There is a real pearl of great price in this verse of Scripture, even beyond the fact that it was in this completely selfless act of love and sacrifice that Jesus brought to us the opportunity to have eternal salvation, if we put our faith in him and what he accomplished for us by enduring the cross!
For the purpose of today’s thought, I want to focus in on this part of the verse…”For the joy set before him…..he endured.”
Endurance or, in using the verb tense, endure, is an act of the will. It entails perservering, withstanding or continuing on in the face of great difficulty to see a situation through, to the end. In order to willingly, even purposefully, endure something painful or extremely difficult, there must be a hope or a “joy set before….” the one enduring. We’ve all heard of people enduring terrible pain from injuries and weeks with little food or water while waiting to be rescued from a plane crash or after getting lost in a snow storm…some have even had to endure the unfathomable pain of severing one of their own limbs to free themselves from being pinned so they could have a chance of being rescued! These brave souls found the power to endure as they thought of the lives they wanted to continue back home, loved ones...and having those joys set before them, they endured! How about those we have known who, while steadily moving toward a sure and painful death, due to a cruel and unrelenting, terminal illness, maintained a peace and courage as they looked toward the hope of a pain-free and beautiful heaven awaiting them? It’s that joy set before them! Are you with me, now? :-D
Now, let me switch gears a little bit and bring a far less worthy example than the cross Jesus carried for your sins and mine so that he could experience the joy of offering salvation to a lost and broken world, or the admirable examples of the suffering of human kind as discussed above, and bring it down to a simple analogy that I experience in my daily life.
The aspect I want to address here is one of endurance, as a noun or character trait. As a person who makes fitness a daily part of my life, I can relate to developing this trait of endurance and it doesn't just happen!
Friends, you can be sure the winner of any long distance race has established a well worn path down the trail of endurance and it has included a heaping dose of self-denial and and an iron will of determination. She has experienced plenty of aching joints and muscles, along the way, during many long runs, come sunshine or rain. She’s eaten the right foods to fuel her body, like a fine tuned engine, and mentally prepared for the long race, ahead, with one thought in mind…to win the prize. It took time to cultivate this package of preparation and build the level of endurance that wins a race. She didn’t just show up the day of the marathon and decide to run 26 miles! I know - ridiculous, right? But we try it in so many ways! We ask God to give us “spirituality,” microwave style, we want our thought life to just be “fixed” and our emotions to be “healed” without a lot of effort and we are forgetting our example, the Lord Jesus Christ, “….Who for the joy set before him, endured…” Do you think he experienced less of the pain of the cross than the full measure our sin demanded? Do you think he was immune to the feeling of being spat upon and mocked? The passage says he despised the shame. When that verse tells us he endured, my sisters, he ENDURED the cross, FULLY. He paid the penalty, pain and shame of carrying your cross and mine.
When we want to experience the joy set before us, whatever that joy is, be it spiritual growth, financial freedom from debt, a godly marriage, the comfort of knowing our children are well equipped to make their own choices to endure and walk in what they know is right, (they do have a will and a choice to make, remember) ….in any of these and more scenarios, endurance is right there, front and center! Spiritual maturity doesn’t happen without the discipline of time and the response of obedience, financial freedom from debt takes self discipline in making purchases, a concentrated focus and a healthy dose of self-denial to reach that joy set before us - the day when we are debt free. Alright – all the single ladies :-D, I dare to speak on this matter as it has been a hard learned lesson for me in my 8 years since my divorce but, if we want a godly marriage, it begins when we are single! If we can commit to sexual purity in our dating relationships, one of the hardest won battles for singles, he will bless us when the time is right! Trying to raise our children to do what is right means, at times, we must endure their displeasure with us when we say no or refuse to compromise what we know is right for them. We endure their anger or misunderstanding for the joy set before us that, later, there will be fruit and reward in their lives and ours. When Jesus went to the cross, he had to look ahead to the joy. His knowing what joy was to come sustained him as he endured that most horrible cross. The joy of the resurrection and the salvation brought to so many, by his willingness to endure, was worth it all!
