Spiritual Thoughts

  Friday Tale - Gratitude Assessment   M ake the coming year an amazing year of gratitude and blessings:   Three amazing people in my life are: 1. 2. 3.   Three great things about my home and where I live are: 1. 2. 3.   Three great things about where I work and what I do for a living are: 1. 2. 3.   Three great gifts of unique talents and skills I have been given are: 1. 2. 3.   Three great gifts of knowledge and experience I have been given are: 1. 2. 3.   Three ways I have experienced blessings in my life are: 1. 2. 3.   Three ways in which my life is wealthy, abundant and prosperous are: 1. 2. 3.    Be Thankful for all the good in your life and make 2024 even better! ~ from Jim Gentil   I n everything give thanks,  for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:18

I n a society that has you counting money, pounds, calories and steps, be a rebel and county your blessings instead . ~ Lisa Heckman   M any, LORD my God, are the wonders You have done, the things You planned for us. None can compare with You; were I to speak and tell of Your deeds, they would be too many to declare! ~ Psalm 40:5

I n their own way, problems can be blessings. They can be the prod to get us out of our complacency and into action. ~ Unknown   C onsider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, 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

J esus Christ didn't commit the gospel to an advertising agency; he commissioned disciples. And he didn't command them to put up signs and pass out tracts; he said that they would be his witnesses. ~ Joe Bayly   G od has chosen you to know His will and see the Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth. You will be his witness to all people of what you have seen and heard. ~ Acts 22:14-15

Call Jesus Lord:   H is footsteps are your guidance, call Him The Way . His presence is your delight, call Him Wonderful . His truth is your foundation, call Him Rock . His will is your purpose, call Him Lord . His kindness is your comfort, call Him Shepherd . His promises are your hope, call Him Faithful . His fellowship is your reward, call Him Life . His authority is your confidence, call Him King . His return is your hope, call Him Omega . His heart is your home, call Him Love . ~ Unknown   G od also has highly exalted him and given him the name which is able every name. ~ Philippians 2:9

Friday Tale - Life's Hard Tasks   A mong some skaters was a boy so small and so evidently a beginner that his frequent mishaps awakened the pit of a tender-hearted (but not so wise) spectator. "Why, sonny, you are getting all bumped up!" she said. "I wouldn't stay on the ice and keep falling down so; I'd just come off and watch the others." The tears of the last downfall were still rolling over the rosy cheeks, but the child looked from his adviser to the shining steel on his feet, answered indignantly, "I didn't get some new skates to give up with, I got them to learn how with." The whole philosophy of earthy discipline was in the replay. Life's hard tasks are never sent us "to give up with," they are always intended to awaken strength, skill and courage in learning how to master them. ~ Walter Forward   W e are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow-heirs with Christ; if indeed we suffe

M ay you always have  the gladness of Christmas which is Hope; the spirit of Christmas which is Peace; and the heart of Christmas which is Love. ~ Ada V. Hendricks   BUT since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of Faith and Love, and as a helmet, the Hope of salvation. ~ 1Thessalonians 5:8

L etting Christ dwell in our hearts by faith, our darkness is dispelled, our coldness ended, our waywardness corrected, our loves purified, our whole lives cleansed and redeemed from ultimate corrupting. ~ Robert Roberts   J esus answered, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our abode with him." ~ John 14:23

T he greatest gift of all is free. Jesus is God's gift to all who will accept him. ~ Unknown   F or the wages of sin is death, BUT, the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. ~ Romans 6:23

F aith is the key to fit the door called Hope, BUT there is no power, anywhere, like LOVE for turning it. ~ Elaine V. Means   BUT now abide faith, hope and love; BUT the greatest of these is love. ~ 1 Corinthians 13:13

  Friday Tale - What is Maturity? Maturity is the ability to control anger and settle differences without violence or destruction. Maturity is patience, the willingness to pass up immediate pleasure in favor of the long-term gain. Maturity is perseverance, the ability to sweat out a project or a situation in spite of opposition and discouraging setbacks. Maturity is unselfishness -- responding to the needs of others, often at the expense of one's own desires or wishes. Maturity is the capacity to face unpleasantness and frustration, discomfort and defeat, without complaint or collapse. Maturity is humility. It is being big enough to say, "I was wrong." And, when right, the mature person need not say, "I told you so." Maturity is the ability to make a decision and stand by it. The immature spend their lives exploring endless possibilities, then do nothing. Maturity means dependability, keeping one's word, coming through in the crisis. The immature are masters

