| Forum: Love & Relationships |
|---|
| Topic: Peaceful Conflict Resolution |
|---|
| Peaceful Conflict Resolution [message #207] |
Mon, 08 February 2010 11:21 |
 amazinggracecoach
Messages: 160
Registered: August 2006 |
Senior Member |
|
|
Robert E. Valett’s instructive and peaceful conflict resolution:
- Respect the right to disagree.
- Express your real concerns.
- Share common goals and interests.
- Open yourself to different points of view.
- Listen carefully to all proposals.
- Understand the major issues involved.
- Think about probable consequences.
- Imagine several possible alternative solutions.
- Offer some reasonable compromises.
- Negotiate mutually fair cooperative agreements.
|
|
|
| Topic: Treasure Chest - Next time you get annoyed by a Pollyanna, think of this one... |
|---|
| Treasure Chest - Next time you get annoyed by a Pollyanna, think of this one... [message #146] |
Mon, 20 October 2008 06:55 |
amazinggracecoach
Messages: 160
Registered: August 2006 |
Senior Member |
|
|
"Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier."
-Colin Powell (Former U.S. Secretary of State)
|
|
|
| Topic: Treasure Chest - If you're in a chronic conflict with someone... |
|---|
| Treasure Chest - If you're in a chronic conflict with someone... [message #111] |
Thu, 21 August 2008 07:59 |
amazinggracecoach
Messages: 160
Registered: August 2006 |
Senior Member |
|
|
"Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."
- Anonymous
|
|
|
| Forum: Prayer Circles |
|---|
| Topic: Relaying information about "Upcoming Economic Concerns - Jerry Tuma" |
|---|
| Relaying information about "Upcoming Economic Concerns - Jerry Tuma" [message #191] |
Tue, 27 October 2009 21:17 |
amazinggracecoach
Messages: 160
Registered: August 2006 |
Senior Member |
|
|
Please watch video at:
http://www.generals.org/store/upcoming-economic-concerns-jer ry-tuma/
Prayer Warriors, I therefore ask that we stay alert and faithful in interceding for the economic troubles ahead, and plead to the Lord for His protection, rescue and provision during the upcoming time of concern and hardship. May we be sheltered and lean on Him for strength as we watch the times unfold.
Thank the Lord for blessing us with this praying assignment. May our Lord hear the desire of the humble, prepare our heart, and cause His ear to hear and defend us so that we may no more be oppressed and terrified by man of the world (Psalm 10:17-18). Amen.
Sharing on Oct 27:
Prayer Warriors, I want to share with you an uplifting message that I heard after sending out my last prayer letter about praying for our upcoming economic concerns. Rev. Tong Liu 劉彤牧師 from River of Life Church said, "The fall of the kingdom of mammon brings forth the rise and revival of the Kingdom of our Lord!!"
Amen! Hallelujah to His Kingdom, Power and Glory! Let us all the more pray for the colaborers of Christ to rise up and answer to Lord's calling in spreading the Gospel. In the times of trouble, may the lost souls find their way home to our Lord, our Savior!! Amen.
|
|
|
| Topic: Prayer Request for Leonila suffering from kidney failure |
|---|
| Prayer Request for Leonila suffering from kidney failure [message #180] |
Fri, 12 June 2009 23:37 |
amazinggracecoach
Messages: 160
Registered: August 2006 |
Senior Member |
|
|
We have received a prayer request from a lady named Leonila. Below is the content of the request:
"I am a mother of seven, 50 years old, a believer and a church worker. I had been diagnosed to have a RENAL (KIDNEY) Failure and undergoing dialysis for more than a year now. I firmly have faith in the power of praying together hence I am requesting you to pray for my healing, financial provision for my kidney transplant, which is almost &22,000.00. Nothing is impossible with the Lord. Thank you for your prayers."
Let us pray for this sister:
"... He was pierced for Leonila's transgressions, He was crushed for her iniquities; the punishment that brought her peace was upon Him, and by His wounds she is healed." (Isaiah 53:5)
"The Lord is Leonila's rock, her fortress and her deliverer; our God is her rock, in whom she takes refuge. He is her shield and the horn of her salvation, her stronghold." (Psalm 18:2)
May Leonila have full faith and no fear in knowing that our Lord will provide for her. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. (Matthew 10:29)
And so we humbly submit Leonila's illness into the hands of the Lord, and ask Him to lay His hand on her to bless her with life and recovery in His grace and mercies. May He grant her the treatment that she requires to live long and serve Him in His ministry. May His blessings also be upon her 7 precious children, and let them be nurtured and thrive in His love. Amen.
|
|
|
| Topic: Please pray for those who lost their loved ones on the missing Air France plane |
|---|
| Please pray for those who lost their loved ones on the missing Air France plane [message #177] |
Wed, 03 June 2009 00:48 |
amazinggracecoach
Messages: 160
Registered: August 2006 |
Senior Member |
|
|
|
Please say a fervent prayer for those who have lost their loved ones or associates in the recent missing Air France plane. May they turn to God for comfort and healing. May God grant mercies so that the evidence can be retrieved for investigation and future references so that people may learn their lesson and prevent future disasters. May those who lost their lives rest in peace. Amen.
|
|
|
| Topic: Sichuan Earthquake: Pray to repent & pray for healing of China land |
|---|
| Sichuan Earthquake: Pray to repent & pray for healing of China land [message #89] |
Tue, 13 May 2008 09:19 |
amazinggracecoach
Messages: 160
Registered: August 2006 |
Senior Member |
|
|
It is with great vigilance and repentance that I post this prayer request, calling for all the prayer warriors and prayer angels to bow down to the ground before our Lord for our fellow countrymen in Sichuan, China.
