Inflikt

Tabletop fountains have been famed for their feng shui applications since centuries. Feng shui theorists believe that a water fountain, when placed suitably, imparts success and successfulness in your life. If used falsely and inappropriately, a tabeltop fountain can stimulate more damage than good.

Anybody who has ever liked a tabletop fountain or desires to apply it should understand this three points:

1. Do not coomit the fault of placing the tabletop fountain on the right-hand side of the door. When the water fountain is located on left side, there is no room for infidelity in one’s relationship. It is considered that you can guard your partner from cheating on your by positioning the water fountain on left face of the doorway. The “right-hand” side is the side that shows up when looked at it from the interior of the house.
2. Making sure that the size of the fountain is proportional to the size of the room is remarkable. Placing a big wall fountain in a small room can result in too much energy and thereby create damaging outcomes.
3. Figurines and other ornamental elements for your fountain need to be carefully chosen. One should avoid stationing the awful thought invoking statuettes (e.g. a ruthless looking dragon) by a tabletop fountain. Instead, pick an angel figurine, or, a happy-dragon statuette to position in the vicinity of your tabletop fountain.

Whether you are preparing to be an NJ Accountant or a finance planner, nothing can stop you from enhancing your life with positive Gains of a tabletop fountain once you incorporate these three important elements your business decor.

“A loving person lives in a loving world. A hostile person lives in a hostile world. Everyone you meet is your mirror.”-Ken Keys

Mirrors have a very particular function. They reflect the image in front of them. Just as a physical mirror serves as the vehicle to reflection, so do all of the people in our lives.

When we see something beautiful such as a flower garden, that garden serves as a reflection. In order to see the beauty in front of us, we must be able to see the beauty inside of ourselves. When we love someone, it’s a reflection of loving ourselves. We have often heard things like “I love how I am when I’m with that person.” That simply translates into I’m able to love me when I love that other person. Oftentimes, when we meet someone new, we feel as though we ‘click’ - sometimes it’s as if we’ve known each other for a long time. That feeling can come from sharing similarities - i.e. personality, background, history, character traits, etc. We are comfortable because part of ourselves is being reflected.

Just as the ‘mirror’ or other person can be a positive reflection, it is more likely that we’ll notice it when it has a negative connotation. For example, it’s easy to remember times when we have met someone we’re not particularly crazy about. We may have some criticism in our mind about the person. This is especially true when we get to know someone with whom we would rather spend less time - as opposed to more.

Frequently, when we dislike qualities in other people, ironically, it’s usually the mirror that’s speaking to us. Example: Several years ago, I joined a friend who had invited several other friends as well. One woman, ‘Laura’ continuously dominated the conversation. Each time someone tried to interject a thought or start a different thread, Laura always brought it back to her story. It was particularly annoying as I felt there was little opportunity to get to know the other people because Laura consistently put the attention back onto herself. It wasn’t until several weeks had passed that I questioned and couldn’t understand why was I so disturbed by Laura’s behavior as I didn’t have to be friends or spend more time with her. Finally, it hit me! When I was REALLY honest with myself, I saw aspects of those same traits in me. I realized that the reason we met was for me to hold up the ‘mirror’ and see myself behaving in an unfavorable manner.

So I began questioning myself further each time I encountered someone that I didn’t particularly like. Each time, I asked myself “What is it about that person that I don’t like?” And then “Is there something similar in me?’ In every instance, and sometimes I had to really get very introspective, I could see a piece of that quality in me. So what did that mean?

It means that just as I can get annoyed or disturbed when I notice that aspect in someone else, I better re-examine my qualities and consider making some changes. Even if I’m not willing to make a drastic change, at least I consider how I might modify some of the things that I’m doing.

At times we meet someone new and feel distant, disconnected, or disgusted. Although we don’t want to believe it - and it’s not easy or desirable to look further - it can be a great learning lesson to figure out what part of the person is being reflected in you. It’s simply just another way to create more self-awareness.

