AM: September 22, 2019
Today is Hobbit Day–you may not understand what a hobbit is, but one of classic books series is called The Lord of the Rings, written by JRR Tolkien, where the term hobbit is from. At the beginning of the story, Bilbo and Frodo have a birthday party… on September 22. Today is their birthday–Bilbo was turning 111, and Frodo, 33, which for hobbits is kind of like becoming an adult. A big part of the book is about adventure, quests, and not giving up.
You have been chosen, and you must therefore use such strength and heart and wits as you have.
J.R.R Tolkien
It is a big, big, important thing to learn not to give up. People make the mistake of giving up on little things, not thinking it’s a big deal, but when you give up little things, you get in the habit and it’s easier to give up on big things. Don’t give up on things–keep at learning, keep at sports, keep at trying to be a good friend, keep at training your dog, keep at it even when you’re sad–all these things will make it easier when it’s time to keep at being a father/mother, keep at your job, keep at being joyful about life, keep at walking with God.
We have all these great people around us as examples. Their lives tell us what faith means. So we, too, should run the race that is before us and never quit. We should remove from our lives anything that would slow us down and the sin that so often makes us fall. 2 We must never stop looking to Jesus. He is the leader of our faith, and he is the one who makes our faith complete. He suffered death on a cross. But he accepted the shame of the cross as if it were nothing because of the joy he could see waiting for him. And now he is sitting at the right side of God’s throne. 3 Think about Jesus. He patiently endured the angry insults that sinful people were shouting at him. Think about him so that you won’t get discouraged and stop trying.
Hebrews 12: 1-3 (ERV)
Dear Lord, give me a spirit of trying. Give me a spirit of joy, give me a spirit of not giving up. Amen.
AM: September 21, 2019
