J D Canter E Books

Responsibility is one of life’s greatest teachers. It doesn’t just reveal our maturity—it builds it. Taking responsibility means owning our actions, our words, and even our attitudes. It’s not always comfortable, but it’s always powerful.

We live in a world that often teaches people to pass the blame, make excuses, or wait for someone else to step up. But the truth is, responsibility is the bridge between who we are and who we are meant to become. It is the key to trust, the foundation of character, and the path to influence.

The Power of Ownership

When you take responsibility, you stop saying, “It’s not my fault,” and start asking, “What can I do about it?” That shift in mindset moves you from being a passive observer in life to an active participant. The moment you take ownership, you take back control.

In the Bible, Joseph was sold into slavery and falsely accused, yet he never used those injustices as excuses. Instead, he was faithful with every responsibility given to him, whether in a prison cell or Pharaoh’s palace. That faithfulness opened doors no man could shut.

Small Acts, Big Impact

Responsibility isn’t just about the big decisions; it’s in the small, daily choices—showing up on time, keeping your word, doing your best even when no one is watching. These seemingly little acts build a reputation that will carry you further than talent alone ever could.

Someone once said, “The price of greatness is responsibility.” If you want to grow, lead, and make an impact, you have to be willing to carry weight others won’t.

A Challenge for Today

Ask yourself:

What area of my life have I been avoiding responsibility? Where can I step up instead of stepping back?

Start with one step today. It might be making an apology, following through on a commitment, or taking initiative without being asked. Responsibility grows stronger every time you choose to carry it instead of dropping it.

Final Thought:

Responsibility may feel heavy at times, but it’s the very weight that strengthens your character. When you carry it faithfully, you’ll find that it doesn’t crush you—it shapes you into the person God intended you to b

Psalms 1:1-6
Blessed is the man
that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly,
nor standeth in the way of sinners,
nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
But his delight is in the law of the LORD;
and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water,
that bringeth forth his fruit in his season;
his leaf also shall not wither;
and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
The ungodly are not so:
but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous:
but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

8/13–Start Your Day Off Right Series 

Quote:

They say if you find something you’re willing to do for free then you’ve found your calling. 

I definitely feel as if I’ve found mine. 

Let’s get to work!

Story:

 

A kindergarten teacher had decided to let her class play a game. The teacher told each child in the class to bring along a plastic bag containing a few potatoes. Each potato will be given a name of a person that the child hates. So the number of potatoes that a child will put in his/her plastic bag will depend on the number of people he/she hates.So when the day came, every child brought some potatoes with the name of the people he/she hated. Some had 2 potatoes, some 3 while some up to 5 potatoes. 

The teacher then told the children to carry the potatoes in the plastic bag with them wherever they go for 1 week. Days after days passed, and the children started to complain due to the unpleasant smell let out by the rotten potatoes. Besides, those having 5 potatoes also had to carry heavier bags. After 1 week, the children were relieved because the game had finally ended.

The teacher asked: “How did you feel while carrying the potatoes with you for 1 week?” The children let out their frustrations and started complaining of the trouble that they had to go through having to carry the heavy and smelly potatoes wherever they go.

Then the teacher told them the hidden meaning behind the game. The teacher said: “This is exactly the situation when you carry your hatred for somebody inside your heart. The stench of hatred will contaminate your heart and you will carry it with you wherever you go. If you cannot tolerate the smell of rotten potatoes for just 1 week, can you imagine what is it like to have the stench of hatred in your heart for your lifetime?”

Moral: Throw away any hatred for anyone from your heart so that you will not carry burden for a lifetime. Forgiving others is the best attitude to take. Negativity about someone will keep peace of your mind away from you. Remember the good things about him/her, and let go of the hatred.

Submitted By: R, India.

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Scripture:

Matthew 6:9-15

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Humor:

The boys who house watched their Uncles house and turned over the urn

8/13– Can You Spare A Minute?

There was once a group of 100 people attending a seminar on personal development.

In the middle of their talk, the speaker stops and decides to run an impromptu group activity. He hands out a balloon to each attendee and tells them to write their name on it.

 

The balloons are then collected and placed in an adjacent room.

The speaker then instructs the 100 attendees to enter that room and, within 5 short minutes, find the balloon with their name on it.

Pandemonium breaks loose as they charge in, pushing and colliding with each other as they desperately sea

rch for their name.

