Live - Laugh Love & Sincerely Smile Through It All

by Ed Rhymer

Overview

A Scottish minister once said, ?you first have to realize you are lost before you can be saved.?

We all take the walk through life with uncertainty. Decisions are continually made that affect our lives and those we love. We can only pray that God will ensure they are positive and beneficial.

You will find in this volume, thoughts and expressions of feelings, gleaned from the steps of the author?s lifetime. Perhaps they will offer some comfort and guidance, in your daily walk.

Study and read and read again. Seek a greater understanding and perception of the challenges of life.

Pray for the Lord?s guidance in your daily walk. Develop your beliefs, strengthen your faith and be assured that God will provide for you and your safety as He guides your steps.

?Should you reach the point in life where Jesus is all you have, then you will know, He is all you need.? ?Rev. Paul T. Murphy, D.D.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781496939869
Publisher:	AuthorHouse
Publication date:	09/29/2014
Pages:	128
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.35(d)

Read an Excerpt

Live â" Laugh Love & Sincerely Smile Through It All

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By Ed Rhymer

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2014 Ed Rhymer
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4969-3986-9

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CHAPTER 1

Life's Beginning

"God gives us LIFE. He breathes His spirit into us and we become a living soul. We have a duty to live and use our life in a way that would not only be pleasing and expressive of gratitude to the Lord however, would also be pleasing and satisfying to us as individuals.

God grants us TIME. A span of time for us to stand in our space, to walk the path of life, to live life to its' fullest and to do all the things for which He provides opportunities and resources. We return this blessing from the Lord, by giving and sharing the time and the talents He gives, with others. This is our mark, to be like Him, to care and share.

God's greatest gift is LOVE. The capacity to sense, to feel, to have your heart stirred and to stir other hearts. And to share that emotion with one who is separate and individual however, is as one in heart, mind and spirit. A partner in life, who stands in time and space with you as one. One who cares, who shares and equally loves. This is fulfillment. This is love."

"Believing in a supreme being, a creator is the foundation of the Christian faith. In spite of the abundance of scientific evidence regarding the origins of man, it does not preclude the existence of God. Antagonists are quick to be argumentative and defensive however, you only have to be open minded to recognize the order of events.

Accepting the existence of God as a supreme being defines your life. You accept His guidelines for living. You are not expected to subjugate your own will instead, your will should be used to develop and direct your life along the path He provides. Making decisions and judgements in daily living. Every life is different and it is expected your will is to be utilized in choices.

With belief, acceptance follows and faith develops. Confidence that God will provide for your needs. He will support and protect you. He will comfort you and be patient with your decisions and choices in your daily walk. This is truly a blessed assurance. Accepting God's leadership does not take away or detract from your individuality. Instead, it provides a fulfilling experience and greater self-assurance, self-confidence in life."

Christmas, the celebration of the birth of Jesus, is the season when we especially demonstrate, the love we have for those who matter most in our lives.

The birth of Jesus set the example and His life reminds us to share those gifts.

The birth of a child is miraculous. As the child grows and develops it is a marvelous, wondrous experience to see and feel. By no other means, in no other way is this more evident than springtime in God's world.

Such a wonderful feeling to watch the flowers and trees as they come to life in the spring. The beautiful colors, the foliage, springtime with its' beauty all around. Blossoms abound in glorious colors in all God's ways. Breathtaking to watch, to observe them expanding as they grow.

Living is the newness of life, to be reborn in Christ, to blossom into the fullness of life and development. No words could truly describe this unbelievable experience.

CHAPTER 2

ALearning Curve

Time is like a Fairy Godmother. You know she is there but, cannot see her. You can feel her presence but, never touch. Time is like a warm summer breeze in your face but, still and lonely when you wait for it to come.

"Time is the warp of the tapestry which is life. It is eternal, constant, unchanging. But the woof is gathered together from the four corners of the earth and the twenty-eight seas and out of the air and the minds of men by the master artist, Fate, as she weaves the design that is never finished.

A thread from here, a thread from there, another from out of the past that has waited years for the companion thread, without which the picture must be incomplete.

But Fate is patient. She waits a hundred or a thousand years to bring together two strands of thread whose union is essential to the fabrication of her tapestry, to the composition of the design that was without beginning and is without end."

from Tarzan Triumphant - Prologue by Edgar Rice Burroughs

Imagination is the basis of hopes and dreams.

Dreams fade, they are whisked away in the shroud of morning mist and yet, life is born of dreams.

Dreams are the result of hopes and feelings. One cannot begin to realize a life, to really feel, to truly live without allowing dreams to be a part of your waking existence. You must submit, allow those feelings to manifest themselves, in whatever way God feels is appropriate.

Dreams are a foundation stone for living, when you are young and when you are older. They serve to sustain your life.

Dreams can come true and living out fantasies can often access those dreams.

Dreams can be achieved with dedication, determination, discipline and attitude.

The expressions of dreams can come true when you continue to reach beyond.

Children should be encouraged to develop goals, the hopes of the imaginative mind.

