There’s something powerful about finishing well. Anyone can start strong—full of excitement and determination—but not everyone has the endurance to finish strong. Life, much like a marathon, isn’t about how quickly you start; it’s about how faithfully you finish.
When challenges arise and enthusiasm fades, that’s when true character shows. The middle of the race is where doubts whisper, “You’ve done enough.” But deep inside, the voice of purpose says, “Keep going.”
Paul said it best in 2 Timothy 4:7: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” He didn’t boast about starting the race—he rejoiced in finishing it.
No matter your season, God hasn’t brought you this far to leave you short of the finish line. Maybe you’re tired, maybe it’s been a long road—but remember, the reward isn’t just at the end. The victory is also in the perseverance.
🏁 Finish well.
Finish with faith, finish with integrity, finish with gratitude.
Because how you end something matters just as much—if not more—than how you begin.
Quote of the Day:
“It’s not how you start that matters, but how you finish.” — Unknown
Clean Joke:
Why did the marathon runner bring string to the race?
So he could tie up loose ends at the finish line! 😄
11/7–A champion is defined not by the wins but by how they can recover when they fall
Story:
11/7–A member of a certain Church, who previously had been attending meetings regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, an elder decided to visit him.
It was a chilly evening. The elder found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for the elder’s visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a big chair near the fireplace and waited.
The elder made himself comfortable but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the play of the flames around the burning logs.
After some minutes, the elder took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone.
Then he sat back in his chair, still silent. The host watched all this in quiet fascination. As the one lone ember’s flame diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and “dead as a doornail.”
Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. Just before the elder was ready to leave, he picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire.
Immediately it began to glow once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it. As the elder reached the door to leave, his host said, “Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the fiery lesson. I shall be back at the Church next Sunday.”
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Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
11/6– Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes Oscar Wilde
Story:
11/6–Discouragement Epidemic—Have you ever gotten sick from a virus?
Discouragement today is of an epidemic proportions! You can give it to others, and watch out, lest you catch it too. You don’t have to seek discouragement, it will seek you out.
But, if it is encouragement you are after, encouragement has to be sought after, hungered for. It is elusive to the “wanna be” people who aren’t serious. It is well worth every effort to the few, faithful who have the determination.
Some caught this disease in their childhood, when someone hinted they may be inferior in some way. They, more than likely, passed it on (unintentionally) to someone else. And the madness goes on and on, from generation to generation. The people who were abused as a child wind up being abusers as adults. Children of alcoholics too often become alcoholics themselves.
Excuses– Another thing that is passed down and around. It is also an epidemic. The road to failure is paved with excuses and good intentions. The world needs less excuses, complainining and explaining.
Explaining in too much detail is not necessary, brevity is so much more desirable. If you are sick with an ailment, it is ok to say you are sick, but do you have to recount every time you coughed, sneezed, scratched, etc? Whining is close kin to compaining and excuses. There ought be a rule that the complainer must pay a fine–say $5 or so per whine. Laugh and the whole world laughs with you, cry and you cry alone.
Your Destiny–don’t let anyone speak to and define your destiny….you are in charge of that. You are special and you are a worthy person. God didn’t make junk, therefore you must be special and specially designed. There is not , and will never be, anyone else like you. Anything that is rare always has a great value (like antiques). If there was only one of an object that was made, it doesn’t matter what the object was, it would be priceless. The chances of you ever being upon this earth was remote, that it had to be God who wanted it to be thus.
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And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
If you can’t find five minutes, can you spare one or two?
Two taxidermists stopped before a window in which an owl was on display. They immediately began to criticize the way it was mounted. Its eyes were not natural; its wings were not in proportion with its head; its feathers were not neatly arranged; and its feet could be improved. When they had finished with their criticism, the old owl turned his head… and winked at them.
Excerpt From “Building Takes Skill, Tearing Down None” By J D Canter Available At Amazon Kindle:
Thankfulness isn’t just something we show once a year around the dinner table — it’s a way of living every single day. When we learn to count our blessings instead of our burdens, everything begins to look different. Gratitude turns what we have into enough and even more. It turns ordinary moments into blessings and challenges into lessons.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 reminds us, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” Notice it doesn’t say for everything, but in everything. Even when life doesn’t go our way, there’s still something to be thankful for — maybe it’s the strength to endure, the people who stand by us, or simply the breath we breathe.
Being thankful softens the heart. It keeps us humble and focused on the good rather than the negative. When we live with gratitude, it lifts not only our spirit but also those around us. It’s contagious — in the best way.
So today, before you complain, pause and thank God for something — even the small things: the sunrise, a kind word, a warm meal, or a friend who cares. Gratitude is like sunshine for the soul — it brightens even the darkest days.
Quote of the Day:
“It’s not happy people who are thankful; it’s thankful people who are happy.”
Clean Joke:
Why did the turkey join the band?
Because it had the drumsticks! 🥁😄
Final Thought:
When you wake up thankful, you start your day with peace. When you go to bed thankful, you end your day with joy.
11/5–I know something about you not even knowing you that you have seeds of greatness within you!
You have ability to do things within you that you can’t even begin to imagine!
You have talents and skills within you that you haven’t even began to reach for yet!
When the end comes for you let it find you climbing up a new mountain not sliding down an old one.
How sad to reach the point of death only realizing that you have never really lived! You realize that you have never even scraped the surface of your potential!
To reach your dreams you must have a plan of action, be relentless, have a dream, and let nothing stop you!!
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Anger is a powerful emotion — one that can either drive us to positive change or destroy what we value most. It often begins as a small spark — a word, a look, a disappointment — but if we don’t control it, that spark can turn into a wildfire. The truth is, anger is not the problem; it’s what we do with it that determines the outcome.
In Proverbs 16:32, the Bible says, “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.” That means controlling your temper is a greater victory than conquering a city — because self-control is one of the hardest battles you’ll ever fight.
When we let anger guide our actions, we often say or do things we can’t take back. Bridges get burned. Relationships are damaged. Peace of mind slips away. But when we take a breath, step back, and respond instead of react, we reclaim our power.
Anger can be like a storm — intense, loud, and frightening. Yet, just as storms pass, so can our anger if we let it. We don’t have to let temporary emotions cause permanent damage. Instead, we can choose patience, understanding, and forgiveness.
So today, if you feel anger rising, pause. Ask yourself: Will this matter tomorrow? Will it matter next week? If not, let it go. Life is too short to spend in bitterness. Choose peace over pride and calm over chaos. You’ll find that real strength isn’t in getting even — it’s in getting better.
Quote of the Day:
“Holding onto anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.” — Buddha
Clean Joke:
Why did the man put his anger in the freezer?
Because he wanted to chill out! 😄
Final Thought:
Don’t let anger write your story. Let grace, patience, and love hold the pen.
11/3–Happiness is not the absence of problems, it’s the ability to deal with them.” – Steve Maraboli
You don’t need to aspire to be happy or even to “not” be sad. Just take a moment and actively reflect on how you’re feeling today. Be good to yourself, but be honest. You can recognize that you feel lonely or sad. That is a step towards feeling better.
Story:
11/4–/The Lady On The Train, Her Bags And The Conducter
Scripture:
1 Peter 5:7
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
Humor:
What was the occupation of the 3 wise men… they were firemen, they a just come from a fire
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