Perseverance

Starting July 27, London will host the Olympics.

Back in 1992, a runner by the name of Derek Redmond was competing in the 400 meter semi-finals of the summer Olympics held in Barcelona, Spain. His demonstration of athletic perseverance made history that day.

Derek's story was already one of perseverance. Four years earlier, he was set to compete in Seoul, South Korea when a problem with his Achilles tendon forced him to cancel participation in the race at the last moment. Derek spent the next four year persevering on a daily basis to reach his goal of returning to the Olympics.

Four years, five surgeries and countless hours of rehabilitation and training brought him back to the Olympics.

Just watch his race.




This is real perseverance.

What struck me was that the only help he accepted was from his father.

If you need help persevering through whatever you are going through, lean hard on your heavenly Father and the Word.

This is what Paul did. Read the words he gives to Timothy:

In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: ² Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage —with great patience and careful instruction. ³ For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. ⁴ They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. ⁵ But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
⁶ For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. ⁷ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day —and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
2 Timothy 4:1-8

Now I know, sometimes it is hard to keep running the race. The things the Lord asks of us are not easy.
Preach the Word.
Be prepared.
Keep your head in all situations.
Endure hardships.
Evangelize.
Complete all your ministry duties.
This is no short list.
But remember, your Father is there for you to lean on, to cry on, to encourage you until you run, walk or maybe even crawl across the finish line.

How to not get lost: 101

Walt Disney World

Magic Kingdom

Main Street, USA

Shortly after moving to Florida in 1982, my dad took us to Magic Kingdom at Disney World. When I say us, I mean the five youngest kids that still lived at home: Joe, Sylvia, Booner, Sand-e and me.

I was the smallest at barely eight-years-old and walking down Main Street USA was a bit overwhelming. If you have never been there, you should know that the walkways can get extremely crowded.

Our family snaked its way throughout the park going from one ride to another. We were not accustomed to the heat and humidity of the south. By the end of the afternoon, we were growing weary.

Somewhere in a box, I have a picture of us standing in front of Cinderella's Castle. In all honesty, I don't remember having the picture taken. I don't even remember the rides at all, even though I know we fit in quite a few.

This is what I remember from that day.

We were snaking down the street and I was following my brother, Booner. I focused my eyes on his back and followed him closely so I wouldn't get lost in the crowd. After a few moments, Booner turned around and asked, "Have you seen Sylvia?"

"What? Have I seen Sylvia? No. I'm following you. You were supposed to be following Sylvia." And of course, I started to cry.

Because we were lost.

Separated from my dad.

In Disney World.

Living in Colorado and having been fishing in the mountains, we both knew exactly what to do when you get lost.

Stay put.

We sat on the edge of the sidewalk and waited. I continued to cry. (That part is optional.)

Though it felt like forever to me, in a few minutes, I saw my dad come barreling through the crowds with the rest of my siblings on his heels. His arms were opened wide and he pulled us into his embrace. We were found.

Our family spent a couple more hours at Disney World that day. Instead of moving through the crowds like a long snake, we looked more like an amoeba.

We learned a valuable lesson. This lesson is still true today.

If you don't want to get lost, keep your eyes on the Father.

Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. John 12:26

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Hebrews 12:1-3

Just so you know . . .
Booner's real name is Daniel. We used to call him Daniel Boone and somehow it ended up Booner.

A Quagmire

quag·mire

noun

1. an area of miry or boggy ground whose surface yields under the tread; a bog.

2. a situation from which extrication is very difficult


So, I was at Wal-Mart the other day, when I turned the corner and found two young men searching the carpet freshener section. They looked about college age. They looked confused.

I glanced down at my list to see if I needed to venture down the aisle and overheard tidbits of a conversation. These unfortunate guys couldn't decide what odor eliminator to choose.

I'm a helpful gal, so I went over to my favorite deodorizer, pulled it off the shelf and handed it to them. I told them it was my favorite and I promised them it didn't smell like Grandma's house.

They were skeptical. The first guy put it up to his nose and took a whiff and then handed it to his buddy. They agreed it didn't smell girly and said thanks. My pleasure. I turned to walk away when one of my husband's college stories flashed into my mind.

Jeff and his buddies lived on campus in an apartment. Those places always have something wrong with them. For Jeff, it was the toilet. One day, they came home to discover the pipe in the bathroom had a major leak. He describes four inches of water in the bathroom and water soaking into the carpet. If I was able to interview the students that lived below, they would describe their ceiling damage. College maintenance showed up, fixed the pipe, cleaned up most of the water and left.

The carpet remained damp and started to emit an odor. What do you do when you have an odor in your carpet? You buy carpet deodorizer, of course.

They went down to the store, bought some, and spread that fine smelling powder all over the carpet.

Do you know what happened?

Think chemistry.

Powder + Liquid = ?

Gunk.

Paste.

Muck.

Mush

Powder + Liquid = A Quagmire

By this time, the two guys were walking away, so I turned back and almost tackled them.

Wait!

Don't put it on wet carpet!

