For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ
2 Peter 1:5-8
It’s been interesting here tonight at the Schneider household. Chase joined band this year. He is playing the clarinet. He is supposed to practice at least fifteen minutes every night. He has a concert Thursday night. I have been encouraging him to practice double time, so that on Thursday and beyond, he’ll excel at playing his instrument. Tonight he didn’t want to practice. He had every excuse in the book why. But after an hour of procrastinating, he picked up his clarinet and practiced. I praised him for his hard work. I didn’t force him to do it … it was his choice and he chose to make the effort.
Carson runs cross country. His last meet is in two weeks. It is for the championship, and I encouraged him to run every night between now and then to better his time, increase his endurance. Tonight he didn’t want to run. I didn’t push him, just reminded him of what he was working towards. A half hour later he came to me and asked me if I would go with him, as it was dark. I agreed and off we went, me on the bike, Carson running beside me. I didn’t force him to do it … it was his choice and he chose to make the effort.
Choosing to make the effort isn’t always the easy way.
Ten years ago, I made a commitment to follow Jesus. I didn’t know much about the Bible, a few Bible stories that I remembered from my childhood. I didn’t realize it was God’s Instruction Book For Life. But I started going to weekly classes so I could learn more about him. At first I was hit and miss about attending, but after a couple of months I made a decision that I was going to be in that class every week, unless I was sick (throwing up) or out of town (and I rarely leave Naples).
That decision has taken a lot of effort on my part over the years. There have been many days when I didn’t feel like going back into town. Many days when I was tired. Many days when I would have rather stayed home with Bobby and the boys. But I went … week in and week out. It was my choice and I made the effort.
God has blessed me for my efforts. I have grown in my faith, Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. (Romans 10:17)
I want to encourage you today … learn all you can about God, how much he loves you, how he gave his son so you could live. I promise you, it will be worth your effort.
Jesus, thank you for letting me see the rewards of staying committed to you. For showing yourself to me over and over and over again. For bringing teachers who taught me so much about you. And for leaving us your instruction book to get through this life. I ask that you give all who read this the revelation that you are worth all effort.
I love you Jesus.
In Your Name I Pray,
Amen
God’s Blessings Upon You!
Love,
Joyce
The Choices You Make Today …
Will Affect Your Tomorrow!
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