Quote from Evan Almighty

Written by Steve Oedekerk

Let me ask you something. If someone prays for patience, you think God gives them patience? Or does he give them the opportunity to be patient? If he prays for courage, does God give him courage, or does he give him opportunities to be courageous? If someone prayed for the family to be closer, do you think God zaps them with warm fuzzy feelings, or does he give them opportunities to love each other?

Emotions

David Leonhardt

Here is a top-ten list of positive emotions. I don't know where it comes from, but it's a pretty good list. See how many of these you can feel today.

1. Joy/happiness
2. Confidence/self-esteem
3. Optimism/positive thinking
4. Interest/curiosity
5. Amusement/humor
6. Contentment/serenity/tranquility
7. Love/affection/warmth/caring
8. Respect/positive regard
9. Pride/satisfaction/achievement
10. Gratitude/thankfulness

Complaining

Don Baker

To complain is an accusation against God. It questions God's wisdom and God's good judgment. God has always equated complaining with unbelief...Why? Because to complain is to doubt God. It is the same thing as suggesting that God really doesn't know what He is doing.

Already Fulfilled

Ralph Marston

When you don't need anything, then you truly have everything. When you know that you already have enough, that you already are enough, that everything is as it should be, then your life will be rich indeed. Get past the need to possess and you'll discover that the whole world is yours. Abandon the need to be right and you'll find real truth.

Let go of the need to impress others and you'll have their sincere respect. Move beyond the need to control every detail, and your influence will grow stronger.

As long as you feel you need something, it cannot possibly be yours. The more you focus on the need for anything, the more you deny it to yourself.

Why would you want to do that? Instead, realize that whatever you desire is already available to you, and enjoy the process of expressing it more fully as you move through each moment.

Appreciate, understand and focus your energy on the good and valuable things in your life. And you'll know that your most authentic desires are already fulfilled.

Carpe el diem! Seize the day!

Philip Simmons

There's a well-known Zen parable about the man who was crossing a field when he saw a tiger charging at him. The man ran, but the tiger gained on him, chasing him toward the edge of a cliff. When he reached the edge, the man had no choice but to leap. He had one chance to save himself: a scrubby branch growing out of the side of the cliff about halfway down. He grabbed the branch and hung on. Looking down, what did he see on the ground below? Another tiger.

Then the man saw that a few feet off to his left a small plant grew out of the cliff, and from it there hung one ripe strawberry. Letting go with one hand he found that he could stretch his arm out just far enough to pluck the berry with his fingertips and bring it to his lips.

How sweet it tasted!

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