I t's not the situation that is causing your stress, it is your thoughts, and you can change that right here and now. You can choose to be peaceful right here and now. [Inner] peace is a choice, and it has nothing to do with what other people do or think. ~ Gerald Jampolsky   Y ou keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. ~ Isaiah 26:3

D id I offer peace today? Did I bring a smile to someone's face? Did I say words of healing? Did I let go of my anger and resentment? Did I forgive? Did I love? These are the real questions. I must trust that the little bit of Love that I sow now will bear many fruits, here in this world and the life to come. ~ Henri Nouwen   P eacemakers who sow in peace, reap a harvest of righteousness. ~ James 3:18

F irst thing to do every morning is read or listen to something positive. Your mind is like a garden - whatever you plant grows. Plant good stuff. ~ Alwyn Cosgrove   T he righteous man will flourish like the palm tree, he will grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Planted in the house of the LORD, he will flourish in the courts of our God. ~ Psalm 92:12-13

  D on't let people pull you into their storm. Pull them into your peace. ~ Kimberly Jones   B e completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Keep the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace. ~ Ephesians 4:2-4

  Friday Tale - Grieving Fathers   A doctor entered the hospital in hurry after being called in for an urgent surgery. He answered the call asap, changed his clothes and went directly to the surgery block. He found the boy’s father pacing in the hall waiting for the doctor. On seeing him, the dad yelled: “Why did you take all this time to come? Don’t you know that my son’s life is in danger? Don’t you have any sense of responsibility?”       The doctor smiled & said: “I am sorry, I wasn't in the hospital and I came as fast as I could after receiving the call…… And now, I wish you’d calm down so that I can do my work.”       “Calm down?! What if your son was in this room right now, would you calm down? If your own son dies now what will you do?” said the father angrily.       The doctor smiled again and replied: “I will say what Job said in the Holy Book “From dust we came and to dust we return, blessed be the name of God”. Doctors cannot prolong lives. Go and intercede

  M ay you have the hindsight to know where you've been and the foresight to know where you are going. ~ Unknown   A ll these people were still living by faith when they died. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country - a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. ~ Hebrews 11:13, 16

R aise your words, not your voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder. ~ Rumi   T he mouth of the righteous flows with wisdom but the perverted tongue will be cut out. There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of the sword, BUT the tongue of the wise brings healing. ~ Proverbs 10:31; 12:18

I f you are not content with what you have, you would not be satisfied it if were doubled. ~ Charles Spurgeon B ut godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world and we can take nothing out of it. BUT if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. ~ 1 Timothy 6:6-8

T he trouble is, if you don't risk anything, you risk even more. ~ Erica Jong   S earch me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. ~ Psalm 139:23-24

  Friday Tale - The Weight of Prayer   L ouise Redden, a poorly dressed lady with a look of defeat on her face, walked into a grocery store. She approached the owner of the store in a most humble manner and asked if he would let her charge a few groceries. She softly explained that her husband was very ill and unable to work, they had seven children and they needed food.           John Longhouse, the grocer, scoffed at her and requested that she leave his store. Visualizing the family needs, she said: "Please, sir! I will bring you the money just as soon as I can." John told her he could not give her credit, as she did not have a charge account at his store.           Standing beside the counter was a customer who overheard the conversation between the two. The customer walked forward and told the grocer that he would stand good for whatever she needed for her family. The grocer said in a very reluctant voice, "Do you have a grocery list?"           Louise r

  I t is not the weight of things that matters. It is all about our balance within. ~ Unknown   D o your best to improve your faith. You can do this by adding goodness, understanding, self-control, patience, devotion to God, concern for others and love. ~ 2 Peter1:5-7

T he foundation stones for a balanced success are honesty, character, integrity, faith, love and loyalty. ~ Zig Zaglar   A s for you, always be steady, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil your ministry. ~ 2 Timothy 4:5

C hange must always be balanced with some degree of consistency. ~ Ron D. Burton     T o everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die. ~ Ecclesiastes 3:1-2

I t seems like everything sleeps in winter, BUT it's really a time of renewal and reflection. ~ Elizabeth Cambden   D o not be conformed to this world, BUT be transformed by the renewal of your mind, so that you may prove what is the will of God and what is good and acceptable and perfect. ~ Romans 12:2

Friday Tale -  Thanksgiving Alphabet    A lthough things are not perfect B ecause of trial or pain, C ontinue in thanksgiving; D o not begin to blame. E ven when the times are hard, F ierce winds are bound to blow, G od is forever able H old on to what you know. I magine life without His love, J oy would cease to be. K eep thanking Him for all the things L ove imparts to thee. M ove out of "Camp Complaining". N o weapon that is known O n earth can yield the power, P raise can do alone. Q uit looking at the future: R edeem the time at hand St art every day with worship T o "thank" is a command. U ntil we see Him coming, V ictorious in the sky, W e'll run the race with gratitude X alting God most high. Y es, there'll be good times and yes some will be bad, but... Z ion waits in glory...where none are ever sad! ~ Author Unknown   A Psalm for Thanksgiving. Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth.  Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before Him with joyful si