INVITATION TO EXPERIMENT:
As you encounter people, see if you can figure out what part of you is being reflected. If you notice negative qualities, see if you are willing to look carefully at that part of you. It’s an opportunity for you to make a change for the better. At first, it may seem as though there’s no connection. Upon further introspection and giving it some time, you may just figure it out.

Marion Franklin - is a Professional Certified Life Coach who coaches individuals and groups regarding personal and professional change, focus, human relations, and conflict management. Marion has coached managers at major corporations including PepsiCo, Toys’R'Us, and Reader’s Digest. She conducts and help clients design workshops and presentations, has been a featured presenter at meetings, retreats, and an ongoing Women’s Workshop Series, has been cited in The Journal News and The Wall Street Journal, and has appeared on local Cable Television.
http://www.lifecoachinggroup.com

My son’s bedtime ritual (like that of many young children) is written in stone. After reading a book or two, we snuggle into his bed and compare notes about the day. I ask him if today was a good day and being a cheerful fellow he always says “yes”.

After reviewing the highlights of the day — all the elements that made it a “good day” — I ask him which was the best part. Often the answer surprises me but after some reflection I decided this fact was due to something pretty wonderful. My child has his priorities in the right order.

Noah’s grandparents live in another state so when they visit there tends to be even more spoiling than might be expected from grandparents. One visit from my parents included several small gifts presented at the beginning of the visit, a trip to Wal-Mart with grandparents to purchase a new power ranger, and another trip to Wal-Mart with Grandpa to buy a new Spider Man bike and helmet (Noah’s first big bike). They also took him on several outings to the park, children’s museum, McDonalds and so on.

However after the grandparents had departed I asked Noah about the best part of the visit. He thought for a moment and said: “Going for a walk with Grandpa and seeing the dead possum.”

The dead possum is located on a route we follow pretty regularly for our walks and we have watched the decomposition process with interest. Whenever we see the possum Noah always mentions his grandfather and whenever they speak on the phone he updates his grandfather on the status of the corpse.

Just think about these stories. Noah was showered with gifts and lavish outings but his favorite memory is a simple walk to the local airport and checking out the sites along the way.

Why do we spend so much money during the holidays on expensive gifts that will most likely be forgotten or tossed aside or outgrown — sometimes before the tinsel is taken down. In the end it is lavishing our time and attention on our loved ones that is the greatest gift of all.

Not only is it a wonderful gift for our loved ones (who likely won’t require a dead possum for bonding) but it is also a wonderful gift for ourselves. The holiday season can be frantic and filled with crazy shopping malls and unjolly traffic jams. Taking time out to spend quality time with our loved ones is really what we should give ourselves this holiday season.

Sitting around the kitchen table making homemade Christmas cards with Noah means our holiday message will stand out from the pile of glitzy prepackaged cards and we will have spent hours together giggling over our work with glue, construction paper, and scissors. I don’t know about you but I’d much rather bond over glitter glue than a decomposing possum.

We are also working on his holiday gifts for various family members which I know will be lovingly appreciated by grandparents and cousins alike. More than crafting picture frames and holiday scarves we are crafting memories that I hope he will cherish his whole life. And I hope that I am teaching him that gifts from the heart mean much more than gifts from the wallet.

But then he may already know that as he snuggles down beneath his pillow and quilt — both lovingly quilted by his grandmother — for his afternoon nap.

You can enjoy more inspirational articles by Deanna Mascle at dawggone.net, justfolks.net, and officialwisdom.com.

When we first started this series, the ideal was that we were going to talk about wrathful deities. Almost from the beginning, I began to realize that first we really needed to recognize the possibilities of connection in Deity Practice. Our foundation really needed to be involved in what we can do in Deity Yoga before we step into dealing with dramatic things. We need to get into dealing with the way we want to be and discovering a continuity of being within ourselves.

