Spiritual Thoughts

A Morning Prayer Let me today do something that will take A little sadness from the World's vast store, And may I be so favored as to make Of joy's too scanty sum a little more. Let me not hurt, by any selfish deed Or thoughtless word, the heart of foe or friend. Nor would I pass unseeing worth need, Or sin by silence when I should defend. However meager be my worldly wealth, Let me give something that shall aid my kind -- A word of courage, or a thought of health Dropped as I pass for troubled hearts to find. Let me tonight look back across the span 'Twixt dawn and dark and to my conscience say -- Because of some good act to beast or man, "The world is better that I lived today." Ella Wheeler Wilcox

A smile is the gentle curved line that sets a lot of things straight. (Anon)

A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright Proverbs 15:30 A cheerful look brings joy to the heart...

"The probability of life originating from accident is comparable to the Unabridged Dictionary resulting from an explosion in a printing factory." - Edwin Conklin Isaiah 40:28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.

These Things He Hath Promised: The Lord did not promise all days would be bright, Or promise we'd never shed tears in the night. For life is a mixture of sunshine and rain, Of happy times, laughter, of sorrow and pain. He did promise always He'd stay be our side And never forsake us, whatever betide. He promised His grace for each trial and task, His strength in our weakness - we have but to ask; His tender forgiveness, new life from above, His peace beyond measure, His undying love. These things He hath promised, these things He imparts To all who will trust Him with faith in their hearts. Beverly J. Anderson

Faith is not a thing which one "loses," we merely cease to shape our lives by it. Georges Bernanos (1888-1948) So, do you live your faith? Fight to help your faith grow, one little grain of seed at a time. 1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Matthew 17:20 He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

Psalms 71:20-22 Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up. You will increase my honor and comfort me once again. I will praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, O my God; I will sing praise to you with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel. David stood in amazement at the inconceivable greatness and power of the Almighty God. David assures us in verse 20 that, no matter how difficult our life becomes, there is a limit to the troubles that God will permit us to endure. As we continue to trust in him and praise him through our troubles, God begins to increase us and bless us. (Romans 8:28) Take a moment to recognize the power of God in your life. May God bless you day with hope

Psalms 40:4 How blessed is the man who has made the LORD his trust, And has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood. Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders which You have done, And Your thoughts toward us; There is none to compare with You. If I would declare and speak of them, They would be too numerous to count. What are you complaining about today? Have you let a meaningless situation or issue interfere with your relationship with God? Have you let your pride or selfishness create a division between you and a brother or sister in Christ? Has a bad commute to work put you in a bad mood and removed your eyes from Christ? David tells us in this psalm that we should spend more time thanking God for the wonderful things that he has done for us and less time complaining about the small things that tend to distract us from our daily walk with him. Put a new song in your heart today and focus on the things that God has blessed you with.

It's better to light a candle than to curse the darkness. Chinese proverb Matthew 5:14-16 "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."

RISKS As I think back and look forward, I see how nothing is unambiguous; nothing is without risk. Salvation does not come through simplicities. A. Bartlett Giamatti (1938-1989) ________________________________ Risks don't always turn out as we had hoped, but they always bring greater insight and the reward of living every day to the fullest. Mary Kay Mueller Philippians 2:28-30 Therefore I have sent him all the more eagerly so that when you see him again you may rejoice and I may be less concerned about you. Receive him then in the Lord with all joy, and hold men like him in high regard; because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was deficient in your service to me.

Psalms 145:2-3 Every day I will bless You, And I will praise Your name forever and ever.Great is the LORD, and highly to be praised, And His greatness is unsearchable. David proclaims in Psalm 145 that "every day" he will praise God. Although we usually offer our praises to God at least on Sunday's, we are reminded that Monday's and the other weekdays are just as important in our relationship with God. There are days that I find myself so wrapped up in the day's tasks that I forget to spend time with God. Today, don't leave Him out of your life. May God bless your day with praise,

Laughter is the brush that sweeps away the cobwebs of the heart. Mort Walker Psalms 126:2-3 Then our mouth was filled with laughter And our tongue with joyful shouting; Then they said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them." The LORD has done great things for us; We are glad.

Man does not live by a turkey in every oven or a color TV set in every home. Man lives by faith and hope and love, by the star on the horizon, by the trumpet that will not call retreat. -- E. Merrill Root (1895-1973) Matthew 4:4 But Jesus answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.' "

We need to learn to set our course by the stars, not by the lights of every passing ship. Omar N. Bradley (1893-1981) "Ideals are like stars; you will not succeed in touching them with your hands. But like the seafaring man on the desert of waters, you choose them as your guides, and following them you will reach your destiny." Carl Schurz May each day for you be filled with reaching for the stars, even if you just get to touch a cloud or two. It's better than eating dirt.

How blessed we are to serve a merciful God. Though we may fall, He helps us to get back on our feet. Verse 25 in Psalm 37 is a truth straight from David in his older years, "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread". When we try our best, and delight in God and His ways, God will provide, what is needed, when needed. Psalm 37:23-26 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the LORD upholds him with His hand. I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lends; And his descendants are blessed.

Kindness has converted more sinners than zeal, eloquence, and learning Anonymous What is desired in a man is kindness. . . . Proverbs 19:22

SUCCESS It’s doing your job the best you can, And being just to your fellow man. It’s figuring how, and learning why And looking forward and thinking high. And dreaming little and doing much It’s keeping always in closest touch With what is finest in word and deed. It’s being clean, and it’s playing fair: It’s laughing lightly at dame despair It’s sharing sorrow, and work, and mirth. And making better this good old earth. It’s serving and striving through strain and stress It’s doing your noblest – that’s success. – Unknown

Lord, keep me faithful in little things, Willingly doing the tasks each day brings. Help me be loving and humble, I pray, Tenderly showing to others Thy way. And, dear Lord, when I long so to do Some mighty work to show my deep love for You, Then help me remember, oh, dear King of kings, I must be faithful in little things. Joyce Butler Miller Luke 19:17 "And he said to him, 'Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.'

There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it. Edith Wharton Matthew 5:14-16 " You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. "

Psalms 34:6-8 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. O taste and see that the LORD is good! Happy is the man who takes refuge in him! God's love gives us an abundant joy in our lives that will never be found in anywhere else. The saving love, and accompanying joy that is available from our God comes highly recommended by David, a shepherd boy, a lion killer, a giant killer, a murderer, an adulterer, a king, and a forgiven child of God. Taste and see that the Lord is good. Put your trust in Him and praise his Name. He will bless your life. Try it. You'll like it.

Psalm 19:7-11 The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether. They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them Your servant is warned; In keeping them there is great reward. God's Word should be a daily part of our lives. This Psalm is a wonderful explanation of the true meaning and power of God's Word. Five characteristics of God's word are defined along with their effects upon our lives. God's word: * Converts our soul, * Provides us wisdom, * Rejoices our heart, * Enlightens our eyes, * Endures Forever. We will find a great reward for keeping God's Word in our heart.

"Praise is like a plow set to go deep into the soil of believers' hearts. It lets the glory of God into the details of daily living." - C.M. Hanson Psalms 147:1-8 Praise the LORD. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him! The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the exiles of Israel. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit. The LORD sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground. Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make music to our God on the harp. He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills.

There are people who have money and people who are rich. Coco Chanel James 2:5 Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?

"I no longer worry about being a brilliant conversationalist. I simply try to be a good listener. I notice that people who do that are usually welcome wherever they go. " - Frank Bettger James 1:19 My dear brothers, take note of this: everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry Proverbs 19:20 Listen to advice, and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise.