Every time you spend a cent, remember this: You are spending God's money, in solemn stewardship. You have nothing of your own. You are a steward of your Lord's goods. Someday you will have to give account. Are you a faithful, or a wicked steward? There is no in between. Serve God faithfully, and the reward is incalculable. Serve Him unfaithfully, and the penalty is tragic. You should not be serving with an eye to either reward or punishment, but in pure rejoicing love that delights to serve for its own sake. But it is wisdom to keep the consequences in mind. The unfaithful, self-serving, self-indulging steward will be cast in shame into outer darkness. And it could not be any other way. That is only right and just and fair. God's mercy is to those alone who LOVE Him. Do we realize what a total, all-encompassing, transforming thing this Love is -- and MUST be?

Just manage to get up and try one more time when you fall down. It's that one last, determined, prayerful, unquitting time that counts

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