Spiritual Thoughts

  Friday Tale~ The Point of It all   H ere is the point: it doesn't matter what you know, how many times you've failed, or how old you are, the opportunity to achieve your dreams is always there.     Every day of your life provides a fresh start. It doesn't matter if you've been stuck in a rut for the last twenty years, you can pull your way out of it tomorrow.     And with that new day will come a chance to do things right.     Maybe you haven't been in a rut, maybe you've been heading in the right direction but haven't taken that big step.     Today is your day.     The truly amazing thing about life is how quickly we get a fresh start. Every time that sun rises, you have another go at it.     Most people, knowing that every day provides a new beginning, will continue to do the same things they've always done for the rest of their lives. Routine will run the show and their goals and dreams will never be more than wishes.       Years ago

  D evelop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow. ~ Anthony J. D'Angelo   A ll Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. ~ 2 Timothy 3:16-17

  W hen we seek to discover the best in others, we some how bring out the best in ourselves. ~ William Arthur Ward   D o nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, BUT with humility of mind regard one another as better than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, BUT also for the interests of others. ~ Philippians 2:3-4

  I t is common sense to take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. BUT above all, try something. ~ Franklin D. Roosevelt   W hatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in the grave. ~ Ecclesiastes 9:10

  Y ou can become blind by seeing each day as a similar one. Each day is a different one, each day brings a miracle of its own. It's just a matter of paying attention to this miracle. ~ Paulo Coelho   I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in His holy temple, and His incomparably great power for us who believe. ~ Ephesians 1:18-19

Friday Tale - Daily Wish for You   T his is my wish for you: Comfort on difficult days, Smiles when sadness intrudes, Rainbows to follow the clouds, Laughter to kiss your lips, Sunsets to warm your heart, Hugs when spirits sag, Beauty for your eyes to see, Friendships to brighten your being, Faith so that you can Hope, Confidence for when you doubt, Courage to know yourself, Patience to accept the truth, Love to complete your life. ~ Anonymous   N ow may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, both who have loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word. ~ 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

  I f we have not quiet in our minds, outward comfort will do no more for us than a golden slipper on a gouty foot. ~ John Bunyan   L et the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body, and be thankful. ~ Colossians 3:15

  "F riendship," said Christopher Robin, "is a very comforting thing to have." ~ A. A. Milne   A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. ~ Proverbs 17:17

  W herever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine. ~ Anthony J. D'Angelo   T he unfolding of Your words gives light, it gives understanding to the simple. For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching is light. ~ Psalm 119:130; Proverbs 6:23

  M ay a thread of comfort be woven through your difficult days. ~ Mary Ann Radmacher   O may Your loving kindness comfort me, according to Your word. ~ Psalm 119:76

  Friday Tale - With Gratitude to God   Our house was directly across the street from the clinic entrance of Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. We lived downstairs and rented the upstairs rooms to out patients at the clinic.           One summer evening as I was fixing supper, there was a knock at the door. I opened it to see a truly awful looking man. "Why, he's hardly taller than my eight year old," I thought as I stared at the stooped, shriveled body.           But the appalling thing was his face lopsided from swelling, red and raw. Yet his voice was pleasant as he said, "Good evening. I've come to see if you've a room for just one night. I came for a treatment this morning from the eastern shore, and there's no bus 'til morning."           He told me he'd been hunting for a room since noon but with no success, no one seemed to have a room. "I guess it's my face...I know it looks terrible, but my doctor says with a few

  S ometimes when I'm talking, my words can't keep up with my thoughts. I wonder why we think faster than we speak. Probably so we can think twice before we speak. ~ Bill Watterson   E ven a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent. The tongue of the wise dispenses knowledge,  BUT the mouths of fools pour out folly. ~ Proverbs 17:28; 15:2

R ight is right, even if nobody is doing it. Wrong is wrong, even if everyone is doing it. ~ Unknown   W hoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them. For the ways of the LORD are right, and the righteous will walk in them. ~ Hosea 14:9

  I wish to do something Great and Wonderful, BUT I must start by doing the little things like they were Great and Wonderful. ~ Albert Einstein   W hatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. ~ Colossians 3:17

  I f we don't change, we don't grow. If we don't grow, we are not really living. Growth shows faith. ~ Gail Sheehy (amended)   N ow the parable is this: the seed is the word of God. But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance. ~ Luke 8:11, 15

  Friday Tale - Don't Wait   Stop waiting.....    Until your car or home is paid off    Until you get a new car or home    Until your kids leave the house    Until you go back to school    Until you finish school    Until you clean the house    Until you organize the garage    Until you clean off your desk    Until you lose 10 lbs.    Until you gain 10 lbs.    Until you get married    Until you have kids    Until the kids go to school    Until you retire    Until summer    Until spring    Until winter    Until fall    Until you die....         There is no better time than right now to be happy. Happiness is a journey, not a destination. So work like you don't need money.   Love like you've never been hurt. .... ...... and Dance like no one's watching . ~ From Jim Gentil's Positive People Power newsletter   T herefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, BUT as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. ~ Ephesians 5:15-16

  H e who forgives  ends the quarrel. ~ African Proverb   BUT now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander and abusive speech from your mouth,. bearing with one another and forgiving each other, just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. ~ Colossians 3:8, 13

  W ith the new day comes new strength and new thoughts. ~ Eleanor Roosevelt   T he LORD's loving-kindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. ~ Lamentations 3:22-23

  Y ou do not need to wallow in guilt. Wallow in the mercy of God. ~ John Vianney   BUT because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ, even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved. ~ Ephesians 2:4-5

  A Bible that is falling apart usually belongs to someone who is not. ~ Unknown   B uy truth and do not sell it, get wisdom and instruction and understanding, trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. ~ Proverbs 23:23 with Ephesians 5:10

  Friday Tale - Walking the Talk    S ome time , in the not-too-distant future, these will probably be known as “the good old days.” But for now, they’re just the times in which we live. And they are challenging times, indeed. More and more we find ourselves facing situations which test our human fiber…and our moral compass.      Temptations to do what’s convenient, easy, and self-serving come at us like waves rushing to the shore.     How do we deal with this reality? How can we ensure that we stay on the right path and avoid compromising our values and beliefs? We do it by continually reflecting on the following five key principles of walking the talk…and acting accordingly.   Principle 1: Words to Live by Are Just Words…Unless You Actually Live by Them   Principle 2: You Are What You Do   Principle 3: Everything You Do Counts   Principle 4: The “Golden Rule” Is Still Pure Gold   Principle 5: Character Is the Key       Finally, start each new day with a commitment

S ometimes when you are in a dark place, you think you've been buried BUT you've actually been planted. ~ Christine Caine   T he spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me to grant to those who mourn in Zion - to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit, that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, so that He may be glorified. ~ Isaiah 61:3