SFGTD

To:             YOU
Date:          TODAY
From:         GOD
Subject:      YOURSELF
Reference:  LIFE

This is God. Today I will be handling all of your problems for you. I do not need your help. So, have a nice day. I love you.

P.S. And remember... If life happens to deliver a situation to you that you cannot handle, do not attempt to resolve it yourself! Kindly put it in the SFGTD (something for God to do) box. I will get to it in MY TIME. All situations will be resolved, but in My time, not yours.

Once the matter is placed into the box, do not hold onto it by worrying about it. Instead, focus on all the wonderful things that are present in your life now.

- ? -

pushing it

A man was sleeping at night in his cabin when suddenly his room filled with light. An angel appeared, showed a large rock in front of his cabin and asked him to push against the rock with all his might.

This the man did, day after day. For many years he toiled from sun up to sun down, his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock.

Nothing happened. And he decided to make it a matter of prayer. “Lord I have labored long and hard in your service, putting all my strength to do that which you have asked. Yet, after all this time, I have not even been able to budge that rock. What is wrong? Why am I failing?”

The angel appeared again : “My friend, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all your strength. Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it. And now you come to me with your strength spent, thinking that you have failed. But, is that really so?”

“Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled, your back sinewy and brown, your hands are callused from constant pressure, and your legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition you have grown much and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have. You learned the importance of discipline and training. This you have done. Now it is my turn, my task.”

And the angel moved the rock, showing to the man a beautiful path ahead.

- ? -

getting help in decision making

1. Only a quiet mind can think efficiently. Find a quiet place, sit down and compose yourself.

2. Repeat three times, "With Your counsel You will guide me, And afterward receive me to glory." (Psalm 73:24)

3. Imagine God's advice passing into your mind. If you must have that advice today, you will get it. If you do not need it until next week, you will have it then, if you believe that you will, and if you keep calm and continue to pray and think.

4. Ask yourself, "What would Jesus do in this decision?" He would do the right thing, would he not? Right now, ask God to take all wrong and error out of your heart.

5. Do not hurry. Allow your problem to simmer in the mind. Never force a decision.

6. Thank God for giving you the right answer, for He is giving it to you. Thank Him for the great happiness that is in your heart.

7. Having received your answer, trust it. Take it with faith and thanksgiving. If you have sought God's counsel and prayed earnestly, your answer will come up as a clear, bright light burning in the mind. Trust it. God will see you through.

- ? -

Stay with me, Lord..

..for it is necessary to have You present so that I do not forget You. You know how easily I abandon You.

..because I am weak and I need Your strength. I fear the darkness, the temptations, the dryness, the cross, the sorrows. O how I need You, my Jesus!

..for You are my life.. for You are my light.

..so that I hear Your voice and follow You.

..for I desire to love You very much, and always be in Your company.

..for as poor as my soul is, I wish it to be a place of consolation for You, a nest of Love.

Let me recognize You as Your disciples did at the breaking of bread, so that the Eucharistic Communion be the light which disperses the darkness, the force which sustains me, the unique joy of my heart.

Stay with me, Lord, for it is You alone I look for. Your Love, Your Grace, Your Will, Your Heart, Your Spirit.

With a firm love, I will love You with all my heart while on earth and continue to love You perfectly during all eternity.

Amen.

- excerpt from Saint Padre Pio's A Prayer After Communion -

ano ba ang meron?

May kalabuan at maraming kasakitan ang pwedeng idulot ng pagtatanong at paghahanap sa tunay na meron.

Kailangang matindi ang pagnanasang maunawaan ang meron at may taglay na sapat na pasensya ang isang tao.

Dahil sa kahirapan at kasakitan, maraming tao ang tumitigil na lamang at binibigyan ng hangganan ang kanilang pagmemeron. Paraan ito ng tao para huwag na lamang palalimin pa ang kanyang nalalaman, at huwag na rin masaktan sa proseso.