May we plead to the Lord not to anger with us, but restore us to His favor. Plead to the Lord in humbleness to not leave us nor forsake us. Cry to our Lord to stay with our people and revive them. May His use His strong right arm to save our people in China and rescue them. Pray that He does not hide His face from us nor turn His servants away in rage. Pray that He heals our land and people. Pray that He forgives our sins. May our Lord hear our cries, deliver and safe our people in great danger.
May the mercies of the Holy Spirit be upon and surround the sorrowful families of the victims. Heal the hurts of those who lost their precious loved ones and possessions. May our Lord Jesus Christ call to His lost sheep and herd them into His ring! Amen! May our people break down and weep, find refuge and present help in God, and repent in the grace and salvation of Jesus Christ.
May our Lord be the shield and strength of His servants in China land, and put on them with His armor. Call them to stand up and gather in His faith. Pray and worship Him and offer their loving hands to help and care. To love their neighbors with all their heart, all their soul, all their strength and all their mind.
May our Lord Jesus Christ cover the land with His blood and protect it from the attacks of the evil one in times of trouble. May He stand in the gap of our people and intercede to our Heavenly Father asking for His forgiveness. May Jesus personally touch our land with His very hands, and bring to our people the power of new life and resurrection.
May we see our land and people turning around and fearing God in this earthquake incident, that they see the truth with God's royal banner being raised.
In Jesus' name we pray. Amen!
Urgent Prayer for the Restored Favor of God
Psalm 60:1-5,11-12 ~NKJV
O God, You have cast us off;
You have broken us down;
You have been displeased;
Oh, restore us again!
You have made the earth tremble;
You have broken it;
Heal its breaches, for it is shaking.
You have shown Your people hard things;
You have made us drink the wine of confusion.
You have given a banner to those who fear You,
That it may be displayed because of the truth.
Selah
That Your beloved may be delivered,
Save with Your right hand, and hear me.
Give us help from trouble,
For the help of man is useless.
Through God we will do valiantly,
For it is He who shall tread down our enemies.
|
|
|
| Topic: Prayers for Matthew Johnson |
|---|
| Prayers for Matthew Johnson [message #58] |
Sun, 28 October 2007 00:59 |
amazinggracecoach
Messages: 160
Registered: August 2006 |
Senior Member |
|
|
Please pray for me. My car caught on fire on the way to work and a day later I lost my job and apartment.
I have joy and peace in the midst of all this. I feel like Job in the bible...he lost it all. But I know my faith and trust in God has increased so just be in prayer for me...
-Thanks
Matthew Johnson (submitted via website)
|
|
|
| Topic: Prayers for the victims of San Deigo wildfire |
|---|
| Prayers for the victims of San Deigo wildfire [message #57] |
Sun, 28 October 2007 00:09 |
amazinggracecoach
Messages: 160
Registered: August 2006 |
Senior Member |
|
|
I am sending an urgent prayer request to please pray for the San Diego wildfire victims. One of our prayer warriors live in the area and I am trying to get in touch with her. Pray that she is safe and her home is preserved.
Pray about the overwhelming damage and sufferings the wildfire has brought to the residents of San Diego. May the Holy Spirit comfort the souls who have lost their homes. May we particularly pray for those who are under emotional stress and grief due to the disaster. May the Lord restore the place and bring healing to His people. May we fight for righteousness and plead to the Lord to protect those who are now vulnerably open to further attacks. May the Lord be their refuge and present help, and deliver them from pain and anguish. In Jesus' name. Amen.
|
|
|
| Topic: Prayers for Raymond answered! |
|---|
| Prayers for Raymond answered! [message #56] |
Sat, 27 October 2007 23:32 |
amazinggracecoach
Messages: 160
Registered: August 2006 |
Senior Member |
|
|
I just have to share this great news on here again because the original prayer circle message was so hidden.
We have been praying for a young man named Raymond since January 12, 2007. Please see previous prayer circle link for details:
http://www.amazinggracecoach.com/prayers2007.htm
I'm copying all the notes from the original message so all can see the amazing work of God in a very needy man's life. God is merciful, Praise Him!!
Let us BELIEVE that "THERE IS tremendous power of praying together!"
AND
God answers prayers. He is faithful indeed.
------------------------------
1/12/2007
Please pray for a young man named Raymond in the New York State who has been leading a very closed-up existence since his graduation from university. May his spirit be lifted and be guided to live the Lord's purpose for His life. May the Lord send mentors and counselors to assist with his recovery and growth. May more prayer angels be imparted with the burden to intercede for him. May the Lord bring comfort and peace to his family and his great auntie, Lai Yee, who have great concern for him, and show them that He is indeed the sovereign King. Amen.
