Today's Inspiration

Treasure Beach Forum: Inspirational Thoughts: Today's Inspiration
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Glasceta Honeyghan on Sunday, November 21, 2004 - 10:12 am: Edit Post

Tragedy Or Blessing?

Years ago in Scotland, the Clark family had a dream. Clark and his wife worked and saved, making plans for their nine children and themselves to travel to the United States. It had taken years, but they had finally saved enough money and had gotten passports and reservations for the whole family on a new liner to the United States.

The entire family was filled with anticipation and excitement about their new life. However, seven days before their departure, the youngest son was bitten by a dog. The doctor sewed up the boy but hung a yellow sheet on the Clarks' front door. Because of the possibility of rabies, they were being quarantined for fourteen days.

The family's dreams were dashed. They would not be able to make the trip to America as they had planned. The father, filled with disappointment and anger, stomped to the dock to watch the ship leave - without the Clark family. The father shed tears of disappointment and cursed both his son and God for their misfortune.

Five days later, the tragic news spread throughout Scotland - the mighty Titanic had sunk. The unsinkable ship had sunk, taking hundreds of lives with it. The Clark family was to have been on that ship, but because the son had been bitten by a dog, they were left behind in Scotland.

When Mr. Clark heard the news, he hugged his son and thanked him for saving the family. He thanked God for saving their lives and turning what he had felt was a tragedy into a blessing.

Although we may not always understand, all things happen for a reason.
--author unknown





Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Glasceta Honeyghan on Monday, November 22, 2004 - 09:57 am: Edit Post

A Million Moments

The secret to life is living it ... one day at a time

Our lives are made up of a million moments, spent in a million different ways. Some are spent searching for love, peace and harmony. Others are spent surviving day to day. But there is no greater moment than when we find that life, with all its joys and sorrows, is meant to be lived one day at a time.

It's in this knowledge that we discover the most wonderful truth of all. Whether we live in a forty-room mansion, surrounded by servants and wealth, or find it a struggle to manage the rent month to month, we have it within our power to be fully satisfied and live a life with true meaning.

One day at a time ... we have that ability, through cherishing each moment and rejoicing in each dream. We can experience each day anew, and with this fresh start we have what it takes to make all of our dreams come true. Each day is new, and living one day at a time enables us to truly enjoy life and live it to the fullest.

~ Author Unknown ~


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By glasceta honeyghan on Tuesday, November 23, 2004 - 02:25 pm: Edit Post

Peace in the Storm


A few days ago, my wife and I were visiting Niagara Falls. While walking around the park, I happened to stop and take a close look at the water rushing under the bridge. About one hundred yards to my right, millions of gallons per minute were rushing over the falls and crashing into the boulders beneath. As far as I could see to my left, whitecaps of water were cascading under the bridge at about 50 miles per hour toward the falls. Anyone or anything caught in that water would be thrown over the falls before they had an opportunity to escape. I was captivated by the force flowing under my feet. But then something caught my eye!

Right under my feet I saw a mixture of a huge boulder holding and tree limb and right in front of the boulder were two ducks in a pool of water surrounded by all that chaos. Seemingly obliviousto the danger all about them, those ducks just went about their business of swimming back and forth while feeding from the water.

Obviously, the ducks flew in and would fly out, but their presence reminded me of the Scriptures. The event is told of the Disciples in a boat in a storm while Jesus was asleep in the boat. When the Disciples felt threatened by the storm, they began crying out to Jesus for help, being afraid of the present danger.

When the storms of life invade our peaceful world and corrupt our lifestyle, if Jesus is in the boat with us, He makes it easier to swim in the calm of His peace than to fret about the dangers that surround us. With Him there with us, He will either give us peace in the storm, or calm the storm.

~ Lawrence Brotherton ~


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Glasceta Honeyghan on Wednesday, November 24, 2004 - 07:08 pm: Edit Post

In the Silence of the Night



When the world falls down around you
and a prayer will see you through
Say an extra prayer for someone
Who may need it more than you.

For who knows whose hearts are breaking
In the silence of the night
Just that extra prayer you whisper
May help someone to see the light.

