Building relationships :Take time to reach out.(Annie's memories)

Hi...

Everyday we hear of so many tragic deaths, passing away of loved ones and wonder how life flutters away.

So many who were there yesterday are not there to see this day.

But the one who dies in Christ has the blessed assurance of eternal life and a home beyond the sky.

Do our loved ones know about our Lord Jesus Christ?

 What have we done to share God's love with them.

Let's do all we can to share God's love with those close to us. Let's not put off for tomorrow what we can do today. Let's pray for the lost souls we know, TODAY.

Tomorrow may be too late.

Yesterday has gone, tomorrow may never be ours but 'Today' is God's gift to us.

LETS DO ALL WE CAN TO SPREAD SOME LOVE, TO REACH OUT & TO SHOW PEOPLE THE RIGHT WAY!!!

We sometimes get so.....caught up in our daily activities that we fail to see & appreciate the people in our lives.

Let's not take them for granted. Let's make our parents, spouse & kids feel they are special.

Let's not forget to kiss them good night, for tomorrow is not ours as yet.

Let's give them a hug & a kiss a they leave for work/ school or before we go out for the day for it's not guaranteed that we'll see each other in the evening.

Let's remember to value our friends & leave them with good words so that we are fondly remembered.

I had this friend called Annie in college. She was my best friend during the 4 years I was in college & so beautiful too...!

After these 4 years I somehow lost touch with her & the next time I heard of her was around 4 years back. I was so shocked to hear from a common friend that Annie had died in a Bus accident & her body was taken home in so many pieces.

She was a hostelite when in college & I still remember how she use to wait for me everyday & shared all her joys, hurts!

She used to see me as her sounding board & also trusted me & shared her feelings with me.

She came from a troubled family & had never felt love at home. She was sent away to live in the hostel & study even as a kid.

I had to counsel her so often as she carried a lot of pain & hurt.

We've cried together, laughed together, we also had our share of misunderstandings.

When we had some misunderstanding, she was the one who used to reach out as she didn't want to loose this friendship we shared.

But 3 days before our final day in college (we had finished our graduation & were to part ways for good) we had an argument about something & I got mad at her.

(The sad thing is at that time both of us did not know JESUS as our personal Savior).

The 2nd last day when I went to college I passed around my autograph book to my class-mates to write a note for me...

This is what Ann wrote to me,

" What happened to our friendship Julie?? After all I am your Ann, why can't we forgive & forget everything. Please dear friend if at all I have hurt you by words or deeds please forgive me. Today I felt so...sad about our behavior. You were a nice friend & councilor too (still are). Cheer up Julie, only one more day. I'm sad & sorry about that fight. Wish you the best. "Yours Ann.

But I was really upset I didn't talk to her that day.

The next day was our last day...she came to me & said sorry again. we did hug & make up. but had just a little time to talk. That's the last I seen her.

We some how lost touch after that...(how I wish I had kept in touch!!)

Today she's no more.....That last note she wrote to me is the only thing I have with me.

When I heard she was dead...it broke my heart...you know the first thought that crossed my mind was whether she had given her heart to Jesus!

During our college days we both didn't know the Lord personally even though we were from Christian families.

But I wasn't sure if she got to know our Lord Jesus Christ personally as her Savior later on.

That made me think that we should never give up praying for friends who don't know Jesus....I would want to see Annie in Heaven I can only hope she was saved.

True Friends are so...precious ...let's treasure them & also keep praying for friends who are lost....

Let's not miss an opportunity to show the people in our lives how special they are & how much we love them.

Let's be wiling to forgive when people hurt us & also be ready to say 'sorry' when we upset them. Let pride for make us too hard hearted.

So today let's thank God for all the people in our lives & value these treasured relationships.

Today let's take time to tell them we care.

Let's do all we can to share about God's love to those who are lost.

Too often we don't realize 

What we have until it is gone. 

Too often we wait too late to say 

"I'm sorry - I was wrong." 

Sometimes it seems we hurt the ones 

We hold dearest to our hearts; 

And we allow foolish things 

To tear our lives apart. 

Far too many times we let 

Unimportant things into our minds; 

And then it's usually too late 

To see what made us blind. 

So be sure that you let people know 

How much they mean to you. 

Take the time to say the words 

Before your time is through. 

Be sure that you appreciate 

Everything you've got; 

And be thankful for the little things 

in life that mean a lot. 

