Pause For Thought

[MajestyJo]

Opportunity may knock once, but temptation
bangs on your front door forever.

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Quit griping about your church;
if it was perfect, you couldn't belong.

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If the church wants a better pastor,
it only needs to pray for the one it has.

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God Himself does not propose to
judge a man until he is dead.
So why should you?

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Some minds are like concrete
thoroughly mixed up and
permanently set.

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Peace starts with a smile.

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I don't know why some people
change churches;
what difference does it make
which one you stay home from?

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A lot of church members who are singing
"Standing on the Promises"
are just sitting on the premises.

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We were called to be witnesses,
not lawyers or judges.

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Be ye fishers of men
You catch them - He'll clean them.

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Coincidence is when God
chooses to remain anonymous.

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Don't put a question mark
where God put a period.

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Don't wait for 6 strong
men to take you to church.

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Forbidden fruits create many jams.

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God doesn't call the qualified,
He qualifies the called.

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God grades on the cross, not the curve.

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God loves everyone, but probably prefers
"fruits of the spirit" over "religious nuts!"

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God promises a safe landing,
not a calm passage.

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He who angers you, controls you!

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If God is your Co-pilot - swap seats!

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Prayer:
Don't give God instructions -- just report for duty!

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The task ahead of us is never as
great as the Power behind us.

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The Will of God never takes you to where the Grace of God will not protect you.

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We don't change the message,
the message changes us.

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You can tell how big a person is
by what it takes to discourage him.

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The best mathematical equation I have ever seen:
1 cross + 3 nails = 4 given.

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[MajestyJo]

“Failure is never a person, it’s only an event.
And the person who sets a goal,
makes a plan, takes action, evaluates results,
adjusts their plan, learns from their mistakes
and continues toward their goal never fails.”
http://www.Guideposts.org

“For it is not failure that stops most people,
but rather the belief that failure is permanent.
Failure is nothing more than a storm
in the weather forecast for the week –
it comes and it goes,
and it waters next season’s yield
because it teaches us where we can improve.”
Jake Ducey

[MajestyJo]

THE DRINKERS 23RD PSALM

King Alcohol is my shepherd.
I shall always want.
He maketh me lie down in the gutter.
He leadeth me beside troubles waters.
He destoyeth my soul.
He leadeth me in the paths of wickedness
For the effect's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of poverty
And have delirium tremens,
I will cling to drink,
For thou art with me
To bite and sting and torment me.
Thou preparest an empty table
In the presence of my family.
Thou annointest my head with hellishness.
My cup of wrath runneth over.
Surely destruction and misery shall follow me
All the days of my life,
And I shall dwell in the house of the damned forever.

received in email

[MajestyJo]

Thoughts for the Day
Saturday, April 4, 2015

“The ultimate meaning of the Bible escapes human limits
and calls us to a recognition that every life is holy,
every life is loved,
and every life is called to be all
that that life is capable of being.”
John Shelby Spong

“Being holy …
does not mean being perfect but being whole;
it does not mean being exceptionally religious
or being religious at all;
it means being liberated from religiosity
and religious pietism of any sort;
it does not mean being morally better,
it means being exemplary;
it does not mean being godly,
but rather being truly human.”
William Stringfellow

A Keeper of the Word: Selected Writings
“Ironic that those most holy
are least likely to see themselves that way.”
Mark Buchanan
The Holy Wild: Trusting in the Character of God

[MajestyJo]

Easter Sunday
April 5, 2015

“Let the Resurrection joy lift us
from loneliness and weakness and despair
to strength and beauty and happiness.”
Floyd W. Tomkins

"This is the Easter message,
that awakening is possible,
to the goodness of God,
the sacredness of human life,
the sisterhood and brotherhood of all."
Anne Lamott

“Spirit is calling.
Do you hear it?
The soft tones from the sounds of love,
Joy and harmony welcome you
As they wrap around your body, mind and soul
To give comfort and peace to you.
Feel each blessing and give thanks.
It has been sent to you on angel wings
To bring light and love to you this day.”
Petey

[MajestyJo]

One Caring Smile



Everything's gone
wrong today.
No one reacts to
anything you say.

No matter how much
you scream and cry,
the world seems to
be passing you by.

