There is something beautiful about a billion stars held steady by a God who knows that He is doing.
From Isaiah 40:26: Lift up your eyes on high and see: Who created these? He who brings out their host and numbers them, calling them all by name; because He is great in strength, mighty in power, not one is missing.”
Donald Miller (born 1971) is an American author, speaker, and business owner. Many of his personal essays and reflections deal with faith, God, and self-discovery.
A select few face overwhelming challenges in life. Encouraged by a heart filled with perseverance, these trailblazers adopt an attitude where “Can” outplays “Can’t.”
Born in 1909, American Glenn Cunningham transformed into one of the world’s best middle distance runners. However, there was much more to this man’s personal story.
Born in Kansas, seven year-old Glenn endured burns suffered from a gasoline explosion at school. The lower part of his body was substantially burned. Doctors said that the young boy would never walk again.
Hopelessly crippled by the burns to his legs, young Glenn proved many people wrong about his future. Not only would he walk, but he ran right into the record books.
Nicknamed the “Kansas Ironman” and “Kansas Flyer,” Glenn’s perseverance and dedicated training brought him into a setting that few could ever have imagined. He emerged as one of the world’s premiere track athletes in the 1930s. The mile run became his specialty, and he went on to win numerous races and championships.
In 1934, he established a world record in the mile run (4:06:08), and his performance would not be bettered for three years. After his world record run, Glenn was quoted, “I always believed that I could walk normally, and that was the truth. Now I will run, and run faster than anyone else.”
Glenn’s amazing willpower and faith carried him onto the world stage. Running the 1500 meter run in two different summer Olympics, he proved his greatness. He placed fourth in the 1932 Olympics at Los Angeles, but he saved his best for 1936 at Berlin when he earned a silver medal.
Glenn’s Christian faith was visible in his actions and words. One of his favorite Scripture verses came from Isaiah 40:31: “But those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”
Throughout his distinguished running career, Glenn endured frequent leg pain. Few could imagine how he needed to overcome so much with a faith-filled, inner strength.
As Glenn’s running career wrapped up, the country needed his service in World War II. He served in the U.S. Navy, and he developed new physical training programs. Later he taught athletics and physical education at Cornell College in Iowa.
One of his most noted ventures exhibited his desire to care for underprivileged children. He and his wife established the Glenn Cunningham Youth Ranch, which offered a temporary home for over 10,000 foster children.
These closing words from Glenn epitomized his approach to his life: “In running it is man against himself, the cruelest of opponents. The other runners are not the real enemies. His adversary lies within him, in his ability with brain and heart to master himself and his emotions.”
From Galatians 6:2: “Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
Created with purpose
Breathing with His desires
Divine God stirs up grace
Planting what life requires
Need for community
Designing faith’s pathway
Communion joins many
Tasting Savior’s buffet
Encouragement in Christ
Sharing in Spirit’s love
Saints gathering as one
Feeling joy from above
Fellowship’s lasting bonds
Confessing sins, repent
Prayer lifts others up
Witnessing God’s intent
Blueprint for believers
Bearing life’s overloads
Love shared with each other
Transforming faith’s crossroads
From James 5:16: “Therefore confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.”
The life of faith isn’t meant for tourists. It’s meant for pilgrims.
From Genesis 12:1-2: “Now the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.'”
God
Pursues us
Mercy and justice
Nourished with Spirit’s grace
Transformation
Life’s
Twin truths
Sin’s wandering road
Infinite mercy in Jesus
Redemption
Seeking
Righteous living
Prayer and Scripture
Accountable to one Savior
Salvation
Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than going to a garage makes you an automobile.
From John 4:23-24: “But the hour is coming and is now here when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
Billy Sunday (1862-1935) was an American baseball player during the early years of professional baseball. Fortunately for believers and nonbelievers, Sunday later became one of the most influential evangelists in America during the first two decades of the 20th century.
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The teenage boy has been battling an aggressive form of brain cancer for months. Mark has shown the unwavering courage of a young man who follows God without flinching.
His pastor, Wayne, visits Mark one afternoon. The teen has been at the hospital for several days as he is undergoing another round of treatments to battle his cancer. Wayne wants to share some of God’s Word with this courageous teenager.
Mark’s hair is gone. His slender frame looks even thinner than Wayne remembers. His young body is marshalling all of its resources to battle the foe within.
Mark’s bubbling smiles lights up when Wayne walks into his room. He is thrilled to have a visitor stopping by.
To prevent transmitting any germs or infections, Wayne is gowned up. He looks more like a skilled doctor than a pastor.
After several minutes of conversation, Mark surprises his pastor by sharing a verse from Proverbs 3:5: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight.”
The fourteen year-old’s faith under such harsh circumstances is truly remarkable.
At the end of his visit, Wayne asks if he can pray over Mark. Mark quietly says, “Certainly!” The two of them share a few moments in prayer.
Walking down the hallway after leaving Mark’s room, Wayne thinks to himself, “I feel like Mark has ministered to me. I come to bolster his spirits, yet he is the one who reminds me to always trust in God.”
Published in March, 2020, this story was based on a true life experience of a fourteen year-old boy. An entire community rallied around him as he continued to battle cancer. He shared the verse from Proverbs in a video which was shared with many believers. His witness to his Lord was inspiring indeed. Sadly, Mark lost his long battle with cancer, but his courageous spirit will live on.
From Isaiah 43:2: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.”
Man navigates life’s way
Some survey ocean’s charts
Searching through its vastness
Peace fills every heart
Other times, sailing ahead
Without any vision
Vanishing in darkness
Journey’s poor decision
Life’s opportunities
Man’s knowledge not enough
Setting sail, just by chance
Tomorrow’s seas, too rough
Sound advice waits with God
His Word highlights life’s route
Sharing grace, peace follows
Time’s fate, never in doubt
God’s righteous hand steering
Toward harbor’s safe dock
Aligning ship’s rudder
Destination . . . faith’s rock
From Psalm 37:23-24: “Our steps are made firm by the Lord when He delights in our way; though we stumble, we shall not fall headlong, for the Lord holds us by the hand.”
From Psalm 23:1-3: The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters; He restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for His name’s sake.”
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Walking lost in the still darkness of night
Realizing the Lord delivers His might
Knocking at the door of life, He arrives
Granting a safe place, helps us to survive
Finding lasting peace in His Holy verse
Quenching our parched thirst, like a caring nurse
Coming with righteousness, Christ our Shepherd
Refueling us today, always treasured
Re-energizing empty hearts and souls
Blowing away blackest clouds, God controls
Lighting our way, God’s eternal love shines
Breathing His Word, offering faithful signs
Facing life’s challenges, Christ walks with us
Giving Grace, His way never brings a fuss
Guiding us to the Promised Land, Christ leads
Saving us from sin, from a Cross which bleeds
Photo by Johannes Plenio on Pexels.com
If you would test the character of anything, you only need to enquire whether that that thing leads you to God or away from God.
From James 1:2-4: “My brothers and sisters, whenever you face various trials, consider it all joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance complete its work, so that you may be complete and whole, lacking in nothing.”
Watchman Nee (1903-1972) was a Chinese church leader and Christian teacher. He authored a collection of Christian books, and he endured persecution for his beliefs. Ultimately, he died while being imprisoned for the final twenty years of his life.
Big Sky Buckeye 