“Fight the good fight, stay the course, keep the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7
“Just keep swimming, just keep swimming,” said a rather distressed sister one morning in the prayer room, referencing the Finding Nemo film. She cried out further, “I’m not going to give in, I’m not going to give up, and I have no idea what’s happening, what God is up to, what I’m going to do now, where I am going. But I will trust God. I will keep fighting. Nobody said life would be easy.”
What had happened to cause such distress? Only about the worst. She had found out the night before her husband had been unfaithful and there she was that morning, laying prostrate on the Upper Room floor, barely able to move. Stunned. Shocked. Frozen in disbelief. A devastating time for her. It took awhile, but I am happy to say she indeed stayed true to God and kept pressing on, and she has not only survived, she has thrived since. Her faith carried her through.
Here are a few inspiring quotes on the faith needed in suffering…
Smith Wigglesworth: “We must indeed dare to press on until God comes forth through us in mighty power. May God give us faith, that power comes down like a cloud!”
Fenelon: “Faith seems to keep us constantly up in the air, never quite certain what is going to happen in the future; never quite able to touch a foot to solid ground. But faith is willing to let God act with the most perfect freedom, knowing that we belong to Him. We are to be concerned only about being faithful to what He has given us to do for the moment.”
Benji Johnson: “It takes courage to stay the course in prayer, especially when everything around you is falling apart.”
Prayer Needs This Week…
- All-Day Wednesday Prayer, a day set aside for God where people take hour slots in the Upper Room praying, worshiping, reading the Word, journaling, etc. Pray this will be a life changing ministry as it has been for others in past years
- Here are those involved – Marcia Shotzberger, Sarah Moore, Tamara Farrar, Rich Thompson, Andra Miller, Alison Hecht, Gary Smith, Maureen Smith, Alex/Sophia Phillips, Mary Hurlbut
- Refuge and Impact, our dynamic youth ministries, led by Pastor Sam
- Shine Bible Study, Wednesdays, with Alison Hecht and Robin Tench
- Men’s Upper Room Bible Study with Pastor Greg
- A Deeper Walk Bible Study on Wednesday with Pastor Jeff
- Good News Club at El Morro with Pastor Toby; and Worship Warriors
- Barnabas Cottage, a women’s fellowship, led by Kathleen Swetz
- Women’s Bible Study with Chris Lins begins this Friday morning
- Men’s Retreat, October 12-14 in Idyllwild
- Robert and Aubrey’s wedding this weekend
I love quaint, charming, beautifully situated church buildings like this one in Idaho
Final Thought: “Things work out best for those who make the best of how things work out.” John Wooden, former UCLA basketball coach
Pastor Jay