Endurance

We're finally starting to get some normal Fall weather. Like in the 60's & 50's, even 40's. & when it comes with no wind, it is always a blessed day to me..  We have finally gotten some much needed rain which has brought a vague green to the land. But the landscape takes the brass ring in the carousel of color! The sumac bushes & the maples look as if they have been set on fire by Autumn's torch. Then there is the softly muted amber of the oaks.

The  peachy crimson of my dwarf lilac bush.

Can you see the peek-a-boo guardian of my little corner rose garden? 

Come in, come & welcome!

I love ALL pumpkins!! But I love the warty pumpkins the best!     (Shhhhh. Don't tell the other pumpkins)

See? Aren't these just the most adorablest?!?!

Come right on in to my compact little country kitchen & I'll serve you up a dish of Mom's homemade hearty vegetable soup or Dad's made from scratch delectable white chili. & would you like a slice of warm, also homemade apple pie to satisfy those salivating taste buds? 

So, now that I've fed you with food for the tummy, (😉) it's time for food for the heart.

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The Bible has a lot to say about endurance. When we read or hear that word, I think that most of the time it gives a negative heart response. Endurance is introduced into our lives in the beginning of our walk with Jesus. The race that will be a marathon for us, yes, that will last the rest of our lives, at which time we will cross the finish line (& into Jesus arms!) Of course there will be victories & levels of achievement, but also losses & failures.

"...let us run with endurance the race that is set before us."

(Hebrews 12:1)

If you've already run some distance in your race, you may have faced some severe hardships, cruel losses, devastating pain & those bewildering "doesn't make sense" heartaches. You are the ones that I especially want to encourage. 

God is the greatest economist ever & nothing is ever for nothing. He never wastes a single moment or tear in our lives. He is very intimate with every single thing that touches us, be it joy or sorrow or even mundane & monotonous. 

"For I know the thoughts I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future & a hope." 

Jeremiah 29:11

When I look in your eyes Lord, you know what I see?                        Infinite, beautiful, thoughtlets of me.

It's true!! & because of that, we can trust, that whatever He allows, or brings into our lives, will always be productive, for ourselves & eventually, for others. 

"...knowing that tribulation produces endurance..."  (Romans 5: 3&4)

"...endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ."

2 Timothy:2 & 3

"Be watchful in all things, endure afflictions..."

2 Timothy 4:5

Endurance definition:

"The ability to withstand hardship or adversity, especially the ability to sustain a prolonged, stressful activity effort or activity; a marathon or runner's endurance."

Well, there you have it. In other words, endurance means, no matter the cost, just 

DON'T QUIT!!

When the shin splints come. 

DON'T QUIT!!

Heart fatigue sets in.

DON'T QUIT!!

Body fatigue sets in. 

DON'T QUIT!!

Pain will not alleviate.

DON'T QUIT!!

"Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, YOU MAY RECEIVE THE PROMISE." !!!

Great reward is on the way! 

& Jesus already paved the way for us.

"Because of the joy set before Him, He endured the cross..." 

& because He endured, He overcame, He made the way for us to overcome. Through His grace. His love for us is what keeps Him encouraging us, "Come on, don't give up, just a step at a time, you can do it, you're not going to fail because I'm with you every endurance step of the way, you're almost there, you're gonna make it because I will see that you do!!" How can we quit with that kind of Cheerleader?! 

I believe the days ahead will require great endurance for us as followers of Jesus, but we have already passed some endurance tests. I want to say here too, that we can always endure more than we think we can. The Lord created us with that ability because He knew what age we would be born in, & what we would need in order to have victory, to be overcomers. To be  lights in our world. He created us to be 'Marines' in our sojourn on this earth. &  He also planned for the Marines to be a lot more than a few good men. & women!! Jesus wants us to WIN! He wants us to FINISH our race & to seize the prize!!! & the training consists of...

Endurance.

Why I've written this for the October post is because November is coming. I was a Girl Scout, & the Girl Scout motto was:

"BE PREPARED".

& we will be so thankful to Jesus as He has taken & will continue to take us down the path of endurance, because it has prepared us. 

"Endurance is not just bearing a hard thing, but turning it into glory."

& not just glory, but HIS glory. Now THAT makes it worth it, wouldn't you say?

One of my all time favorite pictures of me & Jesus at the finish line of my race. My Forever Prize!!
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Raintree Perk of the Day:

"But he who endures to the end shall be saved."

Matthew 24:13

"Go & learn what this means..."  Jesus