Tag Archives: spiritual encouragement

The Race of Love

Christian encouragement, Discouraged Christian, Encouragement for Women, Grace, Hope, Jesus Christ, Love of God, Spiritual Encouragement, Trials, Troubles, , , , , , , ,

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The Race of Love

I taught school for many years and must say that I learned a lot along the way. Sometimes my kids taught me more than I could ever teach them. I always had a special education room in some form. Their special needs helped me see the world through their eyes.

While I was in college, one of my favorite activities was working in the “Special Olympics”. As you most likely know, this event is similar to the regular Olympics held all over the world every four years. There is a marked difference however. These participants are developmentally delayed or physically challenged in some way.

There is competition. The individuals compete against each other in races, shot put, distance running and other such things. One day something unique happened, yet I found out it wasn’t really unique at all at this competition.

As a “hugger” my job was to hug participants as they crossed the finish line, no matter their placement in the race. A couple of races had taken place and there were hugs, giggles and smiles everywhere. I think I was having as much fun as any of the competitors!

Another race was set to begin. The runners were at their mark. The gun was fired. The runner in lane three fell down. He went down on his knee, scraping it as he fell! There was a gasp in the crowd and you could have heard a pin drop.

Soon the other runners stopped running. They all turned around and went back to the fallen boy. They reached down to pick him up. They brushed him off, checked his skinned knee and starting running again…but this time altogether as one. Most of them did not even know one another.

They crossed the finish line as one. All the huggers were in tears, as was the majority of the crowd. What a precious sight! It was an example of the unconditional love of God to me.

Can we do that? When our brother falls, do we stop what we are doing? Do we pick him up, dust him off and help him finish the race? Or do we go on running, not worrying about the fallen runner? Do we mumble to ourselves how they didn’t do it right and they deserved to crash?

1 Peter 3:8 “Finally all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.”

So next time you are in that race…and your competition falls….what are you going to do?

Be blessed~

IN CHRIST ALONE



Isaiah 55:8-9

*google, shutterstock image, NIV Bible*

The Love Letter

Christian encouragement, Discouraged Christian, Encouragement for Women, Grace, Hope, Jesus Christ, Love of God, Spiritual Encouragement, Surrender, To Rest in Christ, Trials, Troubles, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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The Love Letter

There was a young couple who met, fell in love and married.  As in all good love stories, they adored one another.  Joe and Sally had a wonderful marriage.  The only problem they faced was the war.  They were in the middle of a world war and Joe knew that he soon we be called to serve.

The call came, and Joe accepted the call with honor.  He was scheduled to leave in two weeks, and he wanted to make each moment count before he left.  The couple had one small child with one on the way.  He spent a lot of time with William and was hoping to spend time with the new baby someday.

Joe left.  Sally and William heard from him almost daily.  Suddenly the letters stopped.  Two weeks passed, the four and soon eight weeks had passed without hearing a word from Joe.  Sally was obviously concerned.  She prayed and honestly assumed the worse.

Joe had indeed become a prisoner of war.  He was told that he had the chance to write only one letter during his captivity.  He carried a torn up piece of parchment paper with him for weeks, praying about what to write his expectant wife and son.  Finally, with tears spilling down his face and hitting the paper, Joe wrote the letter.

Four weeks later, Sally trudged out to the mail box and there it was…a letter from Joe!! She ran into the kitchen, weeping with joy at the arrival of the letter.  She ripped it opened as little William and her mother stared.  

“Dearest Sally, William and family,

Daddy loves you more than words can adequately describe.  I am a prisoner of war and I have one piece of paper to write one letter on.  It is the only letter I am allowed to write and the last letter you may ever get from me.  So, I have carried the blank paper around for a long time, praying about what to write to all of you.  Sally, I love you with all my heart.  Words cannot describe the unconditional love I have for you.  I need you to love the children with all your heart.  As William grows, let him know how much he is loved by his Abba Father.  Teach him these things when he gets up in the morning, walks at noon along the creek and does his chores before bed.  Our little unborn baby needs to be taught these things as well when she(hope) or he is able to understand.  Spend time with them, tell them that I will love them forever.  Talk to the banker about the money we have, pay off the bills, tithe weekly, share what eggs you can with the neighbors…..”

The letter went on to tell Sally everything she needed to know about life.  As if Joe were right there with her.  Sally read the entire letter, wept openly and folded it up, placing it near her heart.  The next day, when she went into the bank, she got the letter out and did exactly what it said.  When she and the children had questions (it was a girl, Grace) she unfolded the letter to see what Daddy said about the situation.  Joe had not missed a thing.  He had given her all the love and guidance she needed to go on.  Everything had been filtered through love.  She almost felt as though he was standing right there beside her as she made each and every decision.

And then the closing said…”I love you all, and will see you again soon.  We will all be together someday.  Everything I have written, all I have said with all the love I have in my heart for you….my wife, my children, my family, my friends, strangers…until we meet again..love to you…Daddy Joe.

Wow, what a letter of love.  Can you imagine receiving this letter?  Well beloved, we have gotten a letter like that….it is from our Father, our Abba, our Daddy…He has given us all we need to live out this life here on dart.  His advice is given because of His deep love for us.  Like the letter from Joe, He is right beside us..guiding us with His Holy Spirit.

Oh yeah, Joe did make it home!  And so will Jesus.

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Be blessed~

IN CHRIST ALONE
Isaiah 55:8-9

*google image, NIV Bible*

 

Sweet Spring Song Birds

Christ's rest, Discouraged Christian, Freedom in Christ, Hope, Jesus Christ, Spiritual Encouragement, To Rest in Christ, Trials, Troubles, , , , , , , , , , ,

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Sweet Spring Song Birds

I look so forward to spring. There are a variety of reasons we can list, but one of my favorite things to do is sit on our back porch and watch the songbirds. We keep food out during the winter as well, but there is just something about sitting in my rocking chair, sipping a cup of coffee and watching them interact with one another. Gosh, that makes me sound really old!

There have been a few times we ran out of food before we could get to the store. I worried about the birds and realized that in all honesty they weren’t worried at all. At all.

Why is it so hard for us? Why do we worry? Is it the fear of the unknown? Is it that we are taking the circumstances and outcome into our own hands? Will my son get that job? What will we do if the furnace breaks down? What if that test result comes back as cancer?

The truth is…we shouldn’t worry. In fact, we are told that the power not to worry is from the Holy Spirit. I just think I turn things over to the Father, and as if I physically laid down that piece of paper, I pick it right back up!! Sometimes I do it daily!

Jesus taught..

 “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:19-34
I can just envision Jesus teaching this lesson. He pointed to the birds. He bent down to smell the lilies of the field. He held up his cloak. Why worry?
Some theologians refer to this passage as the biblical doctrine of God’s ‘providence’. God is our provider. Do we believe this?
It is our choice. In fact, believing the word of God is totally our choice.
I like that choice. And I choose to believe. He has always been faithful. He has never failed me yet. Worry has gotten me no where. Stress made me sick. So I have to actively make the choice to believe Him and what He says.
Afterall, I have the birds of spring to remind me.

Blessings
IN CHRIST ALONE



Isaiah 55:8-9

*google image, NIV Bible*