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if he had a wallet
your photo would be in it
if he had a refrigerator
your picture would be on it

He sands you flowers every spring
and sunrise every morning

Whenever you want to talk,
he'll listen

He can live anywhere
in the universe
and he chose
your heart

Face it, friend
He's crazy about you

Btw, it may be difficult for you to believe that
God knows your name...
but he does written on his hand
spoken by his mouth
whispered by his lips
your name
"I have written your name on my hand" (Isaiah 49:16)

our hearts are not large enough to contain the blessings
that God wants to give

so try this
the next time a sunrise steals your breath....
or a meadow of flowers
leaves you speechless...
remain that way

say nothing and listen as heaven whispers
"Do you like it?
I did it just for you"

if we gave gifts to show our love
how much more would he?

He could have left the world, flat and gray...
but he didn't

He splashed orange in the sunrise...
and cast the sky in blue
And if you love to see geese as they gather
chances are you'll see that too

Did he have to make the squirrel's tail furry?
Was he obliged to make the birds sing?
and the funny way that chickens scurry...
or the majesty of thunder when it rings?
why give a flower fragrance?
Why give food its taste?
Could it be he loves to see that look upon your face?

So promise me
you'll never forget that you aren't an accident...
or an accident... you are a gift to the world
a divine work of art signed by God

"You knit me together in my mother's womb" (Psalm 139:13)

you were knit together
you weren't mass-produced
you aren't an assembly-line product
you were deliberately planned
specifically gifted
and lovingly positioned
on this earth....
by the Master Crafts-Man

He thinks you are the best thing
to come down the pike in quite a while
Tern to the sidelines;
that God cheering your run
Look past the finish line;
that God applauding your steps

God is for you
Had he a calendar
your birthday would be circled
if he drove a car
your name would be on his bumper
if there's a tree in heaven
he's carved your name in the bark

Maybe you don't want to trouble God with your hurts
But... he cares about you" (1 Peter 5:7)
He is waiting for you
to embrace you
whether you succeed or fail

Your heavenly Father is very fond of you
as only wants to share his love with you

Blessed be the LORD you God who has delighted in you (1 Kings 10:9

Untethered by time God sees us all
Vagabonds and ragamuffins all
he saw us before we were born
and he loves what he sees

Flooded by emotion
overcome by pride
the Starmaker turns to us
one by one, and says
"You are my child
I love you dearly
I'm aware that someday
you'll turn from me and walk away
But I want you to know
I've already provided a way back"

You have captured the heart of God
He cannot bear to live without you
God's dream is to make you right with him
And the path to the cross
tell us exactly how far
God will go to call us back

it is not our love for God
it is God's love for us
in sending his Son
to be the way
to take away our sins (1 John 4:10)

"Can anything make me stop loving you?" God asks

"You wonder how long my love will last?
Watch me speak your language
sleep on your earth
and feel your hurts
Find your answer
on a splintered cross
on a craggy hill
That's how much I love you"

God does more than forgive our mistakes;
he removes them!
we simply have
to take them to him.
You can talk to God
because God listens

Let a tear appear on your cheek
and he is there to wipe it
He has sent his angels to care for you
his Holy spirit to dwell in you....
his church to encourage you
and his word to guide you
as much as you want to see him
he wants to see you more

If you want to touch God's heart
us the name he loves to hear
call him "Father"
He thinks you're wonderful!

(Max Lucado)

How do you define family values? In our home family values are rules or ideals that, as a family, we agree to live by and stay true to. The list of essential family values would be a mile long no doubt and the top 10 lists for each family would be as unique as the one that came up with it.

Having strong well defined family values helps solidify the foundation for a strong, tight knit family. When cultivated long enough this closeness provides a soft place to fall when life doesn’t go according to plan. Strong and consistent family values are important in building trust and confidence in each family member.

Here are my top 10 essential family values.

1. Belonging

It is important that each member of my family feel that they are loved, that they belong and that they matter. Being a cohesive family could mean that you spend every spare minute together doing family activities but keep in mind that everyone is different. Creating a strong family unit is great but each person should be allowed the space and freedom to explore the activities they think they may enjoy. People are more courageous and more willing to take chances if they know they have a safe place to come back to when things don’t quite work out. Coming together for special occasions and holidays and just spending time together as a family is what helps build that sense of belonging.

Life is indeed the most excellent of all virtues. If we were to even for a single moment reflect upon Life and its trajectories, all we could be able to perceive is that Life is encompassed and has bestowed each and every one of us with excellence in each sphere and facet of this most adventurous journey called, Life.

Life has always provided each and every one of us with the very best, all times, all instances, always in all ways. We should always appreciate with immense gratitude this precious gift, "Life", that we have been awarded fortunately.

To Live each and every moment with Awareness, Gratitude, Responsibility and Appreciation is an Excellence by itself. We live once. Let us Live excellently, with thanks.

Wish the very best for all, appreciate every moment, hope for the very best with an enthusiastic perspective whilst attending to the concerned assignments with due diligence, prudent acumen, a calibrated approach and a staunch belief that Life is Excellent, for it is truly Excellent.

Yamaoka Tesshu was a tutor of the emperor. He was also a master of fencing and a profound student of Zen.

