JAKI..I LOVE LOVE LOVE ..SUPER LOVE THIS THREAD!!!!! I am going to go JUMP on my trampoline in happiness of it! LOL....I LOVE IT!!!! I SIMPLY LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!!!! This is the BEST cartoon I EVER SAW!!!! You should post this everywhere! Hugs,Love& Light,Laura *^* *^* *^* *^*

Brilliant Jaki!
Loved it!
Have a truly inspirational day!
Starjumps filled with loving gratitude, Diane

That was absolutely a beautiful story Jaki! Thank you for sharing!

It's no wonder your so wonderful, Jaki, reading such inspiring stuff all the time!

The heaven one was my favorite; not leaving my friends behind!

I have only a few minutes to spend on the site today. We are busy getting my daughter packed up and off, and it is my Boston friends last day here.
I will say that the read through these inspiring posts has left me refueled and ready for another busy round.
Bravo Jaki. You're shining brightly. I think I need my shades to hang out with you!

The Sunflower



The Sunflower has .......

12 Spurs or leaves – each one representing one of the twelve months in a year

52 Golden petals representing the weeks in a year

7 Small leaves under the flower – each one representing one of the seven days in a week – (or even the seven main chakras)

An amazing 365 seeds in the centre of the flower – representing the number of days in a year

The seeds then spill out and return to the earth – creating new life – Just like our own life which is eternal!

God Bless YOU, Jaki for sharing such beauty and inspiration. Starjumps of JOY in appreciation for the amazing sunflower and the Light from our Saviour with us. Thank YOU for touching my day with such a divine blessing! Love, Light and Gratitude, Diane xox

If you haven't seen this already - It really is a must - a lesson in how the words we use can change lives

http://www.adnstream.tv/video/nilSqa...TORY-OF-A-SIGN

Love and Light

Jaki

An old rabbi once asked his pupils how they could tell when the night had ended and the day had begun.
"Could it be," asked one of the students, "when you can see an animal in the distance and tell whether it's a sheep or dog?"
"No," answered the rabbi.
Another asked, "Is it when you can look at a tree in the distance and tell whether it's a fig tree or a peach tree?"
"No," answered the rabbi.
"Then when is it?" the pupils demanded.
"It is when you can look on the face of any man or woman and see that it is your sister or brother. Because if you cannot see this, it is still night."

This is a link to a video called "cardboard testimonies" which really touched my heart.

YouTube - Cardboard Testimonies

I have more than one also guys, so many things inspire me. Mona

Malachi 3:3 says: 'He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.'
>
> This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what
> this statement meant about the character and nature of God.
> One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and
> get back to the group at their next Bible Study.
>
> That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to
> watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her
> interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining Silver.
>
>
> As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire
> and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to
> hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest
> as to burn away all the impurities.
>
> The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she
> thought again about the verse that says: 'He sits as a refiner and
> purifier of silver.'
> She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in
> front of the fire the whole time.
>
> The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the
> silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was
> in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it
> would be destroyed.
>
> The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, 'How
> do you know when the silver is fully refined?'
>
> He smiled at her and answered, 'Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image
> in it.'
>
> If today you are feeling the heat of the fire , remember that God has
> his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in
> you.

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him. Everyday he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his few possessions.
One day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, with smoke rolling up to the sky. He felt the worst had happened, and everything was lost. He was stunned with disbelief, grief, and anger He cried out, "God! How could you do this to me?"
Early the next day, he was awakened by the sound of a ship approaching the island! It had come to rescue him! "How did you know I was here?,"
asked the weary man of his rescuers. "We saw your smoke signal," they replied.
The Moral of This Story:
It's easy to get discouraged when things are going bad, but we shouldn't lose heart, because God is at work in our lives.... even in the midst our pain and suffering. Remember that the next time your little hut seems to be burning to the ground. It just may be a smoke signal that summons the Grace of God.
P. S. You may want to consider passing this on, because you never know who feels as if their hut is on fire today.


Love this one, It reminds me to get on my knees when I feel all is lost. Mona

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunlightandshadows Cherokee WisdomWhat a great story to pass on to our kids and a lesson to be learned by us all. Two Wolves One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, 'My son, the battle is between two 'wolves' inside us all. One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.. The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity , humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.' The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: 'Which wolf wins?' The old Cherokee simply replied, 'The one you feed.'

