Good Thoughts Archive

Options are a matter of choice. What options have you chosen for your eternity?

Lack of faith implies that God can't back up His Word. Faith implies that God can and will back up His Word.

It's not the gale but the set of the sail that will determine where your boat will go.
It's not what you say but what you do that determines the way your life will go.

Love might be blind, but loving and receiving love is a real eye opener.....especially to many things you never realized before.

The good we might be doing is generally criticized by the 'no gooders'. God knows the difference between the 'gooders' and the 'no gooders'. It pays to be one of His 'do gooders'.

Living a Jesus-like kind of life is something we need to work at. It has it's own rewards. Try it, you'll like it!   

Some Walmart employees jackets say 'Can I help you?' and some do. Jesus asks the same question; 'Can I help you?' Do you know He can? And He will if we will just ask him.

Walmart says; 'Our people make a difference.' Guess who made a big difference in my life. Jesus! And he will do the same for everyone else.

If you think nobody cares, fail to make a payment without some explanation. Or even fail to talk to the one we owe the most, when we fail to pray or worship.

Rain brings complaints. No rain makes deserts where nothing can grow. Into every life, some rain will come and as a result, we grow in spirit. No rain brings deadness and lack of spiritual growth.

You say you quit Church as a teen! Was it just a teenage decision? What are you doing for your soul now? Anything?

Some folks don't want to have beautiful thoughts in their heart, so they become crossways to life and suffer as a result and wonder why. Sometimes we ask another person 'A penny for your thoughts?', but beautiful thoughts are worth much more than a penny!

Beautiful thoughts come out in the form of graciousness and kindliness. They are the qualities that make for congeniality and beneficial results. As a person thinks in his heart, so does he become acceptable to others around him as a whole, making life worthwhile.

Life is too short to be small or petty! Pettiness leads to peevishness, sordidness and unhappiness. Let a person change his attitude from that of small and petty and he will be astonished at how his life will be immensely improved.....physically as well as mentally.

Inner thoughts cannot be kept secret! They will burst out and become obvious. Sour thoughts soon make a person have a sour attitude that is sour to others. Congenial thoughts soon make a person more congenial and more pleasant to be near, resulting in a happier life style.....more acceptable to others and with ourselves.

As a person thinketh in his heart, so is he! If you want to know what you are, think about what is down in your unconscious. If your thoughts are good toward others and toward conditions you are faced with, then you will be living a much better life with others and with conditions of your own life. What you are is what is being reflected from inside out. Change the inside and the outside will be much better.

To lose one's wealth is sad indeed.
To lose one's health is even more.
However, to lose one's soul is the greatest loss,
that only Jesus can restore.

No day is ordinary when we put the extraordinary into it ourselves. How can we put our extraordinary into our day? It's really not hard at all. Something we might say that will make a difference to someone. Sometimes just a friendly smile to a lonely person. Actually, there are countless ways. I like to ask a Walmart employee if they are really making a difference? Just asking them cheers their day.....somebody noticed they are trying.....they are putting in some long days.

A man with leprosy approached Jesus and said, 'If you want to, you can heal me'. Jesus said essentially: What makes you think I don't want to? He reached out and touched the man and the man was instantly healed. So when we ask Jesus to answer our prayer for a genuine need we may have, what makes us think he doesn't want to? Actually, we may not understand our real need.

God's Word, the Bible, when opened, read carefully and prayerfully, 'fans the fires of devotion'. You can't read about the life of Jesus without wanting to be like Him?

WDDD?  Opened windows of heaven and prayed (Daniel 6:10)

One of the greatest powers we can possess is the power of self control. King Saul was angry with David and tried to find and kill him. One day, David found King Saul unguarded and could have killed him, but he didn't. He had self control. He felt that he had no right to kill another person whom God had created. David had the power of self control, just like each of us can have.

Confidence is a very important thing these days...in other words, in whom can we place our confidence? The apostles asked Jesus 'to whom may we go?'. Or to say it another way; What or whom can we trust in? Peter got his answer without it having been said. He knew the current leaders couldn't be trusted, so he put it in his own words; 'You only have the answers and I trust you and have confidence in you and I'm with you.' So who shall we follow in this our day? Think about it. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. 

