Interesting and also true

Once upon a time there was a rich King who had four wives. He loved the 4th wife the most and adorned her with rich robes and treated her to the finest of delicacies. He gave her nothing but the best.
He also loved the 3rd wife very much and was always showing her off to neighboring kingdoms. However, he feared that one day she would leave him for another.
He also loved his 2nd wife. She was his confidant and was always so kind, considerate and patient with him. Whenever the King faced a problem, he could confide in her, and she would help him get through the difficult times.


The King's 1st wife was a very loyal partner and had made great contributions in maintaining his wealth and kingdom. However, he did not love the first wife. Although she loved him deeply, he hardly took notice of her! One day, the King fell ill and he knew his time was short. He thought of his luxurious life and wondered, "I now have four wives with me, but when I die, I'll be all alone."


Thus, he asked the 4th wife, "I have loved you the most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?" "No way!” replied the 4th wife and she walked away without another word. Her answer cut like a sharp knife right into his heart. The sad King then asked the 3rd wife, "I have loved you all my life. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?" "No!” replied the 3rd wife. "Life is too good! When you die, I'm going to remarry!" His heart sank and turned cold.


He then asked the 2nd wife, "I have always turned to you for help and you've always been there for me. When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?" "I'm sorry, I can't help you out this time!” replied the 2nd wife. "At the very most, I can only walk with you to your grave." Her answer struck him like a bolt of lightning, and the King was devastated.


Then a voice called out: "I'll go with you. I'll follow you no matter where you go." The King looked up, and there was his first wife. She was very skinny as she suffered from malnutrition and neglect. Greatly grieved, the King said, "I should have taken much better care of you when I had the chance!"


In truth, we all have the 4 wives in our lives:


Our 4th wife is our body. No matter how much time and effort we lavish in making it look good, it will leave us when we die.


Our 3rd wife is our possessions, status and wealth. When we die, it will all go to others.


Our 2nd wife is our family and friends. No matter how much they have been there for us, the furthest they can stay by us is up to the grave.


And our 1st wife is our Soul; often neglected in pursuit of wealth, power and pleasures of the world. However, our Soul is the only thing that will follow us wherever we go.


Cultivate, strengthen and cherish it now, for it is the only part of us that will follow us to the throne of God and continue with us throughout Eternity.

Remember, when the world pushes you to your knees, you're in the perfect position to pray. 

KINDNESS

Before you know what kindness really is

you must lose things,

feel the future dissolve in a moment

like salt in a weakened broth.

What you held in your hand,

what you counted and carefully saved,

all this must go so you know

how desolate the landscape can be

between the regions of kindness.

How you ride and ride

thinking the bus will never stop,

the passengers eating maize and chicken

will stare out the window forever.

Before you learn the tender gravity of kindness,

you must travel where the Indian in a white poncho

lies dead by the side of the road.

You must see how this could be you,

how he too was someone

who journeyed through the night with plans

and the simple breath that kept him alive.

Before you know kindness as the deepest thing inside,

you must know sorrow as the other deepest thing.

You must wake up with sorrow.

You must speak to it till your voice

catches the thread of all sorrows

and you see the size of the cloth.

Then it is only kindness that makes sense anymore,

only kindness that ties your shoes

and sends you out into the day

to mail letters and purchase bread,

only kindness that raises its head

from the crowd of the world to say

it is I you have been looking for,

and then goes with you every where

like a shadow or a friend.

~ Naomi Shihab Nye ~

We live under God's mercy - the greatest kindness of all..! ~ SB

Peace of Mind

Peace of mind is something we all seem to want, and want more of. Few of us get it, and when we do it tends to be fleeting. I think the reason has something to do with how we think of "peace of mind." It is not something we can have and hold, but it is certainly something that we can learn to cultivate and allow to grow.

How do we do that? Here are a few steps.

1. Allow yourself time to just sit, without distractions, without something to do, or a place to go. No multitasking.

2. Use that time for you and get curious about your mind and experience just as it is. Look into your experience and just watch the goings on between your ears and in your heart. There is nothing to do, no state to achieve. Just practice being exactly where you are just as you are.

