~*~OPTIMISM~*~

I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship

PRAY FIRST, AIM HIGH AND STAY FOCUSED
There was once a man who had nothing for his family to eat. He had an old shotgun and three bullets. So, he decided that he would go out and kill something to eat for dinner. As he went down the road, he saw a rabbit and he shot at the rabbit and missed it. Then he saw a squirrel and fired a shot at the squirrel and missed it. As he went further, he saw a wild turkey in the tree and he had only one bullet, but a voice came to him and said, "Pray first, aim high and stay focused."
However, at the same time, he saw a deer, which was a better kill. He brought the gun down and aimed at the deer. But, then he saw a rattle snake between his legs about to bite him -- so he naturally brought the gun down further to shoot the rattlesnake. Still, the voice said again to him, "I said pray, aim high and stay focused." So, the man decided to follow the voice. He prayed, then aimed the gun high up in the tree and shot the wild turkey.
The bullet bounced off the turkey and killed the deer. The stock fell off the shotgun and hit the snake in the head and killed it. And, when the gun had gone off, it knocked him into a pond of water. When he got up to look around, he had fish in all his pockets, a dead deer and turkey to eat. The snake (e.g. Satan) was dead simply because the man listened to God:
PRAY FIRST, AIM HIGH AND STAY FOCUSED
Bottom Line: Pray first before you do anything, aim and shoot high in your goals, and stay focused on God.
Each day comes bearing its own gifts, Untie the ribbons
Hope
*If you can look at the sunset and smile, then you still have hope.
*If you can find beauty in the colors of a small flower, then you still have hope.
*If you can find pleasure in the movement of a butterfly, then you still have hope.
*If the smile of a child can still warm your heart, then you still have hope.
*If you can see the good in other people, then you still have hope.
*If the rain breaking on a roof top can still lull you to sleep, then you still have hope.
*If the sight of a rainbow still makes you stop and stare in wonder, then you still have hope.
*If the soft fur of a favored pet still feels pleasant under your fingertips, then you still have hope.
*If you meet new people with a trace of excitement and optimism, then you still have hope.
*If you give people the benefit of a doubt, then you still have hope.
*If you still offer your hand in friendship to others that have touched your life, then you still have hope.
*If receiving an unexpected card or letter still brings a pleasant surprise, then you still have hope.
*If the suffering of others still fills you with pain and frustration, then you still have hope.
*If you refuse to let a friendship die, or accept that it must end, then you still have hope.
*If you look forward to a time or place of quiet and reflection, then you still have hope.
*If you still buy the ornaments, put up the Christmas tree or cook the turkey, then you still have hope.
*If you still watch love stories or want the endings to be happy, then you still have hope.
*If you can look to the past and smile, then you still have hope.
*If, when faced with the bad, when told everything is futile, you can still look up and end the conversation with the phrase "yeah..BUT .." then you still have hope.
*Hope is such a marvelous thing. It bends, it twists, it sometimes hides, but rarely does it break. It sustains us when nothing else can. It gives us reason to continue and courage to move ahead, when we tell ourselves we'd rather give in.
*Hope puts a smile on our face when the heart cannot manage.
*Hope puts our feet on the path when our eyes cannot see it.
*Hope moves us to act when our souls are confused of the direction.
*Hope is a wonderful thing, something to be cherished and nurtured, and something that will refresh us in return. And it can be found in each of us, and it can bring light into the darkest of places.
牋牋NEVER LOSE HOPE