So, we have kind of become progressively, through our talks here, more and more aware of the ways in which we are utilizing techniques of Deity Yoga to entrance us and keep us in a very limited scope of opportunities and options in our lives. Now we have begun to say, “Okay, now I can use the same techniques that I’m already using, that I’m already familiar with, and I can do it with something positive. I can do it with a sense of Wholeness. Or, in the sense of using Shiva, I can do it with a sense of change, within a Continuity of Wholeness.” This is really great stuff.

Then we took it a little bit further and said, “Don’t whisper. Don’t say this silently, but say it out loud.” Earlier, you mentioned doing it personally, and, yes, we need to get personally involved. We need to say out loud, “A sense of me, that I feel, is arising in the center of the circle as the Deity.” As I describe the actions of the Deity in the circle, in the ring of fire, I’m using the first person. I am saying, “I, as Shiva, am doing this. I am doing this. This is my experience. This is my expression.” This is making it progressively more and more involved with the depths of our psyches and with the depths of who we are.

Then we took it one step further. That is, to begin to realize that it is not just using the images or the mantra. Not only can you do this practice when you are sitting in a temple, facing the image or the statue, but you can actually take these songs and these mantras, and begin to sing them during your day as you are interacting with people. Use them as a reminder, as a physical action that aligns me with the qualities that I want to bring into being. It becomes something that you can actually live the quality of the Deity all the time.

Yogi Sean and Swami Ramanada have studied with Tagore, Krishnamurti and Ghandi. Together they created the Sadhana Society in the U.S.

We are surrounded by negative forces like jealousy, hatred, fear, doubt, worry, despair, guilt, resentment, anger, pride hatred and anxiety. These are the dominating forces of the universe.We are constantly attacked by these negative forces day in and day out.The only medicine to fight this deadly disease is Meditation. Through Meditation we can get everlasting peace, that is what we know the “Divine Peace”. To grow in light and to fulfill ourselves in light and purity we need to practice meditation regularly.

What is actual Meditation?

Meditation doesnot mean just sitting quietly for 15 to 20 minutes. It requires concentration. You have to calm and quieten your mind.It requires conscious effort. You have to free yourself from repetitive and unwanted thoughts that distract your attention. As you learn to calm your mind you feel a new creation is dawning inside of you. When your mind is vacant and tranquil your whole existence becomes an empty vessel. You will attract infinite peace, joy peace happiness. This is actual meditation.

How many ways are their to Meditate?

1. Silence your mind. Once you do that you are in a position to please and Fulfill God.

2. The Second way to meditate is to empty your heart.Human heart is full of chaos and turmoil. As you empty your heart there is a Divine peace and harmony which will fill your heart.

3. The third thing is through prayer.Prayer is nothing but a communion between Spirit and Form.If you pray from your heart all your fears, doubts, sorrow, resentment and anxiety will be eliminated and joy, peace and tranquility will fill your heart.

How to Meditate

1. First find a quiet place away from people and telephone.

2. Early morning is undoubtely the most powerful time to meditate.

3. Before you start meditating say to yourself ‘I will be focused and calm’.

4. Have light music at the back ground if you like.

5. Using candles during meditation can improve your concentration.

6. Take shower or atleast wash you face before you meditate.

7. Meditate with the empty stomach.But if you feel hungry have a glass of juice or milk.

8. Aromas have been proven to be an effective means of entering a state of relaxation.

9. When you meditate keep your eyes half open.

10. When negative thoughts enter, donot force them out but simply let them pass away.

Breathing Techniques

1. Keep your spine erect while you meditate

2. You can sit on the floor or you can sit comfortably on the chair.

3. Sit very relaxed.

4. Proper breathing is very important so make yourself comfortable.

5. Take a deep breathe and hold for a few seconds and then breathe out.

6. Feel the breath is coming directly from God, so that your breathe can be easily purified.

7. Each time you breathe feel that you are bringing infinite peace and happiness into your body.

8. When you breathe out feel that all the negative thoughts anger, hatted, fear, doubt, resentment, guilt, and anxiety are being expelled.

