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EN(dur)ANCE by Robin Gudal

Have you heard someone from the younger generation use the term “level up?” It means to advance to a higher level or improve skills, status, or achievements, according to an online slang dictionary.

For those of us over 50, “man-up” is in the same vein.

Stan Hankins and his wife Lois, dear friends who now have residence in heaven, once told me a story I’ve never forgotten:

They were a young couple, he a schoolteacher, with several little girls at home to care for, and money was tight. He came home from teaching, had supper with his sweet, growing family and then off he went for the night shift at a gas station. “Robin, a man has to do what a man has to do to provide for his family.” Level up!

Easter is a level up time! Do we need to take some action in our spiritual lives; renew our commitment to Christ or engage instead of being a spectator?

I’m always challenged by the sermon below. I pray it moves you forward to have a heavenly mentality.

It’s time to act and level up. It’s almost Sunday.

“It’s Friday. Jesus is praying. Peter’s a sleeping. Judas is betraying. But Sunday’s comin’.

It’s Friday. Pilate’s struggling. The council is conspiring. The crowd is vilifying. They don’t even know that Sunday’s comin’.

It’s Friday. The disciples are running like sheep without a shepherd. Mary’s crying. Peter is denying. But they don’t know that Sunday’s a comin’.

It’s Friday. The Romans beat my Jesus. They robe him in scarlet. They crown him with thorns. But they don’t know that Sunday’s comin’.

It’s Friday. See Jesus walking to Calvary. His blood dripping. His body stumbling. And his spirit’s burdened. But you see, it’s only Friday. Sunday’s comin’.

It’s Friday. The world’s winning. People are sinning. And evil’s grinning.

It’s Friday. The soldiers nail my Savior’s hands to the cross. They nail my Savior’s feet to the cross. And then they raise him up next to criminals. It’s Friday. But let me tell you something — Sunday’s comin’.

It’s Friday. The disciples are questioning. What has happened to their King. And the Pharisees are celebrating that their scheming has been achieved. But they don’t know it’s only Friday. Sunday’s comin’.

It’s Friday. He’s hanging on the cross. Feeling forsaken by his Father. Left alone and dying can nobody save him? Oh, it’s Friday. But Sunday’s comin’.

It’s Friday. The earth trembles. The sky grows dark. My King yields his spirit. It’s Friday.

Hope is lost. Death has won. Sin has conquered, and Satan’s just a laughin’.

It’s Friday. Jesus is buried. A soldier stands guard. And a rock is rolled into place. But it’s Friday. It is only Friday. Sunday is a comin’!” — S. M. Lockridge

Robin (Beckman) Gudal is intentional in life, a wife, momma, nana, friend and a flawed and imperfect follower of Jesus.