The words to this beautiful hymn were written by Johann Franck in 1653. He was born in Brandenburg, Germany. Involved in law and politics, he possessed also a religious spirit and a love of nature. He was influenced by his friendship with godly men, who helped him to avoid the pitfalls into which other young men stumbled. He wrote at least 110 religious songs, and this one appeared in a compilation of Johann Cruger’s, who also composed the music for it. Johann Sebastian Bach took Cruger’s work and arranged and harmonized it, giving us the glorious version we have today. The music is included in Bach’s chorale, Jesu, Meine Freude (Jesus, My Joy).

    I love the words to this hymn. They speak of great love and desire toward Christ, dedication to Him, and of His sovereign hand of power, even in circumstances that would seem to overwhelm us. Franck lived in a day of turmoil and war in his native Germany, and one cannot help but think that his references to protection were influenced by his surroundings. Read carefully the words and think about what they say. Their message holds great worth for us today, when we must deny worldly desires, as Christ uses His people to advance the kingdom of God, at times through great difficulty. Let it also remind us of what is above all, most precious—our relationship with the lovely Savior.
    
1. Jesus, priceless treasure, source of purest pleasure,
Truest friend to me;
Long my heart hath panted, till it well-nigh fainted,
Thirsting after Thee.
Thine I am, O spotless Lamb,
I will suffer naught to hide Thee,
Ask for naught beside Thee.
 
2. In Thine arm I rest me; foes who would molest me
Cannot reach me here.
Though the earth be shaking, every heart be quaking,
God dispels our fear;
Sin and hell in conflict fell
With their heaviest storms assail us;
Jesus will not fail us.
 
3. Satan, I defy thee; death, I now decry thee;
Fear, I bid thee cease.
World, thou shalt not harm me nor thy threats alarm me
While I sing of peace.
God’s great power guards every hour;
Earth and all its depths adore Him,
Silent bow before Him. 

​4. Evil world, I leave thee; thou canst not deceive me,
Thine appeal is vain.
Sin that once did bind me, get thee far behind me,
Come not forth again.
Past thy hour, O pride and power;
Sinful life, thy bonds I sever,
Leave thee now forever.
 
5. Hence, all thoughts of sadness! For the Lord of gladness,
Jesus, enters in:
Those who love the Father, Though the storms may gather,
Still have peace within:
Yea, whate’er we here must bear,
Still in Thee lies purest pleasure,
Jesus, priceless treasure.

“I will sing a new song unto Thee, O God: upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto Thee” (Psalm 144:9). The Psalmist David knew that music is a powerful venue to praise the Almighty God, and evidence abounds in Scripture that he himself was an accomplished musician—in fact, he was so capable that he was chosen to play before King Saul (1 Samuel 16:18–19). It is challenging, however, to follow the example of David in playing skillfully as he did. In my own life, the task of proficiently making God-glorifying music has been a serious pursuit for some years now. Although I play and teach recorder as well, the piano has been my main instrument and I would like to share a little bit of information about choosing, mastering, and interpreting a new piano piece that God has mercifully blessed me with through the sacrificial instruction of others.
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In deciding on a piece to learn, I have found that it is important to choose a piece that is honoring and glorifying to God in its content and form, for that is after all the whole purpose and aim of music (1 Corinthians 10:31). Much sacred and classical music seems to meet this essential requirement. Also bear in mind that the piece you want to learn should be difficult enough to challenge you, but not so hard that you cannot master it. And to further your abilities, make sure your repertoire pieces vary in style, key, and mood. 


Although this is not a perfect example, I hope the following illustration is useful. One year I learned a feisty Mendelssohn piano concerto from the early Romantic period in the key of G minor, a flowing Haydn sonata from the Classical period in the key of E-flat major, a meditative Bach Prelude and Fugue from the Baroque period in the key of B major, a wistful Brahms Intermezzo from the late Romantic period in the key of A major, and some hymns and hymn arrangements in various moods and keys. Also try to find a piano piece that uses a new technical or interpretive technique that you have not learned before. For example, have you ever played a piece that contained pianissimo or rolled chords? If you have not and would like to learn techniques such as these, seek out a piece that would give you practice in them.
Once you have found the “perfect piece,” then you are ready to begin learning it. I prefer to memorize a piece although memorization is harder for me, for it results in easier and superior interpretation later on in the process compared to playing from the score. Memorizing seems generally easier if it is done at the same time as the mastering of the notes and technical problems. Whether or not you intend to play your piece from the score, it is a good idea to “dissect” your piece by taking it apart into two– or three-measure sections and learning and/or memorizing the left and right hands separately. It is so tempting to play a piece from beginning to end over and over until you are familiar with it (believe me, I have done my fair share of this!) but unless the piece is very short and simple you will not truly master it; and even brief, easy pieces greatly benefit from careful study. In your section-by-section learning of the piece, identify the technical problems that pester you, isolate them, and then practice those small troublesome spots so your mind and fingers can conquer them. Make certain that your arms are relaxed and your wrists free from stiffness; I find it nearly impossible to really overcome technical difficulties without relaxation. When you have learned your piece with the hands separate, then you are ready for the next step.


Again practicing in two– or three-measure segments, master the piece with your right and left hands together. In putting your hands together, make sure that they play exactly together or your efforts will result in a muddy, unpleasant sound. If you pay careful attention to this the general character of your playing will be more clear and distinct, and your chords will snap. In addition, if you are memorizing, you will now need to memorize the piece with both of your hands playing at the same time. Memorizing each hand independently and then putting the hands together strengthens the memory and makes blackouts much less common.


Now for my very favorite part! You are finally ready to work on interpreting your piece. The first source in the interpretation of classical music is the intentions of the composer. Identify all the dynamics markings on the score and try to follow them precisely. Another source of inspiration for interpreting classical music is to listen to a recording of your piece by a reputable pianist or attend a recital or concert where it is played (of course, be careful to whom you listen and where you go—Proverbs 13:20). Listening to others also gives guidance in the finer points of interpretation not often covered in score markings, such as pedaling or shading. In sacred music, such as hymns, finding exactly how to interpret the piece can be a little more difficult, especially if the score is not marked like much classical music is. Again, listening to a recording or another good pianist’s rendition can be helpful. Do not forget that your own ears can be a great asset to you. Although they are very important at all times, they are even more so at this juncture. Your listening abilities can help you analyze the interpretation of others, as well as identify the good and recognize the bad in your own.


