Motivational Thoughts

pineapple

2013-05-20T18:25:00.002-07:00

The pineapple is a member of the bromeliad family.

It is extremely rare that bromeliads produce edible fruit. The pineapple is the only available edible bromeliad today.

It is a multiple fruit. One pineapple is actually made up of dozens of individual floweret's that grow together to form the entire fruit. Each scale on a pineapple is evidence of a separate flower.

Pineapples stop ripening the minute they are picked. No special way of storing them will help ripen them further. Colour is relatively unimportant in determining ripeness. Choose your pineapple by smell.If it smells fresh, tropical and sweet, it will be a good fruit.

The more scales on the pineapple, the sweeter and juicier the taste. After you cut off the top, you can plant it. It should grow much like a sweet potato will.

This delicious fruit is not only sweet and tropical; it also offers many benefits to our health. Pineapple is a remarkable fruit.

We find it enjoyable because of its lush, sweet and exotic flavor, but it may also be one of the most healthful foods available today.

If we take a more detailed look at it, we will find that pineapple is valuable for easing indigestion, arthritis or sinusitis.

The juice has an anthelmintic effect; it helps get rid of intestinal worms.

Let's look at how pineapple affects other conditions.

Pineapple is high in manganese, a mineral that is critical to development of strong bones and connective tissue. A cup of fresh pineapple will give you nearly 75% of the recommended daily amount.

It is particularly helpful to older adults, whose bones tend to become brittle with age.

Bromelain, a proteolytic enzyme, is the key to pineapple's value.

Proteolytic means "breaks down protein", which is why pineapple is known to be a digestive aid. It helps the body digest proteins more efficiently.

Bromelain is also considered an effective anti-inflammatory.

Regular ingestion of at least one half cup of fresh pineapple daily is purported to relieve painful joints common to osteoarthritis. It also produces mild pain relief.

In Germany , bromelain is approved as a post-injury medication because it is thought to reduce inflammation and swelling.

Orange juice is a popular liquid for those suffering from a cold because it is high in Vitamin C. Fresh pineapple is not only high in this vitamin, but because of the Bromelain, it has the ability to reduce mucous in the throat.

If you have a cold with a productive cough, add pineapple to your diet.

It is commonly used in Europe as a post-operative measure to cut mucous after certain sinus and throat operations.

Those individuals who eat fresh pineapple daily report fewer sinus problems related to allergies. In and of itself, pineapple has a very low risk for allergies.

Pineapple is also known to discourage blood clot development. This makes it a valuable dietary addition for frequent fliers and others who may be at risk for blood clots.

An old folk remedy for morning sickness is fresh pineapple juice. it really works! Fresh juice and some nuts first thing in the morning often make a difference.

It's also good for a healthier mouth. The fresh juice discourages plaque growth.

DO SHARE THIS INFORMATIVE ARTICLE!!

You must read this.....................................................!

2013-05-11T05:01:00.001-07:00

WORTH READING!!!!!

A letter from the Post Office... This is absolutely the best!!
We don't know who replied, but there is a beautiful soul working in the dead letter section of the US Post Office...

Our 14-year-old dog Abbey died last month. The day after she passed away my 4-year-old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey. She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her.

I told her that I thought we could so, and she dictated these words:

Dear God,

Will you please take care of my dog?

She died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I'm happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick. I hope you will play with her. She likes to swim and play with balls.

I am sending a picture of her so when you see her you will know that she is my dog. I really miss her.

Love,

Meredith

We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey & Meredith, addressed it to God/Heaven. We put our return address on it.
Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven.

That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office.

A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet.

I told her that I thought He had.

Yesterday there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, 'To Meredith' in an unfamiliar hand.

Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, 'When a Pet Dies.' Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey & Meredith and this note:

Dear Meredith,
Abbey arrived safely in heaven. Having the picture was a big help and I recognized her right away. Abbey isn't sick anymore.
Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart. Abbey loved being your dog.
Since we don't need our bodies in heaven, I don't have any pockets to keep your picture in so I'm sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by.
Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you.
I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much.
By the way, I'm easy to find. I am wherever there is love.
Love,
GOD

not a joke ................MAY SAVE A LIFE !!!!

2013-05-09T17:55:00.002-07:00

Pretty neat idea. Never thought of it before.

Put your car keys beside your bed at night.

Tell your spouse, your children, your neighbors, your parents, your Dr's office, the check-out girl at the market, everyone you run across. Put your car keys beside your bed at night.

If you hear a noise outside your home or someone trying to get in your house, just press the panic button for your car. The alarm will be set off, and the horn will continue to sound until either you turn it off or the car battery dies.

This tip came from a neighborhood watch coordinator. Next time you come home for the night and you start to put your keys away, think of this: It's a security alarm system that you probably already have and requires no installation. Test it. It will go off from most everywhere inside your house and will keep honking until your battery runs down or until you reset it with the button on the key fob chain. It works if you park in your driveway or garage.

If your car alarm goes off when someone is trying to break into your house, odds are the burglar/rapist won't stick around. After a few seconds, all the neighbors will be looking out their windows to see who is out there and sure enough the criminal won't want that. And remember to carry your keys while walking to your car in a parking lot. The alarm can work the same way there. This is something that should really be shared with everyone. Maybe it could save a life or a sexual abuse crime.

P.S. I am sending this to everyone I know because I think it is fantastic. Would also be useful for any emergency, such as a heart attack, where you can't reach a phone. My Mom has suggested to my Dad that he carry his car keys with him in case he falls outside and she doesn't hear him. He can activate the car alarm and then she'll know there's a problem.

"People do not behave in isolation from others but in relation to others" Alfred Adler

2013-05-05T08:27:00.000-07:00

Scroll all the way down. . .

IT IS WHAT IT IS"...

"People do not behave in isolation from others but in relation to others" Alfred Adler

HOW TO STAY YOUNG

1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay 'them'

2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.

3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. 'An idle mind is the devil's workshop..' And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.

4. Enjoy the simple things.

5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.

6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.

7. Surround yourself with what you love , whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge .

8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county; to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is.

10. Tell the people you love that you love them , at every opportunity.

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

And if you don't send this to at least 8 people - who cares?

Worry about nothing, pray about everything !

TEST ........................!

2013-04-21T03:48:00.003-07:00

Wow! I've seen this with the letters out of order, but this is the first time I've seen it with numbers.

