Spiritual Thoughts

  T rouble is only opportunity in work clothes. ~ Henry J. Kaiser   B lessed by the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who comforts and encourages us in every trouble so that we will be able to comfort and encourage those who are in any kind of trouble. ~ 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

  Friday Tale - Creativity    S ometimes to be really creative you just have to sit back and ask yourself some questions about who you are, where you are going, what you want to accomplish, etc.  The following questions force you to take a moment to do just that. 1.    If I had an hour of free time a day, how would I spend it? 2.    Who are my heroes and why? Am I anyone's hero? 3.    Can I see things from a different perspective? When did I last walk in someone else's shoes? 4.    Could I push myself harder at home and/or at work? Could I stand to ease up a little? 5.    What 25 things do I want to accomplish before I die? 6.    If I could start my life over again knowing what I know now, what would I do differently? What would I not change?            It may seem like the world is unraveling bu...

  P eople who wonder if the glass is half empty or half-full miss the point. The glass is refillable. ~ Author unknown   N ow may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope. ~ Romans 15:13

F orgiveness is not an occasional act, it is an constant attitude. ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.   L et all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. ~ Ephesians 4:31-32

P roblems are not stop signs, they are guide lines. ~ Robert Schuller   F or You are my rock and my fortress; for Your name's sake You will lead me and guide me. You will pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me, for You are my strength. ~ Psalm 31:3-4

Y ou may not have time in this life to do everything you want, BUT you have plenty of time to do what is MOST important. ~ Stephen Covey   A nd this I pray that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ. ~ Philippians 1:9-10

Friday Tale - the Call at Midnight   W e all know what it's like to get that phone call in the middle of the night. This night's call was no different. Jerking up to the ringing summons, I focused on the red illuminated numbers of my clock. Midnight. Panicky thoughts filled my sleep-dazed mind as I grabbed the receiver.     " Hello ?"     My heart pounded, I gripped the phone tighter and eyed my husband, who was now turning to face my side of the bed.     " Mama ?" I could hardly hear the whisper over the static. But my thoughts immediately went to my daughter. When the desperate sound of a young crying voice became clearer on the line, I grabbed for my husband and squeezed his wrist.     " Mama, I know it's late. But don't...don't say anything, until I finish. And before you ask, yes, I've been drinking. I nearly ran off the road a few miles bac...

T he Main Thing is to Keep The Main Thing The Main Thing. ~ Stephen Covey "W hat is the most important commandment?" Jesus answered, "The most important one says: "You have only one Lord and God. You must love Him with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. The second most important commandment says 'Love others as much as you love yourself.' No other commandments are more important than these. ~ Mark 12:28-31

  T he past is important only as a lesson. Don't allow yourself regret. Planning for the future is essential, BUT that planning must occur in the present. Worrying about the future serves no purpose. Focus all your energies on living Today. ~ Jonathan Lockwood Huie   M ake me understand the way of your precepts, so that I will meditate and focus my thoughts on Your wonderful works. ~ Psalm 119:27

  A n arrow can only be shot by pulling it backward. So when life is dragging you back with difficulties, it means that it is going to launch you into something great. So just focus and keep aiming. ~ Paulo Coelho   H e has made my mouth like a sharp sword, in the shadow of His hand He has concealed me; and He has also made me a select arrow. ~ Isaiah 49:2

  Friday Tale - True Value   A football in my hands is worth about $20. A football in Peyton Manning’s hands is worth about $15 million. It depends on whose hands it's in.   A basketball in my hands is worth about $25. A basketball in Shaquille O'Neal's hands is worth $30 million. It depends on whose hands it's in.   A rod in my hands may keep away a wild animal. A rod in Moses' hands parted a mighty sea. It depends on whose hands it's in.   A sling shot in my hands is just a kid's toy. A sling shot in David's hand killed a giant. It depends on whose hands it's in.   Two fish and 5 loves of bread in my hands will feed me. Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in Jesus’ hands fed thousands. It depends on whose hands it's in.   Nails in my hands might build a birdhouse. Nails in Jesus Christ's hands produced salvation for the world. It depends on whose hands it's in.  ...

  T o see a candle's light, one must take it into a dark place. ~ Ursula Le Guin F or You, LORD, make my lamp shine; my God enlightens my darkness. With Your help, I will run through an army, with help from my God I leap over walls. ~ Psalm 18:29

  E xperience is not what happens to a man; it is what a man does with what happens to him. ~ Aldous Huxley N o temptation has overtaken you BUT such as is common to human experience; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, BUT with the temptation will provide the way of escape also; so that you will be able to endure it. ~ 1 Corinthians 10:13 (Amplified)

  T he excitement of learning separates youth from old age. As long as you're learning you are not old. ~ Dr. Rosalyn Yalow L et the wise listen and increase their learning; let the person of understanding receive guidance in understanding proverbs, clever sayings, words of the wise.... The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. ~ Proverbs 1:5-7

I n reading the lives of great men, I found that the first victory they won was over themselves. ~ Harry S. Truman   A fool always loses his temper and displays his anger, BUT a wise man uses self-control and holds it back. ~ Proverbs 29:11 

  Friday Tale - Clay Balls   A man man was exploring caves by the seashore. In one of the caves he found a canvas bag with a bunch of hardened clay balls. It was like someone had rolled clay balls and left them out in the sun to bake. They didn’t look like much, but they intrigued the man, so he took the bag out of the cave with him. As he strolled along the beach, he would throw the clay balls one at a time out into the ocean as far as he could.      He thought little about it, until he dropped one of the clay balls and it cracked open on a rock. Inside was a beautiful precious stone!      Excited, the man started breaking open the remaining clay balls. Each contained a similar treasure. He found thousands of dollars’ worth of jewels in the 20 or so clay balls he had left.      Then it struck him. He had been on the beach a long time. He had thrown maybe 50 or 60 of the clay balls with their hi...

  T here are two freedoms: the false,   where a man is free to do what he likes; and the true, where a man is free to do what he ought. ~ Robert Roberts   L ive as free people, BUT do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God's servants. ~ 1 Peter 2:16

  D iscipline comes through self-control. If you do not conquer self, you will be conquered by self. ~ Napoleon Hill   W hoever controls his temper is better than a warrior, and anyone who has control of his spirit is better than someone who captures a city. ~ Proverbs 16:32 (ISV)

  E verything that is really great and inspiring is created by the individual who can labor in freedom. ~ Albert Einstein Y ou, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. BUT do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. ~ Galatians 5:13

  H ow blessed I am to have someone that makes saying good-bye so hard. ~ Winnie the Pooh (A.A. Milne)   F arewell to my dear sister Inga who is moving today from Texas (after 20 years here) to Ontario, Canada, to share the good news up there with family!   T he Lord's followers who had been scattered went from place to place, telling the good news. ~ Acts 8:4