In the middle of his junior year, my oldest son James suffered from chronic hip pain, derailing any chance of running winter track full time. When a need arose for a new pole vaulter, James gave it a shot. Despite enduring meets of failing to clear the starting height, he persisted. Fifteen months and twelve feet later, James has no where to go but up, already surpassing the mark he set last summer.
The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent, 2 Peter 3:9.
Last weekend, I spent an entire night, six hours straight, finishing the final edit of my latest screen play Dragged Behind the Devil’s Door. Over the past 11 months, there were times when I didn’t feel like writing, researching and studying similar films. However, I set a firm goal to complete this project by May 1st. While beauty is in the eye of the beholder, the future success and production of this film is now in God’s hands.
My people are being destroyed because they don’t know me, Hosea 4:6a.
One of the translations of the verse above suggests people perish for a lack or wisdom and knowledge. For me, sometimes its hard to believe that God is actually going to answer my prayer or fulfill my dreams. Yet, Jesus himself said to followers in his day, “you do not have because you have not asked.” Therefore, if you reach a goal, obtain new heights or don’t know where to go next, look up to heaven with an expecting heart in faith because there is no where to go but up.
by Jay Mankus