Spiritual Thoughts

  P ure gold does not fear the furnace. ~ Chinese Proverb I n this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while,  if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials so that the proof of your faith,  being more precious than gold  which is perishable, even though 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

D ifficulties are meant to rouse, not discourage. The human heart grows strong by conflict. ~ William Ellery Channing   B lessed is one who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love him. ~ James 1:12

  L ife is not about waiting for the storm to pass.  It is about learning to dance in the rain. ~ Vivian Greene   C onsider it all joy when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces cheerful patience. ~ James 1:2-3

I n their own way, problems can be blessings. They can be the prod to get us out of our complacency and into action. ~ Unknown   C onsider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. ~ James 1:2-4

Friday Tale - Life's Hard Tasks   A mong some skaters was a boy so small and so evidently a beginner that his frequent mishaps awakened the pit of a tender-hearted (but not so wise) spectator. "Why, sonny, you are getting all bumped up!" she said. "I wouldn't stay on the ice and keep falling down so; I'd just come off and watch the others." The tears of the last downfall were still rolling over the rosy cheeks, but the child looked from his adviser to the shining steel on his feet, answered indignantly, "I didn't get some new skates to give up with, I got them to learn how with." The whole philosophy of earthy discipline was in the replay. Life's hard tasks are never sent us "to give up with," they are always intended to awaken strength, skill and courage in learning how to master them. ~ Walter Forward   W e are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow-heirs with Christ; if indeed we suffe...

  Friday Tale - P R I O R I T I E S   I asked God to grant me patience. God said, No. Patience is a byproduct of tribulations; it isn't granted, it is earned.     I asked God to give me happiness. God said, No. I give you blessings. Happiness is up to you.     I asked God to spare me pain. God said, No. Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to me.     I asked God to make my spirit grow. God said, No. You must grow on your own, but I will prune you to make you fruitful.     I asked God for all things that I might enjoy in life. God said No. I will give you life so that you may enjoy all things.     I asked God to help me LOVE others, as much as God loves me. God said... Ahhhh, finally you have the idea.     Stop telling God how big your storm is.  Instead tell your storm how big your GOD is !!!!!!!!  ~ from Jim Gentil's P...

  T ry to relax  and enjoy the crises. ~ Ashleigh Brilliant   I n this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the coming of Jesus Christ. ~ 1 Peter 1:6-7

  I t's not the load that breaks you down, it's the way you carry it. ~ Lou Holtz   I n all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith - of greater worth than gold - may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. ~ 1 Peter 1:6-7

  Friday Tale ~ Test Kitchen of Life   A young woman was complaining to her father about how difficult her life had become. He said nothing but took her to the kitchen and set three pans of water to boil. To the first pan, he added carrots; to the second, eggs; and to the third, ground coffee.        After all three had cooked, he put their contents into separate bowls and asked his daughter to cut into the eggs and carrots, and to smell the coffee.      “What does all this mean?” she asked impatiently.       “Each food,” he said, “teaches us something about facing adversity, as represented by the boiling water. The carrot went in hard but came out soft and weak. The eggs went in fragile but came out hardened. The coffee, however, changed the water to something better.”     “Which will you be like as you face life?” he asked. “Will you give up, and become hard, like the eg...

  T rials, temptations, disappointments - all these are helps instead of hindrances, if one uses them rightly. They not only test the fiber of a character, BUT strengthen it. Every conquered temptation represents a new fund of moral energy. Every trial endured and weathered in the right spirit, makes a soul nobler and stronger that it was before. ~ James Buckham   C onsider it pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and  complete, not lacking anything. ~ James 1:2-4

  A n optimist is someone who gets treed by a lion, but still enjoys the scenery. ~ Walter Winchell   C onsider it all joy when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. ~ James 1:2-3

W hen trials persist, God's intention is not that we give up; rather He wants us to grow up! ~ Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein C onsider it pure joy, my brothers, when you are involved in various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. ~ James 1:2-3

In the trials we've faced, something good  has happened too: God has fine-tuned us     so we are more compassionate, more caring,       more loving, more aware of other's pain.  Unknown Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,      the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,         who comforts us in all our affliction,          so that we may be able to comfort those          who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which             we ourselves are comforted by God.   2 Corinthians 1:3-4

T he gem cannot be polished without friction,       nor man perfected without trials.  Chinese Proverb More than that, we rejoice in our tribulations,    knowing that tribulation produces endurance,              and endurance produces character,                   and character produces hope...  Romans 5:3-4

If you spend your whole life waiting for the storm, you'll never enjoy the sunshine. -Morris West God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam,   "Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" Psalm 46:1-3, 10

The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials. -Chinese Proverb On that day you will be glad, even if you have to go through many hard trials for a while. Your faith will be like gold that has been tested in a fire. And these trials will prove that your faith is worth much more than gold that can be destroyed. 1 Peter 1:6-7