No one seems to notice or care,
that you are trying to be heard
over your despair.

But on one face a
smile shines through,
a smile that knows
and cares about you.

A smile with love to lend,
on a face you recognize
as a friend!

Original Source Unknown

Posted originally on my site The Gathering of Eagles

[MajestyJo]

Read Each One Carefully and Think About It a Second or Two



1. I love you not because of who you are, but because of who I am when I am with you..

2. No man or woman is worth your tears, and the one who is, won't make you cry.

3. Just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to, doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have.

4.. A true friend is someone who reaches for your hand and touches your heart.

5. The worst way to miss someone is to be sitting right beside them knowing you can't have them.

6. Never frown, even when you are sad, because you never know who is falling in love with your smile.

7. To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world.

8. Don't waste your time on a man/woman, who isn't willing to waste their time on you.

9. Maybe God wants us to meet a few wrong people before meeting the right one, so that when we finally meet the person, we will know how to be grateful.

10. Don't cry because it is over, smile because it happened.

11. There's always going to be people that hurt you so what you have to do is keep on trusting and just be more careful about who you trust next time around.

12. Make yourself a better person and know who you are before you try and know someone else and expect them to know you.

13. Don't try so hard, the best things come when you least expect them to.

REMEMBER: WHATEVER HAPPENS, HAPPENS FOR A REASON.

True friends: How many people actually have 8 true friends?

Hardly anyone I know! But some of us have all right friends and good friends!!

You have been Tagged by the Green Dog!

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(_o_)

ruff!!!!!!

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(_o_)

ruff!!!!!!

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(_o_)

ruff!!!!!!


Posted Jan. 19, 2005

[MajestyJo]

Breakfast at McDonald's

This is a good story and is true, please read it all the way through until the end! (After the St or y, there are some very interesting facts!):

I am a mother of three (ages 14, 12, 3) and have recently completed my college degree.

The last class I had to take was Sociology.

The teacher was absolutely inspiring with the qualities that I wish every human being had been graced with.

Her last project of the term was called, 'Smile.'

The class was asked to go out and smile at three people and document their reactions.

I am a very friendly person and always smile at everyone and say hello anyway. So, I thought this would be a piece of cake,

Literally.

Soon after we were assigned the project, my husband, youngest son, and I went out to McDonald's one crisp March morning.

It was just our way of sharing special playtime with our son.

We were standing in line, waiting to be served, when all of a sudden everyone around us began to back away, and then
Even my husband did.

I did not move an inch... An overwhelming feeling of panic welled up inside of me as I turned to see why they had moved.

As I turned around I smelled a horrible 'dirty body' smell, and there standing behind me were two poor homeless men.

As I looked down at the short gentleman, close to me, he was 'smiling'

His beautiful sky blue eyes were full of God's Light as he searched f or acceptance....

He said, 'Good day' as he counted the few coins he had been clutching..

The second man fumbled with his hands as he stood behind his friend. I realized the second man was mentally challenged and the blue-eyed gentleman was his salvation.

I held my tears as I stood there with them.

The young lady at the counter asked him what they wanted.

He said, 'Coffee is all Miss' because that was all they could afford. (If they wanted to sit in the restaurant and warm up, they had to buy something. He just wanted to be warm).

Then I really felt it - the compulsion was so great I almost reached out and embraced the little man with the blue eyes..

That is when I noticed all eyes in the Restaurant were set on me, judging my every action.

I smiled and asked the young lady behind the counter to give me two more breakfast meals on a separate tray.

I then walked around the corner to the table that the men had chosen as a resting spot. I put the tray on the table and laid my hand on the blue-eyed gentleman's cold hand.

He looked up at me, with tears in his eyes, and said, 'Thank you..'

I leaned over, began to pat his hand and said, 'I did not do this for you.. God is here working through me to give you hope.'

I started to cry as I walked away to join my husband and son.... When I sat down my husband smiled at me and said, 'That is why God gave you to me, Honey, to give me hope..'

We held hands for a moment and at that time, we knew that only because of the Grace that we had been given were we able to give.

We are not church goers, but we are believers.

That day showed me the pure Light of God's sweet love.

I returned to college, on the last evening of class, with this story in hand.

