Spiritual Thoughts

  Friday Tale - Patience and NO I asked God to grant me patience. God said, No. Patience is a by-product of tribulations; it isn't granted, it is earned.   I asked God to give me happiness. God said, No. I give you blessings.  Happiness is up to you.   I asked God to spare me pain. God said, No. Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to me. I asked God to make my spirit grow. God said, No. You must grow on your own, but I will prune you to make you fruitful. I asked for all things that I might enjoy life. God said, No. I will give you life so that you may enjoy all things. I asked God to help me LOVE others, as much as God loves me. God said... Ahhhh, finally you have the idea. "Stop telling God how big your storm is. Instead tell your storm how big your GOD is." ~ Unknown   S o, as those who have been chosen by God,  holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility,

K nowing grass, I can appreciate persistence. ~ Hal Borland   Wait  for the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. ~ James 5:7-8

N o good comes from hurrying. ~ Yiddish Proverb   T he Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, BUT is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish, BUT for all to come to repentance. ~ 2 Peter 3:9

P atience can't be acquired overnight. It is just like building up a muscle. Every day you need to work on it. ~ Eknath Easwaran   B ut thou..... follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. ~ 1 Timothy 6:11

W hen you feel the need to hurry, remember that everything in life is a CHOICE. ~ Jonathan Lockwood Huie I implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience , showing tolerance for one another in love. ~ Ephesians 4:1-2

F riday Tale - Comfort G enerally, your greatest service to someone in their time of trouble, sorrow or confusion, is your comfort. Take the time to listen to their troubles and concerns with patience, kindness and empathy, but without offering unsolicited advice or suggestions. Your kindly hand on their shoulder, supportive hug, and patient listening are often the greatest gifts you can offer.   And brings you both comfort. ~ Jonathan Lockwood Huie B lessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. ~ 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

P ractice the pause. Pause before judgment. Pause before assuming. Pause before accusing. Pause whenever you're about to react harshly and you'll avoid doing and saying things you'll later regret. ~ Lori Deschene   W ait on the LORD: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart. Wait, I say, on the LORD ~ Psalm 27:14

S hips don't sink because of the water around them; ships sink because of the water that gets in them. Don't let what's happening around you get inside and weigh you down. ~ Unknown   B ecause of the voice of the enemy, because of the pressure of the wicked, for they bring down trouble upon me and in anger they bear a grudge against me. BUT as for me, I shall call upon God, and the LORD will save me . ~ Psalm 55:3, 16

Y our worth consists in what you are and not in what you have. ~ Thomas A. Edison T he tongue of the righteous is like precious silver, greatly valued; the heart of the wicked is worth little. The lips of the righteous feed and guide many. ~ Proverbs 10:21-22

H ope is necessary in every condition. The miseries of poverty, sickness, would, without this comfort,   be unsupportable. ~ Wayne W. Dyer   T he hope of the righteous brings joy, but the expectation of the wicked will perish. ~ Proverbs 10:23

Friday Tale - Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow T here are two days in every week about which we should not worry, two days which should be kept free from fear and apprehension.           One of these days is yesterday with its mistakes and cares, its faults and blunders, its aches and pains. Yesterday has passed forever beyond our control.           All the money in the world cannot bring back yesterday. We cannot undo a single act we performed - we cannot erase a single word we said. Yesterday is gone.           The other day we should not worry about is tomorrow with its possible adversaries, its burdens, its large promise and poor performance.           Tomorrow is also beyond our immediate control.           Tomorrow’s sun will rise, either in splendor or behind a mask of clouds - but it will rise. Until it does, we have no stake in tomorrow, for it is yet unborn.           This leaves only one day - today. Any man can fight the battles of just one day.           It is on

J ust like gold, which has to weather very high temperatures to achieve the sheen and shine it finally gets, so also every person has to go through struggles in his life to achieve the best. ~ Kailash Kher   W e know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. Everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. ~ 1 John 3:2-23

I t's not about being the best. It's about being better than you were yesterday. ~ Unknown   H e who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city. ~ Proverbs 16:32

S omeday is not a day of the week. ~ Janet Dailey B ut encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. ~ Hebrews 3:13

I t is better to walk alone, than with a crowd going in the wrong direction. ~ Herman Su I f sinners entice you, do not consent. Do not walk in the way with them. Keep your feet from their path, for their feet run to evil. ~ Proverbs 1:10, 15-16

Friday Tale - Lessons from a Carrot, Egg and Coffee Bean   L et's face it. Painful personal trauma and tragedy – like illness or injury, death of a loved one, loss of a job, or an unexpected breakup of a relationship – are unavoidable. The question is: Will these private calamities erode our capacity to be happy or cause us to become stronger and better able to live a meaningful and fulfilling life?          Consider how differently carrots, eggs, and ground coffee beans are affected by the extreme adversity of being boiled. Like a carrot, adversity can soften us. We can emerge more flexible, understanding, compassionate, and grateful, or we can let our life spirit turn into a soft mush.          Like an egg, boiling water can make us harder, stronger, tougher, and wiser, or we can become more cynical, pessimistic, callous, and inaccessible.          And like a coffee bean, we can willingly transform our lives into something better or lose ourselves completely.   

S weet are the uses of adversity Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in his head. ~ Shakespeare (in As You Like it)   R ejoice in hope, persevere in tribulation, devoted to prayer. ~ Romans 12:12

A dversity has the effect of eliciting talents which, in prosperous circumstances, would have lain dormant. ~ Horace   F or consider him who has endured hostility  by sinners against himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. ~ Hebrews 12:3

T he height of your accomplishments will equal the depth of your convictions. ~ William F. Scolavino   T hese 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

Y ou can preach a better sermon with your life than with your lips. ~ Oliver Goldsmith   B ut the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. ~ 1 Timothy 1:5

Friday Tale - No Limits L ife is unlimited. Your world expands with the generosity, compassion, inventiveness, and service that you contribute. Money that is spent or given away returns multiplied. The more love that is given, the more love returns. The more a helping hand is given, the more hands are strengthened and empowered to help. We can help each other. We can all have love and happiness. ~ JLH H ow 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

C alm provides clarity. Pause to consider the gifts you have been given, the difference you have made, and the direction in which are you are headed. ~ Anonymous B ehold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation. Therefore you will joyously draw water from the springs of salvation. ~ Isaiah 12:2-3

W hatever you want in life, start today. Not tomorrow - today. Let it be a small beginning - a tiny beginning. Your happiness depends on starting today - every day. ~ Jonathan Lockwood Huie   D o not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength. ~ Nehemiah 8:10