Spiritual Thoughts

Friday Tale ~ Don't Quit T he successful man will profit from his mistakes and try again in a different way. ~ Dale Carnegie When things go wrong, as they sometimes will, When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill, When the funds are low and the debts are high, And you want to smile, but you have to sigh, When care is pressing you down a bit Rest if you must, but don’t you quit. Life is queer with its twists and its turns, As everyone of us sometimes learns, And many a failure turns about When they might have won, had they stuck it out. Don’t give up though the pace seems slow, You may succeed with another blow. Often the goal is nearer than, It seems to a faint and faltering man, Often the struggler has given up When he might have captured the victors cup; And he learned too late when the night came down, How close he was to the golden crown. Success is failure turned inside out The silver tint of the clouds of doubt

T he secret of change is to focus all your energy not on fighting the old, BUT on building the new. ~ Dan Millman S o then, we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another. ~ Romans 14:19

T o change ones life: 1. start immediately 2. do it joyfully 3. no exceptions. ~ William James L ay aside the old self, which is being corrupted ..... and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the NEW self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. ~ Ephesians 4:22-24

N othing lowers the level of conversation more than raising the voice. ~ Stanley Horowitz A gentle answer turns away wrath, BUT a harsh word stirs up anger. ~ Proverbs 15:1

M ay we never forget freedom is not free. ~ unknown F or the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. ~ Romans 8:2 

Friday Tale - It's Your Choice O ne day, a grandfather told his grandchildren about his journey to America. He told of the trains and ship that he took from his home in Eastern Europe. He told of being processed at Ellis Island and how he had gone to a cafeteria in lower Manhattan to get something to eat. There, he sat down at an empty table and waited for quite some time for someone to take his order. Nobody came. Finally, a woman with a tray full of food sat down opposite him and explained to him how a cafeteria works.       She said, “You start at that end” – pointing toward a stack of trays – “and then go along the food line and pick out what you want. At the other end, they’ll tell you how much you have to pay.’       The grandfather reflected a moment and then said, “I soon learned that’s how everything works in America. Life’s a cafeteria here. You can get anything you want – even very great success – if you are willing to pay the price. But you’ll never get what

I f Plan A does not work, the alphabet has 25 more letters... 204 if you are in Japan. ~ Claire Cook F or it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the loving God. ~ 1 Timothy 4:10

Y ou build on failure. You use it as a stepping stone. Close the door on the past. You don't try to forget the mistakes, BUT you don't dwell on it. You don't let it have any of your energy, or your time, or any of your space. ~ Johnny Cash T herefore, encourage one another and build up one another, just as you are also doing. ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:11 

S elf pity is our worst enemy and if we yield to it, we can never do anything wise in this world. ~ Helen Keller F or where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. BUT the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. ~ James 3:16-17

I t is not the question " What am I going to be when I grow up?"; you should ask the question, "WHO am I going to be when I grow up?" ~ Goldie Hawn BUT grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. ~ 2 Peter 3:18

Friday Tale - Using ALL Your Strength T here is a wonderful parable about a young boy and his father who came across a large tree branch blocking a country road. The boy boasted, “I bet I can move that branch.” His dad answered, “I'm sure you can, but you'll have to use all your strength.” The boy tackled the task enthusiastically, but after struggling and straining he was only able to move it a few feet. Exhausted, he concluded, “I guess we were both wrong. I can't move it.”     His father said, “you don't know that yet. Try again, but this time use all your strength.”     The boy tried once more and got nowhere. “Dad, I can't do it alone. I need help.”     “That's all you had to say, Son. I am part of your strength.”     Together they moved the branch.     This is an important lesson. There are many things we can't do alone, but that doesn't mean we can't get them done. We are all surrounded by resources that can help us achiev

L earn to light a candle in the darkest moments of someone's life. Be the light that helps others see; it is what gives life deep significance. ~ Roy T. Bennett L et your light shine before me in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. ~ Matthew 5:16

P eace. It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. It means to be in the midst of these things and still be calm in your heart. ~ Unknown N ow may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all! ~ 2 Thessalonians 3:16 

N o matter how dark the clouds seem, they are only clouds. The sun is always shining, the sky is always light blue. The clouds are just droplets of water, gathered together to tease people who don't remember the truth. ~ Chris Collins S ing to the LORD with thanksgiving; Sing praises to our God on the lyre, who covers the heavens with clouds, who provides rain for the earth, who makes grass to grow on the mountains. ~ Psalm 147:7-8

N o one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of others. ~ Charles Dickens B ear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. ~ Galatians 6:2

Friday Tale - Choose Day M y favorite day of the Week: Chooseday!    As I wake up every morning I realize that everything that I am about to do on this day will be done as a complete choice on my part. Yes .... everything!          Because I realize that, I do my best to choose wisely, and here are some of my favorite choices: ·       I choose to feel and be perfectly healthy; ·       I choose to feel and be worthy of respect; ·       I choose to feel and be happy and full of joy; ·       I choose to feel and be loved and appreciated; ·       I choose to feel and be worthy of the best in life; ·       I choose to feel and be abundant in every aspect of my life; ·       I choose to feel and be grateful for how I experience life; and ·       I choose to understand that what I get out of life is in direct proportion to what I contribute to life; and the people in it!          Making a conscious choice to actually 'feel' and 'be' these

W e ought to give thanks for all fortune: if it is "good", because it is good; if "bad" because it works in us patience and humility.... ~ C.S. Lewis W e know that tribulation works patience, and patience, experience, and experience, hope: and this hope does not disappoint. ~ Romans 5:3-5

P atience is not the ability to wait, patience is the ability to wait and maintain a positive attitude. ~ Joyce Meyer T herefore, I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love.... ~ Ephesians 4:1-2

P atience, persistence, and perseverance. A little more each day, a little better each day. ~ Jonathan Lockwood Huie BUT thou o man of God, ... follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. ~ 1 Timothy 6:10-11

P atience is the ability to count down before you blast off. ~ Author Unknown P atience is better than pride. Keep your temper under control; it is foolish to harbor a grudge. ~ Ecclesiastes 7:8-9

Friday Tale ~ Thankfulness T hankfulness is not a minor virtue. It is not one of the elementary virtues [that] may be left behind as we become more mature. I believe that thankfulness is essential to the strength of every virtue, and that without it every other branch is starved and lean. Life without thankfulness is devoid of love and passion. Hope without thankfulness is lacking in fine perception. Faith without thankfulness lacks strength and fortitude. Every virtue divorced from thankfulness is maimed and limps along the spiritual road. ~ John Henry Jowett T he LORD is my strength and my shield, my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart exults, and with my song I shall thank Him. ~ Psalm 28:7