Spiritual Thoughts

  W isdom is the reward you get for a lifetime of listening when you would have preferred to talk . ~ Doug Larson  S o teach us to number our days, so that we may present to Y ou a heart of wisdom. ~ Psalm 90:12

  R emember not only to say the right thing  in the right place, BUT  far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment. ~ Benjamin Franklin T he tongue of the wise commends knowledge, BUT  the mouths of fools pour out folly. ~ Proverbs 15:2

  W isdom is the reward you get for a lifetime of listening when    you would have preferred to talk. ~ Unknown B e attentive to my wisdom, incline your ear to my understanding, so that  you may keep discretion, and your lips may guard knowledge. ~ Proverbs 5:!-2

  I n all things, be willing to listen to people around you. None of us is really smart enough to go it alone. ~ John Clendenin T wo   are better than one, because they have good reward for their toil. For it they fall, one will lift up his fellow. ~ Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

  I  remind myself every morning: Nothing I say this day will teach me anything. So if I'm going to learn, I must do it by listening. ~ Anonymous M ake your ear attentive to wisdom. Incline your heart to understanding. For if you cry for discernment, and lift your voice for understanding, THEN you will discern the fear of the LORD  and discover the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom. ~ Proverbs 2:2-6

  W isdom is the reward you get for a life time of listening when you would have preferred to talk. ~ Doug Larson W isdom cries out, "Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at my doorposts. For he who finds me finds life, and obtains favor from the LORD." ~ Revelation 3:21

L earn to be silent. Let your quiet mind listen and absorb.  ~ Pythagoras (6th cent. B.C.)   T he LORD is good to those   who wait for Him, to the life who sees Him. It is good that one should  wait quietly for the   salvation of the LORD. ~ Lamentations 3:25-26 (ESV)

  Friday Tale - A Gentle Whisper   "A still small voice" (AV, RSV), "a gentle breeze" (LXX). 1 Kings 19:12   T he judgments of God (strong wind, earthquake, fire) are actually manifestations of His mercy. They are the prelude, and preparation, for the still small voice calling the nation to repent.   Elijah is being shown that the LORD God -- or Yahweh -- is, of course, the God of the strong wind, the earthquake, fire -- all these were presumed by the pagans to be manifestations of the great "god" Baal, but this was utterly false!   But not only was Yahweh the true and only God of these great and frightening aspects of nature, in contrast to Baal. He was, ESPECIALLY, the God who revealed Himself through the quiet, still, small, and gentle voice speaking to the individual conscience.   An old preacher spoke something in reply to a question from a young man, something so hushed it could not be discerned. The young man stepped across the room. ...

G od's voice is still and quiet and easily buried under an avalanche of clamor. Stand still and listen. ~ Charles Stanley W hen you are in distress and all these things happen to you, in the latter days you will return to the LORD your God and listen to His voice. ~ Deuteronomy 4:30

Friday Tale - the Call at Midnight   W e all know what it's like to get that phone call in the middle of the night. This night's call was no different. Jerking up to the ringing summons, I focused on the red illuminated numbers of my clock. Midnight. Panicky thoughts filled my sleep-dazed mind as I grabbed the receiver.     " Hello ?"     My heart pounded, I gripped the phone tighter and eyed my husband, who was now turning to face my side of the bed.     " Mama ?" I could hardly hear the whisper over the static. But my thoughts immediately went to my daughter. When the desperate sound of a young crying voice became clearer on the line, I grabbed for my husband and squeezed his wrist.     " Mama, I know it's late. But don't...don't say anything, until I finish. And before you ask, yes, I've been drinking. I nearly ran off the road a few miles bac...

  W isdom is the reward you get for a life time of listening when you'd have preferred to talk. ~ Doug Larson   H ow much better it is to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver. ~ Proverbs 16:16

  B e a good listener. Your ears will never get you into trouble. ~ Frank Tyger   L isten to counsel and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days. ~ Proverbs 19:20

  P aying attention is the most basic and profound expression of love. ~ Tara Brach   Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant. ~ 1 Corinthians 13:4

A person's most useful asset is not  a head full of knowledge, BUT a heart full of love, an ear ready to listen and a hand willing to help others. ~ Helen Barry   BUT the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. ~ 1 Timothy 1:5

I n prayerful silence you must look into your own heart. No one can tell you better than yourself what comes between you and God. Ask yourself. Then - Listen! ~ Johannes Tauler   B ut the LORD is in His Holy Temple. Let all the earth hush and be silent before Him. ~ Habakkuk 2:20

I f you make listening and observation your occupation, you will gain much more than you can by talking. ~ Robert Baden Powell B lessed is the one who listens to me { wisdom} , watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors. For whoever finds me finds life and  obtains favor from the Lord. ~ Proverbs 8:34-35