Have you determined what the joys are that you have set before you or do you need to set some joys before you? You know I will refer back to the 4 areas of growth (new readers see archived blogs to the left) by now. :-D Endurance will be a part of those joys becoming a reality.
We are human and we will weaken, at times. That is why we need each other. When Jesus prayed in the garden, before going to the cross, he was upset that his disciples kept falling asleep. He, choosing to clothe himself in human flesh, for our sakes, needed their comfort and care during his most trying hour. As he prayed, knowing what was to come, he asked the Father, “If it be possible, let this cup pass from me….nevertheless, not my will but thine be done.” He did not WANT to go to the cross. He knew how painful and shameful it would be. But he was willing to endure it for the great joy that was to come. We don't want to endure hardship but, if we can set the joys to come before our spiritual eyes, we can endure!
Can we pray for endurance? God will bless our lives as we give ourselves to him and he sets before us joys untold! Believe it!
Come back, soon! I'm praying for you.
Still Climbing,
Cher
Tuesday
Visit to Arkansas - Mennonite encounter
Greetings, girlfriends!
It's been a few days since we chatted over a cup of coffee... or, in my case, today, a cup of hot tea with honey, since I returned from my visit to Arkansas with a cold in tow! It was well worth it, however, since I went to see my new grandson and my 2 year old granddaughter, in Arkansas. How precious they are!
My oldest son is a Mennonite and is married to one of the minister's daughters in the Mennonite church. For those of you who don't know what a Mennonite is, the quickest and easiest way for me to explain, in brief, is to say that they resemble the Amish. You know, the group who live in rural communities, dress very plain (the women with head coverings, long, hand sewn dresses and the men with beards), and drive horse and buggy's? The Amish don't have electricity, T.V.'s, radios or computers in their homes. The Mennonites are very similar in these ways. Their final authority is the Bible and they believe in living by the guiding principles of modesty, simplicity and economy.
The Mennonite ladies do wear a black head covering and sew their own dresses - their dress is not as severe in that their coverings are not as large and they wear colorful dresses, rather than grey or black. The men look more "regular" in that they would wear just a button-down shirt or pull-over with jeans or slacks but are discouraged from wearing name brands or anything to draw attention to themselves. They also sport a beard, although not as long as the Amish, but more cropped and well-groomed. They drive cars (middle of the road and modest - not extravagant or flashy) and have electricity. They do not, however, have T.V.'s, computers or any type of music in their homes,other than a pitch pipe and their own voices. This is to keep immoral influences out of the home. For entertainment, they visit together in each other's homes, frequently, for meals, play games, sing as a family and in groups. They also travel, quite often, to other congregations, for weddings, and other events.
I was a Mennonite for several years. I left the church 6 years ago and, thus, I am expelled from the church. Their viewpoint is that I have left the way and they want me to come back and be restored to the faith, once again, and so, when I go, that is understood. As you can imagine, there are many details to this story, far too long for this blog! I am in the process of writing a book and sketching it out, a little at a time, on the My Story page of this blog - but for the sake of brevity here, let me just say that it is always both a difficult and good experience when I visit my son and his family in Arkansas. I love them and they love me. At the same time, there are things with which I must contend as far as seating arrangements during meal times and attending church, which I do, willingly, when I go, and upon my return, I find myself tired and saddened by that circumstance in my life.
This visit was the best I've had in the past 6 years. My son and I shared a good, heart to heart visit and I also had some one on one with my daughter in law who is a sweetheart of a girl. They had some others over for singing one evening and my 2 best girlfriends (non-Mennonites) that live there also came over and hung out. I went to church with the family Sunday morning before heading off to the airport to return home. As I looked upon the rows and rows of black draped heads on the ladies side(the church coverings are different from every day ones - more like a tie down scarf) and the rows of men on the other side of the church, I was more than aware of my own "worldly" presence in my slacks and jacket, free flowing hair and make-up. Nontheless, I've been doing this for 6 years now so I've become accustomed to it. The Sunday School lesson titled, "Shipwrecks of the faith" made for an interesting thought process on my part (no doubt theirs, too). Yes, I try and maintain my sense of humor, even with the pain of the separation that is obviously a part of such a relationship. Believe me, it helps!
