The Best Within You!!! Worth Reading!!

MJB

Prayer to the Voice in the Winds

O Great Spirit, whose Voice I hear in the Winds,
Hear me -- for I am small and weak:
I need Your Strength and Wisdom.
I seek Strength, O Great One, not to be superior to my Brothers --
But to conquer my greatest enemy: Myself.
I seek Wisdom: the Lessons You have hidden
In every Leaf and Rock so that I may learn
And carry these messages of Life and Hope to my People.
May my hands respect the many beautiful things You have made;
May my ears be sharp - to hear Your voice.
May I always walk in Your beauty;
And let my eyes behold the red and purple Sunset
So that when Life fades with the setting Sun,
My Spirit will come to You without shame. ...American Indian Prayer

"They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength."...Isaiah 40:31

Praying that God will fill your day with His own peace and the assurance of a quick recovery. My pray goes out to you .
Love and warm thoughts.MJB

Boop

The Power Of One

One SONG can spark a moment -- One FLOWER can wake the dream -- One TREE can start a forest
One BIRD can herald spring -- One SMILE begins a friendship -- One HANDCLASP lifts a soul
One STAR can guide a ship at sea -- One WORD can frame the goal -- One VOTE can change a nation
One SUNBEAM lights a room -- One CANDLE wipes out darkness -- One LAUGH will conquer gloom
One STEP must start each journey -- One WORD must start a prayer -- One HOPE will raise our spirits
One TOUCH can show you care -- One VOICE can speak with wisdom -- One HEART can know what is true
One LIFE can make a difference -- One spark can share a word of encouragement and start a fire that many will enjoy.
--Author Unknown --

Hugs and God Bless,
Cherie

Boop

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL DAY

This is the most beautiful day in my life. I knew it the minute I woke up. Yes, I have my troubles. Yes, I've had cause to worry, and sometimes I didn't think I'd make it to this day. But I did make it, and the day is mine, and I have tomorrow as well, so I've decided that this is going to be the best day of my life, and I'm going to celebrate the day and all it brings. I'm going to celebrate all of the wonderful things that have come my way--my many blessings, my home, my family, my friends, the things I love, and even the trials that have made me stronger. I'm going to celebrate because I'm alive and able to learn and experience new things, and because even the slowest day brings some type of excitement. I'll not overlook God's many and miraculous gifts, including the simple and most beautiful things in life like the daffodils of spring, a warm wind on a cool day, the buds on the trees, the snowflakes gently falling, the beauty of the winter sky at dusk, the birds that sing to the dawn. I'll even see the beauty in the rain. I'll not dwell on the errors I've made, on the things I regret, or the things I've lost. Instead, I'll hold my head high and appreciate what I've accomplished, what I can still accomplish, and be thankful for all I have. I'll focus on the positive things in life, instead of my woes, because worrying is a waste of time when I have faith in God, and He promised that everything will work out fine. I'll share my hope and positive outlook with other people. I'll go out of my way to make someone smile and will strive to perform little acts of kindness throughout the day. I'll be sincere to all I meet and try to lift the spirit of someone who's down. I'll tell the ones I care about just how special they are to me and how wonderful it is to have them in my life. And tonight, before I close my eyes, I'll look out at the lights over the city, and up at the silvery play of stars and moonlight in the heavens, and I'll remember that I have tomorrow as well and anything is possible--that I can do anything with my life. And I'll praise God for his gift of today and his promise for tomorrow.


Hugs and God Bless,
Cherie

MJB

Heavenly Father,
in my present need,
help me to believe that you are a wave
of my anxiety and will do what is best for me.
Give me the strength to trust you
and put the present and future in your hands.
Bless, O God,
all who struggle with cancer.
Empower them with hope
for each and every day.
Provide them with loving
and tender care, laughter,
and the support of love.
Grant them
courage when they are afraid,
comfort when they are in pain,
and your blessing
when all else seems hopeless,
that in their fight with illness
they may continue to praise you
and glorify your name.
Amen. Vienna Cobb Anderson
Love and warm thoughts.MJB

Boop

We are blessed,
We are alive,
We may have problems and challengers,
But we will survive.

We need to take care
Of the things that we've got,
And focus on positive things
And Forget God , not.

