"INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES #20"
"You don't have to have muscles to be strong."
Written in 2002 by Heather D., Age 16 --- California
If you expect your life to be perfect, then expect disappointment. I have learned that rough times are inevitable and inner strength is essential. Only God knows your fate, and you can't predict your own destiny.
A Part of Me; a Part of You
Every moment that we are together, I am learning something, and that knowledge becomes a permanent part of me. Though my feelings will be different a year from now, or ten years from now, part of the difference is You. Because of you, I am a different person, and the person I will grow to become, with you or without you by my side, will have gotten there partly because of you. If you were not in my life right now, I could not be who I am right now. Nor would I be growing in exactly the same way.
Much of what I grow toward, and change within myself, has to do with what I respond to in you, what I learn from you, what I understand about myself through you, and what I learn about my feelings in the dynamics of our relationship. I do not worry about our 'future together' since we have already touched each other and affected each other's lives on so many levels that we can never be totally removed from each other's thoughts. A part of me will always be you, and a part of you will always be me. That much is certain, no matter what else happens.
Larry S. Chengges --- Submitted by Pat Schemmel --- Michigan
"There is no oil without squeezing the olives; no wine without pressing the grapes; no fragrance without crushing the flower. So when you are pressed, God is just bringing out the best in you."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Ruth Aquino --- Negros Occidental, Philippines
THAT'S GOD
"Have you ever been down and out? Have you ever felt that nobody seems to be around for you to talk to... That's God... He wants you to talk to Him.
Have you ever been just sitting there and all of a sudden you feel like doing something nice for someone you care for? That's God...He talks to you through the Holy Spirit.
Have you ever been thinking about somebody that you haven't seen in a long time and then the next thing you know you see them or receive an e-mail, or a phone call from them? That's God...for there is no such a thing as coincidence.
Have you ever received something wonderful that you didn't even ask for, like money in the mail, a debt that had mysteriously been cleared, or a coupon to a department store where you had just seen something you wanted, but couldn't? That's God... He knows the desires of your heart.
Have you ever been in a situation and you had no clue how it is going to get better, but now you look back on it... That's God...He passes us through tribulations to see a brighter day."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Banu K., --- Nepal
A little something to make us cheerful
"I recommend climbing up the tree of love. Climb every branch with the same effort as the one before; climb fast and with love in your heart. When you get to the top, take a look around at all you have accomplished."
Copyright © 2002 Sean Hayes
"Bad things happen to good people, and maybe this is the reason. The hard times strengthen our character, much like muscles being pushed beyond their limit. And, as we all know, fruit trees don't thrive on mountain tops, but in the valleys."
Copyright © 2002 Scott Johnson
In the Bible, Jesus said that He is the vine, and we are the branches (John 15:1-17). I like the fact that He didn't compare himself to just any fruit tree, but a grapevine. It's fruit is growing low enough to the ground, where it is easily reached by anyone who desires it. We ALL have times when we're too weak, or depressed, or self-centered, or blind to the truth, or whatever. But the "fruit" of God's presence is never out of reach. Humbly looking for God, is the sure-fire way to find Him. Search for Him, with ALL your heart, and He WILL be found by you. (Jeremiah 29:12-14).
"Dealing with circumstances, there are only two choices: to deal with it in Faith or in Fear. You either trust in the Lord, or allow the devil to tempt and worry you. Take your pick."
Copyright © 2002 Lemon Lemon
GRANDCHILDREN
Who put the "grand" in grandchildren?
It surely was God above!
He knew there would be a time in our lives,
When we would need their kind of love!
So we must always be there for them,
With a love, tender yet strong,
Teaching them the things we taught our kids,
While "passing the faith along!"
Copyright © 2002 Robert F. Dotson
I am the grandpa of five, 3 granddaughters & 2 grandsons!
"Today is unique! It has never occurred before and it will never be repeated. At midnight it will end, quietly, suddenly, totally. Forever. But the hours between now and then are opportunities with eternal possibilities."
Charles Swindoll --- Submitted by Claudine A.S. --- Metro Manila, Philippines
"Life is difficult. This is a great truth, one of the greatest truths. It is a great truth because once we truly see this truth we transcend it. Once we truly know that life is difficult then life is no longer difficult. Because once it is accepted, the fact that life is difficult no longer matters."
M. Scott Peck, M.D. --- Submitted by Katie M., Age 17 --- California
I used this quote in my college application paper.
"Humility is a vital virtue we need to be upright in life.
If you are not humble in life, you will fumble in life."
Copyright © 2002 Samuel Taiwo
Humble yourself, no matter your personality, in life and God will keep exalting you.
"Never regret anything you have been through, because only with those trials, will you become a better person the next day."
Copyright © 2002 Crystal Hunt
ASAP-Always Say A Prayer
"Hope never gives up on those who persevere."
Copyright © 2002 Jeremy Chan
"Don't let your knowledge of the past cloud your vision for the future."
