Spiritual Thoughts

  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

  I f we want to avoid the suffering of someone leaving us, we will never experience the joy of loving. And love is stronger than fear, life stronger than death, hope stronger than despair. We have to trust that the risk of loving is always worth taking. ~ Henri J.M. Nouwen M any waters cannot quench love, Nor will rivers over flow it; If a man were to give all the riches of his house for love, it would be utterly despised. ~ Song of Solomon 8:7

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

Al though the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it. ~ Helen Keller F or whoever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith. Who is the one who overcomes the world, BUT he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? ~ 1 John 5:4-5

T o be grateful for all life's blessings.... is the best condition for a happy life. A joke, a good meal, a fine fall day, a work of art, a human personality, a voice, a glance - BUT this is not all. For there is another kind of gratitude....  the feeling that makes us thankful for suffering,  for the hard and heavy things of life,  for the deepening of our characters  which perhaps only suffering can bring. ~ Thomas Mann  T hrough him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge His name. ~ Hebrews 13:15

S cars show us where we have been;  they do not dictate where we are going. ~David Rossi F or as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings,    so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.  ~ 2 Corinthians 1:5

Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls;   the most massive characters are seamed with scars.  - Edwin H. Chapin In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up  prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears,     to Him who was able to save him from death,       and he was heard because of his reverence.  Although he was a son, Jesus learned obedience       through what he suffered.               And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him. - Hebrews 5:7-9