Be not impatient, for the best is yet to come. But rather wait as a person who understands that when God is knowingly ready, he will rise up and bless. There is a saying that God is never early or late.

It is said: The Word of God is powerful and a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Reading God's words in the Bible many times tells us why we do and/or say certain things. That makes us understand our true or hidden motivations. In other words; Why did we say, think or do that particular thing.....was it worthwhile or the proper thing.

We all have a negative reaction to change. Like the saying goes: A person convinced against his will is of the same opinion still. Why? Because first impressions seem the strongest. That is why the things we are first scripted with need to be re-evaluated as we go along and brought up to date by new valid information and understanding.

It has been said; It is alright to drink like a fish, if you are drinking what a fish drinks.....Amen!  But let's hope you haven't been hooked on anything else!

When I act, you will know my reasons. When I speak, you will know my heart.
- George W. Bush

How many days or evenings have I given any kind of thought at all to God? One time when I was a young, developing person, my brother asked me a pertinent question: 'Have we given any thought to our souls?'  I couldn't honestly answer, because the answer was I had not. And I knew that was a failure in the life I was living.

Our Bibles tell us that our tongue can be our worst enemy.  It is relatively small, but mighty when it comes to causing us real personal trouble. Once it lets loose in the wrong direction...with words that shouldn't have been said, it is impossible to get them back or the damage repaired. It's like bursting a feather pillow over somebody's head. It's hard to get those feathers all back.

I want to thank you Lord for those special people that touch my life. They are a special blessing to me. They are willing to put up with my mistakes and antics. They accept me for who I am. They are willing to tell me when I am wrong and help me to get changed back to what and to where I belong.....and don't keep records or hold it against me.

How can I help make God happy? Do you ever ask yourself that question? If there is anything I'd like to do, it's to please God and make him feel joyful. So, how can I do that? Simple! Share a private conversation with Him each morning. Tell him how much you love Him and how much you value his fellowship and how much you want to help his interests. He'll smile all over Heaven among the angels.

One time when I was a young fellow, my dad came to visit. As we were driving along, he would tell me some bit of wisdom from his experiences. And, when understood, I would say 'You can bet your life on that'. Finally, he got tired of that reply and said 'You ought not bet your life on something that unsure'. If you are going to bet your life on anything, make sure it's Jesus...anything less than Jesus won't save your soul or your life. You can bet I've quit betting my life on inconsequentials since then.

God is the way for us to become perfected.
It's His way for making us complete.
He made us from the beginning
to serve him from the top of our head to the soles of our feet.
God is the one that draws us upward
from Satan's dragging us down.
It's His way of stopping our wobbles
and making our faith strong.

The picture of our duality!
There is nothing in us that is perfect.
There is nothing in you and me that is complete.
For we persons are just a beginning
from the top of our heads to the soles of our feet.
There is something that draws us upward.
There is something that drags us down.
And the result is that we wobble
twix the mud and a starlit crown.
Between Satan and God, for some reason.
He lets us struggle, but he never lets us down.

In early Christian days when Christians were about to part from one another, they would say 'Keep the faith'. Actually, however, this was a misnomer because what they were meaning was to stand strong in faith. Of course that was good, but the real meaning goes beyond that. Our faith cannot just stand still. It must keep growing and getting deeper and stronger as we go along...to increase our faith in God our Father. The question is how? The answer is (1) Conversation with God daily through prayer. (2) Reading God's word...How long has it been since you picked up your Bible and read from it? (3) Meeting with other Christians and discussing your fresh Christian experiences. Each of these activities will not only help us keep the faith, but will cause our faith to grow and stand us in good stead.

A cell phone is great unless or until you let the battery run down. And then it is useless until we recharge it again. So, you should watch it closely and never let it run down. That way, you can always keep in contact. And, so it is with we Christians. We need to be very careful that our cell phone, our relationship with our heavenly Father, never runs down. How do we keep our battery at full charge? God has told us: (1) keep our prayer life at top level, (2) regular worship and (3) keeping current with reading and meditating in God's Word, the Bible. Jesus made these things his life style and his battery never ran down. At one point, he said to his heavenly Father, I know you always hear me when I call (John 11:42).

