Gratitude-People in My Life

Do you ever "get tired" of the people around you? I'm sure we all do in some way or form. Why? (e.g. "getting on your nerves") How can we change this "negative" attitude? Have you ever seen the recent anticipated movie..."Shrek 4: Forever After (FINAL CHAPTER)"?...

FULL HD NEW MOVIE TRAILER 2010

I just watched it yesterday (Friday, May 28th 2010) and had some deep reflections during, after, and still! I thought of not just my family, but the people (e.g. friends, church, community, co-workers, people that serve you in various ways, etc...) in my life. I'm continuing to learn that many of the people around me were put by God to "mold" me as a "better person". Sometimes, we "need to change" besides the person we "despise". Have you ever look at yourself and think that our "attitudes" toward some "annoying" individuals is because we "have our own issues" too? I "try" to pray and ask God to shape me more "like Him" daily, so I can be a "better" light or ambassador to the people He has put in my life. Also, another tip I just heard through one of my favorite local radio stations (KTIS 98.5 FM-Twin Cities) is to pray for those you "have problems with". God seems to soften your heart too to have more "grace" with that particular individual. Just try it, it has worked with me many times before.

Another similar related tip that I've blogged or written before is about changing your own perspective of people. No matter how much we "might not like" each other, I feel we can take something "positive" (e.g. characteristic) from one another. Instead of dwindling on the "negative" (e.g. personality) of the people "we get tired of", re-thing or change that attitude of that individual by reflecting on the "good".

Just like in the movie, "we won't appreciate what we got until their gone"!

Q: What are you going to do show your appreciation to that person(s) today, tomorrow, everyday??

more....GoodnewsEverybody.comBless-Thanksgiving, Thankful, etc..

Gratitude-Year of 2009 Reflection.... -Saturday, January 2nd of 2010

Happy New Year 2010! Woo hoo! Before I start sharing my personal goals for 2010, I would like to share what I'm very grateful to God for in 2009...rfir

Reflection of 2009

{Sals2009NewYearReflections.doc}

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Picture: Went snowboarding with some friends at Cougar-Tiger Hill in Morris, Minnesota on Sunday, December 20th of 2009

Happy New Year..2010!! Wow, what a year! What did you thought about 2009? Before we enter the "new year", I (Sal) would like to take some time to reflect on God's blessings of this past year. We sometimes easily forget what we did each year unless we STOP and think about what happened in our "busy" lives. During these holidays, I like to take advantage of the "break" and share with others "what happened in 2009"..

Prior to Christmas, I was making a slide show of 2009 for both my workplace (Stevens County D.A.C.) and my family back in St. Paul. I had a great time working on this video slide-show project as it helped me remember the great times this past year..

-January:
Attended my brother's birthday party at Lutsen Ski Resort by snowboarding.
-May:
It was my first time to visit Whapeton Zoo (Whapeton, Dakota), which some co-workers and I took (drove 1 hour NW from Morris, MN) some "clients" on a beautiful Sunday.
-July:
I got a week vacation to do a variety of activities (e.g. Dragon Festival at Lake Phalen and Ramsey County Fair) with family in St. Paul
-August:
Went to my first ever Minnesota Viking football training camp in Mankato, Minnesota. I went with a "client" from a group home I work part-time at. Unfortunately, Brett Farve was NOT a Viking...yet!
I joined some of my co-workers and clients to a Minnesota Twins baseball game, which would be my last baseball game at the Metrodome.
-September:
Got my ESL (English as a Second Language) Teaching Certificate after a 1-year of online courses through Hamline University (St. Paul, MN)
-November:
Went with my brother's family to the annual Hmong New Year at the River Centre in St. Paul
-December:
Saw "It's A Wonderful Life" for the first time (theatre presentation first at Glenwood, MN) and "many" great holiday gatherings (e.g. family in St. Paul during the BIG Winter Storm!

Picture: I shared this Human Rights Award with many "unnoticed" volunteers "making a difference" (e.g. working with our fairly large number of "mentally-physically challenged" population, teaching GED & ESL classes to help those in our "challenging" economy, reaching out to those in "lower-income levels", etc..) in the Morris area community, which I received from the City's Human Rights Commission on a "wintry" Tuesday (December 15th of 2009).

My New Year's Resolution is the same like every past years, which is to be more "Christ-like" (body, soul, and mind) with God's help....in my daily personal relationship (e.g. reading the Bible, prayer, fellowship, praising-worshiping, etc..)..Also, to be more of a "peacemaker" in all situations in my daily surroundings through 2010!

