Spiritual Thoughts

Friday Tale: Risks T o laugh is to risk appearing the fool.    To weep is to risk appearing sentimental. To reach out for another is to risk involvement.    To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self.  To place your ideas, your dreams, before a crowd is to risk their loss. To love is to risk not being loved in return.    To live is to risk dying. To hope is to risk failure.    BUT risks must be taken. Because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.    If you risk nothing and do nothing, you dull your spirit. You may avoid suffering and sorrow,    BUT you cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love, and live. Chained by your attitude, you are a slave.    You have forfeited your freedom. Only if you risk are you free, ~ From Bits & Pieces  BUT you, O Lord, are my shield from danger, my glory and the lifter of my head.  ~ Psalm 3:3 (CEV)

O nly those who will risk going to far can possibly find out how far one can go. ~ T.S. Eliot  W hy are we in danger every hour? For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. WOE to me if I do not preach the gospel!  ~ 1 Corinthians 9:16 with 15:30

O nly the soul that knows the mighty grief can know the mighty rapture. Sorrows come to stretch out the spaces in the heart for joy. ~ Edwin Markham  S o also you have sorrow now, BUT I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.  ~ John 16:22

Y ou cannot prevent the birds of sorrow from flying over your head, BUT you can prevent them from building nests in your hair. ~ Chinese Proverb  M y soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to Your word.  ~ Psalm 119:28

O f ten the clouds of sorrow reveal the sunshine of His face. ~ Hilys Jasper  A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of one's birth. Better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting, for that is the end of all men, and the living will take it to heart.  ~ Ecclesiastes 7:1-2

Friday Tale - Promises I n the bulb there is a flower; in the seed, an apple tree; In cocoons, a hidden promise: butterflies will soon be free! In the cold and snow of winter there’s a spring that waits to be, Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see. There’s a song in every silence, seeking word and melody; There’s a dawn in every darkness, bringing hope to you and me. From the past will come the future; what it holds, a mystery, Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see. In our end is our beginning; in our time, infinity; In our doubt there is believing; in our life, eternity, In our death, a resurrection; at the last, a victory, Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see . ~ Unknown  T herefore do not throw away your confidence,  which has a great reward. For you have need of patience,  so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.  ~ Hebrews 1

D o what is right, not what is easy. ~ Roy T. Bennett  I f a man is right and does what is just & right, ....walks in my statutes, and keeps my rules by acting faithfully, he is righteous; he shall surely live, declares the Lord God.  ~ Ezekiel 18:5, 9

B oredom is the feeling that everything is a waste of time; Serenity, that NOTHING is. ~ Thomas Szasz  A nd the effect of righteousness     will be peace, and the result of righteousness,     quietness and trust forever.  ~ Isaiah 32:17

H appy moments praise God. Difficult moments, seek God. Quiet moments, worship God. Painful moments, trust God. Every moment, thank God. ~ Unknown  I n God, whose word I praise, In God I put my trust. I will not fear what mortal man can do to me.  ~ Psalm 56:4

I am learning to trust the journey even when I do not understand it. ~ Mila  D on't be angry because of those who do evil, do not be jealous because of wrong-doers.... Commit your way to the LORD, TRUST HIM, and He will act.  ~ Psalm 37:1, 5

Friday Tale: Landscape Your life's like a landscape and God has the brush. The work is in progress, He's not in a rush. Each stroke has a purpose, nothing's by chance. To see all His wisdom takes more than a glance. Notice the sunbeams that shine on the dew – Even the clouds can't keep them from view. Look at the pathway that turns at the hill – Its course will reveal what's next in His will. The stream that's flowing with water so blue Is bringing down blessings meant just for you. The trees that are planted close to the stream Will bring forth more fruit than you've ever seen. The bird in the nest with mouth opened wide Is just a reminder that God will provide. Now look at the sheep in the meadow that's near And notice the Shepherd that keeps them from fear. He's brought them to pastures which give forth the best, That cool and refresh, and keep them in rest. The eagle above, that soars o'er the gale Is

I f Plan A doesn't work, the alphabet has 25 more letters - 204 if you're in Japan. ~ Claire Cook  R emain alert. Keep standing firm in your faith. Keep on being courageous and strong.  ~ 1 Corinthians 16:13

M ake it a rule, and pray to God to help you keep it, never, if possible, to lie down at night without being able to say: "I have made one human being at least a little wiser, or a little happier, or at least a little better this day." ~ Charles Kingsley  T herefore, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience.  ~ Colossians 3:12

T ransformation through togetherness turn this Tuesday toward trustworthiness. ~ Inga von Gadenstedt  D o not be conformed to this world, BUT be continually be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may be able to determine what God's will is - what is proper, pleasing and perfect.  ~ Romans 12:2

T rust the timing of everything. Just because it's not happening right now doesn't mean it never will. ~ Author Unknown  F or still the vision awaits its appointed time, it hastens to the end--it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it, it will surely come; it will not delay. He who trusts in the Lord will be exalted.  ~ Habakkuk 2:3 with Proverbs 29:25 

A n apology is the superglue of life. It can repair just about anything. ~ Lynn Johnston SO reach out to apologize to someone in your past or perhaps your present who you've hurt or offended in some way. Often times a heartfelt "I'm sorry" can heal the deepest of scars.  B e kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.  ~ Ephesians 4:32

F orgiveness means it finally becomes  unimportant   that you hit back.... If you keep hitting back, you stay trapped in the nightmare. ~ Anne Lamott  C ondemn not, and you will not be condemned; F orgive, and you will be forgiven.  ~ Luke 6:37

F orgiveness is not a matter of exonerating people who have hurt you. They may not deserve exoneration.  Forgiveness means cleansing your soul of the bitterness.... What is past is past and there are perhaps no sadder people than the men and women who have a grievance against the world because of something happened years ago, and have let that memory sour their view of life ever since. ~ Harold S. Kushner  P ut on therefore....forbearing one another, and  forgiving each other, if any man have a complaint against any;  even as the Lord forgave you, so also do you .....  ~ Colossians 3:12

F orgiveness is a gift you give yourself. ~ Suzanne Somers  I f we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  ~ 1 John 1:9

I invite everyone to choose forgiveness rather than division, team work over personal ambition. ~Jean Francois Cope A nyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven,  if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ.  ~ 2 Corinthians 1:10

Friday Tale: The Paradoxical Commandments P eople are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.                             Love them anyway.        If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.                             Do good anyway. If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.                              Succeed anyway. The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.                               Do good anyway. Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.                                Be honest and frank anyway. The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.                               Think big anyway. People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.                               Fight for a few underdogs anyway. What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.                               Build anyway. Peopl