COURAGE FOR TODAY

Walls Don't Have To Be Barriers

Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:5

I never cared for Physical Education classes when I was in High School.  I loved to play baseball and basketball, but I was not what you would consider athletic by any stretch of the imagination.  I think because P.E. wasn't "fun" to me.  We were constantly running, jumping, or exercising of some type.  I really thought it was a waste of my time.  I spent most of my time during those classes day dreaming about other things and wishing I was somewhere else at the time.  Perhaps if I had been a star High School Football or Basketball Player things might have been different, but there was never any danger of that happening so it was agony for me each day of P.E. class.

I remember one particular class we were scheduled to be visited by a "special exercise guest."  You just can't get much more exciting than that.  I just knew that we were finally going to do something fun or meet some famous athlete.  We made our way from the P.E. Locker room and arrived out on the ball field only to be greeted by a local ROTC Drill Sergeant standing in front of a wooden wall with a rope hanging from the top.  You've seen them in movies involving soldiers and their training.  The goal is to run towards the wall; grab the rope; and pull yourself and climb up the wall and over.  My excitement turned to horror.  I knew my turn was coming and I would have to attempt the wall but, at that moment, I would have rather gone to the Dentist.  I knew I couldn't climb that wall.  I could barely do pull-ups on the high bar, much less climb a wall while holding a rope.  Sure enough, my turn came.  I ran.  I pulled.  I climbed.  I fell.  Just as predicted.

No Room At The Inn

And she gave birth to her first-born son; and she wrapped him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.  Luke 2: 7 (NIV)

It's been quite a stressful few weeks for our family.  My daughter; son-in-law; and their three children have been making travel arrangements to return home for Christmas, from their Mission Home in China.  This trip was going to be especially trying because their third child was just born in November.  Before they could travel, they had to obtain their new daughter's U.S. Passport and travel documents.  Once that was in hand, it was off to Beijing; then a flight to Tokyo; then on to the U.S.  I've spared you a lot of details, but suffice it to say that the journey from their small China town to our home town in the U.S.; in time for Christmas, was nothing short of a miracle.  God's hand was truly on them during their journey.  What an exciting, tearful reunion it was this past Friday when they finally arrived at the airport. 

Behold, New Things Have Come

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.  2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)

It's late October and getting close to Halloween time again.  I was thinking the other day about a particular Halloween a couple of years ago.  Our grandkids were 5 and 4 years old at the time and had been living overseas with my daughter for some time.  This was their first Halloween that they were really old enough to remember or participate in and they were so excited.  We tried to explain how they were going to get to select a costume for themselves and dress-up like their favorite character.  I'm not sure they really understood what we were saying, but they were excited nonetheless.

Refine Us Like Silver

For You have tried us, O God; You have refined us as silver is refined.  Psalms 66: 10 (NIV)

I don't know about you but it seems like the past several months have just been extremely trying for several people I know.  I've seen my share of health issues and job concerns.  I've listened to concerns about finances and relationships.  All I could do in each situation is remind my friends of the goodness of God's love and grace and encourage them to keep going on. 

I suppose I have a unique perspective because I've certainly had my share of difficulties at various times in my life.  God taught me so much through my various trials and its those hard learned lessons that I can now share with my friends and loved ones and, perhaps, give them some hope during their trials.  It also helps to keep me grounded and reminds me that, as Christians, none of us are immune from trials.  It's not a matter of if, but when. 

When I am at the end of my rope and don't know what else to do, it helps to remember these things:

• Recognize Gods refinement in our lives.  Just like refining gold or silver, God continually molds and develops us into his image.  Sometimes the refining is painful and hurtful, but it always ends in a beautiful, shiny creation.  We have to trust the Lord during the refining process.
• Look for righteousness more than solutions.  I am preaching to the choir with this point.  I know that I always tend to search constantly for a solution and worry myself beyond measure.  Sometimes, I just need to stop. I need to take a breather from searching "how" and realize that God already has the solution.  It's just that HIS timing isn't always in sync with my timing. 
• Remember it is not permanent.  While trials are inevitable, they're only temporary.  It may seem like your trial is lasting forever and that you can't take any more, but it will end.   
• Recommit to full surrender.  Sometimes, what we are experiencing is a conflict between what God is directing us to do and what we stubbornly refuse to do.  It often helps to surrender our full life and will to God and allow him to fully direct our paths, not fight HIM the entire way.

As difficult as it is, always remember that you are one of God's Jewels and that God's refining produces gems with immeasurable beauty.

The Town's Artesian Well

I've said, in many other articles, that I loved to visit my Grandmother's small hometown in middle Georgia. I have many memories as a young child and still think about those times often.  We didn't go there much--maybe 2 or 3 times a year, but each time was an investment of memories that stick with me even today.

The Comforting Mist

Several years ago, my best friend and I decided to drive, one Saturday, to the North Georgia Mountains to hike.  We were still young and single and had nothing really better to do on a hot Saturday afternoon, so this would be something different and exciting for us to do.  Neither of us were avid hikers or really knew what we were doing, but it sounded like something to kill some time, if nothing else.

They're In Your Hands

I can still remember vividly the days that both of our children were born.  I was a typical young father.  I didn't really think I knew what I was doing.  I certainly wasn't prepared.  I would imagine that no new parent is ever really prepared.  We all do the best we can do and with a lot of on-the-job training, we somehow manage.

The Night The Lights Went Out in Georgia

There weren't many spells of cold weather or snow and ice storms in the Atlanta area when I was growing up, but when we had a storm, it was always a disaster.  We weren't equipped to handle severe weather as were other cities in the Northeast, for example.  We don't have snow plows and equipment.  Our trees are mostly Pine trees which simply snap with too much ice on the limbs.  The schools and business' close because no one can drive on the roads and everything just ends up being a weather disaster.