Stopping Early

“If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” 1 Cor. 10:12-13

“The biggest human temptation is to settle for too little.” - Thomas Merton

In today’s verse, the Apostle Paul writes about something many of us deal with. He says that the temptations we face, while common to everyone, are not unbeatable. In fact, he says that God will “not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand.” I love that! No matter what temptation the enemy throws our way to stop.. God will give us “a way out so that [we] can endure” The devil puts up stop signs, detours, and red lights... and Jesus reminds us that we have His GPS. He simply re-routes us around the obstacles and keeps us on the road to our God-potential.

So the question is... what tempts you to quit? Does it seem like there’s no hope? Are you struggling to think you’re worthy enough for God to use you? I have some encouragement for you. We’ve all felt that way from time to time. Today’s verse tells us that when we have these feelings, God will give us the wisdom, the strength, and the nudge to keep going and escape the temptation. He wants us to persevere because He loves us so very much. I’ll be praying that when you feel tempted to stop...or believe what others say about you... or doubt that you can do it... or hear the limiting lies of the devil... that you would remember that you aren’t alone. God is with you!

Quitting Early

It was a fog-shrouded morning, July 4, 1952, when a young woman named Florence Chadwick waded into the water off Catalina Island. She intended to swim the channel from the island to the California coast. Long-distance swimming was not new to her; she had been the first woman to swim the English Channel in both directions.

The water was numbingly cold that day. The fog was so thick she could hardly see the boats in her party. Several times sharks had to be driven away with rifle fire. She swam more than 15 hours before she asked to be taken out of the water. Her trainer tried to encourage her to swim on since they were so close to land, but when Florence looked, all she saw was fog. So she quit...only one-mile from her goal.  Later she said, "I’m not excusing myself, but if I could have seen the land I might have made it."

So close... but Florence quit early. 

Over 2000 years ago, Jesus’ disciples were ready to quit too.  Their leader had been crucified and placed in a tomb... and in their minds it was over.  

Might as well stop swimming.

Jesus had disappeared into the fog of an unmet promise.

Death had won.

Time to quit.

Or so they thought.

The Bible says it this way:

“That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! ‘Peace be with you,’ he said.  As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord!  Again he said, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.’ Then he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.  If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.’”  John 20:19-23

Can’t you just see it.  Jesus’ own trusted men... huddled together trying to figure out their next move.   They were convinced that the One they’d put their trust in wasn’t who He promised He was.   What would they do now?  Can’t go back to fishing, tent making, tax collecting and the like... too risky.  What if somebody remembered they’d hung out with Jesus.  Surely they’d be captured and killed. The fog had rolled in.  They could no longer see what was coming and they were scared.  Time to pack it in and give up... 

Ever felt like that?  Have you wanted to quit because you weren’t sure of the future?  Many of us have.  We feel like the situation we’re in is hopeless, helpless, and over.  Where’s God?  Why isn’t the change coming?  Why won’t the situation improve?  

The disciples thought the same thing.  Jesus heard them... He knew His men were frightened so He showed up inside the room.  

“Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! ‘Peace be with you,’ he said.”

Notice what Jesus did first.  He calmed them.  His first words back could have scolded them for their fear... corrected them in their doubt... or been upset with them because of their lack of faith.  Instead, Jesus enters the room with affirmation and comfort...

Peace be with you.  

Terror became thankfulness... cynicism gave way to celebration!

Today...when you want to quit... read those words above again.  Peace be with you.  

Those four words mean so much.  Jesus tells his disciples (and us)... don’t worry, don’t fear, don’t fret, don’t cry, don’t wonder... and most importantly...Don’t quit.  Jesus is right there with you.  You may not see Him in the uncertainties of life... but He’s there.  

Are these words for you today?  Feeling lost in the fog with no idea what’s coming?  Don’t quit.  Don’t stop swimming.  Jesus is there.  The Prince of Peace came back from the dead so that you and I would live triumphant lives... persevering through whatever holds us back from becoming who we were created to be.   Even when it feels like you are just treading water... you aren’t drowning.  Jesus won’t allow that.  

Look up... see His face in the room... experience His peace.... and swim on. 

