Determined?

(06.04.21 – Pressing On --Ecclesiastes 7:8)

My friend, may I ask you a question? Is it true that the battle is to the determined, not to the outraged; to the committed, not to those who are merely dramatic?

My friend, Life’s a story, welcome to This Passing Day.

I'm M. Clifford Brunner.

When it comes to patience in the face of frustration there is perseverance, and there is perseverance. Listen to these excerpts from the diary of John Wesley: Sunday, A.M., May 5: Preached in St. Anne's. Was asked not to come back any- more. Sunday, P.M., May 5: Preached in St. John's. Deacons said: "Get out and stay out." Sunday, A.M., May 12: Preached in St. Jude's. Can't go back there, either. Sunday, A.M., May 19: Preached in St. John's. Deacons called special meeting and said I couldn't return. Sunday, P.M., May 19: Preached on the street; kicked off street. Sunday, A.M., May 26: Preached in a meadow. Chased out of the meadow, as bull was turned loose during the service. Sunday, A.M., June 2: Preached out at the edge of town. Ten thousand people came out to hear me.

I probably would have given up sooner than did Wesley. His determination redefines the term perseverance for me. I guess if you just try sticking it out long enough, you're bound to make an impact?

Here's a story: John Killinger retells this story from Atlantic Monthly about the days of the great western cattle rancher: "A little burro sometimes would be harnessed to a wild steed. Bucking and raging like drunken sailors, the two would be turned loose like Laurel and Hardy to proceed out onto the desert range. They could be seen disappearing, the great steed dragging that little burro along and throwing him about like a bag of cream puffs. They might be gone for days, but eventually they would come back. The little burro would be seen first, trotting back across the horizon, leading the submissive steed in tow. Somewhere out there on the rim of the world, the steed would become exhausted from trying to be rid of the burro, and in that moment, the burro would take mastery and become the leader. (Leadership 1989.)

And that is the way it is with the kingdom and its heroes, isn't it? The battle is to the determined, not to the outraged; to the committed, not to those who are merely dramatic. That little burro endured and, in the end, he persevered. The Bible tells us that " . . . Patience is better than pride" (Ecclesiastes 7:8). When we decide to stick out what may seem a hopeless situation because we trust in the Lord to take what is hopeless and turn it into hope, we put pride in its place and elevate patience to the throne. God determines all things, even things that might appear hopeless on the surface. In fact, God often chooses the hopeless to become the foundation for His glory and our hope. Are you struggling in a hopeless situation? Remember the little burro and hang in there. Stay attached to your troubles and trust in the Lord. No doubt you will be tossed and thrown. In the end, however, the troubles will get tired and miracles will happen in YOUR meadow too.

We pray. Heavenly Father, when we decide to stick out what may seem a hopeless situation because we trust in You to take what is hopeless and turn it into hope, help us by Your Spirit to put pride in its place and elevate patience to the throne in our lives. We know that You determine all things, even things that might appear hopeless on the surface. In fact, You often choose the hopeless things to become the foundation for Your glory and our hope. Forgive us Lord when we struggle with hopelessness and lose our way. Help us to be like that little burro and hang in there. Help us to stay attached to our troubles and trust in You. In Jesus name we pray. Amen!

Therefore my friend, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry for itself; each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matt 6:34) This Passing Day. May this passing day honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and be a blessing to you and everyone you meet. Find a stranger and say hello. Don't let another day pass without your day blessing someone else.

If you have a special prayer request, please send your request to ”This Passing Day!”

<thispassingday@gmail.com> From Beech Springs, God bless you for Jesus sake.

Determined?

(06.04.21 – Pressing On --Ecclesiastes 7:8)

My friend, may I ask you a question? Is it true that the battle is to the determined, not to the outraged; to the committed, not to those who are merely dramatic?

My friend, Life’s a story, welcome to This Passing Day.

I'm M. Clifford Brunner.

When it comes to patience in the face of frustration there is perseverance, and there is perseverance. Listen to these excerpts from the diary of John Wesley: Sunday, A.M., May 5: Preached in St. Anne's. Was asked not to come back any- more. Sunday, P.M., May 5: Preached in St. John's. Deacons said: "Get out and stay out." Sunday, A.M., May 12: Preached in St. Jude's. Can't go back there, either. Sunday, A.M., May 19: Preached in St. John's. Deacons called special meeting and said I couldn't return. Sunday, P.M., May 19: Preached on the street; kicked off street. Sunday, A.M., May 26: Preached in a meadow. Chased out of the meadow, as bull was turned loose during the service. Sunday, A.M., June 2: Preached out at the edge of town. Ten thousand people came out to hear me.

I probably would have given up sooner than did Wesley. His determination redefines the term perseverance for me. I guess if you just try sticking it out long enough, you're bound to make an impact?

Here's a story: John Killinger retells this story from Atlantic Monthly about the days of the great western cattle rancher: "A little burro sometimes would be harnessed to a wild steed. Bucking and raging like drunken sailors, the two would be turned loose like Laurel and Hardy to proceed out onto the desert range. They could be seen disappearing, the great steed dragging that little burro along and throwing him about like a bag of cream puffs. They might be gone for days, but eventually they would come back. The little burro would be seen first, trotting back across the horizon, leading the submissive steed in tow. Somewhere out there on the rim of the world, the steed would become exhausted from trying to be rid of the burro, and in that moment, the burro would take mastery and become the leader. (Leadership 1989.)

And that is the way it is with the kingdom and its heroes, isn't it? The battle is to the determined, not to the outraged; to the committed, not to those who are merely dramatic. That little burro endured and, in the end, he persevered. The Bible tells us that " . . . Patience is better than pride" (Ecclesiastes 7:8). When we decide to stick out what may seem a hopeless situation because we trust in the Lord to take what is hopeless and turn it into hope, we put pride in its place and elevate patience to the throne. God determines all things, even things that might appear hopeless on the surface. In fact, God often chooses the hopeless to become the foundation for His glory and our hope. Are you struggling in a hopeless situation? Remember the little burro and hang in there. Stay attached to your troubles and trust in the Lord. No doubt you will be tossed and thrown. In the end, however, the troubles will get tired and miracles will happen in YOUR meadow too.

We pray. Heavenly Father, when we decide to stick out what may seem a hopeless situation because we trust in You to take what is hopeless and turn it into hope, help us by Your Spirit to put pride in its place and elevate patience to the throne in our lives. We know that You determine all things, even things that might appear hopeless on the surface. In fact, You often choose the hopeless things to become the foundation for Your glory and our hope. Forgive us Lord when we struggle with hopelessness and lose our way. Help us to be like that little burro and hang in there. Help us to stay attached to our troubles and trust in You. In Jesus name we pray. Amen!

Therefore my friend, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry for itself; each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matt 6:34) This Passing Day. May this passing day honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and be a blessing to you and everyone you meet. Find a stranger and say hello. Don't let another day pass without your day blessing someone else.

If you have a special prayer request, please send your request to ”This Passing Day!”

<thispassingday@gmail.com> From Beech Springs, God bless you for Jesus sake.