10 Feb, 2010
I Have Seen the Promised Land?
Tracking Your Taxes: Park Pork?
If you are hoping to visit the newest crown jewel in America's park system chosen by Congress, throw away the car keys and open up your wallet. The 2,900 pristine acres of beachfront property were not cheap — or even in the United States.
The property soliciting accusations of "pork" from critics is the Castle Nugent National Historic Park. It's in the U.S. Virgin Islands, about a thousand miles from Miami and an expensive jet ride to get there.
Story provided by: liveshots.blogs.foxnews.com.
Hebrews 11:13 (New International Version)
All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.
Philippians 3:13-14 (New International Version)
Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
What does God's Story scripture teach us about pressing on?
At first glance both of these scriptures can leave you with a sinking feeling. With closer inspection you find they are meant to be an encouragement to us.
The writer of Hebrews paints a picture of our God-following predecessors, who trusted that the promise would be fulfilled even if they didn't get to see the end result.
Paul, as he writes his letter to the Philippians, is sitting in a prison waiting the judgment that would lead to his death. Even in that dark place he says to us: "I press on toward the goal, I will keep going to the end."
How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
We are left with an encouragement and challenge by both of these scriptures — not to give up. We can't give up on our friends; we can't give up in the hard points in life. We can't give up!
Over the years I have sat with lots of people who wanted to give up. Maybe you are at the place where you just want to throw in the towel. Remember like our forefathers in the faith, God has brought us to the point where we are, and He will bring us through to the end.
How can we connect today's story, God's Story scripture, and our story to others?
Just like for ourselves, we can't give up on our friends. People have asked me: "Why do you keep trying to reach that kid?" Answer: because God hasn't given up on me. I see a promised land in their life, and I won't give up on it.
A missionary friend shared with me one of the most stretching stories I've ever heard in my life. He told about a friend he had in high school that didn't know Jesus, with whom he shared Jesus regularly. The missionary's friend never responded in their high school years and he still hasn't, yet the missionary told me he has prayed for his friend everyday for 30 years. His eye is on the promised land. Will you be that faithful?
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