I got up early one morning and rushed right into the day I had so much to accomplish that I didn’t have time to pray.

Problems just tumbled about me, and heavier came each task, “why doesn’t God help me?” I wondered. He answered, “You didn’t ask.”

I wanted to see joy and beauty, but the day toiled on gray and bleak; I wondered why God didn’t show me. He said, “But you didn’t seek.”

I tried to come into God’s presence; I used all my keys at the lock, God gently and lovingly chided,” My child, you didn’t knock,”

I woke up early this morning and paused before entering the day; I had so much to accomplish that I had to take time to pray. (Luke 11:9-10)

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When things go wrong as they sometimes will.
When the road you're trudging seems all up hill.
When funds are low and the debts are high.
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh.
When care is pressing you down a bit.
Rest, if you must, but don't you quit.
Life is queer with its twists and turns.
As every one of us sometimes learns.
And many a failure turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out:
Don't give up though the pace seems slow
You may succeed with another blow.
Success is failure turned inside out
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt.
And you never can tell how close you are.
It may be near when it seems so far:
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit
It's when things seem worst that you must not QUIT.
- unknown author

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If standard of living is your major objective, quality of life almost never improves, but if quality of life is your number one objective, your standard of living almost always improves.

The quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion to his or her commitment to excellence, regardless of his or her chosen field of endeavor.
- Zig Ziglar

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(excerpted from the book, The Power of Attitude)
One of the most wonderful things about having a positive attitude is the number of people it touches, many times in ways you'll never know.

Recently, I stopped by a convenience store to get a newspaper and a pack of gum. The young woman at the check-out counter said, "That'll be five dollars please," and as I reached into my wallet, the thought occurred to me that a newspaper and gum didn't quite make it to five dollars.

When I looked up to get a "re-quote," she had a big smile on her face and said, "Gotcha! I got to get my tip in there somehow!" I laughed when I knew I'd been had. She then glanced down at the paper I was buying and said, "I´m sick and tired of all this negative stuff on the front pages. I want to read some good news for a change." She then said, "In fact, I think someone should just publish a Good News newspaper – a paper with wonderful, inspirational stories about people overcoming adversity and doing good things for others. I'd buy one every day!"

She then thanked me for coming in and said, "Maybe we'll get lucky tomorrow; maybe we'll get some good news," and she laughed. She made my day.

The following day after my business appointments, I dropped by the same store again to pick up bottled water, but a different young lady was behind the counter. As I checked out I said, "Good afternoon" and handed her my money for the water. She said nothing – not a word, not a smile… nothing. She just handed me my change and in a negative tone ordered…"Next!"

It hit me right between the eyes: Two people, same age; one made me feel great, and the other, well, made me feel that I had inconvenienced her by showing up.
By the choices we make, by the attitudes we exhibit, we are influencing lives every day in positive or negative ways… our family, our peers, our friends, and even strangers we've never met before and will never meet again.

So when you brush your teeth every morning, look in the mirror and ask yourself this important question, ‘Who do I want to be today? "The Grouch" or "The Good News Girl?"´ Your answer will go a long way toward determining the joy and happiness that you will experience in your life.

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Trouble arrives in measures,
and we stack it up real high,
until we're convinced,
we have no reason to try.

If you feel defeated,
you're absolutely wrong,
for if you follow your dream,
you could never lose for long.

Ignore the minor set-backs
that pile up and trouble you,
or you will build a mountain,
out of the stones hurled at you.

The future holds great promise,
your destiny unknown,
but God is always helping,
and you're never alone.

Soar bravely toward your goal.
Let nothing darken the way.
You can change your tomorrow,
if you seek your dream today.

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It’s not the situation, but whether we react (negative)
or respond (positive) to the situation that’s important.
There’s not a lot you can do about the national economy
but there is a lot you can do about your personal economy.(Zig Ziglar)

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This feeling of “I can’t” begins the development of the fear of failure. If you are discouraged or punished too often as a child, very early in life you will become fearful of trying new things. This fear will then carry over into later childhood, adolescence and adult life. Thereafter, whenever you think of doing something new or different, something that entails risk or uncertainty, your first reaction will be “I can’t!” As soon as you say the words “I can’t” to yourself, you will begin immediately to think of all the reasons why such a thing is not possible for you.

You will think and talk in terms of failure, rather than success. You will think of the uncertainties and all the possible risks of loss that may occur. Before you even try something new, you will talk yourself out of it.

The most powerful words that you can repeat, over and over, to neutralize and overcome the fear of failure, are the words, “I can do it! I can do it!”
The kindest words that a parent can tell his or her child, in addition to the words “I love you,” are the words “You can do anything that you set your mind to.” It is amazing how many people’s lives have been dramatically affected by the influence of a single person, a parent, relative or friend, who simply told them, over and over again, “You can do it.”

--- Taken from book "The Miliion Dollar Habits by Brian Tracy"

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