Posted: under "A Slice Of Life", "When You're Down to Nothing God's UP to Something", Inspirationals.
Tags: belief, bishop, blessings, burden, challenge, challenges, Christian, cross, depression, exam, faith, focus, friends, glory, God, inspiration, journey, learning, life, link, listening, load, love, minister, music, pastor, pope, prayer, preacher, priest, process, reverend, scripture, test, trust, video, weight, world
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I have a dear friend who is a minister. We talk almost every day, and she has a way of counseling, planting seeds and providing insight that makes you think YOU came up with the answer or solution. I often run my issues of life past her. Recently, we were having a conversation about how God is working things out of me and purging me of some of my sinful ways so that He can use me. She laughed when I shared with her that the process is no fun. She tried to convince me that the process isn’t so bad, when finally and adamantly I told her that this process is absolutely no fun, but I’m going through it because I want God to get me where He wants me, and I don’t want to have to come this way again. We both laughed at that because she knew exactly what I meant.
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Too often, as Christians, we like to say the ‘politically correct’ things, sugar coat what I call our ‘pruning process’ and make everything sound like it’s just hunky-dory. “Oh, I just want God to use me for His Glory,” or “I can’t wait to see how God is going to work this out.” Well, I’m more inclined to ‘be real’ and call it like I see it. It’s not always pretty, fun or something to look forward to. Sometimes it’s difficult, uncomfortable and painful to go through some of the things that God allows in our lives. It doesn’t make me love Him any less, nor do I want Him to stop preparing me for the things He has in store for me. But the reality is: it’s not always fun or pleasant on this journey; not if you’re doing it right.


There are some days when I get tired, discouraged or just want to quit, and I start thinking what’s the use? But I’m drawn to and
Posted: under "A Slice Of Life", Inspirationals.
Tags: attention, belief, care, challenges, comfort, control, conversation, faith, feeling, friends, God, graduation, guidance, home, journey, laughter, life, Lord, love, Memorial Day, memories, nature, peace, picnic, protection, psalm, road, school, scripture, security, tranquility, trust

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I have a fond memory of the love of my life and me taking a walk in the woods shortly after high school graduation. We were attending a Memorial Day weekend picnic with some friends of his and we broke away from the group to take a stroll through the woods. I don’t recall the name of the park we were in, but I do know that I had never been there before. As we walked, talked and laughed our way through a pathway that was unfamiliar to me, I was engrossed in our conversation and was looking down. I remember feeling like I was in the one of the most peaceful and tranquil settings when suddenly, my friend stopped, stepped in front of me and gently pushed me back. I didn’t know why until I looked up. I was about to run smack into a large branch that was eye-level and probably would have rendered me unconscious.
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Shocked, I looked up at him as he asked, “Didn’t you see that branch?” I had not. I was not paying attention to where I was going. I was blindly following this young man that I loved and trusted. I felt comfortable and secure with him. I knew that he cared for me and that he would get me safely back to our group.
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That memory of trusting someone and feeling protected is not unlike our walk with God. In faith, we allow God to take control of our lives and lead us on journeys, through the unfamiliar pathways and woods of life. We put our trust in Him knowing that He will not
Posted: under "A Slice Of Life", Inspirationals.
Tags: ability, accomplishment, accomplishments, action, actions, age, aid, angel, angels, assistance, beauty, caring, challenge, challenges, change, church, contribution, day, donation, dream, duty, earth, effort, future, gift, global, globe, greatness, history, home, humanity, ingredient, ingredients, inspiration, job, labor, life, love, man, message, minister, organization, others, pastor, potential, preacher, present, president, priest, qualities, quotes, relationship, reverend, sermon, sharing, success, surprise, task, team, time, today, token, universe, volunteer, woman, work, world

