“Never Give Up!” Blog #227

What inner gift do I wake up to this morning?

How can I saddle my thoughts into strength of purpose?

Where do I find super energy that pushes me forward?

Once in a while something happens that leaves an indelible mark on the way a life

chooses to live. Do I believe in miracles? Absolutely. Do I believe I have a Guardian Angel?

Absolutely. Do I believe Jesus hears every one of my prayers? Most certainly! Physical

pain, fear of what to do next and crippling set backs are three of the most dire reasons for

finding ones faith. Why is this? God wants our attention. HE is watching me. HE is

watching from a distance.

There is a man who once was an amazing Olympic runner and then decided to go into the

Air Force. Sometime during WWII he was a bombardier, and while on a mission, had his

plane blow up in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Although this man was wrapped in a

hundred chords, he somehow broke free and was able to be afloat on a life raft on the

ocean drifting out at sea for 47 days and nights. While at sea there was a great white

shark and many other sharks that were circling his raft. During this time at sea he survived

by eating part of a four foot shark that he killed with his own hands. After making it to an

island he was rescued only to be imprisoned by the Japanese. Tortured and interrogated,

he tried to find a way just to survive. The Japanese knew that this man was an Olympic

Runner and because of this they chose to be even more cruel and beat him daily. Most

times this would leave him unconscious. He lost close to one hundred pounds but never

gave up. Louis Zamperini was an amazing man who went on to live to be 97 years old.

There is a movie made about his life called “Unbroken”. This true story not only shows

Louie’s courage, conviction but his unbelievable faith. When interviewed, Louie said, “there

was a time when I was tormented by my torturer, “The Bird”. It was so difficult to let go of

the darkness and the fear and the anger inside of me. So my depression and my

alcoholism just took over.”

Louie said the post-war nightmares caused his life to crumble. It got so bad his wife

wanted to divorce him. Louis’ wife invited Louis to listen to Billy Graham and then go see

him. This is when Louie, himself, had a confrontation with Christ. It was at that point he

remembered being on the raft in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and crying out, “God,

spare my life through the war, and I will seek You and serve You”. Then suddenly Louie felt

the need to forgive all the Japanese guards and the cruel torturing Guard “Bird” who had

inflicted so much pain on him. Writing this man a letter of forgiveness came next. He

swore he would hold no hatred within him for any one. he would never give up or give in,

but rather gave his life to Jesus Christ in 1949. Louis Zamperini said, “I grew up always

wanting to get even, now I have committed my life to Christ, feeling fulfilled I will never give

up”.

This is a true story of a man who remarkably lived a life of incredible challenge and set

back, no matter what happened to him. He never gave up. Jesus wants to know my

heart. HE knows who I am now. For HE always loves me. So, today, there is no reason to

give up on what I am trying to accomplish, no matter how far down the road I have to go.

The timing is not in my hands. Every day of my life is a process of evolving into what I am

willing to accept, God wants me to do now. Awakened, I no longer say “It doesn’t

matter” because I matter and therefore I will never give up!

Can I find Jesus in my heart today and never give up trying?

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