Good example of a Brain Study: If you can read this OUT LOUD you have a strong mind.

And better than that: Alzheimer?s is a long, long, ways down the road before it ever gets anywhere near you.

NO PROBLEM HERE

7H15 M3554G3
53RV35 7O PR0V3
H0W 0UR M1ND5 C4N
D0 4M4Z1NG 7H1NG5!
1MPR3551V3 7H1NG5!
1N 7H3 B3G1NN1NG
17 WA5 H4RD BU7
N0W, 0N 7H15 LIN3
Y0UR M1ND 1S
R34D1NG 17
4U70M471C4LLY
W17H 0U7 3V3N
7H1NK1NG 4B0U7 17,
B3 PROUD! 0NLY
C3R741N P30PL3 C4N
R3AD 7H15.
PL3453 F0RW4RD 1F
U C4N R34D 7H15.

To my 'selected' strange-minded friends:

If you can read the following paragraph, forward it on to your friends and the person that sent it to you with 'yes' in the subject line. Only great minds can read this. This is weird, but interesting!

If you can raed this, you have a sgtrane mnid, too.

Can you raed this? Olny 55 plepoe out of 100 can. I cdnuolt blveiee that I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd what I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in what oerdr the ltteres in a word are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is that the frsit and last ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can still raed it whotuit a pboerlm. This is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the word as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? Yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt! If you can raed this forwrad it

FORWARD ONLY IF YOU CAN READ IT
Forward it & put 'YES' in the Subject Line

Even if you are not old, you will find this interesting...

This is NOT a joke. If you were able to pass these tests, you can cancel your annual visit to your neurologist. Your brain is great and you're far from having a close relationship with Alzheimer..

PONDERING LIFE......

2013-04-14T10:52:00.002-07:00

PONDERING LIFE......

As I was lying in bed pondering the problems of the world,I rapidly realized that I don't really give a rat's ass. It's the tortoise life for me!

1 If walking is good for your health, the postman would be immortal.

2 A whale swims all day, only eats fish, drinks water, and is fat.

3 A rabbit runs and hops and only lives 15 years.

4 A tortoise doesn't run and does nothing, yet it lives for 450 years.

And you tell me to exercise?? I don't think so.

I'm retired. Go around me.

God grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked, the good fortune to run into the ones I do, and the eyesight to tell the difference.

Now that I'm older here's what I've discovered:

1. I started out with nothing, and I still have most of it.
2. My wild oats have turned into prunes and all-bran.
3. I finally got my head together, and now my body is falling apart.
4. Funny, I don't remember being absent-minded.
5. Funny, I don't remember being absent-minded.
6. If all is not lost, where is it?
7. It is easier to get older than it is to get wiser.
8. Some days, you're the dog; some days you're the hydrant.
9. I wish the buck stopped here; I sure could use a few.
10. Kids in the back seat cause accidents.
11. Accidents in the back seat cause kids.
12. It's hard to make a comeback when you haven't been anywhere.
13. The only time the world beats a path to your door is when you're in the bathroom.
14. If God wanted me to touch my toes, he'd have put them on
my knees.
15. When I'm finally holding all the cards, why does everyone want to play chess?
16. Its not hard to meet expenses . . . they're everywhere.
17. The only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth.
18. These days, I spend a lot of time thinking about the hereafter . . .I go somewhere to get something, and then wonder what I'm hereafter

19. Funny, I don't remember being absent-minded.
20. DID I SEND THESE TO YOU BEFORE..........??????

Boeing 747

2013-04-14T10:49:00.000-07:00

http://www.funonthenet.in/articles/boeing-747-8.html

A 12 year old paints Heaven

2013-04-14T10:24:00.001-07:00

A 12 year old paints Heaven

Makes one pause, and reflect!!

Some of her art work is at Mardel and is so beautiful it takes your breath away

If you read the book 'Heaven is for Real,' this is the little girl who was talked about in the book

and her rendition of Christ. Every time the little boy in the book saw a picture of Christ, his folks

would ask him if the pictures he saw actually looked like Christ. He would always say no until he

saw Akianes picture of Christ, then he said this is what Christ looks like.

After you scroll through

her artwork there is a video at the end.

This artist is lovely and her work is gorgeously spiritual.

Click on this site:

http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/prodigy.html

Akiane was born in 1994

Student's fatal text . . . . . . . . . . . . . .( stop texting while driving )

2013-04-11T18:13:00.002-07:00

Parents: Student's fatal text serves as warning

Greeley Police via AP

University of Northern Colorado student Alexander Heit was typing to an unidentified person when police say he lost control of his car and ran off the road.

Alexander Heit's final text cut off in mid-sentence.
Before he could send it, police say, the 22-year-old University of Northern Colorado student drifted into oncoming traffic, jerked the steering wheel and went off the road, rolling his car.
Heit died shortly after the April 3 crash, but his parents and police are hoping the photo of the mundane text on his iPhone will serve as a stark reminder to drivers.
The photo, published Wednesday in The Greeley Tribune, shows Heit was responding to a friend by typing "Sounds good my man, seeya soon, ill tw" before he crashed.
Witnesses told police that Heit appeared to have his head down when he began drifting into the oncoming lane in the outskirts of Greeley, where the University of Northern Colorado is located. According to police, an oncoming driver slowed and moved over just before Heit looked up and jerked the steering wheel.
Police say Heit, a Colorado native who loved hiking and snowboarding, had a spotless driving record and wasn't speeding.
In a statement released through police, Heit's mother said she doesn't want anyone else to lose someone to texting while driving.
"In a split second you could ruin your future, injure or kill others, and tear a hole in the heart of everyone who loves you," Sharon Heit said.
Associated Press.

Inner Peace: This is so true

2013-04-08T18:41:00.000-07:00

Inner Peace: This is so true

If you can start the day without caffeine,

If you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains,

If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles,

If you can eat the same food every day and be grateful for it,

If you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any time,

If you can take criticism and blame without resentment,
If you can conquer tension without medical help,

If you can relax without alcohol,
If you can sleep without the aid of drugs,

Then You Are Probably The Family Dog!

And you thought I was going to get all spiritual...

BRAIN AGE

2013-04-07T21:07:00.003-07:00

Subject: Brain Age Activities---Challenging. . .

Check if your stress is affecting your age.

