Spiritual Thoughts

Friday Tale - When.... W hen purpose feels questionable, And you aren't capable, Your strength fades As you waver like green field's blades. Feeling so much to void of feeling, Crying tear-less staring at the ceiling, Trapped in a circle of promised change, While realizing you're poisoned by regret's mange. There is something you need to hear Something to spark love's pure tear: Stop trying to run so far, You're doing better than you think you are. Jesus was sent because God so loved you: You matter more than you think you do. Stop trying to be this or that - just be HIS: Regret is past, what's important: the future is. ~ Jake Provance (amended) T hese things I have spoke unto you, that in me you might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation; BUT be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. ~ John 16:33

L ord, when we long for life without difficulties, remind us that oaks grow strong in  contrary winds  and diamonds are made under pressure. ~ Peter Marshall W e are hedged and pressed in on every side,  troubled and oppressed in every way, BUT not cramped or crushed; we suffer  embarrassments and are perplexed, and unable to find a way out, BUT not driven to despair; we are pursued, persecuted and hard-driven; we are struck down to the ground, BUT never struck out and destroyed . ~ 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, Amplified 

I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, BUT the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, BUT he who conquers that fear. ~ Nelson Mandela   S o do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. ~ Isaiah 41:10 NIV

T he greatest mistake you can make in life is continually fearing that you'll make one. ~ Elbert Hubbard     B e strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread.... for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you. ~ Deuteronomy 31:6

O ur greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is to try just one more time. ~ Thomas Edison     F ight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called.... ~ 1 Timothy 6:12 ESV

Friday Tale ~ If....I Will If I feel depressed I will sing. If I feel sad I will laugh. If I feel ill, I will rejoice I understand what others go through. If I feel fear, I will plunge ahead. If I feel inferior, I will remember Christ. If I feel uncertain I will raise my voice in kindness. If I feel poverty, I will think of others worse off. If I feel incompetent, I will think of past success. If I feel insignificant I will remember my goals. Today I will be the master of my emotions. ~ Og Mandino W hy are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? HOPE in God, for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God. ~ Psalm 42:11

T he world clamors, "Do more! Be all that you can be!" BUT our Father whispers, "Be still and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10) ~ Joanna Weaver     BUT the LORD is in His holy temple, let all the earth keep silence before Him. ~ Habukkuk 2:20 

H appiness is not the absence of problems, BUT the willingness to deal with them joyfully. ~ Jonathan Lockwood Huie C onsider it all joy when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. ~ James 1:2-4

A lways do the best your can. Focus your energies on doing what you can,  rather than worrying about what you can't. ~ Jonathan Lockwood Huie D o your bet to improve your faith. You can do this by adding goodness, understanding, self-control, patience, devotion to God, concern for others, and love. ~ 2 Peter 1:6-7 CEV

F irst ask yourself: What is the worst that can happen? Then prepare to accept it. Then proceed to improve on the worst. ~ Dale Carnegie A ll who hate me whisper together about me; they imagine the worst for me. BUT you, O LORD, be gracious to me, and raise me up. ~ Psalm 41:7, 10

Friday Tale ~ Ten Biblical Ways to Love 1.    Listen without interrupting. To answer before listening — that is folly and shame ~ Proverbs 18:13. 2.    Speak without accusing. Be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry ~ James 1:19. 3.    Give without selfishness. The righteous give without sparing ~ Proverbs 21:26. 4.    Pray without ceasing. We have not stopped praying for you ~ Colossians 1:9. 5.    Answer without arguing. Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife ~ Proverbs 17:1. 6.    Share without pretending. Speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of … Christ ~ Ephesians 4:15. 7.    Enjoy without complaining. Do everything without grumbling or arguing ~ Philippians 2:14. 8.    Trust without wavering. [Love] always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres ~ 1 Corinthians 13:7. 9.    Forgive without punishing. Forgive as the Lor

L et love live long; let hate live short. ~ Burmese Proverb     W hat does the LORD your God require of you, BUT to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the LORD your god with all your heart and with all your soul? ~ Deuteronomy 10:12

K indness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love. ~ Lao Tzu T hus says the LORD of hosts, "Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another." ~ Zechariah 7:9

L earning to love unselfishly is not an easy task. It runs counter to our self-centered nature. That's why we're given a lifetime to learn it. ~ Anonymous D o nothing from rivalry or conceit, BUT in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, BUT also to the interests of others. ~ Philippians 2:3-4

L ove isn't what you say. Love is what you do. ~ Anonymous B ut love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for He is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. ~ Luke 6:35

Friday Tale - Just One O ne song can spark a moment.            One flower can wake the dream. One tree can start a forest.           One bird can herald spring. One smile begins a friendship;            One handclasp lifts a soul. One star can guide a ship at sea.          One word can frame the goal. One sunbeam lights a room;       One candle wipes out darkness.                       One laugh will conquer gloom.       One step must start each journey.             One word must start each prayer.      One hope will raise our spirits;   One touch can show you care.          One voice can speak with wisdom;      One heart can know what's true.         One life can make the difference...          That difference starts with you. ~ Anonymous B eloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. ~ 1 John 4:11

T hough our feelings come and go, God's love for us does not. ~ C. S. Lewis S ee what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God, and so we are. ~ 1 John 3:1

S ometimes, all we need is someone to believe in us. Even when we forget how to believe in ourselves. ~ Unknown F or thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy one of Israel, "In returning and rest you shall be saved, in quietness and in trust shall be your strength." ~ Luke 5:26

I f you want a relationship that looks and feels like the most amazing thing on earth, you need to treat it like it is the most amazing thing on earth. ~ Unknown A nd amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying "We have seen extraordinary things today". ~ Luke 5:26 

LOVE is a friendship set to music. - unknown Happy 4th anniversary to my husband Cliff (Feb. 2, 1980) Love never ends. 1 Corinthiand 13.8