Giving up is not an option

Today was a small town patriotic parade in which we were part of the Color Guard.  It has been on the calendar two months.   We knew the time to be there to meet and prepare, and we knew the time the parade would step off.  All the info we thought we needed we had.

When we arrived on time we couldn’t find the Color Guard, and the line of parade was moving up.  We only thought they were getting organized.  We parked and walked towards the beginning of the line, but the line of the parade just kept moving.  Finally we asked one participant who said the parade began at the time we were told to meet up and prepare!

What happened next is that the Piper marched fast alongside the moving parade line thinking he would catch up to the Color Guard. The Piper’s Wife walked farther and farther behind, took alleys trying to catch up to at least get one picture, and then watch the rest of the parade.

As it turned out the Piper caught up to the Color Guard right when they were ending!  

What did we learn?

In life we can be told what to do and what to expect.  (Like our parade time line)

We can make our plans and follow them through.  (Like getting there on time and then trying to catch up with the Color Guard)

Often life isn’t as easy as it has been planned for us, or what we have planned, or what we expect to happen.  We can discover times, dates, situations, people, etc. do not turn out like expected.  We can run after the “front of the parade” to catch up, but find we never do so.

As a Christian when life throws an unexpected turn into our paths, we need to assess and keep living for the LORD.  If we find ourselves just chasing after and never catching up, then we need to assess the situation and figure out what would be best to do next. 

Giving up is not an option.

14 "I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 3:1-21

Perhaps we are struggling with our faith.  The world is “screaming” falsehoods, and maybe they make us stumble and doubt. We know God’s truth, it is in our hearts, but what about that “screaming”? ~ that sounds pretty good, huh? 

We have to preach to ourselves! Don’t “throw God away"!  Giving up is not an option!  We know the truth already! Why do we so easily faint?  

Trust in God.

“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me."
John 14:1

Preaching to ourselves should be a daily thing, especially when we struggle with anything!  The world is always “screaming” and always has.  Nothing is new under the sun.

"That which has been is that which will be,
And that which has been done is that which will be done.
So there is nothing new under the sun."
Ecclesiastes 1:9

Continue to the good fight.  The LORD is our strength and our shield.  This world may seem like it has it all together ~ but that is one falsehood among a myriad of falsehoods.

Seek Him!

25-26 "Whom have I in heaven but You?
And besides You, I desire nothing on earth.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."
Psalm 73