FIND US FAITHFUL: CHEERED ON BY OUR HEROES AND HEROINES OF FAITH

In one of our songs this week, FIND US FAITHFUL, I have found the words to be very encouraging. Recently, in one of our "dream sessions" at church Dwight and Mary Lea shared this song with us as part of their dream. Look at how this song starts out below. It references Hebrews 11's chapter of our HEROES OF FAITH but also any of those faithful who have passed from this life. Over the last few months I've shared with you some posts about some of those people in my life:

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• My cousin, David
• My uncle, John
• My grandfather and grandmother, Valentine and Viola Carron
• My good friends, Mark, Sarah, and Emily
• My good friend and professor, Dr. Tom Schulz, who I referred to yesterday

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SONG: FIND US FAITHFUL

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We're pilgrims on the journey of the narrow road
And those who've gone before us line the way
Cheering on the faithful, encouraging the weary
Their lives a stirring testament to God's sustaining grace.

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Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses
Let us run the race not only for the prize
But as those who've gone before us...

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I'm going to close my eyes right now and ask GOD to put a few more people on my heart who have gone on...those who have made a difference in my life...those who cheered me on while on this earth and who are still cheering me on...okay...GOD is good...here's who has just come to mind...I'll tell you a little here and tell you more on future posts:

• Margaret Cox - a sister in Christ and my neighbor in Texas who drove her son with polio the 18 miles to Abilene Christian University and wheeled him around in his wheelchair to everyone of his classes so that he could get his college degree; as a widow, she became a foster mother for newborns...she had many before her death...several gospel preachers have children who spent their first few months in Margaret's arms...she was my wise walking partner in the very early mornings, often saying, "You know....Patti, I've learned over the years...."


• Terry Cox - a brother in Christ, the son of Margaret. Terry had polio, slept in an iron lung...as an adult traveled our town in his motorized wheelchair...was a busy substitute teacher...on the school board...a huge light for Christ in our little part of west Texas...


• Vivian McCaleb - one of our elders wives, in Texas, who sent thank you notes for thank you notes...Vivian believed in outdoing one another in kindness...she gave and gave and gave some more...


• Rita Schreiber - a sister in Christ and young mother who was killed in a car wreck in the 1980's outside of St. Louis, MO...Rita was an amazingly transformed mom...she had made tapes for each of her children that they listened to before they went to bed at night...these tapes were full of songs and encouragement that she had sung and spoke to each child...the tapes were played at her funeral with her children standing by...


• Alice Thayer - a sister in Christ, my dorm mother at York College, "Mama T" remained my friend for thirty years...she always reminded me of the goals and dreams that I had had in college and encouraged me to live them out...


• Roger Hawley - a brother in Christ, my college professor, my friend...he believed in me like no other had...he was proactive in teaching me and encouraging me to use my spiritual gifts...


• Clayton Klein - a brother in Christ, my dad...a man who believed in doing the RIGHT THING no matter what...he told me, "Patti, I believe that you can be anything that you put your mind to..."

Whoa! I think I'll stop now before someone else comes to mind. Now, I'm passing the baton on to you. Share with us today one or more of your heroes or heroines of faith who have passed on AND who you believe were and still are cheering you on...

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THIS WEEK'S LINKS:

First Link to FIND US FAITHFUL:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSa6rqZbp9c&feature=related..

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Second Link to FIND US FAITHFUL:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7ZwVuO7duw.

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