The 5 minutes pass and nobody succeeds.

The speaker then tells each person to pick up any random balloon and give it the person whose name is written on it. Within a few minutes everyone has their balloon back.

He then said, “What just happened with those balloons is exactly what happens in our search for happiness. We frantically look for it all around us, not knowing where it is.”

Yet our happiness lies in the happiness of others. By giving them their happiness, you get yours.”

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Building Take Skill, Tearing Down None https://www.amazon.com/dp/1521429154/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_RZDNJ6QMNYMQMD94D2BX

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#A-Y-T-Shorts

Life has a way of presenting us with detours, delays, and disappointments. Sometimes, the path we thought would be smooth turns into a road full of potholes. It’s in these moments that many people are tempted to stop moving altogether. But remember this: progress doesn’t always come from big leaps—it often comes from small, steady steps in the right direction.

Think of a seed buried in the soil. It doesn’t break through the ground overnight. Days, weeks, and sometimes months pass before any green shoot is visible. But beneath the surface, growth is happening. Just because you can’t see immediate results doesn’t mean your effort is wasted.

The Apostle Paul said, “Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Galatians 6:9). That’s the key—don’t quit. Keep sowing seeds of kindness, faithfulness, and perseverance. Even if the harvest seems far away, your season will come.

Today, take one more step forward—no matter how small. Make one more phone call. Offer one more word of encouragement. Pray one more prayer. Your persistence will pay off, and when it does, you’ll be thankful you didn’t give up at the edge of your breakthrough.

Reminder for today: Don’t judge the future by what you see today. Keep pressing forward—you’re closer than you think.

Criticism is something none of us can avoid. The only way to escape it is to do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing—and that’s no way to live.

The truth is, criticism can either crush you or shape you. The difference lies in how you receive it. Some criticism comes from a place of love, meant to help you grow. Other criticism comes from a place of negativity, meant to tear you down. Either way, you have the power to choose your response.

Instead of letting criticism discourage you, let it sharpen you. A diamond is formed under pressure, not comfort. If someone points out a real area for improvement, thank them—then work on it. If their words are just noise, let them pass through your heart without taking root.

Remember, the loudest boos often come from the cheapest seats. Focus on the mission God has given you, not the opinions of those who aren’t walking your path.

Criticism can be a steppingstone or a stumbling block—it’s your choice which one it becomes.

Quote of the Day: “To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing.” — Aristotle

My 24:12. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

8/12–Start Your Day Off Your Day Off Series 

Happy Birthday Jace

Quote:

Two donkeys were walking in Jerusalem and one donkey said to the other just yesterday I was carrying Jesus and the people were singing and shouting and throwing down their clothes for me to walk on and today they don’t even recognize me. The other donkey replied that’s how it is my friend without Jesus you’re nothing.

Story:

The little boy and the truck driver and the overpass 

Scripture:

Matthew 19:23-24

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

Humor: 

This is a knock knock joke that Silas Avans, a little boy from our Church told me:

Knock Knock

Who’s There?

Little old lady

Little old lady who

Oh, I didn’t know you could yodel

Can You Spare A Minute 8/12?

8/12–Two buddies were hiking when they came upon an old, abandoned mineshaft. Curious about its depth, they threw in a pebble and waited for the sound of it striking the bottom, but they heard nothing. They went and found a bigger rock, threw it in and waited. Still nothing.

    

They searched the area for something larger and came upon a railroad tie. With great difficulty, the two men carried it to the opening and threw it in. While waiting for it to hit bottom, a goat suddenly darted between them and leapt into the hole!

   

The guys were still standing there with astonished looks upon their faces when a man walked up to them. He asked them if they had seen a goat anywhere in the area and they said that one had just jumped into the mineshaft in front of them! The man replied, “Oh no. That couldn’t be my goat; mine was tied to a railroad tie.”

    

Ooops. We do make mistakes, don’t we? Thank God for the forgiveness available through Jesus Christ.

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Check Out Books By J D Canter in Amazon And Kindle:

Building Take Skill, Tearing Down None https://www.amazon.com/dp/1521429154/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_WEDRA6FR6ZZS9VJQFYWH

Also Check Out Sermons at http://www.freeholiness.net under Bro Dale Cantrell 

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#A-Y-T-Shorts

Proverbs 6:19 A false witness that speaketh lies,
and he that soweth discord among brethren.