Overall, I'm very thankful for God, family, and friends (e.g. new ones I've made this past year)! What were you grateful for in 2009?...

http://www.angelfire.com/mn/saldapal/reflection.2009.html

Gratitude-2009 Thanksgiving Reflection: Job, Gifts, etc.. -Monday, November 23rd of 2009

Today (Monday, November 23rd 09'), I wanted to share my "early" 2009 Thanksgiving Reflection. I just came home from my job and had a reflection talk with a co-worker about being thankful to just having a job! I hear many stories of folks losing jobs due to the current economic situation, which some are going into poverty or homelessness. One must not take for granted with what they have as you hear/read about these unfortunate stories in our current day. After being "laid" off 2 years ago today at my current job, I feel more compassionate for folks that have lost their jobs as I can "somewhat" relate. I want to do everything that God has blessed me (e.g. education to "teach" others to get their GED through my weekly volunteering with others at the Morris Literacy Project) with to help those in these circumstances. I pray and hope that you can take some time during these "busy" holidays to reflect God's goodness. Also, to not just reflect on this for one day, the holidays, or whenever you feel "blessed" (e.g. your sports team won, saved money from coupons, won something, etc..) ; but show your gratitude (e.g. family, friends, food, clothing, shelter, etc...) "everyday" no matter what circumstances you are in. This can be easily done by helping (e.g. using your "God-given" gifts) others "less fortunate"-whatever God shows you individually! From a recent theme message at my local church the past two weeks, I'm learning from the ones "before us" in the Bible made many mistakes (e.g. jealousy, envy, covet, comparing oneself to others, etc...) we do today. Lastly, I'm very thankful for God giving (through the CROSS His Son-Jesus Christ that we may have life "abundantly" and "eternally". Have a blessed Thanksgiving Day, season, "everyday"!

What are your 2009 Thanksgiving thoughts...

http://bless.goodnewseverybody.com/thanksgiving.html

Gratitude-Thank You Lord..week reflection-Saturday, October 24th of 2009

Today (Saturday, October 24th of 2009) I was to just "Thank You Lord" for answering my recent prayer on a recent forecasted "severe" typhoon in the Philippines. I was reading the weather update last night that it was "sparing the Philippines a third disaster in less than a month. "-GMANews.TV..Halleluah..Praise the Lord!!...

DON MOEN "THANK YOU LORD"

I also want to thank the Lord for other prayers that were answered this past week. I caught a cold when visiting family this past weekend (visited an orchard in Stillwater, Minnesota) despite a beautiful warm day. I "Thank You Lord" for giving me some health wisdom and healing to get better. I'm not 100% recovered, but feel a lot better...just have to keep maintaining my healthy habits!! Also, the weather too in our area (west-central Minnesota) hasn't been friendly (especially for the farmers) as it has been raining a lot. I felt God answered many prayers to prolong the "dryer weather" on Tuesday, which it was forecasted to rain all day beginning early in the morning. It didn't really start till rain in the afternoon (3ish), which shows all of us to keep persevering in prayer!!

What would you like to "Thank You Lord" for this past week, month, season, year, life, etc.?

more...http://bless.goodnewseverybody.com/thanksgiving.html

Gratitude: Minnesota Twins AL Champs-Thankful on October 6th 2009

Woo..hoo! I'm thankful that my Minnesota Twins won the American League Central Division title today!! They beat the Detroit Tigers 6-5 in extra innings (#12)!! I was listening to it on the radio as I was able to do some computer projects. When they interviewed outfielder-Denard Span, he shared how he's thankful to God too! I wasn't surprised as he shared his faith at this annual event at the Metrodome during the summer...

Denard Span talking about his faith



"MN Twins outfielder Denard Span talking about his faith at KTIS '09 Faith and Family Night "


Praise God..Halleluah! Way to give credit to the Creator-Heavenly Father!! May God bless him and the rest of his team in the up-coming AL Wild Card playoffs. Wow, I was wondering when that game was going to end! Great job! Next..the Yankees!

