Spiritual Thoughts

  Friday Tale - Think about your Thoughts   T hink about what you think, for it provides a mirror to the world of your heart and soul.   If you think you are beaten, you are. If you think you dare not, you don’t. If you like to win, but think you can’t, It’s almost certain you won’t.   If you think you’ll lose, you’ve lost, For out of this world we find Success begins with a person’s will, It’s all in our state of mind.   If you think you’re outclassed, you are. You’ve got to think high to rise. You’ve got to be sure of yourself before You can ever win a prize.   Cause life’s battles don’t always go To the stronger or faster man, But sooner or later, the person who wins Is the person WHO THINKS HE CAN . ~ Walter D. Wintle   A s a man thinks in his heart, so is he. Let my thoughts be pleasing to Him; as for me, I shall be glad in the LORD. ~ Proverbs 23:7; Psalm 104:34

  P erhaps there is no more  important component of character  than steadfast resolution.  ~ Theodore Roosevelt   L et us not lose heart in doing good,   for in due time we will reap  if we do not grow weary.  ~ Galatians 6:9

  R esolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve . ~ Charles Simmons S o then, we pursue the things  which make for peace and  the building up of one another. ~ Romans 14:19

  D etermination is power. If the prospect be dark, kindle up the fire of resolution that nothing but death can extinguish. ~ Charles Simmons   P ursue righteousness,   godliness, faith, love,   perseverance and gentleness. ~ 1 Timothy 6:11

  O ne resolution I have made and  try to always to keep is this:  To rise above the little things. ~ John Burroughs   W e exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, BUT we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance. ~ Romans 5:3-4

Friday Tale - Christmas:             On December 25th, the birth of Jesus Christ will once again be celebrated around the world. The gospels mention no actual birthdate—or even season of the year—so the precise date remains a mystery. For many scholars, though, the presence of shepherds and sheep at the familiar manger scene suggest that he was born in the fall of the year, and not the winter.           The exact date is unknown, but by the 4th century, December 25th was the accepted date throughout Europe. Scholars believe early Christians chose the date to coincide with pagan festivals celebrating the winter solstice.           Throughout the Roman Empire, the solstice was called "the birthday of the unconquered Sun," and publi...

  Christmas To Do List: 1. Buy Presents  Be Present 2. Wrap Gifts  Someone in a Hug 3. Send Gifts Peace 4. Shop for Food - Donate Food 5. Make Cookies  Love 6. See the lights Be the light. ~ CyberSalt T o do what is right and just is more  acceptable to the LORD than animal sacrifices. ~ Proverbs 21:3

  M ay you have year round the gladness of the season, which is HOPE; the spirit of the season which is PEACE; and the heart of the season which is LOVE. ~ Ada V. Hendricks (amended)   T he Hope of the righteous is  Gladness, and Love covers  all transgressions. ~ Proverbs 10:28, 12

  F aith - it is not a leap into  the dark.... rather, it is a  step into the light. ~ Unknown   F or I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone   who believes, to the Jew first,  and also to the Gentile. ~ Romans 1:16

H ow to let your light shine: Work with joy. Pray with love. Dream from your heart. Share what you have. Live simply, Love deeply Thank God always. ~ Unknown   F or you were once darkness, BUT now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light - for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth, and  find out what pleases the Lord. ~ Ephesians 5:8-10  

  Friday Tale - Success???   O ver the years , I have read thousands of books and articles on the subjects of success and achievement. It seems that the reasons for these accomplishments have been discussed and written about for more than two thousand years, in every conceivable way. One quality that most philosophers, teachers and experts agree on is the importance of self-discipline. As Al Tomsik summarized it years ago, "Success is tons of discipline."       Some years ago, I attended a conference in Washington. It was the lunch break and I was eating at a nearby food fair. The area was crowded and I sat down at the last open table by myself, even though it was a table for four.       A few minutes later, an older gentleman and a younger woman who was his assistant came along carrying trays of food, obviously looking for a place to sit.       With plenty of room at my table, I immediately aro...

  F orgiving someone may cost you your pride, BUT not forgiving them will cost you your freedom. ~ GoodFruits.com   B e kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. ~ Ephesians 4:32

  B eginnings are only difficult  without any action. ~ Bryan Pulsifer   F or we have become partakers of Christ, IF we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm to the end. ~ Hebrews 3:14

O ur eyes are placed in front because it's more important to look forward than it is to look back. ~ Rebecca Ann Totten L et your eyes look directly ahead and let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you. Watch the path of your feet and all your ways will be established. ~ Proverbs 4: 25-26  

  M entally floss regularly with God's Word to Avoid Truth Decay. ~ Darlyne J. Erickson   A wise man will hear and  increase in learning, and  a man of understanding will   acquire wise counsel, to understand. ~ Proverbs 1:5

    Thought for the Day 12/9/2022   Friday Tale -  a Bear, A Bridge and God   T his bridge bridge is on the Old Donner Pass Highway. It has a spectacular view of Donner Lake on Route 40. A bear was walking across Rainbow Bridge ( Old Hwy 40 at Donner Summit, Truckee) on a Saturday when two cars, also crossing the bridge, scared the bear into jumping over the edge of the bridge. Somehow the bear caught the ledge and was able to pull itself to safety. Authorities decided that nothing could be done to help Saturday night so they returned Sunday morning to find the bear sound ...

