Spiritual Thoughts

  T he highest reward for a person's toil is not what they get for it, BUT what they become by it . ~ John Ruskin BUT grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. ~ 2 Peter 3:18 (NASB)

  E very path has some puddles. ~ George Herbert T he lazy person's way seems over grown by thorns, BUT the path of the upright is a level highway . ~ Proverbs 15:19 (Jerusalem Bible)

  H ard work keeps the wrinkles out of the mind and spirit. ~ Helena Rubinstein F or it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the savior of all men, especially of believers . ~ 1 Timothy 4:10

  G od gives every bird a worm, BUT  He does not throw it into the nest. ~ Swedish Proverb W ork out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. ~ Philippians 2:12-13

  G od gives every bird his worm, BUT He does not throw it into the nest. ~ Unknown C ommit your work to the Lord, and then your plans   will succeed. ~ Proverbs 16:3

  Friday Tale ~  Turning Liabilities into Assets A group villagers in the Orient decided that a towering hill with a bamboo thicket on top had to be leveled so that the ground could be used for farming purposes. That same hill in the USA would have required the aid of giant earthmoving equipment to level the ground, but the Oriental mind didn't see things quite that way. Thousands of people who lived in the immediate area got together and started removing the hill basket by basket of dirt. They handed down the baskets from top to bottom, and in some cases the lines were two miles long. For many days it seemed as though nothing was happening; the hill was not disappearing. But over a period of time, due to incredible teamwork and the commitment of thousands of people, the hill was leveled into a beautiful, flat farming area. By their example, the Orientals demonstrated that when we are confronted with seemingly impossible tasks, if we break them down into small segments...

  A ll good work is done the way ants do things, little by little. ~ Lafcadio Hearn G o to the ant, consider her ways and be wise; who, having no guide, overseer or ruler,  provides her bread in the summer and gathers her food in the harvest. ~ Proverbs 6:6-8

  O pportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work . ~ Thomas Edison L et us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, IF we do not give up.  So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone. ~ Galatians 6:9-10 (ESV)

  D o what you can, and do it well. Accept the rest with equanimity, and trust in God. No one can ever do more than that .  ~ Jonathan Lockwood Huie   W hatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord and not for people, knowing that it is from the Lord that you will receive the reward of the inheritance. ~ Colossians 3:23-24

I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough, we must apply. Being willing is not enough, we must do.  ~ Leonardo da Vinci T herefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. ~ 1 Corinthians 15:58 (ESV)

  E very man's work, whether it be literature or music or pictures or architecture or anything else, is always a portrait of himself. ~ Leslie Nielsen   N ow the one who plants and the one who waters are one, BUT each will receive his own reward according to his labor. ~ 1 Corinthians 3:8

Y ou cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson   A s long as it is day, we must do the works of Him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. ~ Jesus in John 9:4

  D o something today that your future self will thank you for. ~ Unknown   C ontinue to work out your salvation with awe-inspired fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose. ~ Philippians 2:12-13

  Friday Tale - Stress   A speaker , when explaining stress management to an audience, raised a glass of water and asked; 'How heavy is this glass of water?'          Answers called out ranged from 20g to 500g (3/4 oz to 16 oz).          The lecturer replied, 'The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long you try to hold it.           If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem.          If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm.          If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance.          In each case, it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.'          He continued,...

  T he willingness to show up changes us. It makes us a little braver each time. ~ Brene Brown S o we built the wall and the whole wall was jointed together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work. Those who were rebuilding the wall and those who carried burdens took their load with one hand doing the   work and the other holding a weapon. ~ Nehemiah 4:6, 17

W ithout hard work, nothing grows but weeds. ~ Gordon Hinckley   B ut you, be strong and   do not lose courage, for there is reward for your work. ~ 2 Chronicles 15:7

I am only one, BUT I am one. I cannot do everything, BUT I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do. ~ Edward Everett Hale   B e ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. ~ Titus 3:1-2

Friday Tale: Landscape Y our life's like a landscape and God has the brush. The work is in progress, He's not in a rush.                    Each stroke has a purpose, nothing's by chance.                    To see all His wisdom takes more than a glance. Notice the sunbeams that shine on the dew -- Even the clouds can't keep them from view.                    Look at the pathway that turns at the hill --                    Its course will reveal what's next in His will. The stream that's flowing with water so blue Is bringing down blessings meant just for you.     ...

D o not wait; the time will never by just right. Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along. ~ Napoleon Hill L ook carefully then how you walk, not as unwise, BUT as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. ~ Ephesians 5:15-16