My father used to say to me ever since I was a young boy, “There are no shortcuts or easy ways to excellence and success.” This statement has helped me many times when I felt like quitting or giving minimal effort. It encourages me to always give my best and to continue to strive forward. My father passed away this year at the age of 92. He will be missed. Milan Stefanovic, Chief Operations & Personal Lines Officer, Bass Underwriters “For a dream comes with much business and painful effort” (Ecclesiastes 5:3 AMPC). When confronted by many challenges, this scripture speaks to me and gets me through. Oksana Horton, Creative Director, Torch and Trumpet Theatre Company To be my best each day for Christ Jesus, and to be the kind of servant Christ Jesus wants me to be, I wake up each morning, praising the Lord and thanking the Lord for saving my soul and filling me with His Holy Spirit. I also say constantly with my mouth and in my mind, Lord Jesus, I humble myself before thee and I ask you to mold me and shape me into your likeness. The rest of my day is spent praising the Lord Christ Jesus and thanking Him for showing mercy towards me, my family, and all mankind. O’Neal Dozier, Pastor, The Worldwide Christian Center Every day I ask myself how can I best serve God? Did I do my best, was I a light to others, did I show compassion, grace and love? Sometimes I fail, but each day I try to improve. None of us are perfect but we can try to follow the Father and show love in all we say and do. Patricia Colangelo, South Florida Bible College and Theological Seminary I’ve been a Christian for nearly 40 years, and one practice that I adopted early on, and continue today, is that every morning, as soon as I open my eyes, I slip off the side of my bed and kneel bedside. I Pray Hebrews 12:2, that God would help me “keep my eyes fixed on Jesus, the Author and Perfector of my Faith” Kneeling bedside is not so much the position of my body, as it is the posture of my heart before the Lord….knowing HE IS FAITHFUL!! Coach Rick Andreassen, Founder and President, SAINTS Homeschool P.E. and SAINTS International Sports Ministry Pray without ceasing! Romney C. Rogers, Managing Partner, Rogers, Morris & Ziegler LLP In moments of anxiety, frustration or fatigue, I've repeated the simple three word prayer, "patience and grace," over and over. That's what I need from the Lord, and that's what I hope to give to others. Dr. Scott Manor, President and Professor of Historical Theology, Knox Theological Seminary A phrase that both my wife and I adopted many years ago early into our marriage is a daily question to each other of “How can I pray for you?” One of our pastors recommended this as a way to learn what is going on in each other's lives, have a daily routine of prayer together and always pray for each other. We alternate every other day where I would ask and pray one day, and my wife will do it the other day. As we are constantly asking and answering this question daily, it encourages us that no matter what is going on in our lives, God is in control, and we can take our request to Him for ourselves and each other. In these dark times, as we seek the Lord in prayer, it is a reminder that His Light shines brightest in the darkness. Steve Daigle, Campus Pastor, Calvary Chapel Parkland It was the summer of 1998. My son Eric and I were at a CBMC family conference outside Asheville, North Carolina. In a small men’s group, we did a devotion and brothers shared. One of the brothers said the key to him finding peace each day is to get the vertical right with God and God takes care of the horizontal. I’ve lived with that as my goal each and every day. It wasn’t until in recent years, I realized that getting the vertical right and God taking care of the horizontal is the cross. Steve Solomon, Area Director, CBMC South Florida Never Give Up! In 1972, I walked on the Kent State football team. Six weeks later, I quit. That team went on to win the Mid-American Conference. God convicted me, from then on, to never give up on what He has called me to! "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up" (Galatians 6:9 NIV). Thomas L. Lukasik, Chief Advocacy Officer, 4KIDS Wants to Know… Scott Manor Steve Daigle Steve Solomon Thomas L. Lukasik Milan Stefanovic Oksana Horton O’Neal Dozier Patricia Colangelo Coach Rick Andreassen Romney C. Rogers
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