As A Baby, Jesus Came

As a baby Jesus came

From His home above

He left His throne and who He was

To teach us how to love

As a baby Jesus came

Wrapped in swaddling cloth

Willingly took on humanity

Though He was one with God

As a baby Jesus came

To one day grow to be

The saviour of the human race

People like you and me

As a baby Jesus came

As God’s eternal light

That will never be extinguished

But forever shine out bright

As a baby Jesus came

The hope of eternal life

Reconciling us back to God

Giving meaning to our lives

As a man Jesus died

His blood poured out for all

Cleansing and forgiving us

For to this He was called

We thank Him that He came a babe

And grew to be a man

And for His sacrificial love

His nailed scarred feet and hands

Through it all we can live on

With Jesus Christ our Lord

The babe that came that first Christmas

Is what we thank Him for

© By M.S.Lowndes

Giving Thanks

By: DAVID KIVIAHO, kiisa corporation

Time to Give Thanks…kiisa corporation understands how busy we all are with family, friends, and business. That is why we wanted to get a jump on the Thanksgiving Holiday and encourage everyone to begin the celebration of Thanksgiving now.

Thanksgiving is that time of year when many of us turn to God, and those we love to give thanks for the many blessings in our lives. kiisa corporation and its owners, the Kiviaho and Sandifer families, would like to do that now. We are so blessed and thankful this year to have you in our lives as a part of our growing business. We are especially thankful to those many colleagues and friends who have walked with us, even holding our dreams like their own during the birth and launch of kiisa corporation. Without all of your support, our company would not have realized the great success we have seen in 2011. Without many of your prayers we are not sure we could have endured some of this journey.

So, we would like to most sincerely thank you and say that we are grateful for you, and your business. We are also quite appreciative of the expertise many of your businesses have shared with kiisa as we move from project to project.

Happy Thanksgiving to you, your families, and your friends.

A Thanksgiving Prayer…

For forests tall and oceans deep
For canyons wide and mountains steep
For sunset skies of pink and gold
For every sunrise we behold

For Winter’s snow and springtime’s thaw
For Summer’s warmth and Autumn’s awe
For roofs that keep the rain away
For walls that hold it all at bay

For work that puts food on the table
For health and rest to keep us able
For friends and family around us
For years to come, may they surround us

For soldiers fighting for our peace
For days to come when wars may cease
For hope, so burdens won’t enslave us
For thy forgiveness which will save us

For feast, and those with whom we share it
For loving hands that did prepare it
For all that makes this life worth living
We take this time on this Thanksgiving

To bow our heads and bend a knee
And pause to look around and see
For all that was, is, and shall be
We have none to thank, Oh Lord, but thee.

Amen.

– BY: Eddie Mallonen

Too Much

By: DAVID KIVIAHO, kiisa corporation

I had a rough day recently. Very rough. A business deal did not go as I had planned, my front tooth broke during lunch requiring immediate surgery and a root canal, and, when I got home that evening I began to feel the onset of a cold … which got worse, putting me in bed for a few days.

While in bed, I really was forced to rest. Watching television and working on my iPad were out of the question as they exacerbated my headache as well as made me nauseous. So, I rested and thought. I started re-thinking that business deal and why it had bothered me so deeply. So, everything had not gone as planned? It is not like that has not happened before in my life! I have lived through some pretty serious, life altering moments. Most assuredly, everything in my life has not gone the way I had certainly planned, or hoped at times.

After about an hour of dissecting the business deal, I realized my angst was not due to that at all. As my mind re-played the actions of the deal, all of the things which were adding pressure in my life also started to become apparent. Community obligations, familial needs, workplace efforts, project launches, medical challenges, and the lack of personal free time suddenly came upon me in an unwelcome wave of awareness. But, as soon as these realizations came I was forced to start thinking on the issues. And, as they say, this was a good thing! Over the course of the next two days, I came to a better understanding of what was actually happening in my life. And then, I began to feel better.

Most of the time in life we run out of what is called, margin. This means we have put too many things in our daily schedule which sometimes just cannot be completed, period. When this happens, we become tired and our bodies begin to warn us of this fact in various ways. In my case, I fell ill. This warning may also be applicable to you. If so, what will be your case? We all hear that phrase, “you must have balance,” and it is so true. As people, we are not built to handle every level of stress with ease. We must pull back, assess the situation, and evaluate how to effectively move through the issue. Sometimes we have to just sit and relax, or rest. That was my problem. I had multiple issues and failed to assess any of them properly. Once I did, all things in motion started flowing smoothly again.

Today, the business deal has been finalized, I have a new front tooth and my cold has waned. I have taken a few days off and have begun to say no to some new projects. Also, I have been spending more time with family to simply enjoy their company in whatever we do … today I am not tired. Today, I am living my life.

What is your story? Take it from me, stop long enough to understand where you are, and in which direction you want to be headed. To be cliche, life is indeed short. Let’s work on living and enjoying it rather than letting it rule us, or worse pass us by.

May God Bless you in your journey.