READ AND START THE TEST

Measure your brain age in 2 minutes by playing some fun games. If your final score is younger than your actual age, then you are doing enough brain exercise for your brain... If you score higher than your age, then you need to exercise your brain more...
Click your mouse here to play: Brain Age

The Vatican

2013-04-03T17:57:00.005-07:00

This is just amazing!! Click on the building number to view the room. Be sure to negotiate (move) the mouse slowly you can view the entire room, including the ceiling..... The music is just beautiful.
The Vatican you have never seen before !
Turn volume on.. Go around the rooms with your mouse and don't miss the ceiling!

INSTRUCTIONS: After you link on the site below and select an image and it appears, then:
HOLD DOWN THE LEFT MOUSE BUTTON AND SLOWLY MOVE THE CURSOR AROUND THE ROOM. You can also zoom in.

http://www.vatican.va/various/basiliche/san_giovanni/vr_tour/index-en.html <http://www.vatican.va/various/basiliche/san_giovanni/vr_tour/index-en.html>

HINDUISM

2013-03-31T16:21:00.000-07:00

bout 80 percent of India's population regard themselves as Hindus and 30 million more Hindus live outside of India. There are a total of 900 million Hindus worldwide, making Hinduism the third largest religion (after Christianity and Islam).
The term "Hinduism" includes numerous traditions, which are closely related and share common themes but do not constitute a unified set of beliefs or practices.
Hinduism is thought to have gotten its name from the Persian word hindu, meaning "river," used by outsiders to describe the people of the Indus River Valley. Hindus themselves refer to their religion as sanatama dharma, "eternal religion," and varnasramadharma, a word emphasizing the fulfillment of duties (dharma) appropriate to one's class (varna) and stage of life (asrama).
Hinduism has no founder or date of origin. The authors and dates of most Hindu sacred texts are unknown. Scholars describe modern Hinduism as the product of religious development in India that spans nearly four thousand years, making it the oldest surviving world religion. Indeed, as seen above, Hindus regard their religion as eternal (sanatama).
Hinduism is not a homogeneous, organized system. Many Hindus are devoted followers of Shiva or Vishnu, whom they regard as the only true God, while others look inward to the divine Self (atman). But most recognize the existence of Brahman, the unifying principle and Supreme Reality behind all that is.
Most Hindus respect the authority of the Vedas (a collection of ancient sacred texts) and the Brahmans (the priestly class), but some reject one of both of these authorities. Hindu religious life might take the form of devotion to God or gods, the duties of family life, or concentrated meditation. Given all this diversity, it is important to take care when generalizing about "Hinduism" or "Hindu beliefs."
The first sacred writings of Hinduism, which date to about 1200 BC, were primarily concerned with the ritual sacrifices associated with numerous gods who represented forces of nature. A more philosophical focus began to develop around 700 BC, with the Upanishads and development of the Vedanta philosophy. Around 500 BC, several new belief systems sprouted from Hinduism, most significantly Buddhism and Jainism.
In the 20th century, Hinduism began to gain popularity in the West. Its different worldview and its tolerance for diversity in belief made it an attractive alternative to traditional Western religion. Although there are relatively few western converts to Hinduism, Hindu thought has influenced the West indirectly by way of religious movements like Hare Krishna and New Age, and even more so through the incorporation of Indian beliefs and practices (such as the chakra system and yoga) in books and seminars on health and spiritualit

A variety of Hindu symbols are used in art, sacred objects and ritual. They usually signify Hindu concepts, the attributes of deities, or the gods or goddesses themselves. This section explains the history, meaning and use of some common Hindu symbols. For things that may have a symbolic meaning but are mainly important as a concrete object, see Hindu Things.

meaning of name

Hinduism, from the Persian hindu (Sanskrit sindhu), literally "river." Means "of the Indus Valley" or simply "Indian." Hindus call their religion sanatama dharma,"eternal religion" or "eternal truth."

date founded

Earliest forms date to 1500 BC or earlier

place founded

India

founder

none

adherents

900 million

size rank

third largest in the world

main location

India, also United Kingdom and United States

major sects

Saivism, Vaisnavism, Saktism

sacred texts

Vedas, Upanishads, Sutras, Bhagavad Gita

original language

Sanskrit

spiritual leader

guru or sage

place of worship

temple or home shrine

theism

pantheism with polytheistic elements (see Is Hinduism Polytheistic?)

ultimate reality

Brahman

human nature

in bondage to ignorance and illusion, but able to escape

purpose of life

to attain liberation (moksa) from the cycle of reincarnation

how to live

order life according to the dharma

afterlife

if karma unresolved, soul is born into a new body; if karma resolved, attain moksa (liberation)

major holidays

Mahashivarati (mid-February)
Holi (Spring)
Ramnavami (late March)
Dusserah (early November)
Diwali (mid-November)

Modern Hinduism is divided into four major devotional sects: Vaishnavism, Shaivism, Shaktism, and Smartism. Vaishnavism and Shaivism are generally regarded as monotheistic sects: each believes in one supreme God, who is identified as Vishnu in Vaishnavism and Shiva in Shaivism.

Vaishnavism, Shaivism and Shaktism are the most prevalent Hindu sects; among these, Vaishnavism is the largest. The devotional sects do not generally regard other sects as rivals, and each sect freely borrows beliefs and practices from others.

In addition to the four theistic sects, there are six schools of Vedantic philosophy within Hinduism. These schools tend to emphasize Ultimate Reality as Brahman, the great "Self" who must be realized to attain liberation.

The six Astika (orthodox; accepting the authority of the Vedas) schools of Hindu philosophy are Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Samkhya, Yoga, Purva Mimamsa (also called just 'Mimamsa'), and Uttara Mimamsa (also called 'Vedanta'). Of these six, three continue to be influential in Hinduism: Purva Mimamsa, Yoga, and Vedanta.

Click on the links below for more information on each of these sects and schools of Hinduism.

Four Theistic/Devotional Sects of Hinduism

Vaishnavism
Shaivism
Shaktism
Smartism

Six Philosophical Schools of Hinduism

Yoga
Purva Mimamsa (Mimamsa)
Uttara Mimamsa (Vedanta)
Nyaya
Vaisheshika
Samkhya

· Hinduism embraces a great diversity of beliefs, a fact that can be initially confusing to westerners accustomed to creeds, confessions, and carefully-worded belief statements. One can believe a wide variety of things about God, the universe and the path to liberation and still be considered a Hindu.

