Warren & Virginia Olson
Dear Friend,
Every four years, it’s such a treat watching athletes compete in the Summer Olympics. And one of our favorite events to watch is the marathon, where the runners begin in a stadium filled with onlookers, leave the stadium for a 26.2-mile run, and then return to the cheering crowd a few hours later to cross the finish line.
Each time we watch those runners enter the stadium with the crowd cheering at the end of their long race, we can’t help but think of Hebrews 12:1,
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
It’s so encouraging to know that, in Christ, we have a cheering section, a “cloud of witnesses,” that has gone before us and is watching in anticipation as we run the “race marked out for us.”
And that’s exactly the kind of encouragement you and I need to run this race, isn’t it? You see, whatever we experience in life, good or bad, we have the comfort of knowing that we’re not alone. There’s some believer at some time in history who has experienced that same circumstance and is watching and cheering you on as you persevere through it!
So whatever your situation in life, your greatest encouragement is that you’re never alone. You always have a cheering section that knows your joy and your pain and can empathize with you in every circumstance.
We also want to help encourage you by sending you Jill Briscoe’s book, Life Lessons, as our gift to bless you for your donation this month. So be sure to request your copy on the enclosed reply card when you send your gift!
As always, thank you for the encouragement you are. Your prayers and gifts are so crucial to helping more seniors embrace the life God intends. And we’re so grateful for you!
Warren & Virginia Olson