With my oldest being 17 at the time of my divorce (after 18 years of marriage) and being happy and secure in the Mennonite faith, he has found his place and is a loving husband and father to my grandchildren. My two younger boys are in an entirely different place...but that is for another time.
Thanks for walking with me through just this little bit of my life, today. There is oh, so much more I have yet to share. I hope it gives you a glimpse into one part of my world and hope in yours!
What I hope you take from this as I begin to share parts of my story, is that, whatever your circumstances, there is grace. You see, as my life begins to unfold, you may say, "I could NEVER go through THAT! I couldn't handle it!" And you would be right! God only gives grace for what he allows us to pass through in our lives, not for what others are walking through. II Cor. 12:9 says, "My grace is sufficient
for you for my power is made perfect in (your) weakness."
Can you trust him, today, for what he is allowing you to experience? He knows the good he wants to bring about through your difficulties and he loves you more than you can fathom!
I'm praying for you. Please remember me.
Still Climbing,
Cher
It's been a few days since we chatted over a cup of coffee... or, in my case, today, a cup of hot tea with honey, since I returned from my visit to Arkansas with a cold in tow! It was well worth it, however, since I went to see my new grandson and my 2 year old granddaughter, in Arkansas. How precious they are!
My oldest son is a Mennonite and is married to one of the minister's daughters in the Mennonite church. For those of you who don't know what a Mennonite is, the quickest and easiest way for me to explain, in brief, is to say that they resemble the Amish. You know, the group who live in rural communities, dress very plain (the women with head coverings, long, hand sewn dresses and the men with beards), and drive horse and buggy's? The Amish don't have electricity, T.V.'s, radios or computers in their homes. The Mennonites are very similar in these ways. Their final authority is the Bible and they believe in living by the guiding principles of modesty, simplicity and economy.
The Mennonite ladies do wear a black head covering and sew their own dresses - their dress is not as severe in that their coverings are not as large and they wear colorful dresses, rather than grey or black. The men look more "regular" in that they would wear just a button-down shirt or pull-over with jeans or slacks but are discouraged from wearing name brands or anything to draw attention to themselves. They also sport a beard, although not as long as the Amish, but more cropped and well-groomed. They drive cars (middle of the road and modest - not extravagant or flashy) and have electricity. They do not, however, have T.V.'s, computers or any type of music in their homes,other than a pitch pipe and their own voices. This is to keep immoral influences out of the home. For entertainment, they visit together in each other's homes, frequently, for meals, play games, sing as a family and in groups. They also travel, quite often, to other congregations, for weddings, and other events.
I was a Mennonite for several years. I left the church 6 years ago and, thus, I am expelled from the church. Their viewpoint is that I have left the way and they want me to come back and be restored to the faith, once again, and so, when I go, that is understood. As you can imagine, there are many details to this story, far too long for this blog! I am in the process of writing a book and sketching it out, a little at a time, on the My Story page of this blog - but for the sake of brevity here, let me just say that it is always both a difficult and good experience when I visit my son and his family in Arkansas. I love them and they love me. At the same time, there are things with which I must contend as far as seating arrangements during meal times and attending church, which I do, willingly, when I go, and upon my return, I find myself tired and saddened by that circumstance in my life.
