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Tuesday's Words of Wisdom

 

About 2 years ago I was so blessed to have received this message from a friend and  after reading these words again last night have been prompted to share these insightful words from Randy Pausch with you. I hope that this message will touch your life as it has mine.

Before Randy Pausch died of pancreatic cancer in 2008 he wrote a best selling book the Last Lecture, but the legacy he left behind for his wife and children was a beautiful letter with a “guide to a better life”. I have included the 30 point guide to improve our life below just to share the insightful words he has left us with:

30 point Guide to a better life

Personality:

1. Don’t compare your life to others’. You have no idea what their journey is all    about.
2. Don’t have negative thoughts of things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment
3. Don’t over do; keep your limits
4. Don’t take yourself so seriously; no one else does
5. Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip
6. Dream more while you are awake
7. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need..
8. Forget issues of the past. Don’t remind your partner of his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
9. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don’t hate others.
10. Make peace with your past so it won’t spoil the present
11. No one is in charge of your happiness except you
12. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn.
Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
13. Smile and laugh more
14. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

Community:

15. Call your family often
16. Each day give something good to others
17. Forgive everyone for everything
18. Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6
19. Try to make at least three people smile each day
20. What other people think of you is none of your business
21. Your job will not take care of you when you are sick. Your family and friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:

22. Put GOD first in anything and everything that you think, say and do.
23. GOD heals everything
24. Do the right things
25. However good or bad a situation is, it will change
26. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up
27. The best is yet to come
28. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful
29. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it
30. If you know GOD you will always be happy. So, be happy.

While you practice all of the above, share this knowledge with the people you love, people you school with, people you play with, people you work with and people you live with. Not only will it enrich YOUR life, but also that of those around you. Praise Lord.

Prayer:  Dear Lord, Thank you for giving us an insightful person like Randy so that we might learn from the legacy that he has left behind. Help us to share his wise words with our families, friends and the whole world. Amen

For this Easter Sunday I thought it would be fitting for me to share two verses of this beautiful hymn with all of you. The words really filled my heart with joy and also made me realise how grateful I should be that Jesus died on the cross for our redemption.

1.     Jesus Christ is risen today,

alleluia!

Our triumphant holy day,

alleluia!

Who did once, upon the cross,

alleluia!

2 Hymns of praise then let us sing,

alleluia!

Unto Christ, our heavenly king,

alleluia!

Who endured the cross and grave,

alleluia!

Sinners to redeem and save,

alleluia!

May the Peace and Joy of the Risen Lord be with you on this Blessed Easter Sunday,

Cheryl

How to Make a Collage: 8 steps - wikiHow

If you want to turn your photos in little masterpieces. Here are some cool ways to make a collage.
Just follow the steps to the wiki link and you have everything at your fingertips. How to Make a Collage: 8 steps - wikiHow
Enjoy the experience!


Have a blessed day,


Cheryl

What Words?

Day 1 – 09/11/2010, Tuesday

Today I’m penning the first page in my journal. Yes, that’s right! It was the lovely bound book my darling husband Mark gave me for my 45^th Birthday. This present was given to me on the 26^th March 2010. That was many months ago. Yes, I know I have some explaining to do. Okay, I must confess a few things though. I didn’t really want to write down any of my thoughts in this book. Why- Because, I felt too exposed. I was too afraid of what words might roll off my pen. Yes! ME. I know you don’t believe it! But as the words kept racing through my mind I felt a sense of confusion. But then reality hit home. The words I kept on a leash for many moons or hid in the corners of my heart – these were the words that kept cascading off my pen:

Yes words

Not just any words

 They were words chained with anger

Words

Dark words

Words laced with impatience

Words

Words carved with hate

Words

Words engulfed by fear

Words

Words full of emptiness

Words

Words

And then out of nowhere they flew:

Words

Words sprinkled with joy

Words

Words showered with love

Words

Words marked by peace

Words

Words embraced by hope

And with it that inner peace I craved for.  Why? What happened? Because when I least expected it God was speaking to me as I was sitting at my desk. He was telling me that I should let bygones be bygones. He was telling me to leave the past behind. He was telling me that he loved me with all my warts and faults. He was also telling me to live each day as if it were my last. He was telling me that I should not be afraid of anything or anyone because he was in control of my life. He was taking my hand like the good shepherd he was.

