The past is over... forget it. The future holds hope... reach for it.

You want to mess up the minds of your children? Here's how - guaranteed! Rear them in a legalistic, tight context of external religion, where performance is more important than reality. Fake your faith. Sneak around and pretend your spirituality. Train your children to do the same. Embrace a long list of do's and don'ts publicly but hypocritically practice them privately... yet never own up to the fact that its hypocrisy. Act one way but live another. And you can count on it - emotional and spiritual damage will occur.

Battles are won in the trenches, in the grit and grime of courageous determination; they are won day by day in the arena of life.

Trusting God doesn't alter our circumstances. Perfect trust in Him changes us.

Jesus never commanded believers to produce fruit. Fruit is the purpose of the branch, but it is not the responsibility of the branch. The branch cannot produce anything on it's own. However, if it remains attached to the vine, it will receive life-sustaining sap, nourishment, strength, everything it needs.

Refuse to let your situation determine your attitude.

No, the thing that makes for greatness is determination, persisting in the right direction over the long haul, following your dream, staying at the task.