Spiritual Thoughts

New Year’s Recipe Take twelve whole months, Clean them thoroughly of all bitterness, hate, and jealousy, Make them just as fresh and clean as possible. Now cut each month into twenty-eight, thirty, or thirty-one different parts, but don't make up the whole batch at once. Prepare it one day at a time out of these ingredients. Mix well into each day one part of faith, one part of patience, one part of courage, and one part of work. Add to each day one part of hope, faithfulness, generosity, and kindness. Blend with one part prayer, one part meditation, and one good deed. Season the whole with a dash of good spirits, a sprinkle of fun, a pinch of play, and a cupful of good humor. Pour all of this into a vessel of love. Cook thoroughly over radiant joy, garnish with a smile, and serve with quietness, unselfishness, and cheerfulness. You're bound to have a Happy New Year.   Author Unknown From AsAManThinke...

What is the work of the heart?          Prayer Jewish Proverb O LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble;           You will strengthen their heart, You will incline Your ear…. Psalm 10:17

    Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase,      just take the first step. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness.         When you walk, your step will not be hampered; and if you run, you will not stumble.               Proverbs 4:11-12

"If you love life, don't waste time, for time is what life is made up of." - Bruce Lee Conduct yourselves wisely….. making the most of the time. Colossians 4:5 RSV Walk in wisdom …..redeeming the time. Colossians 4:5 KJV

Every tomorrow has two handles.    We can take hold of it with the handle of anxiety           or the handle of faith. Henry Ward Beecher Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears   for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." James 4:14-15

Gift suggestions :            To your enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance.           To a friend, your heart. To a customer, service.            To all, charity (love). To every child, a good example. - Oren Arnold For the wages of sin is death,          but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

All the gold in the world has no significance.      That which is lasting are the thoughtful acts   which we do for our fellow man. Adolfo Prieto Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! 2 Corinthians 9:15

This is my wish for you:       peace of mind, prosperity through the year,        happiness that multiplies, health for you and yours,          fun around every corner, energy to chase your dreams,          joy to fill your holidays! - D.M. Dellinger For by grace you have been       saved through faith;             and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; Ephesians 2:8

The art of happiness is like any art -          the more you practice it, the better you get at it!          Jewish proverb How lovely on the mountains       Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who announces peace          And brings good news of happiness, Who announces salvation,          And says to Zion, "Your God reigns!" Isaiah 52:7

May your walls know joy, may every room hold laughter, and every window open to great possibility. - Mary Anne Radmacher But let all who take refuge in You be glad, Let them ever sing for joy. Psalm 5:11

A Friend is a treasure, more precious than Gold. For love shared is priceless, and never grows old. Author Unknown A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity. Proverbs 17:17

The real measure of your wealth is how much you'd be worth if you lost all your money. - Bernard Meltzer Great wealth is in the house of the righteous…. Proverbs 15:6

"Being defeated is often a temporary condition. Giving up is what makes it permanent." - Maryilyn vos Savant Jesus said, "These things I have spoken to you,       so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage;          I have overcome the world." John 16:33

If you are going to achieve excellence in big things,         you develop the habit in little matters. Excellence is not an exception,     it is a prevailing attitude. Colin Powell "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant!         You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.          Come and share your master's happiness!' Matthew 25:23

LSGBS - Let Something Good Be Said. Eric Butterworth   Anxiety in a man's heart weighs it down,      But a good word makes it glad. Proverbs 12:25

God is with you wherever you go He is always at your right hand, When you pray He hears your every word and promises to understand. We may call upon Him day or night for our Father needs no sleep Psalms 121, 1 Sam 2:9 shows His godly ones He'll keep. God knows our needs before we ask and guides us through each trial or task. For more than we may begin to conceive will God do for us, if we only believe. Christ's return is very close I can feel His breath on my nape He is coming soon to claim His own but the wicked will not escape. Sue Smith Gen 21:22;  Josh 1:9;  Isa 41:13;  Psa 18:6;  Psa 50:15; Psa 55:22;  Psa 121:3,4;  1 Sam2:9;  Luke 12:30;  1 Cor 10:13;   Eph 3:20;  John 14:23;  Mark 11:23;  Matt 7:7;   In my distress I called upon the LORD; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ...

In essence, if we want to direct our lives,   we must take control of our consistent actions.   It's not what we do  once in a while           that shapes our lives, but what we do consistently . - Anthony Robbins But God shows undeserved kindness to everyone. …        You will suffer for a while, but God will make you complete, steady ,          strong, and firm. 1 Peter 5:10

Never mistake knowledge for wisdom.        One helps you make a living, the other helps you make a life. -Sandra Carey Blessed is the one who finds wisdom,         and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain          from silver and her profit better than gold. Proverbs 3:13-14

The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing in the right place, but to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment. -Dorothy Nevill Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent. Proverbs 11:12

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 You are the people of God; ………. So then, you must clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Colossians 3:12

DO IT NOW!    "Stop rationalizing, stop stewing. Get up out of your chair and start doing." - Denis Waitley But be doers of the word,      and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. James 1:22

The only place where dreams are impossible     is in your own mind. Emalie Be strong and courageous.     Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you.       He will not leave you or forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:6

Unselfish and noble actions are the most radiant pages in the biography of souls. David Thomas Be kind to one another, tenderhearted,      forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

"Avoid the crowd. Do your own thinking independently. Be the chess player, not the chess piece." - Ralph Charell I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way. Philippians 3:14-15

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow. Melody Beattie I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving. Psalm 69:30

Thanksgiving Blessing Today I am so truly thankful for so many things. I have been blessed in so many ways. I am thankful for the wonderful country I live in, and for all its many heroes. I am thankful for my wonderful family and friends. They are some of my greatest blessings. I am thankful for the creatures that are put on earth for us all. They teach us so much, unconditional love, loyalty, and understanding. I ask that all who suffer with illness have this day free from pain. I am thankful for all who have tables filled with food and someone to share it with. And for those that have no family or food, Lord, I ask that You comfort them. I am thankful for the time I had with my loved ones. They shall always be loved and greatly missed. I am thankful for allowing me to have love and understanding in my heart. It is these many blessings that make my humble life happy and fulfilled.   Amen  (James Allen)   May you...

G is for gratitude. When I'm in gratitude, if I even stop and make a list of the things I'm grateful for, that's a form of prayer. It breaks my trance of misery or self-absorption. -Anne Lamott Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6

Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings. ~William Arthur Ward For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving… 1 Timothy 4:4