Memory Verse: The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want – Psalm 23:1

Prayer: Lord, thank you for always being there for me even though there are times that I don’t deserve it. Lord, help me to keep focused on you and to walk with you without turning back. Lord, help me to live my life like you. Amen

Have a blessed week,

Cheryl

The beginning of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount

 [Matthew 5 (NIV)]



1 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them. The Beatitudes
He said:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for teaching us how important your beatitudes are. Help us to know that the only way in to your kingdom is if we follow your plan for us and live our lives the way you want us to. Help us to live out our days as if it were our last. Amen



Blessing to all,


Cheryl

Here I am to worship

This morning as I was cleaning house, the words of this wonderful song kept on mulling through my mind. I just thought I’d share these beautiful words with you:

Light of the world,
You stepped down into darkness.
Open my eyes,
let me see.
Beauty that made this heart adore you
Hope of a life spent with you

And here I am to worship,
here I am to bow down,
here I am to say that you're my God
You're altogether lovely,
altogether worthy,
altogether wonderful to me.

King of all days,
oh, so highly exalted.
Glorious in heaven above.
Humbly you came
to the earth you created
All for love's sake became poor.

And here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that you're my God
You're altogether lovely.
altogether worthy,
altogether wonderful to me.

I'll never know how much it cost
To see my sin upon that cross
I'll never know how much it cost
To see my sin upon that cross
And I'll never know how much it cost
To see my sin upon that cross
No, I'll never know how much it cost

Here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that you're my God
You're altogether lovely
Altogether worthy
Altogether wonderful to me

And here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that you're my god
You're altogether lovely
Altogether worthy
Altogether wonderful
wonderful wonderful
Yes you are God

I'll never know how much it cost
To see my sin upon that cross
I'll never know how much it cost
To see my sin upon that cross

Have a wonderful day,

Cheryl

Lord, I searched for You

I read Psalm 63 a few months ago when I was feeling down in the dumps and having my own pity party and then wrote what the Lord had laid on my heart, but never had a chance to share these words with you. Here it is finally!

w

Lord, I search for You

Lord, I search for You

Lord, I search for You

all over this deserted place

How I long for your embrace

Just to rest,

my soul in You,

So that You can satisfy my thirst

with your pure and perfect love

I search for You

Lord, I search for You

Lord, I search for You

all over this deserted place

How I long for your embrace

Just to rest,

my soul in You,

So that You can satisfy my thirst

with your pure and perfect love

I search for You

O Lord, please

fill my cup with your rain

Let me reach the promised land

where I’ll never ever thirst again.

Lord, I search for You

Lord, I search for You

all over this deserted place

How I long for your embrace

O Lord, please

fill my cup with your rain

Let me reach the promised land

where I’ll never ever thirst again.

Have a blessed day,

Cheryl

Psalm 90 Verse 12

Blessings to you all,

Cheryl

My Suitcase of Bondage

There are days when I carry my suitcase like a tortoise carrying his home on its back. These I call normal days.  Normality to me means hanging in there!  Sometimes I wonder why I bother to carry this suitcase around. Of course, this suitcase of mine has a lot of different colourful panels and compartments.   And I love colourful, bright things! Don’t you think this is quite cute?  I suppose you’d like to know what’s in this suitcase of mine. Okay! Here’s a sneak preview:

Yes, I thought you’d be a bit surprised! When I look at this suitcase now, you can just imagine what’s running through my mind!  What else...  I am so exhausted by the load that it seems like I’m a prisoner walking with a ball and chain in a prison yard. You might ask me some questions like:

Why do you carry your sins in this bag?  Are you nuts? Don’t you know how clever and devious Satan is? Now wait a minute, the only reason I’m carrying my sins in this suitcase is because I think I can try and hide it in little compartments far away from God. But, then just when I think things are running smoothly, Satan barges onto the scene with his scheming plans of a quick fix. He’s adamant that he can use my sin as a diversion to keep me away from God. Then he tries everything in his power to conquer my spirit. He even brings my sin’s sidekick in the form of conflict, resentment, anger, jealousy, and what not to try and make me a slave to sin. As expected, Satan is singing and dancing because he knows that these are the times that I am proud of myself because I want to be God. I want to wear his crown. I want to be King! He laughs at me silently when he sees that I want to take control of our own ship. He beats his fists against his chest when he realizes that my ship is about to sink. But, then out of the blue, his dreams comes crashing down when I humble myself before God and throw away my foolish pride and plead with Our Heavenly Father to forgive me from all my sins. God, the forgiving father that he is, then pours out his mercy and grace on me taking me in his arms just like a father would. Once more he gives me the assurance I need that my sins are forgiven without any conditions. (Hebrews 8:12) 12 For God will be merciful to our unrighteousness. He will remember our sins and lawless deeds no more.”  As soon as I’m forgiven, I know that Satan has failed in his quest to conquer my spirit. So, this is when I picture myself carrying my suitcase [back pack] like a mountain climber reaching the summit of Mount Everest. It is in this instance when I realize that I have left all my sins at the top of that mountain at the foot of the cross. This is the time when I know that God has forgiven me from all my inequities.  He has cleansed me from my sin and that my heart is scarlet no more because it is now as white as snow. (I John 1:9) 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. It is then that I know God is the only captain of my ship. And all I have to do is put my ship in cruise control. Isn’t that amazing?