Ready and Able

By: DAVID KIVIAHO, kiisa corporation

On October 17, 2011, at the Northshore Harbor Center in Slidell, LA, a very meaningful Job Fair will take place. This event targets all business and every single person seeking employment, including the disabled worker. kiisa is chairing this event, which is only one of nine to simultaneously occur throughout Louisiana during the month of October. These are being held in observance of the National Disability Education and Awareness Month (NDEAM). Please, read more so you will become a part of this valuable economic event.

Business must effectively work within all human infrastructures to enjoy the healthiest bottom line possible. This is why kiisa continues to create dialogue about workers with disabilities. It is critical to note that these persons bring many talents and contributions to the workplace. They are ready and able to work. This statement bears repeating. They are ready and able to work. Motivating all employers to educate themselves regarding the employment of persons with disabilities is not an easy task. But you can help inspire the process. Many resources are available to employers who hire persons with disabilities. They include tax incentives and assistance with recruitment, hiring, and retention of the disabled worker. Check out www.disability.gov to learn more, and then start sharing the data you gather with your business networks, friends, and colleagues.

kiisa corporation has joined the efforts of the Louisiana Statewide Coalition called Work Pays. This is a consortium of agencies working together to increase the employment opportunities of persons with disabilities in Louisiana.

In support of the endeavors of Work Pays kiisa has re-printed information below taken from the Work Pays website, www.work-pays.org/. You may also visit this site to register as an individual, or a business, to participate in one of your local Job Fairs. There is no fee! The data below was provided by the Louisiana Medicaid Infrastructure Grant.

Why Hire Individuals with Disabilities?

Individuals with disabilities are a large and growing consumer segment representing approximately $175 billion in discretionary purchasing power.

• They are a large pool of competitive individuals who are qualified and motivated to work, but are often overlooked.
• They are responsible and loyal individuals who are looking for a long term career – not just a short term job.
• There are many programs that support businesses who hire qualified individuals with disabilities.

Individuals with disabilities are looking for the same opportunities, no more or less, as other people in society.  Just like all members of society they are looking for the chance to work in competitive, gainful employment and thereby enhance the quality of their lives and their communities.

Alone

By: Maya Angelou

Shared By: David Kiviaho, kiisa corporation

Lying, thinking
Last night
How to find my soul a home
Where water is not thirsty
And bread loaf is not stone
I came up with one thing
And I don’t believe I’m wrong
That nobody,
But nobody
Can make it out here alone.

Alone, all alone
Nobody, but nobody
Can make it out here alone.

There are some millionaires
With money they can’t use
Their wives run round like banshees
Their children sing the blues
They’ve got expensive doctors
To cure their hearts of stone.
But nobody
No, nobody
Can make it out here alone.

Alone, all alone
Nobody, but nobody
Can make it out here alone.

Now if you listen closely
I’ll tell you what I know
Storm clouds are gathering
The wind is gonna blow
The race of man is suffering
And I can hear the moan,
‘Cause nobody,
But nobody
Can make it out here alone.

Alone, all alone
Nobody, but nobody
Can make it out here alone.

July 23, 2011 – St. Anselm Catholic Church “Jewel of Madisonville” 4th Annual GALA & Car Raffle

St. Anselm Catholic Church “Jewel of Madisonville” 4th Annual GALA

July 23, 2011

2011 Buick Regal Car Raffle - Drawing at 10:30 pm
Car value at $27,000.00. Winner need not be present.  Winner is responsible for sales tax, title, license and federal and Louisiana State income tax.

Castine Center
Mandeville, LA

$50.00 per ticket
Tickets available now!

Visit St. Anselm Catholic Church website

JUGGLE BALLS

Shared By: David Kiviaho, kiisa corporation

Written by the CEO of Coca-Cola:

“Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. You name them – work, family, health, friends and spirit and you’re keeping all of these in the air. You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls – family, health, friends and spirit are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for balance in your life.
How?

1. Don’t undermine your worth by comparing yourself with others. It is because we are different that each of us is special.
2. Don’t set your goals by what other people deem important. Only you know what is best for you.
3. Don’t take for granted the things closest to your heart. Cling to them as you would your life, for without them, life is meaningless.
4. Don’t let your life slip through your fingers by living in the past or for the future. By living your life one day at a time, you live ALL the days of your life.
5. Don’t give up when you still have something to give. Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying.
6. Don’t be afraid to admit that you are less than perfect. It is this fragile thread that binds us each together.
7. Don’t be afraid to encounter risks. It is by taking chances that we learn how to be brave.
8. Don’t shut love out of your life by saying it’s impossible to find. The quickest way to receive love is to give; the fastest way to lose love is to hold it too tightly; and the best way to keep love is to give it wings.
9. Don’t run through life so fast that you forget not only where you’ve been, but also where you are going.
10. Don’t forget that a person’s greatest emotional need is to feel appreciated.
11. Don’t be afraid to learn. Knowledge is weightless, a treasure you can always carry easily.
12. Don’t use time or words carelessly. Neither can be retrieved. Life is not a race, but a journey to be savored each step of the way.

