Spiritual Thoughts

  Friday Tale ~ Make the Most of.... I  had a very special teacher in high school many years ago whose husband unexpectedly and suddenly died of a heart attack. About a week after his death, she returned to teaching and shared some of her insight with a classroom of students.   As the late afternoon sunlight came streaming in through the classroom windows and the class was nearly over, she moved a few things aside on the edge of her desk and sat down there.   With a gentle look of reflection on her face, she paused and said . . . ‘Before class is over, I would like to share with all of you a thought that is unrelated to class, but which I feel is very important. Each of us is put here on earth to learn, share, love, appreciate and give of ourselves. None of us knows when this fantastic experience will end. It can be taken away at any moment. Perhaps this is the powers that be way of telling us that we must make the most out of every single day.’   Her eyes begin...

  A  wise man was asked, "What is anger?" His answer: It is a punishment we give to ourselves for somebody else's mistake. ~ Unknown H e who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit,  than he who captures a city. ~ Proverbs 16:32

  L earning without thinking is labor lost; thinking without learning is dangerous. ~ Chinese Proverbs F or they received the Word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. Therefore many of them believed. ~ Acts 17:11-12

  A lways continue the climb. It is possible for you to do whatever you choose, if you first get to know who you are and are willing to work with a power that is greater than ourselves to do it. ~ Ella Wheeler Wilcox L et Your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your principles. ~ Psalm 119:173

  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 P ut false ways far from me and  graciously teach me your law!  I have chosen the way of faithfulness;  I set your rules before me. ~ Psalm 119:29-30

  Friday Tale - Lessons from a Donkey O ne day a farmer’s donkey fell into a well. The animal cried loudly for hours, while the farmer tried to find something to use to get him out.       Finally, the farmer decided that the donkey was old and the well was already dry and needed to be covered anyway; that it really wasn't worth pulling the donkey out of the well!!!!! (What?)     He invited all his neighbors to come help him. They each grabbed a shovel and began to throw dirt into the well. (NO! Take a stand. Always speak up at the injustice.)     The donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly loud. Then, to everyone's surprise, he quieted down after a few shovelfuls of dirt. (Where there is a problem, there is a solution!)     The farmer finally looked down into the well and was amazed at what he saw... with each shovelful of dirt, the donkey was doing something incredible: It was s...

  A  c hip on the shoulder is too heavy a piece of baggage to carry through life. ~ John Hancock 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

  T here is a difference between  knowing the path, and walking the path. ~ Morpheus, in  The Matrix T each me Your way, or LORD, and lead me in a level path because of my foes. ~ Psalm 27:11

  N ever underestimate the difference you can make in the lives of others.  Step forward, reach out, and help. ~ Pablo T herefore, I the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love. ~ Ephesians 4:1-2

  I t is not what we get BUT who we become, what we contribute  that gives meaning to our lives. ~ Jim Gentil T o sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kind-hearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil, or insult for insult,  BUT giving a blessing instead - for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing. ~ 1 Peter 3:8-9

  Friday Tale ~ A Strong Kindness  O ne day in the middle of autumn, a strong wind blew through the forest. Clouds covered the sky, and the leaves danced in a wild whirlwind. In the midst of this storm, a crow flying over the fields collided with the branch of an old tree. With a muffled croak, it fell to the ground—one of its wings hanging limply. The crow tried to rise to spread its feathers, but a sharp pain shot through its body. It realized it couldn't do it alone. So it raised its gaze to the sky, where the birds were circling, and cawed hopefully:  “Help... I can't fly...” A magpie was flying by—it saw the crow and just snorted: “You were always proud; you flew high and laughed at us. Now ask for help yourself.” Behind her flew a blackbird, a goldfinch, and even a jay—all looking away, casting brief glances filled either with contempt or indifference. The crow lowered its head. Alone, hungry, and wounded, it began to lose faith and hope. But then, from some nearby bush...

There are no traffic jams when you go the extra mile.~ Roger Staubach In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive."~ 2 Peter 1:5-6

Thought for the Day 5/14/2025 Patience, persistence and perseverance. A little more each day,  a little better each day. ~ Jonathan Lockwood Huie Make every effort to supplement  your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with perseverance,  and perseverance with Godliness. ~ 2 Peter 1:5-6

  T he difference between perseverance and obstinacy  is that one comes from a strong will, and the other from a strong won't. ~ Nelson Mandela P ursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called. ~ 1 Timothy 6:11-12

  W hat counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived.  It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead. ~ Nelson Mandela B e devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor, not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. ~ Romans 12:10-11