3. Notice the urge to change the experience or to pull out. These are the red flags that your old history is showing up, with all the old habits that compelling you to change your mind and body. In short, to be something other than you are.  These habits are the fuel for struggle, and if you practice just noticing them as thoughts and urges, reminders of the past --"ah, there's my old history, or there's a thought that..." -- you interrupt the old programming and disarm it.

4. If it helps, you can breathe into each moment and imagine leaning into it with a sense of curiosity and with a kind intention to just watch and be at peace. As you do that, you can watch and let go with each in breath and out breath.

Continue this practice for as long as you wish and end with the intention to be present with your mind and body just as it is just where you are, without fighting it, struggling with it, or changing it. When you do that, you are practicing peace and kindness for yourself. This is a skill that will become more automatic over time and something you can do where ever you find yourself.

Remember peace of mind is not something we have; it is a choice to lay down our arms and stop fighting our own experiences. This will help give you the presence and clarity to consider what you would like to do, what you would like to become, what you would like to be about in this life.

Practice peace of mind and see what happens over time. Make it a choice.

Miss you like crazy... will still exist though... no one comes between me and my GOD ~SB

She drives me crazy

SHE DRIVES ME CRAZY LYRICS - FINE YOUNG CANNIBALS

I can't stop the way I feel

Things you do don't seem real

Tell me what you've got in mind

'Cause we're runnin' out of time

Won't you ever set me free?

This waiting 'round's killing me

She drives me crazy

Like no one else

She drives me crazy

And I can't help myself

I can't get any rest

People say I'm obsessed

Everything you say is lies

But to me there's no surprise

What I had for you was true

Things go wrong, they always do

She drives me crazy

Like no one else

She drives me crazy

And I can't help myself

I won't make it on my own

No one likes to be alone

She drives me crazy

Like no one else

She drives me crazy

And I can't help myself

She drives me crazy

Like no one else

She drives me crazy

And I can't help myself

She drives me crazy

Like no one else

She drives me crazy

And I can't help myself

IT'S MY BIRTHDAY?

As you well know, we are getting closer to My birthday. Every year there is a celebration in My honour and I think that this year the celebration will be repeated. During this time there are many people shopping for gifts, there are many radio announcements, TV c

ommercials, and in every part of the world everyone is talking that My 

birthday is getting closer and closer.

It is really very nice to know, that at least once a year, some people

think of Me. As you know, the celebration of My birthday began many

years ago. At first people seemed to understand and be thankful of all

that I did for them, but in these times, no one seems to know the

reason for the celebration. Family and friends get together and have a

lot of fun, but they don't know the meaning of the celebration.

I remember that last year there was a great feast in My honour. The

dinner table was full of delicious foods, pastries, fruits, assorted

nuts and chocolates. The decorations were exquisite and there were

many, many beautifully wrapped gifts. But, do you want to know

something? I wasn't invited. I was the Guest of Honour and they didn't

remember to send Me an invitation.

The party was for Me, but when that great day came, I was left outside; 

they closed the door in my face.... And I wanted to be with them and

share their table. In truth, that didn't surprise Me because in the

last few years all close their doors to Me. Since I wasn't invited, I

decided to enter the party without making any noise. I went in and

stood in a corner. They were all drinking; there were some who were

drunk and telling jokes and laughing at everything.

They were having a grand time. To top it all, this big fat man all

dressed in red wearing a long white beard entered the room yelling

Ho-Ho-Ho! He seemed drunk. He sat on the sofa and all the children

ran to him, saying: "Santa Claus, Santa Claus”, as if the party were

in his honour!

At 12 Midnight all the people began to hug each other; I extended My

arms waiting for someone to hug Me and ... do you know ... no one hugged Me. Suddenly they all began to share gifts. They opened them one by one with great expectation. When all had been opened, I looked to see

if, maybe, there was one for Me.