You’ve got Him... so you’ve got this.

Tempted to Stop

“If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. 13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.”   1 Cor. 10:12-13

“The biggest human temptation is to settle for too little.”   -  Thomas Merton

     Congratulations!  You’ve done what many know they need but not everybody does... you’ve made time for God today.  Each time you feel the nudge to check out the devotional page here on Facebook... I’m sure you think of many other things you could be doing.  We all know it’s good for us, but sometimes we forget or get sidetracked.  It’s a commitment.  A sacrifice of time and energy.... and you’re worth it.  But all is not easy.  When we dive in to growing in Christ, the enemy ups his attempts to make us quit.  

     That’s where you will face perhaps the biggest foe that has ever challenged you: temptation.  There will be many many things in the coming months and years that will do their best to throw you off your commitment to study God’s word and grow.  In today’s verse, the Apostle Paul writes about those very things.  He says that the temptations we face, while common to everyone, are not unbeatable.  In fact, he says that God will “not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand.”  I love that!  No matter what temptation the enemy throws our way to stop.. God will give us “a way out so that [we] can endure”  The devil puts up stop signs, detours, and red lights... and Jesus reminds us that we have His GPS.  He simply re-routes us around the obstacles and keeps us on the road to our God-potential.  

      So the question is... what tempts you to quit?  Does it seem like there’s no hope?  Are you struggling to think you’re worthy enough for God to use you?  Have you tried this type of thing before but think there’s no way you’ll stay with it?  I have some encouragement for you.  We’ve all felt that way from time to time.  Today’s verse tells us that when we have these feelings, God will give us the wisdom, the strength, and the nudge to keep going and escape the temptation.  He wants us to persevere because He loves us so very much.  I’ll be praying that when you feel tempted to stop...or believe what others say about you... or doubt that you can do it... or hear the limiting lies of the devil... that you would remember that you aren’t alone.  God is with you and your Potential Church family is on the journey alongside you.  Let’s go after this together! 

Walk On

It didn’t matter what the weather was in Detroit… financially-challenged James Robertson did what he did every other day.  He hit the alarm clock and went to work.  But James’ story was a little bit different.   You see, James didn’t have a car.  No problem… take the bus, right?  Nope.  No bus routes were even close.   So Mr. Robertson did the unthinkable…. he walked.  Every single day… regardless of the weather… James Robertson traveled the 21 miles round trip on foot.   For 10 years, James did whatever it took to get him to his job… in fact, he had perfect attendance!

One day, financial executive Blake Pollack had seen enough.  He had passed James every day on his way into the city and made the decision to do something to help him.  He started picking him up and taking him to his job each day.  Pollack shared the story with a friend of his, Evan Leedy… and together they started a GoFundMe page on Robertson’s behalf.  Hoping to raise the $5000 needed for a used car… the result surpassed even their wildest dreams.  They didn’t raise five thousand to help James… they raised $300,000!  Just recently they presented the car of James Robertson’s dreams to him… a 2015 Ford Taurus.   James said he loved that car because it was “plain on the outside and tough on the inside…just like him.”  The rest of the raised money was given to Robertson as a reward for his decade of diligence and great work ethic.  

Total strangers reaching out to reward the faithful diligence of someone they didn’t know.  

Now take a minute today and imagine your situation.  You may feel like James Robertson.  You’ve been working hard… plugging away… staying faithful when those around you have quit.  You spend your weekends serving and your nights making ends meet at a second job.  Your month seems to last longer than your money… your children are draining your patience and your health isn’t what it used to be.  Yet you keep on walking.  You keep getting it done.   You won’t accept not having something as an excuse to not get where you need to get in life.  

If that’s you… keep going.  God’s got you.  Steph and I have been there and know that it’s hard.  But you can do it.  

Keep honoring God with your resources… keep sacrificing temporary comfort for long-term gain.  Keep pouring out love and forgiveness to others when they haven’t earned it or deserve it.  

Keep going.  Regardless of the weather… keep going.  I can promise you this… someone is noticing your efforts.  Someone has been driving by and sees you climbing yet another mountain on your way to your destiny.  Someone has been walking by you and taking notes.  Someone sees the tears of frustration and lifts you up.   Someone you already may know. 