Prayer: Father God, I come before you a sinner who falls short every time.  Please forgive me of my foolish pride, my fits of anger when things don’t go my way. Help me not to judge others harshly. Let me not take part in any gossip of any kind. Just help me to keep my mind on you Lord. Help me to let go of all past hurts and wrongs that was inflicted by friends or family. Lord, help me to forgive those people who have wronged me.  Please help me also to be like you in everything I do or say. Amen

This is how I strive to be!

How do you carry your suitcase?

 Be blessed,

Cheryl

He is my shepherd

Who is Jesus?

Who is Jesus to you today?

Blessings to you all,

Cheryl

The Road to Emmaus

We walked that road

We walked that road

Spoke about Him

The one who died that day

We thought he’d pave the way

for our Redemption

Our hearts were full

of fear and sadness

He walked with us

but we didn’t know

He was the One

Even when he spoke to us

about the prophets words

The risen Lord

had to die

for God to give him

honour, power and life

We weren’t sure

We weren’t sure

But our heart’s were filled with gladness

We forgot about all our sadness

when he said the blessing

and broke some bread

That’s when our eyes opened

to what he had said

Alleluia, the Saviour is alive

He isn’t dead [anymore]

A blessed weekend to all,

Cheryl

My Emmaus Journey

Let’s face it, we all go on countless journeys and life takes us along many a winding turns and narrow streets.   But, how many of us have taken a spiritual trip along the ‘Road to Emmaus’ just like those two disciples did long time ago?  I had the opportunity of travelling on mine a few months ago when I embarked on an Evangelisation Course at our Church. It all began on a cool Saturday afternoon. However, the setting was nothing like the rocky road that those disciples travelled.  Our journey took place in the church grounds. We students were grouped together and each one had to choose a partner for the journey.  Before embarking on this journey, everyone had to be blindfolded.  After that, we made our way all along the church grounds taking on the characters of the two disciples many years ago. When my partner and I started the journey, we didn’t know what to expect. We were a little perplexed, weary and hopeless. We also had many reservations about the entire journey.  But, as we journeyed along, we spoke about the many struggles each other were facing.  My partner had a problem with her daughter who was in a relationship with someone of another faith and she was also managing a dysfunctional marriage. On the other hand, I was coping with a crisis wherein my father was in denial over his substance abuse problem and I was also trying to endure my constant bouts of depression. We chatted and listened to each other all the time. Although our challenges were different, we could relate to one another as mothers and as sisters in Christ. We could offer each other support and some godly advice.  In the beginning, it seemed as if nothing was going to change our mood. But, when we reached “Emmaus” our frame of mind underwent a drastic transformation. In our hearts we knew God was walking alongside us even though we never noticed his presence. And as our journey came to an end, everyone could but stare at us in awe! That previous air of uneasiness was replaced by profound joy radiating from our eyes to our faces. God is alive! God is real! God’s love is everlasting.

Verse: 30. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

 Luke 24:30-32 [NIV]

Prayer: Lord, thank you for accompanying us on our Emmaus journey. Please help us to never lose faith in you and to know that you are always with us no matter what our circumstances. Thank you for dying on the cross for our sins and rising again. Amen

Have you travelled on your road to Emmaus yet?

Have a blessed day,

Cheryl

Comfort to you my friend, if you have lost a loved one

My friend, today

in God I pray

that you will find

some peace of mind

That God will be

forever near

to wipe away

your every tear

And that His grace

will strengthen you

And shelter you

in love anew

Your anchor he

will be in time

A spiritual safe-haven

when rocky roads you climb

And when you think

he’s far away,

God’s always there

to address

your every care

In the morning

and at night

He will fight

your every plight

And in Him that

perfect peace you’ll find

A precious gift

call peace divine

That inner peace

beyond compare

Will make you all

your sorrows bear

So hope in God with

all your heart

‘cause his love in you

will not depart

Even in those times

of death

His kindness and grace

will give you rest

And in God’s promise

Is hope of what’s to come

A new life and heaven

with God’s very own Son

So, let His word be

your guiding light

And keep that Holy

fire burning bright