A DIFFICULT HILL

Shared By: DAVID KIVIAHO, kiisa corporation – (Author Unknown)

Researchers at the University of Virginia have found that most people perceive a hill to be steeper than it really is, especially if they are tired or carrying a heavy load. When asked to estimate the slope of a hill, test participants consistently misjudged it, thinking a 10-degree slant was about 30 degrees, and rating a 5-degree slope as nearly 20 degrees. Hardly any of them believed they could be that far off.

When we are burdened and exhausted, even a minor problem can seem too big for us to handle. As we encounter a trial in life, we are tempted to sit down at the base of that difficult hill and stay there, convinced that the grade is too steep for us.

That is why we need the encouragement of God’s Word. It draws our attention to our untiring God, who knows our need. Isaiah wrote, “The Creator of the ends of the earth neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak and to those who have no might – He increases strength” (Isaiah 40:28-29).

Because we so easily misjudge life’s difficulties, we need courage to keep going when we are tempted to quit. Take a step of faith today and join those who depend on the Lord, who run and are not weary, who walk and do not faint (v.31). In His strength, you can conquer any difficult hill.

As we live for Christ and follow Him,
The way may seem quite steep;
But if we trust His grace and strength,
Our steps He will guide and keep.

God always gives enough strength for the next step.

MAMA

Written By: DAVID KIVIAHO, kiisa corporation

She was strong, soft and tender as his life began,

She shed joyful tears to see him, and took his tiny hand.

Fear held her for a moment as she looked into his face,

Another childhood journey had begun; she quietly prayed.

Give me focus, she asked, as he grows in my light,

Give me spiritual courage and Godly might.

Years would pass, as they do, and roads would bend,

She grew with her son, from parent into friend.

Through success and turmoil, their lives were made,

As she watched him grow older, she continued to pray.

Give him focus, she asked, as he grows in Your light,

Give him spiritual courage and Godly might.

The days became shorter, and her light grew dim,

His strength became her comfort and she cherished him.

Many nights they would sit, and she told him of her life,

She prepared him for new days as she slipped from his side.

Give me focus, he asked, as she moves to Your light,

Give me spiritual courage and Godly might.

From grace he was born, in life he was led,

By a woman of faith, by the words she had said,

She was loving and kind…precious and grand,

He was proud to call her Mama, thankful to call her friend.

Getting Better

By: DAVID KIVIAHO, kiisa corporation

Has anyone ever wronged you? Have you ever been offended, had something taken from you personally, or professionally that should not have been taken? Do you just get tired of people because they have hurt you in the past? Do you isolate yourself from others because of these things, or other things that may have happened to you? Then, you are normal! That’s the good news.

This is the bad news. We have all been victimized by lies, dishonesty, craftiness, the self-righteous, superiority complexes, thieves, hate mongers, evil-doers, and the like. People we did not know, those we once called friends or acquaintances, and even family members are guilty of inflicting harm. We are even guilty of inflicting harm. But, the cycle does not have to continue, you can have control of your own life regardless of others and their negative actions. It is what I call, getting better!

Walking through this life is difficult on its own merit. Landmines like loss of employment, severe illness, divorce, relationship breakups, the death of a loved one happens to, or looms for, all people. Navigating these landmines requires courage, strength and divine intervention. Given these facts, it is time to think of positive, more productive ways to deal with one another.

A long life often brings wisdom. Not for all, but it does for those who try and walk according to the tenants of right and wrong. All people are hurt in some way and the cycle of hurt continues when people do not stop to evaluate their actions. No one person can force another to do this, but each person can do it on their own. You should be that person.

In my life, I have seen deceit, death, and hurt that is only paralleled in a bestseller or on the silver screen. When these things were occurring, many years ago, I was clueless at first of their effects. Then, when my vision snapped into focus, it was too late and the damage was done. My life from that point forward began anew. Instead of falling into greater despair, as many expected or some wanted, I picked my life up and moved it forward. When I did this, my family immediately circled the wagons, as well as did my true friends. We evaluated my life together and I made a conscious choice to never let harm, of this magnitude, befall me again.

This is my point. You are solely responsible for your life, not your family, not your friends; you are the one who can determine what your legacy will be when you die. You are responsible for believing in, or not believing in God. You are responsible for how you treat others, and what you do with your talents to physically and spiritually help others in this life. If you are one of those mean-spirited people mentioned in this article and has not realized it before now, start anew. It is never too late to do good things in life. If you are one of those mean-spirited people who will continue to participate in negative behavior, watch out. We people who have been hurt and fully understand why the hurt occurred will no longer be a participant in this behavior you put forward.

Let us surround our lives with love, kindness, and grace. To avoid hurt and pain inflicted by harmful people requires you to be more discerning. If you have family, friends, or acquaintances that fall into this negative category, remove them from your life. Replace them with positive, spiritual people who will encourage you to grow toward those things in life that are meaningful and great.

You have one life to live. Getting better means you are an active participant in that life. Stop acting hurt or offended. Quit isolating because you believe people will harm you. The power belongs to you and whether you utilize it for good or evil is solely your decision, and your responsibility. Back to the good news, you will get better!