It’s God.

God knows.  He sees you.  He will provide a way.   He will provide reward.  He will make things right.

You just can’t give up.  

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up" (Galatians 6:9)

James Robertson walked to work for 10 long years.  That’s 54,600 miles before his situation changed… 

Every day wondering if it was worth it.  Each footstep crying out for him to turn back.  But he kept on.   It’s time for you to keep going too.  You may be facing the blizzard of divorce… or the flood of financial instability…. or the hailstorm of bad relationships… or the blistering heat of loneliness and isolation.   

Keep on.  One foot in front of the other.  

God is sending a driver to pick you up soon.  

His blessings are on the way.  

Breakthrough is coming.  

You just can’t quit.   

Walk on friend.  Walk on.  For someday the journey will shorten but the character built by the trials will last forever.  

What Tempts You?

“If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. 13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.”   1 Cor. 10:12-13

“The biggest human temptation is to settle for too little.”   -  Thomas Merton

     Congratulations!  You’ve done what many know they need but not everybody does... you’ve made time for God today.  Each time you feel the nudge to check out the devotional page here on Facebook... I’m sure you think of many other things you could be doing.  We all know it’s good for us, but sometimes we forget or get sidetracked.  It’s a commitment.  A sacrifice of time and energy.... and you’re worth it.  But all is not easy.  When we dive in to growing in Christ, the enemy ups his attempts to make us quit.  

     That’s where you will face perhaps the biggest foe that has ever challenged you: temptation.  There will be many many things in the coming months and years that will do their best to throw you off your commitment to study God’s word and grow.  In today’s verse, the Apostle Paul writes about those very things.  He says that the temptations we face, while common to everyone, are not unbeatable.  In fact, he says that God will “not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand.”  I love that!  No matter what temptation the enemy throws our way to stop.. God will give us “a way out so that [we] can endure”  The devil puts up stop signs, detours, and red lights... and Jesus reminds us that we have His GPS.  He simply re-routes us around the obstacles and keeps us on the road to our God-potential.  

      So the question is... what tempts you to quit?  Does it seem like there’s no hope?  Are you struggling to think you’re worthy enough for God to use you?  Have you tried this type of thing before but think there’s no way you’ll stay with it?  I have some encouragement for you.  We’ve all felt that way from time to time.  Today’s verse tells us that when we have these feelings, God will give us the wisdom, the strength, and the nudge to keep going and escape the temptation.  He wants us to persevere because He loves us so very much.  I’ll be praying that when you feel tempted to stop...or believe what others say about you... or doubt that you can do it... or hear the limiting lies of the devil... that you would remember that you aren’t alone.  God is with you and your Potential Church family is on the journey alongside you.  Let’s go after this together! 

Someone Cares

Babe Ruth had hit 714 home runs during his baseball career and was playing one of his last full major league games. It was the Braves versus the Reds in Cincinnati. But the great Ruth was no longer as agile as he had once been. He fumbled the ball and threw badly, and in one inning alone his errors were responsible for most of the five runs scored by Cincinnati. As the Babe walked off the field after the third out and headed toward the dugout, a crescendo of yelling and booing reached his ears.*

Some days we strike out.  We make errors.  We take our eyes off the ball or play hurt.  For whatever reason things don’t happen the way they are supposed to or even close to the way they did in times past.  It causes us to doubt our calling, snap at our closest family members, or wonder why God doesn’t seem to care.   

Life seems to be booing at us from all sides.... from the bleachers to the box seats.  

Ever have a day [a month... a year...] like that?  Ever struggled to get out of bed in the morning for fear of rejection, ridicule, or retaliation?   

Even hall of famers have those feelings.  

Even the best have rough days.

Look at Paul... He wrote most of the New Testament... was the greatest Christian missionary the world has ever seen...  and he wrote what happened to him.

“But whatever they dare to boast about—I’m talking like a fool again—I dare to boast about it, too. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. Are they servants of Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again.24 Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not.  I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.”

