Spiritual Thoughts

  P roblems tend to growl at us like cowardly dogs. If we face them and challenge them, they back away. If we run from them, they run after us, snapping at our heels. ~ Freddie Mitman But  you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of a preacher of the gospel, fulfil your ministry. ~ 2 Timothy 4:5

  F ind a purpose in life so big it will challenge every capacity to be at your best. ~ David O. McKay T hat God would grant you...to be strengthened with power through His spirit in the inner man,  so that  Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, begin rooted and grounded in love, may...know the love of Christ which passes knowledge,    so that  you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. ~ Ephesians 3:17-19

  Friday Tale - Criticism Challenge   W hy do we have to criticize all the time? When we think about it, we are actually happy with most things that happen in our lives, BUT when we open our mouths and speak, we choose to focus on the things we disagree with or are critical about.   Jesus commented about the people of his generation and their criticism. He said, “For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of man has come eating and drinking and you say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her children.” (Luke 7 v 33 – 35 ESV).   They criticized John the Baptist, and they criticized Jesus, even though they both behaved different ways from each other. There was plenty to admire about both of them, BUT they focused on the negative.   Let us take a challenge to spend a week saying nothing negative. No criticism. Be positive,...

W e must think every event has significance and contains a message that pertains to our questions. This especially applies to what we call "bad things." The challenge is to find the silver lining in the event, no matter how negative. ~ James Redfield   F or I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed in us. ~ Romans 8:18

W hen we are no longer able to change a situation - we are challenged to change ourselves. ~ Viktor E. Frankl   Y ou were taught to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires, to be made new in the attitude of your minds, and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. ~ Ephesians 4:22-24

B e thankful to those who have  offered us challenges, rather than easy answers. ~ Jonathan Lockwood Huie   T he Lord God is my strength, my source of courage; He has made my feet steady and sure like deer's feet and makes me walk forward with spiritual confidence on my high places of challenge and responsibility. ~ Habakkuk 3:19 (Amplified) 

Friday Tale - The Weeds in Our Lives I sn't it amazing how you never have to water your weeds or nurture them and they still give you an unwanted crop? I can remember as a young boy growing up in Santa Cruz, California my grandfather showed me how to dig up this pesky weed called Bermuda grass. It was terrible stuff and it would really spread if you didn't get it out by the roots. That was then. But more recently when my wife and I bought our first home about 8 years ago; guess what I had to deal with? If you said weeds, you are correct. There was this certain patch of weeds that was similar to the Bermuda grass. In other words, just as invasive. After getting the inside of our home settled, it was time to work on the outside. On my hands and knees I vigorously attacked the weeds with a small hand trowel getting each one out by the roots. Spring after, spring that was my ritual. Just this Spring I realized that one particular weed was no longer prevalent but ano...

W hen you can't control what's happening, challenge yourself to control the way you respond to what's happening. ~ Author Unknown S ee that you excel in this act of grace also. I say this not as a command, BUT to prove by the earnestness of others that your love is genuine. ~ 2 Corinthians 8:7-8

T he adventure of life is to learn. The purpose of life is to grow. The nature of life is to change. The challenge of life is to overcome. The essence of life is to care. The opportunity of life is to serve. The secret of life is to worship. The spice of life is to befriend. The beauty of life is to give. ~ William Arthur Ward D o not be conformed to this world, BUT be transformed by the renewal of your mind, so that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. ~ Romans 12:2