Ngunit sa mismong kahirapan, lalo namang napapatindi ang sarap ng tagumpay na maaaring maramdaman ng mga taong sa wakas ay nakakaunawa na sa meron.

Kailangang isipin din natin na hindi lang ang kasagutan sa ating mga tanong ang may kahulugan.  Ang pagtahak natin sa landas patungong meron ay malaki din ang ibinabahagi sa pagpapalawak ng ating mga isipan at mga kaalaman ukol sa kung ano ang dapat nating gawin sa buhay.

Sa totoo, hindi tayo maaaring makarating sa punto kung saan alam na natin ang buong meron. Pero hindi tayo pwedeng tumigil sa pagmemeron dahil ito ang nagbibigay kahulugan sa ating pag-iral.

- 2000-11-27: ph102 (lagliva) -

i invite you

I want to know what you ache for,
and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.

I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love,
for your dream, for the adventure of being alive.

I want to know if you have touched the center of your
own sorrow, if you have been opened by life's betrayals
or have become shriveled and closed from fear of further pain.

I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or your own,
without moving to hide it or fade it or fix it.

I want to know if you can be with joy, mine or your own,
if you can dance with wildness and let the ecstasy fill you
to the tips of your fingers and toes without cautioning us
to be careful, to be realistic, to remember the limitations
of being human.

I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true
to yourself; if you can bear the accusation of betrayal
and not betray your own soul; if you can be faithless
and therefore trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see beauty, even when it's not pretty,
every day, and if you can source your own life from its presence.

I want to know if you can live with failure, yours and mine,
and still stand on the edge of the lake
and shout to the silver of the full moon, "Yes!"

I want to know if you can get up,
after the night of grief and despair, weary and bruised
to the bone, and do what needs to be done to feed the children.

I want to know if you will stand in the center of the fire 
with me and not shrink back.

I want to know what sustains you,
from the inside, when all else falls away.

I want to know if you can be alone with yourself
and if you truly like the company you keep in the empty moments.

- excerpts from Oriah Mountain Dreamer's The Invitation -

gifts to give

THE GIFT OF LISTENING...
But you must REALLY listen.
No interrupting, no daydreaming, no planning your response.

THE GIFT OF AFFECTION...
Be generous with appropriate hugs,
kisses, pats on the back, and handholds.

THE GIFT OF LAUGHTER...
Share articles and funny stories.
Your gift will say, "I love to laugh with you."

THE GIFT OF A WRITTEN NOTE...
It can be a simple "Thanks for the help" note or a full sonnet.
A brief, handwritten note may be remembered for a lifetime, and may even change a life.

THE GIFT OF A COMPLIMENT...
A simple and sincere, "You look great in red," "You did a super job,"
or "That was a wonderful meal" can make someone's day.

THE GIFT OF A FAVOR...
Every day, go out of your way to do something kind.

THE GIFT OF SOLITUDE...
There are times when we want nothing better
than to be left alone.
Be sensitive to those times and give the gift of solitude to others.

THE GIFT OF A CHEERFUL DISPOSITION...
The easiest way to feel good is
to extend a kind word to someone.
Really, it's not that hard to say, Hello or Thank You.

- ? -

disturbance

Disturb us, Lord,
When we are too well pleased with ourselves,
When our dreams have come true,
Because we have dreamed too little,
When we arrived safely, because we sailed too close to the shore.

Disturb us, Lord,
When with the abundance of things we possess,
We have lost our thirst for the waters of life;
Having fallen in love with life,
We have ceased to dream of eternity;
And in our efforts to build a new earth,
We have allowed our vision of the new Heaven to dim.

Disturb us, Lord,
To dare more boldly,
To venture on wider seas,
Where storms will show your mastery;
Where losing sight of land, we shall find the stars.
We ask You to push back the horizons of our hopes;
And to push into the future,
In strength, courage, hope, and love.