All of us (even Paul) have challenges.  Sometimes the world hurts us... and sometimes we miss the ball on our own.  And what are the typical reactions? 

Stop trying.  No risk... no hurt.   

No body cares... so why should I?

No fair.  I’m trying to do the right thing and getting picked on because of it.

Sometimes we just need to be reminded that somebody cares.

Let’s look at the rest of the Babe’s story...

“Just then a boy jumped over the railing onto the playing field. With tears streaming down his face, he threw his arms around the legs of his hero. Ruth didn’t hesitate for one second. He picked up the boy, hugged him, and set him down on his feet, patting his head gently. The noise from the stands came to an abrupt halt. Suddenly there was no more booing. In fact, hush fell over the entire park. In those brief moments, the fans saw two heroes: Ruth, who in spite of his dismal day on the field could still care about a little boy; and the small lad, who cared about the feelings of another human being. Both had melted the hearts of the crowd.” *

Even though what Babe did at the plate was disappointing...

Even though what Paul suffered was crippling...

Even though what you woke up to seems too big to overcome...

Even though failure and pain happen... 

Someone cares.  

God cares.

Psalm 55:22 “Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.”

1 Peter 5:7 “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.”

Isaiah 41:10

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.

    Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you.

    I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”

Philippians 4:7 “Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

Finally, Jesus tells us:  

John 14:27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”

You are cared about, loved, and watched over every minute of every day.  Thank God for that… keep your head up… and praise Him in the days of the home run AND the strike out.  You’ll be back up at bat soon enough…  

*Ted W. Engstrom, The Pursuit of Excellence, 1982, Zondervan Corporation, pp. 66-67.

Keep Racing

    In the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, Derek Redmond of Great Britain was considered a favorite contender for a medal. It was the evening of August 3, 1992 as Redmond was pitted against seven others in a semi-final in the 400 meters. Redmond knelt poised, waiting for the race to start. As the gun went off, his body was translated into a human locomotive, feverishly charging against the other runners.   As Redmond prepared to round the curve after the halfway mark, however, he suddenly heard a pop. It was his right hamstring. Redmond soon found himself trapped by the searing pain of his leg. 

The other runners finished the race as he desperately continued his painful trek to the finish line. 

Derek saw his olympic medal dreams shattered.... the finish line seemed miles away... each step hurting more and more... He knew he shouldn’t quit... but the pain... That searing pain.  You can only imagine what must have gone through his mind.

“They would all understand if I just quit.”

“Nobody would blame me if I tapped out.”

“When will this pain stop?”

“Has anybody ever hurt this badly?”

Have you thought any of those things? I have.  

You’ve been through so much:  A painful divorce.  A bitter family fight.  Bankruptcy, failure, a diagnosis that wasn’t expected.  You’ve been told you can’t have children and it hurts.  You’ve been told by your children that you’ve been a rotten parent.  You’ve been called loser.  You’ve been rejected.  You’ve been knocked down...pushed aside...picked over...kicked down by life... and left with shreds of your dream where the whole picture used to be.  

The world is watching you down on the track.  Writhing in pain.... looking skyward and wondering why God would allow this to happen.  

But your story (and Derek’s) isn’t over.

Derek waved off the stretchers for as long as he could... the burning in his legs intensified to an unbearable level... it looked as though he was done.

From the stands, his father had been watching. He pushed his way past security guards to meet his son on the track. He then reached his weeping son. “Look, you don’t have to do this.” 

Redmond then replied: “Yes I do.” 

His father then said: “Well, if you’re going to finish this race, we’ll finish it together.”

Can’t you just picture it.  Derek’s father lifting his son’s tired body up to full standing position... bearing the weight of both his child’s muscle and the heavy disappointment in each fiber of it.  The father was not going to let his child quit.

You are God’s child.  

“Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.”  Ephesians 1:4-6

He’s not going to let you quit either.

“So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the LORD your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you."  Deuteronomy 31:6

Your blessing is coming...

“So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up.”  Galatians 6:9

You are not defeated.  The race is not over and you have not lost.  God has not abandoned you and you are not alone.  You are His... and God’s family doesn’t quit.  You are so close to a breakthrough... within reach of the finish line... almost at the place where pain becomes gain.  

