Inspiring poems by Helen Steiner Rice

Helen Steiner Rice is acclaimed as America's beloved inspirational poet laureate. She has inspired millions of people through her sensitive, loving verses. Her strong faith and belief in God sustained her thru life which was punctuated by tragedy. She lost her father during the 1918 flu epidemic. She and her husband suffered financially during the 1930s recession. Her husband committed suicide due to depression. But the seeds of her sorrow gave birth to some of her most uplifting verses.

Everyone Needs Someone

People need people and friends need friends,
And we all need love for a full life depends-
Not on vast riches or great acclaim,
Not on success or on worldy fame,
But just in knowing that someone cares,
And holds us close in their thoughts and prayers-
For only the knowledge that we're understood,
Makes everyday living feel wonderfully good,
And we rob ourselves of life's greatest need,
When we "lock up our hearts" and fail to heed,
The outstretched hand reaching to find,
A kindred spirit whose heart and mind,
Are lonely and longing to somehow share,
Our joys and sorrows and to make us aware,
That life's completeness and richness depends,
On the things we share with our loved ones and friends.

Prayers Can't Be Answered Unless They Are Prayed

Life without purpose is barren indeed
There can't be a harvest unless you plant seed
There can't be attainment unless there's a goal
And man's but a robot unless there's a soul
If we send no ships out, no ships will come in
And unless there's a contest, nobody can't win
For games can't be won unless they are played
And prayers can't be answered unless they are prayed.

So whatever is wrong with your life today
You'll find a solution if you kneel down and pray
Not just for pleasure, enjoyment and health
Not just for honors and prestige and wealth
But pray for a purpose to make life worth giving
And pray for the joy of unselfish giving
For great is your gladness and rich your reward
When you make your life's purpose the choice of the Lord.

Christian Alphabet

A lthough things are not perfect
B ecause of trial or pain
C ontinue in thanksgiving
D o not begin to blame.
E ven when the times are hard
F ierce winds are bound to blow
G od is forever able
H old on to what you know.
I magine life without His love
J oy would cease to be
K eep thanking Him for all the things
L ove imparts to thee.
M ove out of "Camp Complaining"
N o weapon that is known
O n earth can yield the power
P raise can do alone.
Q uit looking at the future
R edeem the time at hand
S tart every day with worship
T o "thank" is a command.
U ntil we see Him coming
V ictorious in the sky
W e'll run the race with gratitude
X alting God most high.
Y es, there will be good times and yes some will be bad, but...
Z ion waits in glory...where none are ever sad!

The shortest distance between a problem and a solution is the distance between your knees and the floor. The one who kneels to the Lord can stand up to anything. Be Blessed.

Five Basic Principles

Don't let someone become a priority in your life when you are just an option for them.

Never cry for any relation in life because for the one whom you cry does not deserve your tears and the one who deserves will never let you cry.

Treat everyone with politeness even those who are rude to you, not because they are not nice but because you are nice.

Never search your happiness in others which will make you feel alone, rather search it in yourself, you will feel happy even if you are left alone.

Happiness always looks small when we hold it in our hands but when we learn to share it, we realize how big and precious it is.

Life's not like that!

We've dealt a lot about what life is in the past. But how about what life is not and still get a positive outlook. Well here is a list of things that life is not about. I hope you can add some of yours...

Life is not just an existence, it's an opportunity to make a difference.

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

Life is not about finding yourself, Life is about Creating yourself.

Life's not like the movies. There's no script that says the good guys have to win.

Life's not like you imagine it as a child.

Life's not about staying on your feet. It's about getting up when you fall.

Life's not about fitting in; it's about standing out.

Life's not about expecting, hoping and wishing, it's about doing, being and becoming.

Life's not what you make it; it's what you make of it.

Life's not always fair. Sometimes you can get a splinter even sliding down a rainbow.

Life is not a problem to be solved but a reality to be experienced.

Everyday notes to enjoy life (11)

It's a new year. Bountiful blessings were showered to us last year. Either we caught some or not, we've had the opportunity. That alone is a good reason to be thankful.

To show a small gratitude to those who made the difference in our lives is quite admirable. Why not stop for a while and show a little appreciation to all those who have helped. Send a simple thank you note to them who have extended assistance and in some ways have provided comfort. But before everyone else, thank God for His wonderful blessings.

A Thread of Faith

Thomas is a very sinful man. Naturally, when he died his soul went straight to hell. That's the time he regreted all of what he's done. For he can no longer bear the torture, punishment and fire that's eating up his soul. He began to contemplate very hard on his sins. He began to pray. He prayed so hard and he prayed heartfully. And God was so merciful that he listened to Thomas' plea to get him out of hell.

God said, "Thomas, I'm giving you another chance. I'm going to drop a thread for you to hold on while I pull you out of that burning pit." And so God fulfilled His promise.

