"Criticism" .... In The Small Stuff" -- by Bruce & Stan

* People of low ambition are overly critical because so much in their lives is beyond their reach.

* Motivate, don't denigrate.

* Listening to gossip is as wrong as spreading it.

* Gossip should never be disguised as "concern."

* "I'm sorry." Two words with unlimited potential.

* If you agree to bury the hatchet, don't leave the handle sticking out.

* Criticism and success are both difficult to handle, but one is ultimately more enjoyable.

* Never criticize your hair cutter -- at least not while yours is the hair being cut.

* Criticism and finding fault are NOT spiritual gifts.

* A word spoken in anger CANNOT be erased. It plays over and over again.

* Walk on soles, not on souls.

* Be generous with praise and stingy with criticism.

* To "belittle" is to "be little."

* Appreciate differences instead of criticizing them.

* The urge to criticize someone usually comes from feelings of resentment.

* If you make the effort to overlook the little faults in others, they will do the same for you.

* Rather than taking criticism "personally," -- look at it objectively.

* Learn to distinguish between constructive and destructive criticism.

* It's okay to give constructive criticism IF it's done in love.

* It's impossible to offer destructive criticism and to love someone at the same time.


"Stop judging others, and you will not be judged. For others will treat you as you have treated them." --Matthew 7:1-2

Bring contentment, love, & joy into your own life ... by bringing contentment, love & joy into the lives of others!!! -- NomiAnn ; )

May Is Here ... And There Is Hope!!!

Today has been chilly, in fact the whole week has been in the 40*'s ... which is really different for our valley. We have begun to long for some beautful spring weather to stay in the 60*s-70*s and bring out the climate for the garden plants to flourish, not freeze. : (

With the type of weather we've been having ~ the gorgeous tubular clouds are here, and they have just taken my breath away at times. My hopes are that our climate year will bring many days of the beautiful tubular clouds, they are my favorite.

I think what amazes me most is the way that God's creations work hand in hand, and yet there are allowances for them to work against each other, at times. For example, wind ... it can blow away impurities, which then cleanses our air. Yet, if there is a fire, winds can be treacherous, causing the fires to spread. Yet, over all, once the earth experiences a fire, it is actually enabling the ground to be refreshed. the ashes fertilize and bring richness back into the soil. So even through the painfulness which nature may bring, some good will come out of it in the end.

All of that to say this, in everything that happens, God's infinite wisdom will take it and make it for the good. It all has a purpose!

So ..... yes, I am tired of the chill in the air ... but if everything was the same all the time, life wouldn't be so exciting! So I'll take last week's warm weather, and the chilling winds of this week .... and I will live in great expectation and yet wonder of what tomorrow may bring. And whatever life brings my way ... I will continue to praise my Heavenly Father God, because He knows what is best for my life!

"HOPE CAN SEE HEAVEN THROUGH THE THICKEST CLOUDS." --Thomas Benton Brooks

"THE HOPES OF GOOD PEOPLE LEAD TO JOY, BUT WICKED PEOPLE CAN LOOK FORWARD TO NOTHING."
--PROVERBS 10:28

"THERE REALLY IS HOPE FOR YOU TOMORROW." PROVERBS 23:18

Saturday .... here my week is already coming to it's end. Boy! What my mom use to say to me was absolutely true....the older we get the faster time goes!!!

This morning I was wishing that I could see the wildflowers growing on our lot. Each year we have the most beautiful field of flowers there, and I hate it when they begin loosing their beauty. Here in the mountains we can see the gorgeous stream of stars of the Milky Way at night, ... what a site to see!!! It is just beautiful.

When we lived in the city with all of the lights, we didn't realize how much we were missing! I never dreamed that the heavens were so spectacular as they are when the night is dark. What a showcase of God's creation! How quickly we forget that beauty when we are surrounded with the business of the city ... running to and fro with the fast life surrounding us. I'm so glad we've moved to a slower pace, and have been once again set in awe of this beautiful earth & heavens.

Life ... such a beautiful thing ... so simple, yet so intricate. We are so blessed!!! So even though life goes a little faster as we grow a little older .... let's stop and look around and enjoy the simplest of things .... because it is those things that bring us contentment!!!

What a day today is. We have had such a change in our weather ... from cool to very warm. Isn't it funny how we take advantage of the simple joys life brings our way ... like stopping to smell the fragrances of the changes in nature which our days are going through, until one day we realize it is pretty warm, and we wish we had payed a bit more attention to the little changes as they happened. The lilacs, the butterflies, the birds enjoying the early morning hours. The morning dew on the green grass and the flowers.

Let's take some time to go out and smell the roses/flowers, to watch the younger children play, taking a walk with someone we love, going out to see the ladybugs and the butterflies enjoying our gardens, hearing the birds so joyful in their music, watching our pets enjoying the morning sun, listening to the winds blow through the trees, watching the deer so gracefully walk through our yards.

Let's take a moment to feed on God's riches that are all around us ... they cost nothing ... but just taking a moment of our time to stop and enjoy life at it's fullest!

This verse has been my strength since the Lord gave it to me in 1985 right before I had my brain surgery, and it will forever continue to be a strength to my daily life.

**Jeremiah 32:27 "Behold, I AM the LORD, the GOD of all mankind. Is there anything too hard for me?"

Absolutely not!!! Nothing is too hard for our Father God. All we need is that "childlike faith," a prayerful heart, ... and He will do the rest!!!

Anyone can count the seeds in an apple ....
but only God can count the apples in a seed!