This visit was the best I've had in the past 6 years. My son and I shared a good, heart to heart visit and I also had some one on one with my daughter in law who is a sweetheart of a girl. They had some others over for singing one evening and my 2 best girlfriends (non-Mennonites) that live there also came over and hung out. I went to church with the family Sunday morning before heading off to the airport to return home. As I looked upon the rows and rows of black draped heads on the ladies side(the church coverings are different from every day ones - more like a tie down scarf) and the rows of men on the other side of the church, I was more than aware of my own "worldly" presence in my slacks and jacket, free flowing hair and make-up. Nontheless, I've been doing this for 6 years now so I've become accustomed to it. The Sunday School lesson titled, "Shipwrecks of the faith" made for an interesting thought process on my part (no doubt theirs, too). Yes, I try and maintain my sense of humor, even with the pain of the separation that is obviously a part of such a relationship. Believe me, it helps!
With my oldest being 17 at the time of my divorce (after 18 years of marriage) and being happy and secure in the Mennonite faith, he has found his place and is a loving husband and father to my grandchildren. My two younger boys are in an entirely different place...but that is for another time.
Thanks for walking with me through just this little bit of my life, today. There is oh, so much more I have yet to share. I hope it gives you a glimpse into one part of my world and hope in yours!
What I hope you take from this as I begin to share parts of my story, is that, whatever your circumstances, there is grace. You see, as my life begins to unfold, you may say, "I could NEVER go through THAT! I couldn't handle it!" And you would be right! God only gives grace for what he allows us to pass through in our lives, not for what others are walking through. II Cor. 12:9 says, "My grace is sufficient
for you for my power is made perfect in (your) weakness."
Can you trust him, today, for what he is allowing you to experience? He knows the good he wants to bring about through your difficulties and he loves you more than you can fathom!
I'm praying for you. Please remember me.
Still Climbing,
Cher
All of we's
Hey girls! How's the week? What kind of week are you having so far? All smiles as you bravely forge toward the mountain top, conquering every foe along the way, and finding shelter in your storms, this week, or has your week looked a little different than that? :-) Are you seeking growth in all 4 areas of your life as you consistently apply self-discipline and delay instant gratification for long term character growth? Have you visited your knowing place, inviting the Lord to join you, as you make those important decisions? How is practicing "being present" in your moments growing your relationships? Oh and those pesky thorns in the flesh with which you battle - are you allowing God's grace to be your hiding place in those weak areas? Hopefully,it's been the kind of week where mere religious duty has been kept at bay as you focus on your relationship with God? Did you take yourself to boot camp and do an overhaul or have you just made some quick cardio runs to the cleansing closet? Has it just been a glorious week of overcoming at every turn? If so, you probably don't want to read this blog, today! :-D lol!
Can I just let my hair down and open my heart with you here, today? I hope this doesn't come as a shock or disappointment to you but I don't always feel on top of the world, inspired and motivated! :-0 No, for real! In fact, I have had a couple of crummy days of being in the heat of battle and not feeling particularly inspired! Now, I know God put a desire deep within my heart to write, to speak and to share with other women the hope I have found, even during the darkest days in my life! There is joy, rest and peace for the hurting andburdened! I have that full confidence! Having established that, I have to believe that means I must also be open to sharing on the difficult days, too.
God's grace is truly sufficient and I have experienced his strength in my weakness too many times to count. I have been carried through numerous trials, only by his goodness and grace. It's also true that I have my moments, hours, even days, when I struggle with all the same things you do! I have lonely days, angry days, questioning days, painful days, sad days, fearful days, doubting days...you name it. After all, I am human and, moreover, I am woman! In it all, I find comfort with the Psalmist,
Psalm 73:23 "Nevertheless, I am continually with you;
you hold my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will receive me to glory."
That is good news, indeed. There is another passage richer, still.
It is one of the most telling passages in the Bible and is found in Hebrews 11. I strongly urge you to read the entire chapter! It defies all that the prosperity teachers are feeding the masses, today. Don't take my word for it...see for yourself how some of the heros of the faith lived out their lives and the commendation God gave them.
Heb. 11: "And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again." All sounds peachy, huh? Read on! "Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— the world was not worthy of them."