Have a Blessed day....

Julia

Today's thought~A good MOM..

Hi...

Just sharing a thought I read long back that had blessed me..

~There's no way I can be a perfect mother,

But a million ways I can be a good one!~

Julia

Building relationships: Unforgettable love language & love gestures.

Hi...

Relationships are important in life, otherwise one is left feeling 'lonely'. Our Lord too is deeply concerned about every vital relationship of ours.

Even as Satan is out to steal, kill and destroy relationships, our Lord Jesus Christ stretches out His loving hands to heal, bind and restore relationships and make it stronger.

Some may say "All I need is my God", but we need family, friends, fellow believers on earth. We need company.

That's why when God created Adam He felt it was not good he was alone and created a mate for him, that's why he gave us family, friends, co-workers, fellow believers.

That's why God said 'Love your neighbors'! We are channels of God's love and His love should flow in and through us.

Love Language :

Love Language helps to build and strengthen relationships. They are words of encouragement, love, inspiration that can be a blessing and helps our loved ones.

It's not just saying 'I love you', 'I care for you' 'You are special to me',

But love language is more than just words.

O yes we need to tell the people in our life know how we feel about them.

But sometimes when we have no words a 'love gesture' says it all.

Unforgettable love gestures:

A hug, a smile, a gentle touch, a pat on the back, makes a lot of difference and reaches down to a person's soul.

Sometimes a look of the eyes can project love, care, warmth, and acceptance, for it mirrors the feelings of our heart...

A simple act of reaching out and holding the hands of a person who's hurting, shows them you care and eases their pain a bit.

Just being kind to someone makes them feel good.

Need to compliment others often(criticize less) and be truly appreciative.(Don't flatter)

A smile is powerful it's contagious.

So don't hold back a smile....

Find creative ways to show your parents, spouse, kids, friends, brothers/sisters, co-workers and neighbors that you love or care for them..

You can surprise your mom and dad with tickets to their favorite show this week end, or pay them a surprise visit. you can get mom or dad a gift not just for their birthday but just to tell them they mean a world to you.

Or you can get them a card or write them a note to tell them what you feel. It can be a note to say "sorry" or a note to appreciate.

I remember my kids when small used to write me small notes and leave it for me to read. Sometimes it was just a "I love you" or "Sorry ma I disobeyed you”.

They are precious memories.

We can in turn write to our kids too!

Offer to help a neighbor who's not well. You can take some hot home made food or offer to drop her kids in school or get something from the bazaar.

Give a surprise treat to a co-worker or a note of appreciation to your boss at the work-place when he/she least expects it.

Just think of creative and unforgettable ways to show the people in your life you truly appreciate them. Don't take them for granted.

Let God's love flow through you, the more you give the more you'll receive. If you love, you will be loved too!

Be hospitable and let your homes be a place were people you care for are always welcome. This helps to build and strengthen relationships.

Also take time one week-end to visit a senior citizen's home, spend time talking to the inmates, hold their hands, give them a hug, pray with them or just listen to them talk, they’ll cherish the time you spend with them!

Just treasure relationships down here on earth and make it your goal to be a blessing to someone everyday!

Be Blessed,

Julia

Women of God...you can make a difference!

Hi ...

I just want to share with you a something I read that has blessed me so...much.

Just some encouragement for WOMEN in here...

I don't know who wrote it...but it's the words that matters...

Hat's off to the one who penned this down.

Be Blessed,

Julia

~YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE~

(Author Unknown)

When you look at today's world, it's hard not to feel as though it is a 'lost cause'. After all, you are only one woman, what difference can you possibly make. You can pray, of course, and ask God to change the world we live in. But I believe He looks to His hands here on earth to show that God does make a difference.

Your hands and my hands . . . are God's hands. To many we are the only Bible they will ever read. If we are to be like Jesus, we can't be like everyone else. People must be able to see a difference in us. If they see 'God' in us, and in our actions, then they're going to want God in their lives.

I spent a lot of time feeling frustrated and helpless. This wasn't the world I grew up in. It wasn't the world I wanted. It got so bad that I didn't even want to listen to the news or even read the newspaper. The overwhelming feeling of helplessness was just too much. So, selfishly, I began to look for ways in which I could make a difference . . . even the smallest difference. And what a difference it made in my life!