- sir francis drake -

centering prayer

   - clearing the mind of rational thought in order to focus on the indwelling presence of God

   - strong emphasis on interior silence

   - while complete quiet or stillness is often desirable, some people use repetitive activities such as deep breathing, humming or chanting of mantra to help induce a prayerful state

   - SAMPLE:
   1. Sit comfortably with eyes closed, relax, and quiet yourself. Be in love and faith to God.
   2. Slowly breathe in through the nose, imagining that you’re breathing in the Holy Spirit.Breathe out through the mouth, imagining the release of all the negativities inside you.
   3. Choose a sacred word or mantra that best supports your sincere intention to be in the Lord's presence and be open to His divine action within you (i.e. "Jesus", "Lord," "God," "Savior," "Abba," "Divine," "Shalom," "Spirit," "Love," etc.).
   4. Whenever you become aware of anything (thoughts, feelings, perceptions, images, associations, etc.), simply return to your mantra, your anchor.

- collected from wherever -

true desires - live to be real!

Passing fancies fade.
True desires persist and grow even stronger with time.

When you devote efforts to satisfying the fleeting,
Momentary whims, you soon come empty.
Even when you succeed at fulfilling every trivial wish,
What you get is not what you truly desire.

Instead, look for the reasons behind the wishes.
Pay attention to those desires that persist,
Month after month, year after year.

Live each moment fully,
With all the joy and presence you can bring.
Yet do not live solely for the moment.

Devote your efforts to the real and lasting desires,
In line with real and lasting values.
Follow the positive purposes that remain
When all else fades away.

For what you truly desire,
Down deep, you have every ability to live true to your heart.
So live and make it happen, live to be real.

- ralph marston -

facebook bits

Everytime you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.
- mother teresa -

Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.
- ambrose redmoon -

Until you make peace with who you are, you'll never be content with what you have.
- doris mortman -

The best way to escape from a problem is to solve it.
- alan saporta -

I ask not for a lighter burden, but for broader shoulders.
- jewish proverb -

5 qualities of a pencil...

...which, if you manage to hang on them, will make you a person who is always at peace with the world.

1. You are capable of great things, but you must never forget that there is a hand guiding your steps. We call that hand God, and He always guides us according to His will.

2. Now and then, stop writing and use a sharpener. That makes the pencil suffer a little, but afterwards, he’s much sharper. So you, too, must learn to bear certain pains and sorrows, because they will make you a better person.

3. The pencil always allows us to use an eraser to rub out any mistakes. This means that correcting something we did is not necessarily a bad thing; it helps to keep us on the road to justice.

4. What really matters in a pencil is not its wooden exterior, but the graphite inside. So always pay attention to what is happening inside you.

5. It always leaves a mark. In just the same way, you should know that everything you do in life will leave a mark, so try to be conscious of that in your every action.

- “Like the Flowing River” by Paulo Coelho -

good suffering

1. Suffering helps us realize our urgent need for redemption.

2. Suffering helps us experience our dependence on God and our interdependence with one another.

3. Suffering helps us distinguish between necessities and luxuries.

4. Suffering helps us respond to the call of the gospel because we may have become so desperate that we cry out to God.

-?-

thank you

I thank you, dear God, for a lot of things;
For flowers that bloom and a bird that sings.
For falling leaves and a wind that blows;
The green, green grass and white, white snows.
For a sun that shines and a rain that falls,
Moonlight nights and whip-poor-will calls;
For strength and health and loving friends;
Courage to keep going, and fear that ends;
Food when hungry, water when dry,
A bed when tired and stars in the sky;
Rise up in the morning to a day so bright;
A prayer in the evening and a peaceful night;
And You, dear God, to watch over me,
In spite of my problems, I want to thank Thee.

- Mildred Wickliff -

cupid's message

cupid: what has not loving gotten you?

phoebe: kept me safe.

cupid: safe from what?

phoebe: people leaving.

cupid: once you let love in, it will never leave... don't confuse the message with the messenger. messengers make mistakes. they get lost, they run away. they even die. but their message "open your heart," it comes from life itself. hear it.

