One of the great blessings of my life has been a godly heritage. Mom and Dad were committed believers. My Dad's parents lived next door and both Grandma and Grandpa Lambert taught Sunday School. Ancestors on Dad's side were part of the Cane Ridge Revival of 1801 in the cane breaks of Kentucky. It was a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit and a stepping off point to the Second Great Awakening. Ancestors on Mom's side were Dunkards. The Dunkards were much like the Amish and came to America in 1754 to escape German persecution. The chapel my ancestors built in the 1750's is still in use today as a Brethren church. As I think of my ancestors, I’m reminded of today's passage so let's listen to it:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. (Heb. 12:1)

Today's passage was one of Mom's favorites. She once told me that whenever she read it, she saw herself in a stadium, running toward the finish line. As she looked around, she saw her own ancestors on the sidelines and in the stands, cheering her on. What a glorious way to understand this passage! Recently, we had to say goodbye to our dear friend, Van Nicholson. We adored her! Van was one of seven children, and she and all of her siblings were missionaries or served in Christian ministries. She and her husband Gene helped grow several churches in India. She raised four godly children all of whom are still joyfully serving the Lord. Even when Van was nearing the end of her life, Pam and I would sit with her and we would pray together. The power and focus of her prayers, even in her weakened state and with her barely audible voice, deeply impacted us. In her final weeks, Van was still teaching us about prayer! Her family was blessed to have her and we were blessed to know her. Van has now joined that mighty cloud of witnesses cheering us on in our life of faith.

Today, take time to thank God for those people He has put in your life, people who fanned the embers of your faith, and then run your race with joy. God put them there to cheer you on, all the way to the finish line...and that is very Good News!