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Jan 19, 2009

Feelings of Sadness and Sorrow

There are as many reasons to feel sad as there are people who are experiencing feelings of sadness and sorrow. Pain and anger are strong emotions that are direct results to negative experiences that unfortunately are a part of modern life. I’m sure you have heard the old saying that tells us that nobody gets out of this world alive and that is so true.

It is also a fact as we are told in the Bible, that the rain falls on the just as well as the unjust. In fact, scripture tells us that living is often more difficult for those with faith than those who indulge in sinful ways. Is there any wonder that we have such strong feelings of sadness and sorrow when we see innocent children in pain from illnesses or that are victims of abuse while criminals wallow in luxury free as birds or are taken care of with three meals a day and a warm bed albeit within prison walls? How can we help but be confused with such an enigma?

There are excellent inspirational poems and quotes on feelings of sadness and sorrow in the Bible as well as motivational books written by our fellow sufferers that offer practical and spiritual advice on how to handle them. Our faith doesn’t promise a life with no sorrow, but it provides comfort and a promise of hope to those who believe.

Friends of mine tell me that when they find themselves in a dark place filled with depression that they have certain verses in the Bible bookmarked to help them cope. Once they allow the comforting words to infiltrate their minds, they are able to once again pick up their daily lives with a clear head and a hopeful spirit.

Once of my favorite non-Biblical quotes about sadness reinforces what the Bible says, which says to let it go. Send it up in prayer and let God’s plan for us take the pressure out of our feelings of sadness. Because as the quote states, if we build walls around ourselves to keep the grief and despair out of our lives you also build a wall that keeps out the joy and love that life has to offer. We have to take the good with the bad and trust God’s word to tell us how to make it through.

Return to Motivational Inspirational Posters Poems and Quotes for more sayings and poems that may lift your spirits and inspire you.

Jan 8, 2009

INSPIRATIONAL BIBLE QUOTES that APPLY TO EVERYDAY LIFE

Inspirational Bible Quotes have a way of giving us direction, peace and confidence in our relationships with our beloved spouses, friends and family members. And at times scripture can guide us to make the right decisions in not only our own lives, but give us the tools to comfort others.

How many times has a troubled friend called you on the telephone or contacted you with a letter asking your opinions and seeking relationship advice and you felt that you didn’t have the right words to give them comfort? It’s very hard to know what to say that will help them make a decision whether to stay or leave, whether to continue to try or to throw in the towel.

Quotes from the Bible about love are plentiful, but I found this inspirational Bible quote to be the most helpful in a recent conversation that I had with a friend who was beginning to suspect her fiancĂ© of being unfaithful. She expressed little faith in him by doubting his fidelity and on the other hand she was very upset because she was in love and didn’t want to end the engagement.

I advised her to seek premarital counseling and to turn to the Word of God for guidance. The best Bible quote I could think of to address her feelings at the moment was 1 John 4:18.

The quote from 1 John 4:18 "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear" tells me that the right kind of love will give you strength, build character and self esteem. The wrong kind of love will only break a person down and take them down paths that are destructive and dead end. This quotation gives the advice that my friend was seeking if she would only open her heart. If the love she had for her intended was producing fear, perhaps it was not the right kind of love that God intends for a husband and wife to have for each other.


Before you offer your own advice to friends, remember there are inspirational Bible quotes that offer divine guidance that can improve or eliminate most of the problems that we face in life.

Return to Motivational Inspirational Bible Quotes, Poems and Posters to find more thoughts on how man should look to the Good Book for solutions to life's problems.

Jan 6, 2009

INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE ABOUT GOSSIP

"Another privilege of talking is to misquote"

Can there be an inspirational quote about gossip? To some of us who have managed to dodge the rumor mill such inspiration may be considered unnecessary. However, those who have been the subject of misquotes and misinformation may need some motivational words to help them develop thicker skins or maybe to apply a little emotional water proofing so that incorrect facts or downright dirty lies will roll over and off of them like water off a ducks back.

