Spiritual Thoughts

  T he more anger toward the past you carry in your heart, the less capable you are of loving in the present. ~ Barbara DeAngelis B e angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. ~ Ephesians 4:26, 32

  M ercy is like money - your deposits determine  your withdrawals. ~ Unknown B lessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. ~ Matthew 5:7

  S top holding on to the past. Release your regrets about whatever you may have done, or failed to do, that turned out poorly. Forgive others whatever they may have done, or failed to do, that caused you harm. Declare today to be a new beginning. Let go of the past, and move on with creating a joyful new future for yourself.  ~ Jonathan Lockwood Huie   F or the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, teaching us to wait for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God, and of our Savior Jesus Christ. ~ Titus 2:11, 13

  J ust because you have made mistakes does not mean your mistakes get to make you. Forgive yourself and move on .  ~ Robert Tew   B e not conformed to this world, BUT be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is: that which is good and   acceptable and complete.  ~ Romans 12:2

  Friday Tale - Prayer If's   "O ur Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen" (Mat 6:9-13). ·       I cannot say "Our", if my religion has no room for others and their needs. ·       I cannot say "Father", if I do not demonstrate this divine relationship in my daily life. ·       I cannot say "Who art in heaven", if all my interests and pursuits are on earthly things. ·       I cannot say "Hallowed be thy name", if I, who am called by His name, am not holy. ·       I cannot say "Thy kingdom come", if I am un...

F orgiveness is not an occasional act, it is an constant attitude. ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.   L et all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. ~ Ephesians 4:31-32

  H e who forgives  ends the quarrel. ~ African Proverb   BUT now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander and abusive speech from your mouth,. bearing with one another and forgiving each other, just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. ~ Colossians 3:8, 13

  F orgiving someone may cost you your pride, BUT not forgiving them will cost you your freedom. ~ GoodFruits.com   B e kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. ~ Ephesians 4:32

  A lways forgive your enemies... nothing annoys them so much. ~ Oscar Wilde   Y ou have heard it was said, "You shall  love your neighbor and hate your enemy."   BUT I say to you, love your enemies and  pray for those who persecute you, so that you  may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. ~ Matthew 5:43-45

  I t is one of the greatest gifts  you can give yourself, to forgive. ~ Maya Angelou   W henever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions. ~ Mark 11:25

  F orgiveness creates space for a  new tomorrow. Forgiving others grants you peace. ~ Jonathan Lockwood Huie   T hen Peter came and said to Jesus, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you "up to seven times," BUT 'up to seventy times seven.'" ~ Matthew 18:22

Friday Tale: Look Up W hen you have been falsely accused- Look up, for so was Jesus. When people twist what you say for their own selfish motives- Look up, for so was Jesus. When you have been betrayed - Look up, for so was Jesus. It is written Jesus will bring everything hidden in the darkness into the light for all to see. He will bring justice, he will vindicate the right. Shake the dust off your feet. Forgive and move on. ~ Abby B lessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely, rejoice and be glad, for great your reward is in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. ~ Matthew 5:11-12

H anging onto resentment is letting someone you despise live rent free in your head. ~ Ann Landers     P ut up with each other, and forgive anyone who does you wrong, just as Christ has forgiven you. ~ Colossians 3:13 (CEV)

A n apology is the superglue of life. It can repair just about anything. ~ Lynn Johnston SO reach out to apologize to someone in your past or perhaps your present who you've hurt or offended in some way. Often times a heartfelt "I'm sorry" can heal the deepest of scars.  B e kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.  ~ Ephesians 4:32

I invite everyone to choose forgiveness rather than division, team work over personal ambition. ~Jean Francois Cope A nyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven,  if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ.  ~ 2 Corinthians 1:10

E very day this week will be bits from Cowboy's Guide to Life : ·      It don't take a very big person to carry a grudge. ·      If it don't seem like it's worth the effort, it probably ain't. ·      It's better to be a has-been than a never-was. ·      Meanness don't jest happen overnight. ·      When you wallow with pigs, expect to git dirty. ~ Bob Hardison J udge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive and you will be forgiven.... ~ Luke 6:37

B efore you quit,   try.  Before you talk,   listen    Before you react,   think      Before you criticize,   wait         Before you move on,   forgive. ~Unknown (NOTE: Aug. 27 is Global Forgiveness Day)  B UT with You there is forgiveness,    that You may be revered.  ~Psalm 130:4