· This attitude towards religious belief has made Hinduism one of the more open-minded religions when it comes to evaluating other faiths. Probably the most well-known Hindu saying about religion is: "Truth is one; sages call it by different names."

· However, there are some beliefs common to nearly all forms of Hinduism that can be identified, and these basic beliefs are generally regarded as boundaries outside of which lies either heresy or non-Hindu religion. These fundamental Hindu beliefs include: the authority of the Vedas (the oldest Indian sacred texts) and the Brahmans (priests); the existence of an enduring soul that transmigrates from one body to another at death (reincarnation); and the law of karma that determines one's destiny both in this life and the next.

· Note that a specific belief about God or gods is not considered one of the essentials, which is a major difference between Hinduism and strictly monotheistic religions like Christianity, Judaism, Islam and Sikhism. Most Hindus are devoted followers of one of the principal gods Shiva, Vishnu or Shakti, and often others besides, yet all these are regarded as manifestations of a single Reality.

· The ultimate goal of all Hindus is release (moksha) from the cycle of rebirth (samsara). For those of a devotional bent, this means being in God's presence, while those of a philosophical persuasion look forward to uniting with God as a drop of rain merges with the sea.

· Authority of the Vedas and Brahmans

· The authority of the ancient scriptures known as the Vedas as well as that of the priests known as the Brahmans are two concepts that are fundamental to Hinduism and differentiate the faith from Buddhism and Jainism.

· Brahman: Ultimate Reality

· Most Hindus venerate one or more deities, but regard these as manifestations of Ultimate Reality. So who, or what, is the Ultimate Reality that is behind the universe and all the gods? In the Rig Veda, it is referred to as "the One." In the Purushasukta, it is given the name "Purusha," and in the Upanishads it is called "Brahman," "the One," and several other names.

· Karma

· The Sanskirt word karma means "actions" and refers to the fundamental Hindu principle that one's moral actions have unavoidable and automatic effects on one's fortunes in this life and condition of rebirth in the next.

· Polytheism?

· Hinduism is a decidedly theistic religion, but it can be difficult to determine whether it is a polytheistic, pantheistic, or even monotheistic religion. Of course, this is chiefly a western question: the Indian mind is much more inclined to regard divergent views as complementary rather than competing.

· Purpose of Life

· In Hinduism, there is not just one purpose of human life, but four: Dharma - fulfilling one's purpose; Artha - prosperity; Kama - desire, sexuality, enjoyment; and Moksha - enlightenment.

Transform Your Thoughts, Transform Your Life

2013-03-30T08:15:00.001-07:00

Transform Your Thoughts, Transform Your Life

by Bo Sanchez

(Note from me: this is amusingly brilliant, you wouldn't want to miss this)

Do you want to change your life?

It all starts with thinking God’s thoughts. Transformation starts with the renewing of your mind. (See Romans 12:2)

I believe God has a great plan for your life. He wants to pour greatness in you. But God cannot put great things into a small mind.

When your mind is small, you cannot think great things. You need to enlarge your mind. Enlarge your thinking. You need to think God’s thoughts for you to experience God’s things.

Your thinking is so important, because whoever wins in the battlefield of your mind will win in the battlefield of your life…

The Bible says, For as he thinks in his heart, so is he…

Thoughts Are Things

Quantum Physics says everything is energy. The ground that you’re standing on, the chair you’re sitting on, the sky above, even your human body—all these are really bundles of vibrating energy. A solid brick wall—in its subatomic level—isn’t solid at all, but largely empty space filled with energy.

And here’s the shocking part. Quantum physics says thoughts are also energy. Scientists say there’s really no big difference between a thing and a thought. In one very real sense, thoughts are things. That’s why thoughts are powerful.

Today, I’ll talk about how your thoughts create your reality; How your thoughts create your destiny.

Here’s the truth: You’re a product of your thoughts. You are who you are because of the thoughts you’ve allowed to fill your mind.

If you transform your thoughts, you transform your life.

A Shocking Story

Let me tell you a true story.

Many years ago, after giving a talk, a Filipina and an American walked up to me. I’ll call them David and Bathsheba. (In a minute, you’ll know why I chose these fictional names.) They acted like they were a couple. But there was something odd about them.

Not only because David was American and Bathsheba was Filipina. It was also because David was tall, handsome, and young. But Bathsheba was not so tall, not so young, and not so beautiful. And believe me, I’m being very kind when I describe her in this way. If I wasn’t kind, then I’d describe her as really short, really old, and really ugly. But I won’t say that. (Although I already did. But imagine I didn’t.)

As I looked at them, I was guessing the guy was 26, at most 28, and the woman was 42.

Bathsheba was the first to speak. She said, “Brother Bo, I love your talk on God’s Love. I can identify. Can I share our story with you?”

You can imagine I was all ears. We sat down and she started talking.

Bathsheeba said, “I was a prostitute in Olongapo. I was a prostitute for 20 years. I have two kids from two different fathers. Prostitution was the only way I knew to feed my children. But I was so tired of what I was doing, one day, while I was at home, I knelt down. I prayed, ‘Lord, I’m going to ask something that seems impossible. I’m ugly. I’m a prostitute. I’ve got two kids from two different fathers. But I need you to rescue me. Please give me a husband. And if possible, give me an American…’”

I wanted to tell her, “Lady, you’ve got guts.”

“Can I continue the story, Sweetheart?” David interrupted.

“Of course, Darling,” Bathsheba smiled.

“At that exact time,” David said, “I was walking on the street when I noticed a house with an open door. I looked through the doorway, and I saw this woman kneeling down, crying. As I looked at her, I began to cry too. I didn’t know why I was crying. I walked through the door. And I noticed,

Brother Bo, that the woman was very beautiful…”

I wanted to say, “Are we talking of… uh, her? Or did your tears, uh you know, block your vision?”

Obviously, I didn’t say that. I just nodded my head, realizing once again there are certain mysteries in the world that we cannot solve. The Bermuda Triangle. The Prophecies of Nostradamus. And why David calls this woman beautiful.

David went on. “I introduced myself. We started talking, we started dating, and 6 months later, we got married!”

“Miracles happen,” I said.

“Tomorrow,” Bathsheba said, “we’re all going to the States. He’ll be introducing me to his parents.”

I wanted to say, “God have mercy on you.” My goodness, those parents will need extra-strength grace!