How perfect! Now which one are we going to feed?

'Watch out! You nearly broad sided that car!' My father yelled at me.
'Can't you do anything right?'
Those words hurt worse than blows. I turned my head toward the elderly man in the seat beside me, daring me to challenge him. A lump rose in my throat as I averted my eyes. I wasn't prepared for another battle.
'I saw the car, Dad. Please don't yell at me when I'm driving.' My voice was measured and steady, sounding far calmer than I really felt.
Dad glared at me, then turned away and settled back. At home I left Dad in front of the television and went outside to collect my thoughts. Dark, heavy clouds hung in the air with a promise of rain. The rumble of distant thunder seemed to echo my inner turmoil.
What could I do about him?

Dad had been a lumberjack in Washington and Oregon . He had enjoyed being outdoors and had reveled in pitting his strength against the forces of nature. He had entered grueling lumberjack competitions, and had placed often. The shelves in his house were filled with trophies that attested to his prowess.
The years marched on relentlessly. The first time he couldn't lift a heavy log, he joked about it; but later that same day I saw him outside alone, straining to lift it. He became irritable whenever anyone teased him abouthis advancing age, or when he couldn't do something he had done as a younger man.
Four days after his sixty-seventh birthday, he had a heart attack. Anambulance sped him to the hospital while a paramedic administered CPR to keep blood and oxygen flowing. At the hospital, Dad was rushed into an operating room. He was lucky; he survived.....
Continued - below!

