Footprints in the Sand Poem

Last night I had a dream. I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes from my life. For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand: one belonged to me, the other to the Lord. After the last scene of my life flashed before me, I looked back at the footprints in the sand. I noticed that at many times along the path of my life, especially at the very lowest and saddest times, there was only one set of footprints.This really troubled me, so I asked the Lord about it. “Lord, you said once I decided to follow you, You’d walk with me all the way. But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life, there was only one set of footprints. I don’t understand why, when I needed You the most, You would leave me.” The Lord replied, “My son, my precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of suffering, when you could see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.”

LIFE IS A THEATER

LIFE IS A THEATER
Invite Your Audience Carefully

Not everyone is healthy enough to have a front row seat in our lives.
There are some people in your life that need to be loved from a DISTANCE.
It's amazing what you can accomplish when you let go of, or at leastminimize your time with, draining, negative, incompatible,not-going-anywhere relationships/friendships.Observe the relationships around you. Pay attention.Which ones lift and which ones lean?Which ones encourage and which ones discourage?Which ones are on a path of growth uphill and which ones are going downhill?When you leave certain people do you feel better or feel worse?Which ones always have drama or don't really understand, know or appreciate you?The more you seek quality, respect, growth, peace of mind, love and truth around you...the easier it will become for you to decide who gets to sit in the front row and who should be moved to the balcony of Your Life."If you cannot change the people around you, CHANGE the people you are around."Remember that the people we hang with will have an impact on both our lives and our income. And so we must be careful to choose the people we hang out with, as well as the information with which we feed our minds.We should not share our dreams with negative people, Nor feed our dreams with negative thoughts.It's your choice and your life..... It's up to you who and what you let in it......

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

People always come into your life for a reason, a season and a lifetime. When you figure out which it is, you know exactly what to do.

When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed outwardly or inwardly. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, or to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally, or even spiritually. They may seem like a godsend to you, and they are. They are there for a reason,you need them to be. Then, without any wrong doing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die, Sometimes they just walk away. Sometimes they act up or out and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilleed; their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and it is now time to move on.

When people come into your life for a SEASON, it is because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn. They may bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it! It is real! But, only for a season. And like Spring turns to Summer and Summer to Fall, the season eventually ends.

LIFETIME, relationships teach you a lifetime of lessons; those things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person/people (anyway);, and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas in your life. It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant. Thank you for being part of my life.....

Relationship - Trust

Little girl and her father were crossing a bridge.

The father was kind of scared so he asked his little daughter, "Sweetheart, please hold my hand so that you don't fall into the river.

" The little girl said, "No, Dad. You hold my hand."

"What's the difference?" Asked the puzzled father.

"There's a big difference," replied the little girl.

"If I hold your hand and something happens to me, chances are that I may let your hand go.

But if you hold my hand, I know for sure that no matter whathappens, you will never let my hand go.

" In any relationship, the essence of trust is not in its bind, but in its bond.

So hold the hand of theperson whom you love rather than expecting them to hold urs...

Does God exist ?

A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed.

As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation.

They talked about so many things and various subjects.

When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said: "I don't believe that God exists."

"Why do you say that?" asked the customer.

"Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn't exist. Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children? If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain. I can't imagine a loving a God who would allow all of these things."

The customer thought for a moment, but didn't respond because he didn't want to start an argument.

The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop. Just after he left the barbershop, He saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard. He looked dirty and unkempt.

The customer turned back and entered the barber shop again and he said to the barber:"You know what? Barbers do not exist."

"How can you say that?" asked the surprised barber.

"I am here, and I am a barber. And I just worked on you!"

"No!" the customer exclaimed.

"Barbers don't exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside."

"Ah, but barbers DO exist! " answered the barber.

"What happens, is, people do not come to me. "

"Exactly!"- affirmed the customer.

"That's the point! God, too, DOES Exist! What happens, is, people don't go to Him and do not look for Him. That's why there's so much pain and suffering in the world."

Value - Too Good

A well known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20 bill. In the room of 200, he asked, "Who would like this $20 bill?"

Hands started going up.

He said, "I am going to give this $20 to one of you but first, let me do this." He proceeded to crumple the dollar bill up.

He then asked, "Who still wants it?"

