Spiritual Thoughts

T ake time to notice all the usually unnoticed, simple things in life. Delight in the never-ending hope that's available every day! ~ Anonymous  L et those who delight in my righteousness shout for joy and be glad and say evermore, "Great is the Lord, who delights in the welfare of His servant!" ~ Psalms 35:27

A smile is the lighting system of the face and the heating system of the heart.      ~ Barbara Jonson  A glad heart makes a cheerful face.... the cheerful of heart has a continual feast. ~ Proverbs 15:13, 17

P eace within makes beauty without.      ~ English Proverb  Y ou will keep perfectly peaceful the one whose mind remains focused on You, because he trusts in You. ~ Isaiah 26:3

G od loves and cares for us, even to the least and smallest need of life.      ~ Henry Manning  A re not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father's will. Fear not, you are of more value than many sparrows. ~ Matthew 10:29-31

I am glad that in the springtime of life there were those who planted flowers of love in my heart.      ~ Robert Louis Stevenson  BUT God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ~ Romans 5:8

E very time we encourage someone, we give them a transfusion of courage.      ~ Charles Swindoll  A nd so encourage one another and help one another, just as you are now doing. ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:11

K ind words are jewels that live in the heart and soul, and remain as blessed memories years after they are spoken.      ~ Marvea Johnson  K ind words are like honey - sweet to the taste and good for your health. ~ Proverbs 16:24 (GNB)

W e do not understand the intricate pattern of the stars in their course, BUT we know that He who created them does, and that just as surely as He guides them, He is charting our course as well.      ~ Unknown  T he Lord will keep you from all evil; He will watch over your life. The Lord will watch over your coming and going, both now and forevermore. ~ Psalm 121: 7 - 8 

G o to the effort. Invest the time. Write the letter. Make the apology. Take the trip. Purchase the gift. Do it. The seized opportunity renders joy.      ~ Max Lucado  F or this very reason, you must make every effort to supplement your faith with moral character, your moral character with knowledge, your knowledge with self-control, your self-control with endurance, your endurance with godliness, your godliness with brotherly kindness, and your brotherly kindness with love. ~ 2 Peter 1;5-7

W e are not called by God to do extraordinary things, BUT to do ordinary things with extraordinary love.      ~ Jean Vanier  A nd above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. ~ Colossians 3:14

Friday Tale - Cell Phones vs. the Bible I wonder what would happen if we treated  our Bible like we treat our cell phones: What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets. What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it. What if we flipped through it several times a day. What if we used it to receive messages from the text. What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it. What if we gave it to kids as gifts. What if we used it as we traveled. What if we used it in case of an emergency. It’s just something to think about. Something to make you say hmmm, and where is my Bible?     ~ Unknown  F or whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope . ~ Romans 15:4 

E verything has its wonders, even darkness and silence, and I learn, whatever state I may be in, therein to be content.   ~ Helen Keller  ....b e content with what you have,               for He has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." ~ Hebrews 13:5

I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all.   ~ Laura Ingalls Wilder  F or this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. ~ 1 John 5:3

T o think bad thoughts is really the easiest thing in the world. If you leave your mind to itself it will spiral down into every increasing unhappiness. To think good thoughts, however, requires effort. This is one of the things that discipline - training - is all about.   ~ James Clavell (in novel "Shogun")  F inally, my friends, keep your minds on whatever is true, pure, right, holy, friendly and proper. Don't ever stop thinking about what is truly worthwhile and worth of praise. ~ Philippians 4:8

L ife leaps like a geyser for those willing to drill through the rock of inertia.   ~ Alexis Carrel  W e desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, SO THAT you may not be sluggish, BUT imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. ~ Hebrews 6:11-12

Friday Tale - 26 Tips for a Great Life A sk for what you want. 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 yourself. U se all the day. V alue everything. W ait until it feels right. X press yourself. Y ank weeds from your mental garden. Z oom into the now.   ~ Carol James (1991)  A sk and it will be given to you; S eek and you will find; K nock and it will be opened to you. ~ Matthew 7:7

O ur TIME is only once - and never returns. So let us make the best of while we have it. ~ Robert Roberts    B esides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. ~ Romans 13:11

T he most influential person who will talk to you all day is YOU, so you should be very careful about what you say to you! ~ Zig Ziglar    E ven though the fig tree does not blossom, and there are no grapes on the vines.... Y et I will rejoice in the Lord; I will joy in the God of my salvation. ~ Habakkuk 3:18

G ive your worries to God before you sleep, because He's going to be awake anyhow! ~ Unknown  W hen I was really hurting, I prayed to the Lord. He answered my prayer, and took my worries away. ~ Psalm 118:5 (CEV)

K ind words do not wear out the tongue -- so do speak them. ~ Unknown  A nxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, BUT a good word makes him glad. ~ Proverbs 12:25

Friday Tale - God is a Redeemer & Restorer God is a Redeemer ; He bought us with a great price, He rescues and breaks the chains of bondage, He finds us and brings us home. God is a Restorer ; He returns what was destroyed and replaces what was stolen. He removes the stain of sin, and brings beauty out of the ruins of our lives. God is a Renewer ; He rekindles the flame which flickers in the heart grown cold. He takes away the old things and makes all things new. God is a Refresher ; He sends the cooling wind on a summer's day, brings rivers to the desert place, and sends seasons of refreshing to the soul. ~ Roy Lessin  Y our Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He is called the God of the whole earth. ~ Isaiah 54:4

W ORRYING does not take away tomorrow's TROUBLES, it takes away today's PEACE. ~ Jim Gentil  BUT seek first the kingdom of God and His right-ness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. ~ Matthew 6:33-34

P eace. It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. It means to be in the midst of these things and still be calm in your heart. ~ Unknown  Y ou keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. ~ Isaiah 26:3