
got up and started walking, I was able to see Him in His full
splendor and majesty. I realized why He seemed so familiar;
this was Jesus representing me, my Lord and my Savior.

He stopped at the bench and softly said to the Judge, "Hi,
Dad," and then He turned to address the court. "Satan was
correct in saying that this man had sinned, I won't deny any
of these allegations. And, yes, the wage of sin is death, and
this man deserves to be punished."

Jesus took a deep breath and turned to His Father with
outstretched arms and proclaimed, "However, I died on the
cross so that this person might have eternal life and he has
accepted Me as his Savior, so he is Mine."

My Lord continued with, "His name is written in the book of
life and no one can snatch him from Me. Satan still does not
understand yet. This man is not to be given justice, but
rather mercy."

As Jesus sat down, He quietly paused, looked at His Father and
said,"There is nothing else that needs to be done. I've done
it all."

The Judge lifted His mighty hand and slammed the gavel down.
The following words bellowed from His lips... "This man is
free. The penalty for him has already been paid in full. Case
dismissed."

As my Lord led me away, I could hear Satan ranting and having,
"I won't give up, I will win the next one."

I asked Jesus as He gave me my instructions where to go next,
"Have you ever lost a case?"

Christ lovingly smiled and said, "Everyone that has come to Me
and asked Me to represent them has received the same verdict
as you, 'Paid in Full.'"
 

beensetfree

Alfrescian (InfP)
Generous Asset
Still Answers
==================

A young man had been to Wednesday night Bible study.
The pastor had shared about listening to God and obeying the
Lord's voice.

The young man couldn't help but wonder,
"Does God still speak to people?"

After service, he went out with some friends for coffee and pie
and they discussed the message. Several different ones talked
about how God had led them in different ways.

It was about ten o'clock when the young man started driving
home. Sitting in his car, he just began to pray,
"God, if you still speak to people, speak to me. I will listen.
I will do my best to obey."

As he drove down the main street of his town, he had the
strangest thought to stop and buy a gallon of milk. He shook
his head and said out loud,

"God is that you?" He didn't get a reply and started on toward
home. But again, the thought, "buy a gallon of milk."

The young man thought about Samuel and how he didn't recognize
the voice of God, and how little Samuel ran to Eli.
"Okay, God, in case that is you, I will buy the milk."

It didn't seem like too hard a test of obedience. He could
always use the milk.

He stopped and purchased the gallon of milk and started off
toward home. As he passed Seventh Street, he again felt the
urge, "Turn down that street."

"This is crazy," he thought and drove on past the intersection.
Again, he felt that he should turn down Seventh Street. At the
next intersection, he turned back and headed down Seventh.
Half jokingly, he said out loud, "Okay, God I will."

He drove several blocks when suddenly, he felt like he should
stop. He pulled over to the curb and looked around. He was in
a semi-commercial area of town. It wasn't the best, but it
wasn't the worst of neighborhoods either.

The businesses were closed and most of the houses looked dark
like the people were already in bed. Again, he sensed
something, "Go and give the milk to the people in the house
across the street." The young man looked at the house. It was
dark and it looked like the people were either gone or they were
already asleep.

He started to open the door and then sat back in the car seat.
"Lord, this is insane. Those people are asleep and if I wake
them up, they are going to be mad and I will look stupid."
Again, he felt like he should go and give them the milk.

Finally, he opened the door. "Okay God, if this is you, I will
go to the door and I will give them the milk. If you want me to
look like a crazy person, okay. I want to be obedient. I guess
that will count for something, but if they don't answer right
away, I am out of here."

He walked across the street and rang the bell. He could hear
some noise inside. A man's voice yelled out, "Who is it?
What do you want?"

Then the door opened before the young man could get away.
The man was standing there in his jeans and a t-shirt.
He looked like he just got out of bed. He had a strange look on
his face, and he didn't seem too happy to have a stranger
standing on his doorstep.

"What is it?" The young man thrust out the gallon of milk.
"Here I brought this to you."

The man took the milk and rushed down the hallway, speaking
loudly in Spanish. Then from down the hall came a woman
carrying the milk toward the kitchen. The man was following her
holding a baby.

The baby was crying. The man had tears streaming down his face.
The man began speaking and half-crying, "We were just praying.
We had some big bills this month and we ran out of money.
We didn't have any milk for our baby. I was just praying and
asking God to show me how to get some milk."

His wife in the kitchen yelled out, "I asked him to send an
Angel with some milk. Are you an Angel?"

The young man reached into his wallet and pulled out all the
money he had on him and put it in the man's hand. He turned and
walked back toward his car and the tears were streaming down his
face.

He knew that God still answers prayers.

"Stop telling God how big your storm is.
Instead, tell the storm how big your God is!"
 

beensetfree

Alfrescian (InfP)
Generous Asset
Patience


Patience is not sitting still. Rather, it’s mastering your time by applying the right principles in the right way to attain a long-term desired result.

It’s moving forward steadily for as long as it takes to get where you want to go. Enduring the time between your departure and arrival requires a great deal of will.

But no matter how tedious these moments of waiting are, you have to get used to the feeling, knowing that what you’re working toward is coming your way, even though it’s not with you at the moment.

Ultimately the two hardest tests on the road to personal growth are the patience to wait for what you want and the courage not to be disappointed when it doesn’t arrive as soon as you had expected. Patience can be bitter, but the seeds you plant now will bear sweet fruit. These fruits are worth waiting for. There’s no advantage to hurrying through life and never tasting their sweetness.

Winnie-the-Pooh once said, “Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there some day.” This is the power of patience.
 

beensetfree

Alfrescian (InfP)
Generous Asset
Prison
==========

We are in a prison of our own making but the bars are invisible.
To get out of the prison,
you must first realize that you are in it.
 

drifter

Alfrescian (InfP)
Generous Asset
image.jpg

:wink: :wink:
 

beensetfree

Alfrescian (InfP)
Generous Asset
They Don't Want To Either
===================================

Winners make habits of doing the things losers don't want to do.
The funny thing is the winner doesn't want to do them either.

He doesn't want to get up early or work out or work late...
 

beensetfree

Alfrescian (InfP)
Generous Asset
John Wayne
=================


John Wayne changed my life with a quote taken from him after he
had stopped making movies due to age and health.

He simply said, "The older you get, the further out you go and
the more alone you are."

I have never forgotten it.
It came from his soul.
The real thoughts of his inner man.

A man who had "everything" but as he aged, he told us,
"No, all my earthly 'stuff' doesn't matter."

I have found what he said to be true as I have aged.

But John Wayne helped me.

Because I also found God, as I go along and get further out God
increases even as everything else shrinks, and yes, even as I
diminish into obscurity and nothingness.

May we go in the grace and mercy of God.
 
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