Still the hands were up in the air.

"Well," he replied, "What if I do this?" And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe.

He picked it up, now all crumpled and dirty. "Now who still wants it?" Still the hands went into the air.

"My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $20.

Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way.

We feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value. You are special - Don't ever forget it!

Life Still Has A Meaning

If there is a future there is time for mending-
Time to see your troubles coming to an ending.

Life is never hopeless however great your sorrow-
If you're looking forward to a new tomorrow.

If there is time for wishing then there is time for hoping-
When through doubt and darkness you are blindly groping.

Though the heart be heavy and hurt you may be feeling-
If there is time for praying there is time for healing.

So if through your window there is a new day breaking-
Thank God for the promise, though mind and soul be aching,

If with harvest over there is grain enough for gleaning-
There is a new tomorrow and life still has meaning.

Trust in God. Always !

I asked for Strength.........And God gave me Difficulties to make me strong.

I asked for Wisdom.........And God gave me Problems to solve.

I asked for Prosperity.........And God gave me Brain and Brawn to work.

I asked for Courage.........And God gave me Danger to overcome.

I asked for Love.........And God gave me Troubled people to help.

I asked for Favors.........And God gave me Opportunities.

I received nothing I wanted ........I received everything I needed!

Whatever You Imagin Is what you Become

Dreams... I believe in my dreams, talk about my dreams, think about my dreams, plan for my dreams, create opportunities for my dreams, and I see myself already in my dreams. The only way to achieve a dream is to talk about it, believe it, see yourself in it and create opportunities for it.

There is a great will-power that follows whatever you imagine. This will-power gets you going despite all odds and the dreams that are supposed to take you ten to twenty years to achieve are achieved in a shorter period.

Paper plans are not enough for dreams! Just see yourself acting out what you have imagined and by the time you get into it, you may think you are still in the process of imagination.

What you believe is what you achieve. What you imagine is what you become. What you think is what you experience.

Only One Mother.....

Hundreds of stars in the pretty sky,
Hundreds of shells on the shore together,
Hundreds of birds that go singing by,
Hundreds of lambs in the sunny weather.

Hundreds of dewdrops to greet the dawn,
Hundreds of bees in the purple clover,
Hundreds of butterflies on the lawn,
But only one mother the world wide over.

Mother's DayThe kindest face I'll ever see,
The kindest voice I'll ever hear.
The one who cares the most for meIs my own mother dear.

All through the yearI'll try to doThe things that showMy love for you.
And not be happy just to say,"I love you, Mother," on Mother's Day.

Take an angel from the skyAnd send her down this way.
Then send some little boys and girlsTo keep her company.
Then fill her heartWith Mother love,
Give her a smile of cheer.
And you'll have a kind of MotherJust like my Mother, dear.

LIFE IS....

Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.

Life is beauty, admire it.

Life is a dream, realize it.

Life is a challenge, meet it.

Life is a duty, complete it.

Life is a game, play it.

Life is a promise, fulfill it.

Life is sorrow, overcome it.

Life is a song, sing it.

Life is a struggle, accept it.

Life is a tragedy, confront it.

Life is an adventure, dare it.

Life is luck, make it.

Life is too precious, do not destroy it.

Life is life, fight for it.

~ by Mother Theresa

20 Extraordinary Human Capacities:

1. People have a tremendous capacity for outstanding achievement. There are also many extraordinary capacities that allow them to become high achievers.

2. Here are seventeen extraordinary capacities that make human beings remarkable. When we recognize and use these capacities, the quality of our lives can become more joyful than ever before.

3. Helping someone in their time of tragedy or need shows the capacity for human goodness.

4. Listening closely to another's words and experience shows the capacity for soulful communication.

5. Understanding the pain, sorrow, or loss of another person shows the capacity for empathy.

6. Believing the best about others, and offering time, support, and friendship shows the capacity for trust.

7. Apologizing for a past mistake shows the capacity for strong character and trustworthiness.
8. Forgiving the errors of a fellow human being shows the capacity to receive forgiveness.

