We're Holding, Lord!
Philippians 2:16, Devotional #5

Hold tightly to the word of life, so that when Christ returns, I will be proud that I did not lose the race and that my work was not useless.
Philippians 2:16

Father, I remember one of those 'way back when' times this morning as I ponder "hold tightly." My brother took my oldest son and me on a boat ride up the ocean from Miami to Ft. Lauderdale. One of those big speed boats gliding over the water – wow! And gliding is not the word for that day. We roared, bounced, and rumbled fast over the water's surface. Jordan stood between my brother and me. He was about twelve years old and stood gripping the top of the windshield with all his little might. How tight he was holding on, we surely didn't know. And how scared he may have been, we surely didn't know. I'm sorry to him even today and called him to apologize again, because when we arrived in Ft. Lauderdale his hands were bleeding. For a twelve year old to hold that tightly – wow!

And isn't that so much of life. We "hold tightly" and many times no one knows how scared we may be or even how tight we may be holding. And isn't it so true that there are times we gotta hold on till the blood runs? Father, our faith expresses itself in our "holding tightly." When we discovered Jordan's fear, we rode home much slower. There was no need to "hold tightly." We relaxed and moseyed home. And gratefully our faith can be that way.

And so, may we hold tight when we have to! Strengthen our faith. Help us to share our fears and concerns when we need to. That might result in a 'slow down' of life and panic. We're holding, Lord! Come Holy Spirit.

Thank You, Father, in Jesus name. Amen.
         
Love, Dad / Danny