After mastering your new piece, I pray that you can now follow more closely the example of David in playing your instrument skillfully for the glory of God. Let us thank the Lord for allowing us to praise Him through the beautiful medium of music.
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“‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus”
‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, 
And to take Him at His Word;
Just to rest upon His promise, 
And to know, “Thus saith the Lord!”

O how sweet to trust in Jesus, 
Just to trust His cleansing blood;
And in simple faith to plunge me 
‘Neath the healing, cleansing flood!


Yes, ‘tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just from sin and self to cease;
Just from Jesus simply taking
Life and rest, and joy and peace.


I’m so glad I learned to trust The,
Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;
And I know that Thou art with me,
Will be with me to the end.


Refrain: Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust Him more!


Brianna: This hymn was written in 1882 by Louisa Stead. As the story goes, Louisa had always felt a calling to be a missionary and go to China. But due to fragile health, she was kept home in the US. She married Mr. Stead and had a daughter named Lily. When Lily was 4 years old, the family went on vacation to a nearby beach. While there, relaxing and enjoying their vacation, they saw a young boy drowning in the ocean. Mr. Stead swam out and tried to rescue him, only he was pulled under by the boy and both Mr. Stead and the boy drowned as Louisa and her daughter watched from shore. 
    Louisa was left without any means of support except for God’s care. She and her daughter were in dire poverty—one day when there was no food in the house and no money to purchase any, Louisa opened the front door to find someone had left groceries and money sitting there for her. That same day she sat down and wrote “Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus.” She later became a missionary to Africa, remarried, and once again had to stay in the US due to her health. But once recovered, she went back to the missionary field in Rhodesia and later died in Zimbabwe. Her daughter Lily married and became a missionary as well.
    Tiffany: I love the words of this precious hymn because I have lived them out! There is a wonderful rest that comes from simply trusting my omniscient and omnipotent Savior and taking Him at His Word. When I try to do things my way—trusting in my own finite knowledge of what is best—failure always ensues. Yet the Lord daily proves His faithfulness to me, giving me ample opportunity to “prove Him over and over,” and His goodness never ceases to amaze me. My constant prayer is that He would give me grace to trust Him more. The joy, peace, and victory that comes from resting in Christ and being completely surrendered to Him is truly indescribable.


“Just as I Am”
Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me.
And that Thou bidst me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.


Just as I am, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot,
To Thee Whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.


Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve:
Because Thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!


Just as I am, Thy love unknown,
Hath broken every barrier down;
Now, to be Thine, yes, Thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!


Just as I am, of that free love
The breadth, length, depth, and height to prove,
Here for a season, then above,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!


    Brianna: Born March 18, 1789, Charlotte Elliot was known by others as light-hearted and fun-loving. She lived in England where she became popular for her satirical verse and cartoons. When she was 30, she was diagnosed with a degenerative disease that quickly put an end to her carefree youth. As her disease worsened, she began to sink down into deep depression. She ceased writing and drawing, and seemed to be nearing death.
    Charlotte’s father was a godly man who often entertained ministers. One of these, Dr. Cesar Malan, of Geneva was visiting the house when he happened to ask Charlotte if she knew herself to be a Christian. Because of her illness, Charlotte tended to be irritable. In a petulant tone, she replied that she did not wish to discuss religion. Dr.  Malan apologized for any offense he might have caused and told her he would pray that she might give her heart to Christ and employ in His service the talents which He had gifted her with.
    The Holy Spirit used this simple conversation to prick Charlotte’s conscience. Because of her harsh words to the doctor, she saw the pride and alienation from God that was in her heart. After several days of misery, she went to Cesar Malan and confessed that his question had troubled her. “I am miserable,” she said, “I want to be saved. I want to come to Jesus; but I don’t know how.”
    “You are right to feel a sense of sin,” answered Malan. “Without it, no one comes to the Savior for pardon and life. But you must come just as you are, a sinner, to the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world.”
    Charlotte did. She came to the Savior just as she was. A new hope filled her life—a new calling. She wanted to know and serve her Savior. Despite her debilitating illness, she rose early and sought her God.
    She wrote: “My Heavenly Father knows, and He alone, what it is, day after day, and hour after hour, to fight against bodily feelings of almost overpowering weakness and languor and exhaustion, to resolve, as He enables me to do, not to yield to the slothfulness, the depression, the irritability, such as a body causes me to long to indulge, but to rise every morning determined on taking this for my motto, ‘If any man will come after Me, let Him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me.’”
    She began to use her literary gifts to further Christ’s kingdom. Twelve years after her conversion, she wrote the hymn, “Just as I Am.” During her life she wrote 150 hymns. Cesar Malan’s prayer was answered—her talents were used in wondrous ways. She died on September 2, 1871, at the age of eighty-two. It would be appropriate to sum her life’s vision with her own words: 
“Jesus, make Thyself to me, 
A living bright reality: 
More present to faith’s vision keen, 
Than any outward object seen: 
More dear, more intimately rich, 
Than e’en the sweetest earthly tie.”
    Tiffany: I have always treasured this classic hymn. As II Corinthians 9:15 says, “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift”! What a relief that God did not require me to meet a certain standard of holiness before I came to Him for forgiveness and saving grace. Jesus Christ paid the price for my sins, and His righteousness is now mine to claim. In the words of another precious hymn, “In a love which cannot cease, I am His, and He is mine.” Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!


“It is Well with My Soul”
Brianna: On November 22, 1873, Horatio Spafford bade farewell to his wife and four daughters as they boarded a ship which was to take them to Europe. Earlier that year, the great Chicago fire had destroyed Mr. Spafford’s business and home. He was now sending his daughters to Europe with their mother to attend school there, as Chicago schools had been burned, while he stayed behind trying to reconstruct his business.
    That night the ship that the wife and daughters were on, sunk after colliding with another sailing vessel. All the girls drowned, leaving only the mother who survived.
    The next month, Mr. Spafford was traveling on another ship to England where he planned on reuniting with his wife. As the ship passed over the exact spot Mr. Spafford’s daughters had drowned, a poem began to form itself in his mind:


When peace like a river attendeth my way
When sorrow like sea billows roll,
Whatever my life, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.


Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hast regarded my helpless estate,
And has shed His own blood for my soul.


My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought,
My sin, not in part, but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, oh my soul.


And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll,
The trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend,
Even so it is well with my soul.