Why I Tell You The Story

Even if this happened many years ago, I’ll never been able to forget this story. I share with you this story not to teach single women to pray with their door open, in the hope that a potential husband will pass by. That’s not the point and what happened to Bathsheba was absolutely strange.

I share you this story to tell you about the power of thoughts. Let me ask you. Was Bathsheba ugly or beautiful?

To everyone else, she was ugly. People called her ugly. People mocked her on the street. Being a prostitute was bad enough. What was worse than a prostitute was an old prostitute selling her old body at 85% discount. Even to herself, she was ugly.

But one day, someone walks into her life and says, “You’re beautiful.”

What is reality? Reality is essentially a product of our thoughts. Imagine if you think God’s thoughts?

Right now, you may be like Bathsheeba. You feel ugly. You don’t like yourself. And other people don’t like you too. But I’m here to tell you that God thinks you’re amazing. God thinks you’re beautiful. And that “shift of thought” will transform your life forever.

When you think God’s thoughts, three huge things will happen.

The first thing that will change will be…

1. How You Think About Yourself

It reminds me of another David…

When God was looking for the next King of Israel, God asked Samuel the priest, “I’m choosing a King from the sons of Jesse of Bethlehem.”

So Samuel visited the house of Jesse. “Where are your sons?” the priest asked Jesse. And so the old man called his sons to line up in front of the Prophet. The eldest was Eliab. The Bible describes Eliab was tall, with the body of a body-builder, and good-looking. In other words, he looked like a king.

But God told Samuel, “Not this one.”

I’m sure Jesse was a little bit disappointed. He called his next son to stand in front of Samuel.

And God told the priest, “Not this one either.”

Jesse called the next one. And the next one. And the next one. For every single one of them, Samuel heard God tell him, “Not this one.”

Samuel was confused. So he asked Jesse, “You’ve shown me your seven sons?”

“Yes,” Jesse said, “my seven sons are in front of you now.”

Samuel asked him, “Don’t you have any other sons?”

Jesse said, “I do have one more son. But he’s just a boy. He’s out with the sheep…”

In other words, David was the runt. The youngest. The gofer. The errand boy. Uneducated. Untrained. Rough. Filthy. Smelly. With calluses on his hands, mud on his feet, and sand on his hair. And he doesn’t wear the right clothes. What Jesse really wanted to say was, “Why bother looking at him? You wouldn’t like him.”

But Samuel said, “Call him anyway.”

He was called. The boy stood in front of Samuel. And God told Samuel, “This is the guy I’m choosing to be King.”

Think about it. David’s father didn’t admire him. His brothers thought he was a pest. But that’s because they were looking at him thinking their thoughts. They weren’t thinking God’s thoughts.

Today, people around you may overlook you. People around you may take you for granted. And if people notice you, they only notice if you’ve done wrong. How you’ve failed. How you’ve messed up. How you fell flat on your face.

But God thinks about you differently.

He doesn’t major in your mess. He majors in your magnificence. He doesn’t focus on your fumbles. He focuses on your fabulousness.

Read the Bible and you see this exact thing happening again and again.

God called Gideon a mighty man of valor when he was a coward hiding from his enemies. God called Peter the “Rock” at a time when Peter was a stumbling, lying, denying fisherman. And God called David “King” when he was but a boy smelling of sheep poop.

Why? Because while you’re still wrestling with your history, God is already talking about your destiny. While your thoughts are still mired in the quicksand of your past, God’s thoughts are already constructing your future.

The Power Of Labels

When you think God’s thoughts about yourself, people won’t understand you. People want you to remain the same. People want you to be consistent with the poor image that they have of you in their minds.

You see, people look at you, and they’ve made already a prediction of what will happen to you in your future. And they want that prediction to be fulfilled. People have already labeled you “loser” and “failure” and “mediocre” and “hopeless”. And they want you to be consistent with these negative labels they have given you. They don’t want you to shake up their picture of reality.

I want you to stand up and announce to the world, “I’m not the labels you’ve given me. If God says I’m a champion, then I’m a champion.”

Your Existence Means You Won

By the mere fact that you’re alive, you’re already a champion. Why do I say that?

Think about it. God pre-selected your sperm cell. Your sperm cell out-swam the millions of other sperm cells to connect to the egg cell. At the very moment of your conception, you already won. You’re a champion!

This ordination, this Divine pre-selection isn’t based on the good that you’ve done, on whether you’ve been faithful in your prayer time, or whether you’ve been doing your Bible reading, or whether you’ve been going to Mass, or whether you’ve been a good boy or a good girl. Because before you were in the womb of your mother, you weren’t praying yet. You weren’t doing any good yet. And yet God already saw something good in you.

The Bible says, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.” God spoke that to Jeremiah but I believe He says the same words to you.

Today, God will re-introduce you to who you really are. He will lift the curtain, the veil that separates you and who you really are deep in your soul.

People around you will say, “That’s not you. I’ve seen you before. You’re weak. You’re a failure. You’re a nobody. You’re a wimp. You’re a jerk. You’re a coward. You’re a liar. You’re a hot head…”

You’ve got to tell them, “Yes, that was me. But let me introduce you to the new me. Your definition of me is based on past information. My definition of me is based on God’s thoughts about who I really am…”

And if you think God’s thoughts, something else will change…

2. How You Think Of Your Problems

One day, I was facing a huge problem. I felt so troubled, I didn’t know what to do. I was already having sleepless nights. My wife would wake up at 3am and she’d find me still awake, tossing and turning in bed.

So finally I called up one of my Mentors. I described the problem. Every detail I could remember, I shared to him. My Mentor was very patient listening to my story.

And then he said something that I’ll never forget. He said, “Is that all? Bo, that’s nothing! That problem is so small, you’re bigger than this. You’re so big, that problem is like dust in your shirt. Like lint in your clothes. Like mud on your shoes. You’re so much bigger! And Bo, you’ll have more of those tiny problems. They’re so small, just flick them…”

This wasn’t a nice friendly counseling session. He was my Mentor and he had my permission to be brutal with me. His words changed me. That night, I slept like a babe. Because he made me realize I was a giant! Why be bothered by tiny problems?

And soon enough, those problems that I thought were gigantic blew away like mist. I troubled myself for nothing.

Here’s what I learned. The reason why we think our problems are big is because we think we’re small. But when we change the way we think about ourselves, we change how we think about our problems too.