Updates on 4/16/07:
Raymond's auntie, Lai Yee, is considering traveling to NY to visit Raymond as his state of mind and health have not improved. Raymond is still without a job, and still shutting himself inside the house all day long. Please continue to pray for him, and for Lai Yee to be able to make this trip. Please pray that a counselor may be sent to assist. Thank you.
Updates on 10/10/07:
Auntie Lai Yee just called and updated us that Raymond has been referred by a dear friend to a job interview tomorrow (Thursday October 11). Praise the Lord for His grace!! Lai Yee has asked that we pray for this opportunity tomorrow, hoping that Raymond will be successful in obtaining the job. May the Lord delight in this young man and impart him with enough grace so he may turn a new leaf in his life. May the Holy Spirit prepare his heart tonight, and move the interviewer to delight in his gifts and service. Amen
Updates on 10/21/07:
Raymond got a 2nd interview at this company!!! Praise the Lord! It is going to be on the coming Wednesday, October 24. Auntie Lai Yee was very grateful for our effort, and has asked us to please pray for him again. Let us remind ourselves that glory be to our Heavenly Father! May our pleading continue to reach and move heaven to pour down His blessings on Raymond. May the Lord's light continue to shine his path and give him faith and strength to show his best at the interview. Let us proclaim that it is our faith in Jesus that makes us righteous. It is Him who will bring about victory and glory to Raymond's life. We humbly bow before Him and hopefully anticipate His faithful answer to our prayers. Amen.
Updates on 10/26/07:
Raymond got the job!!!!!! Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!! Auntie Lai Yee called me the very next morning to give me the news, and I was totally overwhelmed with joy. May we offer our heart full of thanks to the Lord for His mercies and may He continue to lead Raymond in his life and in the new job. Amen.
|
|
|
| Forum: Journey to Christ |
|---|
| Topic: Life Coaching brought Vincent to Christ |
|---|
| Life Coaching brought Vincent to Christ [message #196] |
Tue, 27 October 2009 23:31 |
amazinggracecoach
Messages: 160
Registered: August 2006 |
Senior Member |
|
|
I am a life coach whose eyes have been opened by the Lord through the Coach training at Western Seminary. At the time when I joined the courses, I had already been coaching for a while. And it wasn’t long into the course that I was introduced to this equation:
“Christian Coaching =
Christ’s Vision and Mission
+ Scriptural Principles
+ Christ’s Presence
+ High Standard of Excellence as a Trained Coach.”
(You will find this inside Jane Creswell’s book, “Christ-centered Coaching”)
Lord then sent me forth practicing this equation in many different ministerial floors. And today I want to tell you this one experience that is so memorable and edifying to my ministry. I also want to testify to the possibilities and potential of Christian coaching through this story.
It was one hot Summer day in 2007 when we were just minding our own chores at the office. We got a phone call from a cancer patient, looking for help in the form of life coaching. “Life Coaching” in his exact words. Now this is very rare. Not many people know about life coaching, let alone calling into the Ministries office looking specifically for it. And what a coincidence and great plan Lord has prepared for him.
My coworker answered him, “Yes, we do have a life coach here, her name is Grace. Would you like to speak to her?” That day marked the beginning of our Lord’s quest to taking full hold of this man and his soul, through Christian coaching.
When I first walked with this man, named Vincent, he was just like any cancer patient having difficulties in organizing his daily life due to his illness and treatments. But as I continued to actively listen to him, I realized that he was constantly living in fear and anxiety from the memory of his childhood abuse. Vincent’s father was a minister but he abused his own child by beating him up. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder was the term for the condition that Vincent suspected he’d had. Throughout the next 9 months of trying to refer him to psychological help, Lord, instead, led him to be released in His love and healing through coaching and prayers.
One evening that Fall, I got an urgent call from Vincent telling me that he was consumed in anger and worries about his partner, and could not tolerate his drug addiction anymore. Yes, he was a homosexual, living with a drug addict. I guess I really was thankful for all the training I had on suspending judgments on the clients so that I did not hold any opinions about him. All the time, my conscious mind queried my involvement as a life coach, but Lord kept putting this tremendous peace and courage in me to care for him and walk with him.
With powerful questioning techniques and intercessory prayers behind the scene, Vincent gained perspectives and awareness of the history of his own troubles. While having a goal to get well and holding him accountable to take actions, I saw how he was able to walk step-by-step out of resentment and bitterness, and bravely faced up to all the challenges that were presented to him on the journey. And it was our coaching partnership that provided the safe environment to encourage him to receive Gospel messages and re-examine his Christian faith again.
In November 2007, he willingly accepted Christ in a prayer I led him to say. By the end of December, he was comfortable enough to pray for me in return during a coaching session. Praise the Lord!
From January 2008 onwards, his health deteriorated. His brain tumor kept growing bigger and his face became deformed. Seeing Vincent’s excruciating pain, his partner miraculously stopped taking drugs all of a sudden and worked with me and other caregivers to take care of Vincent's every need. His partner willingly accepted prayers and coaching. His partner’s complexion gradually turned from grey to pink, his facial expression from tense to being relaxed and smiling.