9. Supporting the truth, even when it is unpopular, shows the capacity for honesty and integrity.

10. Compromising when it is best for the welfare of others shows the capacity for teamwork.

11. Giving time and effort to assist others to be successful shows the capacity for sincerity.

12. Being curious about life, its people and its mysteries, shows the capacity for learning.

13. Praying for the welfare of family, friends, and all of humanity shows the capacity for love.

14. Waiting for God's answer to a prayer shows the capacity for faith and patience.

15. Accepting the answer to a prayer, whatever it might be, discovering its blessings, and then moving on shows the capacity for gratitude.

16. Believing in a God-given purpose throughout long and difficult seasons of scarcity shows the capacity for determination and hope.

17. Taking risks, making mistakes, and learning from all experiences show the capacity for being human.

18. Getting up after having fallen down or suffered failure shows the capacity for resolve.

19. Persisting resolutely to navigate life's rapids, scale its mountains, move beyond its perceived limitations, and arrive at its finish line with faith and dignity shows the capacity for achievement.

20. When we use our mental and spiritual capacities, our lives will be filled with more love, contentment, and achievement than we can imagine. When we cultivate a deep faith in a Power greater than ourselves, we never have to travel life's journey alone. There will be powerful sources of wisdom and guidance walking with us every step of the way.

DETERMINATON

In 1883, a creative engineer named John Roebling was inspired by an idea to build a spectacular bridge connecting New York with the Long Island. However bridge building experts throughout the world thought that this was an impossible feat and told Roebling to forget the idea. It just could not be done. It was not practical. It had never been done before.

Roebling could not ignore the vision he had in his mind of this bridge. He thought about it all the time and he knew deep in his heart that it could be done. He just had to share the dream with someone else. After much discussion and persuasion he managed to convince his son Washington, an up and coming engineer, that the bridge in fact could be built.

Working together for the first time, the father and son developed concepts of how it could be accomplished and how the obstacles could be overcome. With great excitement and inspiration, and the headiness of a wild challenge before them, they hired their crew and began to build their dream bridge.

The project started well, but when it was only a few months underway a tragic accident on the site took the life of John Roebling. Washington was injured and left with a certain amount of brain damage, which resulted in him not being able to walk or talk or even move.
"We told them so.""Crazy men and their crazy dreams.""It`s foolish to chase wild visions."
Everyone had a negative comment to make and felt that the project should be scrapped since the Roeblings were the only ones who knew how the bridge could be built. In spite of his handicap Washington was never discouraged and still had a burning desire to complete the bridge and his mind was still as sharp as ever.

He tried to inspire and pass on his enthusiasm to some of his friends, but they were too daunted by the task. As he lay on his bed in his hospital room, with the sunlight streaming through the windows, a gentle breeze blew the flimsy white curtains apart and he was able to see the sky and the tops of the trees outside for just a moment.

It seemed that there was a message for him not to give up. Suddenly an idea hit him. All he could do was move one finger and he decided to make the best use of it. By moving this, he slowly developed a code of communication with his wife.

He touched his wife's arm with that finger, indicating to her that he wanted her to call the engineers again. Then he used the same method of tapping her arm to tell the engineers what to do. It seemed foolish but the project was under way again.

For 13 years Washington tapped out his instructions with his finger on his wife's arm, until the bridge was finally completed. Today the spectacular Brooklyn Bridge stands in all its glory as a tribute to the triumph of one man's indomitable spirit and his determination not to be defeated by circumstances. It is also a tribute to the engineers and their team work, and to their faith in a man who was considered mad by half the world. It stands too as a tangible monument to the love and devotion of his wife who for 13 long years patiently decoded the messages of her husband and told the engineers what to do.

Perhaps this is one of the best examples of a never-say-die attitude that overcomes a terrible physical handicap and achieves an impossible goal.

Often when we face obstacles in our day-to-day life, our hurdles seem very small in comparison to what many others have to face. The Brooklyn Bridge shows us that dreams that seem impossible can be realised with determination and persistence, no matter what the odds are.

Even the most distant dream can be realized with determination and persistence.

Unconditional Love

A story is told about a soldier who was finally coming home after having fought in Vietnam. He called his parents from San Francisco.

"Mom and Dad, I'm coming home, but I've a favor to ask. I have a friend I'd like to bring home with me."

"Sure," they replied, "we'd love to meet him."

"There's something you should know the son continued, "he was hurt pretty badly in the fighting. He stepped on a land mind and lost an arm and a leg. He has nowhere else to go, and I want him to come live with us."