God is right there to pick you up.  Together you will both finish the race... just like Derek Redmond and his dad. 

And finish it they did.  Derek and his father agonizingly limped the final 394 feet together arm in arm.  The sound of the crowd was deafening.  Tears flowed.  People screamed words of encouragement.  And Derek Redmond finished the race...not as a last place finisher... but a persevering champion.

You are a champion too.  God isn’t sitting in the stands idly watching you suffer.  He’s right where you are.  Those prayers you don’t think He hears... He has them memorized.  That suffering... it isn’t in vain.  Your heavenly Father is there carrying you when the weight of the world seems too much.  

Don’t quit.  Don’t give up.  Hear that sound?  That is the cheering of all that have run the race before you... Heavenly voices of believing relatives, friends, and family that have gone home before you... encouraging you as you finish the final 394 feet of whatever long race you find yourself in.   

So many quit right before the victory.  Be bold.   You can do it.  I’ll be in those stands cheering you on as you do.

Tempted to Give Up?

“If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. 13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.”   1 Cor. 10:12-13

“The biggest human temptation is to settle for too little.”   -  Thomas Merton

     As we continue on this journey together, I just want to say congratulations!  You’ve done what many know they need but not everybody does... you’ve made time for God today.  Each time you feel the nudge to check out the devotional page here on Facebook... I’m sure you think of many other things you could be doing.  We all know it’s good for us, but sometimes we forget or get sidetracked.  It’s a commitment.  A sacrifice of time and energy.... and you’re worth it.  But all is not easy.  When we dive in to growing in Christ, the enemy ups his attempts to make us quit.  

     That’s where you will face perhaps the biggest foe that has ever challenged you: temptation.  There will be many many things in the coming months and years that will do their best to throw you off your commitment to study God’s word and grow.  In today’s verse, the Apostle Paul writes about those very things.  He says that the temptations we face, while common to everyone, are not unbeatable.  In fact, he says that God will “not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand.”  I love that!  No matter what temptation the enemy throws our way to stop.. God will give us “a way out so that [we] can endure”  The devil puts up stop signs, detours, and red lights... and Jesus reminds us that we have His GPS.  He simply re-routes us around the obstacles and keeps us on the road to our God-potential.  

      So the question is... what tempts you to quit?  Does it seem like there’s no hope?  Are you struggling to think you’re worthy enough for God to use you?  Have you tried this type of thing before but think there’s no way you’ll stay with it?  I have some encouragement for you.  We’ve all felt that way from time to time.  Today’s verse tells us that when we have these feelings, God will give us the wisdom, the strength, and the nudge to keep going and escape the temptation.  He wants us to persevere because He loves us so very much.  I’ll be praying that when you feel tempted to stop...or believe what others say about you... or doubt that you can do it... or hear the limiting lies of the devil... that you would remember that you aren’t alone.  God is with you and your Potential Church family is on the journey alongside you.  Let’s go after this together

More Than You Can Stand?

“If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” 1 Cor. 10:12-13

“The biggest human temptation is to settle for too little.” - Thomas Merton

In today’s verse, the Apostle Paul says that the temptations we face, while common to everyone, are not unbeatable. In fact, he says that God will “not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand.” I love that! No matter what temptation the enemy throws our way to stop.. God will give us “a way out so that [we] can endure” The devil puts up stop signs, detours, and red lights... and Jesus reminds us that we have His GPS. He simply re-routes us around the obstacles and keeps us on the road to our God-potential.

So the question is... what tempts you to quit? Does it seem like there’s no hope? Are you struggling to think you’re not worthy enough for God to use you? I have some encouragement for you. We’ve all felt that way from time to time. Today’s verse tells us that when we have these feelings, God will give us the wisdom, the strength, and the nudge to keep going and escape the temptation. He wants us to persevere because He loves us so very much. I’ll be praying that when you feel tempted to stop...or believe what others say about you... or doubt that you can do it... or hear the limiting lies of the devil... that you would remember that you aren’t alone. God is with you and your Potential Church family is on the journey alongside you. Let’s go after this together!