Encouragement and recognition develops strength of character.

"Pain, an ever anguishing feeling, never ending, often deep within your soul. Ever present in all your waking moments. Life is pain. Joy true but, pain. Laughter and happiness yes, still the soul and mind are racked with pain. It is a trial and aching of the spirit to live yet, you must. You are called to live because God made us to do so. We must, each one of us, rise to our individual calling and live. Live life to its' fullest, fighting the pain, the anguish, the torment, the self doubts, the guilts. We must push these aside, wash them away. The strength to live must come from the soul within. Deep within! Deeper than your thoughts have ever imagined you could reach and examine and draw upon your inner self. When you do, your desires, your passions will come together to fulfill your life with a peace and contentment, far overshadowing even the greatest of heartaches and pain." Feb. 14, 1994

"I've learned to see the pain as a good teacher. I've learned to consider the trials as paths to find God. I've learned that joy through Jesus can be felt even if you have tears in your eyes or cancer. I've learned that life is our best gift from God and we must not only exist but, live it." - Alina M. Panesiu

You should not attempt to pass through this life without goals.

There is no forward movement in life if you are simply waiting for something to occur.

Accomplishments come from daring to begin.

"Courage must come from the soul within. You must furnish the will to win. So, figure it out for yourself, my lad. You were born with all that the great have had. With your equipment they all began. Get hold of yourself and say, I CAN." - Hazel S. Clark

Reach for the moon. If you miss, you will at least catch a star.

Dedication to the task always produces successful steps toward your goals in life.

"It is difficult to say what is impossible, for the dream of yesterday is the hope of today and the reality of tomorrow." Robert H. Goddard - (David)

The best guide to measure success is how sincere you are toward reaching your goals.

Happiness is the satisfaction received from the successful results of hard work.

When the work is done, the play is more fun.

    THINKING

    "If you think you are beaten, you are.
    If you think you dare not, you don't.
    If you'd like to win but, think you can't,
    It's almost a cinch you won't

    If you think you'll lose, you're lost.
    For out in the world we find,
    Success begins with a fellow's will.
    It's all in the state of the mind.

    If you think you're outclassed, you are.
    You've got to think high to rise.
    You've got to be sure of yourself before,
    You can ever win a prize.

    Life's battles don't always go,
    To the stronger or faster man.
    Sooner or later the man who wins,
    Is the one who thinks he can."

    Walter D. Wintle

"Should you reach the point in life where you realize Jesus is all you have, then you will know, He is all you need." Rev. Paul T. Murphy, D.D.

Jesus Christ can make you what you can be.

"No man succeeds in everything he undertakes. In that sense we are all failures. The great point is not to fail in ordering and sustaining the effort of life. In this matter vanity is what leads us astray. It hurries us into situations from which we must come out damaged. Whereas pride is our safeguard by the reserve it imposes on the choice of our endeavor as much as by the virtue of its' sustaining power." - Joseph Conrad

"The way we talk to our children becomes their inner voice." - Peggy O'Mara - (Amy)

The reckless bravado of youth. Where does it lead?

"It's always 10:00 pm somewhere. Know where your children are." - Jack McCoy

CHAPTER 3

Mixing It Up

Maturity is a state of mind. Seldom achieved but, continually improved with knowledge and experience.

"It takes time." - "It's not that simple." Admonitions far too familiar to each of us. Pain of the heart and mind are greater than pain of your physical being could possibly be. The process, the waiting, the not knowing, the desire to communicate and yet, so much to learn.

Patience - Patience - Patience

"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials; knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience." James Ch 1 vs 2-3 NKJV - (Corey)

If you desire to excel you must accept the learning necessary to development. Development leads to refinement. You must continually sharpen your mind and the skills essential to maintaining a sound sense of direction.

Habits are developed and they can be changed. Change is necessary to seek and develop better ways to achieve your goals.

Reading is the pathway to knowledge.

"May I - Please - Thank You - I Am Sorry" The keys to heartfelt human relationships. They are also the keys to understanding God's will, which can only be expressed through prayer.

Too often we neglect the simple courtesies that can truly define our existence.

Positive thoughts justify smiles and smiles keep a happy heart.

Smile! It is the milk of the soul.

"You shouldn't frown because you never know who is falling in love with your smile." - Unknown

Allow yourself to become happy, to laugh and enjoy each waking moment.

Conformity, what is customary or traditional in society often restricts spontaneity. A youth's mind must have the freedom to be creative.

"Don't compromise yourself. You're all you've got." Janis Joplin

Has anyone ever tried to count the tears shed in happiness?

"The best thing for being sad is to learn something. That is the only thing that never fails. You may grow old and trembling in your anatomies, you may lie awake at night listening to the disorder of your veins, you may miss your only love, you may see the world about you devastated by evil lunatics or know your honor trampled in the sewers of baser minds. There is only one thing for it then—to learn.

