Good Morning All,
I Have been blessed to
meet some very interesting people. One young lady was named Karen. She was 14 yrs. old and she had Down’s
syndrome. I had a little trouble
understanding her, fifty years on the farm didn’t help, and she was quiet. She had an incredible amount of courage and
faith. She very calmly told of her
faith, of the certainty that God had redeemed her.
One of the speakers at the gathering told
the kids to see themselves as God’s child, before you see anything else, see
that. Don’t see the names and the labels
that the world lays on you; see that you are God’s redeemed child. This young lady did. She readily acknowledged that she was
different from most people but she knew God loved her and that was all that
mattered. I was completely enthralled by
this young gal. She had reasons to be bitter; I am sure that she had endured
more than her share of cruelty. Yet she
was very certain of her faith and held onto it with all she had.
It is that kind of courage and strength
that always humbles me. She was very
comfortable with who she was. This came
about because of her faith. I don’t know
if she ever asked God why she was the way she was; I would guess her parents
had at one time or another. Yet she was
one of the most courageous individuals that I have ever encountered. Her faith made her courageous.
Often times, when we think of courage we
think of the soldier who battles to protect and save his wounded comrades. We think of the fireman who risks his life to
save others. These people are courageous
but so is this young girl. I suspect
that for most of us real courage is just facing each day as it comes. The struggles of everyday life can be
overwhelming at times. There are many
times when we know we cannot handle the battles; fortunately, God gives us the
courage to do battle.
God has promised to be with us through all
of our struggles, battles, and fears. He
gives us the faith we need to face life with courage. His grace is freely given to us and above
all, he has given his Son Jesus, in order that we may be called “a redeemed
child of God.” That, above everything
else, is how we should see ourselves.
When we are harried or hard pressed, we need to remember, we are a
redeemed child of God. Sometimes life
will throw a lot at us and we will stagger under the weight but always remember
you are a redeemed child of God; washed in the blood of the Lamb and claimed as
God’s own. So be strong and courageous,
the Lord will be with you.
Dear Father, your mercies are new to us every day. Give us the courage to face this world and
all its pain and struggles and give us that due sense of safety in your
arms. Protect us from all that the devil
fires at us. Especially give your Spirit
to those who are in desperate need of your comfort. Move us to reach out to them with your loving
kindness. In Jesus’ precious name we
pray, amen.
God’s Peace,
Pastor Bret
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