Manna For Your Life

I Am Still The Greatest - by Mohammed Ali on NPR's This I Believe

2009-04-09T15:20:00.000-07:00

I Am Still The Greatest
To be the "Greatest of All Time," boxing legend Muhammad Ali says you have to believe in yourself. It's a lesson Ali's parents taught him as a child, and it has helped him through the biggest challenge of his life: fighting Parkinson's disease.

Click here to read the full story on NPR.org

Desiderata

2009-04-07T14:58:00.000-07:00

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy

Max Ehrmann, Desiderata, Copyright 1952.

Creativity can solve almost any problem

2008-09-22T12:16:00.000-07:00

The creative act, the defeat of habit by originality, overcomes everything. -- George Lois

Ask, Seek, Knock

2008-09-22T00:21:00.000-07:00

Matthew 7:7-12

Ask, Seek, Knock

7"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

9"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

When you're hard on other people, where is the Love???

2008-09-22T00:11:00.000-07:00

Matthew 7:1-2

Judging Others

1"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

Where is the compassion? Treat people the way you want to be treated. Just respond with Grace. That's what God did for you.

Don't have a righteous attitude. Don't just be a "good" person. Be humble.

Luke 6:37-38

Judging Others

37"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

God is NOT angry with you! God is Gracious. Just Love one another.

2008-09-22T00:03:00.000-07:00

God is NOT angry with you. Quit trying to measure up! Just accept Christ.

Your good works doesn't put you in a favorable position with God. You will be with God through FAITH.

God loves you right where you are. Lighten up on yourself and lighten up on others. Love your neighbors. Love yourself.

You don't have to impress God. The Holy Spirit meets people where they are. God loves your right where you are.

You can't fix yourself and you can't fix others. Only the Spirit of God can change people. Let the Holy Spirit do the work.

God has already done the hard work for you. He has already sent His son Jesus to die for our sins. All you have to do is Taste & See that the Lord is Good.

God is GRACIOUS. Just LOVE one another.

Discerning the difference between your own understanding and God's wisdom

2008-09-22T00:01:00.000-07:00

17But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

James 3: 17

Believe without doubt and Persevere

2008-09-21T23:53:00.000-07:00

James 1:2 -8

Trials and Temptations

2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

So what if God exists... I need proof

2008-09-17T12:28:00.000-07:00

So what if God exists? What difference does that make? We all want to be certain, we all want proof, but the kind of proof that we tend to want -- scientifically or philosophically demonstrable proof that would silence all doubts once and for all -- would not in the long run, I think, answer the fearful depths of our need at all. For what we need to know, of course, is not just that God exists, not just that beyond the steely brightness of the stars there is a cosmic intelligence of some kind that keeps the whole show going, but that there is a God right here the thick of our day-by-day lives who may not be writing messages about himself in the stars, but who in one way or another is trying to get messages through our blindness as we move around here knee-deep in the fragrant muck and misery and marvel of the world. It is not objective proof of God's existence that we want but, whether we use religious language for it or not, the experience of God's presence. that is the miracle that we are really after. And that is also, I think, the miracle that we really get.

-- Frederick Buechner, The Magnificent Defeat

What's your small god?

2008-09-17T12:06:00.000-07:00

Many of us place most of our trust and self-esteem on "small gods" in our life. We worship the god of the sweet ride, the super-clean-magazine-perfect house, perfect body, clothes, money... whatever it is... we're all guilty of it.

Here are some key things to remember:

