“Finished the Race, Kept the Faith” (Day 29)

 Verse of the Day
 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7)
 
I remember my first steps into the world—walking to school as a kindergartener, holding my mother’s hand on a crisp autumn morning. I felt both wonder and fear. Life stretched wide before me.
 
As the years passed, I came to see how fragile life can be. I still remember the day President John F. Kennedy was shot. I was in a department store when I heard the news. I ran through the store, crying out in disbelief. Watching it later on television, I wept. It was a moment that marked me—a reminder that life is precious.
 
I grew up during the Cold War, a time of uncertainty and quiet fear. We practiced drills in school, not fully understanding, yet deeply aware that the world was not always safe. Still, life moved forward. There was love, family, and joy even in uncertain times.
 
One of the greatest blessings of my life was traveling to Israel. Walking where Jesus walked, standing at the Western Wall, I felt the depth of faith in a new way. It was no longer distant. It was living and real.
 
Through health struggles and seasons of uncertainty, I was never alone. I turned to prayer. I leaned on Scripture. I found a home in the Methodist Church, surrounded by people who loved, supported, and walked with me.
 
And always, there was the hymn: A Mighty Fortress Is Our God. In its words, I found strength. God was my refuge, my protector, my guide.
 
Looking back now, I see a life shaped by grace—by small acts of kindness, by deep love, and by faithful presence. I met my husband in a simple place, a department store, and built a life rooted in love and family.
 
Through it all, God was faithful. And by His grace, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. – Liz Taylor
 
Thought for the Day
Knowing that life is fragile and precious, what truly matters most today? What small step can you take today to live more faithfully, so that, in the end, your life may rest secure in Christ?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

“Learning to Love like Christ” (Day 1)

Verse of the Day And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another, for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit. - 2 Corinthians 3:18 My journey of transformation did not happen all at once. It unfolded through moments of joy, sorrow, calling, and surrender. I was born the youngest of eight children in a devout Christian family. My grandfather died in a tragic accident while installing a bell in our church—a final act of devotion. His life and death taught me that faith is not theory. It is offering oneself fully to God. Music shaped my early years. Singing drew me close to the Lord. Later, serving as a chaplain assistant in the military in Korea opened my heart to ministry. Through the encouragement of an American chaplain, God led me to the United States for theological study. Then came a devastating car accident in college that nearly took my life. Injured and w...
Read more

"Becoming" (Day 3)

Day 3: “Becoming” “So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day.” - 2 Corinthians 4:16 I grew up in a small town where life centered on hard work and family. Some of my earliest memories are of picking potatoes with my siblings. The mornings were cold, and as a child I sometimes cried from the chill, but we worked together. As the oldest, I felt the weight of responsibility. Those early hardships shaped a resilience that later helped me raise my children and grandchildren with guidance and love. Childhood also brought moments of freedom and growth. Summers with my grandparents and long days exploring outdoors taught me independence. Yet school was difficult. I was not bullied, but I was afraid to speak or be noticed. I kept to myself for many years. Then, after I married Bonnie, something changed. It was as if a switch flipped. With her beside me, I found the courage to stand on my own. Marriage and family b...
Read more

"Transformation Through Every Season" (Day 2)

Verse of the Day "I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the desolate pit, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure." - Psalm 40:1-2 (NRSV) When I look back, my life was not marked by big dramatic moments, but by steady steps through many seasons. I grew up in a simple home in the country without running water or many comforts. We worked hard, but we had what we needed, and we had each other. Those early years taught me contentment and gratitude. Faith came to me through relationships. As a teenager, friends invited me to the Methodist church in Mars Hill. There, my faith began to take root. I did not come because of pressure. I came because I felt welcomed and loved. Bob and I married young and built our life slowly. We lived in a small trailer and worked hard to provide for our three children. Over time, God blessed our efforts. I worked in the school system for thirty years and loved serving ...
Read more