Spiritual Thoughts

T he most effective way to do something,  is to do it.  ~ Amelia Earhart   A rise, for it is your task, and we are with you; be strong and do it. ~ Ezra 10:4

A good example is the  best sermon.  ~ Benjamin Franklin   S how yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned. ~ Titus 2:7

  Friday Tale - You Search out my Path   I remember searchlights as a boy. Beams of light would sweep across the sky from near where I lived. They were searching for enemy planes, if they found one they would lock on to it and the gunners would try to shoot it down. My wife Fran had gunners right near her house.            We were reminded of this by our reading of Psalm 139 today. “ Oh LORD you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up … you search out my path ” [v. 1-3]. But David realizes that God’s power to “see” extends far beyond what we do physically. We read, “ you discern my thoughts from afar … even before a word is on my tongue …” [v.4]              In the language young people use today, they would describe as ‘awesome’ the thought that God knows our thoughts before we even put them into words. That really is a searchlight on the mind. We cannot limit the meaning to David personally.            BUT there is even more than this in wh

V iew your life with KIND-sight. Stop beating yourself up about things from your past. Instead of slapping your forehead, and asking, "What was I thinking?!", breathe and ask yourself the kinder question, "What was I learning?"  ~ Karen Salmansohn   L et the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands, obtain guidance. ~ Proverbs 1:

  W ords have special powers. The power to create smiles or frowns. The power to generate laughs or tears. The power to life up or put down. The power to motivate or de-motivate. The power to teach good or evil. The power to express love or hate. The power to give or take. The power to heal or harm. Choose your words carefully.  ~ A. D. Williams   N ow we exhort you to warn them that are unruly, encourage the faint-hearted, help the weak, and be patient with everyone. ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:14

W hen you are trying to motivate yourself, appreciate the fact that you are even thinking about a change.  ~ Alice Domar   B e renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. ~ Ephesians 4:23-24

I f you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.  ~ Dalai Lama XIV   L et no one despise your youth; BUT be an example to them that believe: in word, in manner of life, in love, in faith, in purity. ~ 1 Timothy 4:12

 Friday Tale - Sportsmanship and Hugs It happened in the very first inning of the Southwest Region championship. Two boys who when they woke up this morning only cared about one thing… get to Williamsport. Suddenly everything changed, because in real life things happen just like that … things change in a heartbeat.     Kaiden Shelton is the big man on the powerful Pearland team, their big picture, their big hitter. Isiah Jarvis is the shortstop on the scrappy Oklahoma team that had through incredible perseverance made it to the championship game. One team has already been to Williamsport, the other has never been.     The Pearland team scored 3 runs in the top of the first, but Oklahoma came right back at them in the bottom of the inning , they scored 2 runs and had a big rally going on, there was noise everywhere, coaches were yelling for the pitcher Shelton and the batter Jarvis to ”Battle” “win the battle.”     Then it happened, a twist of fate, Shelton lost control of a fastball an