The approval of other people can't feed your soul. So don't misplace your trust in people or things around you.
Small gods are easier to control. That's why we turn to them when we feel like life is getting tough. We say, if I just had more money; if I just worked out more, I'd have the perfect body; if I just redecorated more, people would love my place and be impressed, if I could just buy those shoes, I'd fit in....
We make sacrifices to our small gods but we don't realize it. How many times have you made sacrifices to your small gods? If I just worked 4 more hours of overtime, I'd be that much richer; if I just exercised 3 times everyday, I'd be that much more beautiful; if I just redecorated my place again people would envy me... Sometimes, the sacrifice we pay is emotional. We beat ourselves up when we don't stand up to our perfect ideals in our head. To the point where we spend our lives trying to achieve perfection in a world where nobody is perfect. If nobody's perfect, then why are you killing yourself?
No small god has brought you too far. It's all a lie. Whatever you might think, money did not get you far in life; beauty did not get you far in life; perfection did not get you far in life.... stop clinging to the things you feel you can control life with. Because the truth is life will never be completely without hiccups no matter what small god you have.
God, the one Living God, Jesus Christ, doesn't exist to make your life easy. So don't feel like just cause your Christian your life should be perfect either... because that's unrealistic. Acts 14: 22 "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God." Remember even though life is not going to be easy, God will be with you every step of the way and when you cry out, He will listen.
Turn from the quest of the easy life to the guarantee of eternal life with God or you will yearn for the rest of your life. Realize that what you seek in your small gods will not satisfy your soul. There will always be something else your soul will yearn for. Quench your soul with the love and grace of the Living God, the God who accepts you for who you are, mistakes and all, and lovingly leads you back into His arms and comforts you.

Chase your dreams

2008-09-11T22:00:00.001-07:00

Throw your dreams into space like a kite and you do not know what it will bring back a new life, a new friend, a new love, a new country. -- Anais Nin

My Help is from the Lord

2008-09-11T21:12:00.000-07:00

"I lift up my eyes to the hills, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip -- He who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you -- the Lord is the shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm -- He will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore."

Psalm 121.

Fear not

2008-09-11T21:11:00.000-07:00

"Fear not, for I am with you

Do not be discouraged, for I am your God

I will strengthen you, I will help you, and

I will uphold you with my hand."

Isaiah 41:10

Forgive yourself

2008-09-11T21:09:00.001-07:00

Forgive yourself and move on with your life. This is what God wants for you. Release yourself from your guilt and sin and your past.

Getting help

2008-09-11T21:04:00.001-07:00

God will send someone alongside of you to help you figure out the answers. He will always send you help.

Let go of control & God will take care of it.

Be like a child and trust that God (the Father) will take care of you.

He will not falter, nor sleep.

Dealing with Crisis with Faith

2008-09-11T20:46:00.001-07:00

When we step into crisis with Faith, God shows up. the results may not be what WE want, BUT God's doing great things.

God can make the impossible, possible.

2008-09-11T20:41:00.000-07:00

God is always one step ahead of us. So, God can make the impossible, possible.

Keep the faith

Faith = body of knowledge

Keep faithing the faith. Keep building on your faith by increasing your knowledge of God.

Be humble and acknowledge your faults before God

2008-09-11T20:37:00.000-07:00

Humble yourself before God.

I'm a mess. Jesus would you change me, would you make me something?

What's important to Jesus?

It's not about information.

It's about Transformation --> You become a different person.

It's not about using God to accomplish your agenda.

It's about God using you to accomplish His agenda.

It's about God. You are a player in His story.

God sees the injustice in the world

2008-09-11T20:29:00.000-07:00

God sees the injustice in the world and he says, will you let Him take care of it.

Love your enemies.

Don't harbor hate and unforgiveness.

The power to be quiet. The power to do nothing. The path of peace.

The world doesn't need to forgive, BUT we do.

The reactionary way of life is over. This is normal Christianity.

You are deeply loved by God. Let God take care of it.

Pray for the problem solver, NOT for material things

2008-09-11T20:26:00.000-07:00

Pray for your needs, for a solution NOT for things. Concentrate on the solution.

God knows what you need and He will provide for you.

Do not live without hope

2008-09-11T20:19:00.000-07:00

You have hope. You have a belief in God & God is hope.

Because, God is good.

Produce Produce Produce

2008-09-11T19:41:00.000-07:00

If you invent something that doesn't necessarily help anybody, you've got to actually get it into the world. You've got to produce. -- Larry Page, creator of Google

Take time to reflect.

2008-09-11T19:37:00.000-07:00

Concentrate on all the good things God has brought into your life. Even if circumstances are bad right now, remember that God is the same God & God is good all the time.

If God is good all the time and He's done good things for your life in the past, He can and WILL do that again.

Keep the faith and believe. Keep the faith and believe in God's promises.

Belief will deliver you from the darkness. Keep the faith and keep your eyes on the good things God has brought into your life.

God knows what you need

2008-09-11T19:35:00.000-07:00

God knows what you need.

