Spiritual Thoughts

  L ife is not about getting and having, it is about giving and being. ~ Kevin Kruse I f your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, and the LORD will reward you. ~ Proverbs 25:21

S ince you get more joy out of giving joy to others, you should put a good deal of thought into the happiness that you are able to give.  ~ Eleanor Roosevelt   B e glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous ones. And should for joy all you who are upright in heart. ~ Psalm 32:11

  G iving is the secret of a healthy life. Not necessarily of money,  BUT whatever a man has of encouragement, and sympathy, and understanding. ~ John D. Rockefeller, Jr.   W e have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift....is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently;  if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. ~ Romans 12:6, 8

  T hink of giving not as a duty  BUT as a privilege. ~ John D. Rockefeller, Jr.   R emember that our Lord Jesus said, "More blessings come from giving than receiving." ~ Acts 20:35

  G iving is true having. ~ C. H. Spurgeon   D o not return evil for evil, or  insult for insult,  BUT give a  blessing instead; for you were  called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing. ~ 1 Peter 3:9

C hristmas is the spirit of giving without the thought of getting. It is happiness because we joy in people. It is forgetting self and finding time for others.  It is discarding the meaningless and stressing the true values - all year round. ~ Thomas S. Monson O ne gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered. ~ Proverbs 11:24-25

T o give and then not feel that one has given is the very best of all ways of giving. ~ Max Beerbohm E ach one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. ~ 2 Corinthians 9:7

T he failure to be perfect does not mean you are not a success; it is in giving your best that helps you to understand the joy of receiving. ~ Fran Tarkenton W hatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for people. Remember that the Lord will give you as a reward what he has kept for his people. For Christ is the real Master you serve.  ~ Colossians 3:23-24

LISTS TO LIVE BY ( more tomorrow) The most destructive habit................. Worry The greatest Joy............................... Giving The greatest loss................ Loss of self-respect The most satisfying work............ Helping others The ugliest personality trait............. Selfishness The greatest "shot in the arm".......... Encouragement Unknown Through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that…   we should live together with him.      Wherefore exhort one another, and        build each other up, even as also ye do. 1 Thessalonians 5:10-11