Tiffany: I have echoed the words of this hymn in moments of peace, joy, and gladness; and I have recalled it in times of sorrow, confusion, or disappointment. No matter what the season of life I am in, the Lord has used it to encourage me. Dear sisters, it is well with my soul! I can say that with strong confidence, because I know that my Redeemer lives—one day my faith will become sight, and even now, while I “see through a glass, darkly,” His peace, His joy, His love, His grace, His strength, and His presence fill my daily walk with my Savior. Regardless of the circumstances I find myself in, my God is ever with me and He upholds me with His right hand, where no one can pluck me out.
    Conclusion: Most hymn writers were ordinary Christian men and women who responded in a Christ-like manner to various circumstances that came their way. They then proceeded to record and share God’s faithfulness and the lessons He taught them through trials and triumphs. As daughters of the King, may each of us do likewise—proclaim the goodness of our Lord! “I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known Thy faithfulness to all generations.”—Psalm 89:1

The words of this lovely hymn were written by Isaac Watts, a familiar hymn writer during the 1700s. William Croft composed the tune before the song was written. The reason why I chose this beautiful hymn for my article is because of the comfort and joy those words bring to us in this particular hymn. Singing these divine words can help a lot when you are feeling alone and forsaken by God. But this song proves that God will never leave or forsake you. The lines in this hymn were written from Psalm 90:1–5.
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Oh God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home!
 
Under the shadow of Thy throne
Thy saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is Thine arm alone,
And our defense is sure.
 
Before the hills in order stood,
Or earth received her frame,
From everlasting Thou art God, 
To endless years the same.
 
A thousand ages in Thy sight
Are like an evening gone;
Short as the watch that ends the night
Before the rising sun.
 
Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
Bears all its sons away;
They fly, forgotten, as a dream
Dies at the opening day.
 
Oh, God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Be Thou our guard while life shall last,
And our eternal home.








This is my favorite hymn, and I hope that you will find comfort in the words like I do when you sing them. May God bless you in all that you do and say!

I slumped into the nearest chair I could spot as I staggered into the Alaska Medical Station. The pressure bandage was not working and my now stump-of-an-arm was dripping very heavily with blood. I was in shock from the sheer trauma and massive blood loss from the accident and had made it to the emergency medical station none too soon. Moments later I vaguely remember falling towards the floor as I began to pass out and hearing the medical personnel holler for a gurney. I remember feeling disoriented as I faded in and out of consciousness as they transported me somewhere very quickly, I couldn’t really say where. There was the anesthesiologist who tried to ask me my name – desperately wanting to know something – anything – about his patient. Maybe my birthday, or if I had any family? I could hear him and get my eyes open for a moment but couldn’t find the words to answer. I was alone and had no one to speak for me. In my brief periods of consciousness I remember the cold ultrasound gel on my belly as they scanned me for internal injuries, the sharp poke in my foot as a nurse tried valiantly to start an IV in my shriveled veins, a doctor trying to get a tourniquet around my arm to control the bleeding, and someone muttering something about hoping they wouldn’t fail. 
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It was just a drill, but it was very real. You could hear it in the strained voices of the rescuers and cries of the other volunteer trauma victims.  You could see it in the field equipment and neatly organized bins of supplies managed by the National Guard and the disaster relief branch of Samaritan’s Purse. It was designed to be very real as it was part of a state and nation wide “Capstone” disaster preparedness exercise simulating response to a 9.2 magnitude earthquake similar to the quake that rocked south-central Alaska in 1964. It was a test of how well the state could respond to such a massive catastrophe. Following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, where it became quite evident that disaster preparedness was severely lacking across the country, individual states and our nation have worked very hard to become disaster ready – both to mitigate hazards and to promote the safety and wellbeing of their residents in disaster situations. As a whole, government agencies are much better prepared today than they were 10 years ago, but disaster preparedness must not stop with state agencies. We as individuals must do our part! 
Suppose you live in the Midwest and without warning a category five tornado rips through your community. Usually you and your family would grab your flashlights, a blanket or two, and evacuate to your basement to wait out the storm. You are used to the drill and have made the dash to the safety of your basement perhaps a hundred times in your life. But today is different. You are not at home. You have been out teaching piano lessons to other homeschooled students in your community. Your dad is at his office in town 20 miles from home and your older brother has been doing fieldwork for the rancher 7 miles down the road in the other direction. Your mother is at home with the little ones. 

The disaster doesn’t end with just one tornado. The big funnel cloud has triggered numerous smaller tornadoes in the nearby area. The tornadoes are then quickly followed by thunderstorms and flash flooding. The power is out and the phone lines down.  You are stranded on the road due to impassible floodwaters. You dad can’t get home because the roads have been closed due to downed trees and power lines. You try to call your mom on your cell phone, then your dad, then your neighbor. You can’t get through to anyone – all cell lines are busy. You don’t know if your family is safe and there is no way to get in touch with anyone. You don’t even know if you still have a home.  

Your brother has been severely injured and is being air lifted to the trauma center two hours away. He has severe allergies and a complicated medical history it is important for the emergency physicians to know about but at this point your family doesn’t even know yet that he has been injured. Your mother and little siblings are safe but your home is destroyed and your little sibling’s inhaler she relies on for controlling her asthma is gone with no backup. You have still had no contact with your mom, dad, or brother and do not know where they might be as the mayhem of such a disaster ensues. 

How is your family going to find each other? How are you going to communicate to the doctors the essential information they need to know about your brother? How are you going to manage until state and federal help arrives? Where are you going to shelter and how are you going feed the family? What if help is delayed in getting to your community?
If you don’t live in a tornado prone area, what if a major earthquake shook your home, or your community was evacuated for a wildfire or hurricane? This scenario is not a scare tactic; it is designed to help you think about how ready you are. Perhaps the scenario sounds far fetched, but it really is not - major natural disasters are occurring with increasing frequency and we regularly see their destruction. Perhaps you think your area is not at risk for such natural disasters. Sadly no place, and no one, is immune. And so it is wise to ask yourself,  “Am I/is my family disaster ready?” Scripture tells us not to fret about our future (Matthew 6:25, Philippians 4:6), so do not worry or prepare for such disasters in fear. Instead, be prudent and ready (Genesis 41, Proverbs 30:25, Proverbs 31:21).  

Perhaps being prepared for something so colossal and unpredictable seems overwhelming. Maybe you don’t know where to begin. That is okay. To make your journey to disaster preparedness as easy as possible, the process can be broken down into five basic steps: know your local hazards, create a response plan, build an emergency supply kit, prepare your home, and put your action plan into practice. 



