Spiritual Thoughts

  W hen a flower doesn't bloom,  you fix the environment in which  it grows, not the flower. ~ Alexander Den Jeijer I f any of you lacks wisdom to guide him through a decision or circumstance, he is to as of God, who gives to everyone generously, without rebuke or blame, and it will be give to him. ~ James 1:5 (Amplified)

  Friday Tale - I'll be Happy When...   W e  convince ourselves that life will be better after we get married, have a baby, then another. Then we are frustrated that the kids aren't old enough and we'll be more content when they are. After that, we're frustrated that we have teenagers to deal with. We will certainly be happy when they are out of that stage. We tell ourselves that our life will be complete when our spouse gets his or her act together, when we get a nicer car, when we are able to go on a nice vacation or when we retire. The truth is there's no better time to be happy than right now. If not now, when? Your life will always be filled with challenges.            It's best to admit this to yourself and decide to be happy anyway. Happiness is the way. So, treasure every moment that you have and treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time with ... and remember that time waits for no one.     So,

A happy person is not a person in a certain set of circumstances BUT rather a person with a certain set of attitudes. ~ Hugh Downs   I   press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore have this attitude. ~ Philippians 3:14-15  

  T he same boiling water that softens the potato, hardens the egg. It's about what you are made of, not the circumstances. ~ Author Unknown   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

  R eading gives us some place to go when we have to stay where we are. ~ Mason Cooley   N ow these were more noble-minded, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. Therefore, many of them believed. ~ Acts 17:11-12

R emember, diamonds are created under pressure, so hold on, it will be your time to shine soon. ~ Sope Agbelus   T hen those who revered the LORD spoke to one another, and the LORD gave attention and heard it.... " A nd they shall be mine", says the LORD of hosts, "in that day when I  take up my jewels." ~ Malachi 3:17

  Friday Tale - Grocery Carts     A  father  asked his son after grocery shopping to return their cart to the retrieval area. Although it would have taken only a minute, the son protested.     "C'mon, Dad," he said, "There are carts all over the lot. None of those people returned theirs. No one expects them to."     Then Mom chimed in. "For heaven's sake, they pay people to collect the carts. Returning one more won't change the history of the world. Let's just go."     Dad was about to surrender when he saw an elderly couple walking together to return their cart. After a moment, he said to his son, "We're not responsible for what other people do, but we are responsible for what we do. There are two kinds of people: those who put their carts away and those who don't. We put our carts away because that's the kind of people we are." ~ John William Smith       This story isn't just about grocery carts. It&#

  V ision is the art of seeing  things invisible. ~ Jonathan Swift   A nd though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, BUT believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your lives. ~ 1 Peter 1:8-9

  I t isn't always a change of scenery needed to make life better. Sometimes it simply requires opening your eyes. ~ Richelle E. Goodrich   I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints. ~ Ephesians 1:18

  O ne who gains strength by  over  coming obstacles possesses  the only strength which can  over come adversity. ~ Albert Schweitzer   B ut as for you, be clear-headed in every situation, stay calm and cool and steady, endure every hardship, do the work of a preacher of the gospel, fulfill the duties of  your ministry. ~ 2 Timothy 4:5 (Amplified)

  P ress on. Obstacles are seldom the  same size tomorrow as they are today. ~ Robert H. Schuller   I n all your ways know and acknowledge   and recognize Him, and He will make  your paths straight and smooth,  removing obstacles that block your way. ~ Proverbs 3:6 (Amplified)

    Thought for the Day 10/14/2022 Friday Tale - You're an Eagle! A n  old folk-story tells of a man who found a baby eagle and released it in his chicken coop. The eagle learned to scratch for corn and seeds, to strut like a rooster and to sleep in the hen house. It soon decided it must be a chicken.     Concerned that it had not learned to fly, the man repeatedly pitched the bird into the air, but each time it fluttered to the ground and raced to the safety of the hen house. He then thought to return the eagle to its roots and climbed the high mountain where he first discovered the young bird.     As the creature surveyed its new surroundings, something awoke within. A deep stirring told the bird it was made for the skies. It was created to soar over land and water. It was born to be free. With wings outstretched, the noble bird took flight. That day it truly became an eagle.     Like the eagle, we’re born to be free. But too often we content ourselves with living in the chicken

  A bility is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it. ~ Lou Holtz   W hatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. ~ Colossians 3:23-24

W hen we long for life without difficulties, remember that oaks grow strong in contrary winds and diamonds are made under pressure. ~ Peter Marshall T hen one asked me" These who are clothed in the white robes, who are they and where have they come from?" I said to him, "my lord, you know." And he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." ~ Revelation 7:13-14  

  W hen babies take their first steps and then fall on their bottoms, we praise the first step. We don't criticize their fall.  I think we adults could learn a lesson here: we spend more time criticizing our falls and not enough time applauding our small steps!! ~ Author Unknown   T herefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy, and all slander, like  newborn babies , long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation. ~ 1 Peter 2:1-2

  I f I have made any valuable discoveries,  it has been owing more to patient attention than to any other talent. ~ Sir Isaac Newton   M ake your attentive to wisdom, incline your heart to understanding; for if you cry for discernment, lift your voice for understanding, then you will discern the fear of the LORD and discover the knowledge of God. ~ Proverbs 2:2,3, 5

  Friday Tale - WOW!!   L ast  s pring I was walking in a park. A short distance ahead of me was a mom and her three-year-old daughter. The little girl was holding on to a string that was attached to a helium balloon.           All of a sudden, a sharp gust of wind took the balloon from the little girl. I braced myself for some screaming and crying.           But, no! As the little girl turned to watch her balloon go skyward, she gleefully shouted out, "Wow!!"           I didn't realize it at that moment, but that little girl taught me something.           Later that day, I received a phone call from a person with news of an unexpected problem. I felt like responding with "Oh no, what should we do?" But remembering that little girl, I found myself saying, "Wow!, that's interesting! How can I help you?"           One thing's for sure - life's always going to keep us off balance with its unexpected problems. That's a given. Wh

  T he miracle is this:  the more we share the more we have. ~ Leonard Nimoy   A nyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same. ~ Luke 3:11

N ever look down on anybody   unless you're helping them up. ~ Jesse Jackson   W e urge you to admonish the unruly,   encourage the faint-hearted,  help the weak,  be patient with everyone. ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:14

  I 've always found that anything worth achieving will always have obstacles in the way and you've got to have that drive and determination to overcome those obstacles on route to whatever it is that you want to accomplish. ~ Chuck Norris T hey were strengthening the disciples,  encouraging them to continue in  the faith, and saying, "Through  many tribulations we must enter  the kingdom of God." ~ Acts 14:22

  R emember, if you ever need a helping hand, you'll find one at the end of your arm. As you grow older you will discover that you have two helping hands.  One for helping yourself, and the other for helping others. ~ Audrey Hepburn   D o not let kindness and truth leave you;  Bind them around your neck, write them on your heart. ~ Proverbs 3:3