When was the last time you were challenged to do something really…
well… great?
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President Abraham Lincoln helped me to understand that there is a
bit of greatness within all of us. It is said that he often slipped
out of the White House on Wednesday evenings to listen to the
sermons of Dr. Phineas Gurley at New York Avenue Presbyterian
Church.
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He generally preferred to come and go unnoticed, so when Dr.
Gurley knew the president was coming, he left his study door open.
On one of those occasions, the president quietly entered through a
side door of the church, took his seat in the minister’s study,
located just off the sanctuary, and propped the door open just wide
enough to hear the preacher.
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During the walk home one Wednesday evening, an aide asked Mr.
Lincoln his appraisal of the sermon. The president thoughtfully
replied, “The content was excellent… he delivered with
eloquence… he had put work into the message..”
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“Then you thought it was an excellent sermon?” questioned the aide.
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Posted: under "A Slice Of Life", Inspirationals.
Tags: ability, bat, care, challenges, faith, generosity, habit, inspiration, Jesus, kindness, life, love, prayer, solution, trust

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The Buzzard:
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If you put a buzzard in a pen that is 6 feet by 8 feet and is entirely open at the top, the bird, in spite of its ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner. The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground with a run of 10 to 12 feet. Without space to run, as is its habit, it will not even attempt to fly, but will remain a prisoner for life in a small jail with no top.
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The Bat:
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The ordinary bat that flies around at night, a remarkable nimble creature in the air, cannot take off from a level place. If it is placed on the floor or flat ground, all it can do is shuffle about helplessly and, no doubt, painfully, until it reaches some slight elevation from which it can throw itself into the air. Then, at once, it takes off like a flash.
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The Bumblebee:
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A bumblebee, if dropped into an open tumbler, will be there until it dies, unless it is taken out. It never sees the means of escape at the top, but persists in trying to find
Posted: under "A Slice Of Life", "LOVE is LOVELY", Inspirationals.
Tags: America, angel, appreciation, attitude, blessings, bride, challenges, dreams, encouragement, faith, family, fiance, food, freedom, friends, God, happiness, heart, home, hugs, inspiration, joy, laughter, life, link, love, Memorial Day, message, military, miracle, photos, president, price, pride, romance, salute, satisfaction, service, smiles, soldier, spirit, troops, video, war, wedding, wishes, world
Pick a war any war.
You can watch my salute to the troops video “When You Come Home” on Beliefnet.com after reading today’s story
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The following story has been repreated all too many times. It serves as a reminder that someone paid the price for your freedom.
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“As they saw his angel face”
by Bob Perks
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A Memorial Day Message
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They were both there the first time he cried. It was a joyful sound. The sound of life beginning and they waited so long to hear it. Mom and Dad were proud of him as they saw his angel face.He grew to be a young man full of hope and pride. He had dreams and plans for the future. In fact, waiting for him back home was the girl of his dreams. They met at school and just like fairy tales and romance stories this love affair was the kind that was meant to be.
The last time they saw each other they made promises of faithfulness. They talked about the wedding and a dozen or more children of their own. He said “I love you more than anything in this world.” She cried and with tears running softly down her face she said, ” I will wait for you and while we are apart my heart will skip every other beat until your return.” Read More
May 25 2009
Posted: under "Jamaica Labrish Korner", "Jamaica ~ Land Of Paradise".
Tags: agriculture, challenges, commitment, communication, computer, contribution, country, donation, economy, enterprise, Europe, Finance Minister, finances, gift, government, heritage, information, internet, investment, island, Jamaican, job, life, London, love, man, money, Montego Bay, opportunities, paradise, present, service, society, support, technology, tourism, trade, woman, world
Jamaicans overseas urged to invest in country
Published: Saturday | May 23, 2009

Jamaicans overseas are being urged to invest in their country to help the island weather the current financial hurricane sweeping the globe.
Speaking at the 2009 Jamaica National Building Society’s (JNBS) Outlook for The Future series in London and Birmingham, Jamaican officials said the island was ripe with investment opportunities and needed home-grown investors to capitalise on them.
“It’s an investment paradise as well as a tourism paradise,” said Laurence Jones, regional head of the European arm of the Jamaica Trade Investment (JTI). He told scores of Jamaicans and their descendants, who came out to the Royal Geographical Society in London, that “this is the time we need you to show your commitment to Jamaica”.
Investment Opportunities
Read More
May 23 2009