Know Your Local Hazards
Begin the road to emergency and disaster preparedness by considering the potential hazards in your area: house fires, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, wildfires, flooding/tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, and wind/snow/ice storms. Consider the type of damage each can cause, how each would need to be responded to (evacuation or shelter-in-place), and what you can do to mitigate the risks associated with these disasters and minimize damage. Although this article focuses on being prepared to respond to natural disasters, know the potential man-made disasters that you could be exposed to (e.g., chemical or radiation contamination from nearby energy and processing plants) and research what you need to do to be prepared for such events. Make a list of these hazards and keep each in mind as you work through the remaining steps to become disaster-ready.



Create a Response Plan
Communication during and in the aftermath of a major emergency can be challenging. In the midst of the disaster it may be hard to remember even basic information such as your home phone number or address. During major disasters it may also be difficult to impossible to make phone calls as phone lines may be down and cell lines overwhelmed by the volume of calls as everyone it trying to find their loved-ones and make sure they are safe. If you are stranded away from your home and can’t contact your family, it may be very difficult to find them. Having a response plan will help your family be able to respond to a disaster in an organized and calm manner and will help minimize stress.  

•  Compile all your immediate family member’s contact and other important information into one place. This should include home address and home phone number, birthdates, individual phone numbers (cell and main work/school numbers) and addresses (work and school, and residence if not living at home). Consider also including each family member’s food and medication allergies, current medications/supplements, and medical/surgical history.
•  Also compile phone numbers and addresses for your extended family or other individuals that would need to be notified in case of an emergency.  
• Choose someone to be your family’s outside Point of Contact. This can be a relative or family friend but it is important they are able to remain calm in a stressful situation, keep track of details, communicate clearly, and live a distance from your area. During a disaster when local phone connections are overwhelmed, it can be easier to make long-distance calls. As such, if you are not able to communicate with your family directly, information can be relayed back and forth through your Point of Contact. Your point of contact can also be responsible for communicating information about your situation as necessary to your extended family. Also, keep in mind that in a disaster situation where cell phone lines will likely be overwhelmed, texting takes up less bandwidth, meaning more text messages can be transmitted at once than phone calls. By texting when possible instead of calling, you will help limit cell line congestion so more people can communicate with each other. If bandwidth is not available at the time you initially try to send your message, your text messages will go through when bandwidth becomes available.
• Designate family meeting locations should you need to evacuate your home or cannot get back home. You should have three designated meeting locations: outside your home, outside your neighborhood, and an alternate meeting location.  
• In the event of an evacuation, the Red Cross, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), or other agency will provide shelters. For your own wellbeing and comfort, however, you may wish to pre-plan a shelter/evacuation location should you need to leave your home. Consider friends or family living far enough from your home that they are unlikely to be affected by the same disaster and yet close enough to reach them easily. Also consider ease and safety when traveling to your evacuation location (potential for road damage, road obstacles, traffic flow, etc.).  Note your chosen evacuation location’s address, phone number, and contact person. 
•  Pets are not allowed in evacuation shelters. If you have pets, create a plan for making sure they can be cared for. 
• Compile contact information for your utility companies for emergencies requiring utility shut-off, repairs, or to have utilities turned back on again. 
•  Organize all of this information into a neat document, update it regularly, and keep it readily accessible. Consider keeping a copy on your refrigerator, in your emergency supply kit, in each of your vehicles, and giving a copy to each family member who works or goes to school outside the home. Be sure you also give a copy of the document to your Point of Contact! Remember this is your “brain” during a disaster situation. It should be clear and concise and outline all important information you will need to know or emergency responders might need to know to help you. 

Build an Emergency Supply Kit    
    After you have you disaster response plan in place, it is time to build your emergency supply kit! This kit will contain everything you would need to survive and cope with a disaster – whether sheltering in place or evacuating – for a minimum of three days. 