You are a lucky person,
You are Blessed you see,
You have many things,
And you are always loved by He



©2005 Anne R. C. Neale



Hugs and God Bless,
Cherie

MJB

Love before me
Love behind me
Love at my left
Love at my right
Love above me
Love below me
Love unto me
Love in my
surroundings
Love to all
Love to the Universe

Peace before me
Peace behind me
Peace at my left
Peace at my right
Peace above me
Peace below me
Peace unto me
Peace in my
surroundings
Peace to all
Peace to the Universe

Light before me
Light behind me
Light at my left
Light at my right
Light above me
Light below me
Light unto me
Light in my
surroundings
Light to all
Light to the Universe
In Love, Peace, and Light.

The strongest of all warriors are these two - Time and Patience.

Love and warm thoughts.MJB

MJB

One song can spark a moment,
One flower can wake the dream
One tree can start a forest,
One bird can herald spring.
One smile begins a friendship,
One handclasp lifts a soul.

One star can guide a ship at sea,
One word can frame the goal.
One vote can change a nation,
One sunbeam lights a room.

One candle wipes out darkness,
One laugh will conquer gloom.
One step must start each journey,
One word must start each prayer.

One hope will raise our spirits,
One touch can show you care.
One voice can speak with wisdom,
One heart can know what's true.

One life can make the difference,
You see it's up to "You"
Author Unknown
Love and warm thoughts.MJB

MJB

Give ear to my words , O Lord, consider my sighing.
Psalms 5:1

"Yearnings"
Father , today
I don't want to
go to work.

I want to stand at
my kitchen window
and watch the
morning sunlight
dance on the
glistening dew.

I'd even like to
bake an apple pie
and take the
time to clean
my closets.

But I have this
job. Somehow,
I don't think my
boss would be
sensitive and
understand my
yearnings to be
Suzy Homemaker.

So I'll pack
this brown bag
with my sandwich
and fruit and I'll be
off. Besides, a plain
apple is healthier
than a sugary pie.
Author...Janet Colsher Teitsort

For rest and shelter for the night,
Father we thank Thee.
Have a wonderful evening filled with family and friends , each minute sweeter than before .
Love and warm thoughts.MJB

MJB

HIGH FLIGHT
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered
wings,
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the
tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds-and done a hundred
things
You have not dreamed of-wheeled and
soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there
Ive chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long delirious burning blue,
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew-
And, while the silent lifting wind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
PUT OUT MY HAND AND TOUCHED THE FACE OF GOD
Author..John Gillespie McGee Jr.
This poem has long been one of my favourites. I hope it brings joy to your day.
Hear my cry, O God; give heed to my prayer. From the end of the earth I call to Thee, when my heart is faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I......Psalm 61:1-2
God Bless you all.
Love and warm thoughts.MJB

MJB

WIND AND WINDOW FLOWER

Lovers, forget your love,
And listen to the love of these,
She a window flower,
And he a winter breeze.

When the frosty window veil
Was melted down at noon,
And the caged yellow bird
Hung over her in tune,
He marked her through the pane,
He could not help but mark,
And only passed her by
To come again at dark.

He was a winter wind,
Concerned with ice and snow,
Dead weeds and unmated birds,
And little of love could know.

But he sighed upon the sill,
He gave the sash a shake,
As witness all within
Who lay that night awake.
Per chance he half prevailed
To win her for the flight
From the firelit looking-glass
And warm stove-window light.

But the flower leaned aside
And thought of naught to say,
And morning found the breeze
A hundred miles away....Author: Robert Frost
Love and warm thoughts.MJB

MJB

Teach Me to Pray

Please teach me, Lord
I want to know
Exactly how to pray.
I need some words
Which ones are right?
Please tell me what to say.
I've bowed my head
I have knelt down,
But should I be upright?
I've closed my eyes,
I've raised my hands,
Or should I fold them tight?

Do I stand up?
Should I sit down?
Dear Lord what do you like?
Are lights turned on Or are they off?
Maybe candle light?

Wear my glasses?
Take them off?
Be at my desk or table?
Should I whisper?
Speak out loud?
Do I quote the Bible?

What do you think
About the time?
Do You prefer the dawn?
Should I pray fast,
Or keep it slow?
Better short or long?

I'm new at this
What are the rules?
I want to do it right.
How do I know
You'll even hear
That I am in Your sight?

And while I sat there quietly, Waiting for some sign, I heard a gentle voice say:

"Oh, dearest child of mine ,
Do you think I really care about the time of day,
Or whether you are standing up,
Or kneeling when you pray?"

"I don't care about your posture,
Or about the place you choose;
Just open up your soul to me,
I have no other rules.
Tell me what is in your heart,
And tell me what you seek;
Tell me of your sorrows,
And of those things that made you weak."