Learn why the world wags and what wags it. That is the only thing which the mind can never exhaust, never alienate, never be tortured by, never fear or distrust and never dream of regretting. Learning is the thing for you. Look at what a lot of things there are to learn—pure science, the only purity there is. You can learn astronomy in a lifetime, natural history in three, literature in six. And then, after you have exhausted a million lifetimes in biology and medicine and theo-criticism and geography and history and economics, why, you can start to make a cartwheel out of the appropriate wood, or spend fifty years learning to begin to learn to beat your adversary at fencing. After that you can start again on mathematics until, it is time to learn to plough." Merlin, from The Once and Future King by T. H. White

School is the fun part of life. Reality follows graduation like a Mack truck barreling down the freeway. Then the challenges truly begin.

CHAPTER 4

Step By Step

Each of us think we know so well how life should be. It is not always necessary to attempt to change the pace. It can be far more rewarding to simply walk through, step by step.

There is a great deal to be said for tradition. The changes in society that have so influenced individual conduct and family lifestyles are far from traditions. True traditions are founded in the culture of a people and rooted in civilization.

It does not hurt to feel, to reach out and touch someone. You are reaching out and touching each time you interact with others, especially when extended with kindness. If the feeling is returned let it flow with a warmth and receptiveness and appreciation.

"Always show more kindness than seems necessary, because the person receiving it needs it more than you will ever know." Unknown - (Candace)

"Some people are worth melting for." Olaf, from the movie Frozen - (Ava)

What we say sets the stage for communication with everyone, especially in a relationship. It must be remembered, to often challenge another's feeling or opinion, eventually results in developing adversarial communications.

Two of the greatest dangers in effective communication is assuming and presuming. Unfortunately we are often pressed into this approach because of the customary manner in our society. And in doing so we unfairly and incorrectly form opinions of others' character and beliefs.

Accommodation and convenience are essential for friendship. Manipulation and efforts to control lack compatibility with friendship. Changing the individual is not required. Only to change the focus. Commitment without expectations.

The world does not revolve around control. Those who think it does or attempt to influence in this manner, only add to the turmoil and confusion in life.

It can be very disconcerting when you finally realize in life that manipulation and control are not the keys to human relations.

Being friendly leads to friendship and then, perhaps to being friends.

Friend, like love, is an often misused word. Both are precious and rare. We really have so few friends in this life. Rarely do we recognize what goes into the development of a friendship. When a relationship rises to the level of friendship it is to be treasured.

Occasionally these friendships surpass the bounds of conscious understanding and yes, then there is love.

Friendship is outward communication and conduct. More importantly it is thoughts and feelings, which must come from an open mind and heart.

You are a friend because of what you say, how you feel, what you do and share with another.

Friend is one with feeling, understanding, unspoken thoughts.

Friendship, a bonding sealed by the test of time.

Always needed, always there, always in need, never asked, never hesitant. Always! Always! Always!

Friend is like love. No one knows what it truly means. Only how it feels. And it is felt only by the one who receives.

Everyone needs a friend and Jesus is the best of friends.

When you recognize and acknowledge the Lord, you will find He was always there. To lift you up, to show you how and walk with you along the way.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." - Proverbs Ch 3 vs 5-6 NIV - (Amy Jo)

CHAPTER 5

Choices

God gave us life, a time in place, the will to choose. He only requested we set our pattern with His. We have the time God gave us to use, to share with others, those precious moments of our life and time. This is truly love. Then, only then is the essence of life achieved.

"This is a give and take world." - "Life is a give and take proposition." A means to suggest restraint and thereby put one off guard from facing the realities of life. If life can be reduced to platitudes such as these, then it should be more favorably formed to apply to, 'giving and sharing.'

You enter this world as an individual, in form and thought, walking along a chosen path, making decisions, living experiences.

We cannot help the way in which we were raised however, we can certainly make choices that will provide greater opportunities for us as we grow and for the family we choose to develop.

"The more you are like yourself, the less you are like anyone else, which makes you unique. The problem is people spend all of their lives emulating others, so we have lots of copies and very few originals." - Walt Disney

It is so easy to lash out and seek to find someone to blame for our frustrations. It is so wrong to do this, when we should be seeking daily to find ways to improve our own character and walk in life. Far too often we forget that our individual walk in life is the result of our own individual choices.

"He that has no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down and without walls."

Solomon - Proverbs 25 vs 28 - KJV

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds; because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance: Perseverance must finish its' work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything: If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault and it will be given to him: But, when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind." - James Ch 1 vs 2-6 NIV - (Brandon)

(Continues...)

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Excerpted from Live â" Laugh Love & Sincerely Smile Through It All by Ed Rhymer. Copyright © 2014 Ed Rhymer. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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Table of Contents

Contents

I Life's Beginning, 1,
II A Learning Curve, 6,
III Mixing It Up, 17,
IV Step By Step, 25,
V Choices, 31,
VI The Plunge, 44,
VII Reaching For The Stars, 59,
VIII The World Around Us, 69,
IX Drumbeats, 81,
X Then You Know, 96,