Spiritual Thoughts

R egardless of what is going on around you, make the best of what is within your power, and take the rest as it occurs. ~ Epictetus  L ook carefully then how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. ~ Ephesians 5:15-16

L ook to the Future, because that is where you will spend the rest of your life. ~ George Burns  L et not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the Lord all the day. Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off. ~ Proverbs 23:17-18

G reat difficulties may be surmounted by patience and perseverance. ~ Unknown  M ore than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope. ~ Romans 5:3-4

I f you ever find yourself in the wrong story, leave. ~ Mo Willems  F orsake all thoughtlessness, and live, and walk in the way of understanding. ~ Proverbs 9:6 (ISV)

W hat are the things that you can't see that are important? I would say justice, truth, humility, service, compassion, love.... they are the guiding lights of a life. ~ Jimmy Carter  B ut the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. ~ Galatians 5:22-23

T he resurrection gives my life meaning and direction and the opportunity to start over, no matter what my circumstances. ~ Robert Flatt  P raise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. ~ 1 Peter 1:3

L et the resurrection joy lift us from loneliness and weakness and despair to strength and beauty and happiness. ~ Floyd W. Tomkins  T hat is how it is with you: now you are sad, BUT I will see you again, and your hearts will be filled with gladness, the kind of gladness that no one can take away from you. ~ John 16:22

T aking up my "cross" means a life voluntarily surrendered to God. ~ A>W. Pink  A nd walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. ~ Ephesians 5:2

T he greatest “exhortation” [sermon] that Jesus ever gave was when he died on the cross for us. Dying is a very ordinary thing to do. It happens all the time. Yet, Jesus’ death was the most extraordinary ordinary thing that ever happened. It was an extraordinary ordinary act of service and exhortation. Hopefully it is the exhortation that we keep the nearest and dearest to our hearts. ~ Kyle Tucker  S o Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, BUT to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. ~ Hebrews 9:28

T he idea is to seek a vision that gives you purpose in life and then to implement that vision. ~ Lewis P. Johnson  L ook to Jesus, who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the same, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. ~ Hebrews 12:1-2

V ision is the art of seeing the invisible. ~ Jonathan Swift  F or we walk by faith, not sight.  ~ 2 Corinthians 5:7 ...The things that are unseen are eternal ~ 2 Corinthians 4:18

S acrifice is a part of life. It's supposed to be. It's not something to regret. It's something to grow through. ~ Mitch Albom (amended)  T herefore, I urge you,... in view of God's mercy, to offer yourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.....  ~ Romans 12:1

Friday Tales: 6 Tiny Stories with Great Meanings 1. O nce all villagers decided to pray for rain, on the day of prayer all the people gathered, BUT only one boy came with an umbrella. ~ That's FAITH 2. W hen you throw a baby in the air, she laughs because she knows you will catch her. ~ That's TRUST 3. E very night we go to bed, without any assurance of being alive the next morning BUT still we set the alarms to wake up. ~ That's HOPE 4. W e plan big things for tomorrow in spite of zero knowledge of the future. ~ That's CONVICTION 5. W e see the world suffering, BUT still we get married and have children. ~ That's CONFIDENCE in LOVE 6. O n an old man's shirt was written a sentence 'I am not 90 years old.... I am sweet 16 with 74 years’ experience' ~ That's POSITIVE ATTITUDE ~ from Positive Thinking  T his is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.  ~ Psalm 118:24

A ct of Kindness; surprise a co-worker or a friend with a cup of coffee or their favorite morning drink and kick off their day with a small extra bit of loving warmth. ~ from The Daily Kind  W hoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness and honor.  ~ Proverbs 21:21

A Wednesday wizard of words will warn of ways to be worthy of our Divine designer. ~ Inga von Gadenstedt  F or whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and encouragement of the Scriptures we might have HOPE.  ~ Romans 15:4

T he world is changed by your example, not by your opinion. ~ Paulo Coelho  F or to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.  ~ 1 Peter 2:21