"Speak to me in private
About what concerns you most;
I know about your good deeds,
You have no need to boast.
My child, you don't need lessons,
Just talk to me each day.
Tell me anything you want, dear child,
Anyone can pray....Author unknown

Love an warm thoughts.MJB

Boop

"If you believe within your soul
Hold on tight and never let go...
Whatever you believe is meant to be
It surely is your destiny...
So listen to your heart's voice
When you need to make that one choice...
It's only your heart that you can trust
And in yourself is a must..
And when it's time for your dream to come true
Remember that God and the Angels are helping you...
So don't give up though the pace seems slow
When your dream will come...You will know.."
--author unknown--

Hugs and God Bless,
Cherie

MJB

HOW DO I LOVE THEE ?

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.

I love thee to the level of everyday's
Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.

I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints,--I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life!--and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death....Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Love and warm thoughts.MJB

MJB

A wise woman who was traveling in the mountains found a precious stone in a stream. The next day she met another traveler who was hungry, and the wise woman opened her bag to share her food. The hungry traveler saw the precious stone and asked the woman to give it to him. She did so without hesitation. The traveler left, rejoicing in his good fortune. He knew the stone was worth enough to give him security for a lifetime. But a few days later he came back to return the stone to the wise woman.

"I've been thinking," he said, "I know how valuable the stone is, but I give it back in the hope that you can give me something even more precious. Give me what you have within you that enabled you to give me the stone."...."The Wise Woman's Stone" Author Unknown

“You cannot do a kindness too soon because you never know how soon it will be too late.”....Ralph Waldo Emerson
Love and warm thoughts.MJB

MJB

A man traveling across a field encountered a tiger. He fled, the tiger after him. Coming to a precipice, he caught hold of the root of a wild vine and swung himself over the edge.

The tiger sniffed at him from above. Trembling, the man looked down to where, far below, another tiger was waiting to eat him. Only the vine sustained him.

Two mice, one white and one black, little by little started to gnaw away the vine. The man then saw a luscious strawberry near him. Grasping the vine with one hand, he plucked the strawberry with the other.How sweet it tasted....Author Unknown
Love and warm thoughts.MJB

MJB

And A Meadow Lark Sang

"The child whispered, 'God, speak to me'
And a meadow lark sang.
The child did not hear.

So the child yelled, 'God, speak to me!'
And the thunder rolled across the sky
But the child did not listen.

The child looked around and said,
'God let me see you' and a star shone brightly
But the child did not notice.

And the child shouted,
'God show me a miracle!'
And a life was born but the child did not know.

So the child cried out in despair,
'Touch me God, and let me know you are here!'
Whereupon God reached down
And touched the child.

But the child brushed the butterfly away
And walked away unknowingly."....Ravindra Kumar Karnani (This poem was originally written in the Hindi language.)
Love and warm thoughts.MJB

AuntDee

Hi All,
I am new to this forum and journey. I am 42 and will be having a bilatteral mastectomy on Nov 21st with lat flap recon. Just wanted to thank you all from my heart for the words of inspiration. Even the strongest of Christians need to be reminded sometimes of the greatest physician of all.. Thanks for that reminder. I have typed up many of them and will hang around my house to help my husband and two sons ( 11 and 15) and myself through the next few months. I also wanted to share this with all of you. May our heavenly Father continue to bless each of you.
Aunt Dee
It’s in the Valleys I Grow


Sometimes life seems hard to bear,
full of sorrow, trouble and woe.
It’s then I have to remember
It’s in the valleys I Grow.

If I always stayed on mountain tops,
and never experienced pain,
I would never appreciate God’s love,
and I would be living in vain.

I have so much to learn
and my growth is very slow.
Sometimes I need the mountain tops,
but it’s in the valleys I grow.

I do not always understand,
why things happen the way they do.
But I am sure of one thing,
my Lord will see me through.

My little valleys are nothing,
when I picture Christ on the cross.
He went through the valley of death,
His victory was Satan’s loss.

Forgive me Lord for complaining,
when I’m feeling so very low.
Just give me a gentle reminder,
that it’s in the valleys I grow.

Continue to strengthen me, Lord
and use my life each day.
To share your love with others
and help them find their way.

Thank you for the valleys Lord,
for this one thing I know.
The mountain tops are glorious
But it’s in the valleys I grow.

