A thought for the Day

[Dan Murphy]

Prayer is our humble answer to the inconceivable surprise of living.
— Abraham Heschel

There are many ways to pray, and each of us has a style that uniquely expresses our spirituality. Once we open ourselves to our Higher Power we can get comfortable with our own way of praying. It may mean leaving past ways behind. Maybe we've been used to prayer that relied only on words. Perhaps we used to pray for what we wanted, making sure we told God precisely what was best for us and everybody else. Or maybe we didn't pray at all because we didn't know how to or were afraid.

We need not worry about how to pray; our Higher Power shows us how. We must, however, be willing to move from the everyday world to a place where it is just our Higher Power and us. It is an exciting part of our spiritual journey to develop new ways to pray, trusting our relationship with our Higher Power to deepen the experience. What matters is that we give ourselves to it. When our prayer is from the heart, we know it and are at peace.

 

[EROS]

"Imagine the people who believe such things and who are not ashamed to ignore, totally, all the patient findings of thinking minds through all the centures since the Bible was written. And it is these ignorant people, the most uneducated, the most unimaginative, the most unthinking among us, who would make themselves the guides and leaders of us all; who would force their feeble and childish beliefs on us; who would invade our schools and libraries and homes. I personally resent it bitterly."

Isaac Asimov

 

[Catzeyes]

To them that ask, where have you seen the Gods, or how do you know for certain there are Gods, that you are so devout in their worship? I answer: Neither have I ever seen my own soul, and yet I respect and honor it."
--- Marcus Aurelius ---

 

[EROS]

"The fact that a believer is happier than a skeptic is no more to the point than the fact that a drunken man is happier than a sober one. The happiness of credulity is a cheap and dangerous quality".

George Bernard Shaw

 

[helenabear]

No heart is so carved in stone it is forever inflexible,
So lost in darkness it is incapable of seeing light,
Or so damaged it will never again flourish.
But a heart cannot change or improve independent of the mind.
One must be consciously open to new and different
Perspectives, ideas and approaches,
And be willing to accept them as worthwhile.
One must believe in, and accept,
Personal change as a genuine and viable possibility.
And one must release enough emotional barriers,
With the key of reason and positive reinforcement,
To allow one to embrace and utilize change.

--- D. S. Neviaser

 

[Dan Murphy]

Better than you found it


Leave each place you go better than you found it. Leave each person you encounter better off for having seen you. Leave each circumstance you experience better as a result of your involvement. Make each day better because of how you've lived it.
Tread lovingly, considerately and gratefully along the path of your life, and you'll find that path leading continually upward as a result. Give of yourself at every opportunity, and those opportunities will become increasingly meaningful.

Every self-centered pursuit will eventually grow tiresome and empty. The more you expand your thoughts, your efforts and your focus beyond yourself, the more fulfilling each moment will be.

Spend time and energy in the service of things bigger than yourself. Not only will you help to lift the world higher, you'll be lifting yourself as well, to places you never could otherwise imagine.

-- Ralph Marston

 

[ellyn2000]

Thank you so much for sharing that! I really was in need.....

 

[helenabear]

Thank you Dan... those words were wonderful! I've seen a fair amout by Ralph Marston recently and I do believe this is a wise man. Again thank you Dan!

 

[Buckalew]

WOW! Dan and Helenabear,
Those were both great!
Thanks for posting.
(Do you all notice that I keep saying the same thing on this thread??!!)

 

[helenabear]

Just glad to know you appreciate the thread Brenda. Btw, how are things going with you? I have been thinking about you lately and hoping all is well

 

[Buckalew]

Elaine,
Nothing new to report yet. I'm still waiting. I had a pretty rough week (keeping my chin up) until yesterday and the sky seemed bluer to me yesterday. Thank you for your concern, thoughts and mostly for your prayers. I seem to be having trouble with "letting go and letting God" in this situation(like I can change anything about it myself -- I can't, it is out of my hands.) I will keep you posted.

