“Instead of giving myself reasons why I can’t,
I give myself reasons why I can.” ——Author Unknown
“When one door closes another door opens;
but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door,
that we do not see the ones which open for us.” ——Alexander Graham Bell
“He who refuses to embrace a unique opportunity
loses the prize as surely as if he had failed.” ——William James
“Risk more than others think is safe.
Care more than others think is wise.
Dream more than others think is practical.
Expect more than others think is possible.” ——Claude Bissell
“Never let the odds keep you from doing
what you know in your heart you were meant to do.” ——H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
“A diamond is merely a lump of coal that did well under pressure.” ——Author Unknown
“Trust yourself. You know more than you think you do.” ——Benjamin Spock
“Adversity is like a strong wind.
It tears away from us all but the things that cannot be torn,
so that we see ourselves as we really are.” ——Arthur Golden
“When written in Chinese the word ‘crisis’ is composed of two characters —
one represents danger and the other represents opportunity.” ——John F. Kennedy
“It is foolish to tear one’s hair in grief,
as though sorrow would be made less by baldness.” ——Cicero
“The block of granite which was an obstacle in the pathway of the weak becomes a stepping-stone in the pathway of the strong.” ——Thomas Carlyle
“Every problem has a gift for you in its hands.” ——Richard Bach
“I’d rather be a could-be if I cannot be an are;
because a could-be is a maybe who is reaching for a star,
I’d rather be a has-been than a might-have-been, by far;
for a might have-been has never been, but a has was once an are.” ——Milton Berle
“It’s not whether you get knocked down.
It’s whether you get up again.” ——Vince Lombardi
“Smooth seas do not make skilful sailors.” ——African Proverb
“When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.” ——Henry Ford
“Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.” ——Dale Carnegie
“Life is very interesting.
In the end, some of your greatest pains become your greatest strengths.” ——Drew Barrymore
“Understand that it is ok to be scared or uncertain,
however right beyond those barriers ultimately lies your dreams.” ——Josh Hinds
“Anything unattempted remains impossible.” ——Author Unknown
“Difficulties are meant to rouse, not discourage.
The human spirit is to grow strong by conflict.” ——William Ellery Channing
“Don’t be afraid your life will end; be afraid that it will never begin.” ——Grace Hansen
“It is said an Eastern monarch once charged his wise men to invent him a sentence to be ever in view, and which should be true and appropriate in all times and situations. They presented him the words: ‘And this, too, shall pass away.'” ——Abraham Lincoln
“Nine tenths of education is encouragement.” ——Anatole France
“There are high spots in all of our lives and most of them have come about through encouragement from someone else. I don’t care how great, how famous or successful a man or woman may be, each hungers for applause.” ——George Matthew Adams
“Correction does much, but encouragement does more.” ——Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
“One of the most beautiful gifts in the world is the gift of encouragement. When someone encourages you, that person helps you over a threshold you might otherwise never have crossed on your own.” ——John O’Donohue
“Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you. Ignore me, and I may not forgive you. Encourage me, and I will not forget you. Love me and I may be forced to love you.” ——William Arthur Ward
“One word or a pleasing smile is often enough to raise up a saddened and wounded soul.” ——St. Teresa of Lisieux
“The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty.” ——Winston Churchill
“Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood.” ——Helen Keller
“There are those who look at things the way they are, and ask why… I dream of things that never were, and ask why not?” ——Robert Kennedy
“If you hear a voice within you say ‘you cannot paint,’ then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.” ——Vincent Van Gogh
“He will not fail, nor mock, nor disappoint thee;
His consolations change not with the years;
With oil of joy He surely will anoint thee,
And wipe away thy tears.” ——J. Danson Smith
“Sometimes the Lord rides out the storm with us and other times He calms the restless sea around us. Most of all, He calms the storm inside us in our deepest inner soul.” ——Lloyd John Ogilvie
“When we speak of knowing God, it must be understood with reference to man’s limited powers of comprehension. God, as He really is, is far beyond man’s imagination, let alone understanding. God has revealed only so much of Himself as our minds can conceive and the weakness of our nature can bear.” ——John Milton
“There is nothing, indeed, which God will not do for a man who dares to step out upon what seems to be the mist; though as he puts his foot down he finds a rock beneath him.” ——F.B. Meyer