And remember: To God, all your problems are small.

The Bible says, Weeping may endure for the night but joy comes in the morning…

And finally, when you think God’s thoughts, you also change one last thing…

3. How You Think Of Your Future

I love this message because this is my story.

Who would have thought that a victim of sexual abuse would be writing this to you now? Who would have thought a porn addict of 20 years would write 25 bestselling books, publish 8 magazines, and preach around the world? This can only be God’s doing.

God doesn’t define you by what you’ve done. He defines you by what He has done in you. When God talks about you, He prophecies of things yet to come.

Friend, your future is out-of-this-world beautiful.

Perhaps you’re like Bathsheeba. Perhaps you feel this is a dead-end for you right now. That all hope is gone.

But believe that each day, God walks into the open door of your life and says your future is beautiful. He will change everything. It may not happen overnight, but it will happen. Just keep that door open. Just never give up.

Think God’s thoughts.

And you’ll never be the same again.

RELATIONSHIP

2013-03-03T23:09:00.002-08:00

If you have ever had to call a
friend in the middle of the night,
to take a sick child to hospital,
or when your car has broken
down some miles from home,
you will know how good it feels
to hear the phrase "I'll be
there."

Being there for
another person is the
greatest gift we can
give. When we're
truly present for
other people,
important things
happen to them & us.
We are renewed in
love and friendship.
We are restored
emotionally and
spiritually. Being
there is at the very
core of civility!!!

Perhaps more
marriages could be
saved &
strengthened if
couples simply &
sincerely say to
each other "I miss
you." This
powerful
affirmation tells
partners they are
wanted, needed,
desired & loved.

Consider how
ecstatic you would
feel, if you
received an
unexpected phone
call from your
spouse in the
middle of your
workday, just to
say "I miss
you!!!

Respect and trust is another way of
showing love. It conveys the feeling
that another person is a true equal

If you talk to your
children as if they were
adults you will strength
the bonds & become close
friends. This applies to
all interpersonal
relationships!!!

Maybe You're Right
This phrase is highly effective in diffusing an argument and
restoring frayed emotions. The flip side to "maybe you're right"
is the humility of admitting maybe "I'm wrong". Let's face it.
When you have a heated argument with someone, all you do is
cement the other person's point of view

They, or you, will not change their stance and you run the risk of seriously
damaging the relationship between you. Saying "maybe you're right" can open
the door to further explore the subject, in which you may then have the
opportunity to get your view across in a more rational manner

Please Forgive Me
Many broken
relationships could be
restored and healed if
people would admit their
mistakes and ask for
forgiveness. All of us are
vulnerable to faults and
failures. A man should
never be ashamed to own
up that he has been in the
wrong, which is saying, in
other words, that he is
wiser today than he was
yesterday!

A FLORIDA COURT SETS ATHEIST HOLY DAY

2013-02-18T20:15:00.001-08:00

I know God is giggling!
A Florida Court Sets Atheist Holy Day!
Gotta love this Judge!

       You must read this...... A proper decision by the courts... for a change.

In Florida, an atheist created a case against Easter and Passover Holy days. He hired an attorney to bring a discrimination case against Christians and Jews andobservances of their holy days. The argument was that it was unfair that atheists had no such recognized days.
The case was brought before a judge. After listening to the passionate presentation by the lawyer, the judge banged his gavel declaring, "Case dismissed!"

The lawyer immediately stood and objecting to the ruling saying,
"Your honor, How can you possibly dismiss this case? The Christians have Christmas, Easter and others. The Jews have Passover, Yom Kippur and Hanukkah, yet my client and all other atheists have no such holidays..."
The judge leaned forward in his chair saying, "But you do. Your client, counselor, is woefully ignorant."
The lawyer said," Your Honor, we are unaware of any special observance or holiday for atheists."
The judge said, "The calendar says April 1st is April Fool's Day. Psalm 14:1 states, 'The fool says in his heart, there is no God.' Thus, it is the opinion of this court, that, if your client says there is no God, then he is a fool. Therefore, April 1st is his day.

Court is adjourned..."
You gotta love a Judge that knows his scripture!

At the root of every gray hair, there is a dead brain cell.

2013-02-17T19:58:00.002-08:00

Someone had to remind me, So I'm reminding you, too. Don't laugh.... It is all true!

Perks of reaching 50 Or being over 60 And heading towards 70 or beyond!

1. Kidnappers are not very Interested in you.

2. In a hostage situation,
You are likely to be released first.

3. No one expects you to run --
Anywhere.

4. People call at 9 PM (or 9 AM) and ask, 'Did I wake you?'

5. People no longer view you as a Hypochondriac.

6. There is nothing left To learn the hard way.

7. Things you buy now Won't wear out.

8. You can eat Supper at 4 PM.

9.. You can live without sex But not your glasses.

10. You get into heated arguments About pension plans.

11. You no longer think of speed limits As a challenge.

12. You quit trying to hold
Your stomach in no matter who walks Into the room.

13. You sing along With elevator music.

14. Your eyes won't get Much worse.

15. Your investment in health insurance Is finally beginning to pay off.

16. Your joints are more accurate meteorologists Than the national weather service.

17. Your secrets are safe with your friends Because they can't remember them either.
18. Your supply of brain cells is finally down to A manageable size.

19. You can't remember Who sent you this list.

And you notice these are all In big print For your convenience.

Forward this to everyone You can remember Right now!
AND THE MOST IMPORTANT THING:

Never, NEVER,NEVER , Under any circumstances, Take a sleeping pill, and a laxative on The same night!

"Good friends are like stars...You don't always see them, but you know they are always there."

This song made my day.

2013-02-17T19:53:00.003-08:00

BE SURE TO CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW ...... IT WILL MAKE YOUR DAY .

http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/6dbBfXCMbH4?rel=0

God Bless all of us old codgers.

2013-02-14T21:21:00.002-08:00

Subject: Fwd: The Most Touching Speech Made by Bride's Father to the Groom

     >> I think you will really like this video:  >> http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=092JJFNU >>

Mini Train GERMANY

2013-02-14T17:35:00.001-08:00

This is REALLY GOOD.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/ACkmg3Y64_s?rel=0

THE BANANAS with dark patches

2013-02-09T05:23:00.001-08:00

THE BANANAS with dark patches on yellow skin - Anti Deadly Cancer !

