Spiritual Thoughts

  F aith shouts out its trust in God through the storms. ~ Unknown F or He commanded and raised the stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea. Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress . ~ Psalm 107:25, 28 (ESV)

  N o sense in being pessimistic. It wouldn't work anyway. ~ from Bits & Pieces H ave the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all ~ yes, looking to the promises of God, he wavered not through unbelief, BUT waxed strong by faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.    ~ Romans 4:16, 20-21

  T o me, faith is not just a noun but also a verb. ~ Jimmy Carter  W hat use is it if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and be filled," and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?   Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. ~ James 2:14-17

  M an does not live by a turkey in every oven or a color TV set in every home. Man lives by faith, hope and love, by the star on the horizon, by the trumpet that will not call retreat. ~ E. Merrill Root T rust in the LORD and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, and He will do it. ~ Psalm 37:3, 5

  O ut of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars. ~ H. Chapin I n this you greately rejoice, even thought now for a little while,  if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,   so that  the proof of your faith, .... tested by fire,  may be found to  result  in praise and glory and  honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. ~ 1 Peter 1:6-7

  A dversity has the effect of elicting talents, which in propserous circumstances would have lain dormant. ~ Horace I n this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,  so that  the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the coming of Jesus Christ. ~ 1 Peter 1:6-7

  I  will gather myself around my faith, for light does the darkness most fear . ~ Jewel F inally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might, .... taking up the shield of  faith  with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of evil. ~ Ephesians 6:10, 16

  T his day and in the coming year,  may the light of Jesus shine brightly in your life, filling your home with love, joy and peace. Wishing you and your family a coming year filled with faith, hope and the joy of the Lord. May His peace and love be with you today and always. ~ Anonymous N ow to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless, with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority,  before all time and now and forever. Amen ~ Jude 24:-25

  Friday Tale - Live Your Life Like: {1}    Once all villagers decided to pray for rain. On the day of prayer all the people gathered,   BUT only one boy came with an umbrella.  That's FAITH.   {2}     When you throw babies in the air,          they laugh because they know you will catch them.  That's TRUST.   {3}    Every night we go to bed without any assurance of being alive the next morning, but still we set the alarms to wake up.  That's HOPE.   {4}    We plan big things for tomorrow in spite of zero knowledge of the future.  That's CONFIDENCE.   {5}    We see the world suffering, but still we get married and have children.  That's LOVE.   {6}    On an old man’s shirt was written a sentence:          '...

E very day has two handles. We can take hold of it with  the handle of anxiety or  the handle of faith .  ~ Henry Ward Beecher   T herefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. ~ 1 Peter 5:6-7

T ell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself. ~ Paulo Coelho   B e sober, be watchful....Be firm in your faith, know that the same experience of suffering is happening to your brothers and sisters throughout the world. ~ 1 Peter 5:8-9

  Friday Tale - "The Richest Man"   A rich landowner named Carl often rode around his vast estate so he could congratulate himself on his great wealth. One day while riding around his estate on his favorite horse, he saw Hans, an old tenant farmer. Hans was sitting under a tree when Carl rode by.          "I was just thanking God for my food." Hans said.          "If that is all I had to eat, I wouldn't feel like giving thanks." Carl protested.          "God has given me everything I need, and I am thankful for it." Hans replied.          The old farmer added, "It is strange you should come by today because I had a dream last night. In my dream a voice told me, 'The richest man in the valley will die tonight.' I don't know what it means, but I thought I ought to tell you."   ...

E very tomorrow has two handles. We can take hold of it with the handle of Anxiety OR the handle of Faith. ~ Henry Ward Beecher (born June 24, 1813)   J esus said to him, "'IF you can?' All things are possible to him who believes." Immediately the boy's father cried out and said, "I do believe; help my unbelief!" ~ Mark 9:23-24

  I nstructions for living a life: Pay Attention. Be Astonished. Tell about it. Have Faith. Be Hopeful. ~ Mary Oliver (amended)   H e who gives attention to the Word will find good, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD. ~ Proverbs 16:20 

Friday Tale ~ The Optimist Creed   P romise yourself:   ·     To be strong in God so that nothing can disturb your peace of mind. ·     To talk health, happiness, and faith to every person you meet. ·     To make all your friends feel that there is something worthwhile in them. ·     To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true. ·     To think only of the best, to work only for the best and to do only the best. ·     To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own. ·     To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future. ·     To wear a cheerful expression at al...

  O ur faith gives us knowledge  of something better. ~ E. F. Schumacher     A nd all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect. ~ Hebrews 11:39-40

Friday Tale - Lift Up Your Eyes   B etween Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, with the United States on one side and Canada on the other, flow the waters of the Niagara River. This waterway is one of the most beautiful natural regions of the world.   Compared with other rivers the Niagara is not a great river. It is only 34 miles long, less than a mile wide and seldom over 21 feet deep. The thing that makes the Niagara River significant is Niagara Falls.   The river flows along quietly at five miles an hour. Then, six miles below Buffalo there is a break in the even flow of the stream. At this point, about midway in the river, the Niagara plunges 158 feet—500,000 tons of water a minute into the steep-walled gorge below.   As the raging waters are shattered and bruised on the rocks beneath the falls there is cast up into the sunlight the beautiful rainbow of the Niagara. You who have been there know firsthand what a breathtaking sight it is. ...