20220516_011948

Shannon Guerra@shannonguerra31m··Encouraging Christian PerspectiveWe had a recital tonight for two of our kids: One played Batman, the other played Bach. One was super serious, the other was all smiles.They both forgot to bow when they were finished. We cheered and clapped anyway.Did it matter when one of them stumbled in the middle, had to get her bearings, and start going again? Did we clap less, or dock points?Of course not. We waited, praying, rooting for her, and sighed with relief when she kept going. That’s our girl.Did we scoff or complain when one of them forgot when to end, and repeated the last four measures two extra times? Did we look at our watches and wish he would finish already?No way. We grinned and waited and grinned some more, knowing that he would get to that final dissonant chord soon enough, and he would look up with his lopsided dimples and triumph in his first public performance while we cheered.Friend, if you are stumbling as you are trying something new and hard, your Father is not crossing His arms and looking at you in disappointment and disapproval.He’s not embarrassed by you. He’s not bored or annoyed by you.He’s so excited to watch you try and grow.You are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses cheering you on, pulling for you, making strides as you hit notes for the Kingdom. Even if it’s only Batman today, they love the music because they know Bach is coming.Your willingness to try and obey ignites cheers from heaven because it changes these days here on earth.Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.— Hebrews 12:1-2Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.— Matthew 5:16-17Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.— Luke 12:32