There is a saying , 'Happiness pursued often eludes'. In Matthew 5, we see Jesus' formula for happiness. It is nothing we strive for as a goal. It is rather a result of the kind of life we are living on a day to day basis. In other words, it is not something we plan for as a purpose. It is the outcome of the many good things about our personal lives. That's the way happiness happens.

Jesus said 'Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God' (Matthew 5:9). It would seem, however, that there are more trouble makers than peacemakers. I hope you are not one of them. They are the ones that stir up more trouble than peace. When they seemingly can't find trouble, they seem to delight in creating some. (My experience with prison inmates reflects this contention.) There is a saying 'Let sleeping dogs lie'. That doesn't mean a thing to some people. They ought to read Isaiah 57:21 and Proverbs 4:14-17.

The qualities I admire in Jesus are the qualities I admire...the kind I would most like for me to have, the qualities I would like to be able to reflect into the lives of others. I guess that's why I have fallen in love with Him. How about you? I hope you are saying 'Amen'!

Better is always better than bitter. If you believe that, say AMEN! It'll help you remember this good thought. James Dobson says the best cure for bitterness is forgiveness...to give up my right to hurt you for hurting me.

Jesus was scoffed at, manhandled and mistreated in many ways, but he never became bitter. Instead he made things better for those who were also mistreated. He changed their lives from bitter to better.

Isn't it interesting that our heavenly father gives us the privilege of conversations with Him. Not at certain times, but anytime or from any place. Not many people give us that opportunity. We can talk to Him when we have a blessing or joy to share or we can bring a problem to him, perhaps one we are struggling with and can't see a solution.

Even small, imagined grievances can grow into vicious animals, than can tear and devour any good feelings we may have had in our own makeup and personality, leading to bitterness of all kinds. This can even make us fearful and less desirous persons to be around. No wonder God's Word says let not the sun go down on your anger. That is, don't let the Devil do this to you! Read Ephesians 4:26-27.

Each of us has the God-given power of choice. Success in life and in eternity depends upon our choices. We can choose to live foolishly, harmfully or Godless. However, God does allow us to recover from bad choices, thank goodness, if we so choose. He also stands ready to help us in those choices when we seek his help. He knows the future and shows us helpful alternatives.

A great reaction to a hurtful situation is that of a pachyderm (to be thick skinned, like that of an elephant), to evaluate the hurt in a calm way and respond in a more worthwhile way, seeking a solution and considering the source...one which would have more profitable results. An angry response profits no one.

Someone said that insightful suggestion is often something that opens the door to greater blessing to persons who are struggling through life's difficulties.

If our Constitution says 'separation of church and state' (which it doesn't), it sure doesn't say separation of God and state.  If I were a Supreme Court Justice, I'd give that a lot of thought and let God have his way.

A modern concept of the Golden Rule is 'He who has the gold rules'. It may seem that way today, but God says the silver and gold are his. Who do you suppose really rules? Read Haggai 2:8

Beautiful thoughts, good thoughts make beautiful people.  That's more than so called skin deep. It is rather the making of a precious soul.

Bonding to someone is a powerful concept these days. We become like the person we are most bonded to. WWJD is an indication of bonding to Jesus, the best bondee or mentor anyone could have.

The wisdom of this world is mere foolishness with God.  He that develops Godly wisdom loves his own soul.  Read Proverbs 19:8

We may at times feel like a failure, but a failure is someone who doesn't get up and keep going. A failure blames others and gives up.

Jesus said 'Love thy neighbor as thyself'.  A person said Who is my neighbor'?   The answer: Anyone who isn't you is your neighbor.....some food for thought.

We can benefit by our mistakes, but most often by determination not to make them again. Good thoughts are golden opportunities to eliminate bad mistakes.

