The 7 Ups!
Decide to have a good day."This is the day the Lord hath made;let us rejoice and be glad in it."
Psalms 118:24
2. Dress Up !!
The best way to dress up is to put on a smile.A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks."The Lord does not look at the things man looks at.Man looks at outward appearance,but the Lord looks at the heart."
I Samuel 16:7
3. Shut Up!!
Say nice things and learn to listen.God gave us two ears and one mouth,so He must have meant for us to do twice as much listening as talking."He who guards his lips guards his soul."
Proverbs 13:3
4. Stand Up!!
. . . for what you believe in.Stand for something or you will fall for anything."Let us not be weary in doing good; for at the proper time,we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good..."
Galatians 6:9-10
5. Look Up !!
. . . to the Lord."I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me".
Philippians 4:13
6. Reach Up !!
. . . for something higher."Trust in the Lord with all your heart,and lean not unto your own understanding.In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path."
Proverbs 3:5-6
7. Lift Up !!
. . . your Prayers."Do not worry about anything; instead PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING."
Philippians 4:6
A POSITIVE THOUGHT
If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it.
If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it.He sends you flowers every spring, and a sunrise every morning.
Whenever you want to talk, He'll listen.
He could live anywhere in the universe, and He chose your heart.
What about the Christmas gift He sent you in Bethlehem;not to mention that Friday at Calvary.
Face it, He's crazy about you.
a great note
A great note for all to read it will take just 37 seconds to read this and change your thinking.
Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room's only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back. The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation.
Every afternoon when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.
The man in the other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside.
The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.
As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene.
One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by.
Although the other man couldn't hear the band - he could see it. In his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.
Days and weeks passed.
One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.
As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.
Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside.
He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed.
It faced a blank wall. The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window.
The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall.
She said, "Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you."
Epilogue:
There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations.
Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when shared, is doubled.
If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have that money can't buy.
"Today is a gift, that's why it is called the present."
A Very touching story about Faith
grader boy who would follow this route to school everyday: He has to cross
the rugged plains and cross the dangerous highway where vehicles are
recklessly driving to and from.
Once past this highway, the boy would take a short cut,
passing by the Church every morning just to say Hi to God, and faithfully
say his, "Magandang umaga po" in Bicol dialect. He was
faithfully being watched by a Priest who was happy to find innocence so
uplifting in the morning,
"Kamusta, Andoy? Papasok ka na?"
"Opo padre ... "he would flash his innocent grin, the priest
would be touched. He was so concerned that one day he talked to
Andoy. "From school...", he advised "Do not cross the highway, you
can pass through the Church and I can accompany you to the other
side of the road...that way I can see t! hat you are home safe...."
"Thank you father ... "
"Why don't you go home ... why do you stay in
this church right after school?"
"I just want to say 'Hi' to my friend, God," and the
priest would leave the boy to spend time beside the altar,
talking to himself, but the priest was hiding behind the
! altar to listen to what this boy has to say to his heavenly FATHER.
"You know my math exam was pretty bad today, but I did not
cheat although my seatmate is bullying me for notes... I ate one cracker
and drank my water, Itay had a bad season and all I can eat is this
cracker.
Thank you for this! I saw a poor kitten who was hungry and I
know how he feels so I gave my last cracker to him ... funny but I am
not that hungry. Look, this is my last pair of slippers ...I may have to walk
barefoot next week, you see this is about to be broken... but it is
okay....at least I am still going to school.... Some say we will have a hard
season this month, some of my classmates have already stopped going to school
....please help them get to school again, please God?
...Oh, you know, Inay hit me again, it is painful, but I
know this pain will pass away, at least I still have a mother.... God, you
want to see my bruises? I know you can heal them.... Here... here and ....
oh ...blood!...I guess you knew about this one huh? Please don't be mad
at Inay, she is just tired and she worries for the food in our table and my
schooling that is why she hits us....Oh, I think I am in love ... there's
this pretty girl in my class, her name is Anita ... do you think she will like me? Anyway, at
least I know you will always like me, I don't have to be anybody just to
please you, you are my very best friend! Hey your birthday is two days from
now!!! Aren't you excited? I am! Wait till you see, I have a gift for you
.....but it is a surprise! I hope you will like it! Oooops, I have to go ..."
then he stood up and calls out, "Padre, pa! dre, I am finished talking to my
friend ....you can accompany me to the other side of the road now"
This routine happens everyday. Andoy never fails. Father
Agaton shares this ! every Sunday to the people in his church because he has not
seen a very pure faith and trust in God, a very positive look at
negative situations.
One Christmas day, Father Agaton was sick so he could not
make it in the Church, he was sent to the hospital. The Church was left to
4 manangs who would chant the rosary in 1000 miles per hour, would not
smile and would always find fault in what you do, they were also very well
versed in cursing if you irritate them! They were kneeling, saying their
kilometric rosary when Andoy, coming from his Christmas party, playfully dashed in.
"Hello God! I ......"
"P----!! (a curse) bata ka!! Alam mo nang may nagdadasal!!
Alis!!"
Poor Andoy was so terrified, "Where's Father Agaton? He is
supposed to help me cross the street ... and to be able to cross the
street I will have to pass by the back door of this church ...not only that, I
have to greet Jesus. It is His birthday, I have a gift right here....
" Just as he was about to get the gift out of his shirt, the
manang pulled his shirt and threw him out of the church. "Susmaryosep!!!
(does the sign of the cross fervently) Alis kang bata ka, kung hindi
ma! tatamaan ka!!!