- charmed, season 2 -

self assessment

i eat at least one hot, balanced meal a day

i get 7 to 8 hours of sleep at least 4 nights a week

i give and receive affection regularly

i have at least one relative within 50 miles on whom i can rely

i exercise at least 3 times per week for 30 minutes each time

i take fewer than 5 alcoholic drinks a week

i get strength from my spiritual beliefs

i regularly attend club or social activities

i have one or more friends to confide in about personal matters

i am in good physical health

i am able to speak openly about my feelings when angry and worried

i have regular conversations with the people i live with about domestic problems (e.g. chores, money, and daily living issues)

i do something for fun at least once a week

i am able to organize my time effectively

i take quiet time for myself during the day

- from the hero's run gk marathon nutrition packet -

The Five-Finger Prayer

1. Your thumb is nearest you. So begin your prayers by praying for those closest to you.

2. Next is the pointing finger. Pray for those who teach, instruct and heal - teachers, doctors, and ministers. They need support and wisdom in pointing others in the right direction.

3. Next is the tallest finger. Pray for the president, leaders in business and industry, and administrators. These people shape our nation and guide public opinion. They need God's guidance.

4. Fourth is our ring finger. This is our weakest finger. Pray for those who are weak, in trouble or in pain. You cannot pray too much for them.

5. Lastly comes our little finger; the smallest, which is where we should place ourselves in relation to God and others. Pray for yourself. By the time you have prayed for the other four groups, your own needs will be put into proper perspective and you will be able to pray for yourself more effectively.

-?-

some truths

The only constant in life is change. With every decision we make, we initiate change. Even when we decide not to decide, life still goes on, and changes still occur.

Time heals. As time pushes forward, we take new steps, face new challenges, and create new opportunities. And as life goes on, we are forced to move past our episodes of disappointment, sorrow, or despair.

People won’t know what you want unless you ask for it. It takes a lot of courage to ask for help, but when you come forward, only then will the world know what to give you. Just ask and know that miracles can happen.

You can have anything, but not everything. Life offers us infinite possibilities. But no matter how hard we try, we can’t have everything. Life is a balancing act of wins, losses, and trade-offs… we gain some and we lose some.

Do to others what you want others to do to you, because whatever you sow, you reap; whatever you give, you get back ten-fold. It doesn’t hurt to smile, or be kind, or extend a helping hand. You never know when or how, but every act of goodness always returns to the GIVER.

- ? -

anyway

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.  Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.  Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies.  Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere, people may deceive you.  Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.  Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.  Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten.  Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.  Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God.  It was never between you and them anyway.

- mother teresa -

soothe your soul

may today there be peace within

may you trust your highest power that you are exactly where you are meant to be

may you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith

may you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you

may you be content in knowing you are a child of God

let this presence settle into our bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. it is there for each and every one of you.

- st. therese of lisieux -

tidbits

* life does what life does

* go where you are most moved to love

* give the best you have, and it will never be enough. give your best anyway.

* you will never truly know yourself, or the strength of your relationships, until both have been tested by adversity

* you don't drown by falling in the water; you drown by staying there

* God never said life would be easy. He just promised it would be worth it.

- misc (used as ym/fb stats) -

5s notes to live by

* 5s is a japanese workplace management methodology that can also be practiced to simplify and improve your life in general.

seiri - sorting out - fighting the habit to keep things because they may be useful someday; eliminating waste is a gain

seiton - systematic arrangement - a place for everything and everything in its place

seiso - spic and span - constant follow-up is necessary in order to sustain cleanliness

seiketsu - standardizing - have easy-to-follow (as well as realistic) standards and develop a structure to support them [these can refer to a set of values too]

shitsuke - self discipline - continuous improvement -> kaizen: change for the better!