Ladies, all of these - and all of we's - if we are truly followers of Jesus Christ, are included here, in this list of the faithful. The list just continues on in the book of life. What does your story look like? Your legacy? What about mine? I'm sure glad God has that big erasor where he blots out all of our sins when we come to him with our whole heart and he gives us a new one. Otherwise, i wouldn't stand a chance of even getting in the servant's quarters! Some in this passage were great conquerors and some were tortured and starved for their faith. It concludes by telling us that the world was not worthy of any of them. I feel the weight of my shortcomings to live out the depth of faith that springs forth in true believers when there is persecution involved and of which we know little in America, today. Our "persecution" comes in another form - a life of ease and being lulled into a spiritual sleep, I believe, but that's for another time! Most days I'm not shutting the mouths of lions - I'm too busy trying to keep MINE shut! Nor am I being being persecuted for my faith. I'm struggling just to walk as a Christian, in battling my own weaknesses, and in wanting God's light to shine in my relationships and draw others to him.
If your week has been less than inspiring and you need to be refreshed, know that you are not alone and share your heart with a friend who will pray for or with you. Keep moving ahead in faith when the warm and fuzzy feelings aren't there. God will bless you in it! Pray for me as I do for you.
"Blessed are they who have not seen and yet, believe." Jesus
Still Climbing,
Cher
Can I just let my hair down and open my heart with you here, today? I hope this doesn't come as a shock or disappointment to you but I don't always feel on top of the world, inspired and motivated! :-0 No, for real! In fact, I have had a couple of crummy days of being in the heat of battle and not feeling particularly inspired! Now, I know God put a desire deep within my heart to write, to speak and to share with other women the hope I have found, even during the darkest days in my life! There is joy, rest and peace for the hurting andburdened! I have that full confidence! Having established that, I have to believe that means I must also be open to sharing on the difficult days, too.
God's grace is truly sufficient and I have experienced his strength in my weakness too many times to count. I have been carried through numerous trials, only by his goodness and grace. It's also true that I have my moments, hours, even days, when I struggle with all the same things you do! I have lonely days, angry days, questioning days, painful days, sad days, fearful days, doubting days...you name it. After all, I am human and, moreover, I am woman! In it all, I find comfort with the Psalmist,
Psalm 73:23 "Nevertheless, I am continually with you;
you hold my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will receive me to glory."
That is good news, indeed. There is another passage richer, still.
It is one of the most telling passages in the Bible and is found in Hebrews 11. I strongly urge you to read the entire chapter! It defies all that the prosperity teachers are feeding the masses, today. Don't take my word for it...see for yourself how some of the heros of the faith lived out their lives and the commendation God gave them.
Heb. 11: "And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again." All sounds peachy, huh? Read on! "Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— the world was not worthy of them."
Ladies, all of these - and all of we's - if we are truly followers of Jesus Christ, are included here, in this list of the faithful. The list just continues on in the book of life. What does your story look like? Your legacy? What about mine? I'm sure glad God has that big erasor where he blots out all of our sins when we come to him with our whole heart and he gives us a new one. Otherwise, i wouldn't stand a chance of even getting in the servant's quarters! Some in this passage were great conquerors and some were tortured and starved for their faith. It concludes by telling us that the world was not worthy of any of them. I feel the weight of my shortcomings to live out the depth of faith that springs forth in true believers when there is persecution involved and of which we know little in America, today. Our "persecution" comes in another form - a life of ease and being lulled into a spiritual sleep, I believe, but that's for another time! Most days I'm not shutting the mouths of lions - I'm too busy trying to keep MINE shut! Nor am I being being persecuted for my faith. I'm struggling just to walk as a Christian, in battling my own weaknesses, and in wanting God's light to shine in my relationships and draw others to him.
If your week has been less than inspiring and you need to be refreshed, know that you are not alone and share your heart with a friend who will pray for or with you. Keep moving ahead in faith when the warm and fuzzy feelings aren't there. God will bless you in it! Pray for me as I do for you.
"Blessed are they who have not seen and yet, believe." Jesus
Still Climbing,
Cher
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