As things progressed, Vincent became yearning to get in touch agin with his mother in Hong Kong that he had previously resented and avoided for many years. Around the same time, Vincent’s ex-wife, who was a dedicated Christian, showed up on the scene to take care of him. While the coaching work had expanded to include all of these people, I witnessed how our merciful Lord imparted His grace on this brother in his last days. Vincent not only reconciled with his ex-wife and his mother, he also peacefully submitted his life into the Lord’s hands. He no longer contended with why he had to suffer from cancer, or PTSD, or his partner’s abuse, and instead he learned to receive God’s word and passed his days by meditating on this Father in Heaven. The purpose of his existence became one that focused on others rather than on himself. This was a transformation that only Lord Himself could have initiated.
April 18 of 2008, Vincent was baptized while he was still conscious but was unable to speak. He raised his arms up high to show that he believed in Jesus while our Pastor blessed him with water. Hallelujah! On April 30, Vincent was released to be with the Lord.
Fellow co-laborers, today, you're presented with an opportunity to become equipped with this inspiring skill so that you may witness such power in transforming a person's life. I encourage you to take up this opportunity. You will be amazed by what it can do for your ministry.
To find out more about how to get trained as a Christian Coach, please visit:
http://www.westernseminary.edu/Coaching/index.htm
|
|
|
| Topic: What does the journey to Christ look like? |
|---|
| What does the journey to Christ look like? [message #127] |
Sun, 21 September 2008 00:55 |
amazinggracecoach
Messages: 160
Registered: August 2006 |
Senior Member |
|
|
|
|
|
| Topic: Treasure Chest - Complain or Praise? |
|---|
| Treasure Chest - Complain or Praise? [message #123] |
Sun, 21 September 2008 00:45 |
amazinggracecoach
Messages: 160
Registered: August 2006 |
Senior Member |
|
|
"Complain and remain; praise to be raised."
-Joyce Meyer
|
|
|
| Topic: 上帝為什麼不獎賞好人 ? |
|---|
| 上帝為什麼不獎賞好人 ? [message #118] |
Fri, 29 August 2008 04:14 |
amazinggracecoach
Messages: 160
Registered: August 2006 |
Senior Member |
|
|
1963年，一位叫瑪莉•班尼的女孩寫信給《芝加哥論壇報》，因為她實在搞不明白，為什麼她幫媽媽把烤好的甜餅送到餐桌上，得到 的只是一句"好孩子"的誇獎，而那個什麼都不幹，只知搗蛋的戴維（她的弟弟）得到的卻是一個甜餅。
她想問一問無所不知的西勒•庫斯特先生，上帝真的是公平的嗎？為什麼她在家和學校常看到一些像她這樣的好孩子被上帝遺忘了。
西勒•庫斯特是《芝加哥論壇報》兒童版"你說我說"欄目的主持人，十多年來，孩子們有關"上帝為什麼不獎賞好人，為什麼不懲罰壞人 "之類的來信，他收到不下仟封。
每當拆閱這樣的信件，他心就非常沉重，因為他不知該怎樣回答這些提問。
正當他對瑪莉小姑娘的來信不知如何回答是好時，一位朋友邀請他參加婚禮。
也許他一生都該感謝這次婚禮，因為就是在這次婚禮上，他找到了答案，並且這個答案讓他一夜之間名揚天下。
西勒•庫斯特是這樣回憶那場婚禮的。牧師主持完儀式後，新娘和新郎互贈戒指，也許是他們正沉浸在幸福之中，也許是兩人過於激動。
總之，在他們互贈戒指時，兩人 陰差陽錯地把戒指戴在了對方的右手上。
牧師看到這一情節，幽默地提醒：右手已經夠完美的了，我想你們最好還是用它來裝扮左手吧。
西勒•庫斯特說，正是牧師的這一幽默，讓他茅塞頓開。
右手成為右手，本身就非常完美了，是沒有必要把飾物再戴在右手上了。
同樣，那些有道德的人，之所以常常被忽略，不就是因為他們已經非常完美了嗎？
後來，西勒﹒庫斯特得出結論，上帝讓右手成為右手，就是對右手最高的獎賞，同理，上帝讓善人成為善人，也就是對善人的最高獎賞。
西勒•庫斯特發現這一真理後，興奮不已，他以" 上帝讓你成為好孩子，就是對你的最高獎賞"為題，立即給瑪莉•班尼回了一封信，這封信在《芝加哥論壇報》刊登之 後，在不長的時間內，被美國及歐洲一千多 家報刊轉載，並且每年的兒童節他們都要重新刊載一次。
前不久，一位中國人不知在什麼地方發現了這封信，讀後，他通過國際互聯網在《芝加哥論壇報》的網頁上留言，說："中國民間有一句古 話，叫「惡有惡報，善有善報，不是不報，時候未到」。我曾經對惡人遲遲得不到報應感到迷惑不解。
現在我終於明白，因為讓惡人成為惡人就是上帝對他們的懲罰。"
『人為善，福雖未至，禍已遠離；人為惡，禍雖未至，福已遠離』 .....
|
|
|
| Topic: The moving story of an Olympic diver accepting Christ |
|---|
| The moving story of an Olympic diver accepting Christ [message #48] |
Mon, 03 September 2007 22:35 |
amazinggracecoach
Messages: 160
Registered: August 2006 |
Senior Member |
|
|
Philippians 4:13 says:
"I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."
