Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Romans 5:3-5

This past Sunday we sang “This is a Day of New Beginnings” as we celebrated milestones, blessed students and teachers, and kicked off The Grand Sweep Bible reading challenge. Given the unprecedented circumstances of this school year, “new beginnings” seems like an understatement! The 2020-2021 school year is sure to be one for the books.  As teachers and students return with heightened anxieties and new procedures amid the COVID-19 pandemic, there are bound to be technical issues and setbacks. Students, teachers, and parents will all need perseverance to make it through the year. 

 Also, as a church we are beginning “The Grand Sweep.” Using this program as a guide, we will read the Bible in 365 from Genesis through Revelation.  If you haven’t signed up to take this challenge with us, there is still time to join in.  Many people have remarked that this is something they have attempted a number of times, but have not completed.  One person shared with me that they have trouble sticking to daily devotionals, so they did not like their chances of completing The Grand Sweep. I definitely understand this feeling! Being at the start of something big can be overwhelming, especially when we have tried before and not been successful! 

American humorist Josh Billings wrote, “Consider the postage stamp; its usefulness consists in the ability to stick to one thing until it gets there.” I was thinking about the journey of a postage stamp this week. Maybe it is all the packages I have been receiving in an effort to limit being in public spaces, while still accomplishing back to school shopping. Packages and their postage hold up to all the elements – rain, sleet, snow, and perhaps a stamp’s most formidable enemy, the humidity of South Texas in hurricane season. While our letters are sorted, piled, twisted, and tossed, the stamp remains. It is that kind of perseverance I am praying for as the school year and The Grand Sweep begin. So, what helps us to persevere? 

 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

I came up with several ways we can help one another have a successful year, and also successfully meet the Grand Sweep challenge.  SInce, I was inspired by the stamp I developed an acrostic to help us remember these strategies for perseverance.

As an aside, when you get to the Grand Sweep readings at the end of this week you might be interested to know that Psalm 9 is an alphabetic acrostic poem in Hebrew. So, in the ancient tradition of acrostic, here are some tips to have the perseverance of a postage stamp!

S – Share and Support. Galatians 6:2 tells us to share one another’s burdens. Sharing our joys and troubles with people focused on the same goal can provide both encouragement and accountability. As you move through the school year, finding people in the same boat will allow you the chance to vent to people who understand and may also be able to provide helpful insight to what you are experiencing as a student, teacher, parent, or grand-parent. As I discovered in my first Grand Sweep group meeting today, talking about the Bible readings with other people is fun and adds joy to my day! That makes me want to keep on reading so I will be ready for next week’s meeting. In the book, “How to Enjoy Reading your Bible” author Keith Ferrin points out that reading with a friend or a group will not only help with accountability and fun, but that others will also catch things you might have missed and will help clarify your thinking. 

T – Thanks. Our expectations of an event can make a world of difference.  Sure, there are bound to be setbacks. We can be realistic about that, while also expecting positive results.  Focusing on the positive can help us keep going despite the low points we encounter. You might find it helpful to keep a gratitude journal, or begin your Bible reading time with a prayer of thanks naming your joys for the day. 

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18

A – Adapt Sometimes despite all our best planning, things do not work the way we thought they would. I used to think the “right” time to study the Bible was early in the morning.  So I would try, and I would fail. It took me longer than I care to admit to realize that early morning might be the right time for others, but it was not right for me. I was much more successful studying the Bible over lunch, or before going to bed than I was early in the morning. If the plans you have made are not working, do not give up! Think about why it is not working and then adapt your plans to address that issue.  A friend and church member used the phrase “flying the plane while we are building it” this week to describe the school year and that really hit home with me. There will be mistakes, there will be things we did not think about that come up, and there will be opportunities to improve. Be flexible and adapt to keep moving forward! 

M – Maintain Enthusiasm One of my favorite school days each year is the “100th day of school” often recognized in Kindergarten and elementary.  I love seeing the creative ways teachers and students celebrate the day! Enthusiasm is an important ingredient in the recipe for success! You have to celebrate the little wins on the way to a big goal. When goals are set with small targets, you can visibly measure your progress. Those rewarding checkpoints help your confidence and keep you excited about reaching your goal! 

P – Purpose Despite all of the above, things this year both in school and in our endeavor to read the Bible all the way through will likely get hard. Something will throw us off course.  It is important to have purpose. Whether you have chosen for your students to homeschool, learn virtually, or attend school in person when it is available, you have a reason for that choice.  Be clear about that reason. When things get hard, when patience runs short, you can recall that purpose and stay focused on what matters most to you. Similarly, be able to articulate why you are taking the Grand Sweep challenge. Write it down in your Bible or your journal so you can look at it each time you sit to read. It is possible that your reading may at some point turn into a “have to” rather than a “want to”. When that time comes, remembering why you chose to do this in the first place can motivate you to continue. 

Friends, I wish you well as we enter into these new beginnings.  I am cheering for you and praying for you! I will leave you with one of my favorite verses, 2 Timothy 1:7, “for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.” Whatever you are about to undertake – a new school year, the Grand Sweep, or some other kind of adventure, I pray that you have the perseverance of a postage stamp!

Leigh-Anne Williams, Pastor of Family Ministries