"Get out of bed, Jerusalem! Wake up. Put your face in the sunlight. God's bright glory has risen for you.
The whole earth is wrapped in darkness, all people sunk in deep darkness,
But God rises on you, his sunrise glory breaks over you.
Nations will come to your light, kings to your sunburst brightness.
Isaiah 60:1-3 MSG
Endurance....
Tolerate,
put up with suffer patiently
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James 5:11
Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
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Perseverance,
Push, In spite of your difficulties and your circumstances
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Hebrews 12:1
Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.
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Steadfastness
Stand...firm in your position
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Revelation 3:11
Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
Hold On,
Help Is On The Way
Click On Airplane
Hope Is On The Horizon
The Race Isn't' Given To The Swift...
But To Those That Endure To The End!
During the summer, I made a commitment to start taking better care of me and I started walking on the track at St. Joe's University because I wanted to get in shape, physically, mentally and spiritually.
I started out strong but when my legs and other muscles that I haven't used in a while started hurting, crying and complaining, guess what? I accommodated their request to stop..by changing my schedule from walking on the track every day...to walking on the track every other day and eventually, I stopped going, I gave up!
Well, now that school has started and since St. Joe's is conveniently located right next to my daughter's school, I made a decision to complete the commitment that I started during the summer to walk the track every day.
Everything that happened to my legs and other muscles happened again but this time, when they started hurting, crying and complaining, I told my flesh to shut up and keep moving! I recited Philippians 4:13, I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me and I kept on walking, I kept on getting stronger! Where I wasn't able to run the track, today I can run without gasping for air.
Today while I was walking on the track, God began to speak to me about endurance and He directed my attention to Coach Ken Abner who comes faithfully to the track and vigorously trains the two young women that faithfully comes to the track to be trained for their upcoming race.
I have been watching them for a while now and today, what I noticed about them is that...they never complain, mumble, grumble or talk back to the coach; they simply do what they are told to do because they have a hunger, a desire to do what it's going to take to finish the race and win the prize and right here...I had a suddenly moment like Saul did when the scales fell from his eyes on the Damascus road.
Today, when they finished racing to the their mark, both of them stopped but one of them stopped, hung her head down and was trying to catch her breathe....I watched her closely and I could see that she was tired and right there...although I was looking at her, I didn't see her, I saw me.
I saw the hurt I felt, as I walked the track, I saw the look on my face when I got tired, I saw how frustrated I got when I tried to catch my breath and I saw, when I gave up, walked off the track because I wasn't disciplined enough to finish the race. I wasn't committed enough to do what it was going to take to reach my goal of living a healthier lifestyle and becoming physically, mentally and spiritually fit!
As I began to reflect on what God was revealing to me, the song by Luther Barnes and the Rose Budd Choir came on..., " I CAN'T MAKE IT WITHOUT YOU LORD, WILL YOU TAKE ME BY THE HAND AND LEAD THE WAY BECAUSE I CAN'T MAKE IT LORD WITHOUT YOU" and as I listened to the words of the song, I began to sing out loud, "I CAN'T MAKE IT WITHOUT YOU LORD, PLEASE TAKE ME BY THE HAND AND SHOW ME THE WAY BECAUSE I CAN'T MAKE IT LORD WITHOUT YOU!"
As I ended my lap around the track, I walked over to Coach Ken, introduced myself and told him that I wanted to share something that God had placed on my heart while watching him today. I shared with him that there are some changes taking place in my life and sometimes I want to give up but today...praise the Lord, I'm so encouraged to continue, to endure, to allow, to put up with all that is happening in my life, knowing that God is in control and that He is perfecting those things concerning me. Today, I made a decision to...give my best!
Doing Your Best for God
2 Timothy 2:1-7(MSG), So, my son, throw yourself into this work for Christ. Pass on what you heard from me" the whole congregation saying Amen!” to reliable leaders who are competent to teach others. When the going gets rough, take it on the chin with the rest of us, the way Jesus did. A soldier on duty doesn't get caught up in making deals at the marketplace. He concentrates on carrying out orders. An athlete who refuses to play by the rules will never get anywhere. It's the diligent farmer who gets the produce. Think it over. God will make it all plain.
Arise & Shine For Jesus Ministry
Don't let people, problems, and the pain of your past pause your present, punish your person, prison your potential, and paralyze your progress. ~Angela Davis~
~ Today's Word~
Endurance
Evangelist Stacey Lunsford
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Song Playing is "I Can't Make It With You"
Courtesy of Luther Barnes & The Rose Bud Choir
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