[ampaterry]

Parts of this devotional were taken from Daily Bread.

Former pro basketball star Bill Bradley tells that at the age of 15 he attended a summer basketball camp that was run by Easy Ed Macauley, a former college and pro star. "Just remember that if you're not working at your game to the utmost of your ability," Macauley told his assembled campers, "there will be someone out there somewhere with equal ability who will be working to the utmost of his ability. And one day you'll play each other, and he'll have the advantage."
Bradley, who went on to become a U.S. senator, and later became a candidate for President of the United States saw in those words "a totality of truth." He took them to heart and made them the guiding principle of his life. 30 years after Bradley heard these words, he said, "The important thing about the story is the type of young man I was, who would be so totally accepting of words like that and who, hearing them, immediately acted on them."

Psalm 40:7-8 (KJV);
“Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,
I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.”

Colossians 3:23 (KJV);
“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;”

Whatever your job, whatever your call, whatever your pursuit, apply yourself to it to the fullest of your ability! Are you a parent? Be the BEST parent you can be. Are you a husband or a wife? Apply yourself to that task! Are you working for a living? Be the BEST at your job that you can be! Are you a Christian? Then apply the same standard here, and be the BEST Christian you possibly can be!
All of these things will aid you greatly in this life, and will make your life much more pleasant. Taking on every aspect of your life in this manner will gain you the love and respect of all around you, and peace and fellowship with Jesus Christ.

May God bless each one of you, guys -