It'll turn to paste!

Oh, they said. We should have thought of that.

Then, they proceeded to tell me about the dog vomit they were trying to clean up. So, of course, I told them to use carpet cleaner first, let it dry and then follow up with the carpet deodorizer.

They said thanks again and we both went on our way.

Why am I telling you this story about smelly carpets, odor eliminators and dog vomit?

It is to remind us that each day we make lots of decisions and sometimes we make them without thinking.

Any three-year-old can tell you that dirt plus water equals mud. Any college student should be able to tell you that powder plus water equals a quagmire in your carpet. But, only if you were to stop and think about it.

Now, most of us know the things that can get us in a quagmire, too. Hanging out with the wrong crowd. Lying. Cheating. Being alone with a boy. Drinking. Gossip. Immodest dress. The world is full of potentially bad choices to make.

Sometimes, we don't take the time to stop and think. We make decisions without thinking and we end up in a quagmire.

We need to be reminded to slow down and think about our actions, our words, and our decisions.

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. I Peter 5:8

Save me!

Have you seen this video yet?



Here you have a pod of dolphins who somehow are misguided. I don't know why they decided the shore would be a better place to hang out. Surely God created them to swim in the vast ocean and not flop along the sand.

Maybe it looked like fun up there on the beach. Maybe the leader of the pod lost its way and the others just followed along.

Thankfully, there were people watching this pod of dolphins swimming toward disaster. They were quick to redirect. Though the people were obviously way out of their comfort zone, they entered the water and pulled the dolphins back to safety.

It took a few tries for some. The people had to yank the dolphins by the tail. It may have even hurt the animals a bit. Most resisted. Some swam right back towards shore just to be rescued again.

Finally, all the dolphins are pulled back into deeper, safe water and they seemed to realize that the ocean is where they truly belong.

As I sat watching this video, I was thinking about someone I know who has lost direction in her life. She is purposefully swimming toward disaster.

Do you know someone who has lost their way?

Are you willing to step out of your comfort zone and reach out to that person?

You may have to ask them the hard questions.

It may sound like this: "Those shorts are awfully short, don't you think?" "Why are you hanging out with him?" "I've missed you at church. Can I pick you up this Sunday?" "Hey, I saw the picture you posted on Facebook. What's going on?"


You may have to drag them out of a situation that you know is dangerous for them.


It may look like this: "We didn't know her mom would have alcohol at this party. Let's get out of here." "I'm not going to leave you alone in the room with him." "I'll start driving when you put your seat belt on."

My prayer is that you would love your friend enough to do the tough thing. Even if she resists, keep speaking truth into her life.

Maybe you are the person who is swimming away from safety and resisting the help around you. Please go back to the where the water is deep. Make choices that will put a smile on God's face.

Remember that God loves you and want to provide the best in life for you and protect you from the worst.

True freedom is found in Christ where you can swim in safety.

But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. James 1:25

Why, Lord?

Those age old questions: Why me Lord? Why did you let that happen, God? What did I do wrong? What did they do wrong? Where were you God? Why Lord? Why?Awhile back, a friend emailed me with questions regarding the passage in John 9: 1 - 5.

As [Jesus] went along, He saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked Him,

“Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. As long as it is day, we must do the works of Him who sent Me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

My friend was confused by Jesus' answer. The first thing we have to remember is that when Jesus lived, it was common for Jewish people to believe that sickness, calamity, and hard times were a direct result of sin. If a child was born with blindness, people automatically assumed someone had sinned against God.

There are times in the Bible, of course, when God punishes or disciplines. But let's not forget that we live in a fallen world. Disease happens. Birth defects happen. Catastrophes happen. They are natural consequences of living in a fallen world.

I've noticed that we humans are quick to ask the why question. Why would God allow this to happen to me? Did I do something wrong? Was my sin so great that God is punishing me? We want to be able to point a finger, even if it is at ourselves, to pinpoint the reason for bad things happening. I think that was the case, in John 9.

Before that blind man was born, God had a plan for his life. It was a plan that allowed the blindness and a plan that included a great revealing of God's glory. Listen to the words of Jesus again, "...this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him". What an honor to be a vessel of God's mighty work.While pondering all of this, I was reminded of my own experience in watching a precious little girl weaken and die because of a nasty, relentless brain cancer. Prior to the cancer, she was a bubbly, happy little girl dreaming of what she wanted to be when she grew up. And now she is gone. There is that ‘why’ question again. Lord, why her?

I can't begin to think that I know the full answer to that question, but I do know that the words Jesus spoke for a blind man two thousand years ago are still true today, for this family as well.

"This happened so that the works of God might be displayed."

God showed Himself in mighty ways during this little girl’s fight against cancer. God's love was poured over her and the family. Money was raised. Food was given. A temporary home near the treatment center was provided. Prayers were lifted up. And her cancer went away the moment she entered the arms of Jesus.

The grief is still heavy for the family. Maybe there is heavy grief in your life, too. Maybe it is cancer, Or family issues, Or loneliness, Or money problems, Or rejection.

