Spiritual Thoughts

  Friday Tale - The Extra Mile J esus told us to go the extra mile in our service to each other. In his letter, Peter reinforces that in a very practical way. These are the things he encourages us to do: ·     Be alert and of sober mind. (1 Peter 4 v 7). ·     Love each other. (v 8). ·     Offer hospitality to one another. (v 9). ·     Use whatever gift you have received. (v 10). ·     Be stewards of God's grace. (v 10).   Written this way, it seems like a full and complete list of instructions, but if you are following through in your Bible, you will note that I left out the extra mile parts to each of these.   There is no point stopping at the basics. Aim...

E ncouragement is the fuel  on which hope runs.  ~ Zig Ziglar   F or Whatever was written was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope . ~ Romans 15:4

  Be an encourager.       The world has plenty of critics already. ~ Dave Willis   For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that we will live together with Him. Therefore encourage one another and build up one another. ~   1 Thessalonians 5:9-11

E ncourage, lift and  strengthen one another.  For the positive energy spread to one will be felt by us all.  ~ Deborah Day   E ncourage the exhausted, and strengthen the feeble. Say to those with an anxious heart, "Take heart, fear not. Behold, your God will come with vengeance on the evil. The reward will come, and  He will save you." ~ Isaiah 35:3-4

H appiness never decreases  by being shared.  ~ Gautama   H ow beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation,  who says to Zion, "Your God reigns." ~ Isaiah 52:7

  Friday Tale - Kindness   O nce my husband hiked a portion of the Appalachian Trail (AT). He was near the end of his three-day, 45-mile journey when a day hiker caught up to him. They chatted, as people on the trail do, and the other hiker went on. In the final mile of my husband's hike, he met the same hiker again going the other way.     The hiker smiled in recognition, and handed him, of all things, a Snickers bar. "I thought you'd like it," the guy said. My husband said he could have cried.      Wet, tired, aching, and yes, very hungry, that little gesture was exactly what he needed to make the final push. So no, an act of kindness is never "too little." It's never unimportant.     The best part is, my husband says that's the way of things for hikers on the AT — they look after each other, whether it's politely checking in with a woman hiking alone or offering help in a tricky situation. There's a so...

  T he major value in life is NOT  what you get. The major value in life  is what you become .  ~ Jim Rohn   S o then you are no longer strangers and aliens, BUT you are fellow citizens with the saints and are of  God's household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord. ~ Ephesians 2:19-21

Kindness is the light that dissolves all walls between souls, families, and nations. ~ Paramahansa Yogananda     Therefore, as God's chosen ones, holy and loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. ~ Colossians 3:12

I have learned that people will forget what you said, People will forget what you did, BUT people will never forget how you made them feel.  ~ Maya Angelou   But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience kindness , goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. There is no law against such things. ~ Galatians 5:22-23

K indness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates wisdom. Kindness in giving creates love.  ~ Lao Tzu   F or this very reason, you must make every effort to supplement your faith with moral character your moral character with knowledge, your knowledge with self-control, your self-control with endurance, your endurance with godliness, your godliness with brotherly kindness , and your brotherly kindness with love. ~ 2 Peter 1:5-7

  Friday Tale - The Magic of Love   L ove is like magic And it always will be. For love still remains Life's sweet mystery!!   Love works in ways That are wondrous and strange And there's nothing in life That love cannot change!!   Love can transform The most commonplace Into beauty and splendor And sweetness and grace.   Love is unselfish, Understanding and kind, For it sees with its heart And not with its mind!!   Love is the answer That everyone seeks... Love is the language, That every heart speaks.   Love can't be bought, It is priceless and free, Love, like pure magic, Is life's sweet mystery!!   ~ Helen Steiner Rice W e love because He [God]  first loved us. ~ John 4:19

  B eing deeply loved by someone  gives you strength; loving someone deeply  gives you courage.   ~ Lao Tzu   I n this is love: not that we have loved God, BUT that He loved us and sent His son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, if God so loved us, then we also ought to love one another. ~ 1 John 4:10-11

I f you have the chance to  make people happy, just do it. Sometimes people are struggling silently. Maybe your act of kindness   can make their day.   ~ Unknown   D o not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart. ~ Proverbs 3:3

T reat everyone with respect and kindness.   Period.   No exceptions.   ~ Kiana Tom   D o unto others as you  would have them do to you. ~ Luke 6:31

  A single act of kindness throws out  roots in all directions, and  the roots spring up and make new trees.  ~ Amelia Earhart   S ow with a view to right-ness, Reap in accordance with kindness. Break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the LORD until He comes to rain righteousness on you. ~ Hosea 10:12

Friday Tale - Special Times   A f friend of mine opened his wife's underwear drawer and picked up a silk paper wrapped package: "This, - he said - isn't any ordinary package."     He unwrapped the box and stared at both the silk paper and the box. "She got this the first time we went to New York, 8 or 9 years ago. She never put it on, was saving it for a special occasion. Well, I guess this is it.     He got near the bed and placed the gift box next to the other clothing he was taking to the funeral house; his wife had just died. He turned to me and said: "Never save something for a special occasion. Every day in your life is a special occasion".     I still think those words changed my life.     Now I read more and clean less.     I sit on the porch without worrying about anything.     I spend more time with my family, and less at work. I und...

Y ou cannot change the past, BUT you can ruin the present by worrying about the future.  ~ Anonymous   I n God, whose word I praise, in God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid. What can mere man do to me? ~ Psalm 56:4 (quoted in Hebrews13:6)

L earn to be silent. Let your quiet mind listen and absorb.  ~ Pythagoras (6th cent. B.C.)   T he LORD is good to those   who wait for Him, to the life who sees Him. It is good that one should  wait quietly for the   salvation of the LORD. ~ Lamentations 3:25-26 (ESV)

The things you take for granted, someone else is praying for, so appreciate what you have while you have it!  ~ Unknown     Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are the people who know the joyful sound [who understand and appreciate the spiritual blessings]; they walk, O Lord, in the light and favor of Your countenance! ~ Psalm 89:15 (Amplified)

T he very first condition of lasting happiness is that a life should be full of purpose, aiming at something outside self.  ~ Hugo Black   B lessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His purpose , which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Him, things in heaven and things on earth . ~ Ephesians 1:3, 9-10 (ESV)