Boop

Aunt Dee,

Welcome and thanks so much for the beautiful poem..We do have to be reminded at times who the greatest physician is..We don't always understand why things happen the way they do but God does and he will be there to help us through...Sending Hugs..

Hugs and God Bless,
Cherie

MJB

AuntDee thank you so much for sharing that lovely inspirational poem, please, do continue to share with us.I offer you this bit of inspiration:

“The Earth Prayer”

"Grandfather, Great Spirit, once more behold
me on earth and lean to hear my feeble voice.
You lived first, and you are older than all need,
older than all prayer. All things belong to you
-- the two-legged, the four-legged, the wings
of the air, and all green things that live.

You have set the powers of the four quarters of the earth to cross each other. You have made me cross the good road and road of difficulties, and where they cross, the place is holy. Day in, day out, forevermore, you are the life of things.

Hey! Lean to hear my feeble voice.
At the center of the sacred hoop
You have said that I should make the tree to bloom.

With tears running, O Great Spirit, my Grandfather,
With running eyes I must say
The tree has never bloomed

Here I stand, and the tree is withered.
Again, I recall the great vision you gave me.

It may be that some little root of the sacred tree still lives.
Nourish it then
That it may leaf
And bloom
And fill with singing birds!

Hear me, that the people may once again
Find the good road
And the shielding tree."....Black Elk Oglala Sioux, Medicine Man

LOve and warm thoughts.MJB

Boop

TAKE TIIME, MAKE TIME

What are you going to do today?
What plans have you made to do?
Be sure to take out some time today
To do something nice for you,

Life gets so busy with endless chores
Before you know it the day's spent,
At nightfall you look back at it
And wonder where the while day went,

Take time, make time, do it now you see,
You never know what will happen each day,
Each second actually is unknown to you,
You do have to accept what comes your way.

What are you going to do today?
What plans do you have to do?
Be sure to take time out today
To do something nice for you,

©2005 Anne R. C. Neale




Hugs and God Bless,
Cherie

MJB

Navaho Parayer - May it be beautiful


Dark young pine, at the center of the earth originating,
I have made your sacrifice.
Whiteshell, turquoise, abalone beautiful,
Jet beautiful, fool's gold beautiful, blue pollen beautiful,
Reed pollen, pollen beautiful, your sacrifice I have made.
This day your child I have become, I say.

Watch over me.
Hold your hand before me in protection.
Stand guard for me, speak in defense of me.
As I speak for you, speak for me.
May it be beautiful before me.
May it be beautiful behind me.
May it be beautiful below me.
May it be beautiful above me.
May it be beautiful all around me.

I am restored in beauty.
I am restored in beauty.
I am restored in beauty.
I am restored in beauty.
Love and warm thoughts.MJB

MJB

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light not our darkness that frightens us. We ask ourselves 'who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?'

Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.

It's not just in some of us; its in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."....Marianne Williamson

Love and warm thoughts.MJB

Boop

Hope

Keep hope in your heart,
Keep it there till there's more.
More of what many should have, but are just to afraid to hold.
Hope is like a crystal, rare precious & bold.
Hope is what makes us humans, hope is what's in our souls.
Each day that comes & goes.
Each night that passes by is just another step for our hopes to come alive.
We see what's in right and wrong.
We see what's in bad and good.
We see what others and most don't see.
What beauty and wonder hope can hold.

©2005 rjishere


Hugs and God Bless,
Cherie

MJB

And Joy is Everywhere;
It is in the Earth's green covering of grass;
In the blue serenity of the Sky;
In the reckless exuberance of Spring;
In the severe abstinence of gray Winter;
In the Living flesh that animates our bodily frame;
In the perfect poise of the Human figure, noble and upright;
In Living;
In the exercise of all our powers;
In the acquisition of Knowledge;
in fighting evils...
Joy is there Everywhere."...Rabindranath Tagore
Love and warm thoughts.MJB

MJB

"Each second we live is a new and unique moment of the universe, a moment that will never be again And what do we teach our children? We teach them that two and two make four, and that Paris is the capital of France. When will we also teach them what they are?

We should say to each of them: Do you know what you are? You are a marvel. You are unique. In all the years that have passed, there has never been another child like you. Your legs, your arms, your clever fingers, the way you move.

You may become a Shakespeare, a Michelangelo, a Beethoven. You have the capacity for anything. Yes, you are a marvel. And when you grow up, can you then harm another who is, like you, a marvel?

