I try to keep in my mind the simple question: Am I trying to do good or make myself look good? Too many of our responsibilities get added to our plate when we are trying to please people, impress people, prove ourselves, acquire power, increase our prestige. All those motivations are about looking good more than doing good.

Perhaps God brought you into this mess so that he can bring you out of it for his glory.

The seed of God's Word won't grow to fruitfulness without pruning for rest, quiet, and calm

If you think God has promised this world will be a five-star hotel, you will be miserable as you live through the normal struggles of life. But if you remember that God promised we would be pilgrims and this world may feel more like a desert or even a prison, you might find your life surprisingly happy.

Most everyone I know feels frazzled and overwhelmed most of the time.

God tends to do his best work when the odds appear stacked against him.

The man who attempts Christianity without the church shoots himself in the foot, shoots his children in the leg, and shoots his grandchildren in the heart.