Building Endurance

In his first letter to Timothy, Paul stated, "For bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come" (1 Timothy 4:8).

The writer of Hebrews had much to say about endurance in encouraging the readers of this letter.

He reminds them of what they experienced, and then says, "Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what is promised" (Hebrews 10:35-36).

Hebrews 11 enumerates those who had previously walked by faith. This chapter begins, "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old gained approval.... And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him" (verses 1-2, 6) and the chapter concludes, "And all these, having gained acceptance through their faith did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect (verses 39-40).

What more can we take away?

Hebrews 12 makes clear: "Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart" (verses 1-4).

What else does this chapter tell us about endurance?

"It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness" (12:7-11).

James also connects trials with endurance: "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing" (James 1:2-4). Later, "We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord's dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and merciful" (5:11).

What do I see are the points in building spiritual endurance? In Hebrews 12: so that we may share His holinesss and bear the peaceful fruit of righteousness. In James: that the testing of our faith through trials produces endurance, and that endurance is perfecting and completing us (sanctifying), and reveals that the Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

God Has Ordained

God has ordained all--
Before time until eternity--
Even, Proverbs 16:4 says, "The LORD has made everything for its own purpose, even the wicked for the day of evil."
Trying to wrap my mind around that produces headaches.
Psalm 1:6 reduces those headaches: "For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish."
I don't know when the second half of Psalm 1:6 takes place, whether each is judged or all are, but I don't need to know.
As Deuteronomy 29:29 states clearly, "The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law."
And observing all the words, all the things revealed, will take all of this life.

A Tribute: Reflections on A Birthday

Today is my husband's birthday. Back in 1985, when I first heard of him I was not interested in meeting him. I had left everything behind to do graduate work and that was my focus.

I had everything figured out. I would complete my degree in 18 months and go back to Minnesota, where I would live and work.

But God had other plans. It took me twice as long to finish, which left time to become acquainted with Garry. I realized that he was the man I had waited for. Our interests were similar. I could discuss theology with him or sports or history or any number of other matters. I still can. And call him both my in-house theologian and my in-house editor.

Garry's middle initial is D.

I tell him that stands for "dedicated, or determined, or deliberate, or detail-oriented." Those who know him know those words apply.

Scripture generally breaks giftedness into two categories: speaking gifts and serving gifts. Garry's are in the area of serving, and have been for as long as I have known him. He serves whenever and wherever and whomever. He is celebrating this birthday by serving in the a/v area at church.

He has been serving me as I recover from cataract surgery. He served me when I went through other surgeries over the years, also.

He is an honorable man, and I am honored to be his wife.

1 Peter 3:7: "You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as someone who is weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered."

God Omnipresent

God omnipresent, though silent He may seem;
God omniscient, though wisdom He may seem to withhold;
God omnipotent, though powerless His people appear to be;
God sovereign over all, though absent He may seem.
God is always present, always wise, always powerful, always ruling.

Thoughts Directed

Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."

Thoughts Directed

When my thoughts are directed here, on planet earth with all its gear,
With all the maybes and if-onlys attached, only despair and sorrow are matched.
To look around me or within, all I see is grief and sin,
And those pull me down with weight and focus on what I hate.
Keeping my sights on heaven, instead, by being in God's Word, my bread,
Making that focus with purpose each day lifts my heart and thoughts away,
Brings my thinking to Christ my Lord, brings my heart to worship, adore
The One who is worthy of all I am, the One slain and risen Lamb.
Thoughts directed with care to Him makes all sorrow on earth grow dim.

Colossians 3:1-4: "Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory."

1 John 3:1-3: "See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him, purifies himself, just as He is pure."