Spiritual Thoughts

GRATITUDE can turn a negative into a positive.Find a way to be thankful for your troublesand they can become your blessings. ~ Author Unknown Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16

Notice, we never pray for folks we gossip about, and we never gossip about the folk for whom we pray! For prayer is a great deterrent. - Leonard Ravenhill A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret. Proverbs 11:13 Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down. Proverbs 26:20

If you plant for a year, plant grain. If you plant for ten years, plant trees. If you plant for a 100 years, plant men. If you plant for eternity, plant the word. -Unknown Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and u...

Goals are incredible important…or impotent. You decide." - Doug Firebaugh I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14

Be Thankful Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire, If you did, what would there be to look forward to? Be thankful when you don't know something For it gives you the opportunity to learn. Be thankful for the difficult times. During those times you grow. Be thankful for your limitations Because they give you opportunities for improvement. Be thankful for each new challenge Because it will build your strength and character. Be thankful for your mistakes They will teach you valuable lessons. Be thankful when you're tired and weary Because it means you've made a difference. It is easy to be thankful for the good things. A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are also thankful for the setbacks. ~ Author Unknown ~

Thou hast given so much to me. Give me one thing more — a grateful heart. -George Herbert Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe. Hebrews 12:28

You’ll become closer to God not by presenting God with your troubles, but by thanking God for your blessings. Unknown Praise the LORD! Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His loving-kindness is everlasting. Who can speak of the mighty deeds of the LORD, Or can show forth all His praise? Psalm 106:1-2

Constant complaint is the poorest sort of pay for all the comforts we enjoy. -Benjamin Franklin Why should any living man complain when punished for his sins? Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the LORD. Lamentations 3:39-40 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. Ephesians 1:3

Some day, you will be wrestling with the great temptation, or trembling under the great sorrow of your life. But the real struggle is here, now, in these quiet weeks. Character cannot be made except by a steady, long continued process. -- Phillips Brooks (1835-1893) And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts... Romans 5:3-5

Until you value your time, you will not do anything with it. M. Scott Peck By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him.In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 1 John 4:9-11

Thinking is easy, acting is difficult, and to put one's thoughts into action is the most difficult thing in the world. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 1 Peter 1:13

You can not see the sun when you are crying. American proverb Weeping may last for the night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning. Psalms 30:5 Count your blessings, they are there.

God will take you through the twists and turns, if you stay on the straight and narrow. -unknown 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. Matthew 7:13-14

When I want to speak let me think first. Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary? If not let it be unsaid. Maltbie D. Babcock Finally, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. Philippians 4:8

Every tomorrow has two handles. We can take hold of it with the handle of anxiety or the handle of faith. Henry Ward Beecher But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? You men of little faith! And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not keep worrying. For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things. But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you. Luke 12:28-31

We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give. -Winston Churchill To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing. 1 Peter 3:8-9

You should not suffer the past. You should be able to wear it like a loose garment, take it off and let it drop. -Eva Jessye Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. The wild animals honor me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the desert and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise. Isaiah 43:18-21

The best of all things is to learn. Money can be lost or stolen, health and strength may fail, but what you have committed to your mind is yours forever. Louis L'Amour Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:29-30

Pain insists on being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains; it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world. C.S. Lewis Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. The troubles of my heart have multiplied; free me from my anguish. Look upon my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins. Psalm 25:16-18

In the long run, men hit only what they aim at. Therefore, they had better aim at something high. -Henry David Thoreau But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 1 Timothy 1:5

There are many ways of going forward, but only one way of standing still. -Franklin D. Roosevelt Let me hear Your loving-kindness in the morning; For I trust in You; Teach me the way in which I should walk; For to You I lift up my soul. Psalm 143:8