Spiritual Thoughts

Friday Tale - A.S.A.P.   E ver wonder about the abbreviation A.S.A.P.? Generally we think of it in terms of even more hurry and stress in our lives. Maybe if we think of this abbreviation in a different manner, we will begin to find a new way to deal with those rough days along the way.   There's work to do, deadlines to meet; You've got no time to spare, But as you hurry and scurry- ASAP-ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER                   In the midst of family chaos,                 "Quality time" is rare.                 Do your best; let God do the rest-                 ASAP-ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER.                            It may seem like your worries                          Are more than you can bear,                          Slow down and take a breather-                          ASAP-ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER                                    God knows how stressful life is;                                  He wants to ease our cares,                                  A

  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 Brethnach   L ove does no wrong to a neighbor, therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. Do this, knowing the time that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we first believed. ~ Romans 13:10-11 (NIV)

  I nstructions for living a life: Pay Attention. Be Astonished. Tell about it. Have Faith. Be Hopeful. ~ Mary Oliver (amended)   H e who gives attention to the Word will find good, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD. ~ Proverbs 16:20 

  H ope is being able to see that there is light despite all the darkness. ~ Desmond Tutu   T here is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off. ~ Proverbs 23:18

O ptimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence. ~ Helen Keller   T herefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has great reward. ~ Hebrews 10:35

  Friday Tale - Resilience   S ix games. 289 missed shots. 73 turnovers. 106 personal fouls. 22 missed free throws. And they went undefeated. 6-0.       Those are the tournament stats for last year’s men’s college basketball champions (Villanova University).       So many mistakes but still winners. I love that!       What inspires me most is the players’ focus.       With thousands of people watching them ... talking, yelling, waving things in the air ... pep bands playing and cheerleaders cheering (for and against them) ... knowing their work is being watched, recorded, and judged at all moments by fans, scouts, reporters, and coaches ... with all of it ... they’re able to do their work.       I want that focus every day. (Don’t you?)       The players’ resilience.       There aren’t two minutes that go by without at least one mistake by someone. And everyone sees it ... a missed shot, a foul, a turnover.      But there's no time for excuses, drama, or complaint

H appiness is a choice. You grieve, you stomp your feet, you pick yourself up and choose to be happy. ~ Lucy Lawless   Y our words are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart. ~ Psalm 119:111

Y ou either get bitter or you get better. It is that simple. You either take what has been dealt to you and allow it to make you a better person, or you allow it to tear you down. The choice does not belong to fate,  it belongs to you. ~ Josh Shipp   I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your rules before me. ~ Psalm 119:30

  E verybody in your situation has the same choice: you can rue your situation or you can dedicate yourself to changing it. Accept responsibility for your future. Refuse to complain, criticize or condemn. ~ Mark Ford   B ut the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, BUT one thing IS necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her." ~ Luke 10:41-42

I t is choice - not chance, that determines your destiny. ~ Jean Nidetch   T hen Peter and the apostles replied, "We must obey God rather than men; we have no other choice." ~ Acts 5:29 (Amplified)

Friday Tale ~ The Optimist Creed   P romise yourself:   ·     To be strong in God so that nothing can disturb your peace of mind. ·     To talk health, happiness, and faith to every person you meet. ·     To make all your friends feel that there is something worthwhile in them. ·     To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true. ·     To think only of the best, to work only for the best and to do only the best. ·     To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own. ·     To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future. ·     To wear a cheerful expression at all times and give a smile to every living creature you meet.  ·     To give so much time to improving yourself th

I f a man does not know what port he is steering for, no wind is favorable to him. ~ Seneca   BUT i f any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him, BUT he must ask in faith, without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. ~ James 1:5-6

Y our attitude is like a box of crayons that color your world. Constantly color your picture gray, and your picture will always be bleak. Try adding some bright colors to the picture by including humor, love, and faith, and your picture begins to lighten up. ~ Allen Klein (slightly amended)   T hen Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world, he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, BUT will have the Light of Life." ~ John 7:12

N ever under estimate the power you have to take your life in a new direction. ~ Germany Kent   BUT R uth said, "Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you will go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God." ~ Ruth 1:16

Y ou have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go. ~ Dr. Suess   T hus says the LORD, "Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls." ~ Jeremiah 6:16

  Friday Tale - Happier Life Tips   A sk for what you need. B e dependable. C are about others. D are to live your dreams. E ase away from fear. F ind Faith. G ive to another. H ug a friend. I nspire someone to greatness. J ump over a boundary. K ick a bad habit. L eap across a fear. M ention something uplifting. N ever say never. O pen your mind and heart. P ursue justice. Q uit complaining. R estore your smile. S et your sights high. T rust God. U se all the day. V alue everything. W ait to speak. X press yourself. Y ank weeds from your mental garden. Z oom into the now. ~ Carol James (amended)   E ncourage the exhausted, and strengthen the feeble. ~ Isaiah 35:3

A ll we have to decide is what to do with time that is given us. ~ J. R. R. Tolkien L ook carefully then how you walk, not as unwise BUT as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. ~ Ephesians 5:15-16

H e is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, BUT rejoices for those which he has. ~ Epictetus   K eep your life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have, for He has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." So we can confidently say, "The LORD is my helper, I will not fear;    what can man do to me?" ~ Hebrews 13:5-6

I t is not our circumstances that create our discontent or contentment. It is us. Change your attitude! ~ Vivian Greene   T his is the day the LORD  has made, let us rejoice  and be glad in it. ~ Psalm 118:24

M ove to your heart, BREATHE. Close your eyes and breathe deeply. Slowly. Fill your lungs with love and gratitude. Exhale each and every trouble, again and again:  Gratitude in, Troubles out. ~ Jonathan Lockwood Huie   G ive thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from sin and transferred us to the Kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. ~ Colossians 1:12-14

  Friday Tale - "I Thank You from my Heart" O ne  day in 1868 a boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school. He found he had only one dime left and was hungry. He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door.   Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked hungry so brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it slowly, and then asked, "How much do I owe you?"   "You don't owe me anything," she replied. "Mother has taught us never to accept pay for a kindness." He said....."Then I thank you from my heart."   As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in God and man was strong also. He had been ready to give up and quit his selling and his school.   Many year's later that same young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent

A ll the darkness of the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle, yet one candle can illuminate all the darkness. ~ Jewish proverb   L et your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. ~ Matthew 5:16

T he more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate. ~ Oprah Winfrey   B ecause Your loving-kindness is better than life, my lips will praise You. So I will bless You as long as I live,  I will lift up my hands in Your name. ~ Psalm 63-3-4