Copyright © 2002 Rev. Stephen Greening
"If God never let you fall, you would never learn to trust him. It's at the most difficult times in our lives, that God shows us his amazing LOVE."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by S.J., Age 16 --- Texas
"No one was born a mistake, because God doesn't make mistakes!"
Written in 2002 by Amber S., Age 14 --- Ohio
If you think you are a mistake just always remember that God doesn't make mistakes! That is what I like to think!
"The secret of unconditional Love is allowing. Allowing yourself to be who you truly are, allowing others to be as they truly are; allowing the universe to be just as it is... and allowing yourself to be an instrument of God, to express and create."
Copyright © 2002 Simon Heighwaya
It's handy to remember that abundance is simply allowing all good things to flow to and through you!!
"If God was small enough to understand, He wouldn't be big enough to worship."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Deana H., Age 15 --- Georgia
This is a very simple quote that goes straight to the point. I have found comfort in it, many times, when I wasn't sure why God let something happen. It's just a reminder that God is in control and He knows everything, so when we don't understand something that He does, it's all right, we aren't supposed to. Most of the time God will, in some way, reveal his reasons, but if He doesn't, we should understand that He sees and knows everything that we don't.
"Peaceful atmosphere is source for creativity."
Copyright © 2002 Chinnappan Baskar
"The flame never dies because the commitment never ends."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by M.N. Sabu --- California
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you; plans to give you a hope and a future."
Jeremiah 29:11 --- Submitted by J.Y., Age 16 --- North Carolina
This past year, I had to face a lot of challenges in my life. However, time and time again, this Bible verse has helped me through everything. My advice to everyone: Never give up! Put your hope in the Lord and pray incessantly!
"Michelangelo, the Renaissance artist, considered himself more a sculptor than a painter. He would say that he could look at a raw, uncut lump of marble and see the perfect statue...'the angel'... imprisoned within it. Then, all he had to do was carve away what was not needed and release it, set it free. We are like this. At the core of each individual is a pure love, calm, connected, boundless. All we have to do is learn to let go of the baggage, the fears, and the beliefs that imprison us and allow life to chip away the rest, to reveal something truly beautiful, something eternal."
Copyright © 2002 Simon Heighwaya
"You must carry on the peace so that heaven on earth becomes reality."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by S.N. --- California
"Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step."
Martin Luther King Jr. --- Submitted by K.M., Age 17 --- Minnesota
I used this quote for my faith statement and it has helped me out a lot in my life.
"I do not know the future
But I know the God Who knows.
And in His perfect wisdom,
Unknowing, I repose."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Sue K. --- Washington D.C.
"There are basically just two emotions, love and fear. Love is natural; fear is acquired. Love is positive, fear negative. Love accepts and fear rejects. Love opens up, expands... fear closes down, contracts. Love strengthens; fear weakens. While love lets go fear tries to hold on, fear wants to keep you prisoner while love knows you are free!!! Love says 'I am good enough', fear is not so sure... BUT, Love dissolves fear!!! At a deeper level there is only LOVE; It's what we are, it's what God is, it's nature's way.... it unites everything because it's at the core of everything... it really is all that matters!!!"
Copyright © 2002 Simon Heighwaya
Love truly IS the answer, Love does conquer all and perfect love does cast out all fear! It is unconditional Love that gives life its mystery. Live, love, give and laugh!
"Life is a jigsaw puzzle. Everyone has all the pieces in front of him or her. It's those who put those pieces together, to see the big picture, that stand out above all others."
Copyright © 2002 Tania Kannadan
Think of this quote every time you feel as if your life has no purpose or like it's falling apart...because you have the pieces with you. Just step back...try again.
"Faith in God is the summit of all you need in life. For, from faith comes understanding (that is, understanding that you can never fully understand), from this understanding comes love and awe, and from this love comes the desire to act and live only for Him."
Copyright © 2002 Christina Schuster
"If everything is perfect and rosy in life, we will learn nothing in this world. If everyone were to be the same in life, the purpose of co-existence will be defeated."
Copyright © 2002 Samuel Taiwo
God has positioned everything in life for a purpose. He alone is prefect.
"Whenever you're troubled, don't just go to God and say, 'I have big a problem.' Go to the problem and say, 'I have a BIG God!'"
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Nicholas L., Age 15 --- Singapore
"Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are. Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow. Let me hold you while I may, for it will not always be so. One day I shall dig my fingers into the earth, or bury my face in the pillow, or stretch myself taut, or raise my hands to the sky, and want more than all the world your return."
Mary Jean Irion --- Submitted by S. Kinnan --- Washington D.C.
I've had this on a plaque in my home for over 30 years, and I think it means more every year.
"I've realized that God's got a plan for everything. If something is meant to be, it will happen. You can't force love, it's just going to be there and you'll know it. When the time is right you'll know it."
My friend, Jessie --- Submitted by L.C. --- Florida
"When someone breaks your heart, God doesn't escape. He stays to mend it from within."
Copyright © 2002 Nicholas Lim
"I learned in my Psychology class that emotions take over reasoning. So I guess when it comes to love and losing love, our emotions take over the better of us and we are unable to think rationally and reasonably. It is not our fault; it is just how our brain is made up. Love can take over a huge part of our emotions and when we lose the one we love, we end up living through our emotions and realizing we are not the person we truly are."
