MAMA'S BIBLE

MAMA'S BIBLE

Four brothers left home for college, and they became successful doctors
and lawyers.

One evening, they chatted after having dinner together. They
discussed the 95th birthday gifts they were able to give their elderly mother who moved
to Florida .

The first said, "You know I had a big house built for Mama."

The second said, "And I had a large theatre built in the house."

The third said, "And I had my Mercedes dealer deliver an SL600 to her."

The fourth said, "You know how Mama loved reading the Bible and you know
she can't read anymore because she can't see very well. I met this
preacher who told me about a parrot who could recite the entire Bible. It took
ten preachers almost 8 years to teach him. I had to pledge to contribute
$50,000 a year for five years to the church, but it was worth it
Mama only has to name the chapter and verse, and the parrot will recite it."

The other brothers were impressed. After the celebration Mama sent out
her "Thank You" notes.

She wrote: Milton , the house you built is so huge that I live in only one
room, but I have to clean the whole house. Thanks anyway."

"Marvin, I am too old to travel. I stay home; I have my groceries
delivered, so I never use the Mercedes. The thought was good. Thanks."

"Michael, you gave me an expensive theatre with Dolby sound and it can
hold 50 people, but all of my friends are dead, I've lost my hearing,
and I'm nearly blind. I'll never use it. Thank you for the gesture just the
same."

"Dearest Melvin, you were the only son to have the good sense to give
a little thought to your gift. The chicken was delicious Thank you so much."

Love, Mama

 

JUST CHECKING IN TODAY

A Minister passing through his church

In the middle of the day,

Decided to pause by the altar

To see who came to pray.

 

Just then the back door opened,

And a man came down the aisle,

The minister frowned as he saw the man

Hadn't shaved in a while.

 

His shirt was torn and shabby,

And his coat was worn and frayed,

The man knelt down and bowed his head,

Then rose and walked away.

In the days that followed at precisely noon,

The preacher saw this chap,

Each time he knelt just for a moment,

A lunch pail in his lap.

 

Well, the minister's suspicions grew,

With robbery a main fear,

He decided to stop and ask the man,

 

'What are you doing here?'

 

The old man said he was a factory worker

And lunch was half an hour

Lunchtime was his prayer time,

For finding strength and power.

 

I stay only a moment

Because the factory's far away;

As I kneel here talking to the Lord,

This is kinda what I say:

 

'I Just Came By To Tell You, Lord,

How Happy I Have Been,

Since We Found Each Other's Friendship

And You Took Away My Sin.

Don't Know Much Of How To Pray,

But I Think About You Every day.

So, Jesus, This Is Ben,

Just Checking In Today.'

 

The minister feeling foolish,

Told Ben that it was fine.

He told the man that he was welcome

To pray there anytime.

 

'It's time to go, and thanks,' Ben said

As he hurried to the door.

 

Then the minister knelt there at the altar,

Which he'd never done before.

 

His cold heart melted, warmed with love,

As he met with Jesus there.

As the tears flowed down his cheeks,

He repeated old Ben's prayer:

 

'I Just Came By To Tell You, Lord,

How Happy I've Been,

Since We Found Each Other's Friendship

And You Took Away My Sin.

I Don't Know Much Of How To Pray,

But I Think About You Every day.

So, Jesus, This Is Me,

Just Checking In Today.'

 

Past noon one day, the minister noticed

That old Ben hadn't come.

As more days passed and still no Ben,

He began to worry some.

 

At the factory, he asked about him,

Learning he was ill.

The hospital staff was worried,

But he'd given them a thrill.

 

The week that Ben was with them,

Brought changes in the ward.

His smiles and joy contagious.

Changed people were his reward.

 

The head nurse couldn't understand

Why Ben could be so glad,

When no flowers, calls or cards came,

Not a visitor he had.

 

The minister stayed by his bed,

He voiced the nurse's concern:

No friends had come to show they cared.

He had nowhere to turn.

 

Looking surprised, old Ben spoke up

And with a winsome smile;

'The nurse is wrong, she couldn't know,

He's been here all the while.'

 

Every day at noon He comes here,

A dear friend of mine, you see,

He sits right down and takes my hand,

Leans over and says to me:

 

'I Just Came By To Tell You, Ben,

How Happy I Have Been,

Since We Found This Friendship,

And I Took Away Your Sin.

I Think About You Always

And I Love To Hear You Pray,

And So Ben, This Is Jesus,

Just Checking In Today.'

 

If this blesses you, pass it on. Many people

will walk in and out of your life, but only

true friends will leave footprints in your

heart

 

May God hold you in the palm of His hand

And Angels watch over you..

Please pass this page on to your friends

&loved ones. If you aren't ashamed.

 

Jesus said, ' If you are ashamed of me,'

I will be ashamed Of you before my Father.'

If you are not ashamed, pass this on.

 

So, FRIENDS & FAMILY, this is ME ...