'Getting even' is a bad thought and leads to terrible results.
Forgiveness is the best thought that leads to freedom and peace of heart.

Bad thoughts are harmful, lead to problems and originate with Satan. Good thoughts are blessings straight from God when allowed to guide our lives.

A good thought, plus enthusiasm will eventuate in benefical results.  Love and prayer is the way.

What do you do with a good thought? Take it in and make it part of your life from then on or
ignore it and lose it's benefits. It is said repeating it at least twenty-two times will fasten it into
our unconscious and will bring it to our conscious when needed.

A good thought most often comes straight from God.   And if we take it in and allow it to guide
our lives, it is like a little seed sown in good ground and is beneficial to both you and God.

Love and prayer are the most powerful assets to anyone's life.
They can move mountains of difficulties and are available to all of us.

To be wronged is nothing unless we nurse it.
A wrong forgiven is to cause it to die out to nothing, and peace in our own soul.

Evil and live have the same letters, but a lot of difference in outcome.
Evil thinking leads to heartaches, to really live will give peace of heart.

When you are faced with duties for the day, do the hard ones first.
Then each succeeding one will be easier.

Look at problems as new opportunities.
They may open up a whole new way of life for you with pleasing results.

If you are facing in the right direction, keep walking. Otherwise, reconsider, refacing.

He who gossips to you will gossip against you. Be aware!

Life is too short to be small!

Some folks are not inclined to be friendly.  How can you overcome this?
Well, one poet said it this way:
He drew a circle that shut us out,
A thing to scorn a thing to flout.
But love and I had a wit to win,
We drew a circle that took him in!

Answers to prayer are just coincidences, one person said.  Another said,
I've noticed when I quit praying, coincidences stop.

Many folks sometimes feel they've reached the end of their COPE.
But, when they talk to the Lord about it, things begin to open up.

Did you know there is an eleventh commandment?   Read John 15:12.

Did you know if there is sadness in your lips, your eyes can't smile.  And if there is sadness in your eyes, your lips can't smile.   Lips and eyes will do both at the same time.  What should that say to us? What's in our heart shows quite plainly.

The quitters are easily forgot.
On them the world spends little time.
And few ever care that you've not
the courage and patience to climb.
So give up and quit in despair
and take your place back on the shelf.
But don't think the world will care.
You'll only be hurting yourself.

You needn't make good if you don't
think the struggle is worthwhile.
But worry over you the world won't,
for the world will continue to smile.
You can't phase the world by your pout
or refusing to give it your best.
There are too many folks about
who are eager to face any test.

The world won't care if you quit
and the world won't whine if you fail.
The busy world won't notice it,
no matter how loudly you wail.
Nobody will worry that you,
have relinquished the fight and gone down.
For it's only the things you do
that are worthwhile and get you renown.

I like you, not only for what you are, but for who I am when I'm with you.
I like you not only for what you have made of yourself,
but what you are making of me when I am with you.....just by being yourself.

We are punished BY our own sins down the road, not FOR them.
The negatives of sin can beat us to death.  They carry their own consequences.

Man can discover new and delightful oceans, but not until he has the courage to leave the shore.

Habits can become the best of servants, but some become the worst of masters.

We receive freely when we give freely.

The truth may cost, but it works to make us free.   Truth is freedom.  It is dependable.

In this life, when we take God's advice, it is always worthwhile, value for the time spent,
and there is benefit from his advice.  He knows the consequences.

Then there is what is called Pro-Choice these days...but do you know what?
There is no elimination of the consequences, the negative results.
We can choose to ignore God, but we can't ignore the consequences!!!

Edification, communication and determination lead to WORTHWHILE LIVING.

Worthwhileness is value for time spent.  But there is nothing more
worthwhile than reading from God's Word daily.

Positive thinking and possibility thinking are good as far as
they go, but fall far short of worthwhile thinking.  Try it!

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall.  Humpty had a big fall.
Have you read the handwriting on your wall?  (Daniel 5:5, 25-27)

The essence of Christianity is to fall in love with Jesus.

Good Thoughts provided by Rev. Edward A. Hager. 

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