Lessons From The Eagle

The story of the eagle...

Interesting lessons that we can learn from the eagle.

The eagle has the longest life-span of its species

It can live up to 70 years.

But to reach this age, the eagle must make a hard decision.

In its 40's

its long and flexible talons can no longer grab prey which serves as food

its long and sharp beak becomes bent

its old-aged and heavy wings,

due to their thick feathers,

become stuck to its chest and make it difficult to fly

Then, the eagle is left with only two options:

die OR

go through a painful process of change which lasts 150 days.

The process requires that the eagle fly to a mountain top and sit on its nest

There the eagle knocks its beak against a rock until it plucks it out.

After plucking it out,

the eagle will wait for a new beak to grow back

and then it will pluck out its talons

When its new talons grow back, the eagle starts plucking its old-aged feathers

And after five months, the eagle takes its famous flight of rebirth and lives for ...
30 more years

Why is change needed?

Many times in order to survive we have to start a change process.

We sometimes need to get rid of old memories, habits and past traditions.

Only when we are freed from the past burdens, can we take advantage of the present.

Parable Of The Pencil

The Pencil Maker took the pencil aside, just before putting him into the box.

"There are 5 things you need to know," he told the pencil, "before I send you out into the world. Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best pencil you can be."

"One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in Someone's hand."

"Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, but you'll need it to become a better pencil."

"Three: You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make."

"Four: The most important part of you will always be what's inside."

"And Five: On every surface you are used on, you must leave your mark. No matter what the condition, you must continue to write."

The pencil understood and promised to remember, and went into the box with purpose in its heart.


Now replacing the place of the pencil with you. Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best person you can be.

One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in God's hand. And allow other human beings to access you for the many gifts you possess.

Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, by going through various problems in life, but you'll need it to become a stronger person.

Three: You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make.

Four: The most important part of you will always be what's on the inside.

And Five: On every surface you walk through, you must leave your mark. No matter what the situation, you must continue to do your duties.



Allow this parable on the pencil to encourage you to know that you are a special person and only you can fulfill the purpose to which you were born to accomplish.

Never allow yourself to get discouraged and think that your life is insignificant and cannot make a change.

Nature's Imponderables

NATURE'S IMPONDERABLES

(Incapable of being weighed, measured or evaluated with precision)

Why does the earthworm always look clean
When you consider where it has been?

How does the butterfly with new-formed wings
Know how to fly with such cumbersome things?

Where does the spider keep all its thread?
Who put the web-pattern into its head?

How does the ant carry food twice its size
And store for the winter?
Who made it so wise?

Where do the flies go all winter long?

Who taught the birds to sing each little song?

Why do the frogs and toads start life as fishes
Then grow their arms and legs?
How curious this is!

How do the seeds planted into the ground
Know, when they grow, they're the right way around?

Unless I am given a better solution

I believe in creation and not evolution!

Dorothy Bull

Broken Toys

Broken Toys

As children bring their broken toys,

With tears for us to mend;

I brought my broken dreams to God

Because he was my friend.

But then instead of leaving him in peace to work alone,

I hung around and tried to help, with ways that were my own.

At last I snatched them back and cried

"How could you be so slow?"

"My child," He said, "What could I do?

You never did let go..."

author unknown

This Moment Today

Take the blues of the skies..

and the greens of the forests..

the golds and the browns..

of the freshly mown hay

The pale shades of spring..

and the circus of autumn..

and weave you a lovely today.

We have THIS moment to hold in our hands

and to touch and to feel as it slips

through our fingers like sand

Yesterday is gone

and tomorrow may never come

but we have THIS moment today.

Bill and Gloria Gaither

Anyway

Anyway

People are often unreasonable,
Illogical, and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind,
People may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful,
You will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank,
People may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building,
Someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness,
They may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today,
People will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have,
And it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis,
It is between you and God;
It never was between you and them anyway.

Author Unknown

The Cracked Pot

THE CRACKED POT

A water bearer in India had two large pots; each hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master's house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.

For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his master's house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection,
and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.

After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream.
"I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you."
"Why?" asked the bearer.
"What are you ashamed of?"
"I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master's house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts," the pot said.
The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, "As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path."

Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again it apologized to the bearer for its failure.

The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master's table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house."

Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots. But if we will allow it, the Lord will use our flaws to grace His Father's table. In God's great economy, nothing goes to waste. So as we seek ways to minister together, and as God calls you to the tasks He has appointed for you, don't be afraid of your flaws. Acknowledge them, and allow Him to take advantage of them, and you, too, can be the cause of beauty in His pathway. Go out boldly, knowing that in our weakness we find His strength, and that.

"In Him every one of God's promises is a Yes."

Noah's Ark

Everything I Need to Know

I Learned from Noah's Ark

Don't miss the boat

Plan ahead,

It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark

Stay fit. When you're 600 years old, someone may ask you to do
something really big

Remember,
that we are all in the same boat

Don't listen to critics,
just get on with the job
that needs to be done

Build your future on high ground

For safety's sake, travel in pairs

Speed isn't always an advantage.
The snails were on board
with the cheetahs

When you're stressed, float awhile

Remember the Ark
was built by amateurs,
the Titanic by professionals

No matter the storm,
when you are with God
there's always a rainbow waiting

Smile Quotes

Wrinkles should merely indicate where smiles have been.
Mark Twain

When a new day begins, dare to smile gratefully.
Steve Maraboli

A smile confuses an approaching frown.
Author Unknown

A laugh is a smile that bursts.
Mary H. Waldrip

One who smiles rather than rages is always the stronger.
Proverb

A smile is an inexpensive way to change your looks.
Charles Gordy

Remember that there is no happiness in having or in getting, but only in giving. Reach out. Share. Smile. Hug.
Og Mandino

Everytime you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.
Mother Teresa

Here's wishing you the smiles o' life and not a single grumble.
Irish Blessing

A warm smile is the universal language of kindness.
William Arthur Ward

If you see a friend without a smile; give him one of yours.
Proverb

Embarassing moments & ulcer

I dozed off at the Home Fellowship Meeting last night while watching the Full Flame Video... only to be greeted later when I finally came to my senses ... by Hui Ching who was sitting next to me with a Good Morning! Victor who was the facilitator that evening managed a faint smile and got on with business as usual.



Am now nursing an ulcer on my lips. It's pretty painful. Must be due to the spicy stuff i've been indulging the past one week. Will be having beef noodle for lunch shortly.

See ya later.