 

[helenabear]

"Letting go and letting God" is one of those things that is really easier said than done when times are really tough. But I am so glad the the skies seem bluer for you and I hope the sun shines though and makes the skies clear and beautiful for you! I do hope to hear good results though. A {hug} for you Brenda and as always, you know you are in my thoughts and prayers!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Know well, Brenda, you guys are in my continued prayers. Hoping this week is a good one for you all.


Turning positive

In every life there is plenty of time and energy available for magnificent success and achievement. Yet too often that energy is wasted on unproductive, negative pursuits.
The next time you feel yourself becoming negative, stop and consider what would happen if you applied that negative energy in a positive direction. Imagine what would happen if you simply turned it around, and put it to work for you instead of against you.

A car that is traveling 70 miles per hour toward the north can be easily stopped, turned around and heading 70 miles per hour toward the south. In the same way, you can control your own personal energy to that it moves you toward your goals and dreams rather than away from them.

Instead of bitterly complaining, transform your complaints into useful and productive suggestions. Instead of being envious, transform that envy into positive admiration. Rather than wasting your time with worry, make use of your time with action. Instead of getting destructively angry, become creatively determined.

The energy is already there, ready for you to use. Just imagine what can happen when you make sure it flows in a positive direction.

-- Ralph Marston

 

[helenabear]

As I said before, Ralph Marston seems to be a very wise man! Thank you Dan for sharing these wonderful thoughts!!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Thanks, Heather. Nice thoughts.


Quiet confidence


The strongest confidence is quiet confidence. It does not boast and is not arrogant. Quiet confidence pays no attention to those who ridicule it simply because of their own insecurities. Quiet confidence does what is right, no matter what others may think.
Quiet confidence is built from substance, and is not just made for show. It is genuine and as such, it is powerful. Quiet confidence does not seek the easy way out. Quiet confidence finds the true and the right way through whatever situations or obstacles there are. It makes no grand promises. Yet it delivers much value.

Quiet confidence is not overly concerned with appearances. Quiet confidence simply gets things done. You don't always see it, nor do you often think about it. Yet quiet confidence works tirelessly behind the scenes, bringing you many good and valuable things.

Quiet confidence is real, persistent confidence that makes a positive difference every day. Try some yourself, and see how much real and lasting value it can add to your world.

-- Ralph Marston

 

[Buckalew]

Thank you each for those continued prayers. I have been much better this week. My Sunday School lesson for Sunday is about Joy. I feel that my toes will be stepped upon when I pick up my book to study. After all, I know happiness is fleeting and real joy is from the Lord -- and is in our hearts and stays with us in all situations.

Heather, that was so nice of you. I think I have already said this before but the power that comes from the scripture is incredible to me. I cannot imagine reading the Bible and just seeing words as in any ol' book. They are living words that touch our hearts. What an amazing God we have.

 

[EROS]

"Religion grows with the intelligence of man, but all religions of the past and probably all of the future will sooner or later become petrified forms instead of living helps to mankind. Until that time comes, however, if religion of any name or nature makes man more happy, comfortable, and able to live peaceably with his brothers, it is good."

-- Luther Burbank,

 

[LucyStorm]

Buckalew,
there are two things that help me in those extreme times of crisis. One is the 23rd psalm-the Lord is my Shepherd, and the other is the Footprints poem.

God bless and keep you Buck. My prayers are with you.

((((hugs))))

 

[Buckalew]

Thanks Lucy.

Eros, your comments were as belittling as you saying belief in God is like belief in Santa Claus.

I can't say what I want to say to you here about your comment...sorry to say, I'd be shushed for sure because free speech only goes so far around here. But my opinion is that I really wish you'd leave this one thread alone. Your comments are usually degrading and rude and not a bit uplifting. Why, oh why, can't you just hit the back button and let us who are "so narrow minded and righteous" have a thread to uplift one another is beyond me.

 

[EROS]

Sorry, BUCK, I didn't know that certain members "OWN" certain threads around here . Just call me, MR. NAIVE .

Anyway, I generally have NOT shared my OWN thoughts on this thread, but HAVE followed the pattern of others in offering simple quotations. The people whom I cite are clearly smarter and nicer than myself