Q: You may not be a "celebrity" or "sports star", but how do you give glory to your God-Heavenly Father-Creator in your everyday work-lifestyle?


more..
http://twinsbaseball.goodnewsminnesota.info/2009.html

Gratitude: Typhoon Diverted-Answer to prayer! Thankful on Monday, October 5th of 2009

Wow, I just want to give you an updated of the many prayers that were circulated around the world for this past weekend typhoon (2nd in a week+) in the Philippines. Many forecasters predicted this was going to be "deadlier" and more "devastating". This probably encouraged folks to "pray more"! Well, I feel it worked and I'm here to share this, so we will not forget God's goodness and grace! Thanks for everybody that prayed and I want to encourage you all to continue to do this. I don't want anybody to go back in living their lives the same "routine" again after this. Instead, I pray that this will encourage you to live your life more "to the fullest" and seek God on how you can do this. Life is very precious and tragedies like this one and others recently (e.g. tsunami that hit Samoa, earthquake that hit Indonesia, etc..) should make all of us "refocus" on how we live our lives (e.g. forgive one another because we don't know when we'll be our turn to leave this place, hug your love ones, don't take our "everyday" God's blessings for granted, etc..)

Please continue to pray for the relief efforts too! Here is one of many...

Samaritan's Purse , Franklin Graham

" Help Typhoon Victims in Southeast Asia
Tuesday, September 29, 2009 8:19 PM
From: "Samaritan's Purse Update from Franklin Graham"
To: "Mr. Sal Monteagudo"
Killer Typhoon Batters Southeast Asia

Dear Friend,

Hundreds of thousands of people are homeless and in dire need of food, shelter, clean water, and medical care after Typhoon Ketsana ripped across the Philippines and Vietnam. Torrential rains caused massive flooding and landslides that swamped entire communities and killed more than 300 people.

In Manila, the Philippine capital, the storm dumped about 16 inches of rain—an entire month's worth—in just six hours. Nearly 400,000 people have sought shelter in schools, churches, and other evacuation centers. The typhoon gathered strength as it crossed the South China Sea and inflicted extensive damage to homes and crops when it made landfall in Vietnam.

I have ministered in these countries many times over the years, and Samaritan's Purse has a strong presence in this region. Our staff and local church partners are working hard to bring desperately needed assistance to storm victims. As caring Christians meet physical needs in the Name of Jesus, we are earning a hearing for the life-changing Gospel. Our response in the coming days is crucial. Without adequate food and other basic necessities, those most vulnerable people-women, children, and the elderly-can quickly fall prey to malnutrition and disease.

To learn more about this disaster and what we are doing to help, click here.

Please pray for the victims of this typhoon and for our teams as they share the eternal comfort and hope that we have in Christ.

We ask for your prayers and your financial support (click here to donate), as we work to meet the growing emergency needs of people in the Philippines and Vietnam.

Sincerely,

Franklin Graham
President, Samaritan's Purse"

HELP Hagupit Bagyo Ondoy Typhoon Storm @ Philippines



more..
http://asian.goodnewseverybody.com/filipino.html

Gratitude: Relatives Safety in Recent typhoon in the Philippines-Monday, September 28th of 2009

I'm just thankful that my relatives are "alive" and "safe" with the recent deadly typhoon ("Ondoy") this past weekend in the Philippines. I didn't know how serious ("deadly" and "catastrophic") it was until I read the headline while checking my e-mail this afternoon when I got home from work. When my mom told me that her relatives (dad side unknown yet) are "alive" and "safe", I was very grateful. My mom told me that a couple of our relatives had some "water issues", but I'm just thankful and "bless" (see CNN article down below) they are "ok" as "things can always be replaced, but lives cannot"!

140 die in Philippine storm, toll expected to rise, from news.yahoo.com Monday, September 28th of 2009
Philippines flood survivors count blessings, from cnn.com Monday, September 28th of 2009
"...Still, Lim, 28, is counting her blessings. Her power is back on and she believes she can salvage most of her furniture. In addition, people she knows are still searching for missing friends and relatives in the flooding....
The floodwaters were beginning to subside in some areas Monday after a weekend that saw Manila hit with torrential rainfall caused by Typhoon Ketsana, which has since strengthened into a typhoon. Officials said the Philippine capital saw its heaviest rain in more than four decades. The water swallowed whole houses and buses. At least 140 people are dead, officials say...
"Right now the challenge is to find out how many people have actually died and how many people we have to take care of in terms of people who've been displaced," said Richard Gordon, the chairman of the Philippines National Red Cross. He estimated up to 300,000 people have been displaced on the island of Luzon alone...

Philippine Flood Typhoon Ondoy UERMMC footage, September 26, 2009



Please keep the Filipino people in prayer as they are expecting some more rain with the latest forecast.

Any similar stories, prayer requests, etc.. from this typhoon or related "natural disasters" out there?

more..
http://asian.goodnewseverybody.com/filipino.html