Spiritual Thoughts

Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth. I sat at a table where were rich food and wine in abundance, and obsequious attendance, but sincerity and truth were not; and I went away hungry from the inhospitable board. Henry David Thoreau (1817 - 1862) Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed. Therefore let us celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 1 Corinthians 5:7-8

Tomorrow's plans I do not know, I only know this minute; But He will say, "This is the way, By faith walk ye in it." unknown He also struck down all the firstborn in their land, The first fruits of all their vigor.Then He brought them out with silver and gold, And among His tribes there was not one who stumbled. And He brought forth His people with joy, His chosen ones with a joyful shout. Psalm 105:36, 39, 42, 43

Faith sees the invisible , believes the incredible , and receives the impossible . unknown The LORD wrought wonders before their fathers In the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan. He divided the sea and caused them to pass through, And He made the waters stand up like a heap. Psalm 78:12-13

Depend on it - God's word done in God's way will never lack God's supplies. unknown You sent miraculous signs and wonders against Pharaoh, against all his officials and all the people of his land, for you knew how arrogantly the Egyptians treated them. You made a name for yourself, which remains to this day. You divided the sea before them, so that they passed through it on dry ground, but you hurled their pursuers into the depths, like a stone into mighty waters. Nehemiah 9:10-11

It is better to suffer wrong than to do it. . . . Samuel Johnson But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 1 Peter 2:20-21

Do not choose to be wrong, for the sake of being different. - Lord Samuel Now therefore, fear the LORD, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served . . . Serve the LORD!And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve. . . But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." Joshua 24:14-15

Kind HEARTS are the GARDENS, Kind THOUGHTS are the ROOTS, Kind WORDS are the FLOWERS, Kind DEEDS are the FRUITS. Unknown For just as the body without the breath is dead, so also faith without works is dead. James 2:26

I arise today through God's strength to pilot me; God's might to uphold me, God's wisdom to guide me, God's eye to look before me, God's ear to hear me, God's word to speak for me, God's hand to guard me, God's way to lie before me, God's shield to protect me. For You are my rock and my fortress; Therefore, for Your name's sake, Lead me and guide me. Psalm 31:3

Truly my soul silently waits for God; From Him comes my salvation. Psalm 62:1 Be still, my soul, the hour is hastening on When we shall be forever with the Lord; When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone, Sorry forgot, love's purest joys restored. Be still, my soul! When change and tears are past, All safe and blessed we shall meet at last. unknown

Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him Psalm 37:7 From vintages of sorry are deepest joys distilled, And the cup outstretched for healing is oft at Marah filled; God leads to joy through weeping, and to quietness through strife; Through yielding unto conquest through death to endless life. Be still! He hath enrolled thee for the kingdom and the crown. Be silent! Let Him mold thee, who calls thee His own. unknown

It does not matter how slowly you go, so long as you do not stop. Confucius The Lord God . . . awakens me morning by morning, he awakens my ear to hear as the learned. Isaiah 50:4

There are two ways of exerting one's strength: one is pushing down, the other is pulling up. - Booker T. Washington Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

Never look down to test the ground before taking your next step; only he who keeps his eye fixed on the far horizon will find his right road. Dag Hammarskjold Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and Godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and eagerly await its coming. 2 Peter 3:11-12

If you look back, you'll soon be going that way. American Proverb But Lot's wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt. Genesis 19:26 Don't give up - don't quit - look forward to your goal.

When you reach the end of your rope you will find the hem of His garment. Unknown And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment; for she said to herself, "If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well."But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, "Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well." And the woman was made well from that hour. Matthew 9:20-22

Without the Way there is no going; without the Truth there is no knowing; without the Life there is no living. Thomas a Kempis Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life . No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6 Teach me your way , O LORD, and I will walk in your truth ; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever . Psalm 86:11-12

Waste your money and you're only out of money, but waste your time and you've lost part of your life. Michael Leboeuf Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, Galatians 6:9-10

Step by step. I can't think of any other way of accomplishing anything. Michael Jordan Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. Psalm 86:11

"I never failed once. It just happened to be a 2000-step process." Thomas A. Edison Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him For the help of His presence. Psalm 42:5 Said again in Psalm 42:11 and 43:5 - we need continuous reminders to HOPE in God!

Life is like a coin. You can spend it any way you wish, but you only spend it once. Lillian Dickson Ho! Every one who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk Without money and without cost.Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And delight yourself in abundance.Incline your ear and come to Me. Listen, that you may live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you. Isaiah 55:1-3

"Losers make promises they often break. Winners make commitments they always keep." Denis Waitley DWYSYWD = Do What You Say You Will Do (work, marriage vows, friendship - every where, every day) So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own? 'Well done, my good servant!' his master replied. 'Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.' Luke 16:11-12, Luke 19:17