9. Repeat this morning and evening 20 minutes every day.

10. When bad thought comes to your mind say ‘Today I am at peace’. I will not allow bad thoughts to enter into me.

11. When you breathe in hold for 6 seconds and breathe out. If you are on medication please consult your doctor before you start.

The aim of meditation is to free yourself from all worries and unhappiness.All the negative thoughts attack your mind. The heart is much purer than the mind. Love, grace, mercy, peace, tranquility, affection are already there in the heart.

Before you start Meditation ‘Repeat Supreme’or Heavenly Father 400 times. By doing that your concentration will improve.It is almost a waste of time if you want to purify your mind because negative thoughts are always floating on the surface. So concentrate your attention towards your heart. It is already illuminated. It has all the good qualities you desire.So everytime when you are not able to control you mind please donot feel unhappy. But focus your attention towards your heart and within few seconds you will be able to meditate without any disturbance.Heart is like a fountain full of peace, joy and love. You can sit at the base of the fountain and enjoy it. So it is better to meditate in the heart than in the mind.From your mind you get inspiration and from your heart you get aspiration.

How to Concentrate

1. Find a quiet place

2. Make a Black dot on the wall

3. Stand 20 inches away from it.

4. Concentrate on the dot.

5. Then Breathe in deep and breath out.

6. Feel that when you are breathing you breathe is actually coming from the dot and that the dot is also breathing in, getting its breathe from you.

7. Feel there are two persons. You and the dot.

8. Do it for 15 to 20 minutes every day before you start to meditate.

9. If you dont want to concentrate on the dot you can concentrate on counting your heart beat mentally.

As you practice doing it for few weeks you can concentrate better. Also when you meditate negative thoughts will slow down and you will have full control over your mind.

Winston Saga is one of the world’s leading sales legends. He is also the CEO of Sales and Motivation International. Winston has been acknowledged as a unique and distinctive authority in the field of sales and personal development. Last year International Biography Centre selected him ”International Man of the Year” for his outstanding contribution to sales and Service. He has written 100’s of articles to magazine, journals and websites.

Visit http://www.telesalestips.com to know more about the Author.

The tiny dogwood sapling was only a twig when my mother planted it years ago. At age four, with a red wagon and bucket, I was happy to carry water to anything that grew, even to the full grown flowering apple trees in my grandfather’s orchard.

Thrilled with the promise of a flowering dogwood, I happily nourished the new sapling with both water and anticipation. Yet weeks later, to my naive impatience, there were no flowers.

Greek philosopher Epictetus, said, “No great thing is created suddenly, any more than a bunch of grapes or a fig. If you tell me that you desire a fig, I answer you that there must be time. Let it first blossom, then bear fruit, then ripen.”

Eventually, we get back what we give away. Today, after caring for my dogwood tree year after year, it brightens the spring with glorious blossoms and flowers.

There is the potential for beautiful blossoms within each unique human being. Like the myriad varieties of flowering plants, some will bloom early, some later.

Both are on schedule. Yet people need inner confidence, faith, and the nourishment of encouragement to thrive.

Ask yourself: “How can I give to a special person my belief in their potential? When the blossoms open, what will they look like?”

By sharing with others our faith in their abilities, we nourish their hopes and dreams. We begin to see our acknowledgments mirrored back with magnificent blossoms and abundant fruit. Those we care about will grow to realize their potential and nourish others with their joy, faith and self-confidence.

One of my favorite quotes is by Ralph Waldo Emerson who said, “Thought is the blossom; language the bud; action the fruit behind it.”

As Mr. Emerson suggested, take the action, speak the words, and think with vision, faith, and conviction. When the time is right, the blossoms you’re envisioning now will open. They will be beautiful.

