Looking Forward

I've been reading today in "the faith chapter," Hebrews 11, where so many of our spiritual grandparents demonstrated their faith by believing what God said. Verse 11 says Abraham "was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God." All these people, apparently, were able to obey God here because "they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one" (verse 16). They model a steadfastness for us that we desperately need today, wouldn't you agree? Take a look again at this encouraging passage--it will strengthen you for whatever you are facing.

Yesterday was one of John's longest days on the bike--12 hours! But he prayed at two capitols, in Iowa (whose capitol shown in the photo has a guilded 23-karat dome) and Minnesota (which has an official state mushroom--the morel). Then today he stopped at Madison to pray for Wisconsins (whose motto, by the way, is "Forward").

Tonight he's at our youngest daughter's house in the Chicago area. Gabe and Ana just moved there (and took away our sweet grandaughter Mia). Tonight they're enjoying a Thai feast with our neice Abby, who also lives in the area.