Spiritual Thoughts

  Friday Tale ~ What IF??? W hat if God couldn't take the time to bless us today because we couldn't take the time to thank Him yesterday?   What if God decided to stop leading us tomorrow because we didn't follow Him today?   What if we never saw another flower bloom because we grumbled when God sent the rain?   What if God didn't walk with us today because we failed to recognize it as His day?   What if God took away the Bible tomorrow because we would not read it today?   What if God took away His message because we failed to listen to His messenger?   What if God didn't send His only begotten Son because He wanted us to prepare to pay the price of sin?   What if God stopped loving and caring for us because we failed to love and care for others?   What if God would not hear us today because we would not listen to Him yesterday?   What if God answered our prayers the way we answered His call to service?   What if God met our needs...

  P eople do not usually reject the Bible because it contradicts itself  BUT  because it contradicts them. ~ Unknown W ith gentleness correct those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses. ~ 2 Timothy 2:25-26

  A Bible that is falling apart usually belongs to someone who is not. ~ Unknown   B uy truth and do not sell it, get wisdom and instruction and understanding, trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. ~ Proverbs 23:23 with Ephesians 5:10

  I t does not matter how slow you go, so long as you do not stop. ~ Confucius  I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD. Come let us go up to the mountain of the LORD and to the house of the God of Jacob, that He may teach us about His ways and that we may walk in His paths." ~ Psalm 122:1 and Micah 4:2

T he value of life lies not in the length of days, BUT in the use we make of them. ~ Michel de Montaigne  S o teach us to number our days, so that we may present to You a heart of wisdom. ~ Psalm 90:12

  M usic washes away from the soul the dust of every day life. ~ Berthold Auerbach  S peak to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to God. ~ Ephesians 5:19-20

  B etter keep yourself clean and bright; you are the window through which you must see the world. ~ George Bernard Shaw  L et us draw near [to God] with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. ~ Hebrews 10:22

I f there is rightness in the heart, there will be beauty in the character. If there is beauty in the character, there will be harmony in the home. ~ Unknown  H e who walks in integrity and with moral character walks securely. ~ Proverbs 10:9 (Amplified)

  N one will improve your lot if you yourself do not. ~ Bertolt Brecht  D o your best to improve your faith. You can do this by adding goodness, understanding, self-control, patience, devotion to God, concern for others, and love. ~ 2 Peter 1:5-7

  Friday Tale - Children Learn   IF children live with CRITICISM          They learn to CONDEMN. If children live with HOSTILITY          They learn to FIGHT. If children live with RIDICULE          They learn to BE SHY. If children live with SHAME          They learn to FEEL GUILTY. If children live with PERSEVERANCE          They learn to BE PATIENT. If children live with ENCOURAGEMENT          They learn to HAVE CONFIDENCE. If children live with PRAISE          They learn to APPRECIATE. If children live with FAIRNESS          They learn JUSTICE. If children live with SECURITY          They learn to HAVE FAITH. If children live with APPROVAL          They learn to LIKE THEMSELVES. If children live with ACCEP...

N one of us got where we are solely by pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps. We got there because somebody bent down and helped us pick up our boots. ~ Justic Thurgood Marshall  I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the ecclesia at Chencrea, that you receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and that you help her in whatever matter she may have need of you; for she herself has also been a helper of many, and of myself as well. ~ Romans 16:1-2

I always get to where I'm going by walking away from where I've been. ~ Winnie the Pooh D epart from me you evil-doers, that I may keep the commandments of God. ~ Psalm 119:115

  A ttitude is a little thing that makes a big difference. ~ Winston Churchill  S how a gentile attitude toward everyone. The Lord is coming soon. ~ Philippians 4:5 (GNB)

Friday Tale - See the Trees. I lived in Alabama on a half-acre lot blessed huge oak trees that were 40 feet in diameter. They were HUGE! The house was laid out such that every bedroom faced the backyard. Each bedroom had a large picture window. The view was breathtaking. I enjoyed just looking at the trees. In the fall I would identify a particular leaf that was falling and watched it for what seemed liked 5 minutes before it fell to earth.          One day I invited this married couple over to enjoy the view from the bedroom window. I took them into the bedroom and excitedly pointed to the trees out of the window and exclaimed, "just look"!          After about 20 seconds there was no comment from the couple. I however, noticed a big frown on the woman's face.          I said, "What's wrong". She was reluctant to reply.    ...

  J ust breathe in, breath out, and remember that moving forward means taking it one step at a time. ~ Unknown  I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; BUT one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. ~ Philippians 3:13-14

  I find television very educational. Every time someone turns it on, I go in the other room and read a book. ~ Groucho Marx  Y our word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You. ~ Psalm 119:11

E very day may not be good, BUT there's something good in every day. ~ Unknown   B lessed is the one whom You chasten, O Lord, and whom You teach out of Your law, that You may grant him relief from the day of adversity. ~ Psalm 94:12-13

  D on't count the days. Make the days count. ~ Muhammad Ali   F or I am confident of this very thing,  that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ. ~ Philippians 1:6

  Friday Tale - Last Day   O nce there was a Rabbi who was asked, "When should a man repent?"   And the wise old Rabbi answered, "On the last day of his life."   "BUT," they said, "none of us can be sure which day is the last day of our life."   The Rabbi smiled and said, "Then repent now." Repentance is not a negative self-condemnation. Repentance is "turning around" to walk God's way. What else can you do NOW to change your life? ~ Jewish tale S o remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you. ~ Revelation 3:3

E mploy whatever God has entrusted you with, in doing good, all possible, good, in every possible kind and degree, to the household of faith, to all men. ~ John Wesley   BUT love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward shall be great, and you shall be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. ~ Luke 6:35