I Never knew this!

BANANAS with dark patches on yellow skin

The fully ripe banana produces a

substance called TNF which has the

ability to combat abnormal cells. So don't

be surprised very soon the shop will go

out of stock for bananas. As the banana

ripens, it develops dark spots or patches

on the skin. The more dark patches it

has, the higher will be its' immunity

enhancement quality . Hence the

Japanese love bananas for a good

reason. According to a Japanese

scientific research, banana contains TNF

which has anti-cancer properties.

The degree of anti-cancer effect

corresponds to the degree of ripeness of

the fruit, i.e., the riper the banana, the

better the anti-cancer quality.

In an animal experiment carried out by a

professor in Tokyo U comparing the

various health benefits of different

fruits, using banana, grape, apple, water

melon, pineapple, pear and persimmon,

it was found that banana gave the best

results. It increased the number of white

blood cells, enhanced the immunity of

the body and produced anti-cancer

substance TNF. The recommendation is

to eat 1 to 2 banana a day to increase

your body immunity to diseases like cold,

flu and others.

According to the Japanese professor,

yellow skin bananas with dark spots on it

are 8 times more effective in enhancing

the property of white blood cells than the

green skin version.

Note from *elb*--bananas also a good source of potassium good for high blood

pressure problems

Keep a bag of flour in your fridge

2013-02-09T05:17:00.001-08:00

Some time ago I was cooking some corn and stuck my fork in the boiling water to see if the corn was ready. I missed and my hand went into the boiling water....A friend of mine, who was a Vietnam vet, came into
the house, just as I was screaming, and asked me if I had some plain old flour... I pulled out a bag and he stuck my hand in it. He told me to keep my hand in the flour for 10 minutes which I did. He said that in Vietnam, there was a guy on fire and in their panic, they threw a bag of flour all over him to put the fire out...Well, it not only put the fire out, but he never even had a blister!!!!

... Long story short, I put my hand in the bag of flour for 10 mins, pulled it out and did not even have a red mark or a blister and absolutely NO PAIN. Now, I keep a bag of flour in the fridge and every time I burn myself. *Cold flour feels even better than room temperature flour.
I use the flour and have never ONCE had I ever had even a red
spot/burn mark, or a blister! I even burnt my tongue once, put the flour on it for about 10 minutes .... the pain was gone and no burn.

Try it . . . Experience a miracle! Keep a bag of flour in your fridge and you will be happy you did!
BTW, don't run your burn area under cold water first, just put it directly into the flour for 10 minutes.

"The Size Of Your Heart"

2013-02-08T03:10:00.002-08:00

It isn't the size of your house as such,
That matters so much at all;
It's the gentle hand and it's loving touch,
That make it great or small.

The friends who come and the hour they go,
Who out of your house depart;
Will judge it not by the style you show,
But rather -- by the size of your heart.

It isn't the size of your head so much,
It isn't the wealth you found;
What will make you happy is how you touch,
The other lives that are all around.

For making money is not hard,
To live life well is an art:
How people love you and how they regard,
Is all in the size of your heart.

New way of STEALING...

2013-01-20T16:59:00.004-08:00

New way of STEALING...
ESPECIALLY LOOK AT SCENE THREE...

Be sure to read Scene 3. Quite interesting.

This is a new one. People sure stay busy
Trying to cheat us, don't they?

SCENE 1.
A friend went to the local gym and placed his belongings in the
locker. After the
workout and a shower, he came out, saw the locker open, and thought
to himself,
'Funny, I thought I locked the locker...

Hmm, 'He dressed and just flipped the wallet to make sure all was in
order.
Everything looked okay - all cards were in place...

A few weeks later his credit card bill came - a whooping bill of
$14,000!

He called the credit card company and started yelling at them,
saying that he did
not make the transactions.

Customer care personnel verified that there was no mistake in the
system and
asked if his card had been stolen...
'No,' he said, but then took out his wallet, pulled out the credit
card, and yep -
you guessed it - a switch had been made.

An expired similar credit card from the same bank was in the wallet.

The thief broke into his locker at the gym and switched cards.

Verdict: The credit card issuer said since he did not report the
card missing
earlier, he would have to pay the amount owed to them.

How much did he have to pay for items he did not buy?

$9,000! Why were there no calls made to verify the amount swiped?
Small amounts rarely trigger a 'warning bell' with some credit card
companies. It just so happens that all the small amounts added up to
big one!
============================

SCENE 2.
A man at a local restaurant paid for his meal with his credit card.

The bill for the meal came, he signed it and the waitress folded the
receipt and
passed the credit card along.

Usually, he would just take it and place it in his wallet or pocket.
Funny enough,
though, he actually took a look at the card and, lo and behold, it
was the expired
card of another person.

He called the waitress and she looked perplexed.

She took it back, apologized, and hurried back to the counter under
the watchful eye of the
man.

All the waitress did while walking to the counter was wave the wrong
expired card to the
counter cashier, and the counter cashier immediately looked down and
took out the real card.

No exchange of words --- nothing! She took it and came back to the
man with an apology..
(This scenario actually happened to me at a local restaurant- Falls
Terrace-between the waitress
and the front desk cashier.)

Verdict: Make sure the credit cards in your wallet are yours.

Check the name on the card every time you sign for something and/or
the card is taken
away for even a short period of time.

Many people just take back the credit card without even looking at
it, 'assuming'
that it has to be theirs.

FOR YOUR OWN SAKE, DEVELOP THE HABIT OF CHECKING YOUR CREDIT CARD
EACH
TIME IT IS RETURNED TO YOU AFTER A TRANSACTION!
==========================

SCENE 3:
Yesterday I went into a pizza restaurant to pick up an order that I
had called in.

I paid by using my Visa Check Card which, of course, is linked
directly to my checking
Account.

The young man behind the counter took my card, swiped it, then laid
it on the counter
as he waited for the approval, which is pretty standard procedure.

While he waited, he picked up his cell phone and started dialing.

I noticed the phone because it is the same model I have, but nothing
seemed out of the
ordinary. Then I heard a click that sounded like my phone sounds
when I take a picture.

He then gave me back my card but kept the phone in his hand as if he
was still pressing
buttons.

Meanwhile, I'm thinking: I wonder what he is taking a picture of,
oblivious to what was
really going on.

It then dawned on me: the only thing there was my credit card, so
now I'm paying close
attention to what he is doing..