Here's the story:
A young man who had been raised as an atheist was training to be an Olympic diver. The only religious influence in his life came from his outspoken Christian friend. The young diver never really paid much attention to his friend's sermons, but he heard them often.
One night the diver went to the indoor pool at the college he attended. The lights were all off, but as the pool had big skylights and the moon was bright, there was plenty of light to practice by.
The young man climbed up to the highest diving board and as he turned his back to the pool on the edge of the board and extended his arms out, he saw his shadow on the wall. The shadow of his body, was in the shape of a cross. The man felt a strange feeling, like someone was speaking to him. Instead of diving, he knelt down and finally asked Jesus to come into his life. As the young man stood, a maintenance man walked in and turned the lights on. The pool had been drained for repairs. The diver's life was thus saved.
Remember this story and tell it to others.
|
|
|
| Forum: Coaches' Corner |
|---|
| Topic: Power Tools - Want to vs Have to |
|---|
| Power Tools - Want to vs Have to [message #178] |
Fri, 05 June 2009 15:31 |
amazinggracecoach
Messages: 160
Registered: August 2006 |
Senior Member |
|
|
"Want to vs. Have to"
The very core issue with "I have to do it" is the lacking in commitment and ownership of the task. So ask yourself:
- What would be a good reason for me to want to do this?
- Think about the benefit and value of doing the task at hand.
- How would it benefit me or people around me?
- Give it a purpose and you'll perform so much better!
e.g.
"I have to work on these PowerPoint slides today because my boss needs them tomorrow..."
Reframe:
"I want to work hard on these slides for my boss today so that s/he may feel totally adequate to deliver the presentation tomorrow, AND we will become a better team!" 
|
|
|
| Topic: Treasure Chest / Power Tools - Excellence vs Perfection |
|---|
|
| Forum: Welcome to the AmazingGrace Coaching Community Forum! |
|---|
| Topic: Introducing "Power Tools" |
|---|
| Introducing "Power Tools" [message #175] |
Tue, 26 May 2009 16:35 |
amazinggracecoach
Messages: 160
Registered: August 2006 |
Senior Member |
|
|
I've started new postings called "Power Tools", mainly on the "Coaches' Corner" forum. These are powerful 'reframing' tools that helps individuals in transitioning out of defeating / habitual thinking, and presumed constraints.
Welcome responses and sharing via replies to these postings. Thank you so much.
|
|
|
| Topic: Introducing "Treasure Chest" |
|---|
| Introducing "Treasure Chest" [message #22] |
Sun, 27 May 2007 21:46 |
amazinggracecoach
Messages: 160
Registered: August 2006 |
Senior Member |
|
|
|
You will find my "Treasure Chest" postings on some of the forums and on my blog. This is my way of sharing with you the quotable quotes and snippets I have collected over time that were valuable to me in my discovery and learning process. Hope you will find them useful to you, too! I welcome your responses via replies to these postings. Thank you so much.
|
|
|
| Topic: Hello from AmazingGrace Coach! |
|---|
| Hello from AmazingGrace Coach! [message #16] |
Wed, 02 May 2007 00:38 |
amazinggracecoach
Messages: 160
Registered: August 2006 |
Senior Member |
|
|
I call myself AmazingGrace Coach because I want to live up to my birth and given name "Grace" to those I connect with.
My blog (http://amazinggracecoach.blogspot.com/) introduces me like this, which is probably the truest picture of who I am, what I value, and what I strive for in life:
"A life coach and spiritual leader; a friend and confidant; a daughter, wife and mom; and a servant to God. These are the roles that Grace treasures and champions. Grace’s life mission is to touch the hearts of those she meets by bringing them closer to the divine creator of the universe. She values connection, organization, input, leadership, and achievements in her daily pursuits. She believes that it is only through learning and growing that one would find fulfillment and purpose in life. She seeks wisdom and discernment while always working on humility and gratitude. Those who come across her will find that she has the gifts of kindness, guidance and encouragement."
I look forward to meeting all of you.
Grace
|
|
|
| Forum: Life Purpose and Lessons |
|---|
| Topic: Treasure Chest - How may we judge each day? |
|---|
| Treasure Chest - How may we judge each day? [message #141] |
Mon, 20 October 2008 06:21 |
amazinggracecoach
Messages: 160
Registered: August 2006 |
Senior Member |
|
|
"Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant."
-Robert Louis Stevenson (Author of "Treasure Island")
|
|
|
| Topic: Treasure Chest - Are you a bird or an eagle? |
|---|
| Treasure Chest - Are you a bird or an eagle? [message #125] |
Sun, 21 September 2008 00:48 |
amazinggracecoach
Messages: 160
Registered: August 2006 |
Senior Member |
|
|
"Birds fly in flock, but eagles fly alone."
