Spiritual Vitamins
This section has items concerning Christianity. "Spiritual Vitamin*" is a daily E-mail I recieve which sends out short, Christian quotations. There are quotes from various places here, as well.
Spiritual Vitamins
I'd rather look forward and dream, than look backwards and regret.
-unknown
They say that God is everywhere, and yet we always think of Him as
somewhat of a recluse.
-Emily Dickinson
In speaking with another about God so old
remind them again of things you've been told
"God is such an antiquated idea," they say
Remind them again that God is with you today
God is not one to be forsaken
For He is as old as you want to make Him
-unknown
There would be no rainbow for the soul without tears from the
eyes.
-unknown
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart;
And lean not unto thine own understanding
In all thy ways acknowledge him,
And he with direct thy paths
Proverbs 3:5,6
One filled with joy preaches without preaching.
-Mother Teresa
The shadows are behind you if you walk toward the light.
-unknown
Our care should not be to have lived long as to have lived enough.
-Seneca
The riches that are in the heart cannot be stolen.
-Russian Proverb
Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from
themselves.
-Sir James Matthew Barrie
Never stop dreaming, because dreams are what miracles are made of. So
shoot for the moon; that way, even if you miss, you will land among the
stars.
-William Stuart MacArthur
The Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion.
-Isaiah 30:18 NIV
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask
anything according to His will, He hears us.
-I John 5:14 NIV
Never discourage anyone...who continually makes progress, no
matter how slow.
-Plato
Faith is to believe what we do not see, and the reward of faith is
to see what we believe.
-Saint Augustine
Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that
counts can be counted.
-Albert Einstein
For with God nothing shall be impossible.
-Luke 1:37
The following are a few inspiring stories about the Christian faith.
This is a true story of something that happened just a few
years ago at USC. There was a professor of philosophy there who was
a deeply committed atheist. His primary goal for one required class
was to spend the entire semester attempting to prove that God couldn't
exist. His students were always afraid to argue with him because of his
impeccable logic. For twenty years, he had taught this class and no one
had ever had the courage to go against him. Sure, some had argued in
class at times, but no one had ever 'really gone against him' (you'll
see what I mean later). Nobody would go against him because he had a
reputation. At the end of every semester, on the last day, he would say
to his class of 300 students, "If there anyone here who still believes
in Jesus, stand up!" In twenty years, no one had ever stood up. They
knew what he was going to do next. He would say, "because anyone who
does believe in God is a fool. If God existed, he could stop this piece
of chalk from hitting the ground and breaking. Such a simple task to
prove that he is God, and yet he can't do it." And every year, he would
drop the chalk onto the tile floor of the classroom and it would shatter
into a hundred pieces.
All of the students could do nothing but stop and stare. Most of the
students were convinced that God couldn't exist. Certainly, a number
of Christians had slipped through, but for 20 years, they had been
too afraid to stand up.
Well, a few years ago, there was a freshman who happened to get
enrolled in the class. He was a Christian, and had heard the stories
about this professor. He had to take the class because it was one of
the required classes for his major and he was afraid. But for 3 months
that semester, he prayed every morning that he would have the courage
to stand up no matter what the professor said or what theclass thought.
Nothing they said or did could ever shatter his faith, he hoped. Finally
the day came. The professor said, "If there is
anyone here who still believes in God, stand up!" The professor and the
class of 300 people looked at him, shocked, as he stood up at the back
of the classroom. The professor shouted, "You FOOL!! If God
existed, he could keep this piece of chalk from breaking when it hit
the ground!" He proceeded to drop the chalk, but as he did, it slipped
out of his fingers, off his shirt cuff, onto the pleats of his pants,
down his leg, and off his shoe. As it hit the ground, it simply rolled
away, unbroken. The professor's jaw dropped as he stared at the chalk.
He looked up at the young man and then ran out of the lecture hall. The
young man who had stood up proceeded to walk to the front of the room
and share his faith in Jesus for the next half hour. 300 students stayed
and listened as he told of God's love for them and of his power through
Jesus. "Yet to all who received HIM, to those who believed in HIS name,
HE gave the right to become children of God-children born not of natural
descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of GOD."
"But HE knows the way that I take. When HE has tested me, I
will come forth as gold." Job 23:10
A Prayer that Anything Can Be Accomplished
Dear God,
It's never easy being a student.
Every day brings more assignments until
it seems that the hard work will never end.
I know I'd rather watch TV, listen to CD's, or surf the net
instead of studying.
But please, Lord, help me to realize that knowledge,
like your love, can never be lost.
Help me never to underestimate myself as a student
because anything can be accomplished
with your guidance and love.
Let me be helpful and understanding
toward other students,
and not judge them but radiate the same love
you show us through your lasting mercy.
Amen.
-Bill Starr