"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." Heb. 12:1-3

When I thought about this it made me think that we need the ancient "cloud of witnesses” but we also desperately need a living cloud surrounding us right now.

God has graced me with men and women in my association that are ablaze with God's Spirit, eager to serve Him, tireless in spreading His love in word and deed. Rescuing those entrapped in the jaws of wickedness and making no small effort to see them released! Wise and steadfast Christians that have endured so much and stood true. 

I'm reminded of oldest son who has faithfully pastored the spiritually hungry, the least, last and lost, the afflicted and tormented, the poor, the refugee and those bound up in Satan's clutches, and doing so for over thirty years! 

My middle son who resisted God's grace for a long season only to have Christ fall on him, and lit an unquenchable fire in his bones; and now he ministers Christ to those in the desperation of substance abuse. 

My youngest son, who walked straight into the darkest lairs of child trafficking, risking his life to snatch innocent children from predators’ hands.

I’ve watched as his son, my grandson, who followed his father's footsteps entering the dangers of war to help rescue the wounded from the front lines of battle midst the chaos and danger. 

And I think of his friend, who trained to be a medic where she too, braved the bombs and bullets to give lifesaving aid to the wounded and maimed, many of which would have surely died without her brave, skilled hands as she attended to the horrors of war; only to be nearly killed by a bomb blast that left her terribly disfigured and had died but for the advocacy of my family. 

These are my living "Clouds of witness" that surround me, as well as many others that have shown the way of courageous faith, setting aside gain and safety to reach others for Christ. People that have lost their lives! Lost their health, and stood unshakeable in life's dangers and griefs, patient, devoted in sickness, affliction and harrowing danger. 

  Iron sharpens iron, faith bequeaths faith, so seek out those who burn to obey the high calling of Christ. Run to them. Join them. Step into that cloud—ancient and living—and become part of the witness yourself. 

Let us throw off every weight.

"Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us".