Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Wednesday’s Musings: Going Uphill


James 1:12 Those who stand firm during testing are blessed. They are tried and true. They will receive the life God has promised to those who love him as their reward.

Romans 5:3-5  Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;  perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

Because I cut my walk short yesterday to watch the tree service cut my neighbor’s tree, I made sure to get in 4.5 miles this morning. I have different routes but usually like to end at the ball fields.  They are close to home and I have the option of continuing to circle or come on home if I am tired.  Still every street that runs between the ball fields and my street has a long steep hill to climb. I was reminded this morning of gym class in college when the coach would make us run around the parking lot at the end of our class then up a hill back to the gym.  How much nicer it would be to have easy going towards the end.  Sometimes in life things seem to get more difficult as we approach our goal.  Press on, and don’t quit whether you are looking for a job, trying to begin or end a relationship, kick a bad habit, or deepen your relationship with the Lord.  I made it up this hill this morning and so eventually will you!

Dear Lord, help us to persevere when we feel we are not making the progress we desire.  We need your strength and encouragement every day.  We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

                  DON’T QUIT

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won if he'd stuck it out.
Don't give up, though the pace seems slow -
You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than
It seems to a faint and faltering man;
Often the struggler has given up
When he might have captured the victor's cup,
And he learned too late, when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out -
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are -
It may be near when it seems afar;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit -
It's when things seem worst that you mustn't quit.

- by Author Unknown

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