Living Above Ministries: Are you a Survivor?

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Are you a Survivor?

Have you ever considered yourself a survivor? Today there are many different places and ways we think about this word.

I think about it terms of cancer - I have many friends who are "cancer survivors." Here, I couldn't be prouder of this word! I'm so proud of my God and my friends who have endured such scary times! My chest puffs out a bit when I call my friends "Cancer Survivors!"

Then... there's that TV Reality show. I've been known to get sucked into the drama of the "survivor" - and the lies and the manipulations that go on with being the sole survivor - doesn't really leave a good taste in my mouth.

Then recently my name has been listed as a "survivor" in my husband's obituary. In some way for me... in this case, I wasn't too sure how I felt about being a "survivor". It felt kind of negative to me. Like I was the one left here - to be sad or something.

So what exactly is a survivor? Do I now have a certain attitude or job I must perform?

Webster defines survivors as:

"One who remains alive or lives on.

They continue to function or prosper.

They withstand (after many hardships)."

Okay.... then by definition - aren't we all survivors? The first thing I want you to COMPLETELY get today is that you are indeed a survivor!

If you think, "I just don't think I can make it through this!" You're still alive aren't you? Then in some way or another - you're "making it through" your hardship and therefore you are surviving! You're making it!

Now that we know we ARE survivors - what role do we have?

I must admit from the very beginning that I really hope I'm not taking this verse out of context or reading more into it than I should...

but I read this verse last week and it was about survivors. I wrote it down in my journal and have been praying it over my life ever since. It think it has something for us all.

2 Kings 19:30-31 (ESV)

And the surviving remnant of the house of Judah

shall again take root downward and bear fruit upward.

The zeal of the Lord will do this.

I am a surviving remnant! And as a survivor - a survivor of John Franklin - okay. But definitely as a survivor of the house of the Lord.... I want Him to root me in His Word so that I can bear much fruit. Knowing all the while, that it all happens because of the zeal of the Lord!

Notice the direction of what's happening.... roots going down - fruit bearing up. Roots live where no one can see - fruit is for all to see. Prayer time, Bible study time happens in the quiet moments of my day when I can be alone with God. If that has truly taken hold then fruit can grow upward. Fruit - like Galatians talks about - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Friends - know today you too are a Survivor!

Take this role seriously and let others see the fruit of withstanding life's hardships!

Be proud you're a Survivor...

knowing all the while the zeal of the Lord will take you through this!!