  I can see how it might be possible for a man to look down upon the earth and be an atheist, BUT I cannot conceive how he could look up into the heavens and say there is no God. ~ Abraham Lincoln O nly a fool would say,  "There is no God!" People like that are worthless. ~ Psalm 14:1 (CEV)

  S peak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever regret. ~ Ambrose Bierce H e who is slow to anger has great understanding, BUT he who is quick-tempered exalts folly. ~ Proverbs 14:29

  D o not ask the Lord to guide your footsteps, if you are not willing to move your feet. ~ Anonymous T herefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope complete on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. ~ 1 Peter 1:13

  L ive in such away that you would not be ashamed to sell your parrot to the town gossip. ~ Will Rogers   H e who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets, therefore do not associate with a gossip. For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, contention quiets down. ~ Proverbs 26:20; 20:19

  Friday Tale - It's Wonderful!  T he 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud lady, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock, with her hair fashionably coifed and makeup perfectly applied, even though she has poor eyesight, moved to a nursing home today. Her husband of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary. After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, she smiled sweetly when told her room was ready. As she maneuvered her walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of her tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on her window.   "I love it! It's sounds wonderful!" she stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy. "Mrs. Jones, you haven't seen the room just wait."   "That doesn't have anything to do with it," she replied. "Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my ro...

  T he way to develop the best that is in a man is by appreciation and encouragement. ~ Charles M. Schwab   N ow may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace,   comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word. ~ 2 Timothy 2:16-17

  T hank you, God, for this good life and forgive us if we do not love it enough. ~ Garrison Keillor   Y ours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and earth; Yours is the dominion, O LORD, and You exalt Yourself as head over all. Now therefore, our God, we thank You, and praise Your glorious Name. ~ 1 Chronicles 29:11, 13

  H e is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, BUT rejoices for those which he has. ~ Epictetus   N ot that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. ~ Philippians 4:11

  B e content with what you have, rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you. ~ Lao Tzu W hatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. ~ Colossians 3:17

  Friday Tale - Grass to Mow H abitat for Humanity builds homes for people who are needy. One of the volunteers for Habitat tells the following story of a family who had just moved into their new home. “The family is so excited. I can see why. Compared to the house they used to live in, this must seem like a mansion. Anyhow, the husband wanted to know if it would be alright if he mowed the lawn. There was only a little patch of grass … and it really didn’t need cutting. Rather than say no, he was advised not to cut it too short because the hot dry weather might kill what little they had. When asked why he was so eager to mow the grass, he said, ‘This is the first time I ever had any grass to mow.’ Isn’t if funny that some of us complain about yard work while others are excited about having grass to mow. Some of us complain about unloading the dishwasher while others are grateful for indoor plumbing. Some of us complain about the heat while othe...

    Thought for the Day 11/24/2022 A s we join hands in fellowship around this bountiful table, we give thanks for the blessings of this food and the love of these friends and family as a symbol of our gratitude for all the blessings of this life. ~ Jonathan L. Huie T hrough Jesus then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God - that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. ~ Hebrews 13:15    

  H e who can give thanks for little will always find he has enough. ~ Anonymous   I n everything give thanks, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:18

  B e grateful for all of life: each of us has been infinitely blessed - beginning with the gift of life. Whatever may appear to be missing or broken on any particular day, our glass is not half-full, it is 99.9% full. ~ Jonathan Lockwood Huie   A lways giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God our Father. ~ Ephesians 5:20

  B e thankful every chance you get. Not because life has been easy, perfect, or exactly as you had anticipated, BUT because you choose to be happy and grateful for all the good things you do have, and all the problems you know you don't have. ~ Max Lucado   L et the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body, and be thankful . ~ Colossians 3:15

  Friday Tale - Lift Up Your Eyes   C ornelius Vanderbilt in his day was one of the richest men on earth. One day, walking through the woods, he got lost. He was worried over a lot of problems in his life-- problems in his business, problems in his family life, and problems in his heart.        Not paying any attention to where he was going, he got lost. Totally disoriented, he didn’t know what to do. Finally, in desperation he just sat down, leaned back against a tree, closed his eyes and went to sleep.        He woke up a little while later as he felt someone’s foot kicking his. Opening his eyes, he looked up. Before him was a big bear of a man with a big black beard looking down at him. The man said, “Who are you and where are you going?”       Later, remembering that moment, Cornelius Vanderbilt said, “As soon as I figured out he wasn’t a bear those two questions were like ice...

  F aith is not the believe that God will do what you want. It is the belief that God will do what is right. ~ Max Lucado   N ow faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. ~ Hebrews 11:1

  N obody grows old by merely living a number of years. People grow old by deserting their ideals. You are as young as your faith, as old as your doubt; as young as your self-confidence, as old as your fear; as young as your hope, as old as your despair. ~ Douglas MacArthur   B e on the alert, stand firm in the faith,  be courageous, and be strong. ~ 1 Corinthians 16:13 (NIV)

  F aith is: when you walk to the edge of all the light you have and take that first step into the darkness of the unknown, you must believe that one of two things will happen: there will be something solid for you to stand upon, or, you will be taught to fly. ~ Patrick Overton   F or we life by faith, not by sight. ~ 2 Corinthians 5:7

  M y interest is in the future  because I am going to spend  the rest of my life there. ~ Charles F. Kettering   T here is surely a future hope for you and your hope will not be cut off. ~ Proverbs 23:18