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.

Sanctification is not by surrender, but by divinely enabled toil and effort.

There is no way to work your way to God. There is no way to climb up to heaven. There is only one way, and that is through Christ.

Everything before Jesus is preface. Everything after Jesus is appendix. Jesus is the story.

Flattery is saying something nice in order to help yourself. Encouragement is saying something true in order help someone else.

Some of us live a Christian life as if we're always under the stern, watchful eye of our Father and he is very impossible to please... No, God delights even in our heartfelt attempts at obedience.

Stewarding my time is not about selfishly pursuing only the things I like to do. It’s about effectively serving others in the ways I’m best able to serve and in the ways I am most uniquely called to serve.