Spiritual Thoughts

  M usic washes away from the soul the dust of every day life. ~ Berthold Auerbach  S peak to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to God. ~ Ephesians 5:19-20

Friday Tale - The Sands of Forgiveness A story tells that two friends were walking through the desert. During some point of the journey they had an argument, and one friend slapped the other one in the face.     The one who got slapped was hurt, but without saying anything, wrote in the sand: TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SLAPPED ME IN THE FACE.       They kept on walking until they found an oasis, where they decided to take a bath. The one who had been slapped got stuck in the mire and started drowning, but the friend saved him.      After he recovered from the near drowning, he wrote on a stone: TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SAVED MY LIFE.      The friend who had slapped and saved his best friend asked him, "After I hurt you, you wrote in the sand and now, you write on a stone, why?"       The other friend replied "When someone hurts us we should write it down in sand where winds of forgiveness can erase it away. But, when someone does something good for us, we must engr

  C onfidence on the outside begins by living with integrity on the inside. ~ Brian Tracy O L ord, who may abide in your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy hill? He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, and speaks truth in his heart. ~ Psalm 15:1-2

  B etter keep yourself clean and bright; you are the window through which you must see the world. ~ George Bernard Shaw  L et us draw near [to God] with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. ~ Hebrews 10:22

I f there is rightness in the heart, there will be beauty in the character. If there is beauty in the character, there will be harmony in the home. ~ Unknown  H e who walks in integrity and with moral character walks securely. ~ Proverbs 10:9 (Amplified)

  N one will improve your lot if you yourself do not. ~ Bertolt Brecht  D o your best to improve your faith. You can do this by adding goodness, understanding, self-control, patience, devotion to God, concern for others, and love. ~ 2 Peter 1:5-7

  Friday Tale - Children Learn   IF children live with CRITICISM          They learn to CONDEMN. If children live with HOSTILITY          They learn to FIGHT. If children live with RIDICULE          They learn to BE SHY. If children live with SHAME          They learn to FEEL GUILTY. If children live with PERSEVERANCE          They learn to BE PATIENT. If children live with ENCOURAGEMENT          They learn to HAVE CONFIDENCE. If children live with PRAISE          They learn to APPRECIATE. If children live with FAIRNESS          They learn JUSTICE. If children live with SECURITY          They learn to HAVE FAITH. If children live with APPROVAL          They learn to LIKE THEMSELVES. If children live with ACCEPTANCE and FRIENDSHIP          They learn to FIND LOVE IN THE WORLD. ~ Unknown Author W alk as children of Light, trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. ~ Ephesians 5:8, 10

N one of us got where we are solely by pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps. We got there because somebody bent down and helped us pick up our boots. ~ Justic Thurgood Marshall  I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the ecclesia at Chencrea, that you receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and that you help her in whatever matter she may have need of you; for she herself has also been a helper of many, and of myself as well. ~ Romans 16:1-2

I always get to where I'm going by walking away from where I've been. ~ Winnie the Pooh D epart from me you evil-doers, that I may keep the commandments of God. ~ Psalm 119:115

  T ransformation through togetherness turn this Tuesday towards trust-worthiness. ~ Inga von Gadenstedt  D o not be conformed to this world, BUT be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. ~ Romans 12:2

  A ttitude is a little thing that makes a big difference. ~ Winston Churchill  S how a gentile attitude toward everyone. The Lord is coming soon. ~ Philippians 4:5 (GNB)

Friday Tale - See the Trees. I lived in Alabama on a half-acre lot blessed huge oak trees that were 40 feet in diameter. They were HUGE! The house was laid out such that every bedroom faced the backyard. Each bedroom had a large picture window. The view was breathtaking. I enjoyed just looking at the trees. In the fall I would identify a particular leaf that was falling and watched it for what seemed liked 5 minutes before it fell to earth.          One day I invited this married couple over to enjoy the view from the bedroom window. I took them into the bedroom and excitedly pointed to the trees out of the window and exclaimed, "just look"!          After about 20 seconds there was no comment from the couple. I however, noticed a big frown on the woman's face.          I said, "What's wrong". She was reluctant to reply.          I insisted and again said, "What's wrong?"          She relented and said, "Don't you see those

  J ust breathe in, breath out, and remember that moving forward means taking it one step at a time. ~ Unknown  I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; BUT one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. ~ Philippians 3:13-14

  I find television very educational. Every time someone turns it on, I go in the other room and read a book. ~ Groucho Marx  Y our word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You. ~ Psalm 119:11

E very day may not be good, BUT there's something good in every day. ~ Unknown   B lessed is the one whom You chasten, O Lord, and whom You teach out of Your law, that You may grant him relief from the day of adversity. ~ Psalm 94:12-13

  D on't count the days. Make the days count. ~ Muhammad Ali   F or I am confident of this very thing,  that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ. ~ Philippians 1:6

  Friday Tale - Last Day   O nce there was a Rabbi who was asked, "When should a man repent?"   And the wise old Rabbi answered, "On the last day of his life."   "BUT," they said, "none of us can be sure which day is the last day of our life."   The Rabbi smiled and said, "Then repent now." Repentance is not a negative self-condemnation. Repentance is "turning around" to walk God's way. What else can you do NOW to change your life? ~ Jewish tale S o remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you. ~ Revelation 3:3

E mploy whatever God has entrusted you with, in doing good, all possible, good, in every possible kind and degree, to the household of faith, to all men. ~ John Wesley   BUT love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward shall be great, and you shall be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. ~ Luke 6:35

I f you can't be a pencil to write anyone's happiness, then try to be a nice eraser to remove their sadness. ~ Unknown   W e urge you, admonish the unruly,  encourage the faint-hearted, help the weak, and be patient with everyone. ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:14

I can be changed by what happens to me, BUT I refuse to be reduced by it. ~ Maya Angelou   W e have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and understanding, SO THAT you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. ~ Colossians 1:9-10

D o not run after happiness, BUT seek to do good, and you will find that happiness will run after you. ~ James Freeman Clarke G o your way, eat your bread with joy and drink your wine with a cheerful heart, if you are righteous, wise and in the hands of God; for God has already approved and accepted your works. ~ Ecclesiastes 9:7 (AMP)