The Power of Perseverance - 2

'...We shall reap if we do not lose heart.' Galatians 6:9 NKJV

There's a legend about a soldier being court-martialled before Alexander the Great. Believing the verdict was unjust, the soldier asked to appeal it. The conqueror informed him that there was no one higher to whom he could plead his case. 'In that case,' the soldier replied, 'I appeal my case from Alexander the Small to Alexander the Great.' In each of us there is a lesser self and a greater self struggling for supremacy. Your lesser self says, 'Not enough people believe in me. I'll never make it.' Your greater self says, 'My faith in God and in myself is enough; I can make it.' Your lesser self says, 'It's taking too long to realise my dream.' Your greater self says, 'Dreams are realised one day at a time.' Your lesser self says, 'Enough is enough! I've taken too many hits.' Your greater self says, 'I've come too far to give up now.' Your lesser self says, 'I don't have the strength to hold on to my dream.' Your greater self says, 'Hold on a little longer; the darkest hour is just before the dawn.' After speaking about being shipwrecked, stoned, imprisoned, betrayed, hungry, thirsty, sleepless, cold and naked, Paul, who was resolute in his purpose and relentless in the pursuit of it, writes: 'Who is weak, and I am not weak...' (2 Corinthians 11:29 NKJV).

Where does that kind of strength and tenacity come from? God! The assignment God gives you will never be greater than the grace He provides. So draw on His strength, keep pressing ahead, pursue your goal and you will prevail.

It is supposed to be my only day off this week - but instead i am heading off to the Salvation Army to spend my day putting a delivery of donated food away and making up food parcels.

I turned up at community service last Thursday to find out that the lady who organises all of us dog fine accruing and other naughty things - people - had suffered a stroke the previous Sunday. She never misses Church and when she did not turn up her friends and family went looking for her - and found her on her bathroom floor.

She is not doing well and won't be back at work any time soon - if ever.

This really upset me. She was a grumpy old thing sometimes and i know i have complained that she sometimes talked to me like i was a five year old. She always had a grumpy moan at me every time i walked in the door at that place - but she also always had a big "Thank you" and a hug as i walked out.

She has a heart of gold. I never thought that hug she gave me two weeks ago would be the last.

Anyway - they have no one there now to organise all the huge deliveries of donated food that they receive from all the local supermarkets so i told the receptionist to just give me a call if i was needed on a day that i am not normally there...

So off i go.

I think i will keep volunteering there even after my hours are up. They are a pretty cool bunch of people that do some pretty amazing things at The Salvation Army in Howick. There have been many days when i have turned up there feeling down, and lacking in motivation and after a day working with them - have left there feeling the exact opposite.

My community service has been a pretty cool experience.

I have two weeks off from lectures starting at the end of this week. I have an assignment due during that time and then i add two more subjects to my schedule starting on the 18th...so...back when i am back.

My mountain of boxes of food is waiting...