"Just Checking In Today"

SIX SNEAKY SIGNS YOU ARE UNDER STRESS

I found this article on the Internet. Solution? Read my book Small White Hearts every day and journal as you go. You will learn to give it all to Our Lord and slow down!!

 

6 Sneaky Signs You are Under Stress

Stomach troubles: during stress, we tend to swallow large amounts of air. This results in gas formation, bloating and discomfort. But that is not all. Unchecked, stress can wreak havoc on the digestive system, causing anything from restricted blood flow to stomach spasms, ulcers and celiac disease.

Jaw pain: those under stress often gnash and grind their teeth during sleep. Many of us clench our teeth all day long without realizing it. If your jaw feels tight and your facial muscles feel tense, it could be more than a dental problem–stress is sometimes an underlying reason.

Canker sores: stress can cause the area around the lips to swell and flare up. This happens because stress compromises your ability to fight inflammation and infection.

Frequent colds: stress lowers immunity and triggers the production of cortisol, a hormone that inhibits your ability to fight infection. And the dangers of stress stretch beyond frequent colds. Several inflammatory  diseases such as asthma, autoimmunie disease, cardiovascular disease have been linked to high stress levels.

Skin problems: tension causes skin to produce more oil, thus clogging pores. The result is breakouts and pimples. But that’s not the whole story. A whole list of skin problems, such as dry skin, itchiness,  cracks, eczema and psoriasis have been linked to stress. A Johns Hopkins study even found a link between stressful life events and deadly skin cancer.

Weight gain: If you eat high calorie food in a happy frame of mind, it isn’t as bad as when you indulge in stress-triggered overeating. That’s because stress causes the body to produce cortisol, which turns the extra food into belly fat.

All of this means two things:

• The relationship between stress and physical ailment is proof of the intimate link between body and mind.
• You need to address the stress factors in your life, and deal with them. Good diet, sound sleep and a happy heart—work toward strengthening these three pillars of health, and wave a firm goodbye to stress and all that comes with it!

EXCERPT FROM THE POWER OF DISCIPLINE

An excerpt from The Power of Discipline by Brian Tracy

Why are some people more successful than others? Why do some people make more money, live happier lives and accomplish much more in the same number of years than the great majority? I started out in life with few advantages. I did not graduate from high school. I worked at menial jobs. I had limited education, limited skills and a limited future. And then I began asking, "Why are some people more successful than others?" This question changed my life. Over the years, I have read thousands of books and articles on the subjects of success and achievement. It seems that the reasons for these accomplishments have been discussed and written about for more than two thousand years, in every conceivable way. One quality that most philosophers, teachers and experts agree on is the importance of self-discipline. As Al Tomsik summarized it years ago, "Success is tons of discipline." Some years ago, I attended a conference in Washington. It was the lunch break and I was eating at a nearby food fair. The area was crowded and I sat down at the last open table by myself, even though it was a table for four. A few minutes later, an older gentleman and a younger woman who was his assistant came along carrying trays of food, obviously looking for a place to sit. With plenty of room at my table, I immediately arose and invited the older gentleman to join me. He was hesitant, but I insisted. Finally, thanking me as he sat down, we began to chat over lunch. It turned out that his name was Kop Kopmeyer. As it happened, I immediately knew who he was. He was a legend in the field of success and achievement. Kop Kopmeyer had written four large books, each of which contained 250 success principles that he had derived from more than fifty years of research and study. I had read all four books from cover to cover, more than once. After we had chatted for awhile, I asked him the question that many people in this situation would ask, "Of all the one thousand success principles that you have discovered, which do you think is the most important?" He smiled at me with a twinkle in his eye, as if he had been asked this question many times, and replied, without hesitating, "The most important success principle of all was stated by Thomas Huxley many years ago. He said, 'Do what you should do, when you should do it, whether you feel like it or not.'" He went on to say, "There are 999 other success principles that I have found in my reading and experience, but without self-discipline, none of them work." Self-discipline is the key to personal greatness. It is the magic quality that opens all doors for you, and makes everything else possible. With self-discipline, the average person can rise as far and as fast as his talents and intelligence can take him. But without self-discipline, a person with every blessing of background, education and opportunity will seldom rise above mediocrity. The seven areas of your life where the practice of self-discipline will be key to your success include goals, character, time management, personal health, money, courage and responsibility