T hank you God, for this good life, and forgive us if we do not love it enough. ~ Garrison Keillor   P ray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17

  G ratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, and stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow. ~ Melody Beattie F or everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected it if is received with gratitude, for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. ~ 1 Timothy 4:4-5

N o amount of regret changes the past.  No amount of anxiety changes the future. BUT any amount of gratitude changes the present. ~ Marc & Angel Chernoff   A lways give thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. ~ Ephesians 5:20

T here is peace in a life of constant gratitude. Have gratitude for the smallest blessings, for the crust of bread and the cool drink of water. ~ Jonathan Lockwood Huie   S o then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and over-flowing with thankfulness. ~ Colossians 2:6-7

  Friday Tale - Wisdom of Wolves    T he attitude of the wolf can be summed up simply: it is a constant visualization of success. The collective wisdom of wolves has been progressively programmed into their genetic makeup throughout the centuries. Wolves have mastered the technique of focusing their energies toward the activities that will lead to the accomplishment of their goals.     Wolves do not aimlessly run around their intended victims, yipping and yapping. They have a strategic plan and execute it through constant communication. When the moment of truth arrives, each understands his role and understands exactly what the pack expects of him. The wolf does not depend on luck. The cohesion, teamwork and training of the pack determines whether the pack lives or dies.        Everyone does not strive to be the leader in the wolf pack. Some are consummate hunters or caregivers or jokesters, but each seems to gravitate to the role he does best. This is not to say there are not c

G od is good on timing. When I thought He was late, it was only because I had tried to run too far ahead. ~ Unknown   F or you have need of patience, that, after you have done the will of God, you might receive the promise. ~ Hebrews 10:36

I t is not where you come from; it is where you are going that counts. ~ Ella Fitzgerald   F or here we do not have an enduring city; BUT we are looking for the city that is to come. ~ Hebrews 13:14

I n the depth of winter, I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer. ~ Albert Camus   W hy my soul are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God. ~ Psalm 43:5

U se what talent you possess: the woods would be very silent if no birds sang except those that sang the best. ~ Unknown   E ach of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. ~ 1 Peter 4:10

Friday Tale - Say Something Nice   One day a teacher asked her students to list the names of the other students in the room on two sheets of paper, leaving a space between each name.    Then she told them to think of the nicest thing they could say about each of their classmates and write it down.    It took the remainder of the class period to finish their assignment, and as the students left the room, each one handed in the papers.    That Saturday, the teacher wrote down the name of each student on a separate sheet of paper, and listed what everyone else had said about that individual.    On Monday she gave each student his or her list. Before long, the entire class was smiling. "Really?" she heard whispered. "I never knew that I meant anything to anyone!" and, "I didn't know others liked me so much,"

  Y ou are picky about the car you drive. You are picky about what you wear. You are picky about what you put in your mouth. Be even pickier about what you think. ~ Abraham Hicks   T herefore rid yourselves of all malice and deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation. ~ 1 Peter 2:1-2

R ight is right, even if everyone is against it; and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it. ~ Robert Tew BUT Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men." ~ Acts 5:29

E verything you go through  grows you. ~ Robert Tew   BUT speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into him who is the head, even Christ. ~ Ephesians 4:15

T he difference between school and life? In school you are taught a lesson and given a test. In life, you are given a test that teaches you a lesson. ~ Tom Bodett W hen a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom; by paying attention to the wise they get knowledge. ~ Proverbs 21:11

  Friday Tale - A Peculiar Kind of Love   I t was love at first sight. I knew how the boy felt who clambered breathlessly through his front door and cried, “Dad! I’m in love!”         “How do you know it’s love?” his father asked.         “Because, when I kissed her good night, her dog bit me and I never even felt it ‘til I got home!”         I can relate, because even without the dog-bite test I knew love when it bit me. And it must have bit her, too, because a few weeks later she asked me to marry her (well, that’s how I remember it anyway). Before long, though, I began to notice something “peculiar” about her love. She sometimes said strange things like “I love you too much to hold on to you.” Or, “I want you to be happy...even if that means we won’t be together.”         I know what she meant. She meant that marriage was a serious commitment and she didn’t want me to regret later that we plunged into it. Another time she said, “I love you so much I want to let you go. I d