Inspiration for Growth

 “The most important thing you must decide to do every day is put the Lord first.”

~ Elizabeth George

 

“Don’t just wait to play,

prepare to play.”

Jimbo Fisher, Head Football Coach,

Texas A&M University

 

 

“Our days are happier when we give people a bit of our heart rather than a piece of our mind.”

~ Ritu Ghatourey

 

 

Spiritual maturity

isn’t measured by

how high you jump

in praise but how

straight you walk

in obedience

 

 

THERE ISN’T A MASK

BIG ENOUGH TO PROTECT

US FROM EVERYTHING

GOING ON IN THE WORLD

TODAY.  WE NEED TO

SUIT UP WITH THE

WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD.

~ Mindy Holmes

 

 

“Sometimes God has to work on you before he works on a solution.”

~ Rick Warren

 

 

“Success doesn’t come

from what you do occasionally.

It comes from what you do

consistently.”

~Marie Forleo

 

 

“Be careful how you use words and time.  You can’t get either of them back.”

~ Jeff Keane, “The Family Circus” comic

 

 

“You cannot change the

mistakes of yesterday, but

God’s grace allows you to

make a better choice today.

Move forward.”

~ Tony Evans

 

 

“It’s a good day to just, no matter what comes:  let joy live loud in your soul!”

Ann Voskamp

 

 

And the Moon

said to me –

My darling, you

do not have to

be whole in

order to shine.

Nichole McElhaney

 

 

The difference between try and triumph is a little “umph.”

 

 

No matter how long you

have traveled in the

wrong direction, you

can always turn around.

 

 

One reason people resist change is because they focus on what they have to give up, instead of what they have to gain.

~ Rick Godwin

 

 

LISTEN

AND

SILENT

ARE SPELLED

WITH THE

SAME LETTERS.

 

 

“The greatest legacy one can pass on to one’s children and grandchildren is not money or material things accumulated in life, but rather a legacy of faith and character.”

~ Billy Graham

 

 

Never let your past take hostage of your future.

 

 

Peace is not the

absence of trouble,

but the presence

of Christ.

 

 “I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo. “So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”

J.R.R. Tolkien – The Fellowship of The Ring

 

 

Dwell

in

Possibility

~ Emily Dickinson

 

 

In these days of uncertainty and change, may we be willing to take the time and make the effort to become the people God created us to be.

 

The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.

Deuteronomy 31:8

 

Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed,

     for his compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;

     great is your faithfulness.

I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion;

     therefore I will wait for him.

Lamentations 3:22-24

 

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

James 1:22

Caught on Camera

During these days, with home and business security cameras, iPhones, and the media, it is easy for any event or action to be recorded, shared, and replayed, whether you want it to or not.  It’s what you do with the evidence that can make a difference.

Dave Palazzolo, from Salt Lake City, had added a security camera aimed at his driveway.  When any motion was detected, the camera began recording and he was sent an alert.  The camera proved its worth immediately.  About the same time most evenings, Palazzolo was alerted about the activity in his driveway.  Since there were no cars parked there, it was puzzling about the consistent activity.  Upon checking his camera, he noticed that a 3-year-old neighbor was riding his bicycle up the driveway, across in front of the garage doors, and then back down the other side of the driveway and onto the sidewalk to finish his ride.  His parents were walking the dogs and quite aware of his riding on the driveway without permission.  Night after night, the security system announced the arrival of the little boy.  His neighbor had a decision to make.  He could justifiably speak to the parents about the intrusion of the little boy and demand that he keep off of his property, call the police, or he could choose to do something else.  

 

Palazzolo, no stranger to adventure, enjoys the excitement of a bike ride.  He is a motorcycle rider and one of the founders of CanyonChasers Motorcycle Adventure, Sport, and Touring.  After being annoyed at the intrusion and alerts for a few days, Dave’s wife made a suggestion.  Late that night, Palazzolo went out to his driveway and with chalk in hand outlined a race track for the little boy to follow.  He even included enter and exit arrows.  The next evening the little boy once again started to ride on the driveway.  His parents pointed out that there was a racetrack to follow and a certain place to enter.  The little boy had a little trouble staying inside the drawn track, but this time instead of doing one lap around the driveway, he now took two.  As the days went on, the boy got better at staying within the lines of the track.  Then the rains came.  Instead of ending a good deed, Dave drew another race track, this time with more turns and curves.   The little boy was now gaining more control over his bike and able to more closely follow the drawn track, even with the more complex pattern.  Each time the road needed to be redrawn, more parts were added, even a hairpin curve and slow signs appeared.  Not only did the little boy enjoy his evening challenge, but the camera was now showing that other kids, and even some adults, were riding their bikes or walking on the race course.  Some parents even pushed a baby stroller on the track.

 

One man's response could have caused stress and discord on his street.  Instead, he chose to add fun and excitement to a little boy’s nightly adventures which spilled over to the delight of the neighbors as well.  We each have a chance to choose our response when a situation occurs.  Oh, that we, too, would strive for ways to express harmony, peace, and inclusion over discord and trouble.

 

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

Matthew 7:12

 

(Jesus said) “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

John 13:35

 

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Ephesians 4:32

 

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 10:31                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Remembering and Responding

Friday was a day spent remembering the events of 09/11/2001.  From posts, pictures, drawings, news stories, and articles, we have recalled, honored, and taught about the heroes and actions of that day. 

My morning has been spent reflecting on this day, 19 years ago.  For me that includes lettering while I process it all.  May we never ever forget.  May we remember those we lost.  May we honor their lives by the way we carry on each day.  United we stand.  We need each other.

~ Valerie Millard 

W E   R E M E M B E R

09.11.01

“IF WE LEARN NOTHING ELSE FROM

THIS TRAGEDY, WE LEARN

THAT LIFE IS SHORT AND

THERE IS NOT TIME FOR HATE.”

~ Sandy Dahl, Wife of Flight 93 Pilot

New York, New York     Somerset County, Pennsylvania     Washington, DC

Through blurred eyes we find the strength and courage to soar, beyond the moment.

We look to the future knowing we can never forget the past.

God Bless America.

We REMEMBER.

The unknown.

The grief.

The fear.

The love.

The community.

The unity.

The power of people coming TOGETHER.

---

Let’s remember how GOOD can show up in the midst of uncertainty, in the midst of evil, in the midst of the unexpected…a timely reminder for us all.

Ashley Thorne

When I was little, my dad and I used to sit side-by-side in our living room playing the piano and singing, “Let There Be Peace on Earth.”  Today, being 9-11, I’ve decided to visualize me perched on that piano bench as “twin towers”…striving for “perfect harmony”…one note at a time…still singing “our anthem.”

Bonnie Fowler

Never forget

9.11.01

for its losses.

But remember 9.12.01 when

what mattered more was what

united us than divided us.

And on this date, and the days following, we remember that we are all in this together.

I MISS 9/12

I would never want

another 9/11, but I miss the

America of 9/12.

Stores ran out of flags to sell

because they were being

flown everywhere.

People were Americans before

they were upper or lower class,

Jewish or Christian,

Republican or Democrat.

We hugged people without

caring if they ate at Chick-fil-A

or wore Nikes.

ON 9/12, WHAT MATTERED MORE WAS

WHAT UNITED US, THAN WHAT DIVIDED US.

It’s good to remember and reflect, but it’s what we choose to do with what we have learned and become that will make the difference.  In the words of the song, written by Jill Jackson Miller and Sy Miller, “Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.”

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

Psalm 46:1

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.

Psalm 56:3

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

John 14:27