What would you feel if on your birthday everybody shared gifts and you 

did not get one? 

I then understood that I was unwanted at that party and 

quietly left.

Every year it gets worse. People only remember to eat and drink, the gifts, the parties and nobody remembers Me. I would like this Christmas that you allow Me to enter into your life. I would like that you recognize the fact that almost two thousand years ago I came to this world to give My life for you, on the cross,

to save you.

Today, I only want that you believe this with all your heart. I want

to share something with you. As many didn't invite Me to their party,

I will have my own celebration, a grandiose party that no one has ever

imagined, a spectacular party. I'm still making the final arrangements.

Today I am sending out many invitations and there is an invitation for

you. I want to know if you wish to attend and I will make a

reservation for you and write your name with golden letters in My great

guest book.

Only those on the guest list will be invited to the party. Those who don't answer the invitation will be left outside. Be prepared because when all is ready you will be part of My great party.

See you soon. I Love you! ~ Jesus.

Ten Guidelines From God

Effective Immediately, please be aware that there are changes YOU need to make in YOUR life. These changes need to be completed in order that I may fulfill My promises to you to grant you peace, joy and happiness in this life. I apologize for any inconvenience, but after all that I am doing, this seems very little to ask of you. Please, follow these 10 guidelines ...

1. QUIT WORRYING: 

Life has dealt you a blow and all you do is sit and worry. Have you forgotten that I am here to take all your burdens and carry them for you? Or do you just enjoy fretting over every little thing that comes your way? 

2. PUT IT ON THE LIST: 

Something needs done or taken care of. Put it on the list. No, not YOUR list. Put it on MY to-do-list. Let ME be the one to take care of the problem. I can't help you until you turn it over to Me. And although My to-do-list is long, I am after all... God. I can take care of anything you put into My hands. In fact, if the truth were ever really known, I take care of a lot of things for you that you never even realize. 

3. TRUST ME: 

Once you've given your burdens to Me, quit trying to take them back. Trust in Me. Have the faith that I will take care of all your needs, your problems and your trials. Problems with the kids? Put them on My list. Problem with finances? Put it on My list. Problems with your emotional roller coaster? For My sake, put it on My list. I want to help you. All you have to do is ask. 

4. LEAVE IT ALONE: 

Don't wake up one morning and say, 

"Well, I'm feeling much stronger now, I think I can handle it from here." Why do you think you are feeling stronger now? It's simple... You gave Me your burdens and I'm taking care of them. I also renew your strength and cover you in my peace. Don't you know that if I give you these problems back, you will be right back where you started? Leave them with Me and forget about them. Just let Me do my job.

5. TALK TO ME: 

I want you to forget a lot of things.

Forget what was making you crazy.

Forget the worry and the fretting because 

you know I'm in control. But there's one

thing I pray you never forget. Please, don't 

forget to talk to Me - OFTEN! I love YOU! 

I want to hear your voice. I want you to 

include Me in on the things going on in your life. I want to hear you talk about your friends and family. Prayer is simply you having a conversation with Me. I want to be your dearest friend. 

6. HAVE FAITH: 

I see a lot of things from up here that you 

can't see from where you are. Have faith in 

Me that I know what I'm doing. Trust Me; 

you wouldn't want the view from My eyes.

I will continue to care for you, watch over you, 

and meet your needs. You only have to trust Me.

Although I have a much bigger task than you, 

it seems as if you have so much trouble just 

doing your simple part. How hard can trust be?

7. SHARE: 

You were taught to share when you were only two years old. When did you forget? 

That rule still applies. Share with those who are less fortunate than you. Share your joy with those who need encouragement. Share your laughter with those who haven't heard any in such a long time. Share your tears with those who have forgotten how to cry. Share your faith with those who have none. 

8. BE PATIENT: 

I managed to fix it so in just one lifetime

you could have so many diverse experiences. 