• Food. Your supply kit should contain enough food to feed your family for a minimum of three days (a minimum of seven days if you live in Alaska). As you choose what types of food you want to include in your kit, consider shelf life, ease of preparation, and ease of transport. Food preparation may be difficult in an emergency without power and with potentially compromised sanitation. With this in mind, the less effort that has to go in to food preparation, the better. If you have a large family and need to evacuate, it may be difficult to transport a large quantity of canned goods. You may consider purchasing prepackaged freeze-dried emergency food kits. Freeze dried foods generally have a very long shelf life (10-20 years) making this a convenient option as your food supply with not need to be rotated out and replaced very often. Keep your food options as healthy as possible and include snack items that are calorie and nutrient dense. Include some comfort foods as well! 
• Water. Your emergency supply kit should contain one gallon of water per person times three days (again, times seven days if you live in Alaska). Water should be stored in food-grade jugs with two drops of non-scented chlorine bleach per gallon of water. This small amount of bleach is designed to keep your water from growing things while it is stored! Greater quantities of bleach are required to treat contaminated water! Always follow the local authorities’ instructions for treating water after a disaster. Water should not be stored in empty milk or juice jugs as they leave residue in the jugs that cannot be adequately cleaned off for water storage. If you choose to use freeze-dried foods in your supply kit, you will need additional water for rehydrating your meals. Your water supply should be replaced twice a year. 
• Cooking. Compile the basics you will need for food preparation: cooking pots, cooking utensils (including a can opener!), a bowl or plate and cup for each family member and eating utensils.  To keep it simple, only use bowls and sporks for eating. Consider including a camp stove in your kit. If you do include a camp stove, make sure you have adequate stove fuel, matches/lighter, and a stove repair kit. Only use a camp stove outside in a well-ventilated area! 
• Sanitation: Sanitation is incredibly important during a disaster as disease can spread quickly without good water, regular plumbing, and waste management services. Include a variety of sizes and generous supply of garbage bags, wet wipes, hand-sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, unscented chlorine bleach, tissue, toilet paper, and feminine hygiene supplies. 
• First Aid Kit: You can purchase a pre-assembled first-aid kit or you can build you own. If you build you own, consider the types of injuries you may encounter and then pack the items you would need to treat those injuries. Include over the counter medications including pain relievers, decongestants, antihistamines (Benadryl), antibiotic ointment, laxatives, antidiarrheals, antacids, and any vitamins, herbs, or essential oils your family uses to treat common colds and illnesses. If any of your family regularly takes a prescription medication, ask your doctor for an extra week or two supply to keep in your emergency supply kit. If this is not possible, make a copy of your prescriptions and keep them in your first aid kit. This will make it easier to obtain a replacement if you cannot gain access to your regular medications at home. Also include a pocket first aid or medical reference guide. 
• Toiletries: Add basic toiletries in your emergency supply kit: toothbrushes, toothpaste, hairbrushes, soap, sunscreen, etc. If your family wears contact lenses or has special dental devices, be sure to include the necessary supplies for these items as well. 
• Clothing, Warmth, and Shelter: Include tarps and space-blankets in your supply kit as well as matches or lighters. Pack a set of clothes for each family member. Consider the temperatures for your region and possible circumstances you may be living in when you make your clothing selections. To keep expenses down, use clothes that are rarely worn or purchase clothing at the thrift store. Also include blankets, or if you have sleeping bags, store these with your emergency supply kit for easy access. If you live in a cool climate, consider adding instant hand and toe warmers to your kit. These can be purchased at sporting good stores, Costco, or online. 
• Lighting and Communication: Make sure you have adequate lighting. This can be candles (with matches) or flashlights/headlamps or both. Be sure to pack extra batteries if you are using flashlights. Each emergency kit should also contain a portable radio (again with extra batteries). This is important for keeping updated on inclement weather reports and receiving instructions on evacuation, emergency shelters, etc. If your family has an extra cell phone, include this in your kit. Store the phone with the battery removed (and an extra charger if available). All cell phones, regardless of whether or not they have a working phone number or are on a working phone plan, are designed to be able to call 911. This can be used as a backup communication method as necessary. 
• Important Documents: Make copies of important family documents (ID cards, passports, birth certificates, marriage license, life insurance policies, home mortgage documents, etc.). Be sure you also have an emergency supply of cash in small sized bills. If you need to make any purchases and the power is out you will not be able to use a debit or credit card and change may not be available. Also consider including a CD or thumb drive with special family photos. Keep all of this along with a copy of your disaster response plan in a sealed, waterproof bag in your supply kit.  You may also choose to send copies of your important documents to your emergency Point of Contact.
• Supplies for Babies and the Ill, Disabled, or Elderly: If you have a baby in the family, be sure to include items such as diapers, extra clothing and blankets, canned baby food, formula, and bottles. (Formula and bottles should be included even if the baby is usually breastfed in case the mother is injured or otherwise becomes unable to breastfeed.) For those who are ill, disabled, or elderly, ensure you have a thorough written medical history and medication list with medication dosages (keep this with your other important documents). Include extra prescription medications if possible, as well as other necessary equipment and supplies.
• Pets: If you have pets, consider the items you would need to care for them and include them in your emergency supply kit. Keep copies of pet licenses and vaccination records with your important documents. 
• Safety and Clean-Up Equipment: In the aftermath of a disaster you will want to have the safety equipment and the supplies you may need to start the cleanup process. Items you may wish to include: high-visibility vests, safety glasses, work gloves, and heavy-duty multi-purpose cleaner. Every kit should include N-95 dust masks. (Vests, masks, glasses, and gloves can all be found in small sizes for children too!)
• Miscellaneous (But Important!) Items: Be sure to add the following items to your kit as well: rope, duct tape, super glue, multi-tool, pocket knife, local map, whistle, scissors, safety pins, bandanas (can be used for many things), small notebook, writing utensils, sewing kit, small games, and a Bible.  

    As you work on building your emergency supply kit, there are a couple things to keep in mind. First, you do not have to purchase all new items for your kit. To keep the cost down, collect up all the extra items you already have around your house that are not commonly used. Then make a list of the other items you will need and purchase slowly as you are able. Budget a certain amount per month or choose to add a certain number of items to your kit each month. Wait for items to go on sale!  
    Consider how you will store your emergency supplies. This may be in a couple large plastic storage bins, 5-gallon buckets, large duffle bags or a combination of these. Plastic bins or buckets may be best for keeping supplies clean and dry but may not be practical for storing clothing, blankets, or sleeping bags. Labeling the outside of your storage bins with each bin’s contents will make finding and keeping your supplies organized a lot easier! Store your kit in a safe and easily accessible location (such as in the basement if you live in tornado country). 

    After your supply kit is built, you will need to regularly (once every 6-12 months) rotate out food and other items with expiration dates (including medications) and replace with new. As you pull “old” items from you emergency kit, add them to your regular household supply so they can be put to use and not wasted before their expiration dates. Also be sure to update clothing sizes for your growing family members! To help keep your emergency supply kit and response plan current, update it on a regular schedule such as with the start of each new year or when you do your spring cleaning. Assign the task to one person or make it a family event.



Prepare Your Home
    Making sure your home is disaster ready is just as important as your response plan and emergency supply kit. Home preparedness will help you avoid undue hazards and alert you early to dangerous situations. 

• Install smoke detectors in your home. Smoke detectors should be installed on each floor of the house, inside every bedroom, and in the hall outside of bedrooms. Smoke detectors should be tested monthly and batteries should be replaced yearly.
• If you live in a multi-story home, consider purchasing a fire escape ladder. These can be purchased at Lowe’s, Home Depot, Walmart, or a number of online stores for between $40-$70 depending on the length of the ladder (2-story or 3-story). They are compact and easily fit under a bed. 
• If you live on property with woods and brush, ensure dead trees, fallen sticks, and dry brush is kept cleared away from your house.  This will help prevent wildfires from getting too close to your home. 
• Install carbon monoxide alarms in your home. These should be present on every floor of the home, with one located near the bedrooms. 
• Secure your water heater and furnace to the wall. Also secure other top-heavy items to the wall such as bookshelves and china hutches. This will help minimize hazards from falling objects during earthquakes. (This is a good idea even if you do not live in earthquake prone areas.) Small breakable nick-knacks can be secured to shelves using museum putty or tacky.  
• Keep harmful chemicals (weed killers, solvents, pesticides, and heavy duty cleaners) in a latched cupboard or shelf with a safety gate to prevent chemicals from falling, breaking open, and creating hazardous spills.  
• Learn how to shut off gas and water to your home from the main shut-off valves. Make sure you have the appropriate tools for the task and keep them easily accessible where everyone knows where to find them. You may consider posting shut-off instructions with diagrams near the shut-off valves. Remember that once gas has been shut off, it should only be turned back on by your gas company! 
• Make an inventory of your household belongings. As long and tedious as this may seem, if you should ever lose your home to a house fire or natural disaster, this inventory will be invaluable in helping with the insurance recovery process. Keep a copy with your other important documents in your emergency supply kit and send a copy to your emergency Point of Contact. 

