The lady in this picture is a hero of mine. I do not know her name, but I know her story. Our mission team met her when we were in Ukraine in late June/ early July this summer. She is someone who has been a christian for over forty years. Now that's quite an accomplishment even in this country. Not everyone can say they have followed Christ for forty plus years. But what makes her even more remarkable is the fact that she has done it in Ukraine the whole time. In 1991 Ukraine gained its independence from Russia. Up until that point, Ukraine had been an eastern bloc nation for the Soviet Union. Under the communist regime, Jesus was not welcome there, but he was welcome in this lady's heart! She has had to run from the militia on numerous occasions. She has had to jump trains to get away from them. In this picture you see her leaning on a cane. The cane was a "gift" from the militia due to one of her run ins with them. They ran over her and broke her back because of her being a christian. Even still, she is leaning on this cane as she is listening to the traditional Ukrainian hymns that some of the church members are playing and singing outside the church. They tried to break her body but they couldn't break her love for God! We live in a country where there is no opposition to our christianity (until emporer obama's terror regime is finished with us), yet we are still afraid to proclaim the name of our Almighty Creator! Why? Nobody is going to run over us and break our back for saying YES! I love Jesus! So why are we so timid and afraid? Jesus loved us enough to give His life for ours, yet MOST of us can't even give him a minute! Now, the "funny" part about that is when this life is over and we must stand before God in Judgement; then everyone will be ready to wave the Jesus banner! But it will be too late! People have this crazy idea that giving their life to God means they have given up on life. That everything is over. All fun and enjoyment in life is all but gone. Nothing could be farther from the truth! There is a song I have been listening to on a new (to me) cd by a group called Big Daddy Weave that says to be held so tight (in the arms of God) I have never felt so free! That is the truth my friends! There is a freedom in the grace of God that can not be found ANY where else! Now does it mean that you will live a life that is a bed of roses? No. Look at the lady in the picture. Her life was not a bed of roses, but she wouldn't trade away anything that she went through in the name of God. When she walked into the room, she lit the room up! The joy that flowed from this beautiful person was astounding. Knowing her story, and then to see her and hear her speak, absolutely uplifting. God doesn't tell us that a life lived in Him and for Him is an assurance that our life will never have a bump in the road again, but that it would have far more meaning than it ever could have otherwise.

The sad fact is that most of us are not strong enough for something so easy! I think about the salmon when I say this. We have all seen pictures of the salmon fighting and struggling and giving every ounce of effort in their bodies to get upstream. Even though at the end of this fight they must still lay their lives down right there, they give everything they have to accomplish this mission. It is what their whole life is about. The days they will spend swimming upstream, only to get to their destination and die. The christian life can be like this. We can give everything we have for the cause of Christ, but still have to lay our lives down once we reach the goal we were fighting for. But just like the salmon, their life doesn't matter until they swim upstream and spawn. Ourlives won't matter if we live them selfishly for ourselves instead of comitting them fully to the cause of Christ.

How many of us are strong enough to swim upstream when the whole world is washing away, downstream? How many of us have what it takes to give up selfish pursuits and commit our entire being to the One who has already given His life for ours?

Philippians 4:13

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me

Can you be strong enough for Him.......through Him?