Spiritual Thoughts

  I t’s what you sow that multiplies,  not what you keep in the barn. ~ Adrian Rogers   N ow remember this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows generously that blessings may come to others will also reap generously and be blessed. ~ 2 Corinthians 9:6

  A river cuts through rock, not because of its power,  BUT because of its persistence. ~ Jim Watkins   Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? ~ Luke 18:1

 Friday Tale ~ Learning from Failure           During an interview with a newspaper reporter a famous research scientist who had made a number of very important medical breakthroughs was asked why he was able to make the medical break throughs and what set him apart from others in his field?           He responded that, in his opinion, it all came from an experience with his mother that occurred when he was about four years old. He had been trying to remove a bottle of milk from the refrigerator when he lost his grip on the cold and somewhat slippery bottle and it fell and broke spilling its contents all over the kitchen floor creating a veritable sea of milk!           When his mother came into the kitchen, instead of yelling at him and giving him a lecture what he had done wrong or punishing him, she said, ‘My son, what a great and wonderful...

  Change is your friend not your foe,  change is a brilliant opportunity to grow. ~ Simon T. Bailey   BUT speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, Christ. ~ Ephesians 4:15

 While it is true that the journey of a thousand steps begins with a thousand steps, it is precisely that  first step that can often tomes be the hardest to take. This is what the LORD says  "Stand at the crossrads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls."

  D o you know the difference between education and experience? Education is when you read the fine print; experience is what you get when you don't. ~ Pete Seger   D o not reject or take lightly the discipline of the LORD, learn from your mistakes and the testing that comes from His correction through discipline; nor despise His rebuke. For those whom the LORD loves He corrects, even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights. ~ 1 Timothy 1:5

  W hat you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals .  ~ Zig Ziglar   BUT the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. ~ 1 Timothy 1:5

  Friday Tale ~ The Race   W henever I start to hang my head in front of failure's face, my downward fall is broken by the memory of a race. A children's race, young boys, young men; how I remember well, excitement sure, but also fear, it wasn't hard to tell.   They all lined up so full of hope, each thought to win that race or tie for first, or if not that, at least take second place. Their parents watched from off the side, each cheering for their son, and each boy hoped to show his folks that he would be the one.   The whistle blew and off they flew, like chariots of fire, to win, to be the hero there, was each young boy's desire. One boy in particular, whose dad was in the crowd, was running in the lead and thought "My dad will be so proud."     But as he speeded down the field and crossed a shallow dip, the little boy who thought he'd win, lost his step and slipped. Trying hard to catch himself, his arms flew everyplace, and midst the laughter...

  S ometimes fear convinces us that it is strong, true, real and that Love is tiny, weak, and for those who want to hide. We forget that the muscle of the universe, the essence of all, could never be fear. It is always love . ~ Unknown W e have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is Love, and the one who abides in love, abides in God, and God abides in him. ~ 1 John 4:16

  M ost of the shadows of this life are caused by standing in one's own shadow . ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson   F or you will go on before the Lord to prepare his ways, because of the tender mercy of our God, with which the sunrise from on high will visit us, to shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. ~ Luke 1:76-79

  O ne Look One smile One touch One embrace One kiss One love Two people   Two minds One road    One journey One ending together . ~ Melissa Higgins   L et your fountain be blessed,   and rejoice in the wife of your youth. ~ Proverbs 5:18

  I n the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures. For in the dew of little things, the heart finds its morning and is refreshed. ~ Khalil Gibran   A friend loves at all times. ~ Proverbs 17:17

  Friday Tale - Being Nice Y ears ago, in a “Dennis the Menace” cartoon strip, Dennis and his buddy, Joey, are walking away from the Wilson’s house with both hands full of cookies.   Joey reflected, “I wonder what we did to deserve this?”   Dennis delivered a truth-filled answer. “Look, Joey,  Mrs. Wilson gives us cookies, not because we’re nice, but because she’s nice.”   What Dennis said of Mrs. Wilson can be said of the One who created us. The good which comes our way is not payment for being good, because sometimes we have not been goo. God is good to us because God is good.   This is called grace which means unmerited, undeserved favor and kindness.   So the next time something good comes your way, say, “Thank you, Lord.” ~ Steve Goodier   W hoever is kind to the poor, lends to the LORD,   and He will reward them for what they have done. ~ Proverbs 19:17

  L ove doesn't just sit there, like a stone. It has to be made, like break; remade all the time, made new. ~ Ursula K. LeGuin I f you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. BUT love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. ~ Luke 6:32, 35

  Y ou building your mind, so make it into something you want to live with. ~ Marilynne Robinson   A wise man will hear and increase in learning, and a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge. ~ Proverbs 1:5, 7

  T he man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones. ~ Confucius   H e said to them, "For truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move, and nothing will be impossible to you." ~ Matthew 17:20

  T he willingness to show up changes us. It makes us a little braver each time. ~ Brene Brown S o we built the wall and the whole wall was jointed together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work. Those who were rebuilding the wall and those who carried burdens took their load with one hand doing the   work and the other holding a weapon. ~ Nehemiah 4:6, 17

  Friday Tale - Be an Eagle   I was waiting in line for a ride at the airport. When a cab pulled up, the first thing I noticed was that the taxi was polished to a bright shine. Smartly dressed in a white shirt, black tie, and freshly pressed black slacks, the cab driver jumped out and rounded the car to open the back passenger door for me.   He handed me a laminated card and said: 'I'm Wasu, your driver. While I'm loading your bags in the trunk I'd like you to read my mission statement.' Taken aback, I read the card. It said: Wasu's Mission Statement: To get my customers to their destination in the quickest, safest, and cheapest way possible in a friendly environment. This blew me away. Especially when I noticed that the inside of the cab matched the outside. Spotlessly clean!   As he slid behind the wheel, Wasu said, 'Would you like a cup of coffee? I have a thermos of regular and one of decaf.' I said jokingly, 'No, I'd prefer a soft drin...

  A ll we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us. ~ J.R.R. Tolkein   T herefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise BUT as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil, and we are to understand what the will of the Lord is. ~ Ephesians 5:15-17

  T ruth is proper and beautiful  in all times and in all places. ~ Frederick Douglass   A s a result, we are no longer to be children BUT speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into him who is the head, even Christ. ~ Ephesians 4:14-15