Spiritual Thoughts

  D o not wait; the time will never be  "just right." Start where you stand  and work with whatever tools you  may have at your command, and better tools will be found  as you go along. ~ George Herbert   T herefore take up the full armor   of God, so that you will be able  to resist in the evil day  and  having done everything, to stand firm. ~ Ephesians 6:13

Friday Tale - Ice Cream Prayer   L ast week I took my children to a restaurant. My six-year-old son asked if he could say grace. As we bowed our heads he said, "God is good, God is great. Thank you for the food, and I would even thank you more if Mom gets us ice cream for dessert. And Liberty and justice for all! Amen!"     Along with the laughter from the other customers nearby I heard a woman remark, "That's what's wrong with this country. Kids today don't even know how to pray. Asking God for ice-cream! Why, I never!"     Hearing this, my son burst into tears and asked me, "Did I do it wrong? Is God mad at me?"     As I held him and assured him that he had done a terrific job and God was certainly not mad at him, an elderly gentleman approached the table. He winked at my son and said, "I happen to know that God thought that was a great prayer.     "Really?" my son asked. "Cross my heart," the man replied.

  P raying without ceasing is not ritualized, nor are there even words. It is a constant state of awareness of oneness with God. ~ Peace Pilgrim   D evote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving. ~ Colossians 4:2 

L anguage...has created the word "loneliness" to express the pain of being alone. AND it has created the word "solitude" to express the glory of being alone. ~ Paul Tillich BUT Jesus himself would often slip away to the wilderness alone and pray. ~ Luke 5:16

  W hen we look back at the  faithfulness of God, we praise Him. When we look forward to God's faithfulness, we trust Him. ~ Ken Watters   T he Rock, His work is perfect, for all His ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and right is He. ~ Deuteronomy 32:4

  I t is not the magnitude of our actions BUT the amount of love that is put into them that matters. ~ Anonyomous   C lothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another. ~ Colossians 3:12

Friday Tale - the Best Day of my Life   Today , when I awoke, I suddenly realized that this is the best day of my life, ever!    There were times when I wondered if I would make it to today; but I did! And because I did I'm going to celebrate!     Today, I'm going to celebrate what an unbelievable life I have had so far: the accomplishments, the many blessings, and, yes, even the hardships because they have served to make me stronger.     I will go through this day with my head held high and a happy heart. I will marvel at God's seemingly simple gifts: the morning dew, the sun, the clouds, the trees, the flowers, the birds. Today, none of these miraculous creations will escape my notice.     Today, I will share my excitement for life with other people. I'll make someone smile. I'll go out of my way to perform an unexpected act of kindness for someone I don't even know. Today, I'll give a sincere compliment to someone who seems down. I'll tell

N o act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. ~ Aesop   I nstruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,  storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed. ~ 1 Timothy 6:18-19

  I f grass can grow through cement, love can find you at  every time of your life. ~ Cher   F or I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. ~ Romans 8:38-39

  L ove is granting another the space to be the way they are and they way they are not. ~ Werner Erhard   Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  Love never fails. ~ 1 Corinthians 13:7-8

  Friday Tale - the Power of One   O ne smile can brighten someone’s day. One word can start a dialogue. One “I forgive you” can heal a heart. One “I’m sorry” can reconcile a relationship. One loving conversation can   transform a life. One act of kindness can inspire  the next generation. One individual standing up for another   can create community. One minute of stillness can connect  you to Divine Love. One act of peace can send out ripples of hope. One new idea can spark a hundred. One act of collaboration can cause a sweeping change. One person can make a difference. Be that one. ~ Roe Luskin   E ncourage the exhausted and strengthen the feeble. Say to those with an anxious heart, "Take courage, fear not. Behold, your God will come." ~ Isaiah 35:3-4

  P aying attention is the most basic and profound expression of love. ~ Tara Brach   Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant. ~ 1 Corinthians 13:4

A person's most useful asset is not  a head full of knowledge, BUT a heart full of love, an ear ready to listen and a hand willing to help others. ~ Helen Barry   BUT the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. ~ 1 Timothy 1:5

T he bad news is time flies. The good news is you're the pilot. ~ Michael Altshuler   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

  I f you feel like you are losing everything, remember that trees lose their leaves every year and they still stand tall and wait for better days to come. ~ Author Unknown   R est in the LORD and   wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who carries out wicked schemes. For evil doers will be cut off, BUT those who wait for the LORD, they will inherit the land. ~ Psalm 37:7,9

Friday Tale - The Schulz Philosophy   T he following is the philosophy of Charles Schulz, the creator of the 'Peanuts' comic strip. You don't have to actually answer the questions. Just ponder on them. And read to the end.   1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world. 2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners. 3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America pageant. 4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize. 5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress. 6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.                                                How did you do?  The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. There are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.                                          See how you do on this one: 1. Lis

  T oday is a good day to look around at  the grandeur of creation. Whether flower or cactus, butterfly or caterpillar, elk or lizard, vegetable garden or compost pile. Our world is magnificent - all of it. Rejoice and give thanks for all of life. ~ Jonathan Lockwood Huie S ing to the LORD with grateful praise; make music to our God on the harp. He covers the sky with clouds; He supplies the earth with rain and makes the grass grow on the hills. ~ Psalm 147:8-9

  R eal love is accepting other people the way they are without trying to change them. ~ don Miguel Ruiz   M y beloved responded and said to me, "Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, and come along." ~ Song of Solomon 2:10 Happy 42nd wedding anniversary to my dear husband Cliff!

  N ever lose an opportunity of seeing anything beautiful in the all the earth, for beauty is God's handwriting. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson   T hey who dwell in the ends of the earth stand in awe of Your signs; You make the dawn and the sunset shout for joy. The meadows are clothed with flocks and the valleys are covered with grain. ~ Psalm 65:9, 13