Worry is like a rocking chair—it keeps you busy, but it never takes you anywhere. How many nights have been stolen by worry, how many days dimmed because the mind couldn’t let go of what might happen? Jesus said in Matthew 6:27, “Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?” In other words, worry never fixes the problem—it only magnifies it.
When we worry, we rehearse tomorrow’s troubles while missing today’s blessings. Most of what we fear never comes to pass, and the things that do often aren’t as heavy as we imagined. Worry drains today’s strength to fight battles that may never arrive.
The antidote to worry is trust. Trust that God has tomorrow in His hands. Trust that He knows the outcome before you even see the beginning. Trust that He will give you grace for the day you’re in, not the day you’re imagining. Philippians 4:6 reminds us: “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”
Today, instead of worrying, take those concerns and hand them over to God. Replace worry with prayer, anxiety with gratitude, and fear with faith. Life becomes lighter when you stop carrying what was never meant for your shoulders.
Remember: Worry doesn’t empty tomorrow of its sorrow—it empties today of its strength.
I have written a lot lately about animals and insects because they are so amazing. When they come to earth they are hardwired with what they need. Nobody tells the birds that it’s time to fly south for the winter. They just come with the knowledge that they need.
Man, when he arrives on the other hand, only knows how to cry when he is hungry and not much else. Everything else is learned.
I know there’s many versions of the eagle and the chicken but I will tell the version that I know. An eagle’s egg got mixed up with some chicken eggs. It hatched out with some of the other chickens. Since the eagle couldn’t see himself he thought that he was a chicken. He pecked on the ground and only jumped a few feet. He imitated everything he saw his brothers and sisters do.
One day, while outside with his mother, he saw a majestic eagle fly above them. He wished so much that he could do that and fly so high. He told his mother that he would give about anything to be an eagle and be able to fly that high! She told him that he was a chicken and would always be a chicken.
You could be an eagle if you wouldn’t be so much of a chicken!!
Check Out Sermons On You Tube Under Dale Cantrell And Please Subscribe:
Check Out Books By J D Canter in Amazon And Kindle:
You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.”
Story:
There was a King that had two slaves. The King told the slaves that he would paid them a years wage if they would take the all the water out of his well and dump into a wicker basket.
The slaves agreed to do the work. The first slave took a bucket and
filled it with water and dumped it into the wicker basket. He did this two or three times and relized that he was not accomplishing anything so he told the
other slave ” This is foolishness, we are not accomplishing anything, I am
leaving!”
The other slave tried to reason with the first slave saying
“The Master already paid us our wage, we have to do this!!!”
The first slave left anyway. The other slave picked up the bucket and continued the work until the well was dry. When he finished he looked into the basket and saw a basket full of diamonds. They were transparent to the eyes
while in the water.
When the master returned he praised the faithful slave and gave him the basket of diamonds in addition to the wages he already had recieved.
In God’s organization some times we do not always realize what we
are doing or why we might be doing something but God never asks us to do anything that will harm us, and if we are a faithful servant of God’s, He will reward us with a treasure beyond imagination.
Also Check Out Sermons Under Brother Dale Cantrell Sermons On you tube And Please Subscribe:
Check Out Books By J D Canter in Amazon And Kindle:
Also Check Out Sermons On Brother Dale Cantrell Sermons
Scripture:
Matthew 20:1-16
For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive. So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
Humor:
My great-aunt looked confused when I told her that my daughter was 18 months old. “Oh,” she said. “I thought she was a year and a half.”
“But Aunt Marie,” I said, “18 months and a year and a half are the same.”
If you can’t find five minutes, can you spare one or two?
Don’t underestimate the power of the word. The movie, stand And Deliver portrayed the story of Jaime Escalante who was an incredibly successful teacher in a rough high school.