Every time you help a stranger
With an extra prayer or two
You are building extra blessings
That will always come back to you


~ Author Unknown ~


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Lynnette on Thursday, November 25, 2004 - 11:25 am: Edit Post

On this Thanksgiving Day I want to say a special thank you to Glasceta Honeyghan. I have been off work all week and decided to get caught up on my reading, I have finished Father Sleeps with Mudpies, Stop Blaming me for My Mothers Sins, and Unexpectedly a Freshness...WOW what a treat! Starting Follow the River Home and can't wait to meet all the wonderful charaters Glasceta creates. These books are real gems. Anyone who has not had the pleasure of reading any of her works you are missing out. Thank you Glasceta!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Glasceta Honeyghan on Thursday, November 25, 2004 - 08:50 pm: Edit Post

The Story of the Little Grape Stem

Once upon a time there was a little grape stem. This stem was so glad to be alive. She drank water and minerals from the soil and grew and grew. She was young and strong and could manage quite well ... all by herself.

But then, the wind was cruel, the rain was harsh, the snow was not one bit understanding, and the little grape stem suffered. She drooped, weak and suffering. It would be so easy to stop trying to grow, to stop trying to live. And the grape stem was poor! The winter was long, and the stem was weary.

But then the little grape stem heard a voice. It was another grape stem calling out to her ... "Here, reach out ... hang on to me." But the stem hesitated.

"What would this mean?" she thought. For you see, the little stem had always managed quite well ... all by herself.

But then, ever so cautiously, she reached out towards the other grape stem. "See, I can help you," it said. "Just wind your tendrils about me and I will help you lift your head." And the little stem trusted ... and suddenly she could stand straight again.

The wind came ... and the rain ... and the snow, but when it came, the little grape stem was clinging to many other stems. And although the stems were swayed by the wind and frozen by the snow, they stood strongly united to each other. And in their untired strength ... they could smile and grow.

And then, one day the little grape stem looked down and saw a tiny stem, swaying, frightened. And our little grape stem said, "Here, hang on ... I will help you." And the other stem reached up to our grape stem, and together all the stems grew.

Leaves budded ... flowers bloomed ... and finally, grapes formed. And the grapes fed many.

~ Author Unknown ~




Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Glasceta Honeyghan on Friday, November 26, 2004 - 06:29 pm: Edit Post

LIGHTNING BUGS

What is the deal with Lightning bugs?

I mean, here is this rather ordinary looking flying insect, but wait ... it has a glow-in-the-dark rear end!

What was God thinking?

I'm sure science has all kinds of explanations about how this fluorescent fanny is useful for mating and other stuff, but why did God choose to make the lightning bug glow?

I wonder if when God was creating all the animals and everything around us, he came up with the idea of the lightning bug and said, "The kids are gonna love this."

We know that God loves us enough to create all the things we need to survive, but does God loves us so much He created some things just to make us smile?

Just seeing lightning bugs takes me back to those warm summer nights of my youth. I'd be running around the back yard with my empty Mason jar, racing toward the flashing lights all around me. I can still feel the joy and hear the laughter echoing through my memories.

Lightning bugs were as much a part of summer as fireworks, fresh tomatoes, and big ice-cold slabs of juicy watermelon. (I also have a theory of why God created watermelon seeds the perfect size to spit, but that is another story.)

God created so much diversity in this world, much more than is needed for mere survival. He made all of this for us, and He wants us to enjoy it. We can get so busy surrounding ourselves with man-made goods that we don't notice the living tapestry God has laid out all around us.

I guess lightning bugs do have a purpose after all. They are a reminder of a creative God who loves us so much, He'd even paint the rear end of a bug -- just to see us smile!

~ Author Unknown ~


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Glasceta Honeyghan on Saturday, November 27, 2004 - 07:12 pm: Edit Post

SYMPTOMS OF INNER PEACE

1. An unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment.

2. A tendency to think and act spontaneously,
rather than on fears based
on past experiences.

3. A loss of interest in interpreting
the actions of others
and judging other people.

4. A loss of interest in conflict.

5. A loss of the ability to worry.

6. Frequent, overwhelming episodes of appreciation.

7. Contented feelings of connectedness with others and nature.

8. Frequent attacks of smiling.

9. An increased susceptibility to the love
extended by others as well as the
uncontrollable urge to extend it.

Inner Peace is contagious...
Pass it on!
~ Author Unknown ~