Practice, Practice, Practice!
    A plan is great but drills and practice are what will really demonstrate if you are ready for a disaster. Practice will show where there are deficits in the plan and give you a chance to adjust it as necessary. Practice will also help make responding to a disaster according to the plan second nature. The more real-like the drills and practice, the better response you will be able to have to a real emergency situation. You can have fun with the practice and make it engaging for the younger children in your family. Here are just a couple of ideas.
   
Start with a fire drill. Teach young children how to check for heat or smoke before opening a door. Find the nearest outside exit and discuss what you would do if that exit were blocked. Call out a fire drill sometime during the day and practice meeting at your designated meeting location outside your home. When everyone is comfortable with that (particularly the younger children), set off your fire alarms for the drill. This will give everyone an opportunity to become comfortable with the noise of the alarm and practice remaining calm and thinking carefully under the pressure of a more real-like situation. You may even block off a common house exit to practice finding other ways out. Finally, consider a very late night or very early morning drill when most people will be in bed and asleep. Again, this will give everyone an opportunity to practice remaining calm and following procedures when they may feel disoriented. If you have a multi-story home and have a fire-escape ladder, consider practicing with it (with adult permission and supervision only!) Always be sure to debrief after each drill to see where there is room for improvement and to make sure everyone is comfortable and not scarred. You may consider holding similar drills for tornadoes and earthquakes. After everyone is comfortable with the drills, keep up your skills with periodic practice (1-2 times a year). 
   
After mastering small-sale fire, earthquake, or tornado drills, progress to having a whole family, full-scale disaster drill. Start by reviewing your disaster response plan and meeting locations with the family to be sure everyone is familiar with the process. Create your disaster scenario and have fun with it! Make it as real as possible and complex to create a challenge. Choose a date for the drill and make sure your Point of Contact is available to participate as well, as it is just as important for them to know the procedures as it is for your family. To add to the life-likeness of the exercise, give your family a general time period for the drill (within a week or two) rather than the specific date. A day where everyone will be spread out in different places will be best as it will require good use of your disaster communication plan and meeting locations. Consider assigning one or two individuals in your family to roles of being injured or otherwise unable to communicate with the rest of the family. (Again, only share these special assignments with the specific individuals with those roles to make the drill as realistic as possible.) Determine how you will announce the start of the drill (texting might work best) describing the scenario and see how it goes! Be sure to debrief afterwards evaluating what worked, what didn’t work, and how it might be improved. Also discuss people’s feelings and emotions about the drill and a potential disaster situation. Remember, drills are not designed to create fear but to help make the unknown less scary and to empower you to respond wisely. Consider having annual drills to keep everyone familiar with the response plan and to give you an opportunity to adjust the plan as necessary as your family grows and dynamics change. 


Additional Resources and Emergency Training

Additional helpful information and resources on disaster preparedness can be obtained from the following agencies:

• American Red Cross 
• Federal Emergency Management Agency
• Your state’s Department of Health or Office of Emergency Management

To help you become more prepared for managing medical emergencies in a disaster situation or for every-day preparedness, consider taking a first aid or basic life support class. 

• Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED training is available from the American Red Cross. Contact your local Red Cross division to find a schedule of available classes. 
• The Wilderness Medicine Training Center offers basic and advanced first aid classes for the wilderness setting (or anywhere you may not have easy access to emergency services – such as a disaster situation). For those interested in more in-depth training you may consider taking a Wilderness First Responder course, also available through the Wilderness Medicine Training Center. They may be contacted at: (509) 996-2502. (I have taken training through this agency a few times and have been very happy with the company and training. Please be advised, however, that many of their class attendees come from somewhat rough working environments.) 
• If you enjoy the basic or advanced first aid classes and are looking to further expand your knowledge and to challenge yourself, consider taking an EMT class! This will give you an even greater medical knowledge and will also train you in disaster management skills and mass casualty response. 

Although becoming disaster ready may take a great investment of time, energy, and resources, this preparedness will help to protect you and your family and enable you to be of greater help to others when disaster strikes. Remember that it is a process; it does not have to happen overnight, or even within a week or month. If you get discouraged in the process, remind yourself why you are going to so much effort – you want to be prudent and ready! Consider finding someone to keep you accountable for getting it done! Do what you can now and continue working on it little by little until you have a solid disaster response plan, a well stocked emergency kit, and have put your action plan into practice. Then don’t stop there. Share what you have learned with your friends and family and help them become disaster ready also. A truly disaster ready state or nation must start with individual and family preparedness!  


*The contents of this article is written following disaster preparedness guidelines published by the American Red Cross, Federal Emergency Management Agency, National Fire Protection Association, and the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. 

   A candymaker in Indiana wanted to make a candy that would be a witness, so he made the Christmas candy cane.  He incorporated several symbols for the birth, ministry, and death of Jesus Christ
     He began with a stick of pure white, hard candy.  White to symbolize the virgin birth, and the sinless nature of Jesus.  Hard to symbolize the Solid Rock, the foundation of the church, and the firmness of the promises of God.
     The candymaker made the candy in the form of a “J” to represent the precious name of Jesus who came to earth as our Savior.  It could also represent the staff of the Good Shepherd in which he reaches down to lift out the fallen lambs who like all sheep have gone astray.  (The Shepherd watching over His flock)
     He looked at the candy cane he had made and it looked so plain.  He decided to stain the cane with red stripes.  He used the red stripes to show the beatings Jesus received by which we are healed.  The red stripes symbolize the blood shed by Jesus on the Cross, so that we can have the promise of eternal life.
     Unfortunately, the candy became known as a candy cane- a meaningless decoration seen at Christmas time.  But the meaning it still there for those who have “eyes to see and ears to hear.”  I pray that this symbol will again be used and witness to the WONDER OF JESUS AND HIS GREAT LOVE that came down at Christmas and remains. 
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Dear Sisters,

Greetings in our Lord Jesus! I am so thankful for the gift we have had to walk together through the years that Tiffany has published Virtuous Daughters magazine! It's sweet to follow the Lord and to reflect on the lessons that He is bringing home deeper and deeper in our hearts as the years go by. I am excited to share with you a few things the Lord has been teaching me lately on the topic of identity.