-Joyce Meyer
|
|
|
| Topic: Treasure Chest - How do we achieve excellence? |
|---|
| Treasure Chest - How do we achieve excellence? [message #113] |
Thu, 21 August 2008 08:20 |
amazinggracecoach
Messages: 160
Registered: August 2006 |
Senior Member |
|
|
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit."
-Aristotle
|
|
|
| Topic: Treasure Chest - There is a difference between wishing and realizing... |
|---|
| Treasure Chest - There is a difference between wishing and realizing... [message #112] |
Thu, 21 August 2008 08:18 |
amazinggracecoach
Messages: 160
Registered: August 2006 |
Senior Member |
|
|
"The wishbone will never replace the backbone."
- Will Henry
|
|
|
| Topic: Reflections on the child abuse case committed by Josef Fritzl |
|---|
| Reflections on the child abuse case committed by Josef Fritzl [message #91] |
Mon, 19 May 2008 21:55 |
eunicekwok
Messages: 6
Registered: May 2007 |
Junior Member |
|
|
The recent news that an Austrian man, Josef Fritzl aged 73, had incarcerated his daughter for 24 years and fathered seven children with her sent shock waves around the world. Three of the children had been locked up with their mother in a windowless cellar and had never seen sunlight or received any education. Most people would have been appalled and disgusted by this extreme case of child abuse and cruelty. Being a parent myself, I was overwhelmed with disbelief, even anger, as the story was unfolded in various news media.
I even went to the Lord in prayer, complaining about the moral degradation of this world. Who was this man capable of committing such a crime against his own daughter? How could he wreck the lives of so many just to gratify the pleasure of his flesh, perpetuating the impact of his sin down the generations? It defiled all human decency. I could not even begin to imagine the psychological and emotional bondage this man had left with his daughter and his grandchildren /children he subsequently produced with his own daughter.
But God spoke to me with this verse, direct and terse, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her (a woman who was caught in adultery, therefore a sinner).” John 8:7
(The passage continued: At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No-one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” John 8: 9-11)
I was silenced in the middle of my prayer, and God spoke again with the same verse, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”
I was then forced to confront the ugliness of sin, the abhorrent and shameless acts that our sinful nature could have brought us to commit if it was not restrained and submitted under the authority of Christ. It was as if God were telling me, “Yes, you don’t think you recognise any of you in Josef Fritzl. But this is what sin could have done to you – turn you into someone whom you do not even recognise if you let sin be your master. This is what I have saved you from – that you will not one day be ashamed of and hate yourself by teaching you holiness, and keeping your path straight. Without Christ and without the Cross, you are no different from Josef Fritzl, so is the extent of man’s wickedness.”
The truth is that this was nothing new to God; this is as it has been right from the beginning:
The LORD saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. The LORD was grieved that he had made man on earth, and his heart was filled with pain. Genesis 6:5-6
What is God’s advice?
Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance (and for this we labour and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, and especially of those who believe. 1 Timothy 4: 7-10
It is therefore a good sign that we feel abhorrent of man’s wickedness, but remember that it is not from a moral high ground where we stand; rather it is from a righteousness that is credited to us by faith (Romans 4) and by God’s grace (Ephesians 2:5). Moreover, let our abhorrence of man’s wickedness strengthen our resolve to throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. (Hebrews 12: 1)
The real danger I see nowadays is the insidious, and yet powerful, persuasion of the media to normalise depravity, and in turn, cloud our conscience. I feel disturbed when movies or TV drama series elaborate on the struggles of the sick minds of criminals, dictating where our sympathy should lie, without the victorious message from the gospel. The outcome?
The wicked freely strut about when what is vile is honoured among men. Psalm 12: 8
A case in point is a movie called Mr Brooks, a notorious serial killer acting under a veneer of a loving family man and a successful businessman, played by Kevin Costner. Below are just some excerpts about the film, which is R rated because of bloody scenes, sexual content, nudity and language. (For the record, I have not watched the film. Nor do I have the desire to do so!)
Mr. Brooks is definitely evil. And Costner didn’t want to wink to the audience suggesting the character wasn't. "I wanted to play him all the way, but hopefully could infuse a sense of humanity into him."
"You feel sorry for him at the same time you despise him?" Braver asked.
"Exactly. And we have to also realize that there's people outside [the movie theater] that are just as bent as he is." (from http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/05/27/sunday/main2856328 .shtml)
But evil, sympathetic characters? Now, there's a nifty trick. And few perform it better than Kevin Costner in “Mr. Brooks,” a deftly suspenseful, supremely insidious thriller that builds an unlikely case for cheering on the bad guy.
So what makes this well-attired monster sympathetic? In a word, he struggles. (from http://www.wwmt.com/entertainment/earl_1269995_fbi__article. html/brooks_costner.html)
Bruce A. Evans, who directed and co-wrote the film, said he sees it as almost a Shakespearean tragedy. "This is about a very good man who has a disease .... The audience is asked to understand him."
