Spiritual Thoughts

If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome. Anne Bradstreet He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. Deuteronomy 8:3

Growing Through Life's Difficulties ==================================== Problems will either stop you or stretch you. Most of the times we want to use our faith to get rid of a problem with Divine delivering power, but we forget about Divine enabling power, to enable us to endure. You are not just going through, ...you are growing through. Unknown Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:10

A book holds a house of gold. - Chinese Proverb The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. Psalm 19:8-10

"I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one." - Maya Angelou As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. We count those blessed who endured. James 5:10-11

Good habits are as easy to form as bad ones. -Tim McCarver Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. Matthew 7:24

My mind is a garden. My thoughts are the seeds. My harvest will be either flower or weeds. -Mel Weldon Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way. Psalm 139:23-24

"In football, if you stand still you go backwards. " - Peter Reid The same happens in life. Which way are you going? Thus says the LORD: "Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls. Jeremiah 6:16

Snowflakes are a fragile thing individually, but look at what they can do when they stick together . Fernando Bonaventura If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:10-12

Be careful the environment you choose for it will shape you; be careful the friends you choose for you will become like them. W. Clement Stone Do not be deceived: "Bad company ruins good morals." 1 Corinthians 15:33 (RSV) Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character." 1 Corinthians 15:33 (NIV)

The future is something, which everyone reaches at the rate of sixty minutes an hour, whatever he does, whoever he is. C. S. Lewis Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time. Colossians 4:5

If you do not conquer self, you will be conquered by self. Napoleon Hill Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21

It doesn't matter which side of the fence you get off on sometimes. What matters most is getting off. You cannot make progress without making decisions. Jim Rohn I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth. Revelation 3:15-16

Clean up your own backyard. Change by example. Just be the way you want others to be and hope they pay attention. Larry Winget Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12

In everything set them an example by doing what is good. Titus 2:7 Believe while others ... Believe while others are doubting. Plan while others are playing. Study while others are sleeping. Decide while others are delaying. Prepare while others are daydreaming. Begin while others are procrastinating. Work while others are wishing. Save while others are wasting. Listen while others are talking. Smile while others are frowning. Commend while others are criticizing. Persist while others are quitting. By William Arthur Ward

"Show me a man who cannot bother to do little things and I'll show you a man who cannot be trusted to do big things." - Lawrence Bell "His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.' Matthew 25:21

We must accept finite disappointment, but we must never lose infinite hope. Martin Luther King Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:13

OUR TIME is only once - and never returns. So let us make the best of it while we have it. How to make the best of it- that is the question on which so many make shipwreck. -Robert Roberts Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. …. understand what the will of the Lord is. Ephesians 5:15-17

If I have any possessions I refuse to part with, I don't own them; they own me. Keith Jesperson After that He went out and noticed a tax collector named Levi sitting in the tax booth, and He said to him, "Follow Me." And he left everything behind, and got up and began to follow Him. Luke 5:27-28

If there is bitterness in the heart, sugar in the mouth won't make life sweeter. But God’s love makes the heart sweet, And the mouth full of praise. - Yiddish Proverb I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD'S great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:19-23

Psalm 19:7-11 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes 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 for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant 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. Thank you for taking the time to en...

Quit griping about your church; if it was perfect, you couldn't belong… Unknown For our knowledge is imperfect and our prophecy is imperfect; but when the perfect comes, the imperfect will pass away. 1 Corinthians 13:9-10

"Winners are losers that got up and gave it one more try." Unknown "The righteous falls seven times but rises again ..." Proverbs 24:16

Life is 10 percent what you make it and 90 percent how you take it. Irving Berlin Therefore now, O LORD, take my life from me, I beseech thee, for it is better for me to die than to live." And the LORD said, "Do you do well to be angry?" Jonah 4:3-4