The Secret

One day, one friend asked another,
"How is it that you are always so happy?
You have so much energy,
and you never seem to get down."

With her eyes smiling, she said,
"I know the Secret!"
"What secret is that?"
To which she replied,
"I'll tell you all about it,
but you have to promise to
share the Secret with others."

"The Secret is this:
I have learned there is little I can do
in my life that will make me truly happy.
I must depend on God to make
me happy and to meet my needs.
When a need arises in my life,
I have to trust God to supply
according to HIS riches.
I have learned most of the time
I don't need half of what I think I do.
He has never let me down.
Since I learned that 'Secret', I am happy."

"That's too simple!"
But upon reflecting over her own life
she recalled how she thought a bigger house
would make her happy, but it didn't!
She thought a better paying job
would make her happy, but it hadn't.
When did she realize her greatest happiness?
Sitting on the floor with her grandchildren,
playing games, eating pizza or reading a story,
a simple gift from God.

We can't depend on people to make us happy.
Only GOD in His infinite wisdom can do that.
Trust HIM!
And now I pass the Secret on to you!
So once you get it, what will you do?

That GOD in His wisdom will take care of YOU!
But it's not really a secret...
We just have to believe it and do it...
Really trust God!

The Best Gift Ever Tag

I don't usually do tags in this blog but this tag is highly inspiring. Thanks Outback Pinay for the tag.

*** Start Here ***

Friendly Rules:
1. Simply copy the inspirational story and in the end write down the lesson you have learned out from this.
2. Put your own blog name and link. Pass or tag this to your friends to inspire them.
3. Start copy from “Begin Copy” until “End Copy” to your blog.


--- The Best Gift Ever ---

A young man was getting ready to graduate from college. For many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer's showroom and knowing his father could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted. As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited signs that his father had purchased the car.

Finally, on the morning of his graduation his father called him into his private study. His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine son, and told him how much he loved him. He handed his son a beautiful wrapped gift box. Curious, but somewhat disappointed, the young man opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible, with the young man's name embossed in gold. Angrily, he raised his voice to his father and said, "With all your money you give me a Bible?" and stormed out of the house, leaving the Bible.

Many years passed and the young man was very successful in business. He had a beautiful home and wonderful family, but realized his father was very old and thought perhaps he should go to him. He had not seen him since that graduation day. Before he could make arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father had passed away, and willed all of his possessions to his son. He needed to come home immediately and take care of things. When he arrived at his father's house, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart.

He began to search through his father's important papers and saw the still new Bible, just as he had left it years ago.With tears, he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. His father had carefully underlined a verse, Matt 7:11, "And if ye, being evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Heavenly father which is in heaven, give to those who ask Him?" As he read those words, a car key dropped from the back of the Bible.It had a tag with the dealer's name, the same dealer who had the sports car he had desired. On the tag was the date of his graduation, and the words... PAID IN FULL.

How many times do we miss God's blessing because they are not packaged as we expected? I trust you enjoyed this. Pass it on to others. Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; but remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for...

PLS. SEND THIS TO AT LEAST FIVE PEOPLE SO AS TO LET THIS GREAT LESSON FLOW AROUND.

----End Copy----

Lesson I learned: (Write here what your learned)

Things might not turn out to be what we expect or want. The great and good thing about a God is his perfection - we can literally say - He (God) knows what He is doing. Let us pray and work for what our heart desires. If in the end, we find ourselves still in a fix - worry not. God knows our needs. He will greatly provide. You just have to trust in Him. Remember Romans 8:28 - And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.

I am tagging the following friends: Brown Pinay Watchamacallit Coatable Coats A Time to Weep & Laugh Can of Thoughts and everyone else who wants to grab this tag.

1. Outback-Pinay 2. And Life Goes on for Filipino Mom 3. Manna from Heaven 4. YOUR LINK HERE

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New Approach to Marriage Counseling

I have been a wedding principal sponsor or witness, many times over. When a couple try to get me as a principal sponsor to their wedding, my first question is why me? Most say, they want me to be a part of their new life together as man and wife. Some say, they want to be able to come to me and ask for my advice in different matters. Others say, well, they just want me to. Of course, I always say yes. I say, marriage is a great big step. It is not some event that needs to be done with in order to get on with your lives. It is an event that marks a new beginning.

Having been married for the last 28 years does not make me an expert on marriage per se. My marriage had its ups and downs on basically every aspect. I believe that marriage is a never-ending process of knowing your partner. I thought then that the getting-to-know phase would be short and sweet. How wrong I was!

Marriage counseling takes on a new form these days. Not so long ago, majority of married couples save marriage counseling as a last resort or not, to their marital problems. Today more married couples are enlightened on the crucial benefits of counseling. However, most counseling sessions are sometimes too long and painful. An innovation by Dr. Ellen Kreidman puts online marriage counseling in a new light. You might want to see for yourself samples of Dr. Ellen Kreidman's alternative technique.

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Third Fall

A man woke up early in order to have his morning devotion (prayer) in the Lord's house (church). He got dressed, set on his way to the Lord's house. On his way to the church, the man fell and his clothes got dirty. He got up, brushed himself up, and headed home.

At home, he changed his clothes, and was, again, on his way to the Lord's house. On his way to the church, he fell again and at the same spot! He, again, got up, brushed himself off and headed home. At home he, once again, changed his clothes and was on his way to the Lord's house.


On his way to the church, he met a man holding a lamp. He asked the man of his identity and the man replied 'I saw you fall twice on your way to the church, so I brought a lamp so I can light your way. The first man thanked him profusely and the two went on their way to the church. Once at the church, the first man asked the man with the lamp to come in and pray with
him. The second man refused. The first man asked him a couple more times and, again, the answer was the same. The first man asked him why he did not wish to come in and pray.

