Quote: “In the confrontation between the stream and the rock, the stream always wins – not through strength but by perseverance.” ~H. Jackson Brown Scripture: Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. ~James 1:12 Perspective: Perseverance is the refusal to give up despite difficulty or delay; it is determination in working hard to get something done without quitting, regardless of the odds or obstacles.  It is something you must not only choose to do, but also choose to stick with, recommit to daily.  In life,…

Quote: “Grit in a word is stamina.  But it is not just stamina in your effort. It is also stamina in your direction, stamina in your interests.” ~Angela Duckworth Scripture: Consider it nothing but joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you fall into various trials.  Be assured that the testing of your faith produces endurance. ~James 1:2-3 Perspective: Grit is perseverance and passion over time, toward long-term goals.  Perseverance is working hard and bouncing back from setbacks, it is the refusal to give up.  Passion is staying focused on consistent goals over time; psychologist and grit expert, Angela Duckworth, says it is the more difficult of the two parts.  Remember…

Quote: “Effort and hard work construct the bridge that connects your dreams to reality.” ~Daisaku Ikeda Scripture: The soul of the lazy person craves and gets nothing, but the soul of the diligent is rich and abundantly supplied. ~Proverbs 13:4 Perspective: Effort is the hard work and meaningful time invested in any area in which we want to improve and succeed.  It is active, not passive, time spent; we can participate in something, meaning we are present, maybe even every single time we should be, or we can invest time in something, doing the hard work and using our mind to get all we can from it.  Neither coasting nor…

Quote: “Spread love everywhere you go.  Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.” ~Mother Teresa Scripture: Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. ~Ephesians 4:32 Perspective: We are living in a season of uncertainty right now, a time when it is easy to not only feel fear but also to spread it, certainly a season for the history books.  The reality is, all we can do is our personal best to not add to the problem, to seek to be part of the solution; we are not solely in control of the solution in this situation and so life…

Quote: “No matter what you face, let your attitude be, God’s got this! ” ~Victoria Osteen Scripture: He said, “Come!”  So Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus.  But when he saw the effects of the wind, he was frightened, and he began to sink, and he cried out, “Lord, save me!”  Immediately Jesus extended His hand and caught him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”  And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. ~Matthew 14: 29-32 Perspective: This season of our life, of world history in the making, is a good example of…

Quote: “Maybe the best definition of what a great partnership or great love is when people make each other grow in a better direction than they would have grown on their own.” ~Brit Marling Scripture: So the Lord God formed out of the ground every animal of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name. ~Genesis 2:19 Perspective: Something I hear often in the Christian community is, God is good!  Yes, He is!  He has wonderful attributes that we cannot duplicate or even fully understand.  He…

Quote: “The best part of life is not just surviving but thriving with passion and compassion and humor and style and generosity and kindness.” ~Maya Angelou Scripture: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” ~Jeremiah 29:11                                                                                                                                                                            Perspective: To survive is defined as to continue to live or exist, especially in spite of danger or hardship. To thrive is defined as to grow or develop well or vigorously. This devotional topic grew out of a conversation my husband and I had recently.  I was talking to him about…

“When you forgive, you free your soul. But when you say I’m sorry, you free two souls.” ~Donald L. Hicks Scripture: So then, let us pursue what makes for peace and for building up one another. ~Romans 14:19 Perspective: The two little words, “I’m sorry,” too often go unsaid but are so very necessary to maintain healthy relationships, including the one we have with Jesus.  We are broken people living in a sin-filled world; because we are not perfect, we hurt those closest to us, ourselves, and potentially anyone else who crosses our path.  In this life, it is not a question of if you will hurt someone’s feelings but…

 “Look back in forgiveness, forward in hope, down in compassion, and up with gratitude.” ~Zig Ziglar Scripture: Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. ~Ephesians 4:32 Perspective: In a world filled with tragedy, sin, and brokenness, it is impossible to escape without being hurt.  If you think back on the hurt you have endured in your life, most likely the majority of it comes from other people.  Unfortunately, the much-needed sincere apology is difficult to come by, often due to pride.  That fact leaves us with a great deal of unresolved pain to deal with on our own in one of many…

Quote: “God permits what He hates, to accomplish that which He loves.” ~Joni Eareckson Tada Scripture: We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope. ~Romans 5:3-4 Perspective: Suffering is a word, but especially an action, we try to avoid at all possible costs.  We tend to seek and believe we deserve comfort and security in all areas of our lives, all the time.  When we are put in a position of suffering, we quickly question why  and feel like God has forsaken us.  In other words, we are on Team Jesus until we no longer feel  like He is doing…