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR USES

10 Tips for Using Apple Cider Vinegar

• Apple cider vinegar is my favorite new DIY household product. Just as baking soda has a huge range of uses from personal self-care to household cleaning, apple cider vinegar can do pretty much anything–for your skin, your hair, your house, and even your pets.
  I learned about apple cider vinegar when I was researching ways to get rid of the fleas that had unfortunately begun cropping up in my apartment from my roommates’ two cats. Apple cider vinegar, apparently, when rubbed on the pet and added to the pet’s water, can greatly help repel the fleas from the animal.
  Why should we all start using more apple cider vinegar? First of all, apple cider vinegar is a completely natural product: apple juice is fermented to hard apple cider, which is fermented a second time to apple cider vinegar. In integrating this natural product into our homes, we instantly decrease the consumption of unnatural chemicals in our daily lives.
  Here are many other benefits of apple cider vinegar that can be applied to your lifestyle. Read the list below.
  BEAUTY:
  Hair: It is widely known that apple cider vinegar can be used as a rinse for your hair after shampooing to add healthy body and shine. Recycle an old shampoo bottle and fill it with 1/2 a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and a cup of cold water. Pour through your hair after shampooing several times a week.
  Face: Did you know that apple cider vinegar can help regulate the pH of your skin? Dilute apple cider vinegar with two parts water, and spread the concoction over your face with a cotton ball as a toner. You can do this at night after washing, and in the morning before you apply your moisturizer. You can also dab apple cider vinegar directly onto age spots and leave them on overnight to lighten their color.
  Hands and Feet: Are your hands and feet feeling tired and swollen after a long day? Treat yourself to a personal spa massage by rubbing apple cider vinegar onto them.
  Sunburn: Suffering from a bad sunburn? Add a cup of apple cider vinegar to your bath and soak for 10 minutes.
  Teeth: Did you know that apple cider vinegar can help remove stains from teeth? Rub teeth directly with apple cider vinegar and rinse out.
  Aftershave: Fill a bottle with equal parts apple cider vinegar and water and shake to blend.
  HEALTH:
  Weight-Loss: For daily weight and pH balance maintenance, add 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar to 16 oz of water. Sip this concoction throughout the day.
  Detox: Add 2 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to a 1 or 2 liter filtered water bottle. Drink this throughout the day to cleanse your body and kidneys all day long.
  HOME AND PETS
  Cleaning: Mix 1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar with 1 cup water. You can use this concoction to clean microwaves, bathroom tiles, kitchen surfaces, windows, glasses and mirrors. This mixture also works as a disinfectant.
  Flea Reduction: Rub apple cider vinegar onto your pet’s skin. Add a little bit of apple cider vinegar to their water. Spray apple cider vinegar, diluted 50 percent with water, onto your pets and onto your furniture to repel the presence of fleas.
  
  
  Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/apple-cider-vinegar-miracle-for-home-and-body.html#ixzz2e3tSVB00

HABITS OF REALLY SMART PEOPLE

5 Good (And Bad) Habits Of Really Smart People

• Beth Buczynski
• September 4, 2013
  
  Read more:

 

         Our culture loves to idolize smart, successful people. Although I might argue that society’s real heroes can be found in classrooms and farm fields, we need these brilliant outliers to shake things up and show us what’s possible.

         Incredibly smart, successful people make it look easy, developing revolutionary technologies or creating works of art that astound us for generations. What you don’t often see is the hard work and discipline that allowed them to achieve their dreams. You also don’t see the embarrassing stuff, the dirty little secrets that may only come out when their lives are reproduced in Hollywood.

        Although there’s no one sure path to success, you can’t deny that most smart people have a few things in common. Good habits helped to keep them on the right path, despite personal setbacks or professional failures. On the flip side, some could have enjoyed much longer and productive lives if they’d had more control over bad habits.

         Normally, I’d advise against trying to live like someone else, but emulating these key habits can do the same for all of us. Just make sure it’s the good habits you copy, and not the destructive ones.

 

 

Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/5-good-and-bad-habits-of-really-smart-people.html#ixzz2e3k87MWVpeople.html#ixzz2e3jliJyt

THE KEY TO HAVING ENDLESS ENERGY

The Key to Having Endless Energy

Barry Michels and Phil Stutz share how holding back hurts more than it helps.

Do everything you do with every fiber of your being. This includes important activities, like preparing a presentation for work or expressing love to your spouse or children, but it also includes everyday things like washing the dishes, balancing your checkbook, or talking to the checkout clerk at a store. Most people are so afraid of depleting themselves they constantly hold themselves back. But if you give to the last drop, you’ll be surprised to discover you have more energy than you ever dreamed of.

        In fact, you have a source of infinite energy inside you; it can’t be depleted. Weirdly, the way to get more of this energy – is to give more of it away. When you hold back, you lose touch with it. When you feel like you’re running on empty, that’s why.

       This inexhaustible source is every human being’s sacred birthright and its energy reflects two aspects of the divine. The first is Love: it has the ability to connect you to the people around you – and them to each other. The second is Creation: it can bring new things into the world. At the end of your life, this outflow of love and creativity is all that will matter, and it is all that will be left of your existence; it is your true legacy.

       So far so good. But it’s easier to say “give all of yourself” than it is to do it. Mostly, we focus on what we want to get from the world – money, validation, status, etc. What we have to give seems irrelevant. But whatever you get back means nothing compared to what you give out. We’ve treated patients who’ve gotten more than most of us can imagine – they live in palaces and wear outfits that could feed entire families for a year – and none of it makes them happy or fulfilled. As hard as it is to believe, they have to live by the same rules as you do; to live well, they have to give everything of themselves….

Barry and Phil are co-authors of THE TOOLS.