Running like Ray

       "There are better things ahead than any we leave behind." C.S. Lewis
        Praise God for the Gift of all gifts--the Lord Jesus--who came so infinitely far down to this weary, sin-sick world to provide and assure us that this is true, absolutely true.  Yes, as believers there are richly fulfilling, riotously joyful, stunningly glorious things ahead...infinitely, unimaginably better things than any we leave behind.
        Thank You, Jesus.  Thank You. 
        How thankful so many of us are right now, particularly right now,  for the promise, the hope, the glory of the Resurrection and of Heaven.  I have several dear friends who are at this minute glimpsing eternity and their heavenly home--one directly, others through someone they love.  And it's hard.  So hard.
        Like so many others, I have been weeping.  Heavy sobs of sorrow and even bewilderment, especially in the case of one amazing, remarkable, godly, irreplaceable man.  We pray for a miracle, but we also trust in the Sovereign One who loves him, loves his family, loves us far more than we can begin to comprehend.
        And now, I simply say,  thank You, Father, for the gift, the priceless gift, of this man's beautiful, Christ-exalting life.  For the eternal impact he has made in so many lives.  In my children's lives.  In my husband's life.  In my life.  Oh how God can use one man or woman fully devoted to Him.
        Abba, when we're weary or weak or tempted to quit, help us to remember that You did not quit.  Not for a moment.
        And help us think of how You have used our dear friend to change countless lives for their good and Your glory.  Like his Savior, he didn't quit.  Not ever.  Even now he runs his race to the finish line...faithfully, lovingly, all out, all the way.  Because that's how he's lived. 
        And so we will do our best--by Your grace, for Your glory--to do the same.  There are souls out there who need to hear of the astounding love of Jesus...of His amazing grace.  Of His glorious story of redemption: He came to live the  life we could not live, to die the death we deserved, and to rise to resurrection life to give us the eternal life we could never earn, never merit...but can and do through the Lord Jesus Christ, our  Savior, our King, our Lord.
        Don't let us quit, Jesus. Don't let us ever give up or flag in sharing Your love, sharing Your grace, sharing Your song of redemption with a world desperate to know the Truth.  Keep us running our race all the way to the finish line as well with our gazes locked on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith.
        Keep us running like Ray till we see You face to face. 
        We pray this in the sweet name of our Lamb of God who died for our sins and the conquering name of our Lion of Judah who defeated the grave...the beautiful, powerful name of Jesus.
         Christ alone, Cornerstone...through the storm You are Lord, Lord of all.
        To You be the glory forever and ever.