http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/-t1.htm The place to share messages and stories of hope and inspiration Sat, 17 Oct 2009 12:06:23 GMT 10 http://hitskin.com/themes/13/94/24/i_logo.png http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/-t1.htm http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/a-smile-t590.htm Jay
If you see someone without a smile, give them one of yours...]]> Inspiration & Upliftment Sat, 17 Oct 2009 12:06:23 GMT http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/a-smile-t590.htm#9572 http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/a-smile-t590.htm http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/prayers-for-peace-t202.htm tawny PRAYER OF ST. FRANCIS ~ Lord make me an instrument of your peace Where there is hatred........ let me sow love Where there is injury..... pardon where there is doubt..... faith where there is despair..... hope where there is darkness...... light Where there is sadness...... joy Divine Master, Grant that I may not so much seek ~ To be consoled... as to console To be undersood ... as to understand To be loved... as to love For ... Inspiration & Upliftment Sun, 06 Jul 2008 14:39:30 GMT http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/prayers-for-peace-t202.htm#379 http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/prayers-for-peace-t202.htm http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/cleansing-affirmation-t295.htm Jay
I bathe myself in generosity, appreciation, praise and gratitude for my fellow beings, self-accceptance and enlightened understanding of my life experiences.

~Unknown~

Originally posted by Tawny.]]> Inspiration & Upliftment Mon, 28 Jul 2008 21:32:33 GMT http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/cleansing-affirmation-t295.htm#1407 http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/cleansing-affirmation-t295.htm http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/the-frog-t363.htm tawny I was told a story about a lady in the hospital who was near death when an area chaplain came to visit her. This chaplain was a very young female with long blond hair. She listened to the lady who was ill and left her a small gift for comfort. It was a tiny ceramic frog. The next day one of the people from the lady's church came to visit. The lady told her friend about the beautiful young chaplain who had come to visit her. The friend was so impressed with the way the lady had improved and felt ... Inspiration & Upliftment Tue, 16 Sep 2008 20:43:43 GMT http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/the-frog-t363.htm#3765 http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/the-frog-t363.htm http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/the-donkey-in-the-well-t383.htm tawny One day a farmer's donkey fell into a deep well. The animal cried pitifully for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally the farmer made a decision, the animal was old, and the well needed to be filled in anyway. It just wasn't worth trying to retrieve the donkey. He invited all his neighbours to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's ... Inspiration & Upliftment Sat, 11 Oct 2008 19:37:19 GMT http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/the-donkey-in-the-well-t383.htm#4273 http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/the-donkey-in-the-well-t383.htm http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/2-boxes-t384.htm tawny I have in my hands two boxes Which God gave me to hold He said, "Put all your sorrows in the black box And all your joys in the gold." I heeded His words, and in the two boxes Both my joys and sorrows I stored But though the gold became heavier each day The black was as light as before With curiosity, I opened the black I wanted to find out why And I saw, in the base of the box, a hole Which my sorrows had fallen out by I showed the hole to God and ... Inspiration & Upliftment Sat, 11 Oct 2008 19:47:51 GMT http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/2-boxes-t384.htm#4281 http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/2-boxes-t384.htm http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/the-kiss-t351.htm tawny She is pregnant. He had just saved her from a fire in her house, rescuing her by carrying her out of the house into her front yard, while he continued to fight the fire. When he finally got done putting the fire out, he sat down to catch his breath and rest. A photographer from the Charlotte , North Carolina newspaper, noticed her in the distance looking at the fireman. He saw her walking straight toward the fireman and wondered what she was going to do. As he raised his camera, she came up to ... Inspiration & Upliftment Thu, 11 Sep 2008 19:36:07 GMT http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/the-kiss-t351.htm#3665 http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/the-kiss-t351.htm http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/friendship-t201.htm tawny Two friends were walking through the desert. During some point of the journey, they had an argument, and one friend slapped the other in the face. The one who got slapped was hurt, but without saying anything wrote in the sand ~ Today my best friend slapped me in the face. They kept on walking until they found an oasis, where they decided to take a bath. The one who had been slapped got stuck in the mire and started drowning but the friend saved him. After he recovered from the near-drowning, ... Inspiration & Upliftment Sun, 06 Jul 2008 14:38:39 GMT http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/friendship-t201.htm#378 http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/friendship-t201.htm http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/it-all-depends-on-how-you-think-t239.htm