A very thin thread dropped from heaven. Thomas grabbed the thin thread and hold on to it. Suddenly, he is slowly being pulled up. Slowly, he is ascending through the piece of thin thread.

The other souls in hell noticed this and they immediately scrambled unto Thomas. They were frantically grabbing him from everywhere. His legs, his arms. They were all over him because everyone wants to be saved.

Thomas panicked. "You stupid fools, this thread won't hold all of us!" He shrieked. And in his furious effort to get rid of them, he kicked and swat and cursed everyone who grabbed him. That's when the thread snapped and they all fell down back to the burning pit.

Then God said, "Thomas, that very piece of thread was your faith and it wasn't strong enough to pull you out from your misery."

CNN's Top Ten Life-Affirming Movies

CNN,s The Screening Room lists the Top Ten Life-affirming movie moments.

1. It's A Wonderful Life(Frank Capra, 1946) "Remember, no man is a failure who has friends." Perennial Christmas favorite "It's A Wonderful Life" sees habitual do-gooder George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart) pulled back from the brink of despair by wannabe angel Clarence. As Bailey embraces his life with joy, it's his friend's final sign-off that draws a sentimental tear from even the most stone-hearted viewer.

2. Spartacus(Stanley Kubrick, 1960) After the battle, Crassus (Laurence Olivier) promises to spare the rebel slaves' lives if they give up Spartacus (Kirk Douglas). In a stirring response, knowing that they are condemning themselves to death by crucifixion, they each rise with a cry of "I am Spartacus!" One moment's freedom has never tasted so sweet.

3. Casablanca(Michael Curtiz, 1942) A tense frisson of resentment ripples through Rick's Bar as the boorish Nazi officers strike up in patriotic song. But a command from Lazlo (Paul Henreid), a nod from Rick (Humphrey Bogart), and a rousing chorus of the Marseillaise sees the hated occupiers put firmly back in their place.

4. The Shawshank Redemption(Frank Darabont, 1994) In the harsh conditions of Shawshank Penitentiary, Andy (Tim Robbins) seizes an opportunity to lock himself in an office and broadcast a Mozart aria over the PA system. The heavenly voices shine light into the darkest depths of despair, bringing humanity to a place where there is none.

5. Saving Private Ryan(Steven Spielberg, 1998) "James -- earn this. Earn it." As the gunfire pauses, Captain Miller (Tom Hanks) implores Private Ryan (Matt Damon) -- and, by proxy, us -- not to waste a drop of life: the greatest of gifts is too precious to be frittered away.

6. Blade Runner(Ridley Scott, 1982) Roy the replicant's deep humanity comes to the fore as his last moments slip away. Rutger Hauer's lines on life's fleeting nature -- "lost in time like tears in the rain" -- are both provocative and poignant: has he become more human than the people who seek to hunt him down?

7. American Beauty(Sam Mendes, 1999) "It's hard to stay mad when there's so much beauty in the world." Kevin Spacey's closing speech inspires us to look at the world around us with fresh eyes, from the flaws in our loved ones to plastic bags caught in the wind.

8. Silent Running(Douglas Trumbull, 1972) "Take good care of the forest, Huey." Renegade botanist Freeman Lowell (Bruce Dern) blasts the world's last remaining plant life into deep space, with only a robot to tend to it. A timely reminder of how one man's actions can preserve life and hope.

9. Dead Poets' Society(Peter Weir, 1989) Mr Keating (Robin Williams) inspires his young charges to seize the day and throw off the shackles of their privileged yet stuffy school. We challenge you not to feel a lump in your throat when Todd (played by a young Ethan Hawke) and his classmates stand on the desk in spirited tribute to their disgraced teacher.

10. Victory(John Huston, 1981) "Come on lads, we can win this one!" Ludicrous yet rousing, "Victory" pitted plucky British footballers, led by Michael Caine and fortified by Pele and Sly, against a dastardly German team in a high-profile game that's weighted against them. Their plot? To escape during half time. But who wants to flee midway when there's a match to be won? "Victoire! Victoire!" chant the crowd.

Allow Your Own Inner Light to Guide You

It's another new year. Most of us may have new goals set, new dreams to follow and new aspirations to achieve. I found the following very inspiring and encouraging.

Allow Your Own Inner Light to Guide You

There comes a time when you must stand alone.

You must feel confident enough within yourself to follow your own dreams.

You must be willing to make sacrifices.

You must be capable of changing and rearranging your priorities so that your final goal can be achieved.

Sometimes, familiarity and comfort need to be challenged.

There are times when you must take a few extra chances and create your own realities.

Be strong enough to at least try to make your life better.

Be confident enough that you won't settle for a compromise just to get by.

Appreciate yourself by allowing yourself the opportunities to grow, develop, and find your true sense of purpose in this life.

Don't stand in someone else's shadow when it's your sunlight that should lead the way.