He set his phone on the counter, leaving it open.

About five seconds later, I heard the chime that tells you that the
picture has been
saved.

Now I'm standing there struggling with the fact that this boy just
took a picture of my
credit card.

Yes, he played it off well, because had we not had the same kind of
phone, I probably would
never have known what happened.

Needless to say, I immediately canceled that card as I was walking
out of the pizza parlour.

All I am saying is, be aware of your surroundings at all times.

Whenever you are using your credit card take caution and don't be
careless.

Notice who is standing near you and what they are doing when you use
your card.

Be aware of phones, because many have a camera phone these days.

FORWARD THIS TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU CAN THINK OF. LET'S GET THE
WORD
OUT! JUST BE AWARE.
Never let your card out of your sight.....check and check again!

Scary isn't it.....

New way of STEALING...

13 Ways to Get More Social Security

2013-01-19T17:23:00.000-08:00

13 Ways to Get More Social Security

The average monthly Social Security benefit for a retiree in 2013 is estimated at $1,261, according to the Social Security Administration. That’s just $15,132 a year – hardly enough to live on.

Hopefully when you reach retirement, you’ll have a nice nest egg to offset hurdles like vanishing pensions and unpredictable stock-market returns. But either way, there are certain actions you can take today to boost your Social Security payments during retirement – and they can add up to thousands of extra dollars in your golden years.

Here are 13 things you can think about today to increase your Social Security payments during retirement:

1. Work at least 35 years

Social Security benefits are calculated based on your 35 highest-earning working years. If you work fewer years, you’ll have years with zero income averaged in – which will lower your payout.

2. Ask for a raise

If you experience a jump in salary, you’ll likely boost your future earning potential and may see an increase in your Social Security payments down the road – since as we just explained, Social Security takes into account the 35 top-earning years of your career.

3. Take a second job

The same logic applies: If you earn more each year, you’ll likely increase the amount you get in Social Security when you retire.

4. Wait until full retirement age to claim Social Security

You can begin collecting Social Security benefits as early as age 62, but you might not want to: Your benefit will be reduced by 25 percent for life. To get your full payment, wait until you reach full retirement age – currently 66 for anyone born between 1943 and 1954. For those born between 1955 and 1959, the age gradually rises toward 67. For those born in 1960, it’s 67.

5. Better yet: Wait until age 70

If you can afford to wait until age 70 to claim Social Security benefits, it’ll pay off. Thanks to what the Social Security Administration calls “delayed retirement credits,” benefits increase 8 percent each year you delay tapping into Social Security – up till age 70. So waiting until you reach 70 means about a third more income for life.

When considering this strategy, it’s particularly beneficial for the higher-earning spouse in a marriage to hold out until age 70 to increase the total benefits the couple will receive throughout their lifetime. In the event that the spouse with the higher benefit passes away, the surviving spouse will receive the higher payment.

If you took benefits early and regret the move, it might not be too late to fix it. You may be able to repay all the benefits you received so far and restart them at a higher level based on your age. But this policy isn’t as flexible as it used to be: For more details, check out this page on the SSA site.

6. Use online tools

If you’re unsure about the best time to claim benefits based on your individual budget, health, life expectancy, or other factors, use online resources to help you decide. A good place to start is SocialSecurity.gov/MyStatement, where you’ll get your personalized statement. This estimates what your benefits will be at age 62, at full retirement age, or at age 70.

Once you get estimates for both you and, if applicable, your spouse, there are other online tools that compare your benefits under various scenarios to help you determine the best claiming strategy. Consider AARP’s Social Security Benefits Calculator or Analyze Now’s “Strategic Social Security Planner.”

7. Claim spousal benefits

If you’re married, you have a choice: You can either take the benefit based on your work history, or half your spouse’s benefit. So if your spouse earned a lot more than you did, and has a higher benefit as a result, compare and see which will pay the most.

You can also claim Social Security benefits based on an ex-spouse’s work record if you were married for at least 10 years. Doing so doesn’t reduce their check or otherwise impact them. In fact, they’ll never know you applied.

8. Taking early retirement? Beware of outside income

If you start taking benefits before reaching your full retirement age, employment elsewhere can reduce your Social Security checks.

For example, say you started taking Social Security in 2012 at age 62 and your full retirement age is 66. For 2012, your benefit would be reduced by $1 for every $2 you earned in gross wages or net self-employment income above $14,640.

If 2012 was the year you reached full retirement age, you could have earned up to $38,880 prior to the month you turned 66. More than that and your benefit would be reduced by $1 for every $3 you earned.

After you reach full retirement age, you get your full benefit no matter how much you earn.

9. Claim twice

A dual-income retired couple may be able to claim spousal benefits, then later switch to payments based on their own work record. This could make sense if waiting until a later age would result in higher benefits.

For example, say the husband is 66 and the wife is 62. If the husband files for benefits, the wife could opt for half her husband’s benefit, while still earning money and letting her benefit grow. When she turns 70, she could drop the spousal benefit and file for benefits based on her own work record.

There are lots of strategies like this to maximize Social Security. As you approach retirement age, be sure and do lots of reading. This article from Kiplinger is a good example.

10. Benefits for your kids

When you start collecting Social Security benefits, unmarried dependent children under age 18 may qualify to receive benefits worth up to half of your full retirement benefit amount. This can include a biological child, adopted child, stepchild, or dependent grandchild. They may also get benefits if they’re 18-19 years old and a full-time student (no higher than grade 12) or 18 or older with a disability that began before age 22.

11. Plan ahead for taxes

If the sum of your adjusted gross income, nontaxable interest, and half your 2012 Social Security benefits exceeds $34,000 ($44,000 for couples), up to 85 percent of your benefits may be taxable. You can minimize this expense by using certain tax-saving moves, such as investing in annuities that allow you to earn interest that isn’t taxed until you withdraw it.

12. Do your due diligence

Always read your Social Security statements (either received as paper statements in the mail or online at SocialSecurity.gov/MyStatement) to be sure everything has been reported correctly. Although inaccuracies are uncommon, some scenarios lend themselves to a greater chance of error – such as a name change your employer failed to update on company records.

13. Clear your debts

Your Social Security benefits are protected from most debt collections, but they can be taken to collect unpaid federal taxes, federal student loan balances, and child support or alimony. Clearing these debts will leave your Social Security benefits untouched.