Spiritual Thoughts

Our Father allows U turns. Unknown I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Revelation 3:18-19

Don't be afraid to give your best to what seemingly are small jobs. Every time you conquer one it makes you that much stronger. If you do the little jobs well, the big ones tend to take care of themselves. Dale Carnegie Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15

The big agenda item is God and His glory , not me and my comfort. -Max Lucado He said in a loud voice, " Fear God and give Him glory , because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water." Revelation 14:7

It was character that got us out of bed, commitment that moved us into action, and discipline that enabled us to follow through. Zig Ziglar ….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

You can't have a better tomorrow if you are thinking about yesterday all the time. Charles F. Kettering And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. Luke 9:62

I have but one candle of life to burn, and I would rather burn it out in a land filled with darkness than in a land flooded with light. -John Keith Falconer Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:15-16

Don’t be afraid of death, be afraid of the unlived life . Unknown For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ… That He would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, -to be strengthened with might by his spirit in the inner man; -that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; -that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; - and to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, -that you might be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:14-19

The Bounce So much of success in life has to do with how well you are able to bounce like a ball. Some of us bounce like a multi-colored super-ball while others like a lead cannonball. ~Jake Ehrlich III Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the LORD your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful." 2 Chronicles 20:20

Not the fastest horse can catch a word spoken in anger. -- Chinese Proverb A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly. Proverbs 15:1-2

. . . .words are more powerful than perhaps anyone suspects, and once deeply engraved in a child's mind, they are not easily eradicated. May Sarton Even a fool, when he holds his peace, is counted wise: and he that shuts his lips is esteemed a man of understanding. Proverbs 17:28

If you wouldn't write it and sign it, don't say it. Earl Wilson A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered. Proverbs 17:27

Fear is only as deep as the mind allows. Japanese Proverb In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me. Psalms 56:11

CONTENTMENT "I am a big believer in the ‘mirror test’. All that matters is if you can look in the mirror and honestly tell the person you see there, that you’ve done your best." -- John McKay Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this , not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it – he will be blessed in what he does. James 1:22-25

It is only the fear of God that can deliver us from the fear of man. John Witherspoon The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe. Proverbs 29:25

Hypocrites in the church? Yes, and at work, and at home. Don't hunt through the church for a hypocrite. Go home and look in the glass. Hypocrites? Yes. See that you make the number one less. -Anonymous Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord. 1 Peter 2:1-3

"Make each day useful and cheerful and prove that you know the worth of time by employing it well. Then youth will be happy, old age without regret and life a beautiful success." Louisa May Alcott If the axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength. Wisdom has the advantage of giving success. Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth… Ecclesiastes 10:10; 12:1

A spoken word is not a sparrow. Once it flies out, you can't catch it. -- Russian Proverb Do you see a man who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for him. Proverbs 29:20

Of all the things in the world that stink in the nostrils of men, hypocrisy is the worst. -Spurgeon Be true to yourself, and to God. Meanwhile, …. Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: "Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. Luke 12:1-2

Beginning today , treat everyone you meet as if they were going to be dead by midnight. Extend to them all the care, kindness and understanding you can muster, and do with no thought of any reward. Your life will never be the same again. Og Mandino So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. Matthew 7:12

God takes us into deep waters, not to drown us but to cleanse us. -Unknown Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters. Hear me, O LORD; for thy loving-kindness is good: turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies. Psalm 69:14, 16

Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul. -- Emily Dickinson …we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us . This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil…. Hebrews 6:18-19