You grow from a child to an adult, have children, 

change jobs many times, learn many trades, 

travel to so many places, meet thousands

of people, and experience so much. How can

you be so impatient then when it takes Me 

a little longer than you expect to handle 

something on My to-do-list? Trust in My 

timing, for My timing is perfect. Just 

because I created the entire universe in

only six days, everyone thinks I should 

always rush, rush, and rush. 

9. BE KIND: 

Be kind to others, for I love them just as much as I love you. They may not dress like you, or talk like you, or live the same way you do, but I still love you all. Please try to get along, for My sake. I created each of you different in some way. It would be too boring if you were all identical. Please, know I love each of your differences.

10. LOVE YOURSELF: 

As much as I love you, how can you not

love yourself? You were created by Me for

one reason only -- to be loved, and to love

in return. I am a God of Love. Love Me.

Love your neighbors. But also love yourself. 

It makes My heart ache when I see you

so angry with yourself when things go 

wrong. You are very precious to me.

Don't ever forget...

3 Keys To Unlock The Happiness Door - Bo Sanchez

Do you want to be really happy? I've noticed that the door of happiness has three locks. To open that door, you need 3 keys. I believe that without these 3 Keys, it’ll be impossible to be happy.

Here they are:

Key 1: Your ability to select your 90%

Key 2: Your ability to surrender your Circle of Concern

Key 3: Your ability to seek your happiness from God’s Love

Let me explain…

Key 1: Your Ability To Select Your 90%

I've come to a simple yet profound realization. I believe that happiness doesn't depend on what’s happening around me. Happiness depends on what’s happening inside you.

How come?

Because of the 90/10 Principle.

Stephen Covey said that 10% of life consists of the stuff that happens to you. This includes the good stuff. Perhaps you got a job promotion. That’s part of the 10% of life. Or you found the guy of your dreams. As big as that is, that’s still part of the 10% of life.

That 10% also includes the bad stuff. Perhaps you got fired. Or your boyfriend dumped you for another girl. Or you gained 10 pounds. Or your car broke down. Or your cell phone got stolen. All that is included in the 10% of life.

Because 10% of life consists of what happens to you.

What’s the 90%?

90% of life consists of what you do to what happens to you.

When a trial comes, will you respond with faith or doubt?

When a blessing comes, will you respond with gratitude or ingratitude?

When hardship comes, will you persevere or will you give up?

When irritating people come, will you be patient or be impatient?

Friends, your happiness depends on this 90%–what you do to what happens to you.

Your happiness is a choice!

Here’s the next key…

Key 2: Your Ability To Surrender

Your Circle Of Concern

One of my favorite passages in the Bible says, Give your burdens to the Lord, and He will take care of you. (Psalms 55:22)

(ignore the picture if you have issues about giving Christ some imagery - concentrate on the words of Scripture ~ SB)

Are you carrying a heavy burden right now? I’ve got a very important message for you. You don’t have to carry that burden. That’s why many people are getting sick today. That’s why many people are getting depressed. That’s why many people have anxiety disorders. Because God didn’t design you to carry extremely heavy burdens for an extended period of time. 

Because God designed you to give your burdens to Him.

Aside from the 90/10 Principle, Covey also talked about the difference between your “Circle of Control” and your “Circle of Concern”.

Mix up these two and you get into a lot of useless stress! A lot of people confuse the two—that’s where our anxiety comes from.

Let me ask you a question: Does your Job belong to your Circle of Control or your Circle of Concern?

Here’s the answer. There are certain parts of your Job that are found within your Circle of Control. For example, your attitude and performance are stuff you can control. 

But everything else is in your Circle of Concern. You can’t control your boss. You can’t control the other departments. You can’t control the economy of the world. You can’t control the laws that affect your company.

For example, some wives have this crazy hallucination that their husband is in their Circle of Control.

I've got news for you: He’s not, no matter what you think.

A woman came up to me and said, “Bo, please preach about smoking. So my husband will stop this terrible vice. I’ve been nagging him to stop, but he hasn’t…”

I told her, “You can’t control his smoking. And nagging doesn’t work. It never has. The only thing you can do is pray for him and surrender….”

