Let's hear it for perseverance!!!

                                                              11/5/13

Let's hear it for perseverance!!!  Love always perseveres.

Here is a nice article from the editor of Citizen magazine (Nov. 2013) on the power of perseverance.

     The Power of Perseverance

     My pastor says a lot of profound things.  Recently, he said something I've been thinking a lot about ever since: "If you don't quit, you win!"

     It's easy to look at the headlines and all the bad things going on in our country and the world right now and be tempted to throw in the towel on making a difference.  The desire to simply hunker down and pray that Jesus comes back soon to rescue us from it all can be overwhelming to a lot of people.

     But perseverance is a big deal.  How many times have you heard that the Christian life is a marathon, not a sprint?  The Bible mentions "perseverance" or some form of the word "patience" 50 times.  Just think:  That radical breakthrough you've been waiting to see in your family, in your town or in our culture could be just around the corner!  And if you just don't quit, you'll see something happen sooner or later - even under unlikely circumstances.

     New York is one of the last places in the country you might expect to see a pro-life victory, given that 33 percent of all pregnancies there end in abortion.  But recently, the state experienced one - won in a truly stunning last-minute fashion - thanks to unity and perseverance among people who simply refused to give up.  Read more about it on page 13.

     The Planned Parenthood facility in Bryan, Texas, is the site of the first 40 Days for Life prayer campaign, where more than 40 prayer vigils have been held over the last 14 years.  Recently, the facility closed.  That's the result of a lot of persistent prayer that took place for more than a decade!  Read more about this and other encouraging news items in our monthly department, "Citizen Coast to Coast" (page 10).

     Seven years after a lesbian complained about them to the New Mexico Human Rights Commission, Elaine and Jonathan Huguenin are still waiting for their victory (see "Paying the Price," page 17).  But they are persevering nonetheless, and hope to get the chance to plead their case at the U.S. Supreme Court soon.

     In the meantime, we can all contend with them in prayer - persistently.  Because breakthrough could be just around the corner.

                             signed by Karla Dial