tawny If you think you are beaten...........you are If you think you dare not...............you don't If you'd like to win but think you can't......... It's almost certain you won't If you think you'll lose, you've lost ~ For out in the world you'll find Success begins with a fellow's will It's all in the state of your mind If you think you're outclassed, you are You've got to think high to rise You've got to be sure of yourself before You can ever win a prize Life's battles ... Inspiration & Upliftment Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:31:30 GMT http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/it-all-depends-on-how-you-think-t239.htm#508 http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/it-all-depends-on-how-you-think-t239.htm http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/the-wooden-bowl-t213.htm tawny A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law and 4 year old grandson. The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred and his step faltered. The family ate together at the table. But the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor, when he grasped his glass the milk spilled onto the tablecloth. The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess. 'We must do something about father', said ... Inspiration & Upliftment Sun, 06 Jul 2008 16:08:44 GMT http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/the-wooden-bowl-t213.htm#410 http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/the-wooden-bowl-t213.htm http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/hot-chocolate-t200.htm tawny A group of graduates, well established in their careers, were talking at a reunion and decided to go visit their old university professor, now retired. During their visit, the conversation turned to complaints about stress in their work and lives. Offering his guests hot chocolate, the professor went into the kitchen and returned with a large pot of hot chocolate and an assortment of cups - porcelain, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite - telling them to help themselves ... Inspiration & Upliftment Sun, 06 Jul 2008 14:37:39 GMT http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/hot-chocolate-t200.htm#377 http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/hot-chocolate-t200.htm http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/god-s-patchwork-masterpiece-t191.htm tawny God's Patchwork Masterpiece ~ As i faced my Maker at the last judgement, i knelt before the Lord along with all the other souls. Before each of us, our lives were laid out, like the cloth squares of a quilt, in many piles. As my angel took each piece of cloth off the pile, i noticed how ragged and empty each of my squares looked. They were filled with giant holes. Each square was labelled with a part of my life that had been difficult, the challenges i had faced in life every day. The hardships ... Inspiration & Upliftment Sat, 05 Jul 2008 15:12:24 GMT http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/god-s-patchwork-masterpiece-t191.htm#358 http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/god-s-patchwork-masterpiece-t191.htm http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/a-tale-of-four-wives-t212.htm tawny Once upon a time...there was a rich King who had four wives. He loved the fourth wife the most and adorned her with rich robes and treated her to the finest of delicacies. He gave her nothing but the best. He also loved the third wife very much, and he was always showing her off to neighbouring kingdoms. However, he feared that one day she would leave him for another. He also loved his second wife. She was his confidante and was always kind, considerate, and patient with him. Whenever ... Inspiration & Upliftment Sun, 06 Jul 2008 15:14:39 GMT http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/a-tale-of-four-wives-t212.htm#400 http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/a-tale-of-four-wives-t212.htm http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/you-t207.htm tawny Stand tall Start fresh Let go of guilt Don't look back Take an inventory Make amends Trust others Believe in yourself Discover God's love Appreciate your specialness Accept your humanness Ask for help Trust enough to take Have the courage to change Accept the unchangeable Be patient Keep promises Bury regret Discard hate Transcend self-doubt Don't dwell on the past Love ... Inspiration & Upliftment Sun, 06 Jul 2008 14:46:50 GMT http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/you-t207.htm#384 http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/you-t207.htm http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/bottom-of-the-ninth-t211.htm tawny Chush is a school that caters to learning-disabled children in Brooklyn, N.Y. At a fund-raising dinner, the father of a Chush child was asked to speak. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he suddenly stopped and cried out, "Where is the perfection in my son Shaya? Everything God does is done with perfection. But my child cannot understand things as other children do. My child cannot remember facts and figures as other children do. Where is God's perfection?" The ... Inspiration & Upliftment Sun, 06 Jul 2008 15:03:50 GMT http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/bottom-of-the-ninth-t211.htm#396 http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/bottom-of-the-ninth-t211.htm http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/rules-for-being-human-t210.htm tawny You Will Receive A Body ~ You may like it or hate it, but it will be yours for the entire period this time around. You Will Learn Lessons ~ You are enrolled in a full-time informal school called Life. Each day in this school, you will have the opportunity