Conversation and the sharing of local news are entertaining. But often in the repeating of tidbits of news the stories start to take on a life of their own and the facts get embroidered and decorated so that they will attract a larger audience and be even more interesting than they were in the beginning.

Those who are the victims of this mode of misguided entertainment should take heart and know that even the most positive kind of fame rarely lasts more than 15 minutes or so I'm told. So, our quote about gossip tells us that talking is so common that even the juiciest of rumors won't stay on the tongues of nosy people long enough to worry with.

Return to Motivational Inspirational Posters Poems and Quotes about Gossip

Dec 23, 2008

INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES TO GET YOU THROUGH FAMILY GATHERINGS

Many of us dread the less than inspirational family gatherings during the Christmas holidays. Sadly, Christmas is portrayed in the movies as an opportunity for dysfunctional families to air their dirty laundry and work out their frustrations.

Perhaps a cousin, aunt or uncle tossed about a few demeaning words or insulted you last Christmas. Those lingering memories of hurt feelings certainly make you less excited about getting together with your loved ones for yet another holiday round of taking potshots at each other, don't they?

The best advice is to turn the other cheek and let the healing start with you. Don't engage in the verbal exchanges. Let's make a commitment to transform the holidays.

Contribute positive and complimentary comments whenever appropriate and called for. If a negative thought travels through your mind; let it go. Let's take Christmas back to a time of inspiration and closeness that it's meant to be.

Here's an inspirational quotation that can apply to our dealings with family members at Christmas or any time of year.



Your loved ones will forgive you for what you have said
Your family will forget things that you have done
They will never forget the way that you made them feel



The meaning of this short inspirational quote is that feelings live much longer than the actual effects of a pointed remark or action. The message here is that if you have hurt those who love you in the past. There's no time like the present to make things better between you.

Dec 18, 2008

INSPIRATIONAL MESSAGES for CHRISTMAS

I had promised my visitors a series of inspirational messages for Christmas and I have to apologize that family illness has kept me from fulfilling my promise for a few days. However, every occurrence in our lives can have great meaning if you just take the time to look for it. My recent time spent worrying in the waiting room of the local hospital gave me some time for observation and introspection that I would otherwise probably not have had.


The Christmas season is one of the most recognized holidays in the world today. It has the power to transcend both language and cultural barriers and in some instances; religious beliefs. People love to take advantage of this time when even people at war with each other can lay down their weapons and come together in peace. It can also provide a time for personal reflection.


So many people are in search of inspirational messages for Christmas. I’m not sure if they are searching for themselves or if they simply want something to read aloud to their loved ones before sitting down to a celebratory meal. Either is a worthy cause in my book as anytime is a good time to initiate spiritual family rituals that maintain the connection to ideals that are both divine and sacred.


I’d like to share with you a funny Christmas quote about what it’s like not to be a child at Christmas. It’s one that I remember from Erma Bombeck’s writings from a while back:


There's nothing sadder in this world than to awake Christmas morning and not be a child.



That is certainly a negative about not being a kid, but here’s an
inspirational message
for Christmas that reminds us that even if we are old, that we should be childlike in our faith:

LET US KEEP CHRISTMAS



Whatever else be lost among the years,
Let us keep Christmas still a shining thing;
Whatever doubts assail us, or what fears,
Let us hold close one day, remembering
It's poignant meaning for the hearts of men.
Let us get back our childlike faith again.



With those inspirational words of wisdom, Grace Noll Crowell reminds us that Christmas can be a time of rebirth. A time when we can regain our faith in ourselves and mankind.

Return to Motivational Inspirational Message for Christmas, Posters Poems and Quotes to find more words that bring meaning to the holidays.

Dec 12, 2008

INSPIRATIONAL CHARITY QUOTES

The following inspirational charity quotes remind us that the Christmas season is not a warm and cozy time of year to those who are having trouble making ends meet or don't have the most basic of necessities like warm clothing and food.


Real charity isn't about the tax deduction.



Quotes about charity give us the motivation to reach out and do something nice for a person without expecting anything in return other than the feeling of having been blessed by making a load lighter or a day brighter. Every little bit counts and by working together with each doing his part we can solve so much of what is wrong with our world.

