Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Perseverance: Guest Post

“Because you have kept my commandment to persevere...” (Revelation 3:10)

One of my favorite scenes from the movie Facing the Giants is the death crawl. Do you remember that scene in the movie where the coach blindfolds Brock and makes him crawl across the entire football field with his teammate on his back? There were many times that Brock wanted to quit and give up; it was straining and he felt like he had nothing left. But, his coach kept encouraging him to keep going and persevere until the end.When Brock finally made it to the end and realized he had crossed the entire field without quitting, his belief in himself, his team and his coach completely changed. He conquered something he thought was impossible and came out stronger. He persevered.

Perseverance is more than just endurance- it’s more than holding on with everything you’ve got until the end. It’s endurance combined with the absolute assurance and certainty that what we are looking for and fighting for will happen. Perseverance is defined in Webster’s dictionary as, “the steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, in spite of difficulties, trials and obstacles.” Despite difficulties, we persevere. Despite trials, we persevere. Despite obstacles, we persevere. We persevere toward our calling. We persevere to the voice of God.We persevere to the end.

Here’s a cool analogy I heard a couple of years ago about perseverance . Our life is in God’s hands like a bow and arrow in the hand’s of an archer. The archer is aiming at something the arrow cannot see, but the archer continues to stretch and strain- aiming at the target, while the arrow says, “I can’t take it anymore!” The archer pays no attention; he goes on stretching until his eye is on the target and his purpose for the arrow is in sight. Then, he lets the arrow fly; aiming at the target.

We have to be like a bow and arrow in the hand’s of the Lord; entrusting ourself to God. Even when it’s dark and we can’t see the light and He’s stretching and straining us. Trust Him. Persevere! He has His eye on the prize. He can see the target ahead, even when we can’t. Keep going! The prize is ahead! If we could just grasp that, how much easier would it be to trust God in every situation and continue to persevere.

“Consider it pure joy my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4)

James explains that perseverance is the product of faith being tested. While nobody enjoys being tested and stretched in their faith, James says, “Consider it pure joy”, for perseverance makes the soul, “mature and complete.” But, we must finish. We have to complete the task ahead of us.

Is there something in your life right now where you need perseverance? We need to proclaim in confidence like Job did, “Though He slay me, yet I will trust Him.” (Job 13:15) There is a call to spiritual perseverance. A call not to hang on and do nothing, but to work steadfastly, knowing with certainty He will never be defeated and we will come out stronger.It’s going to take everything you’ve got to persevere, but know with perfect assurance that He has his eye on the prize and He aiming you towards it.

Perseverance is strong and confident, built on the knowledge that God is perfect love. Even though we can’t physically see Him right now and don’t understand what He’s doing, we know Him. We trust Him. It’s throwing yourself completely abandoned into the arms of Christ knowing that He is who He says He is. “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalms 46:10)

-Hayley Wilkinson

Thursday, August 5, 2010

I Know the Plans I Have for You

My daughter, Hayley, is turning the page to the next chapter of the book the Lord is writing for her life. She starts college next week at Christ for the Nations (CFNI) in Dallas, Texas. We head out early tomorrow morning for the long drive south. It has been a busy time the past few weeks planning, purchasing, packing and praying. In all that she had to do to get ready for her trip, she graciously and creatively re-designed my entire blog..even with new music.... I love the crisp, clean, uncluttered design she implemented. It encourages me to not neglect writing daily nuggets and getting behind like I have. "Mom!" she exclaimed.."you haven't blogged since October 2009!"  Oops. Really???
It looks like I will have to give her my username and password so she can assist me along the way while she is in Dallas. 
We are all so excited for the plans and future the Creator of the universe has for Hayley. The steps He will continually direct her in as He orchestrates every minute detail second by second.
I am so thankful I serve a Lord who wants to be intimately involved in our family's life that He so precisely unveiled the plans for CFNI.
Someone asked me not too long ago how could we let her go so far to college? I simply replied, "Don't you know the center of the Lord's will is the safest place to be?" And it is.
Hayley is our treasure, and we are going to miss her like crazy..... but more importantly, she is HIS treasure.....was His first.... and He loves her with a crazy love! 

"I'll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. "When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I'll listen." 

Jeremiah 29:11-12