Written in 2002 by Erin H. --- Ohio, United States
I wrote this after breaking up with the love of my life. He would always say I cried too much, but then I realized that crying was just my way of expressing how much I felt to him. Sometimes he made me feel like it was something I needed to change about myself, but then I realized that it is a normal part of who I am. I know it is not the greatest but maybe someone out there, who went through the same as me, will realize that we are all human and we do live through emotions.
"God is the only one to know why things happen; I realized that."
Written in 2002 by Monikita --- Mexico
"Do we dare let God be who he says he will be in us?"
Oswald Chambers --- Submitted by S.S., Age 17 --- North Carolina
"God will bring people into your life and through them, He will teach you to laugh and teach you to cry. He will teach you to think and teach you to learn. He will teach you to talk and teach you to listen. He will teach you to love. But there comes a time when He will also teach you to let go, and through letting go He will teach you to remember all that He has taught you."
Written in 2002 by Alison E., Age 14 --- Georgia
"You have to live your life for yourself. Doing things just because you think they will please other people is never going to make you happy. It will never work. For yourself, decide the path you want to travel, allow yourself to make mistakes, change your mind sometimes, and never forget to remember others along your way."
Written in 2002 by Erin V., Age 15 --- Wisconsin
"If I were to wish for anything, I should not wish for wealth and power, but for the passionate sense of potential --- for the eye which, ever young and ardent, sees the possible. Pleasure disappoints; possibility never."
Soren Kierkegaard
"It's faith in something and enthusiasm for something that makes a life worth living."
Oliver Wendell Holmes
"When you feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders, try putting down that which is God's work."
Copyright © 1999 Carrie Gatewood
"Everything else can wait, but your search for God cannot wait."
Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda --- Submitted by J. Sridhar --- AP, India
"Spirituality is finding God within yourself."
Copyright © 2002 Ashley Gormley
This just sort of came to me one day, for I see my life as one big spiritual journey and experience. I am 99.9% sure this originated from my own free thinking mind, but if I am wrong and this quote has indeed been said by someone else, I apologize. Love, Light, and Friendship, Ashley
"The most important test in life is not the written test but the test OF life."
Copyright © 2002 Dalhia Shelton
"God will move mountains...If YOU bring the shovel."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Josh M., Age 18 --- Virginia
"Sometimes our light goes out but is blown into flame by another human being.Each of us owes deepest thanks to those who have rekindled this light."
Albert Schweitzer
"The charity that is trifle to us can be precious to others."
Homer
"No one can arrive from being talented alone. God gives talent; work transforms talent into genius."
Anna Pavlova
"We should find God in what we do know, not in what we don't; not in outstanding problems, but in those we have already solved."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by J. Reid --- New Zealand
"Prayers act as a pain killer in hard and difficult times."
Written in 2002 by V.K.K. --- Maharastra, India
"Those who sow in TEARS shall reap in JOY."
Bible - Book of Psalms --- Submitted by T.B. --- Ohio
"Blessed is the influence of one true, loving human soul on another."
George Eliot
"Don't stop dancing...believe that you could fly."
Scott Stapp (Singer for Creed) --- Submitted by Cassandra Olguin --- Illinois
Helped me through hard times.
"Hold on to Faith. It is the source of believing that all things are possible. It is fiber and strength of a confident SOUL."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Faith Malahlane --- South Africa
"Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself."
Matthew 6:34 --- Submitted by Jen M. --- Louisiana
Instead of always worrying about things to come, have faith that God will handle everything.
"Sometimes, in the middle of our ordinary lives, love gives us a fairy tale."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Anand Srivastava --- India
"As I grow to understand life less and less, I learn to live it more and more."
Jules Renard
"The greatest revolution of our generation is the discovery that human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds can change the outer aspects of their lives."
William James
"While walking on the road of life, sometimes I felt helpless and tired, and life became so dark that I couldn't see a single light ahead. Suddenly, among the clouds, sparkling stars of the sky appear. I see one great power behind, which is always invisible and can only be felt; although in hard times, I always think I am alone. From that day, on which I started trusting that immortal power behind stars, I became so strong and brave. Now I can easily walk in the darkness of life without knowing the next step. Thus I hope one day, all darkness of my life will be turned into bright light."
Copyright © 2002 Aysha Iftikhar
"How far we travel in life matters far less, than the people we meet on the way."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Faith Malahlane --- Gauteng, South Africa
"Happiness is like a butterfly; chase it and it flies away, but wait patiently and it will land softly on your shoulder."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Stephanie Bos --- Tennessee
Also remember true happiness depends on you and no one else.
"The average estimate themselves by what they do, the above average by what they are."
Johann Friedrich von Schiller
"Sometimes an Angel is merely the reflection of who we really want to be."
Copyright © 2002 Greg Olson
"It's okay to keep the other six days holy too."
Author Unknown --- Submitted by Cynthia Franklin --- Mississippi