The best and most clear indicator that we are progressing spiritually and coming unto Christ is the way we treat other people.

If he could have his way, Satan would distract us from our heritage. He would have us become involved in a million and one things in this life-probably none of which is very important in the long run-to keep us from concentrating on the things that are really important, particularly the reality that we are God's children. He would like us to forget about home and family values. He'd like to keep us so busy with comparatively insignificant things that we don't have time to make the effort to understand where we came from, whose children we are, and how glorious our ultimate homecoming can be!

Give no time to finding fault of criticism.

Often parents communicate most effectively with their children by the way they listen to and address each other. Their conversations showing gentleness and love are heard by our ever-alert, impressionable children.

Enduring, or carrying on, is not just a matter of tolerating circumstances and hanging in there, but of pressing forward.

Everything is given by God. All talent, creativity, ability, insight, and strength comes from him. In our own strength we can do nothing.

Adversity will surface in every life. How we meet it makes the difference.