Gaining
perseverance can be brutal. Having to keep going despite difficulty and delay
is not something we are eager to experience. You can only have perseverance
after you have gone through the refining fires of disappointment and
discouragement. Waiting, praying, working, hoping, and crying brought my wife
and I to the moment in Ethiopia when we first laid eyes on him and he first
laid his head on our shoulders.
I
think I must picture things in slow motion, at least the big moments of life,
because they always happen so much faster than I imagine they will. When we
arrived at his orphanage after about 30 hours of traveling, they brought us to
the orphanage office. I didn't know what the plan was, how long we would wait,
or who would play the victorious music as he and I ran toward each other. It
was all very confusing. But then, before I could even ask what was going on, he
was there! In the doorway, being held by his favorite nanny, was the answer to
my prayers. When I saw him, I felt almost star struck. I had talked about him
for so long and looked at his pictures so many times that he almost took on
this bigger than life place in my mind. But he wasn’t bigger than life. He was
little, beautiful ruggedly handsome, and tired. Sear held him, and I went full
dad mode shooting videos. If it had been the 80s, I would have had a big VHS
recorder on my shoulder, giving full commentary and telling everyone to wave to
the camera. Instead, I took pictures and video with the GoPro and gave full
commentary and told everyone to wave to the camera.
As
he sat in his mom’s lap, one big tear formed in his left eye and rolled down
his cheek. It wasn't just a signal of natural fear; it was a symbol of natural
courage. He had every right to bawl and wail. New people, new room he’d never
been in, and the largest person he’d ever seen pointing a camera in his face
shouting at him in a language he didn’t speak. You could sense the fear was
there but it didn't own him. He was calm, looked around the room, and leaned
into his new mom for cuddles. I knew right there that he was brave, strong and
courageous, and I was in love.
When
Sear looked up at me and asked if I wanted to hold him, I was nervous. I
thought being handed over to the big, white bear of a man would finally make
him break. I grabbed him, his bottom lip quivered, but no tear came. Instead,
we just looked at each other and I could see my reflection in his big brown
eyes. I could tell he was analyzing me because he looked me right in the eye
and furrowed his brow. In that moment, every insecurity I have rushed to the
forefront of my mind. I thought surely he would push me away, reach for someone
else, reject me until he was a little older. In those three long seconds, I
never wanted someone to love me so much, but felt so sure that he wouldn't. And
then, he put his head on my chest and nuzzled me just a little... almost as if
to comfort my fears; to give me just a little bit of the courage he had in such
abundance. I will be telling people about that moment in Heaven, long into
eternity. It's not just engraved in my mind, it's embossed in my heart.
Gaining
perseverance is really hard. To even have the chance to persevere it means you
aren’t getting what you want for long periods of time and that’s not fun. It’s
worth it though. When you stick it out and keep praying despite your doubts and
fears you not only see God’s answer, you also see God more clearly. Don’t give
up on God too early and miss what He has for you because the only thing harder
than waiting on God, is wishing you had.
--Patrick
Frost
Middle School Youth
Pastor
When
I think about our world with all the darkness in it there are times when it’s
hard not to be overwhelmed. This especially hits me during graduation time as I
think about our students moving on in life and I’m left wondering have we done
enough? It often feels like June is right around the corner because I’m filling
out all these college reference letters. So as I think about our students, some
whom I’ve watched grow up these last seven years and see them heading off into
the world I can freak out some. It’s in these moments I have to remind myself
to get a grip. Have you ever told someone this as they worry? Get a grip! This
is what I need, and it’s what our students need as well to make it in this
world. I often think about what kids really need to own their faith, grow, and
persevere, and Hebrews 10:23-25 comes to mind.
23 Let
us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted
to keep his promise. 24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to
acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting
together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the
day of his return is drawing near
As
much as I want to hold on tightly to them I can let them go if I know they have
a grip on our unwavering God. What all kids need is a really big God they
trust no matter what. With a firm grip on the promises of the Gospel
they can make it.
I
also see in this passage a need to get a grip on someone, preferably some who
love Jesus as well. All kids need someone else who believes what they
believe. It’s my number one charge I give to students going away to
college: don’t neglect going to church; we can’t make it without
community.
Also
with that community we need to get a grip on the nose of those who stick it
where it belongs. And what I mean is those places you often don’t think it
belongs. All kids need nosy friends, mentors, and most of all, parents who
know where they are spiritually. Those people that ask the real questions
that mean something, like how is your relationship with Jesus right now? What
are you learning from Him? What are you struggling with? We all need to get a
grip on those that best encourage us and motivate us right where we are at. We
need to be known.
As
much as our kids need their independence they need to get a grip on those who
say what parents say. All kids need another voice saying the same things a
good mom and dad would say. I know as a dad I can’t do it alone, I need to
know there are others out there who have my and my wife’s back. Plus, I don’t
think we are ever too old for parental advice.
I
am also encouraged that Jesus always has a grip on us. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I
know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall
never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who
has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my
Father’s hand. (John 10:27-28)
Finally,
what gives me peace as our kids go out is if they have a firm grip on uncommon
sense. To do the works and to love others the way God wants is to go against
the common cultural thought. All kids need uncommon sense to make wise
choices. I love that our church teaches and preaches the Word of God. With
a good grip on the Bible they can face the darkness.
In
His grip,
Pastor Brian
A
former hospital administrator is convicted of indecent exposure; a major
entertainment personality accused of drugging women for illicit
activities. Successful businessman accused of fraud. Did you ever
wonder what kind of an impact those actions may have had on their families?
Do you suppose they ever stopped to think about the repercussions?
Only they would be able to answer that question with certainty, but my guess is
they probably didn’t.
The
first chapter of Proverbs begins with the words, “These are the wise sayings of Solomon, David’s son,
Israel’s king - written down so we’ll know how to live well and right, to
understand what life means and where it’s going; A manual for living, for
learning what’s right and just and fair; To teach the inexperienced the ropes
and give our young people a grasp on reality. There’s something here also
for seasoned men and women, still a thing or two for the experienced to learn -
Fresh wisdom to probe and penetrate, the rhymes and reasons of wise men and
women.” (The Message)
Over
the years I have met with many individuals whose lives are literally in ruins
because of their failure to understand “how to live life well and right.”
The
best thing we can do to guard against making bad decisions in life is to spend
time in the scriptures daily, as Pastor Jim pointed out on a recent Sunday
evening. The book of Proverbs teaches us how live wisely. And lest
you think, that won’t happen to
me, I suggest you consider the problem Sampson had or what happen
to Noah following the flood, or maybe the activity of King David in an idle
moment. Then there is King Solomon, considered the wisest man who ever
lived who squandered that wisdom by disobeying God’s commandments. These
were all men of God who knew better but stumbled at some point in their lives;
many of the individuals I have dealt with come from a church background, but
because they failed to gain wisdom, they veered off the track.
Psalms
119:11 admonishes us to hide the Word of God in our hearts because it will keep
us from making bad decisions. Along with hiding the Word and gaining
wisdom let me suggest one more activity that I have found to be effective over
the years. THINK DOWN THE ROAD or “play the movie” as a recent book I
read recommends. It means to plan ahead. Think through the “what
if’s” of life in advance of them happening. How will you respond and how
will that response impact you and those closest to you? How you live life
will determine what kind of a legacy will you leave that will impact others
(parents, spouse, children, and those who come long after you are
gone).
Whatever
it is that crosses your path that would be in opposition to the Word of God,
should not cause you to have to think about your response. Your response
should be immediate and automatic, because long before you hid the Word of God
in your heart - and you played the movie.
–Wayne Bernard