So the boy had no choice but to cross the dangerous side of
the road in front of the church. He crossed. A fast moving bus came in.
There was a blind curve. The boy was protecting his gift
inside his shirt, so he was not looking. There was so little time. Andoy died
on the spot. A lot of people crowded the poor boy, the body of a lifeless
young boy ...
Suddenly, out of nowhere a tall man in a pure white shirt
and pants, a face so mild and gentle, but with eyes full of tears... He
came and carried the boy in His arms. He was crying. Curious bystanders
nudged the man in white, and asked,
"Excuse me sir, are you related to this child?
Do you know this child?"
The man in white, His face mourning and in agony, looked up
and answered,
"He was my best friend .... " was all he said. He took the
badly wrapped gift in the bloody chest of the lifeless boy, and
placed it near His heart.
He stood up and carried the boy away and they both
disappeared in sight.
The crowd was curious ...
On Christmas Eve, Father Agaton learned of the shocking
news. He visited the house, and wanted to verify about the man in white. He
consulted the parents of Andoy.
"How did you know that your son died?"
"A man in white brought him here." sobbed the mother. "What
did he say?"
The father answered, "He did not say anything. He was
mourning.We do not know him and yet he was very lonely about our son's death,
as if he knew our son very well. But there was something peaceful and
unexplainable about him. He gave me my son, and then he smiled peacefully. He brushed my
son's hair away from his face and kissed him on his forehead, then he
whispered something..."
"What did he say?"
"He said to my boy..." the father began, "Thank you for the
gift ... I will see you soon ... you will be with me..." ! and the father
of the boy continued, "and you know for a while, it felt so
wonderful ... I cried, but I do not know why....all I know is I
cried tears of joy .... I could not explain it, Father, but when
that man left, something peaceful came over me, I felt a
deep sense of love inside ... I could not explain the joy in my heart,
I knew my boy is in heaven now but...tell me, Father, who is this
man that my son talks to everyday in your church, you should know because
you are always there ... except at the time of his death ......"Father
Agaton suddenly felt the tears welling in his eyes, with
trembling knees, he murmurred, " ... He was talking to no
one ..... but .. GOD...."
One of the Best Stories I've Ever Heard
As she stood in front of her 5th grade class on the very first day of school, she told the children an untruth. Like most teachers, she looked at her students and said that she loved them all the same. However, that was impossible, because there in the front row, slumped in his seat, was a little boy named Teddy Stoddard.!
Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed that he did not play well with the other children, that his clothes were messy and that he constantly needed a bath. In addition, Teddy could be unpleasant. It got to the point where Mrs. Thompson would actually take delight in marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold X's and then putting a big "F" at the top of his papers.
At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught, she was required to review each child's past rec! ords and she put Teddy's off until last. However, when she reviewed his file, she was in for a surprise.
Teddy's first grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is a bright child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners... he is a joy to be around.."
His second grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is an excellent student, well liked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has a terminal illness and life at home must be a struggle."
His third grade teacher wrote, "His mother's death has been hard on him. He tries to do his best, but his father doesn't show much interest, and his home life will soon affect him if some steps aren't taken."
Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school. He doesn't have many friends and he sometimes sleeps in class."
By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem and she was ashamed of herself. She felt even worse when her students brought her Christmas presents, wrapped in beautiful ribbons and bright paper, except for Teddy's. His present was clumsily wrapped in the heavy, brown paper that he got from a grocery bag. Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents. Some of the children started to laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing, and a bottle that was one-quarter full of perfume. But she stifled the children's laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was, putting it on, and dabbing some of the perfume on her wrist. Teddy Stoddard stayed after school that day just long enough to say, "Mrs. Thompson, today you smelled just like my Mom used to."
After the children left, she cried for at least an hour. On that very day, she quit teaching reading, writing and arithmetic. Instead, she began to teach children. Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy. As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive. The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded. By the end of the year, Teddy had become one of the smartest children in the class and, despite her lie that she would love all the children the same, Teddy became one of her "teacher's pets.."
A year later, she found a note under her door, from Teddy, telling her that she was the best teacher he ever had in his whole life.
Six years went by before she got another note from Teddy. He then wrote that he had finished high school, third in his class, and she was still the best teacher he ever had in life.
Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that while things had been tough at times, he'd stayed in school, had stuck with it, and would soon graduate from college with the highest of honors. He assured Mrs. Thompso! n that she was still the best and favorite teacher he had ever had in his whole life.
Then four more years passed and yet another letter came. This time he explained that after he got his bachelor's degree, he decided to go a little further. The letter explained that she was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had. But now his name was a little longer.... The letter was signed, Theodore F. Stoddard, MD.
The story does not end there. You see, there was yet another letter ! that spring. Teddy said he had met this girl and was going to be married. He explained that his father had died a couple of years ago and he was wondering if Mrs. Thompson might agree to sit at the wedding in the place that was usually reserved for the mother of the groom. Of course, Mrs. Thompson did. And guess what? She wore that bracelet, the one with several rhinestones missing. Moreover, she made sure she was wearing the perfume that Teddy remembered his mother wearing on their last Christmas together
They hugged each other, and Dr. Stoddard whispered in Mrs. Thompson's ear, "Thank you Mrs. Thompson for believing in me. Thank you so much for making me feel important and showing me that I could make a difference."
Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back. She said, "Teddy, you have it all wrong. You were the one who taught me that I could make a difference. I didn't know how to teach until I met you."
(For you that don't know, Teddy Stoddard is the Dr. at Iowa Methodist in Des Moines that has the Stoddard Cancer Wing.)