How would you describe yourself? Maybe someone has asked you before “what you do.” The typical answer we give is something along the lines of what our occupation is. The world talks a lot about identity. And to be honest, I have never really put much stock in the whole discussion. However, the Lord is showing me the importance of knowing the TRUTH about who I am—in Christ. That makes all the difference. Christ is all (Colossians 3:4). He gives all meaning to our existence. So the question about identity is important—really important. And letting the glorious truths of this reality sink in and shape our lives is critical.

If you're like me, maybe you tend to (maybe subconsciously) place your identity or worth in things like your role as a daughter, sister, friend, student, photographer, pianist—you fill in the blank! Maybe you even base your self-worth and value on your perceived success or failure in any or all of these areas.

Earlier this year, as I was studying the book of Ephesians, I was really struck by the contrasts given in chapter two—contrasts between our lost unredeemed state, and our new life in Christ. This got me thinking about WHO I really am in Christ.
Who we were before Christ...
•    We were dead in sin
•    We walked according to the world, the prince of the power of the air, 
•    We were children of disobedience
•    We were children of wrath
•    We were DEAD
•    We were aliens and strangers and utterly without hope!


Yet, look at the glories of our new state in Christ:
•    We are quickened (given life) with Christ
•    We are raised up and seated in heavenly places
•    We are saved by grace as the GIFT of God
•    We are His workmanship, created to do good works
•    We are brought close to God by the blood of Christ
•    We are RECONCILED to God!
•    We are fellow citizens with the saints in His household


These truths are enough to meditate on and be awed for a lifetime. We who were utterly spiritually dead, have been raised, reconciled to God, made a citizen of His kingdom, and given the promise of ruling and reigning with Christ!

THIS is the defining truth that we must find all meaning! It's not in our ability to anything, to achieve a certain accomplishment, to dress a certain way, or to be the best daughter/wife/mother, etc. This has been a freeing, yet in many ways, difficult lesson for me to learn over the past few years as the Lord has humbled my heart in many areas. Truly, we are nothing apart from Christ. This is why Jesus said, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5).

Nothing can change the fact that our identity is ultimately—and forever—as a child of God. A daughter of the Most High. Romans 8:17 says, “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” 

The knowledge of this truth transforms the way we are able to walk through the different seasons of this earthly journey. You see, life will bring changes to any or all aspects of our existence. Yet, who we are called to be in Christ remain unchanged throughout time. We are saved to walk worthy of the calling we have in Christ, with all humility, meekness, patience, forbearance, and love (Ephesians 4:1-2). We are chosen, as a royal, peculiar people, to show forth His praises (1 Peter 2:9). We are His children, and no change or hardship will ever separate us from that...not death or life, no powers whether spiritual or physical, no changes or trials (Romans 8:37-39). To soak in these realities...is incredible.
Knowing WHO Jesus is and who He has made us to be means that we can also face the future without fear...because “He hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will” (Ephesians 1:4-5). What are your personal fears about the future? Soak in the truth that He will do His perfect work, and nothing will thwart it!

I'm also finding that these seemingly lofty truths can even transform the hardest of days! It's a real reality. It's not a vague, disconnected, distant truth somewhere out there. When we know and live in the identity that we have in Christ Jesus, it's a living, transforming reality right NOW and gives context and meaning to this very moment. On the difficult morning when things just don't seem to be going right at all...when we are weakest, facing a long to-do list ahead...when we are discouraged about our inadequacies....then the truth of Christ and who we are in Him changes it all. It's so important and helpful to bring Scripture to mind. I love Colossians 2:10—“Ye are complete in Him, which is the head of principality and power.” My feelings may tell me I am weak, incapable of doing what He has given me to do today. The truth of Scripture tells me I am complete in Christ. He is everything I need. I must depend on Him and abide in Him for strength. This is why He redeemed me...to make Himself known.
And sometimes, God chooses to make Himself known in the most mysterious of circumstances. We don't always understand what He is doing. Sometimes the things that we are called to walk through aren't exactly our “Plan A.” Whether it be loss, sickness, injury, singleness, loss of someone you love, disappointment, unsaved relatives, a move across the world...whatever it is, maybe some days you feel like you are living in “Plan B.” Once again, the truth of our identity in Christ can set us free from a perception of being “ripped off.” I have found it helpful to remember that there is a difference between God's perfect design and God's perfect ordination. Meaning that He sometimes uses less than perfect situations to bring about His sovereign will. The truth is that God has ordained for you and I the exact circumstances, people, timing, hardships, and blessings that are in our lives at this very moment (Romans 28:8). As His child, I can rest in His wisdom and ability to work efficiently in my life through these very things to sanctify me and bring glory to Himself. I can—right now in the midst of the trial—rejoice in God's goodness and perfect work unfolding. In the situations where we await the redemption of God (for sin and the fall does affect our lives)—we earnestly pray for His work to be done, we anticipate it in hope, and eagerly look toward the completion of it, which He will do (whether on this side of Heaven in the way we desire, or otherwise—He determines). We must be “confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6)!
Knowing and walking in Who Christ is and who He calls us to be has been helpful also for me in the journey of singleness. Singleness isn't my identity—just as neither will a husband give me my identity! Christ is my meaning and purpose. In Him I find what my heart is created for (Psalm 107:9). Sisters, we are spiritual beings, created to experience deep relationship...with our Maker. We often long for this in the form of marriage, but over and over I have to remind myself that my soul was made for MORE...for relationship with Christ. This short journey on earth is merely leading me to the culmination and ultimate fulfillment of what my soul thirsts for—unhindered communion with my Maker and Redeemer (Psalm 63)! The feelings of “incompleteness” and loneliness that we experience on this pilgrimage will not be fully fulfilled in marriage. These longings are a soul hunger and heavenly whisper to “seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God” (Col. 3:1). They are a desire for the  redemption that Jesus alone can bring to this sin-filled, fallen world. He came to redeem. He came to redeem what was broken and give the hope of Heaven, where all will be made new. Truly, great is our God’s mercy, Who has reconciled us to Himself and set His love, mercy, patience, and salvation upon us (Psalm 40).


A New Perspective: It's All about Him...

As 2020 rolled around, a phrase from Philippians 3 came alive to me in a new way and changed my life. It's a truth that I will undoubtedly come back to again and again, as it reshapes my perspective.

“But what things were gain to me, those I counted LOSS for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count ALL things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be FOUND in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death” (Phil.3:7-10).

