Elevated Friday, August 28th, 2020

Happy Elevated Friday! Today we highlight a story of a teen in Tennessee who is going the distance when it comes to helping his community. East Tennessee 14-year-old William Cabaniss loves baking, and he remembers vividly watching the long lines at local food banks on the news as he was baking some brownies. He was struck by those images, and in his hand at the time was vanilla extract. He had a great idea then: he would raise funds for local food banks by making and selling vanilla extract. In the last few months, he has organized into a 501c3 called Vanilla Feeds Tomorrow, and with the help of his whole family, has made over $9,000 in profit, yielding over 27,000 meals for those in need. What makes this story more incredible is the perspective William takes at such a young age. He said, “If I can only help one person, I will be satisfied that I have made a difference. However, I would like to do this for as many people as I can. No one should have to worry about hunger. This is my goal for Vanilla Feeds Tomorrow.”

If we are honest with ourselves, most of us would rest upon our laurels for helping one person every once in a while. It takes real dedication, focus, and endurance to seek out and deliver help to more and more people. But that is what Jesus did. If we only think that Jesus was divine, and therefore had better capabilities and strength than us, we are wrong. Jesus was both entirely divine and entirely human. The Bible records many times when he had to retreat and rest. But after resting, Jesus always sought out the next person to help. It is normal to rest our bodies and minds before seeking out the next person to help, so long as we do not retire from it entirely. Hebrews says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.” Today, if you are in need of rest from helping others, take it; if you are rested, go out and find ways to help others.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.” – Hebrews 12:1-3 ESV

Original Article:

https://bit.ly/3jovZqz