Spiritual Thoughts

"Patience can't be acquired overnight.           It is just like building up a muscle. Every day you need to work on it." - Eknath Easwaran May you be strengthened with all power,         according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy,           giving thanks to the Father Colossians 1:12-13

The person who says it cannot be done         should not interrupt the person who is doing it. Unknown That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing,          being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God. Colossians 1:10

Far better to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs,              even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither                enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight            that knows not victory, nor defeat.   – Theodore Roosevelt But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. T herefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58-57

"We should every night call ourselves to an account: What infirmity have I mastered today? What passions opposed! What temptation resisted? What virtue acquired?" - Marcus Annaeus Seneca Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the false accuser, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. James 4:7-8

Be miserable. Or motivate yourself. Whatever has to be done,   it's always your choice.   ~Wayne Dyer But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. Psalm 13:5

Life is like riding a bicycle.       You don't fall off unless you plan to stop peddling. ~Claude Pepper In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action,               is dead. James 2:17

"You will never change your life until        you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is         found in your daily routine ." - John C. Maxwell   Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day . 2 Corinthians 4:16

Many times, when I was having a hard time with one of my children, God would always remind me that He was having a harder time with me than I was with them. Charlie Jones ….that we may be no longer children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error; but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, even Christ…. Ephesians 4:14-15

Forgiveness does not equal forgetting.  It is about healing the memory of the harm, not erasing it. ~Ken Hart Bearing with one another and,  if one has a complaint against another,                forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you,           so you also must forgive. Colossians 3:13

The poor man is not he who is without a cent,           but he who without a dream. - Harry Kemp You ought to live holy and godly lives        as you look forward to the day of God ….. But in keeping with his promise      we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth,       the home of righteousness. 2 Peter 3:11,13

Winners vs. Losers   A winner is always part of the answer. A loser is always part of the problem. A winner always has a plan. A loser always has an excuse. A winner says: "Let me do it for you." A loser says: "That is not my job." A winner sees an answer for any problem. A loser sees a problem for any answer. A winner sees a green near every sand trap. A loser sees two sand traps near every green. A winner says: "It may be difficult but it's possible." A loser says: "It may be possible but it's too difficult." Author Unknown   Luke 1:37  "For with God nothing will be impossible."

Most of us are pretty good at keeping promises to others and pretty bad at keeping promises to ourselves. Lawrence LeShan The Lord is not slack concerning His promise,            as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us,      not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

I have not ceased being fearful,      but I have ceased to let fear control me. ~Erica Jong …..a wise man keeps himself under control. Proverbs 29:11

“The easiest person to deceive is ones own self” Edward Bulwer Lytton Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a "fool" so that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight. 1 Corinthians 3:18-19

Do not ask the Lord to guide your footsteps,     if you are not willing to move your feet. ~Author Unknown The king said to me, "What is it you want?" Then I prayed to the God of heaven, and I answered the king, "If it pleases the king …… let him send me to the city in Judah …. so that I can rebuild it." Nehemiah 1:4-5

Attitude is more important than the past,      than education, than money, than circumstances,       than what people do or say. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. ~ Charles Swindoll Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Philippians 2:5

I am old enough to know that victory is often a thing deferred, and rarely at the summit of courage.... What is at the summit of courage, I think, is freedom. The freedom that comes with the knowledge that no earthly thing can break you. Paula Giddings In Christ and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. Ephesians 3:12

26 Quick Tips for Living an Inspired Life A sk God for guidance. B e who you say you are. C are about others. D are to live your dreams. E ase through the day. F ind the best fit. G ive to another. H ug a friend. I nspire someone to greatness. J ump over a boundary. K ick a bad habit. L eap across a fear. M ention something uplifting. N ever say never. O pen your mind and heart. P ursue your innermost passions. Q uit complaining. R estore your smile. S et your sights high. T rust in God. U se all the day. V alue everything. W ait until God says Yes. X press yourself. Y ank weeds from your mental garden. Z oom into the now. Unknown I will give thanks to the LORD because of His righteousness      and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High. Psalm 7:17