Spiritual Thoughts

  Friday Tale - Can't - or - Can ?   Can't is the worst word that's written or spoken; Doing more harm here than slander and lies; On it is many a strong spirit broken, And with it many a good purpose dies. It springs from the lips of the thoughtless each morning And robs us of courage we need through the day: It rings in our ears like a timely sent warning And laughs when we falter and fall by the way.   Can't is the father of feeble endeavor, The parent of terror and halfhearted work; It weakens the efforts of artisans clever, And makes of the toiler an indolent shirk. It poisons the soul of the man with a vision, It stifles in infancy many a plan; It greets honest toiling with open derision And mocks at the hopes and the dreams of a man.   Can't is a word none should speak without blushing; To utter it should be a symbol of shame; Ambition and courage it daily is crushing; It blights a man's purpose and shortens his aim. Despise it with all of your hat...

G od's voice is still and quiet and easily buried under an avalanche of clamor. Listen carefully. ~ Charles Stanley A nd He said, 'Go forth and stand on the mount before the LORD.' And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and broke in pieces the rocks, BUT the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake, BUT the LORD was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, BUT the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire His still small voice. ~ 1 Kings 19:11-12

  T hose who believe they can do something and those who believe they can't, are both right. ~ Henry Ford     I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. ~ Philippians 4:13

  R eading Scripture is like collecting pollen. Meditation on it is like making honey. ~ Bruce Waltke Y our commandments make me wiser  than my enemies, for they become mine.  I have more insight than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation . ~ Psalm 119:97-98

  B eginning today, treat everyone you meet as if they were going to be dead by midnight. Extend to them all the care, kindness and understanding you can muster, and do it with no thought of any reward. Your life will never be the same again. ~ Og Mandino W hat is desirable in a man is his kindness. ~ Proverbs 19:22

  F riday Tale - Unfold the Rose   A  young, new believer in Christ was walking with an older, more seasoned believer in the garden one day. Feeling a bit insecure about what God had for him to do, he was asking the older believer for some advice. The older believer walked up to a rose bush and handed the young believer a rosebud, and told him to open it without tearing any of the petals. The young believer looked in disbelief at the older believer and was trying to figure out what a rosebud could possibly have to do with his wanting to know the will of God for his life and ministry. But, because of his great respect for the older believer, he proceeded to try and unfold the rosebud while keeping every petal intact. It wasn't long before he realized how impossible this was to do. Noticing the young believer's inability to unfold the rosebud without tearing it, the older believer began to recite the following poem:   It is only a tiny rosebud...

  B lessed is the person who  sees the need, recognizes  the responsibility, and actively becomes the answer. ~ William A. Ward   T he King will reply, "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." ~ Matthew 25:40 

  W hatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong, AND always some to say you are RIGHT. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson (amended)   BUT as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded. ~ 2 Chronicles 15:7

W hat the caterpillar calls  the end of life, the Master calls a butterfly. ~ Richard Bach   Y ou are to be made new in the attitude of your minds, and to put on a new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. ~ Ephesians 4:23-24

T hat is what learning is. You suddenly understand something you've understood all your life, BUT in a new way. ~ Doris Lessing   F or the LORD gives wisdom, from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. ~ Proverbs 2:6

  Friday Tale - May You Have....   M ay your joys be as bright as the morning, And your sorrows merely be shadows  that fade in the sunlight of love. May you have enough happiness to  keep you sweet. Enough trials to keep you strong. Enough sorrow to keep you human. Enough hope to keep you happy. Enough failure to keep you humble. Enough success to keep you eager. Enough friends to give you comfort. Enough faith and courage in yourself to banish sadness. Enough wealth to meet your needs. And one thing more: Enough determination to make each day a more wonderful day than the one before. ~ an Irish Blessing   W e count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord's dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and merciful. ~ James 5:11 

  T hink of giving not as a duty  BUT as a privilege. ~ John D. Rockefeller, Jr.   R emember that our Lord Jesus said, "More blessings come from giving than receiving." ~ Acts 20:35

  U se the power of your word in the direction of truth and love. ~ don Miguel Ruiz   BUT in everything commending ourselves as servants of God in the word of Truth, in the power of God. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. ~ 2 Corinthians 6:4, 7, Romans 12:10

  G reat necessities call out  great virtues. ~ Abigail Adams   F or this very reason apply your diligence to the Divine promises, in exercising your faith to develop moral excellence [virtue], and in moral excellence, knowledge, insight and understanding. ~ 2 Peter 1:5 (Amplified

  T rials, temptations, disappointments - all these are helps instead of hindrances, if one uses them rightly. They not only test the fiber of a character, BUT strengthen it. Every conquered temptation represents a new fund of moral energy. Every trial endured and weathered in the right spirit, makes a soul nobler and stronger that it was before. ~ James Buckham   C onsider it pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and  complete, not lacking anything. ~ James 1:2-4

  Friday Tale - Acres of Diamonds   T here was a Persian farmer named Ali Hafed who sold his farm and left his family to travel the world in search of wealth. He looked everywhere but he could not find the diamonds he lusted after. Finally, alone and in despair as a homeless pauper, he ended his own life. His search for riches had consumed him.       In the meantime, the man who bought the land from Hafed was grateful for every blade of grass that was now his and lavished love and hard work on his farm. At night, surrounded by his family and eating the fruits of his labor, he was a contented man.       Finally one day he made a remarkable discovery. In the backyard that Ali Hafed had abandoned was a diamond mine – literally an acre of diamonds. The simple farmer became wealthy beyond his wildest dreams.     Here is an extraordinary and wonderful message: withi...

  H owever much or little you have, "Thank you" is always a more powerful prayer than, "I need more." ~ Jonathan Lockwood Huie   I will give thanks to You, O Lord, with all my heart, and will glorify Your name forever. ~ Psalm 86:12

  W here ever you go, go with all your heart. ~ Confucius   Y ou shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. ~ Deuteronomy 6:5 (Matthew 22:37)

  T ime is free, BUT it's priceless. You can't own it, BUT you can use it. You can't keep it, BUT you can spend it. Once you've lost it you can never get it back. ~ Harvey MacKay   S ow righteousness for yourselves, reap unfailing love. Break up the unplowed ground for yourselves, for it is TIME to seek the LORD, until He comes and showers deliverance on you. ~ Hosea 10:12

  C haracter is the one and  only thing we have total control of - we can lose our health, wealth, beauty, family, or  freedom, BUT we never lose our  character. Our character is our strength, the house inside us. ~ Diane von Furstenberg   But that's not all!  We gladly suffer, because we know that suffering helps us to endure. And endurance builds character, which gives us a hope that will never disappoint us. ~ Romans 5:3-5 (CEV)

Friday Tale - Be That One One  s ong 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 vote can change a nation, 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, Be that ONE today . ~ Unknown O ne who is gracious to a poor man lends to the LORD and He will repay him for his good deed. ~ Proverbs 19:17