"I'm sorry to hear that, son. Maybe we can help him find somewhere to live."

"No, Mom and Dad, I want him to live with us."

"Son," said the father, "you don't know what you're asking. Someone with such a handicap would be a terrible burden on us. We have our own lives to live, and we can't let something like this interfere with our lives. I think you should just come home and forget about this guy. He'll find a way to live on his own."

At that point, the son hung up the phone. The parents heard nothing more from him. A few days later, however, they received a call from the San Francisco police. Their son had died after falling from a building, they were told. The police believed it was suicide. The grief-stricken parents flew to San Francisco and were taken to the city morgue to identify the body of their son. They recognized him, but to their horror they also discovered something they didn't know, their son had only one arm and one leg.

The parents in this story are like many of us. We find it easy to love those who are good-looking or fun to have around, but we don't like people who inconvenience us or make us feel uncomfortable. We would rather stay away from people who aren't as healthy, beautiful, or smart as we are. Thankfully, there's someone who won't treat us that way. Someone who loves us with an unconditional love that welcomes us into the forever family, regardless of how messed up we are.

Tonight, before you tuck yourself in for the night, say a little prayer that God will give you the strength you need to accept people as they are, and to help us all be more understanding of those who are different from us!!!

There's a miracle called Friendship That dwells in the heart You don't know how it happens Or when it gets started But you know the special lift It always brings And you realize that Friendship Is God's most precious gift!

Friends are a very rare jewel, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed They lend an ear, they share a word of praise, and they always want to open their hearts to us.

BE PATIENT

This is a true story which happened in the States.
A man came out of his home to admire his new truck.

To his puzzlement, his three-year-old son was happily hammering dents into the shiny paint of the truck.

The man ran to his son, knocked him away, hammered the little boy's hands into pulp as punishment.

When the father calmed down, he rushed his son to the hospital. Although the doctor tried desperately to save the crushed bones, he finally had to amputate the fingers from both the boy's hands.

When the boy woke up from the surgery & saw his bandaged stubs, he innocently said, " Daddy, I'm sorry about your truck." Then he asked, "but when are my fingers going to grow back?"
The father went home & committed suicide.

Think about this story the next time someone steps on your feet or u wish to take revenge. Think first before u lose your patience with someone u love. Trucks can be repaired. Broken bones & hurt feelings often can't.

Too often we fail to recognise the difference between the person and the performance. We forget that forgiveness is greater than revenge.

People make mistakes. We are allowed to make mistakes. But the actions we take while in a rage will haunt us forever.

Pause and ponder. Think before you act. Be patient. Forgive & forget. Love one and all.
If you judge people, you have no time to love them. -- Mother Teresa

A W E S O M E - Inspiring

"EVERY MORNING IN AFRICA A DEER WAKES UP,IT KNOWS IT MUST RUN FASTER THAN THE FASTEST LION OR IT WILL BE KILLED.

EVERY MORNING A LION WAKES UP.IT KNOWS IT MUST RUN FASTER THAN THE SLOWEST DEER OR IT WILL STARVE TO DEATH.

IT DOESN'T MATTER IF U R A LION OR A DEER,WHEN THE SUN COMES UP,YOU'D BETTER BE RUNNING."

12 Jyotirlingas Shrines

Somanatham ca - Saurastre - SomnathThe Somanath Temple, one of the 12 most sacred Jyotirlingas in India, stands magnificently on the coast of the Arabian Sea in the state of Gujarat. It is said that the temple was originally built by Soma, the Moon God, in penance and worship of Lord Shiva who had laid a curse upon him. Ransacked and destroyed several times by many invaders like Muhammad of Ghazini in 1025 A.D. and later by Allaudin in 1296 A.D., the present structure was once again rebuilt, this time in the original spot by a committe that was appointed after Independence. The temple was once decorated with gold and silver, but only the stone remains to display it's beauty. In the recesses of the balconied corridor, the mutilated form of Nataraja, the dancing Shiva can be found.