I turned in 'my project' and the instructor read it.

Then she looked up at me and said, 'Can I share this?'

I slowly nodded as she got the attention of the class.

She began to read and that is when I knew that we as human beings and being part of God share this need to heal people and to be healed.

In my own way I had touched the people at McDonald's, my son, the instructor, and every soul that shared the classroom on the last night I spent as a college student.

I graduated with one of the biggest lessons I would ever learn:

UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE.

Much love and compassion is sent to each and every person who may read this and learn how to

LOVE PEOPLE AND USE THINGS - NOT LOVE THINGS AND USE PEOPLE.

An Angel wrote:

Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.

To handle yourself, use your head..

To handle others, use your heart.



God Gives every bird it's food, but He does not throw it into its nest.

[MajestyJo]

FOLLOW YOUR OWN PATH


"Life is complex. Each one of us must make his own path through life. There are no self-help manuals, no formulas, no easy answers. The right road for one is the wrong road for another ... The journey of life is not paved in blacktop; it is not brightly lit, and it has no road signs. It is a rocky path through the wilderness."
-- M. Scott Peck

We each have our own pathways to develop both personally and spiritually. They are based on our character and past experiences. No one else can identify our paths for us. Tune in to your inner guidance system and follow its direction.
-- John Robson

"What every man needs, regardless of his job or the kind of work he is doing, is a vision of what his place is and may be. He needs an objective and a purpose. He needs a feeling and a belief that he has some worthwhile thing to do. What this is no one can tell him. It must be his own creation."
-- Joseph M. Dodge

Slow down


"The soul requires duration of time -- rich, thick, deep, velvety time -- and it thrives on rhythm. Soul can't be hurried or harried .... We may go through many events in the day and experience nothing because the soul has not had the opportunity to feel them from many different points of view."
-- Robert Sardello

Soul cannot exist when our connections in life remain superficial. An experience of soul requires that we take time to be fully present to the details of our lives.

Explore what happens when you take the time to STOP and PAY ATTENTION. When we choose to slow down and really experience the qualities of our lives, we get a whole new perspective on what living is all about.
-- John Robson

"We must not allow the clock and the calendar to blind us to the fact that each moment of life is a miracle and mystery."
-- H. G. Wells

"The well of Providence is deep. It's the buckets we bring to it that are small."
-- Mary Webb

The Daily Guru

[MajestyJo]

Faith is the messenger that bears your prayers to God.

- 24 Hours

Loved this quote. It reminds me of my mother's words, "Is your faith so weak that it hits the ceiling and bounces back."

It is important to have faith and yet I know I have to do the footwork and leave the results up to him. Repeatedly asking for the same things in the same way tells me I have very little faith and that I don't trust God and keep reminding Him so He doesn't forget. It is best for me not to ask for specifics and just ask Him to lead and direct my life. I have faith that He will do that. I sometimes feel that He has more faith in me than I have in Him. Yet having said that, I know He is always there and He doesn't forsake, it is me who goes away.

[MajestyJo]

MY FRIEND



As I travel down life's highway,
I know my Lord's always there,
And I know I can rely upon
His tender loving care,

For He knows all of the byways
that I'm likely to explore
So He watches over me
because He's been that way before.

And when my road seems all uphill
and shadows gather round,
His understanding presence is
a blessing so profound.

I know that when I seek Him and
on Him my problems place,
He turns each stumbling-block
into a stepping-stone of faith.

If I follow His directions,
on the Lighted Path I'll stay,
And I'll reach my destination in the most straightforward way,

For He will not see me burdened
with a weight I cannot bear,
With His help I can stand straight and tall,
because His strength I share.

To me, each day's a beginning,
and a chance for me to show
Just how much I love and trust Him,
how much closer we can grow.

Just imagine, the Creator of the earth,
moon, stars and sun
Is my Friend and, to Him,
my soul is a very special one.

For I know He really loves me,
with a love that has no end,
And for comfort and enrichment
I can truly recommend

The assurance that He gives me,
and the hope that my heart feels,
As my strength grows stronger
with each truth His faithfulness reveals.

There's no limit to His Loving,
to His Patience, to His Power,
As He teaches me and guides me,
day by day and hour by hour.

