Thursday, November 3, 2011

Endurance!!!

 Endurance:
the ability to sustain a prolonged stressful effort,
or activity

Yesterday, I took the boys for their swimming lesson.  There was a young man there who was meeting with two other gentlemen. It turns out, because I asked a few questions, he was being recruited for a special missions team in the Air Force.  It was a privilege to watch this young man go thru his "tests".  He swam the entire length of the pool....underwater....without once coming up for a breath of air.  Then, he had to swim 12 complete laps in 11 minutes, or less.  The recruiter told me he had "boys" who could swim that distance in 7 minutes. I overheard the young man tell the one who was timing him that he had been swimming....training....every day since July.....and that he felt he could have done better if he shaved off his beard, because it was a hindrance.
As I watched this young man, the word that kept going thru my mind was "endurance".  He had a goal in mind that he wanted to meet....and he kept on keeping on until he was able to pass the "test".  

Because I had such a busy morning, I didn't read my "verse of the day" until later in the afternoon.....
and here it is....

Hebrews 12:1 (NLT)
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us."  

The boys were fascinated with this young man....and especially with the ones in their Air Force uniform and fatigues.  I was enthralled with the skill of this boy.  We were his "witnesses"....and as he said, he needed to strip off his beard because it was a "weight" slowing him down and "tripping" him up.  He certainly "ran with endurance"....well, he swam with endurance.  As we left I just had to interrupt their conversation to tell this young man what a blessing it was to watch him.  

Isn't it wonderful the life lessons we can learn....
....if we're just observant?!?!  

HOPE your Thursday is blessed, Sweet Reader!!! 

In HIS Most Precious Love....and with mine!!! 

 

11 comments:

  1. Great verse and great post! Endurance is something I need today in my own race even though it is more of a hobble lately!

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  2. I was just reading all about endurance in Sally Clarkson's book, Seasons of a Mother's Heart. These are wonderful words of engorgement!

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  3. WOW that Hebrews verse was in my quiet time this morning! Love getting sweet confirmations from God:)

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  4. If only we Christians had the endurance in our faith walk that these specifal forces guys do on the job. We could turn the world on its head!

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  5. Thanks for sharing this Deb, the verses in Romans 5 come to mind 1-5, one of the first passages I learnt as a christian.

    God Bless - Nita

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  6. What a great picture of endurance!

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  7. I ♥ our military people...especially the Air Force. My dad and son are Air Force men!

    There are so many daily experiences that challenge my ability to endure. As Niel A. Maxwell said, ' It's important not only to endure, but to endure WELL.' I hope I can do it WELL!

    Thanks for your inspiring words!

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  8. What a blessing to be able to witness this. Thank you for sharing.

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  9. Deb:

    Last night was our last night of Bible study with Beth Moore's Stepping Up - a Journey Through the Psalms of Ascent. She used this very scripture verse in the last video session to illustrate the point that sometimes to continue on the journey God has planned, we have to put aside and lay down somethings.
    After the study, my friend and co-leader sat and talked for a good while and she and I both agreed it was time for both of us to lay a particular thing aside.

    This morning, I come here and read this - I believe God used your post to confirm what I had alredy been thinking.

    Many blessings!
    Joan

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  10. wow, such encouragement here, sister. you really provide hope and guidance. thank you so much for linking.

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  11. what great energy!!!coming by from chasing rainbow. :) come by and say hi! http://thebrookiecookie.blogspot.com/

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Kind words are like honey—
sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.
Proverbs 16:24