Archives at Zinester: "The right to be happy". "I Believe in You!".

Subject: "The right to be happy" - October20, 2005

"I Believe in You!"

A message of Hope, stories from the road.

*************************************************

Hello, my friend!

To all my Florida friends and anyone worried about the approaching storm...

I promise..."I'll see you in my prayers!"

I am struggling these last few days. In a slump. Trying to find what "happiness"

is and planning and plotting my pursuit of it. I know for me happiness will never

be found in things. Doing.

That's it, doing happy things.

Doing happy things for others.

The song, "Don't worry. Be happy" just came to mind.

Okay...tomorrow. I'm in a slump today. A slump is a place to rest while you

look back at where you were and look up to where you really want to be. When you are

in a slump, things are always looking up!

*************************************************

Perks Pearl of Wisdom

"The three be's...Be still. Find peace. Be quiet. Find Joy. Be grateful. Find happiness." Bob Perks

*************************************************

"Wishes" Gift Store

Tapes, Books, Greeting Cards, Wall prints, Mugs, T-shirts

http://wishes.easystorecreator.net/

Buying products helps keep these messages

F R E E

*****************************************************

Join me in partnership in

"My Ministry of the Heart":

Here are three ways you can help:

http://www.bobperks.com/partnership.htm

*****************************************************

Today's Message:

"The right to be happy"

Do we have the right to be happy? Is happy a God given gift that every
human being has the right to or is happy a goal that only a select few
pursue and actually obtain?

I have been watching people and situations around me. I consider myself
to be the luckiest man in the world. I get paid to tell people that
they are important. My profession consists of designing and presenting
speeches and training sessions that build up, magnify, and enhance the
human spirit. I work when I want and for whom I want. I answer to no
one except myself and my wife. I am happy. But do I deserve to be?

Life itself tries to impose standards on us. The spirit inside says do
what you love. The world says that's Ok as long as you have things to
show for it. Your spirit says I don't need things to be happy. But
when we head out into the world, our success is measured by the car we
drive, the clothes we wear, the address of our home and the title on our
office door. So many times in our pursuit of happiness we live beyond
our means to appear to be successful and happy. We are often in careers
that we hate. We are surrounded by other phonies all pretending to be
happy.

Every once in awhile we read a story about the banker who gave up the
six figure income to herd cattle and we envy him or her. Our spirit
inside our heart sighs for a moment wishing we could do the same. Then
we pick up the paper the next day and read the obituary of CEO John
Smith, who died of a massive heart attack at 54. How sad we think. You
know he worked hard to put that company right where he is, no I mean
right where IT is today. But he had a hefty life insurance plan. His
family will be taken care of...financially. That will make them happy.

We do need to work hard to be happy. It's hard to find happiness in the
slow pace of life doing exactly what you were created to do. Or find
happiness working hard seven days a week in a business that never seems
like work because you love it so and it's yours all yours. It's hard to
be happy waking up with a smile every day. It's hard to be happy
knowing you can stop to see the sunset just because there's more orange
and yellow in that one.

How happy can one be having the home you can truly afford, although it's
not as big as your friends, the car with reasonable payments, the
vacation camping this year because you don't need to take out a loan to
go to the tropics just to say you did.

You do have the right to want the better things in life. There is
nothing wrong with things as long as they are not the goal. There is
nothing wrong with millions as long as it is not the reason. Success is
measured not in dollars and things. Success is doing what you are best
at doing and loving it so much that you would do it for nothing. But
actually get paid to do it.

We are born. We work. We buy. We die. But are we happy?

On a scale of one to ten how happy are you?

If tomorrow you could choose a career, would it be what you are doing
today? If not then what is stopping you?

Do you have the right to be happy? At what cost? Whose standards?
What are you doing today to change things?

"I believe in You!"

I encourage you to share my stories with your friends but, when copying I ask that you keep my name and contact information attached so that new readers can find their way here. Use of this story for commercial use is prohibited without direct permission from the author.

***********************************************

May I Suggest...

Visit my photo album:

Read recent messages:

*************************************************

Your Comments... If you would like to share brief comment about today's message, please write to Bob@BobPerks.com I will use only first names and no email addresses.

RE: "Blanket of love"

Dear Bob, I have enjoyed receiving your many e mails. Please know both
you and your wife have been in my many prayers often throughout the days
that pass. You have touched many lives and have mad a difference. THANK
YOU for being there for so many of us!!' Your messages are like
luggage, they have handles on them to carry with us and HELP us through
our busy weeks. YOU ARE APPRECIATED MY FRIEND. May God continue to
Bless YOU and YOUR FAMILY. Remember, ONE DAY AT A TIME!! Praying for
you daily. Your sister in Christ, Beverly from Buffalo, NY

Dear Bob,

I am a fairly new subscriber, and just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart!! I look forward to your kind, loving, uplifting words. This morning I just sat at my computer and cried as I read about your evening routine and your dogs. I can completely identify with the unconditional love between animals and their devoted companions. I have so often wondered how great the world would be if we could have that same expression of love among us all. Thank you again and God bless you and your family.

Blessings,

Claire Jackson

Hi Bob, What a trade, huh? Our Faith and in return the love of our Almighty Father!! If it is in His will, the added on room will come. What a gift, I'd say!! And always coming at just the right time. God always knows just exactly what our needs are and His works are there according to His timing. I can't wait to see the pictures you'll send.

Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Bob and his messages, always arriving to us at just the right moments also. His words, like yours, always ministering a word or encouragement when it is needed most. Thank you Lord for speaking to him and through him to bring another piece of joy to the day. Lift Bob and Marianne up Lord, holding them in your loving arms and showing them both the strength and vision for their today and their tomorrow. For these gifts we praise you and thank you in the name of your son, Jesus. Amen.

Bob,

Your comments and story today reaffirmed my own faith in God and the unknown. I was divorced 4 years ago, but by faith, I am believing that God is working out a reconciliation. Nothing in this physical world has caused me to believe this, just faith!!! I know that my ex and I still love each other, but it takes more than love to live together in harmony. We both have issues from the past to deal with and I'm sure when the time comes that it will take a lot of work on both sides. But I have faith in a God who is bigger than our issues or problems and believe that He is working everything out for His Glory. Praise God!!!! I know God will also provide the way for your new addition and will truly bless it.

God Bless!!!

Deb

Bob, Wow! What a Wonderful Heartfelt story, Thank You!
Patricia,Ontario,Ca.

Dear Bob,

i have not taken the time to read many emails lately, my life and my children's lives are very difficult right now, but something made me sit down and check my mails today and i read yours (under a blanket of love) and i guess God guided me to read it because it was just what i needed to hear, to understand (again)...that the trust, the faith , the love is all there, even if we can't physically see it...thank you for reminding me in these difficult times myself and my children are in...that we are under God's blanket of love...

God Bless

Suzette

Dear Bob,

Your message today really hit home for me. We also have two dogs, both mutts that we adopted from the local SPCA. Bauer, my "cutie dog" has always slept under the covers, usually on my side of the bed, since we brought him home. However, he is allowed to stay there all night and I believe the he has faith, that every night he will find his place under the cozy covers, nestled in between my feet.

Thank you for the reminder that we must be strong in our faith that God loves us and is there for us every step of the way. Cozy under his "covers".

Kim

Bob,

this is really a neat story. i love the faith that you have and you sound like a great husband because my husband see's to it that i have everything that i need before we go to bed and he wake's me up at four in the morning so i can take my four o'clock pill i have to take.and i know you are a wonder father. and that is the way the lord is with us. thank you for sharing and can't wait to see the pictures. good luck on everything and i will be praying for you and your wife. you sound like a great couple and may god bless you both in everything that you do. and i know god takes care of our every need. like you said god loves us and i love you and your wife to.

god bless

maudie

Hi Bob

Thanks for all the inspirations that you send. Believe it or not, they help me make it through allot of bad days.

I'm not sure if you take Prayer Request or not but I sure hope so.

I'm the lady who wrote you a few months back about turning 50 this year, well I did and your right, it's not to bad until somebody says how old are you? :)

My request is for my amputated leg and my back. I had my right leg amputated back in 1990 and I have had allot of problems with breakdown of the skin and getting a proper fitting prosthesis. I'm also having problems with my insurance paying for repairs and this has caused my family and I great financial difficulty. I've also had 2 back surgery within the last 1 1/2 yrs. and I still have allot of pain and now my doctor tells me I have Piriformis Syndrome. I'm asking you to pray that my leg gets better and that I might be able to get a better fitting prosthesis and that my back eventually comes back to close to normal.

Thanks again

In God's Love

Sherry

Dear Bob

It's me again to say sometimes I believe that dogs can be angels on a mission. We prayed for over a year about a dog for our then 8 year old son James who had some special needs. I knew in my heart he needed a dog and nothing anyone could say would change my mind. I kept getting a certain breed and everyone said I was nuts.My son spoke about what he wanted and it was the same breed.

We visited some dogs for offer when the local animal shelter called saying they knew of a dog like what we wanted in need of a home. You know they say never go near a dog eating, especially a strange one. My son walked over to this dog eating and laid down beside her and love was instant on both sides.

Velvet The beagle Hound now sleeps with my son. I just simply cannot care about the dog hairs or anything as my son seldom slept well, and is a loner most times and has few friends his age.But he has a dog friend who understands him and when James gets out of control, the dog moves away. Once James is asleep, the dog goes back faithful to sleep by him . That dog howls when James gets off the bus and dances around in circles until she is allowed in to see him. How very much like God this is as God is always there waiting for us and always there when we need him and even when we don't. I believe God also dances when we call His name in love!!!

thank you so much for this delightful love time.

Jana

Nova Scotia Canada

Bob, You will never know how much this e-mail touched my heart. Life has been so tough lately and i truly have felt all alone. Just last night at Bible study we were discussing how, even in the midst of overwhelming pain or negativity we should always know in our heart that God accepts and loves us and that is all we need to know. I found myself questioning that. Not that He does, but why? I don't find myself worthy of his love or acceptance i guess because of all the negativity and criticism around me. Then i feel guilty when i feel like that. It has been a vicious circle for me. I prayed so hard last night for some glimpse of understanding about it all. Then in my e-mail this morning is this from you. You really are a gift from God--an answered prayer.

Thank you.

Cindy

**************************************************

"I wish you enough!"
Bob

Bob Perks is a professional speaker, author and vocalist.
Member National Speakers Association.
Visit http://www.BobPerks.com

Visit Bob's story site: http://www.IWishYouEnough.com
Sign up to receive Bob's free stories sent three times weekly.

"I wish you enough!"
written by Bob Perks (c) 2001

"I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough "Hello's" to get you through the final "Goodbye."