Use your talent, whatever it might be, to touch another life. If you sew, make a rag doll for a homeless shelter.

If you cook, stir up a batch of your great cookies for an altzheimer's facility.

The list of things you can do is unlimited. Each one touches a life in ways you can never imagine. And while you are using your talents, your own spirits will soar and you'll feel Jesus in your heart.

Make 1 phone call to someone who needs to hear from you. Let them know you are thinking about them.

I adore greeting cards. I never leave the store with less than 5 or 6, buying them with no particular person or occasion in mind. Then I have them on hand to send(snail mail) with a handwritten note to someone needing a 'lift' or a 'touch'. (You can even remain a 'secret pal'.) Think how you felt the last time you received an unexpected card.

Tell a Bible story to a child.

Make a phone call to your congressman, let them know what you support and that 'you' do care what they are doing. Christians don't have to be silent. Speak up! You see, you aren't helpless.

Still feeling like there's nothing you can do? 


Do you realize that if each of us only did a couple of things a week for others . . . how many lives we would touch for Jesus!




I personally want to give you my heartfelt "Thank you!" Spread the word that we are loved unconditionally by a Father who is never too busy to talk with us, walk with us and hold us up. 
And we are His hands.




(Author Unknown)

In memory of a best friend I had..

Hi.....
I had this friend called Annie in college. She was my best friend during the 4 years I was in college!
You know she was the 1st very best friend I had...
She was a hostelite and I still remember how she use to wait for me everyday and shared all her joys, hurts!
She used to see me as her sounding board and also trusted me.
She came from a troubled family & had never felt love at home. She was sent away to live in the hostel & study even as a kid.
I had to counsel her so often as she carried a lot of pain & hurt.
We've cried together, laughed together, we also had our share of misunderstandings.

For 4 years I was with her in college and after that did keep in touch with her through mails.
But after I got married & moved out of the state I grew up in, I lost touch with Annie.
I used to wonder how she was but no way to contact her as she too had married, moved away & I did not know where.
A Few years back I was so shocked to hear from a common friend that Annie had died in a Bus accident and her body was taken home in so many pieces.

This broke my heart...you know the first thought that crossed my mind was whether she had given her heart to Jesus!
During our college days we both didn't know the Lord personally even though we were from Christian families.
But I wasn't sure if she got to know our Lord personally as her Savior later on.
That made me think that we should never give up praying for friends who don't know Jesus Christ our Lord.
I would want to see Annie in Heaven I can only hope she was saved.
True Friends are so...precious ...let's treasure them and also keep praying for friends who do not know our Lord.
Today I thank God for all my friends  who have been a blessing to me and encourage me.
Below is a Tribute to Annie, a best friend I had and lost.

 
Annie..

 
I can't let go of treasured thoughts of you that lives in my heart.
My warm memories of you
will be with me all the days of my life,
and I will cherish every one of them.
I'll always remember your smile,
and the sadness you carried in your heart.
You smiled & covered up the pain you carried.
I'll remember the blessing you were to me..
I can't let the memories of our friendship go,
I remember even our small fights...
I often wonder if you knew JESUS as your Saviour.
And hope I'll see you someday on heaven's shore.
Julie

All that remains of some relationships on earth are memories. 

These memories I so...treasure always.

People we love & care for are there today & gone tomorrow...

But their memories never fade.

It's not an achievement to make 100's of friends,
But it's a blessing to have one true, best friend who'll stay with you when 100's walk away.
Thoughts of Annie have been in my mind a lot these last few days and I penned this blog...
God Bless ,
Julia

Do not be hurt and upset...

Do we get upset, hurt and angry or feel let down when people close to you are indifferent about your pains, hurts and fail to stand by you in prayer.

We'll always come across situations were even people we thought as our own fail to understand us.

There will be times when people you thought were your best friend walk away, avoid you and pretend they don't know you.

There'll be times when people you love and trusted will turn their back on you.

When walking through hurtful situation...let's just lift up our eyes to JESUS CHRIST the only one who will never ever leave or forsake us.

Well...when Jesus was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane and when He wanted His disciples ( who were His friends) to stay awake and pray with Him, they went to sleep.

But He was not upset or angry with them. 

He loved them still.

Again when He needed them most they left Him standing alone but still He loved them.

We too got to love as Jesus loved.

We need to be imitators of Jesus!

Be Blessed,

julia