Terri's Wellspring

Therefore then, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who have borne testimony to the Truth], let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us,

Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Just think of Him Who endured from sinners such grievous opposition and bitter hostility against Himself [reckon up and consider it all in comparison with your trials], so that you may not grow weary or exhausted, losing heart and relaxing and fainting in your minds. Hebrews 12:1-3  

I don’t like to run.  I was never really fast and distance running never appealed to me on any level.  Despite this fact, I have always admired individuals who could do it.  One of my friends in High School was on the track team.  Running is in his blood.  To this day, he posts his times on online some 30 years later.  I imagine that this keeps him both fit and happy.

Lately, I have been trying to find a comfortable marathon pace for my life.  It seems that for a good period I was busy, busy, busy.  All my time was accounted for and sometimes hours that should have been set aside for sleep and exercise, just were absorbed with more busy work.  Even though I saw myself moving forward during this period, it turns out most of it was an exercise of running in circles.  Not really making progress on the things that matter most.  God’s Word compels us to run with endurance keeping Jesus as our focus.  Things that cause us to sin or to do things contrary to His word and will for our lives should be dropped.  These are the things that weigh us down and hinder us from living the life God has available to us.  Looking to Him gives us focus, gives us direction and helps us to find the stride that will help us to endure until we cross the finish line.

All these many people who have had faith in God are around us like a cloud. Let us put everything out of our lives that keeps us from doing what we should. Let us keep running in the race that God has planned for us. Let us keep looking to Jesus. Our faith comes from Him and He is the One Who makes it perfect. He did not give up when He had to suffer shame and die on a cross. He knew of the joy that would be His later. Now He is sitting at the right side of God.  Sinful men spoke words of hate against Christ. He was willing to take such shame from sinners. Think of this so you will not get tired and give up.  Hebrews 12:1-3 NLV

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 3:14

A look of determination and focus is telling. I have seen it in the eyes of a runner before a race. I have also seen it in a picture on the faces of African-American women fighting for a Head Start program for their children in rural Mississippi in the 1960’s. They seem to know it was going to take a combination of determination, focus and hard work to accomplish the task. They seem to know that they were up against difficult odds in a community where their lives and the lives of their children were not valued but still they worked. And despite the odds, the lack of funds and the lack of history of success with fighting against the system, the look was on each of their faces. Their look and their determination is an inspiration to me. Sometimes we sit in a place of complacency when we have untold power through the Holy Spirit. The scripture says that we are more than conquerors but often we sit in a mental place of defeat. We often see injustices and choose to say nothing about it. But we are the light of the world.

Today, I am asking God for the direction, the strength and the boldness to do what He is calling us to do on behalf of His people. We will continue to press toward the mark and we are not turning back.

I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward-to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back. Philippians 3:14

Six stone water jars were there. Each one held about one-half barrel of water. These water jars were used in the Jewish worship of washing.  Jesus said to the helpers, “Fill the jars with water.” They filled them to the top.

Then He said, “Take some out and give it to the head man who is caring for the people.” They took some to him. The head man tasted the water that had become wine. He did not know where it came from but the helpers who took it to him knew. He called the man who had just been married. The head man said to him, “Everyone puts out his best wine first. After people have had much to drink, he puts out the wine that is not so good. You have kept the good wine until now!”   John 2:1-10

You may be in the middle like me.  It is a time where we are standing on God’s Word for Peace, Patience and Protection.  While all the while providing praise to our Father who is so worthy. So as we continue to journey, we do have some specific things we can do – pray, stay in God’s presence as we follow His guidance.

I am so thankful for the Word ministry and the men and women who share God’s Word with us through sermons.  I experienced a blessing this week with a powerful message, where we were reminded to do whatever the Lord says.  This requires us to first ask God for direction and to listen closely to what He is asking us to do.  He may be instructing us to do something that is different than we ever imagined.  But just as Jesus performed a miracle turning the pots of water into wine that is what He is able to do with the situations in our lives.  Our God is great and has good plans in mind for each of us.  In the middle, we can count on God’s guidance and the victory as we seek to do His will.