You must work, we must all work, to make the world worthy of its children."....Pablo Casals

Love and warm thoughts.MJB

MJB

A Moment for You

With so much to do and other people depending on you,it's easy for dreams to get shelved,forgotten,ignored or dismissed. But dreaming is never silly,selfish or a waste of time; it's as essential as air and water! Dreams are visions that reveal our true potential,that show us who we really are and how satisfying our lives can be. They lift us up and keep us going. So make a habit of curling up with a cup of tea,gazing out a window-and setting your imagination free.No rules apply;no dream is impossible if it stirs you. Every day,someone's dream comes true. Yours can,too!....An article from Woman's World

Love and warm thoughts.MJB

MJB

“Can You See God?”



A small boy once approached his slightly older sister with a question about God. "Susie, can anybody ever really see God?" he asked.

Busy with other things, Susie curtly replied: "No, of course
not silly. God is so far up in heaven that nobody can see him."

Time passed, but his question still lingered so he approached his mom: "Mom, can anybody ever really see God?" "No, not really," she gently said. "God is a spirit and he dwells in our hearts, but we can never really see Him."

Somewhat satisfied but still wondering, the youngster went on his way. Not long afterwards, his saintly old grandfather took the little boy on a fishing trip.

They were having a great time together. The sun was beginning to set with unusual splendor and the grandfather stared silently at the exquisite beauty unfolding before them.

On seeing the face of his grandfather reflecting such deep
peace and contentment, the little boy thought for a moment and finally spoke hesitatingly:

"Granddad, I--I-- wasn't going to ask anybody else, but I wonder if you can tell me the answer to something I've been wondering about a long time. Can anybody--can anybody ever really see God?".

The old man did not even turn his head. A long moment slipped by before he finally answered. "Son," he quietly said. "It's getting so I can't see anything else."Author Unknown

Love and warm thoughts.MJB

MJB

The Difference He Made

Amidst the morning mist of the swift returning tide
I set out on my daily run, my walkman on my side.
Lost within my private world apart from cares and woes
I ran along the moistened shore, the sand between my toes.

In the distance, I saw a boy, as busy as can be.
He was running, stooping, picking up, and tossing in the sea.
Just what he threw, I couldn't tell, I looked as I drew near.
It seemed to be a rock or shell - as I approached him I could hear:

"Back you go, where you belong. Your safe now hurry home.
Your family's waiting for you little starfish, hurry on!"
It seemed the evening tide had washed the starfish on the shore,
And the swift receding water left a thousand there or more.

And this self-appointed savior, was trying one-by-one
To toss them back into the sea, against the racing sun.
I saw his plight was hopeless, that most of them would die.
I called out from my private world, "Hey Kid, why even try?"

"Must be at least a thousand here, strewn along the beach,
And even if you had the time, most you'll never reach.
You really think it makes a difference, to waste your time this way?"
And then I paused and waited, just to hear what he would say.

He stooped and took another, and looked me in the eye.
"It makes a difference to this one sir, this starfish will not die!"
With that, he tossed the little life, back where there was hope.
He stooped to take another. I could tell this was no joke.

The words that he spoke to me cut like a surgeon's knife.
Where I saw only numbers, he saw only life.
He didn't see the multitude of starfish on the sand.
He only saw the little life he held there in his hand.

He didn't stop to argue, to prove that he was right.
He just kept tossing starfish in the sea with all his might.
So I too stooped, and I picked up, and I tossed into the sea,
And I thought, just what a difference, that this boy has made in me.... Randy Poole

Love and warm thoughts.MJB

MJB

People are unreasonable, illogical and self-centered.
Love them anyway.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.

The biggest person with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest person with the smallest mind.
Think big anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway.

People really need help but may attack if you help them.
Help people anyway.

Give the world the best you have and you might get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you've got anyway....Dr. Kent M. Keith
Love and warm thoughts.MJB

MJB

BARTER

Life has loveliness to sell,
All beautiful and splendid things,
Blue waves whitened on a cliff,
Soaring fire that sways and sings,
And childrens's faces looking up
Holding wonder in a cup.

Life has loveliness to sell,
Music like a curve of gold,
Scent of pine trees in the rain,
Eyes that love you, arms that hold,
And for your spirit's still delight,
Holy thoughts that star the night.

Spend all you have for loveliness,
Buy it and never count the cost;
For one white singing hour of peace
Count many a year of strife well lost,
And for a breath of ecstacy
Give all you have been, or could be....Sara Teasdale

Love and warm thoughts.MJB