to learn lessons - you may like the lessons or think them irrelevant and stupid. There Are No Mistakes, Only Lessons ~ There is a process of trial and error, experimentation. The 'failed' experiments are as much a part ... Inspiration & Upliftment Sun, 06 Jul 2008 15:02:42 GMT http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/rules-for-being-human-t210.htm#395 http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/rules-for-being-human-t210.htm http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/are-you-a-reason-a-season-or-a-lifetime-t209.htm tawny Reason ~ When someone is in your life for a reason, it's usually to meet a need you have expressed. They've come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support or to aid you physically/emotionally/spiritually. They may seem like a Godsend and they are! They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrongdoing on your part, or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to and end. Sometimes they ... Inspiration & Upliftment Sun, 06 Jul 2008 14:59:14 GMT http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/are-you-a-reason-a-season-or-a-lifetime-t209.htm#391 http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/are-you-a-reason-a-season-or-a-lifetime-t209.htm http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/a-piece-of-my-heart-t208.htm tawny One day a young man was standing in the middle of the town proclaiming that he had the most beautiful heart in the whole valley. A large crowd had gathered and they all admired his heart for it was perfect. There was not a mark or flaw in it. Yes, they all agreed it truly was the most beautiful heart the had ever seen. The young man was very proud and boasted more loudly about his beautiful heart. Suddenly, an old man appeared at the front of the crowd and said "Why, your heart is not ... Inspiration & Upliftment Sun, 06 Jul 2008 14:53:43 GMT http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/a-piece-of-my-heart-t208.htm#385 http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/a-piece-of-my-heart-t208.htm http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/the-power-of-one-t206.htm tawny 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 ... Inspiration & Upliftment Sun, 06 Jul 2008 14:44:53 GMT http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/the-power-of-one-t206.htm#383 http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/the-power-of-one-t206.htm http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/friends-are-god-s-way-of-taking-care-of-us-t205.htm tawny This was written by a Hospice of Metro Denver physician......... I just had one of the most amazing experiences of my life, and wanted to share it with my family and dearest friends: I was driving home from a meeting this evening about 5, stuck in traffic on Colorado Blvd., and the car started to choke and splutter and die - I barely managed to coast, cursing, into a gas station, glad only that I would not be blocking traffic and would have a somewhat warm spot to wait for the tow ... Inspiration & Upliftment Sun, 06 Jul 2008 14:43:58 GMT http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/friends-are-god-s-way-of-taking-care-of-us-t205.htm#382 http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/friends-are-god-s-way-of-taking-care-of-us-t205.htm http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/ugly-the-tom-cat-t204.htm tawny Everyone in the apartment complex I lived in knew who Ugly was. Ugly was the resident tomcat. Ugly loved three things in this world: fighting, eating garbage, and, shall we say, love. The combination of these things combined with a life spent outside had their effect on Ugly. To start with, he had only one eye and where the other should have been was a hole. He was also missing his ear on the same side, his left foot appeared to have been badly broken at one time, and had healed at an unnatural ... Inspiration & Upliftment Sun, 06 Jul 2008 14:42:24 GMT http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/ugly-the-tom-cat-t204.htm#381 http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/ugly-the-tom-cat-t204.htm http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/no-time-to-pray-t203.htm tawny I got up early one morning And rushed right into the day I had so much to accomplish That I didn't have time to pray. Problems just tumbled about me And heavier came each task 'Why doesn't God help me?' I wondered He answered, 'You just didn't ask' I wanted to see joy and beauty But the day toiled on, grey and bleak I wondered why God didn't show me He said, 'But you didn't seek' I tried to come into God's presence I used all my keys at the lock. God ... Inspiration & Upliftment Sun, 06 Jul 2008 14:40:30 GMT http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/no-time-to-pray-t203.htm#380 http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/no-time-to-pray-t203.htm http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/native-american-inspirations-t179.htm tawny The way of knowledge is like our old way of hunting. You begin with a mere trail ~ a footprint. If you follow that faithfully, it may lead you to a clearer train-track or road. Later on, there will be many tracks, crossing and diverging one from the other. Then you must be careful, for success lies in the choice of the right road. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ An entire apple tree is initially contained in the seed. Visions are initially contained in the idea. If you trace the path of a blooming flower ... Inspiration & Upliftment Fri, 04 Jul 2008 18:44:24 GMT http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/native-american-inspirations-t179.htm#303 http://spiritualityfirst.forumotion.com/inspiration-upliftment-f41/native-american-inspirations-t179.htm