In his class were two students named Johnny. One was a bright student and a joy to teach. The other wasted his talent and bucked authority. At the first PTA meeting for parents, Johnny’s mother asked Jaime for a report on her son’s progress. Jaime’s reply was, “Johnny is a joy to have in my class. I’m glad he is there.”
The next day, rebellious Johnny walked into the classroom with a new attitude and demeanor. He ran up to Mr. Escalante and said, “My mom told me what you said about me. I’ve never had a teacher who wanted me.” He became a model student. Mr. Escalante had thought that Johnny’s mother was the mother of his best student. His comments were meant for the other Johnny but the results were dramatic. The word -spoken at the right moment -carefully crafted -caused dramatic change. Encourage someone. Ah, communication is an art!
Excerpt from “Live First, Die Last” by J D Canter
Also Check Out Sermons On Dale Cantrell’s You Tube And Please Subscribe:
Check Out Books By J D Canter in Amazon And Kindle:
Life is too short to spend it at odds with those around us. The truth is, we’re all different—different opinions, different backgrounds, different ways of doing things. But those differences don’t have to divide us; they can actually be what enriches our lives, sharpens our character, and helps us grow.
Getting along with people doesn’t mean you have to agree on everything. It means choosing kindness over conflict, listening before speaking, and understanding that everyone carries battles you may not see. Proverbs 15:1 reminds us: “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.” One gentle word can defuse tension, while one harsh word can light a fire that burns relationships.
When we make an effort to get along, we create peace not only in our homes and workplaces but also in our own hearts. Grudges weigh us down; forgiveness sets us free. Disagreements handled with grace can strengthen bonds instead of breaking them.
So today, look for opportunities to build bridges, not walls. Choose patience over pride, humility over stubbornness, and compassion over criticism. You might be surprised how much lighter your day feels when you extend grace to others.
Remember: It takes both hands to clap—and it often takes just one willing heart to keep the peace.
I worked in Customer Service related jobs for 51 years. Somehow, I learned how to deal with difficult customers
The first thing I tried to do was to listen intently. I tried to understand before I tried to be understand.
I sought to see how they felt ( after all, most are caught up in an emotion).
Even if I knew the solution when they first started their disappointment, this let me know how to frame my solution.
I would tell them about other cases, similar to theirs, where a great solution was found.
I started out working for a company in customer service, where the customer is always right and their satisfaction is not only desired but guaranteed.
You can win the battle with someone but lose the war. A satisfied customer may tell someone, but a disgruntled customer will tell almost everyone who will listen.
I know we are talking customers, but the beauty of it is that it works everywhere. Your spouse, your job, your friends , and many more areas in your life, work the same way!
Also Check Out Sermons On You Tube Under Dale Cantrell And Please Subscribe:
Check Out Books By J D Canter in Amazon And Kindle:
I was admiring my aunt’s necklace when she surprised me by announcing, “I’m leaving it to you in my will.” I was overjoyed, perhaps too much. “Oh!” I shouted. “I’m looking forward to that!” —Mona Randem
One of the most powerful truths in life is that consistency beats intensity. It’s not about doing something once with great force—it’s about showing up day after day, even when you don’t feel like it.
Think about it: a single drop of water doesn’t carve a stone, but repeated drops over time create a river’s path. The same is true with your habits, your faith, and your dreams. Small, steady steps forward add up to remarkable change.
Maybe you’ve been waiting for the “perfect moment” to start. But the truth is, the perfect moment rarely comes. The key is to start with what you have, where you are, and keep going. Progress may be slow, but it’s still progress.
💡 Galatians 6:9 reminds us:
“Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”
Today, remind yourself: the breakthrough doesn’t usually come on the first try—it comes to the one who refuses to quit.
So, whatever you’re facing today, just show up. Do the next small thing. Stay faithful. Keep pressing. Over time, those little acts of persistence will lead to big victories.
✨ Motivational Thought for Today:
Success doesn’t happen by accident—it happens by showing up consistently when others stop.
Proverbs 6:16-19. These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
J D Canter E Books 