Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Here's to the real church heroes...
The term hero is thrown around pretty loosely these days... even in church circles. But I know some real spiritual heroes. People who live radical lives. People who follow God at great cost. People who lay their lives down every day. Most of them are not well known and we rarely celebrate them. But I am making a conscious effort to encourage, salute, support, and love the church heroes I know. Here are some places I found heroes. If you look around, you may find some too. You may even be one.
In hospital rooms. Christian parents begging God to heal their children while promising to be faithful no matter what comes next. Sick, sick children talking about death, angels, and heaven. Wives holding their husband's hand as he slips into forever life. Christians dying with dignity, courage, and faith.
At funerals. Families in the midst of incredible pain singing praises, smiling with promise, grieving with hope, bearing witness that there is a better life to come. And committing that they will live on in this life as witnesses to the Kingdom of God.
In old houses, care centers, and nursing homes where couples live out their lives in pain, sickness, and faith. Where I see holy marriages of 50, 60, and even 70 years. Heroic people of faith.
On living room couches where shattered marriages work for healing. Where betrayed spouses reach out hands of forgiveness. Where struggling mates face their sin and addictions and begin the heroic task of healing their marriage, living holy, and doing real repentance.
In homes where children are raised by intentional adopting of orphans. In families where children take care of older parents, and where God is glorified.
In homes where singleness is lived out in faith. Where the divorced Christian commits to a life of peace and hope in spite of the hurt, bitterness, grief of a marriage that died against their will. Single parents struggling to get the kids up and to school, into Bible class, and keep food on the table while trying desperately to fulfill two roles. Heroes honoring God thru a life they never expected to live.
In Bible classes where the teacher greets her 30th class of First Graders as if they were the most wonderful group of children ever seen in that church. And next year will greet 31.
In smiles. Not smiles of joy seeing close friends and family, but the smile given in love and forgiveness to the person who gossiped about them, lied about them, said cruel things, or turned their back on them. Heroic.
Well, I could go on and on but you get the idea.
They are amazing heroes of faith all around us.
Celebrate them, speak a word of love and encouragement. Take a moment to send a card, invite them for a meal, make a visit, say a prayer, babysit, or buy a cup of coffee.
Hang out with them, learn from them.
And remember... chances are really good that you are someone's hero.
Thanks God for the radical heroes of faith all around me. They live by your grace. Bless them.
In hospital rooms. Christian parents begging God to heal their children while promising to be faithful no matter what comes next. Sick, sick children talking about death, angels, and heaven. Wives holding their husband's hand as he slips into forever life. Christians dying with dignity, courage, and faith.
At funerals. Families in the midst of incredible pain singing praises, smiling with promise, grieving with hope, bearing witness that there is a better life to come. And committing that they will live on in this life as witnesses to the Kingdom of God.
In old houses, care centers, and nursing homes where couples live out their lives in pain, sickness, and faith. Where I see holy marriages of 50, 60, and even 70 years. Heroic people of faith.
On living room couches where shattered marriages work for healing. Where betrayed spouses reach out hands of forgiveness. Where struggling mates face their sin and addictions and begin the heroic task of healing their marriage, living holy, and doing real repentance.
In homes where children are raised by intentional adopting of orphans. In families where children take care of older parents, and where God is glorified.
In homes where singleness is lived out in faith. Where the divorced Christian commits to a life of peace and hope in spite of the hurt, bitterness, grief of a marriage that died against their will. Single parents struggling to get the kids up and to school, into Bible class, and keep food on the table while trying desperately to fulfill two roles. Heroes honoring God thru a life they never expected to live.
In Bible classes where the teacher greets her 30th class of First Graders as if they were the most wonderful group of children ever seen in that church. And next year will greet 31.
In smiles. Not smiles of joy seeing close friends and family, but the smile given in love and forgiveness to the person who gossiped about them, lied about them, said cruel things, or turned their back on them. Heroic.
Well, I could go on and on but you get the idea.
They are amazing heroes of faith all around us.
Celebrate them, speak a word of love and encouragement. Take a moment to send a card, invite them for a meal, make a visit, say a prayer, babysit, or buy a cup of coffee.
Hang out with them, learn from them.
And remember... chances are really good that you are someone's hero.
Thanks God for the radical heroes of faith all around me. They live by your grace. Bless them.