I believe we will go insane if we don’t know how to surrender.

Because there are many things that you can’t control.

Are you a parent? Believe me, you’ll go insane if you won’t trust God for your kids. Because there are many things you can’t control about your kids. Yes, you can control how you relate to them. How you train them. How you mentor them. How you love them. But the rest? Surrender.

You can’t guarantee how they’ll make their choices. Whether your kids will be successful in their jobs or businesses. Whether your kids will choose the right spouse. Whether they’ll raise up their own kids well.

So what should you do with your Circle of your Concern?

Do what you can do about that financial problem, or physical sickness, or relationship problem. But after you’ve done everything that you can do, surrender.

And finally…

Key 3: Your Ability To Seek Your Happiness

From God’s Love

One day, the disciples of Jesus came back from their mission trip with fantastic “success” stories. What made them excited the most? That the demons fled at their command.

“It was amazing,” they told Jesus. “We just said, Demons, get out! And those varmints scampered like rats in a flood.”

Jesus congratulated them, but after giving them hi-fives, he said something very important. He said, I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. (Luke 10:18, 20)

What was he saying?

“Do not rejoice at your success, but rejoice that God loves you.”

Why? Because all success is fleeting. 

Yes, thank God for your accomplishments. But a day will come when these accomplishments would fade away.

Your trophies and plaques and awards decorating your wall will one day be trash. When you’re gone, one of your grandkids will throw them all in a garbage can. 

Your car, so nice and shiny now, will one day be a heap of rust.

Your money, no matter how much you have, will one day be of no use to you.

Your home, so beautiful today, will one day be owned by someone else.

So if your happiness is based on your accomplishments, you’ll lose your happiness rather quickly.

Jesus tells us: Seek your real happiness on eternal things, not temporal things. Seek your happiness on the fact that God loves you, that God has written your name in His heart.

Be happy!
May your dreams come true - thanks Bo ~ SB

More Ides...

"Criticism is an opinion for good or ill, generally indulged in by the fellow who knows more than any one else, yet the biggest fool.

 There is no criticism that calls not forth yet another. The last critic is the biggest fool of all, for the world starts and ends with him.

 He is the source of all knowledge, yet knows nothing, for there is not a word one finds to use that there is not another that hath the same meaning, then wherefore do we criticize?" - Marcus Garvey

ATTITUDE IN ADVERSITY

A daughter complained to her father about her life, and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it, and wanted to give up. She was tired of all the fighting and struggling. It seemed as though in solving one problem, two more would arise.

Her father (a chef) took her to the kitchen. He filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to the boil. In one he placed carrots, in the second he placed eggs, and in the last he placed ground coffee beans. He let them sit and boil without saying a word. The daughter impatiently waited, wondering what he was doing. In about twenty minutes he turned off the burners. He fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. He pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then he ladled the coffee out and poured it in a cup. Turning to her he asked, “Darling, what do you see?” “Carrots, eggs and coffee”, she replied.

He brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. He then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, he asked her to sip the coffee. She smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. She humbly asked, “What does it mean, Father?”

He explained that each of them had faced the same adversity, boiling water, but each reacted differently. The carrots went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. But after being subjected to the boiling water, they softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior. But after sitting through the boiling water, the insides became hardened. However, the ground coffee beans were unique. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

‘Which are you”, he asked his daughter. “When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?”

How about you? Are you the carrot that seems hard, but with pain and adversity do you wilt and become soft and lose your strength?

Are you the egg, which starts off with a changeable heart? Were you a fluid spirit, but after difficult times, have you become hardened and stiff. Your shell looks the same, but are you tough with a stiff spirit and heart?

Or are you like the coffee bean? The bean changes the hot water, the thing that is bringing the pain. When the water reaches its peak temperature, it just tastes better.
If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and make things better around you.

When people talk about you, do your praises to the Lord increase? When the hour is darkest and trials are their greatest, does your worship elevate to another level?

How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

I do so love my coffee - GOD bless ~ SB