Spiritual Thoughts

I f you cannot pay it back, pay it forward. ~ Catherine Ryan Hyde   T he King will answer and say to them, "Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of mine, even to the least of them, you did it to me." ~ Matthew 25:40

  T oday, I say "yes" to forgiving.  I commit to being for-giving Love and for-giving compassion  in all areas of my life. ~ Sheri Rosenthal   S o, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another. ~ Colossians 3:12

I t is the little things you do that can make a big difference. ~ Bob Proctor   T ruly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine,  you did it for me. ~ Jesus in Matthew 24:40

  Friday Tale ~ Road to Happiness   W hen I travel on business, I like to talk to the taxi drivers who take me from the airport to my hotel, or to a convention center, or to a restaurant. Taxi drivers are often immigrants with interesting personal histories and unusual cultural backgrounds. I ask them how long they've been in America, how they chose which city to live in, and what they like best about where they live. Of course, I also ask them for advice on good local restaurants and any special attractions they'd recommend to a visitor. I've had some great experiences on my travels, thanks to the advice of taxi drivers!     On one trip about ten years ago, I was making conversation with the taxi driver, asking him my usual questions about how he came to live where he lived. Then I asked him a hypothetical question: "if you could live anywhere in the world—and if money was no object—where would you live?"   ...

T he most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. ~ Amelia Earhart   T herefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. ~ 1 Peter 1:13

A s we work to create light for others, we naturally light our own way. ~ Mary Anne Radmacher   BUT since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For did place us to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:8

W hen you do things in the present that you can see, you are shaping the future you are yet to see. ~ Idowu Koyenikan   K now also that wisdom is like honey for you: If you find it, there is a future hope for you and your hope will not be cut off. ~ Proverbs 24:14

I t takes just one star to pierce a universe of darkness. Never give up. ~ Richelle E. Goodrich   F or you were once darkness, BUT now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light - for the fruit of the light consists of all goodness, righteousness and truth. ~ Ephesians 5:8-9

  Friday Tale - Rules From God   1. Wake Up !! Decide to have a good day. Today is the day the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it . ~ Psalms 118:24   2. Dress Up !! The best way to dress up is to put on a smile. A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.   The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at outward appearance; BUT the Lord looks at the heart . ~ I Samuel 16:7 3. Shut Up!! Say nice things and learn to listen. God gave us two ears and one mouth, so He must have meant for us to do twice as much listening as talking. He who guards his lips guards his soul . ~ Proverbs 13:3   4. Stand Up!!... For what you believe in. Stand for something or you will fall for anything.. Let us not be weary in doing good; for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good. .. ~ Galatians 6:9-10   5. Look Up !!... To the Lord. Set your hearts ...

  K eep praying. BUT be thankful that God's answers are wiser than your prayers. ~ Willam Culbertson   L et the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body, and be t hankful. ~ Colossians 3:15

H owever much or little you have, "Thank you" is always a more powerful prayer than, "I need more." ~ Jonathan Lockwood Huie   Y ou rule over all, and in Your hand is power and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone. Now therefore our God, we thank You, and praise your glorious Name. ~ 1 Chronicles 29:13

E xpect to have Hope rekindled. Expect your prayers to be answered in wondrous ways. The dry seasons in life do not last. The spring rains will come again. ~ Sarah Ban Breathnach   BUT as for me, I will hope continually, and will praise You yet more and more. ~ Psalm 71:14

"H elp," "Thanks," "WOW." The three essential prayers. ~ Anne Lamott   I cry aloud with my voice to the LORD. Every day I will bless You. Great is the LORD and highly to be praised and His greatness is unsearchable. All Your works shall give thanks to You. ~ Psalm 142:1; 145, 3,4, 10

Friday Tale - Butterflies of Hope    I was four months pregnant with our first child when the unimaginable happened. Our baby's heart stopped beating, leaving me in a state of heart-wrenching devastation. The grief I felt was indescribable, and as the days passed, I found myself nervous about returning to work. I was a middle school teacher, and the thought of facing a classroom full of kids felt like an insurmountable challenge. The pain was still fresh, and I couldn't fathom how to gather the strength to stand before my students.   After four weeks of trying to recover and heal from the emotional and physical scars, the day came when I had to face the world again. I mustered the courage to walk into my empty classroom, not knowing what to expect. I turned on the lights, and the room slowly came to life.   Then, something remarkable...

W hen trials persist, God's intention is not that we give up, rather He wants us to grow up! ~ Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein   L ike new-born babies, crave spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. ~ 1 Peter:2-2-3

I f you have a goal, write it down. If you do not write it down, you do not have a goal, you only have a wish. ~ Steve Maraboli   T he goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. ~ 1 Timothy 1:5

D on't give up. Normally it is the last key on the ring which opens the doors.  ~ Paulo Coelho   W hy, my soul, are you down cast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God. ~ Psalm 42:11

T hings don't wrong and break your heart so that you can become bitter and give up. They happen to break you down and build you up so that you can be all that you were intended to be. ~ Samuel Johnson   B lessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love him. ~ James 1:12

  Friday Tale - Person of Character??   T aking his seat in his chambers, the judge faced the opposing lawyers. "So," he said, "I have been presented, by both of you, with a bribe." The lawyers squirmed as he continued. To the one on his left he said, "You gave me $15,000." To the other, he said, "And you, gave me $10,000."   The judge reached into his pocket and pulled out some cash. Handing it to the first one, he said, "Now then, I'm returning $5,000 and we're going to decide this case solely on its merits."   Where is a person of character when you need one?   A whole and healthy life -- a life of character and integrity -- is shaped from the inside. But becoming that person doesn't happen all at once. An authentic and genuine life grows like a sturdy tree. And like a tree, it grows slowly.   Every time you make a different and better decision, it grows a little. Every time you choose to do the right thing, eve...

T he miracle is this - the more we share, the more we have.  ~ Leonard Nimoy   I f your gift is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. ~ Romans 12:7-8

A nother Sunrise, Another New Beginning. ~ Jonathan Lockwood Huie   T herefore I have hope: because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. ~ Lamentations 3:21-23

  D o something today that your future self will thank you for. ~ Unknown   C ontinue to work out your salvation with awe-inspired fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose. ~ Philippians 2:12-13

  T his bright new year is given me To live each day with zest. To daily grow and try to be My highest and my best. ~ William Arthur Ward   W e continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all the wisdom and understanding He gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord, and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God. ~ Colossians 1:9-10