- learned during my stay at the company-that-must-not-be-named -

start over

When you've trusted Jesus and walked his way
When you've felt his hand lead you day by day
But your steps now take you another way,
START OVER

When you've made your plans and they've gone awry
When you've tried your best and there's no more try
When you've failed yourself and you don't know why,
START OVER

When you've told your friends what you plan to do
When you've trusted them and they didn't come through
And now you're all alone and it's up to you,
START OVER

When you've prayed to God so you'll know his will
When you've prayed and prayed and you don't know still
When you want to stop cause you've had your fill,
START OVER

When you think you're finished and want to quit
When you've bottomed out in life's deepest pit
When you've tried and tried to get out of it,
START OVER

Don't just sit there.......
START OVER

- ? -

for peace of mind, endure!

endure what cannot be cured. this is the best way to turn a disadvantage into an advantage. every day we face numerous inconveniences, ailments, irritations, and accidents that are beyond our control. if we cannot control them or change them, we must learn to put up with these things. we must learn to endure them cheerfully thinking, "God wills it so, so be it." God's plan is beyond our comprehension. believe in it and you will gain in terms of patience, inner strength and will power.

-?-

refiner's fire

Malachi 3:3 says: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver"

A woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.

The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: "He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver."

She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed. Then she asked the silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?" He answered, "Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in it."

If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.

-?-

on sustaining relationships

EVERY relationship has a cycle.

Falling in love isn't hard. In fact, it is a completely natural and spontaneous experience.

But after a few years in the relationship, the euphoria of love fades. Slowly but surely, phone calls become a bother (if they come at all), touch is not always welcome (when it happens), and your partner's idiosyncrasies, instead of being cute, drive you nuts.

But the answer to this dilemma does NOT lie outside your relationship. It lies within it. I'm not saying that you couldn't fall in love with someone else. You could. And TEMPORARILY you'd feel better. But you'd be in the same situation a few years later. Because (listen carefully to this):

THE KEY TO SUCCEEDING IN A RELATIONSHIP IS NOT FINDING THE RIGHT PERSON; IT'S LEARNING TO LOVE THE PERSON YOU FOUND.

SUSTAINING love is not a passive or spontaneous experience. It'll NEVER just happen to you. You can't 'find' LASTING love. You have to 'make' it day in and day out. It takes time, effort, and energy . And most importantly, it takes WISDOM . You have to know WHAT TO DO to make your relationship work.

Just as there are physical laws of the universe (such as gravity), there are also laws for relationships.
Just as the right diet and exercise program makes you physically stronger, certain habits in your relationship WILL make your bond stronger. It's a direct cause and effect. If you know and apply the laws, the results are predictable... you can 'make' love .

Love is indeed a 'decision'... Not just a feeling.

'God determines who walks into your life. It is up to you to decide who you let walk away, who you let stay, and who you refuse to let go.' 

- edited, unknown -

for a happy journey

five simple rules to be happy:
1. free your heart from hatred
2. free your mind from worries
3. live simply
4. give more
5. expect less

no one can go back and make a brand new start. 

anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending. 

God didn't promise days without pain, 

laughter without sorrw, sun without rain, 

but He did promise strength for the day, 

comfort for the tears, and light for the way.

- ? -

serenity prayer

God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
the Courage to change the things I can,
and the Wisdom to know the Difference.

Living one day at a time,
enjoying one moment at a time,
accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,
taking this sinful world as it is,
not as I would have it;

trusting that You will make all things right
if I surrender to Your Will;
so that I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with You forever in the next.

- Reinhold Niebuhr -

absolute

Nothing is more practical than finding God.
That is, falling in love in a quite absolute, final way.
What you are in love with, what seizes your imagination,
Will affect everything.
It will decide what will get you out of bed in the morning,
What you will do with your evenings,
How you spend your weekends,
What you read, what you know that breaks your heart,
And what amazes you with joy.
Fall in love, stay in love, and it will decide everything.

- Pedro Arrupe, SJ -