Spiritual Thoughts

  D uring times of testing what we really value comes to light. ~ David Clubb M y brothers and sisters, consider it nothing BUT joy when you fall into all sorts of trials, because you know that the testing of  your faith produces endurance . ~ James 1:2-3 (NET)

  D on't just count your years, make your years count. ~ Ernest Meyers B e dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps lit. You too, be ready; for the Son of Man is coming  at an hour that you do not expect . ~ Luke 12:35, 41

  A wise man will make haste to forgive, because he knows the true value of time, and will not suffer it to pass away in unnecessary pain. ~ Samuel Johnson S o teach us to number our days, so that we may present to You a heart of wisdom. ~ Psalm 90:12

  T he only thing of value we can give kids is what we are, not what we have . ~ Leo Buscaglia A ssemble the people, the men and the women and children and the foreigner who is in your town, so that they may hear and learn and fear the LORD your God, and be careful to observe all the words of this law. ~ Deuteronomy 31:12

  Friday Tale ~ Twenty Dollar Bill A speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20 bill. In the room of 200 people, he asked, "Who would like this $20 bill?” Hands started going up. He said, "I am going to give this $20 to one of you but first, let me do this.” He proceeded to crumple the dollar bill up. He then asked, "Who still wants it?” Still the hands were up in the air. “Well," he replied, "What if I do this?" And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, now all crumpled and dirty. “Now who still wants it?” Still the hands went into the air. “My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $20. Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless....

  Friday Tale - Happier Life Tips   A sk for what you need. B e dependable. C are about others. D are to live your dreams. E ase away from fear. F ind Faith. G ive to another. H ug a friend. I nspire someone to greatness. J ump over a boundary. K ick a bad habit. L eap across a fear. M ention something uplifting. N ever say never. O pen your mind and heart. P ursue justice. Q uit complaining. R estore your smile. S et your sights high. T rust God. U se all the day. V alue everything. W ait to speak. X press yourself. Y ank weeds from your mental garden. Z oom into the now. ~ Carol James (amended)   E ncourage the exhausted, and strengthen the feeble. ~ Isaiah 35:3

  Friday Tale - True Value   A football in my hands is worth about $20. A football in Peyton Manning’s hands is worth about $15 million. It depends on whose hands it's in.   A basketball in my hands is worth about $25. A basketball in Shaquille O'Neal's hands is worth $30 million. It depends on whose hands it's in.   A rod in my hands may keep away a wild animal. A rod in Moses' hands parted a mighty sea. It depends on whose hands it's in.   A sling shot in my hands is just a kid's toy. A sling shot in David's hand killed a giant. It depends on whose hands it's in.   Two fish and 5 loves of bread in my hands will feed me. Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in Jesus’ hands fed thousands. It depends on whose hands it's in.   Nails in my hands might build a birdhouse. Nails in Jesus Christ's hands produced salvation for the world. It depends on whose hands it's in.  ...

  T he best thing to give to your enemy  is forgiveness; to an opponent - tolerance; to a friend - your heart; to your child - a good example; to a father - respect; to your mother - love; to your yourself - value; to all men - compassion. ~ Francis Maitland Balfour (amended) I n all things show yourselves to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, with dignity. ~ Titus 2:7

G od loves and cares for us, even to the least and smallest need of life.      ~ Henry Manning  A re not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father's will. Fear not, you are of more value than many sparrows. ~ Matthew 10:29-31

T he greatest value in the world is the difference between what we are and what we could become. ~Ben Herbster A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold. ~Proverbs 22:1