His home was the abode of vagabonds. He has but one suit of clothes, for they kept him always poor.

The emperor, observing how worn his garments were, gave Yamaoka some money to buy new ones. The next time Yamaoka appeared he wore the same old outfit.

"What became of the new clothes, Yamaoka?" asked the emperor.

"I provided clothes for the children of Your Majesty," explained Yamaoka.

Remember that a gift should be treasured; not only the ones that are wrapped but ones that are bestowed upon you.

Years ago, there was a very wealthy man who, with his devoted young son, shared a passion for art collecting. Together, they traveled around the world, adding only the finest art treasures to their collection. Priceless works by Picasso, Van Gogh, Monet and many others adorned the walls of the family estate.

The widowed elder man looked on with satisfaction as his only child became an experienced art collector. The son's trained eye and sharp business mind caused his father to beam with pride as they dealt with art collectors around the world.

One year, as winter approached, war engulfed the nation, and the young man left to serve his country. After only a few short weeks, his father received a telegram. His beloved son was missing in action. The art collector anxiously awaited more news, fearing he would never see his son again. Within days, his fears were confirmed. The young man had died while rushing a fellow soldier to a medic.

Distraught and lonely, the old man faced the upcoming Christmas holidays with anguish and sadness. The joy of the season that he and his son had looked forward to would visit his house no longer.


On Christmas morning, a knock on the door awakened the depressed old man. As he walked to the door, the masterpieces of art on the walls only reminded him that his son was not coming home. As he opened the door, he was greeted by a soldier with a large package in his hands.

He introduced himself to the old man by saying, "I was a friend of your son. I was the one he was rescuing when he died. May I come in for a few moments? I have something to show you."

As the two began to talk, the soldier told of how the man's son had told everyone of his, not to mention his father's, love of fine art. "I am no artist," said the soldier, "but I want to give you this."

As the old man unwrapped the package, the paper gave way to reveal a portrait of the man's son. Though the world would never consider it the work of a genius, the painting featured the young man's face in striking detail.

Overcome with emotion, the man thanked the soldier, promising to hang the picture above the fireplace. A few hours later, after the soldier had departed, the old man set about his task. True to his word, the painting went above the fireplace, pushing aside thousands of dollars worth of art. His task completed, the old man sat in his chair and spent Christmas gazing at the gift he had been given.

During the days and weeks that followed, the man realized that, even though is son was no longer with him, the boy would live on because of those he had touched. He would soon learn that his son had rescued dozens of wounded soldiers before a bullet stifled his caring heart.

As the stories of his son's gallantry contined to reach him, fatherly pride and satisfaction began to ease his grief. The painting of his son soon became his most prized possession, far eclipsing any interest in the pieces for which museums around the world clamored. He told his neighbors it was the greatest gift he had ever received.

The following spring, the old man became ill and passed away. The art world was in anticipation that the collector's passing and his only son dead, those paintings would be sold at auction. According to the will of the old man, all art works would be auctioned on Christmas Day, the day he had received the greatest gift.

The day soon arrived and art collectors from around the world gathered to bid on some of the world's most spectacular paintings. Dreams would be fulfilled this day; greatness would be achieved as many would claim, "I have the greatest collection."

The auction began with a painting that was not on any museum's list. It was the painting of the man's son. The auctioneer asked for an opening bid, but the room was silent. "Who will open the bidding with $100?" he asked. Minutes passed, and no one spoke. From the back of the room came a voice, "Who cares about that painting? It's just a picture of his son." "Let's forget about it and move on to the good stuff," more voices echoed in agreement.

"No, we have to sell this one first," replied the auctioneer. "Now, who will take the son?" Finally, a neighbor of the old man spoke. "Will you take ten dollars for the painting? That's all I have. I knew the boy; so I would like to have it.

"I have ten dollars. Will anyone go higher?" asked the auctioneer. After more silence, the auctioneer said, "Going once, going twice, gone." The gavel fell.

Cheers filled the room and someone exclaimed, "Now we can get on with it and we can bid on the real treasures!" The auctioneer looked at the audience and announced that the auction was over.

Stunned disbelief quieted the room. Someone spoke up and asked, "What do you mean, it's over? We didn't come here for a picture of some old guy's son. What about all these paintings? There are millions of dollars worth of art here! I demand that you explain what is going on!"

The auctioneer replied, "it's very simple. According to the will of the father, whoever takes the son...gets it all."

Puts things into perspective, doesn't it? Just as those art collectors discovered on Christmas Day, the message is still the same: the love of a father, whose greatest joy came from his son who went away and gave his life rescuing others; and because of that father's love, whoever takes the Son gets it all.

In life, many things will catch your eye, but only a few will catch your heart.

--- Author Unknown ---

Many pupils were studying meditation under the Zen master Sengai. One of them used to arise at night, climb over the temple wall, and go to town on a pleasure jaunt.

Sengai, inspecting the dormitory quarters, found this pupil missing one night and also discovered the high stool he had used to scale the wall. Sengai removed the stool and stood there in its place.

When the wanderer returned, not knowing that Sengai was the stool, he put his feet on the master's head and jumped down into the grounds. Discovering what he had done, he was aghast.

Sengai said: "It is very chilly in the early morning. Do be careful not to catch cold yourself."

The pupil never went out at night again.