Today, I am thankful for those who have walked the journey before with faith, leaving us an example that we can follow.

I am thinking of four dear ladies in my own life. My mom and her mom are faithful examples of following Jesus through hardship, always praising His name, telling others about Him, loving people and serving Him. They did this despite their life challenges. Two other ladies were pillars of the church that my father pastored while I was a teenager. They, too, were godly examples come what may. These four ladies along with many others are such fine examples to me.

Hebrews 11, the Hall of Faith, is a list of the saints who have gone before. I love verses 11-16.

^“11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

¹² Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.

¹³ These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

¹⁴ For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.

¹⁵ And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.

¹⁶ But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.”

I praise God for these dear examples and pray that I will be an example to others! What are you thankful for today?