Perseverance is Spelled QWERTY

0:00Perseverance is spelled Quirty by Shirley Brosius. You know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1-3-4 If you've ever typed a document, you recognize Quirty. Those are the letters on the top left row of your computer. Did you know they illustrate the value of perseverance? Christopher Shoals was a type-setter, originally from Pennsylvania. He had the tedious job of arranging metal letters on wooden blocks and inking them to print newspapers. The Shoals worked. He wondered how the job could be made easier. He worked on a design for a typewriter for five years and then sold it to Remington

1:03for $12,000 so he never really profited from it. Other typewriters had been invented before his, but he used the Quirty keyboard design. Fingers eventually danced across Quirty on all typewriters, iPads and computers. Perseverance Merriam Webster's Dictionary defines it as continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure or opposition. It's the opposite of jitterbugging, more like a slow waltz around and around the room. Life in general requires perseverance. How can we get it if we don't have it? Keep your end goal in mind. Christopher Shoals wanted to make life easier for himself and other typesetters. It was an admirable goal, so he kept at it and at it and at it.

2:04And you can too. For instance, maybe you want to learn to dance. Maybe you have a temper tantrum child and you want to train them to get along with playmates. Perhaps you want to do well at that tedious typesetting job so that you can seek an advancement. For whatever reason, you need perseverance. Keep that end goal in mind. Break a goal into small steps. Learn to slow dance before you try to tangle. Ask your child to try to get through one day without losing their temper. Use yourself a reward after you work at your tedious job for an hour or two. Instead of feeling irritated about your situation, notice something positive and think about that. Talk to someone else with the same type of challenge and ask how they approach the task without losing heart.

3:06In his book, Waiting on God, Wayne Styles tells the story of biblical Joseph, whose brothers sold him to Ishmaelite traders. For 13 years, he persevered through one predicament after another until he became second to Pharaoh in ruling Egypt. Styles explains how Joseph's relationship with God gave him a taproot from which he drew strength. That same taproot is available to us. Christopher Scholes never dreamed that his keyboard would someday enable people to communicate around the world at the click of a key. And you may never dream about the rewards you'll gain by persevering. Not to mention, others may receive great blessings from your perseverance just as they did from Scholes. Keep in mind, quitting isn't an option. God will supply the strength you need to reach your goals.

4:10For what life situation do you need perseverance? Which of the above points will help you grow in it? Who has been a model of perseverance to you? Write them a note, telling them how they have inspired you. Pray for God's grace to see you through life's challenges.