Spiritual Thoughts

  O ne thing you can give and still keep, is your word. ~ Howard Rasmussen  L et what you say be simply "yes" or "no"; anything more than this comes from evil. ~ Matthew 5:37

  C haracter is doing what is right when nobody is watching. ~ J. C. Watts, Jr. E ndurance develops maturity of Character (approved faith and tried integrity). And character of this sort produces the habit of joyful and  confident hope of eternal salvation. ~ Romans 5:4 (Amplified)

  A dvice from a pumpkin: B e well rounded. Get plenty of sunshine. Give thanks for life's bounty. Have a thick skin. Keep growing. Be outstanding in your field. Think BIG! ~ Ilan Shamir L et me be weighed in a just balance, and let God know my integrity. ~ Job 31:6

  R eal heroes are men who fall and fail and are flawed, BUT win out in the end because they've stayed true to their ideals and beliefs and commitments. ~ Kevin Costner M ay integrity and    uprightness preserve me, for I wait for You. ~ James 5:9

  Friday Tale - Define Integrity! I n  one of the most notable moments in sports history, Kenyan runner Abel Mutai was just a few feet from the finish line, but  became confused with the signage and stopped thinking he had completed the race.       A Spanish athlete, Ivan Fernandez, was right behind him, and after realizing what was happening, he started shouting at the Kenyan for him to continue running; but  Mutai didn't understand his Spanish.       Fernandez eventually caught up to him and instead of passing him, he pushed him to victory.       A journalist asked Ivan, "Why did you do that?"       Ivan replied,  “ My dream is that someday we can have a kind of community life where we push and help each other to win.”       The journalist insisted  “But  why did you let the Kenyan win?"        Iv...

P eople with integrity do  what  they say they are going to do.  ~ Laura Schlessinger   BUT as for me, I shall walk in my integrity; redeem me, and be gracious to me . ~ Psalm 26:11 (ESV)

T o give real service you must add something which cannot be bought or measured with money, and that is sincerity and integrity. ~ Douglas Adams   A nd the work of righteousness will be peace and the service of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever. ~ Isaiah 32:17  

I f you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you.... ~ Rudyard Kipling   T o those who by persistence in doing good, seek glory and honor and immortality, He will give eternal life. ~ Romans 2:7

  Friday Tale - Person of Character??   T aking his seat in his chambers, the judge faced the opposing lawyers. "So," he said, "I have been presented, by both of you, with a bribe." The lawyers squirmed as he continued. To the one on his left he said, "You gave me $15,000." To the other, he said, "And you, gave me $10,000."   The judge reached into his pocket and pulled out some cash. Handing it to the first one, he said, "Now then, I'm returning $5,000 and we're going to decide this case solely on its merits."   Where is a person of character when you need one?   A whole and healthy life -- a life of character and integrity -- is shaped from the inside. But becoming that person doesn't happen all at once. An authentic and genuine life grows like a sturdy tree. And like a tree, it grows slowly.   Every time you make a different and better decision, it grows a little. Every time you choose to do the right thing, eve...

  D on't compromise yourself. You are all you've got.  Your integrity is more important  than personal gain. ~ Janis Joplin   O L ORD, who may abide in Your tent? Who may abide in Your holy hill? He who walks with integrity, and works rightness, and speaks truth in his heart. ~ Psalm 15:1-2

  P ersonality can open doors, BUT only character can keep them open. ~ Elmer G. Leterman   O L ord, who may abide in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy hill? He who walks with integrity and strength of character, and works righteousness, and speaks and holds truth in his heart. ~ Psalm 15:2 (Amplified)

  O ur character is what we do when we think no one is looking. ~ H. Jackson Brown, Jr.   H e who walks in integrity and with moral character walks securely. ~ Proverbs 10:9 (Amplified)

  Friday Tale  - What did you expect him to do?   O ne  of the highlights of my life as a dad – and having five kids, I’ve had quite a few – occurred on a Saturday afternoon when I was taking my then 13-year-old son Justin and his friend Aaron to a movie. As we entered the theater, I noticed the ticket seller had undercharged me, so I asked the boys to wait a moment while I returned the money.        This did not please the boys, who were anxious to get choice seats [this was before you could reserve seats!].        Nevertheless, I endured hostile glares from people in line and even an annoyed reaction from the cashier, who corrected the mistake. When I returned, Aaron, who was exasperated because the prime seats had been taken, asked, “Why did you have to do that? It was her mistake, not yours.”       I was about to launch into a lecture on integrity when my s...

  T o give real service  you must add something which cannot be bought or measured with money, and that is sincerity and integrity. ~ Donald A. Adams   I n everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that  cannot be condemned. ~ Titus 2:7-8 (NIV)

  T he most important persuasion tool you have in your entire arsenal is integrity. ~ Zig Ziglar   B etter is a poor man who walks in his integrity, than he who is  perverse in speech and is a fool. ~ Proverbs 19:1 

  T he virtue [integrity] of a man ought to be measured, not by his extra-ordinary exertions, BUT by his every day conduct . ~ Blaise Pascal   H e who walks blamelessly [with integrity]                   will be delivered,  but he who is crooked will fall al at once. ~ Proverbs 28:18 

Y our word is more valuable  than a surety bond. ~  Denis Waitley   O LORD, who may abide in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy hill? He who walks with integrity and works righteousness, and speaks truth in his heart. ~ Psalm 15:1-2

  P rotect your vision. Prevail over adversity. Persevere in the midst of turmoil. Passionately act upon your convictions. Purposefully walk into the day. ~ Mary Anne Radmacher   W hen you are in distress and all these things have come upon you, in the latter days you will return to the LORD your God and listen to His voice. For the LORD your God is a compassionate God; He will not fail you. ~ Deuteronomy 4:30-31

  I t has always seemed to me that the test of integrity is its blunt refusal to be compromised. ~ Chinua Achebe   B etter is the poor who walks in his integrity than he who is crooked though he be rich. ~ Proverbs 28:6

T here is no better test of a man's integrity than his behavior when he is wrong. ~ Marvin Williams I will arise and go to my father, and  I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned  against heaven and before you.  I am no longer worthy to be called your son.  Treat me as one of your hired servants." And he arose and came to his father. BUT when he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion and ran and embraced and kissed him. ~ Luke 15:18-20 (whole story in Luke 15:11-32).