Srisailam - Mallikarjunam - Mallikarjuna
Mallikarjuna is located on the banks of the river Krishna, in the state of Andhra Pradesh on a mountain called Shri Shaila. Fort walls 6 meters high enclose this ancient temple. The temple faces the East was built in Dravidian style. The center mandapam has several pillars with a huge idol of Nadikeswarar. With spacious courtyards and numerous statues and monuments, the temple sculptures narrate in stone the epics from the great Hindu epics - Ramayana Mahabharata. The last photo of a stone carving, shows the serpent form of Shiva and goddess Shakti, courtesy of Martin Grey.

Mahakalam - Ujjayinyam - Ujjain

This Jyotirlinga is located in Ujjain by the Mahakal forest on the right banks of the river Kshipra. The temple courtyard is dominated by the shikhara soaring into the sky. There are five levels, four above ground and one underground, lit with brass lamps. The last photo is of Shiva in his form as Mahakaleshvar, the "Ruler of Death," photo courtesy of Dr. James G. Lochtefeld, Assoc. Prof. of Religion, Carthage College, Kenosha, WI.

Omkaram - Amalesvaram - Omkareshwar

This Jyotirlinga is located on the Narmada river on the sacred island of Omkareshwar. The white dome of the temple is constructed of soft soap stone displaying intricate carvings on the upper portions and stone roof of the temple. Verandhas with columns which are carved in circles, polygons and squares encircle the shrine. The tower or Shirkhar was built in Nagara style and consists of 5 layers, each representing a different deity.

Vaidyanatham ca - Paralyam - Vaidyanath

This Jyotirlinga is located at Deogarh in Bihar. The temple complex consists of twenty two other temples. The courtyard is bounded by stone walls and the main temple consists of several huge pillars. The top of the Shiva Lingam is slightly broken, keeping with the legend that it was chipped away when Ravana tried to uproot it.

Bhimshankaram - Dakinyam - Bhimashankar

This Jyotirlinga is located at a village called, Bhuvanagiri in the Puna district of Maharashtra. This temple built in the Nagara style is surrounded by the thick forest of the Bhimashankar Wild Life Sanctuary. Also found inside the temple are gorgeous carvings.

Ramesam - Setubandhe tu - Rameshwaram

This Jyotirlinga is located on the eastern side of the island Rameswaram, at the extreme south eastern point of the Indian peninsula. The temple structure, known for its 1200 gigantic columns, has three parakarams and several mandapams with mini shrines to many other deities. Night time photo of Rameshwaram Temple photograph courtesy of Martin Grey.

Nagesam - Darukavane - Nageshwar at Dwarka
The Nageshwar Temple in Gujarat , is currently being renovated, this image shows the upper section of the temple. It was originally constructed in the Nagara Style with its splendid‘shikharas’(steeples) and samrans’(pyramidal roof) that reaches a height of 110 ft above the ground. The architectual drawing below shows the complete temple design by Subhash Bhoite and Associates, Temple Architects.

Visvesam - Varanasi

This Jyotirlinga is located at Kasi Viswanathar in Uttar Pradesh. According to legend, the Lord himself declared this spot as his Royal residence. The original temple was destroyed as a result of the mughal invasion. It was reconstructed in the 18th century with gold plating added in the 19th century on the Shikhara (steeple).

Tryambakam - Gautamitate - Trimbakeshwar

This Jyotirlinga is located at Trimbakeshwar, in Maharashtra. The construction of the temple was done in the Nagara style of architecture. It is surrounded by a massive stone wall and adorned with many sculptures. The structure today is a result of reconstruction done during the 18th century by the Peshwa Balaji Bajirao. The sanctum tower is crowned with a giant amalaka and a golden kalasha. Inside you will find Lord Shivas mount, the bull called Nandi.

Kedaram - Himalaye tu - Kedarnath

This Jyotirlinga is located in the Himalayan mountains, in the Gharwal district of Uttar Pradesh. It is believed that this temple is very ancient, having renovations over the centuries. The entrance holds a statue of Nandi, the divine bull. The temple interiors are filled with many exquisite carvings.

Ghrishneshwar - Kusmesam - Sivalaye

This Jyotirlinga is located at Devagiri near Ellora caves in Maharashtra. This
ancient 18th century temple was built by Ahilyabhai Holkar, who also reconstructed other temples. This Shiva temple is rich, with beautiful carvings and exquisite architecture in red sandstone.