Since He is the father and we are the children, He will provide. He will provide what you NEED.

Keep in mind that what you NEED in life isn't the same as what you WANT in life.

If you have a need, pray for it.

Persitent Prayer will get you there

2008-09-11T19:33:00.000-07:00

Don't doubt the power of prayer and persistent prayer.

Sometimes God answers your prayers in different ways than you imagine. Don't give up and don't lose hope.

Write good things in stone

2008-09-11T19:30:00.000-07:00

We tend to write in stone the things we should forget, the painful things and we write in sand the good things, the things we should remember; like love, like words of encouragement, like your husband giving you flowers.

INSTEAD

We should write in stone the good things. The things we should remember.

And write in sand the things we should forget.

DO NOT multitask!

2008-09-11T19:22:00.000-07:00

Multitasking = lack of focus.

Focus on your current task and you'll finish it in less time than if you multitask. Ignore minutia.

Make AT MOST 2 primary goals/tasks for the day.

Ask yourself, if this is the only thing I accomplish for the day, will I be satisfied with my day?

Stay on a low-information diet.

Don't bombard your brain with a whole lot of information you don't need to know right now.

It'll just cloud your mind.

Make an 80/20 analysis of your life

2008-09-11T19:20:00.000-07:00

20% of the work you do produces 80% of the results. Find out what it is that works and improve on that.

Feed your brain with positive thoughts.

2008-09-11T19:19:00.000-07:00

Starve your brain of negative ones.

ASPIRATION -> AFFIRMATION

2008-09-11T19:17:00.000-07:00

Write down your goals.

Write down your past achievements. Encourage yourself.

Use positive and visionary thinking to help you achieve your goals.

HAVE a VISION. TAKE ACTION.

2008-09-11T19:15:00.000-07:00

Vision without an action is a daydream.

Action without a vision is a nightmare.

NOBODY IS PERFECT

2008-09-11T18:56:00.000-07:00

Everybody has problems. Stop comparing yourself.

No matter what you observe from other people's lives, NOBODY's PERFECT

stop coveting other people's things/ situations.

stop comparing yourself

Everybody has problems

Remember, all relationships have problems.

If everybody has problems, when you bring 2 people together, they still have problems.

Therefore, NO relationship is perfect.

Stop burning bridges. Keep a network.

2008-09-11T18:53:00.000-07:00

Keep a close network of friends

everybody needs the nourishment friendship brings

allow friendship to happen by opening yourself to opportunities

You don't need to isolate yourself!

2008-09-11T18:52:00.000-07:00

It's OK to pick up the phone & call somebody to talk, for companionship, for help, for mental wellbeing.

Have Faith. Have Confidence. Have Life!

2008-09-11T18:49:00.000-07:00

Learn to have faith.

have faith in yourself

have faith in your spouse

have faith in your friends & family

have faith in the impressions you make on others

If you keep dwelling on past mistakes instead of giving yourself a chance and moving on, you'll never grow & never learn.

Deal with change

2008-09-11T18:47:00.000-07:00

The solution is NOT to run away.

If you don't face the challenges, you'll never learn and thus never grow.

STOP RUNNING AWAY!!!

You can't wipe the slate clean & start over with every single thing in your life.

FACE your PROBLEMS!

2008-09-11T18:46:00.000-07:00

You are capable of getting past them!

YOU need to motivate YOURSELF!

2008-09-11T18:43:00.000-07:00

No matter who you're with (or not), YOU are responsible for motivating yourself, creating new goals, making plans, achieving those goals and implementing those plans.

No matter how much you talk about it, it doesn't count unless you actually DO IT.

YOU are the only one who can help YOU!

Hard work is a necessity!

2008-09-11T18:41:00.000-07:00

You are NOT going to get opportunities to fall in your lap!!!

Stay focused on the present. Stop dwelling on the past.

2008-09-11T18:09:00.000-07:00

Learn from your mistakes

Adapt to change instead of talking about it

Stay in the present
be focused on your current task

allows you to be more productive

Stop dwelling in the past

learn more from your mistakes & move forward

if you don't analyze & learn you'll keep thinking about it and dwelling on it.

Stop incessantly worrying about your future

try staying focused on the present