(04.20.21 – Doing Your Best! – 2 Corinthians 12:9)
My friend, may I ask you a question? Do people remember the fact that God has told us that He will never leave us or forsake us? How about us? How much perseverance does God expect from us?
My friend, Life’s a story, welcome to This Passing Day.
I'm M. Clifford Brunner.
A number of years ago I was asked to do a keynote speech at a dinner for a local community group. I spent some time researching the topic they had given me: "perseverance." As I began to put the outline for the 20-minute presentation together I began to run into some difficulties. Although everything that I had wanted to say was truthful, it really lacked something; I just couldn't put my finger on it. I reread my notes and suddenly it just struck me: the topic was simple and I had over-complicated it. At that moment I remembered one of the best motivational speeches I had ever read. It was by Winston Churchill to a private school graduating class in the midst of World War II. Pressed for time but wanting to do the speech, he wrote the shortest and, perhaps, best speech on perseverance ever written. It was, simply: "Never give up. Never; never; never; give up. Never!" That was it and he sat down after only a 20 second address. In the midst of a terrible war those few words rang true to those students. They never forgot the message and, what could I add to that?
How about us? How much perseverance does God expect from us?
Here's a thought from Stanley Frager: A lesson in "heart" is my little, 10-year-old daughter, Sarah, who was born with a muscle missing in her foot and wears a brace all the time. She came home one beautiful spring day to tell me she had competed in "field day;" that's where they have lots of races and other competitive events. Because of her leg support, my mind raced as I tried to think of encouragement for my Sarah, things I could say to her about not letting this get her down- but before I could get a word out, she said, "Daddy, I won two of the races!" I couldn't believe it! And then Sarah said, "I had an advantage." Ah. I knew it. I thought she must have been given a head start, some kind of physical advantage. But before I could say anything, she said, "Daddy, I didn't get a head start. I just tried harder!" (Dr. Stanley Frager)
Try harder! Do you remember your Mom or Dad saying that when you were learning to ride a bike for the first time? "It's OK; just keep trying. Try harder, try harder." You know, you hated hearing it then and, quite frankly, we really don't like hearing it now, grown up as we are. But God reminds us in Scriptures "his grace is made perfect in our weakness." So, even though it seems that even when we try harder we still don't make the mark, remember this: Christ made the mark a long time ago. We may be weak and never get beyond our weakness; but God expects us to persevere. The next time you feel like quitting remember what Churchill said, "Never give up! Never; never; never give up!" It's short and sweet and there's little you can add to it to make it better. Thank you Mr. Churchill; thank you Jesus.
We pray. Heavenly Father, Try harder, try harder." We always hated hearing “Not to give up!” when we were young. We don’t like it now, grown up as we are. But you have reminded us in Scriptures "Your grace is made perfect in our weakness." Forgive us when we give up for lack of faith in You. So, even though it seems that even when we try harder we still don't make the mark, help us to remember: Christ made the mark a long time ago. We may be weak and never get beyond our weakness; but God expects us to persevere. The next time we feel like quitting help us to remember what Churchill said, "Never give up! Never; never; never give up!" It's short and sweet and there's little you can add to it to make it better. In Jesus name I pray. Amen!
Therefore my friend, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry for itself; each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matt 6:34) This Passing Day. May this passing day honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and be a blessing to you and everyone you meet. Find a stranger and say hello. Don't let another day pass without your day blessing someone else.
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<thispassingday@gmail.com> From Beech Springs, God bless you for Jesus sake.