Spiritual Thoughts

  W hat we believe about the future determines how we live in the present. ~ David Clubb  A nd being not weak in faith,.... he staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; BUT was strong in faith, giving glory to God; and being full persuaded that what He had promised, He was able also to perform . ~ Romans 4:19-21 (ESV)

T he best thing about the future  is that it comes one day at a time.  ~ Abraham Lincoln   BUT seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,  and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. ~ Matthew 6:33-34

  T he greatest discovery of all time is that a person can change his or her future by merely changing his or her attitude.  ~ Oprah Winfrey   I n the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, BUT also to all who have loved his appearing. ~ 2 Timothy 4:8

A ll successful people have a goal. No one can get anywhere unless he knows where he wants to go and what he wants to do.  ~ Norman Vincent Peale   I have fought the good fight; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. In the future there is laid up for me   the crown of righteousness, which the Lord,  the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, BUT also to all who have loved his appearing . ~ 2 Timothy 4:70-8 (NASB

  S top holding on to the past. Release your regrets about whatever you may have done, or failed to do, that turned out poorly. Forgive others whatever they may have done, or failed to do, that caused you harm. Declare today to be a new beginning. Let go of the past, and move on with creating a joyful new future for yourself.  ~ Jonathan Lockwood Huie   F or the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, teaching us to wait for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God, and of our Savior Jesus Christ. ~ Titus 2:11, 13

T hrough Jesus, your past is explained, your present has a purpose, and your future is secure. What more could you really want in life?  ~ Jase Robertson   T herefore, thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, I am laying in Zion an stone, a tested stone, a costly corner-stone for the secure foundation, firmly placed. He who believes and trusts in it [=Jesus] will not be disturbed. ~ 1 Chronicles 29:12-13 (Amplified)

 O ur background and circumstances  may have influenced who we are, BUT we are responsible for  who we become. ~ Barbara Geraci   S o teach us to number our days, so that we may present to You a heart of wisdom. ~ Psalm 90:12

W hen we are going through our darkest days, HOPE is the little ray of light that reminds us there are brighter times ahead.  Hard times are not permanent, and holding on to HOPE that this too shall pass, is what gives us strength to get through them. ~ Mignon McLaughlin   'F or I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for prosperity and not for disaster,    to give you a future and a HOPE.' ~ Jeremiah 29:11

M y unknown future is in the hands of the all-knowing and all powerful God. ~ Unknown   T he LORD is for me, I will not fear. What can man do to me? It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in people. ~ Psalm 118:6, 8

People do not decide their futures, they decide their habits and their habits decide their futures. ~ F.M. Alexander For Ezra had firmly resolved to study the Law of the LORD and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel. ~ Ezra 7:10

  Friday Tale ~ Be a Caterpillar   I f you are a caterpillar, enjoy it. Eat all you can eat and love every bite. You will notice that very few creatures have as many feet.      Because of your efforts and because it is your nature, you will be called by an inner voice to stop eating and build a retreat.      This is when some caterpillars get into trouble.      Some worry, become very anxious, and wonder if building a retreat is in their best interest. A few think they have lost their mind and keep eating.     The rule is, be the best caterpillar you can be until you are called upon to be something different. Build the best retreat that has ever been built.      You will spend a quite a bit of time in total darkness. A lot of changes will be taking place, but they are all for the best. In time, your retreat will become a pathway of light. ...

  H ope is being able to see that there is light despite all the darkness. ~ Desmond Tutu   T here is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off. ~ Proverbs 23:18

  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

O nly those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go. ~ T. S. Eliot   BUT since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:8

W hen you do things in the present that you can see, you are shaping the future you are yet to see. ~ Idowu Koyenikan   K now also that wisdom is like honey for you: If you find it, there is a future hope for you and your hope will not be cut off. ~ Proverbs 24:14

  D o something today that your future self will thank you for. ~ Unknown   C ontinue to work out your salvation with awe-inspired fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose. ~ Philippians 2:12-13

  T he past is important only as a lesson. Don't allow yourself regret. Planning for the future is essential, BUT that planning must occur in the present. Worrying about the future serves no purpose. Focus all your energies on living Today. ~ Jonathan Lockwood Huie   M ake me understand the way of your precepts, so that I will meditate and focus my thoughts on Your wonderful works. ~ Psalm 119:27

  T he golden age is before us,  not behind us. ~ William Shakespeare   D o not say, "Why were the old days better than these?" Do not let your heart envy sinners BUT living in the fear of the LORD always. Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off. ~ Ecclesiastes 7:10, Proverbs 23:17-18

  P repare for the unknown by studying how others in the past have coped with the unforeseeable and the unpredictable. ~ George S. Patton   F or whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction,    so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures   we might have hope. ~ Romans 15:4

  W hen life seems hard, the courageous do not lie down and accept defeat; instead, they are all the more determined to struggle for a better future. ~ Queen Elizabeth II   T herefore let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of God. ~ Hebrews 12:1-2