“Our circumstances are not an accurate reflection of God’s goodness. Whether life is good or bad, God’s goodness, rooted in His character, is the same.” ——Helen Grace Lescheid
“It’s exciting to live in complete oneness with the will of God. It is never dull or static because it is not a one-time, once-for-all commitment. It is something we have to work at constantly, moment by moment.” ——Evelyn Christenson
“There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful than that of a continual conversation with God.” ——Brother Lawrence
“What else will do except faith in such a cynical, corrupt time? When the country goes temporarily to the dogs, cats must learn to be circumspect, walk on fences, sleep in trees, and have faith that all this woofing is not the last word.” ——Garrison Keillor
“Through waves and clouds and storms His power will clear your way;
Wait for his time; the darkest night
Shall end in brightest day.” ——Paul Gerhardt
“God will not be absent when His people are on trial; he will stand in court as their advocate, to plead on their behalf.” ——Charles Haddon Spurgeon
“Nothing takes God by surprise. He knows the future and can therefore guide us through its trackless ways.” ——W.T. Purkiser
“You are valuable because you exist. Not because of what you do or what you have done, but simply because you are.” ——Max Lucado
“The secret of the mystery is: God is always greater. No matter how great we think Him to be, His love is always greater.” ——Brennan Manning
“The hymns are right. Peace is like a river — moving, turning, plunging forward, carrying us downstream. It’s not a static resting place, but an attitude of heart and mind that enables us to relax and let the current bear us up. Sometimes we don’t want to go with the flow. We get comfortable where we are. We’d prefer to dig our heels into the riverbed and refuse to budge. But if we’re to live in peace, we need to accept the movement of the stream. The only peace we’ll ever find that does not involve change is the final ‘rest in peace’ on our tombstone. The good news is, God knows where the river’s going. The Lord’s control, not our own, enables us to accept what we can’t see and be at peace with what we don’t know.” ——Penelope J. Stokes
“Be assured, if you walk with Him and look to Him, and expect help from Him, He will never fail you.” ——George Mueller
“God can change our circumstances, but sometimes He waits for us to show real desire for change as well as our faith in Him.” ——Anne Graham Lotz
“If you feel stuck, bring your whole self to Christ, not just the problem, but you. Ask God to change your heart. Commit yourself to pray to that end. It’s God’s heart to give good gifts to His children.” ——Sheila Walsh
“Don’t trust to hold God’s hand; let Him hold yours. Let Him do the holding, and you the trusting.” ——William Webb-Peploe
“No affliction or temptation, no guilt nor power of sin, no wounded spirit nor terrified conscience, should induce us to despair of help and comfort from God.” ——Thomas Scott
“Why do so many Christians pray such tiny prayers when their God is so big?” ——Watchman Nee
“God Himself works in our souls, in their deepest depths, taking increasing control as we are progressively willing to be prepared for His wonder.” ——Thomas Kelly
“Hidden in the hollow of His blessed hand,
Never foe can follow, never traitor stand;
Not a surge of worry, not a shade of care,
Not a blast of hurry touch the Spirit there.” ——Frances R. Havergal
“If we wait upon God, there is no danger. If we rush on, He must let us see the consequences of it.” ——John Darby
“You can come out of the furnace of trouble two ways: if you let it consume you, you come out a cinder; but there is a kind of metal which refuses to be consumed, and comes out a star.” ——Jean Church
“The stars may fall, but God’s promises will stand and be fulfilled.” ——J.I. Packer
“The most glorious promises of God are generally fulfilled in such a wondrous manner that He steps forth to save us at a time when there is the least appearance of it.” ——C.H. von Bogatzy
“Just when I am disheartened, just when cares oppressed,
Just when my way is darkest, just when I am distressed,
Then is my Savior near me, He knows my every care;
Jesus will never leave me; He helps my burden to bear.” ——J. Bruce Evans
“There’s nothing like a good crisis to increase my energy and remind me how much I need God.” ——Anne Christian Buchanan
“When we commit ourselves to times of solitude with the Lord, we cannot know what will happen… How we will change, in what directions we might grow. But we can be certain that time with God will result in something good, something beneficial for us and for those around us.” ——Penelope J. Stokes
“Each time a person stands up for an idea, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, they send forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.” ——Robert F. Kennedy