Nothing worthwhile comes easily.  Work, continuous work and hard work, is the only way to accomplish results that last (Hamilton Holt)

A Native American chief gathered the young men of his tribe and talked to them about the inner struggles of life.  The wise old Chief said, “It is like we have two dogs fighting inside of us.  There is a good dog who wants to do right and another dog who always wants to do wrong.  Sometimes the good dog seems stronger and is winning the fight, but sometimes the bad dog is stronger and wrong is winning.”  “Who is going to win in the end?” a young man asked.  The Chief answered, “The one you feed.”

We should realize there will be tough times for us to endure, but also remember, testing produces perseverance and character in us (Romans 5:3-5). There is no means of escaping from tribulation and sorrow, except to bear them patiently (Thomas  Kempis). Christ said to Peter at the Last Supper (Luke 22:31-32), “Simon, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed that your faith should not fail.” Jesus did not ask that Peter be exempt from temptation; He simply prayed that God would sustain him through his faith.

Some think that spiritual life just happens, but it doesn't.  The energy and effort that is exerted starting from our birth, and continuing though life in the growth of an individual is also required in the developmental processes of our spiritual lives. It has been Said, “What you feed grows and what you starve dies.”  Spiritual maturity takes place on purpose through continuous effort.  "The victory of success is half won when one gains the habit of setting goals and achieving them". (Og Mandino)

In the Parable of the Sower  Jesus said (Matt.13:3-9) "A farmer went out to plant his seed.  While he was planting, some seed fell by the road, and the birds came and ate it all up. Some seed fell on rocky ground, where there wasn't much dirt. That seed grew very fast, because the ground was not deep. But when the sun rose, the plants dried up, because they did not have deep roots.  Some other seed fell among thorny weeds, which grew and choked the good plants. Some other seed fell on good ground where it grew and produced a crop. Some plants made a hundred times more, some made sixty times more, and some made thirty times more.  Let those with ears use them and listen".(NCV) To have a good harvest in your life, feed your spirit, the..... good dog inside of you, with God's word. "God's word is alive and working and is sharper than a double-edged sword. It cuts all the way into us, where the soul and the spirit are joined, to the center of our joints and bones. And it judges the thoughts and feelings in our hearts.

Music Performed By Nick Jones
© Used with permission