The man replied, 'I am Satan'. The man was shocked at this reply. Satan went on to explain, 'I saw you on your way to the Church and it was I who made you fall. When you went home, cleaned yourself and went back on our way to the church, God forgave all of your sins. I made you fall a second time, and even that did not encourage you to stay home, but rather,
you went back on your way to Church. Because of that, God forgave all the sins of the people of your household. I was afraid if I made you fall one more time, then God will forgive the sins of the people of your village, so I made sure that you reached the house of God (Church) safely.'

Do not put off the good you intended to do as you never know how much reward you might receive from the hardships you encounter while trying to achieve that good. For your righteousness can save your family and nation at large. Do this and see the victory of the Lord.

Praise be to God in the highest !

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Sky Angel Cowboy

Remember the sky angel cowboy? A remarkable phone call from a 12-yr old boy to Houston radio station KSBJ FM 89.3. So profound, the station had it posted on their website.The message imparted by that boy, Logan Henderson is so true and shaking, I cried. Click below to listen to it.

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Father James Reuter, S.J. Writes

Father James Reuter is one, if not the only Catholic priest that I admire. He was the official chaplain of my girls' high school and I have come to hear his sermons/speeches during the school's commencement and baccalaureate services. I received this email from one of his former students at Ateneo de Manila. The letter was written by Father Reuter. Read on....

The signs are clear. Our nation is headed towards an irreversible path of economic decline and moral decadence. It is not for lack of effort. We've seen many men and women of integrity in and out of government, NGOs, church groups & people's organization devote themselves to the task of nation-building, often times against insurmountable odds. But not even two people revolutions, bloodless as they may be, have made a dent in reversing this trend. At best, we have moved one step forward, but three steps backward.

We need a force far greater than our collective efforts, as a people, can ever hope to muster. It is time to move the battle to the spiritual realm. It's time to claim God's promise of healing of the land for His people.

It's time to gather God's people on its knees to pray for the economic recovery and moral reformation of our nation. Is prayer really the answer? Before you dismiss this as just another rambling of a religious fanatic, I'd like you to consider some lessons we can glean from history.

England's ascendancy to world power was preceded by the Reformation, a spiritual revival fueled by intense prayers. The early American settlers built the foundation that would make it the most powerful nation today - a strong faith in GOD and a disciplined prayer life. Throughout its history, and especially at its major turning points, waves of revival and prayer movement swept across the land.

In recent times, we see Korea as a nation experiencing revival and in the process producing the largest Christian church in the world today, led by Rev. Paul Yongi Cho. No wonder it has emerged as a strong nation when other economies around it are faltering.

Even from a purely secular viewpoint, it makes a lot of sense. For here there is genuine humbling & seeking of GOD through prayer, moral reformation necessarily follows. And this, in turn, will lead to general prosperity.

YES, we believe prayer can make a difference. It's our only hope.Today, we launch this email brigade, to inform Filipinos from all over the world to pray, as a people, for the economic recovery and moral reformation of our nation. We do not ask for much. We only ask for 5 minutes of your time in a day, to forward this email to your close friends and relatives.

This is the kind of unity which can make a big difference. Of course, if you feel strongly, as I do, about the power of prayer, you can be more involved by starting your own prayer group or prayer center.

We have tried people power twice; in both cases, it fell short. Maybe it's time to try prayer power.

GOD never fails. Is there hope? YES! We can rely on God¢s promise, but we have to do our part. If we humble ourselves and pray as a people, GOD will heal our land.

By God's grace, we may yet see a better future for our children. GOD bless and GOD save our country (from stupid and corrupt politicians)!

"If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and

pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I

hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sins, and will heal their

land."

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Choose Blessing

Today's Scripture

“I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live…” (Deuteronomy 30:19).

Today's Word from Joel and Victoria

God desires that you live in blessing in every area of your life. He’s given promises in His Word and has established a plan for you to live in total victory. He promises to give you the answers, but you have to be the one to decide to obey His voice. You have the final choice, so choose life and blessing! Every time you choose to obey the Word of God, you are choosing blessing. When you put God first in your life; when you walk in love towards others even when it’s difficult, you are choosing blessing. When you turn away from ungodly influences and when you give to others, God will pour out His blessing on you in return. Start today and do what you know to do. Obey His word and His blessing will overtake you! You’ll rise higher and higher and live the abundant life He has for you.

A Prayer for Today

Father in heaven, today I choose life. I choose blessing by obeying Your Word. Keep me close to You so that I can honor You in all I say and do. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

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Pass this On

My prayer for you today:

The eyes beholding this message shall not behold evil, the hands that will send this message to others shall not labor in vain, the mouth saying Amen to this prayer shall laugh forever. Remain in God's love as you send this prayer to everybody on your list. Have a lovely journey of life! Trust in the Lord with all your heart and He will never fail you because He is AWESOME !
If you truly need a blessing, continue reading.

Heavenly Father, most Gracious and Loving God, I pray to you that you abundantly bless my family and me. I know that you recognize, that a family is more than just a mother, father, sister, brother, husband and wife, but all who believe and trust in you. Father, I send up a prayer request for blessings for not only the person who is reading, but for me and all that I have forwarded this message on to. The power of joined prayer by those who believe and trust in you is more powerful than anything. I thank you in advance for your blessings.

Father God, deliver the person reading this right now from debt and debt's burdens. Release your Godly wisdom that I may be a good steward over all that You have given me Father, for I know how wonderful and mighty you are and how if we just obey you and walk In your word and have the faith of a mustard seed that you will pour out blessings. I thank you now Lord for the recent blessings I have received and for the blessings yet to come because I know you are not done with me yet.

In Jesus' name , I pray.

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