I don't know what difficulty you are facing. But, I do know this: God is sovereign. He is in control. He is not pacing the floors of heaven wondering how things are going to turn out. He is trustworthy. He will give you the strength you need to go through your trial. His glory will be revealed.

So, a simple answer to the question ‘Why Lord?’ - God loves you and wants to work in your life in a mighty way. He wants to display HIS glory through YOUR life.

"This happened so that the works of God might be displayed"

Here am I.

I like to think about heaven. There are times that I long to be there, to leave behind this fallen world, to be in the presence of God Almighty.

In the Bible, there are a few places where God gives us a glimpse of heaven. My favorite is Isaiah 6. The prophet Isaiah records his vision of heaven.

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another:

“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory.”

At the sound of their voices, the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.

“Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.”

Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”

And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

Can you imagine being in the presence of our holy Jehovah Sabaoth? You can't even tiptoe into the room without stepping on the hem of his garment that fills the temple. And then we see God cleansing Isaiah of his guilt and atoning for his sin. If I were Isaiah, at this point, my fear would be gone and I would be perfectly content to stay with God forever. Instead, Isaiah hears God ask a question.

"Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?"

Isaiah is quick to answer, "Here am I. Send me!"

I don't really know what the year 2012 holds for you or for me. It may be a time when God uses burning coals to cleanse me and transform me more to his image. God often uses events in our lives to do just that.

I want to be ready when he calls me. I don't want to hesitate. I want to be able to say, "Here am I. Send me!" I want to be prepared to serve Him.

Are you prepared to serve God in whatever way he calls you? Have you studied his Word to know his Truth? Are you willing to do the right thing when others around you fall? Do you spend time in prayer? Do you have a church family that knows the Lord and supports you in following him? Are you looking for where God is working so you can join him?

That's my prayer for you for the year 2012.

A Christmas Miracle

Christmas.

Do you have a favorite Christmas? You know, the year where everything just seemed right in the world and the Red Ryder BB Gun you wanted was under the tree? Okay, maybe it was Mystery Date or a Cabbage Patch Doll or an American Girl Doll.

There is one special Christmas that I reflect on every year. I’m not sure how old I was – maybe eight or nine. My dad had recently moved the five kids left at home to Barton County, Florida infamous for being the poorest county in Florida. We fit right in.

My dad, a small hump-backed man, continued to raise us on the monthly social security disability checks that arrived in the mail each month.

As Christmas approached, a young couple contacted the elementary school we attended and asked if there was a needy family they could bless for Christmas. Our family was chosen and Jack Berry contacted my dad and asked for the honor of providing our Christmas presents that year. My dad accepted with one condition. The Berrys had to deliver the presents themselves.

Mr. Berry balked at this. He wanted the gifts to be anonymous, but my dad insisted. He wanted us children to thank Mr. and Mrs. Berry in person. Dad wanted us to learn about being generous.

I remember when Mr. and Mrs. Berry arrived with armfuls of packages. We took turns opening our gifts, as is our family tradition, and thanked them for each treasure. I received a new nightgown, a rare gift being the youngest girl with a dresser holding only hand-me-downs. The most exciting gift was the Atari. Donkey Kong. Oh, the joys of technology.

As we kids sat around the tree admiring each other’s gifts, my dad glanced over and discovered Mrs. Berry sitting quietly on the couch with silent tears streaming down her face. He went over to her and asked her what was wrong.

Frankly, she said, she didn’t understand why God would give so many children to a crippled, little man with no means to support them, but no children to a young, healthy couple with so much to give.

She meant no harm by her statement and my dad was keenly aware of the pain in her heart. What happened next is most clear in my memory.

My daddy knelt on the floor in front of Mrs. Berry and took her hand in his and prayed for her. He thanked God for her generous spirit and asked God to give her the baby she so deeply desired.

When he finished, there was an awkward silence. Someone brought Mrs. Berry some toilet paper so she could blow her nose and the young, childless couple went home.

As months went by, I didn’t think about Mr. and Mrs. Berry. I enjoyed my warm pajamas and fought with my siblings for time on the Atari. The school year ended; summer came and went.

One day, my dad told me to get ready because we were going to the flower store. I had never been to the flower store, so I ran a brush through my stringy, long hair and considered myself ready to go.

Dad and I stopped at the florist and he purchased yellow roses. I got to hold them in the truck and they smelled wonderful. Then we drove through Winter Haven into a neighborhood I had never seen before. The homes were large with manicured yards. That is when my daddy told me we were going to visit Mr. and Mrs. Berry.

And Jack Jr.

God is still in the business of miracles. He can bring life to the barren. He can restore the marriage. He can destroy the cancer. He can provide the job. He can fill the void of a lonely heart. He can forgive. He can love the unlovable.

The greatest miracle of all is Jesus. God sent his only Son from heaven to earth to die for you and for me. Jesus rose and is alive today. God loves you and wants to do a miracle in your life. Don’t be afraid to get on your knees and ask God for the impossible. He is still in the business of miracles.