Spiritual Thoughts

It is not what you do once in a while, it is what you do day in and day out that makes a difference. Jenny Craig Hebrews 13:1 Let love of the brethren continue.

Psalm 57:6-7 They have prepared a net for my steps; My soul is bowed down; They dug a pit before me; They themselves have fallen into the midst of it. Selah. My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises! This is one of many psalms that talks of praising God in the midst of adversity. In the midst of his oncoming trouble, David stands strong and he proclaims that his "heart is fixed". "It is Well With My Soul" was written by Horatio Gates Spafford during a cross-Atlantic voyage in 1873. Spafford had been a wealthy businessman, but lost his entire fortune in the great Chicago fire of 1871. Shortly after, Spafford lost his only four daughters in a ship accident. While crossing the Atlantic, near the location where his daughters where said to have drowned, he was staring out at the waves and wrote the following words : W hen peace, like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou ...

Following Christ has nothing to do with success as the world sees success. It has to do with love. -Madeleine L'Engle, "Walking on Water" 2 Corinthians 5:14 For the love of Christ controls us .

"Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless." -- Mother Teresa "It is with words as with sunbeams, the more they are condensed, the deeper they burn." -- Robert Southey "Handle them carefully, for words have more power than atom bombs." -- Pearl Strachan

And my tongue shall speak of Your righteousness and of Your praise all the day long. Psalm 35:28 It may be easier to keep our tongues from saying the wrong things, by keeping it otherwise occupied praising the Lord! ******************** It has been said that dignity is the ability to hold back from the tongue that which never should have been on the mind in the first place. Anonymous

Patience strengthens the spirit, sweetens the temper, stifles anger, subdues pride, and bridles the tongue. Anonymous Proverbs 21:23 Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles . A wonderful prayer is in Psalm 141:3, " Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips ." May the Lord grant me patience to strengthen me, calm my temper and pride, and curb my tongue!

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me so love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. Where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console. To be understood as to understand. To be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive. It is in pardoning that we are pardoned. And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

Blessed is the person who is too busy to worry in the daytime and too sleepy to worry at night. Leo Aikman Matthew 6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. A man ninety years old was asked to what he attributed his longevity. "I reckon," he said, with a twinkle in his eye, "it's because most nights I went to bed and slept, when I should have sat up and worried." Let's be able to say the same thing!

Somebody should tell us, right at the start of our lives, that we are dying. Then we might live life to the limit, every minute of every day. Do it! I say. Do it now! There are only so many tomorrows. -Michael Landon (died from Cancer at age 55) 2 Corinthians 4:10 Always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.

When the world says, "Give up," Hope whispers, "Try it one more time." Author unknown Romans 5:3-5 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance produces character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us....

If you wish to travel far and fast, travel light. Take off all your envies, jealousies, unforgiveness, selfishness and fear. - Glenn Clark James 3:16-17 For 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.

Psalms 118:18-19 The LORD has disciplined me severely, But He has not given me over to death. Open to me the gates of righteousness; I shall enter through them, I shall give thanks to the LORD. David had obviously been through some very difficult times. In verse 18, he says that the Lord had "chastened me sore [NASB "disciplined me severely], but he hath not given me over to death". What Faith! Even though he had major difficulties, he praised God that he was alive. There are days when it seems that there is no end to the problems and difficulties, but if I take a moment to step back and look at the big picture I find that those problems are petty and they are nothing compared to the "big picture" of God's plan. If God was finished with me then I would have already fallen asleep in Christ. Obviously, He has something planned for me. I'm alive and well. Praise God! Take a moment to step back from all of your problems and difficulties and praise God and...

Live as though Christ died yesterday, rose from the grave today, and is coming back tomorrow. - Theodore Epp Hebrews 12:1 - 2 ....... let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

A kind word never broke anyone's mouth. -- Irish Proverb Soft words are hard arguments. -- Thomas Fuller Proverbs 15:1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger. (NASB) Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turns away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. (KJV)

Being defeated is often only a temporary condition. Giving up is what makes it permanent. -- Marilyn vos Savant 1946 Luke 18:1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.

Psalm 16:11 You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever . Proverbs 4:18-19 But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, That shines brighter and brighter until the full day. The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know over what they stumble. Each of us are on a journey. A journey through life. This life is a wilderness, through which we all must travel. Are you willing to face this wilderness alone? Are you willing to take a chance on your own knowledge at each crossroad? At some point, each of us will reach the other side of the wilderness. These verses promises us that we can trust God to guide us down this path of life. While we are on that path, we are promised fullness of joy. At the end of the path, when we reach the Kingdom of God, we are promised eternal happiness. Ask Him for His guidance along the right path to His side.

The road to success is dotted with many tempting parking places. Author Unknown Matthew 7:13-14 " Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. "

Don’t go through life, grow through life. ~Eric Butterworth~ Ephesians 4:15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.

Without the Way there is no going; without the Truth there is no knowing; without the Life there is no living . --Thomas a Kempis John 14:16 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Poor eyes limit your sight; poor vision limits your deeds. - - Franklin Field 2 Corinthians 4:17- 18 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Trials, temptations, disappointments -- all these are helps instead of hindrances, if one uses them rightly. They not only test the fiber of a character, but strengthen it. Every conquered temptation represents a new fund of moral energy. Every trial endured and weathered in the right spirit makes a soul nobler and stronger than it was before. -- James Buckham Blessed is the man that endures temptation; for when he hath been approved, he shall receive the crown of life, which (the Lord) promised to them that love him. James 1:12

A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones. Proverbs 17:22 If Christians spent more time with a merry heart, I wonder if their doctor's bills would decrease? ******************** Laughter is the best medicine for a long and happy life. He who laughs--lasts! Wilfred A. Peterson

Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 As believers and followers of God, we will never be alone or without a friend, because we have Jesus as our Friend. Nevertheless, it is good to have friends, also, in the body of Christ. Just remember, Proverbs says, " A man who has friends must himself be friendly." (Prov 18:24) ******************** Friends are God's way of taking care of us. Anonymous