So, if miracles are missing from your life,
don't muddle through,
Please, just call Him, He will hear you.
My friend could be your Friend too!

Jacqueline Ramm (c)

[MajestyJo]

Men who come to God not to dictate but to receive have approached prayer from the right angle. They have seen that prayer is giving God an opportunity to bestow what he is more willing to give than we are to welcome.

"Prayer is not to ask what we wish of God, but what God wishes of us."

Harry Emerson Fosdick

[MajestyJo]

Friends Are Like Angels



Our friends are like angels
who brighten our days
In all kinds of wonderful,
magical ways.

Their thoughtfulness comes
as a gift from above
And we feel we're surrounded
by warm, caring love.

Like upside-down rainbows
their smiles bring the sun
And they fill ho-hum moments
with laughter and fun.

Friends are like angels
without any wings,
Blessing our lives
with the most precious things.

By -Emily Matthews

[MajestyJo]

Friendship Forever



We're joined in a friendship,
that time cannot sever
with bonds we have built,
we'll remain friends forever.

We're welded in spirit
attached by our hearts,
and fused by the feelings
that friendship imparts.

We're tied by emotions
connected by dreams
reinforced by our hopes
unified by extremes.

No longer a function
of time or of space
our love is a substance
that life won't replace.

No matter how distant
we'll always endeavor
to sense the full meaning of
~Friendship Forever~

- Author Unknown

[MajestyJo]

"Take Advantage of the Storm"

By Bob Perks

Answers to life can be found in everyday events.

Watching nature, watching people and watching
animals interact with each other provides some
of the simplest solutions to life's biggest problems.

This became more apparent to me yesterday.

It caused me to ask myself, "How do I respond to
the storms in life?"

People run when it starts to rain. I love to walk in
it.

My wife, hates thunder. I love to stand on my front
porch and feel it. I grew up doing it and never really
felt the fear many people do when a bolt of lightening
flashes and the windows rattle in my house.

I remember a religious sister telling how wonderful
the storm was the night before. "Oh, the power of
God!" she proclaimed.

They have proven that the animal world senses far in
advance changes in the weather, earthquakes, tsunamis
and approaching storms.

My dog, Ricky begins to shake long before the storm
is close enough to notice.

I was about to feed my three dogs yesterday and as
usual, I let them out in the yard first.

They weren't even off the deck when thunder rolled
across the skies and they did an immediate about face.

I have learned long ago that there is no sense forcing them
to remain there. They will accomplish nothing.

So, I placed their food in their bowls and called Ricky
into the kitchen. If he could have crawled any closer to
the floor he'd be a snake.

I thought he'd never eat, but he began to do so and I
walked away.

Phil shakes like one of those old electric football games
that vibrated the players across the field. So I expected
nothing from him.

Upon my return to the kitchen Ricky was just standing
there in place next to his bowl.

I always mix a little white meat chicken in his food. He
apparently was brave enough to eat some it right out
of the dry food leaving most everything else.

The thunder became louder and more frequent. The
wind caused a few branches to bang against the roof
thus forcing him to abandon his meal.

I urged him to go lie down and he did.

Then I watched Phil. Shaking like a wind up toy he made
his way across the tiled kitchen floor and stood over
Ricky's bowl.

He ate all the remaining tiny pieces of chicken and a few
of the dry.

Normally, if Ricky was standing there, he wouldn't dare
come close.

But today, he took advantage of the storm.

In spite of his fear, he saw an opportunity to get what
he wanted. His desire for the prize outweighed his
fear of the storm.

That's when it hit me. There was a powerful lesson in it
for me and I hope for you.

As humans we face all kinds of storms. They roll in
unannounced, pass through quickly or stay for much
too long.

Sometimes we crawl into a corner or pull the blankets
of false security over our heads and shake and shiver
praying it will all pass so we can get on with life.

If you dare stick your head out for a moment you might
be surprised to discover there are people out there in
the same storms doing what they must do to get what
they must have out of life.

Most storms are like those natural storms. Yes, there is
the reality of experiencing some damage or loss, but
for the most part they are all thunder and lightening putting
on a show of God's magnificent power.

Isn't it time you decided to

"Take Advantage of the Storm?"