© Copyright by Steve Brunkhorst. Steve is a professional life success coach, motivational author, and the editor of Achieve! 60-Second Nuggets of Inspiration, a popular ezine bringing great stories, motivational nuggets, and inspiring thoughts to help you achieve more in your career and personal life. Get the next issue by visiting http://www.AchieveEzine.com

Although flying from New York to Paris is no big deal today, Charles Lindbergh flew his 3,600 mile, 33 1/2 hour flight in 1927 without a telegraph, radio or Global Positioning System (GPS). In his plane, The Spirit of St. Louis, Lindbergh packed a few sandwiches, a couple canteens of water, 451 gallons of gas and a few maps. Several men had attempted to fly the same distance as Lindbergh, but failed only weeks before he made his record-setting flight. Lindbergh made a seemingly impossible journey come true.

In order to maximize gas mileage, Lindbergh traveled as lightly as he could. He wore a light jacket compared to a traditional leather pilot’s jacket, which made him more vulnerable to the elements. He used a thinner seat in which to pilot the aircraft, which compromised his comfort. Since he opted to travel solo, he had The Spirit of St. Louis built as a one seat airplane. If he fell asleep, he could crash in the Atlantic. Lindbergh also excluded night flying equipment and a parachute, which sacrificed his safety. Some could argue that Lindbergh literally bet his life on flying from NY to Paris.

Charles Lindbergh proved to the world that someone can succeed without needing to use luxuries. Lindbergh did not use luxuries in 1927 or electronic navigational devices.

How many times have we complained that our desktop or laptop is running slowly? How many of us have said that our office equipment is not the greatest? After what Lindbergh endured with his record flight, just how big do your problems really seem?

Here are some of the great things that Lindbergh taught us:

1. The Spirit of St. Louis was designed and built in 60 days

Many of us complain that we don’t have enough time to do things. A single-engine airplane that was going to be flown across the Atlantic Ocean, which was never done before, was built in two months. Lindbergh, Donald Hall and a crew of 35 other men worked on the airplane. Hall worked an average of 90 hours per week. At one point, Hall worked on the plane for 36 and 20 consecutive hours. Many of us think that life was so much easier in yesteryear. History provides the contrary.

Lindbergh knew his time was limited. A $25,000 prize was offered to the first one who could fly across the Atlantic Ocean. Others had perished attempting to set Lindbergh’s record. A few weeks prior to Lindbergh’s start of his flight from New York, a couple of Frenchmen had died attempting to fly from Paris to New York. Charles Lindbergh was determined enough to have a plane built in two months and fly the plane over the Atlantic Ocean. How determined are we in a time crunch? Although we may not feel the same pressure as Lindbergh did when he attempted to set a flying record, we still have situations where more time would be needed.

Are we asking for help like Lindbergh did? Lindbergh’s dream may have been impossible without the help of Donald Hall and the 35 men that built the Spirit of St. Louis. Asking for help is no disgrace. If asking for help was good enough for Lindbergh, it can be good enough for us.

2. “Why shouldn’t I fly from New York to Paris?”

Lindbergh was quoted as saying, “Why shouldn’t I fly from New York to Paris? …I have more than four years of aviation behind me, and close to two thousand hours in the air. I’ve barnstormed over half of the forty-eight states. …Why am I not qualified for such a flight?” Lindbergh put possibility out there for himself and did it!!

What is keeping us from thinking the same way? There is no reason why we cannot make a trip of our own.

3. Lindbergh did not compromise his goals

Initially, a company offered Lindbergh a plane for $15,000, but the company’s president wanted to choose the pilot and Lindbergh was not the president’s choice to fly it. Another company offered to build Lindbergh a plane for $6,000. Ultimately, Lindbergh accepted the deal and within 60 days, the plane was completed.

How often have we compromised our goals? Many of us have always wanted to write a book, an article, a poem, prose, fiction or nonfiction. Unfortunately for many of us, we have settled for what we are doing instead of making our dream of what we could be doing happen. What is stopping us from making that dream happen? We give all kinds of reasons as to why we cannot devote a few minutes a day to obtaining our goals. Fortunately, goals do not have to happen overnight. Only three percent of the population writes down their career dreams, goals and aspirations. How many of us are writing down our dreams?

“Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it.” - Goethe

What goals do you have and how determined are you to attain them? What goals have you accomplished that initially seemed impossible? Although the magnitude of your goals may not seem as impossible as Lindbergh’s transatlantic flight, they are still your goals. How many of your goals have you compromised and how many goals have you achieved? Lindbergh did not settle for anything less than his goal of flying across the Atlantic. Although some of your goals may initially seem impossible, you also should not settle for anything less than achieving what is important to you.

Sean North primarily helps writers gain focus, motivation, remove mental blocks that help to unblock the writing process.

EVERYONE who writes has been stuck at some point in his or her career. You do not have to accept these mind-boggling roadblocks!

seannorthstn@aol.com

(586) 216-7516

“Storms make oaks take deeper roots,” my mother reminded me. She always told me
that trials made us better people. They help us mature and grow. If a tree never had
to fight for sun and water, but had everything given to it, it would become a scrubby
little thing. In other words, the stronger the wind, the stronger the tree. My mother
insinuated that I was growing from these trials. She would tell me that God must
really love me to give me so many trials. I remember telling her, “Mom, I wish that
He didn’t love me so much.”

Thomas Edison was 67 years old when he had one of the greatest trials of his life,
but he didn’t let it get him down. He was a very optimistic man. One evening his
film plant caught fire. Spontaneous combustion had ignited some of the chemicals
and exploded. Within seconds, all of the celluloid for records, film, packing
compounds, and anything flammable went up in flames. Fire trucks from eight
towns arrived as fast as they could, but the intense heat was so powerful that the
water from the fire hose had no effect whatsoever.

When Edison’s daughter arrived, she was distraught and didn’t know where her
father was. She was frantic with worry until she saw him running toward her. Before
she could say a word, he called out to her, “Where’s your mother?” Her eyes widened
at such a question as he added, “Go get her and tell her to bring her friends. They’ll
never see another fire like this as long as they live.”

The following morning, when the building was only rubble and ashes, he called his
employees together and announced with confidence, “We’re building again. Oh, and
by the way, does anybody know where we can get some money?”

Practically everything we recognize as an Edison contribution came after that devastating disaster. Many times difficulties make us stronger people and we end up
successful. When a blacksmith takes a piece of raw iron ore and plunges it into hot
coals, he burns off impurities and introduces carbon into the metal. He then
hammers it on an anvil to forge and shape and strengthen it. This process is
repeated over and over again. This can be compared to the trials we go through.
We’re like this piece of ore. We’re gradually being strengthened and will eventually
end up victorious.

Remember how hard the patriots fought for our freedom in 1776? They were
farmers and merchants, and not learned in the way of combat. The crossing of the
Delaware in a blizzard and all their struggles will never be forgotten. Many were sick
and poorly clothed, and their feet were wrapped with cloth to protect them from
freezing weather. They lacked enough food for everyone and many times went
hungry until a farmer donated some beef. Who would ever think that these men
could fight a battle against the fearsome Hessians? They were German mercenaries,
skilled fighters paid by the British to cut down the patriots. The Continental Army
was outnumbered, but George Washington had faith in his men and knelt in humble
prayer, pleading with God, before crossing the Delaware. The tattered Continental
Army struck the town of Trenton the morning of December 26th, 1776, and it was a
never-forgotten battle of victory that stunned the British. It was a surprise attack,
and not one patriot was killed in that battle.

Harry Ward Beecher said, “Difficulties are God’s errands and when we are sent upon
them, we should esteem it as proof of God’s confidence…as a compliment from
Him.”

George MacDonald said, “How often we look upon God as our last and feeblest
resource! We go to Him because we have nowhere else to go. And then we learn
that the storms of life have driven us, not upon the rocks but into the desired
haven.”

Helen Steiner Rice wrote, “Before you can dry another’s tears, you too must weep.”
Many times our sorrows and problems help us to understand another person’s
sorrow. When we go through similar trials, then we are more sympathetic toward
others.