"We wanted to do the total opposite of Hannibal Lecter. We wanted the neighbors to say Mr Brooks was a wonderful man."(from http://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSN304408 1120070530?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0)
Do you see any similarities between the description of Mr. Brooks and Josef Fritzl’s profile below?
Details of what Mr Fritzl told Mr Mayer (Fritzl’s lawyer) have been published in News, an Austrian current affairs magazine. "I constantly knew, over the entire 24 years, that what I did was not right, that I must have been crazy because I did something like this," Mr Fritzl was quoted as saying.
He said he was driven by an "addiction", that "got out of control" but that he had tried to care for his family in the cellar as best as he could, taking them flowers, books and toys.
He also spoke about how he would watch videos with his children while Elisabeth cooked them their favourite meals.
Mr Mayer says his client claims he locked Elisabeth up in order to protect her from the outside world: "She did not obey any rules, she hung around in dodgy bars all night and drank and smoked," Mr Fritzl was quoted as saying.
Mr Fritzl said that he started preparing the cellar dungeon "around 1981 or 1982".
"The cellar in my building belonged to me and me alone. It was my kingdom, that only I had access to. Everyone who lived there knew it," he said.
Mr Mayer has said that he believes his client is mentally ill, and should not go to jail, but remain in a psychiatric unit.
(From http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7371959.stm)
Let's just be clear with one thing: there is nothing beautiful about man’s wickedness and the helplessness of humanity.
|
|
|
| Topic: Treasure Chest - If you're a leader in the making... |
|---|
| Treasure Chest - If you're a leader in the making... [message #45] |
Mon, 09 July 2007 07:31 |
amazinggracecoach
Messages: 160
Registered: August 2006 |
Senior Member |
|
|
"If you want to build a ship, don't drum up people together to collect wood and don't assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the sea."
-Antoine de Saint-Exupery (1900-1944, French writer and aviator)
|
|
|
| Topic: Treasure Chest - Enthusiasm for 30 years pays off |
|---|
| Treasure Chest - Enthusiasm for 30 years pays off [message #20] |
Fri, 25 May 2007 23:14 |
amazinggracecoach
Messages: 160
Registered: August 2006 |
Senior Member |
|
|
"One man has enthusiasm for 30 minutes, another for 30 days, but it is the man who has it for 30 years who makes a success of his life."
-Edward B. Butler
(1853 - 1928, was an American businessman, the founder of Butler Brothers department stores.)
|
|
|
| Forum: A Healthy Good Laugh |
|---|
| Topic: Treasure Chest - How would it help to be like a stamp? |
|---|
| Treasure Chest - How would it help to be like a stamp? [message #144] |
Mon, 20 October 2008 06:44 |
amazinggracecoach
Messages: 160
Registered: August 2006 |
Senior Member |
|
|
"Be like a postage stamp. Stick to one thing until you get there."
-Josh Billings (pen name of Henry Wheeler Shaw - 19th Century U.S. Humorist writer)
|
|
|
| Forum: Transition Survival |
|---|
| Topic: Treasure Chest - Which is the best way out? |
|---|
| Treasure Chest - Which is the best way out? [message #126] |
Sun, 21 September 2008 00:49 |
amazinggracecoach
Messages: 160
Registered: August 2006 |
Senior Member |
|
|
"The best way out is always through."
-Robert Frost
|
|
|
| Topic: Carrot, Egg, or Oolong Tea? |
|---|
| Carrot, Egg, or Oolong Tea? [message #47] |
Mon, 03 September 2007 22:19 |
amazinggracecoach
Messages: 160
Registered: August 2006 |
Senior Member |
|
|
A carrot, an egg, and a cup of Oolong tea…You will never look at a cup of Oolong the same way again.
A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.
Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed Oolong tea. She let them sit and boil; without saying a word.
In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl.
Then she ladled the Oolong out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me what you see."
"Carrots, eggs, and Oolong tea," she replied.
Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg.
Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the Oolong. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, "What does it mean, mother?"
Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The Oolong tea was unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water color and taste.
"Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a Oolong tea?
Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?
Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?
Or am I like the Oolong tea? The tea actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the tea, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a Oolong tea?
May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human and enough hope to make you happy.
The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.
When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling.
Live your life so at the end, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying.
You might want to relay this message to those people who mean something to you; to those who have touched your life in one way or another; to those who make you smile when you really need it; to those who make you see the brighter side of things when you are really down; to those whose friendship you appreciate; to those who are so meaningful in your life.
May we all be OOLONG TEA !!!!!!!!!
|
|
|
| Topic: Treasure Chest - When the darkness sets in |
|---|
| Treasure Chest - When the darkness sets in [message #21] |
Fri, 25 May 2007 23:32 |
amazinggracecoach
Messages: 160
Registered: August 2006 |
Senior Member |
|
|
"People are like stained glass windows: they sparkle and shine when the sun's out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is light within."
-Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, M.D.
(1926 – 2004, a Swiss-born psychiatrist and the author of the groundbreaking book On Death and Dying, where she first discussed what is now known as the "Five Stages of Grief".)
|
|
|
| Forum: Pregnancy & Mom's Corner |
|---|
| Topic: Oasis |
|---|
| Oasis [message #83] |
Fri, 02 May 2008 16:53 |
eunicekwok
Messages: 6
Registered: May 2007 |
Junior Member |
|
|
Oasis
Burying ourselves in our daily toil
We seldom notice the beauty around in the world.