There's nothing wrong with donating funds to charities in order to get a tax deduction, but as the inspirational charity quote says, the blessing is not in the personal gain that you get in tax savings. It's about knowing a child didn't go to bed hungry or that an older person got the medical help that they so desperately needed.

We hear far too much about mis-managed budgets and too little about the good that acts of kindness and the true spirit of giving do to improve the lives of so many people who have fallen on difficult times through no fault of their own. Why should innocent children suffer when a small amount from each of us could provide a meal and warm shoes and clothing? They have done nothing to deserve such fates.

Here is another favorite of many inspirational charity quotes that I would like to share with you. The early snowfall that we enjoyed today brought it to mind:


An act of kindness is just like an early snow - it beautifies everything it touches.



Return to Motivational Inspirational Charity Quotes Posters and Poems to see our latest entries.

Dec 5, 2008

INSPIRATIONAL CHRISTMAS STORIES - REAPING THE REWARDS

Feeling the benefits from inspirational Christmas stories seems to get more difficult each year. The sadness and nervousness from the evil in the world is so overpowering that for many Christmas represents little more than crowded shopping malls, financial challenges and dysfunctional family members. Add to that the feeling of pressure from gift obligations and how could we be surprised that many view the holidays with a sense of dread and foreboding.

If you are among the many that view this the most beautiful time of year in this way I recommend that you plan a quiet moment of stillness and repose in order to ask yourself .. when did the true meaning of Christmas escape me? And better yet, how can I rediscover the spiritual feelings of the times when the holidays were filled with positive, joyful experiences, family feelings and happy times? How can I bring back the spirituality that should be part of Christmas?

EXPLORING THE PAST

Once we are adults, each of us has our own memories of Christmases past. When December comes around, we tend to revisit those memories with their joy or its pain as we recreate and relive the season. We take a moment to examine our beliefs, our expectations and touch upon remembered disappointments by ignoring positive inspirational Christmas stories that are uplifting only to wallow in the negative memories of the past. But we are also offered the gift of new consciousness with each yearly rebirthing of our spiritual selves. We have the option to accept and make good use of this gift or to practice the mulling of old experiences that hinder our soul’s growth.

CHOOSE THE POSITIVE RATHER THAN NEGATIVE

Focusing on the stressful aspects of the holidays will snuff out the power that the magic of Christmas can work in your life. if you allow yourself to be manacled by the power of negativity instead of the power of positive thinking, you are insulating yourself from what what is good and holy. In this season we are reminded by the birthing Christ that we have a choice about priorities and where you choose to place your energy. Will you focus on seeking inspirational Christmas stories and accept the boundless love that this holiday offers you or be left feeling alone and lacking. Make a promise to yourself to search for uplifting moments or better yet create and share them with others.

WHERE TO LOOK FOR INSPIRATION

Finding inspiring images and acts often takes nothing more than to train yourself to see the good in people and your surroundings. Tune out the evening news and read a book filled with inspirational Christmas stores that will allow you to escape the turmoil of the day rather than to bring it into your home. Join a charity group that offers aid to those less fortunate to see good works in action. Form a shell around your spirit that only allows positive thoughts to grow and prosper.


REAPING THE BENEFITS

To create a visual promise, perform a personal candle lighting ceremony to commemorate the promise that you are making to yourself to eliminate feelings that keep you from your joy. Immerse yourself in meditation and a moment of quiet prayer to query your higher self on ways to offer your loved ones inspirational Christmas stories that are personal and real. While deep in prayer, affirm the courage to be open to a new way of thinking about gift giving and the holidays. The illumination of spirit you experience from this simple exercise may amaze you, but they will also bless you. Where your mind goes, often the condition of the body follows. The magic may bring peace to areas that were previously tender and aching. By embracing the inner peace this season offers, you invite the magic of Christ’s love to lift you up.

Return to Motivational Inspirational Christmas Stories, Posters, Poems and Quotes to find stories that focus on what's good in human nature.