Hugh B. Brown wrote:
“We ask for strength and God gives us difficulties, which makes us strong.
We pray for wisdom and God sends us problems, the solution of which develops
wisdom.
We plead for prosperity and God gives us brain and brawn to work.
We plead for courage and God gives us dangers to overcome.
We ask for favors and God gives us opportunities.
This is the answer.”

Written by Linda Weaver Clarke
Copyright 2006

Bio: Linda Weaver Clarke received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theatre and Music
at Southern Utah University and received the Outstanding Non-Traditional Student
Award for the College of Performing Arts in 2002. She is the mother of six
daughters and the author of Melinda and the Wild West, A Family Saga, published by
American Book Publishing. If you would like to know more about Linda and her
novel, her web site is http://www.lindaweaverclarke.com. You may use this article
freely with this author bio intact.

“The individual is capable of both great compassion and great indifference. He has it within his means to nourish the former and outgrow the latter.” ~ Norman Cousins (1912-1990)

Compassion is an opening of the heart to give and receive love. It is a treasure that protects and bestows trust, courage, and inner peace. Compassion gives a sustaining sense of hopeoften when it is needed most.

Small gifts of time and positive energy are the most meaningful and compassionate treasures. We thrive because of the protecting and nurturing love of friends and family while they thrive on our love in return.

Compassion itself is plentiful. As Joseph Addison (1672-1719) put it, “True benevolence, or compassion, extends itself through the whole of existence and sympathizes with the distress of every creature capable of sensation.”

Yet sometimes we unconsciously set boundaries for giving and receiving compassion. If we close the heart to giving, we block the flow of compassion with fear. If we set limits on the compassion we are willing to receive, we close the heart to God’s extension of love.

Our compassion will eventually touch many people we will never meet. Yet each kindness will open our heart further to receive lovelove that is always available when we trust in God’s unfailing wisdom.

We each have special ways of giving and receiving compassion. Think of the ways you have shown and received compassion over the years.

Ask yourself these questions:

Do I have any boundaries for showing compassion?

If so, what happens to bring those boundaries into view?

What would remove them?

Have I, for any reason, set limits on the compassion I will accept from others?

What would it take to open my heart to all the compassion I deserve to receive?

May your life be filled with the most compassionate treasures you could ever wanttoday and throughout the years to come!

© Copyright 2006 by Steve Brunkhorst. Steve is a professional life success coach, motivational author, and the editor of Achieve! 60-Second Nuggets of Inspiration, a popular mini-zine bringing great stories, motivational nuggets, and inspiring thoughts to help you achieve more in your career and personal life. Get the next issue by visiting http://www.AchieveEzine.com

“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters, and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost” (Isaiah 55:1).

What a beautiful invitation! Two articles are for sale: milk, symbolic of abundance and the essentials of life, and wine, the emblem of that which cheers and inspires. The price we pay is no price: “Nothing in my hand I bring.” It is an unconditional gift. We are not to pay for our salvation with any kind of works, for it is an insult to the grace of God. Indeed, it is our very emptiness which recommends us. Our destitution is His restitution. “Open wide your mouth and I will fill it” (Psalm 81:10b). We are not speaking of temporal blessings here: “Wine, water, and milk are figurative representations of spiritual revival, recreation, and nourishment” (Delitzsch).

Who are invited? We are, all of us who hunger and thirst for His righteousness. We are invited who have no money, no gold of goodness and no silver of sanctity of our own. It is for those of us who are impoverished. God understands our material wants, too: “Come, come, come, My people! I know that your physical needs must be met so that your spiritual needs may be fulfilled, too.”

“I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see” (Revelation 3:18). We are never such desperate sinners that we cannot heed the gracious call and counsel of our Savior to buy our salvation with a broken and contrite heart. All else fails. “Come and buy of Me the treasure of peace and joy that only I can give you.”

“…Having nothing, and yet possessing everything. . .” (2 Corinthians 6:10).