Tick-tots of the clock become our heartbeats,
Its rhythms we follow to the dot on our feet.
It was like a dog chasing after its own tail,
Round and round the daily loop is our common tale.
Head down, back bent,
Our bodies are tense.
Tiredness consumes our vitality,
Reflecting the cruel fact of our mortality.
A haggard look with dreary eyes,
Little time to question why.
Your arrival has made more acute the time pressure,
As we juggle more at the expense of leisure.
You are dragged into this mill of daily churn.
Competing for attention, you have to wait for your turn.
Your daily routine has to dovetail mine,
Allowing only for behaviour which is fine:
No messing around with your food,
Co-operation when your teeth are brushed too,
When we are in a hurry, there is no running away,
No more arguing when Mummy has had her final say,
And going to sleep when it’s time for bed,
Or there will be no kisses on your forehead!
You always get excited on the announcement of a trip out.
Fetching your shoes and coat you are as swift as a trout.
You fill the car with giggles and musical hum,
Believing that the trip will bring lots of fun.
But half of the times you are disappointed,
As fun is not the purpose of the trip appointed.
Even though you bring along your favourite toys,
Shopping is not something you enjoy.
You smile no more being tied up in the pushchair
And shops are stuffy without much fresh air.
After a while, you fret about not walking,
But the clock is ticking away for car parking.
With a failed attempt to orchestra a family nap,
One Saturday I took you out for an afternoon walk.
For once, there was no time pressure
You could enjoy your stroll at leisure.
Behind you I trudged along with tired feet,
Still regretting about my aborted plan for sleep.
In sharp contrast your little footsteps were light,
Your smiles spoke of a heart full of delight,
For the simplest things under the sky:
The flowers, the shades, and the colours all captured in your eyes.
Even with your limited speech, you praised generously
As if saying to me, “Wake up and look around joyously.”
You are never discouraged to expect,
Welcoming whatever comes next with no suspect.
Arrogant we are in believing
Only one way is knowledge flowing.
Habits are the blinkers we wear over our sight,
Blinding us from seeing alternative sources of light.
Your simplicity confronts our rigidity,
Like an oasis you bring freshness and creativity.
Capable of marching forward in confident strides,
Your heart is open to discern all goodness in life.
You, the little one, have valuable lessons to teach
If only we will give the time to pause and read.
© Eunice Kwok 2002
(12 May 2002)
|
|
|
| Topic: First Meeting |
|---|
| First Meeting [message #77] |
Mon, 17 March 2008 04:42 |
eunicekwok
Messages: 6
Registered: May 2007 |
Junior Member |
|
|
First meeting
Snug in my womb for forty weeks,
You were so much a part of me.
Outwardly you were a big bump that I carried,
Inwardly you were a person who was always merry.
Long had we been communicating like pen friends
With secret flows of sensations known only to the two of us.
Patiently we waited until the term’s natural end,
When we could finally greet each other in a cosy little hug.
You cared about posing even before you were born,
With your left arm raised and rest by your ear.
This complicated the process and made me torn,
Needing many stitches afterwards to mend the tear.
You too suffered as you got stuck in the middle.
No time to lose as monitors gave out distress signals.
Out you came under assistance but you were all purple,
Daddy was worried sick until your breathing was normal.
Traumatic it must have been the experience for you,
To be dazzled by such bright light at the end of the tunnel.
The world outside you must have found alien and cold,
But reassurance you found in my voice as a channel.
Magical it was when I held you in my arms at last,
So delicate, frightened and lost you looked.
Natural urge to protect made simple the basic parental task,
To give you ample love and care whatever it took.
All shapes and forms were a blur in your vision,
But nothing could deter your curious searching gaze.
Seeing in your dark eyes were my own clear reflections,
Memory of the pain in no time melted into a haze.
You soon cared little but sleep due to exhaustion,
While I looked on longingly with fondness growing.
Admiring the perfect symmetry in God’s exquisite creation,
Ineffable joy and gratefulness was overflowing.
This marks the beginning of your personal story,
Which is waiting for your imagination and creativity,
To fill its pages with accounts of your exciting journey,
Which will be gripping in its substance with sincerity.
© Eunice Kwok 2002
(20 April 2002)
|
|
|
| Topic: To The Prettiest Moms |
|---|
| To The Prettiest Moms [message #17] |
Wed, 02 May 2007 00:47 |
amazinggracecoach
Messages: 160
Registered: August 2006 |
Senior Member |
|
|
Prettiest Moms
Before I was a Mom
I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.
Before I was a Mom - I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.
I slept all night.
Before I was a Mom
I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.
Before I was a Mom
I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put them down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.
Before I was a Mom -
I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.
Before I was a Mom -
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom.
Send this to someone who you think is a pretty Mom.
I just did!
|
|
|
"Connecting Needs to
a Community of
Service"
Search
Help
Register
Login
Forums