But something inside Dad died. His zest for life was gone. He obstinately
refused to follow doctor's orders. Suggestions and offers of help were turned aside with sarcasm and insults. The number of visitors thinned, then finally stopped altogether. Dad was left alone.
My husband, Dick, and I asked Dad to come live with us on our small farm. We hoped the fresh air and rustic atmosphere would help him adjust. Within a week after he moved in, I regretted the invitation. It seemed nothing was satisfactory. He criticized everything I did. I became frustrated and moody.
Soon I was taking my pent-up anger out on Dick. We began to bicker and argue. Alarmed, Dick sought out our pastor and explained the situation. The clergyman set up weekly counseling appointments for us. At the close of each session he prayed, asking God to soothe Dad's troubled mind. But the months wore on and God was silent. Something had to be done and it was up to me to do it.
The next day I sat down with the phone book and methodically called each of the mental health clinics listed in the Yellow Pages. I explained my problem to each of the sympathetic voices that answered. In vain. Just when I was giving up hope, one of the voices suddenly exclaimed, 'I just read something that might help you! Let me go get the article.' I listened as she read. The article described a remarkable study done at a nursing home. All of the patients were under treatment for chronic depression. Yet their attitudes had improved dramatically when they were given responsibility for a dog.
I drove to the animal shelter that afternoon. After I filled out a questionnaire, a uniformed officer led me to the kennels. The odor of disinfectant stung my nostrils as I moved down the row of pens. Each contained five to seven dogs. Long-haired dogs, curly-haired dogs, black dogs, spotted dogs all jumped up, trying to reach me. I studied each one but rejected one after the other for various reasons too big, too small, too much hair. As I neared the last pen a dog in the shadows of the far corner struggled to his feet, walked to the front of the run and sat down. It was a pointer, one of the dog world's aristocrats. But this was a caricature of the breed. Years had etched his face and muzzle with shades of gray. Hishipbones jutted out in lopsided triangles. But it was his eyes that caught and held my attention. Calm and clear, they beheld me unwaveringly.
I pointed to the dog. 'Can you tell me about him?' The officer looked, then shook his head in puzzlement. 'He's a funny one. Appeared out of nowhere and sat in front of the gate. We brought him in, figuring someone would be right down to claim him. That was two weeks ago and we've heard nothing. His time is up tomorrow.' He gestured helplessly. As the words sank in I turned to the man in horror. 'You mean you're going to kill him?' 'Ma'am,' he said gently, 'that's our policy. We don't have room for every unclaimed dog.'
I looked at the pointer again. The calm brown eyes awaited my decision. ' Ill take him,' I said.
I drove home with the dog on the front seat beside me. When I reached the house I honked the horn twice. I was helping my prize out of the car when Dad shuffled onto the front porch.
'Ta-da! Look what I got for you, Dad!' I said excitedly.
Dad looked, then wrinkled his face in disgust. 'If I had wanted a dog would have gotten one. And I would have picked out a better specimen than that bag of bones. Keep it! I don't want it' Dad waved his arm scornfully and turned back toward the house.
Anger rose inside me. It squeezed together my throat muscles and pounded into my temples.
'You'd better get used to him, Dad.. He's staying!' Dad ignored me. 'Did you hear me, Dad?' I screamed. At those words Dad whirled angrily, his hands clenched at his sides, his eyes narrowed and blazing with hate.
We stood glaring at each other like duelists, when suddenly the pointer pulled free from my grasp. He wobbled toward my dad and sat down in front of him. Then slowly, carefully, he raised his paw.
Dad's lower jaw trembled as he stared at the uplifted paw. Confusion replaced the anger in his eyes. The pointer waited patiently. Then Dad was on his knees hugging the animal.
It was the beginning of a warm and intimate friendship. Dad named the pointer Cheyenne .. Together he and Cheyenne explored the community. They spent long hours walking down dusty lanes. They spent reflective moments on the banks of streams, angling for tasty trout. They even started to attend Sunday services together, Dad sitting in a pew and Cheyenne lying quietly at his feet.
Dad and Cheyenne were inseparable throughout the next three years. Dad's bitterness faded, and he and Cheyenne made many friends. Then late one night I was startled to feel Cheyenne 's cold nose burrowing through our bed covers. He had never before come into our bedroom at night. I woke Dick, put on my robe and ran into my father's room. Dad lay in his bed, his face serene. Buthis spirit had left quietly sometime during the night.
Two days later my shock and grief deepened when I discovered Cheyenne lying dead beside Dad's bed. I wrapped his still form in the rag rug he had slept on. As Dick and I buried him near a favorite fishing hole, I silently thanked the dog for the help he had given me in restoring Dad's peace of mind.
The morning of Dad's funeral dawned overcast and dreary. This day looks like the way I feel, I thought, as I walked down the aisle to the pews reserved for family. I was surprised to see the many friends Dad and Cheyenne had made filling the church.
The pastor began his eulogy. It was a tribute to both Dad and the dog who had changed his life. And then the pastor turned to Hebrews 13:2. 'Be not forgetful to entertain strangers.''I've often thanked God for sending that angel,' he said.
For me, the past dropped into place, completing a puzzle that I had not seen before: the sympathetic voice that had just read the right article...
Cheyenne's unexpected appearance at the animal shelter. . .his calm acceptance and complete devotion to my father. . and the proximity of their deaths. And suddenly I understood. I knew that God had answered my prayers after all.
Life is too short for drama & petty things, so laugh hard, love truly and forgive quickly.

Live While You Are Alive.

Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.

Forgive now those who made you cry. You might not get a second time

Quote:

Originally Posted by cherishedi The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him. Everyday he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his few possessions. One day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, with smoke rolling up to the sky. He felt the worst had happened, and everything was lost. He was stunned with disbelief, grief, and anger He cried out, "God! How could you do this to me?" Early the next day, he was awakened by the sound of a ship approaching the island! It had come to rescue him! "How did you know I was here?," asked the weary man of his rescuers. "We saw your smoke signal," they replied. The Moral of This Story: It's easy to get discouraged when things are going bad, but we shouldn't lose heart, because God is at work in our lives.... even in the midst our pain and suffering. Remember that the next time your little hut seems to be burning to the ground. It just may be a smoke signal that summons the Grace of God. P. S. You may want to consider passing this on, because you never know who feels as if their hut is on fire today. Love this one, It reminds me to get on my knees when I feel all is lost. Mona

Thank you for sharing this - My hut feels like it is on fire today and I am grateful to you for having the words to help lift me up and give me the strength to start putting it out.

Your welcome, and may God's grace shine on you. Love Mona

I love all these stories . Thank you all for sharing them

Love it!

JOYOUS Starjumps of heartfelt gratitude for enlightening my day...may you all be blessed, as well as everyone here! My love and hugs of appreiciation, Diane xox