Swim

It was a fog-shrouded morning, July 4, 1952, when a young woman named Florence Chadwick waded into the water off Catalina Island. She intended to swim the channel from the island to the California coast. Long-distance swimming was not new to her; she had been the first woman to swim the English Channel in both directions.

The water was numbingly cold that day. The fog was so thick she could hardly see the boats in her party. Several times sharks had to be driven away with rifle fire. She swam more than 15 hours before she asked to be taken out of the water. Her trainer tried to encourage her to swim on since they were so close to land, but when Florence looked, all she saw was fog. So she quit...only one-mile from her goal.  Later she said, "I’m not excusing myself, but if I could have seen the land I might have made it."

So close... but Florence quit early. 

Over 2000 years ago, Jesus’ disciples were ready to quit too.  Their leader had been crucified and placed in a tomb... and in their minds it was over.  

Might as well stop swimming.

Jesus had disappeared into the fog of an unmet promise.

Death had won.

Time to quit.

Or so they thought.

The Bible says it this way:

“That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! ‘Peace be with you,’ he said.  As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord!  Again he said, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.’ Then he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.  If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.’”  John 20:19-23

Can’t you just see it.  Jesus’ own trusted men... huddled together trying to figure out their next move.   They were convinced that the One they’d put their trust in wasn’t who He promised He was.   What would they do now?  Can’t go back to fishing, tent making, tax collecting and the like... too risky.  What if somebody remembered they’d hung out with Jesus.  Surely they’d be captured and killed.The fog had rolled in.  They could no longer see what was coming and they were scared.  Time to pack it in and give up... 

Ever felt like that?  Have you wanted to quit because you weren’t sure of the future?  Many of us have.  We feel like the situation we’re in is hopeless, helpless, and over.  Where’s God?  Why isn’t the change coming?  Why won’t the situation improve?  

The disciples thought the same thing.  Jesus heard them... He knew His men were frightened so He showed up inside the room.  

“Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! ‘Peace be with you,’ he said.”

Notice what Jesus did first.  He calmed them.  His first words back could have scolded them for their fear... corrected them in their doubt... or been upset with them because of their lack of faith.  Instead, Jesus enters the room with affirmation and comfort...

Peace be with you.  

Terror became thankfulness... cynicism gave way to celebration!

Today...when you want to quit... read those words above again.  Peace be with you.  

Those four words mean so much.  Jesus tells his disciples (and us)... don’t worry, don’t fear, don’t fret, don’t cry, don’t wonder... and most importantly...Don’t quit.  Jesus is right there with you.  You may not see Him in the uncertainties of life... but He’s there.  

Are these words for you today?  Feeling lost in the fog with no idea what’s coming?  Don’t quit.  Don’t stop swimming.  Jesus is there.  The Prince of Peace came back from the dead so that you and I would live triumphant lives... persevering through whatever holds us back from becoming who we were created to be.   Even when it feels like you are just treading water... you aren’t drowning.  Jesus won’t allow that.  

Look up... see His face in the room... experience His peace.... and swim on. 

You’ve got Him... so you’ve got this.

The Speed of Life

The other day I read that the earth spins 1000 times faster at the equator than it does at either one of the poles.  In fact, that’s why rockets are launched closer to the Earth’s midline than further away.  When a spacecraft is launched from around the equator, it is already traveling at a considerably faster speed… thus making it more fuel efficient and quicker to enter orbit.  

Isn’t that true in our lives as well?  The closer we are to the center of things…the faster paced life is.  Some thrive in the environment… while others do whatever they can to retreat to the slower pace of the poles.  But what speed does God want us to live?  

Galatians 6:9 tells us: “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”  We have to remember that It’s not about the speed of life…it’s about staying at it and not quitting.   There will be times in our lives where we’ll sprint…and others where we’ll jog.  What God is concerned about is our priorities and our perseverance.  At whatever speed you’re living… are we putting Him first?  Are we loving and serving others?  If so… run on.  Don’t give up on the dream that He’s put in your heart long before you were born.  And whatever you do… in whatever season you find yourself in… at whatever speed life is coming at you…. don’t quit.   Breakthrough is coming… and God has big things planned for you!