Spiritual Thoughts

  W e do not need to proselytize either by our speech or by our writing.  We can only do so really with our lives. Let our lives be open books for all to study. ~ Unknown S how yourself in all respects to be a model of good works and in your teaching show integrity and dignity. ~ Titus 2:7-8 (ESV)

Friday Tale - The Splinter   O nce  there was a man who thought to cross America on foot. He bought a map of the USA and carefully plotted out his course. He would take the back roads and walk from morning till night, viewing the beautiful land all around him as he went, stopping at wayside inns and spending the night, rising the next morning to begin his journey again.   On the morning of the beginning of his journey, he walked outside on his porch and viewed the beautiful sunrise. As he headed back into his house, his foot caught on a loose board and a splinter wedged in the ball of his right foot. The man sat down and lifted his foot and yelled at the splinter, “Out! Get out of my foot! Out, I say!”   Rising, he went inside and finished preparing for his journey. Heavy socks and thick walking shoes were to be his protection against the hard earth. T-shirt and shorts would be his main clothing. A  backpack with a change of clothes and trail mix, a ma...

  I t is all right to have butterflies  in your stomach. Just get them to fly in formation. ~ Robert Gilbert A nd now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all  boldness ...... and when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the holy spirit and continued to speak the word of God with  boldness. ~ Acts 4:29, 31

  W hat the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the master calls a butterfly. ~ Richard Bach T herefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away, behold the new has come. ~ 2 Corinthians 5:17

  H ow far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a weary world. ~ William Shakespeare N or do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others,  so that  they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. ~ Matthew 5:15-16

  I t is difficult to give away kindness. It keeps coming back to you. ~ Cort Flint S o may the LORD reward you with good for what you have done this day. And now, behold, I know that you shall surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand. ~ 1 Samuel 24:19 - 20

  Friday Tale - The Right Words L ord,  give me the right words to say To broken hearts that come my way. To those who have been hurt before That I not hurt them any more.   To those whose hearts have hardened up To those who won't hold out their cup That, Lord, You long to overflow With love and mercy. Lord, let me know   That I might have the words to say That I might plant a seed today That glory would be given to You Through all I say and all I do   Lord, give me the right words to say More hearts are breaking every day They're out there crying in the night I long to help them see the light   But, fragile are those souls and weak So this is why Your words I seek And pray Thee give me words to say That I, not one soul, turn away. ~ Susan Tier A  gentle tongue is a tree of life, and the tongue of the wise bring healing. ~ Proverbs 15:4 & 16:24

  R emember not only to say the right thing  in the right place, BUT  far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment. ~ Benjamin Franklin T he tongue of the wise commends knowledge, BUT  the mouths of fools pour out folly. ~ Proverbs 15:2

  G od gives every bird a worm, BUT  He does not throw it into the nest. ~ Swedish Proverb W ork out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. ~ Philippians 2:12-13

  T ell me, I'll forget. Show me, I may remember. BUT  involve me, and I'll understand. ~ Chinese Proverb I  understand more than the aged, for I keep your commandments. ~ Psalm 119:100

  Y ou say Thanks before meals. All right. BUT  I say Thanks before the concert and the opera, and say Thanks before the play and pantomime, and say Thanks before I open a book, and say Thanks before sketching, painting, swimming, fencing, walking, playing, dancing, and say Thanks before I dip the pen in the ink. ~ Gibert K. Chesterto P raise the LORD! Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good. For His loving-kindness is everlasting. ~ Psalm 106:1

  Friday Tale ~ Acres of Diamonds T here  was a Persian farmer named Ali Hafed who sold his farm and left his family to travel the world in search of wealth. He looked everywhere but he could not find the diamonds he lusted after. Finally, alone and in despair as a homeless pauper, he ended his own life. His search for riches had consumed him. In the meantime, the man who bought the land from Hafed was grateful for every blade of grass that was now his and lavished love and hard work on his farm. At night, surrounded by his family and eating the fruits of his labor, he was a contented man. Finally one day he made a remarkable discovery.  In the backyard that Ali Hafed had abandoned was a diamond mine – literally an acre of diamonds. The simple farmer became wealthy beyond his wildest dreams. This illustrates an extraordinary and wonderful message: within each of us lies a wellspring of abundance and the seeds of opportunity. For each of us there is a deeply personal dream...