Thought for Today

“At the school carnival, my kids won four free goldfish (lucky us!). So out I went Saturday to find an aquarium. The first few I priced ranged from $40 to $70. Then I spotted it -- a used 10-gallon display tank, complete with gravel and filter -- for a mere five bucks. Sold!

Of course, it was nasty dirty, but the savings made the two hours of clean-up worth it. Those four new fish looked great in their new home, at least for the first day.

By Sunday one had died. Too bad, but three remained. Monday morning revealed a second casualty, and by Monday night a third goldfish had gone belly up. We called in an expert, a member of our church who has a 30-gallon tank. It didn’t take him long to discover the problem.

I had washed the tank with soap, an absolute no-no. My uninformed efforts had destroyed the very lives I was trying to protect.

Sometimes in our zeal to clean up our own lives -- or the lives of others -- we unfortunately use “killer soaps”: condemnation, criticism, arguing, nagging. We think we’re doing right, but our harsh, self-righteous treatments do nothing to restore or sustain life. They only snuff it out.

Instead, the gentle and loving Holy Spirit is the right cleaning agent. Let Him do His work.”

• Adapted from Richard L. Dunagin

Quote for Today

“Encouragement is oxygen to the soul.”

• George Adams

Mother Basilea Schlink’s Attitude for Today

“Have no other ods besides the Lord your God. He is a jealous and Holy God, zealous for his own, and he hates divided love. Love Him exclusively, and He will love you in return as though you were the only person in the world. he will bless you and your work in all eternity."

• Mother Basilea Schlink

Proverb for Today

“Anyone away from home is like a bird away from its nest.”

• Proverbs 27:8

Word from Scripture for Today

"With my whole heart I have sought You; oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You."

• Psalm 119:10-11 NKJV