There's so, so much in this passage, but this one phrase—found in Christ—is what struck me. I realized that this is my identity. It's not about my performance.... success... accomplishments... name... reputation... or ability to follow the rules and impress others. W ow, what a relief this brought to my spiritual shoulders. If you're a challenge-driven, people-pleasing, check-it-off-the-list type big sister, maybe you can relate! My “good works” don’t earn me a bonus before the Lord. I don't need a “bonus”...because in Christ, I am found perfect because HE lived that perfect life FOR me! Now in Him, I can joyfully live and rest. It's about obtaining His glory...His righteousness...His suffering...His death and His resurrection. It's about losing myself and everything about ME and just taking up His cross. It's pretty simple... You and I have been saved and set free to love and serve Him with every breath He gives! As Galatians 5:13-14 puts it, “Brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” Truly, it's all about Him. What He has begun in our lives is all about His glory. We are chosen and honored to be part of His glorious redemption purposes.

Sisters, it is such a glorious thing to be His...to be hidden and found in Christ! To be called His daughter, above all else. He's the amazing one. Yea, He is altogether lovely (Song 5:16). 

So, who are we? We are Christ's. We who were once dead have been reconciled to God. And now we are dead, but alive with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall we also appear with Him in glory! (Colossians 3:3-4) See you there!

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.”—Hebrews 12:1–3
​
Life can be called a journey, a path, or a race. We Christians are embarking on an adventure and sometimes we start to feel weary. Discouragement takes a toll on us and we begin fainting.

This excellent passage in Hebrews offers some practical encouragement on how to stay focused in the race. Let’s dig in and see what we find

The Witnesses
“we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses” All eyes on you. You’re the runner and the audience focuses on your race. The stadiums are filled with viewers, some cheering, others booing. But they are all looking at you.
Doesn’t this relate well to our Christian walk? Sometimes we may feel like no one notices us, but they do! There are others watching every word we speak, every action we take, and every attitude we exhibit. That is why our life testimony is so important! Jesus knew others would watch you when He said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”1 When Romans tells us to “be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”2 it is essentially instructing us to renew our minds by soaking them in the Scriptures! Then by living a life that pleases and honors our Lord, we may clearly demonstrate His omniscient will for all to see!

Day by day, you are a testimony for Christ. You are His missionary, whether it be in your home, or in the world. It is vital that you recognize that others are watching you, because you could be the means of leading them to Christ, or turning them away from Him.


The Weight
“let us lay aside every weight,” As you prepare for the race, you consider what to bring along. And you wisely shy away from heavy shoes or a loaded backpack. Of course your bring as little gear as possible, but also the necessary gear to complete the race.

You see, weight could be defined as “unnecessary items.” In our Christian life, weight is not always wrong, but it keeps us from running efficiently. Here are some examples:

The desire to “fit in”—While there is nothing sinful with the desire to be loved or admired, if we are constantly comparing ourselves with others and focusing on the crowd instead of Christ,  we are really held back in our race. We must go to the Word and understand that God promises that if we love Him and conform to His image, He will honor and reward us.

Daydreaming—It’s easy to wonder about our future, or even “plan” it out, dreaming up the “perfect” husband, “perfect” house, and “perfect” life. This also is a weight in the race because it keeps us from going forward. Instead of focusing on now we are trying to figure out what’s around the corner. This is not only wasteful, but can also be a form of covetousness.


The Sin
“lay aside . . . sin which doth so easily beset us,” Sin is anything that dishonors God. According to this verse in Hebrews, sin will easily plague us. Let’s look at some common sins that keep us from running efficiently:

Covetousness—“I wish . . .” Do you use those two words often, even in your thought life? If so, this sin has found its way into your heart and you should forsake it now! It will surely hinder the rate at which your run, as well as affect your outlook on life.

Guilty Conscience—This has been a huge burden in my race in the past. Reconciling past sins is not a pleasant experience. But let me tell you—it is such a relief afterwards! If you have not made restitution (with God or others) about specific areas in your life, please do not let that hinder your race any longer. We are warned that “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”

Lack of Obedience—This could be in lots of areas. Some examples could include reading books you were told not to, listening to music that is not permitted in your home, understanding a Biblical truth but refusing to apply it, (see James 4:17), or resisting your parents’ authority. Jesus reminded us that if we allow sin to permeate our lives, we will not grow in Him. “And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.”


The Patience Aspect
“and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,” You can count on trials and hardships. This race is our entire lives so it won’t be an easy stretch. The way is narrow, has distractions around it, and can get confusing at times. Instead of being irritable or anxious, we need to follow the guidance of God’s Word (the Map and Instructions) and trust Him to bring us through each stage of the race.


The Perspective
“looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” We are instructed to look unto our Lord, because in this race, He is the goal and He is the victory. He is our source of guidance and strength. 
Distractions? Yes, they are present at every side. Huge signs are right at eye level, and they advertise an appealing activity or treat that seems wonderful when we are tired. Fun lurks on the sidelines. But do not trip yourself up falling to these sins. “Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.”—Proverbs 4:25–27

Keep your eyes on Jesus! Do not fall prey to satan’s tricks. Allow Christ to work through you as you establish your ways on Him and His Word.


The Key
“For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.” One time I was at a meeting and a girl was present who was confined to a wheelchair due to mental problems. Someone sitting near me leaned over and asked, “Would you like to know what the key to feeling grateful is?” 

“Yes, sir,” I said quickly

“Just think of her.” he responded respectfully, pointing to the girl who was across the room. It’s so true. Sometimes when I am upset about something that I am dealing with, I just think of someone else who is going through something even harder. Christ suffered so much more than we can ever imagine! Let us continually praise Him for His mercy on our lives, and always be grateful as we remember His sacrifice. 


The Discipline 
We are so blessed to have a loving, guiding Master. Even His discipline to us is out of infinite love and wisdom. “And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him: for whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth . . . But He [chasteneth] for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peacable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.”5 I remember when I was little my parents would say to me, “We discipline you, Tiffany, because we love you, not because we want to make you sad.” At the time I could not comprehend this kind of love, but now I see it and I am eternally grateful. So should we be when our Lord corrects us, and we should be quick to apply the lessons He teaches us through His correction.

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The Appeal for Endurance
Hebrews 12 is such an encouraging passage of Scripture! It is, in short, an appeal for endurance. We must heavily draw from the Word and rely on God’s strength to run this race. It is essential that we look to Jesus, who is the author and finisher of our faith. “Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; and make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed . . . Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled . . . But ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels . . . For our God is  a consuming fire.”—Hebrews  12:12–13, 15, 22, 29                                 
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