There is no two ways about it, this horse is inspiring. You should hear the story if you haven’t. There’s a movie you can watch, pictured above, especially the final scene at the Belmont Stakes, when Secretariat wins by 31 lengths (authentic photo courtesy of Secretariat.com). So great!
In Christ alone, my hope is found.
He is my light, my strength, my song.
This cornerstone, this solid ground,
Firm through the fiercest droughts and storms.
What heights of love, what depths of peace!
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease.
My comforter, my all in all,
Here in the love of Christ I stand.
In Christ alone, who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe.
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones he came to save.
Till on that cross, as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied,
For every sin on him was laid.
Here in the death of Christ, I live.
There in the ground his body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain.
Then bursting forth, in glorious day,
Up from the grave he rose again!
And as he stands in victory,
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me.
For I am his, and he is mine,
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.
No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me.
From life’s first cry, to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from his hand,
Till he returns, or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.
by Getty and Townend
©2001 Kingsway Music
When things are grim I’ll take courage where I can find it. Tonight I am grateful for Kenneth Branagh’s Henry V. The St. Crispin’s Day speech has worked for me more than once recently. Usually I like the climax of the speech. But tonight, I like the answer Henry V gives the French army when they ask (again) for ransom. Emphasis mine.
Montjoy:
Once more I come to know of thee, King Harry,
If for thy ransom thou wilt now compound,
Before thy most assured overthrow.Henry V: Who hath sent thee now?
Montjoy: The Constable of France.
Henry V:
I pray thee, bear my former answer back:
Bid them achieve me and then sell my bones.
Good God! Why should they mock poor fellows thus?
Let me speak proudly: tell the constable
We are but warriors for the working-day;
Our gayness and our gilt are all besmirch’d
With rainy marching in the painful field;
But, by the mass, our hearts are in the trim;
And oh! – Save thou thy labour;
Come thou no more for ransom, gentle herald:
They shall have none, I swear, but these my joints;
Which if they have as I shall leave of them,
Shall yield them little, tell the constable.
For the unadulterated text look here. And here is the clip I must have watched 100+ times in the last few months:
I need Henry V because I am discouraged. I will need church tomorrow to help me remember to hold tight to God.
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion, forever.
God answers Job, speaking to him ‘from a whirlwind.’
Do you give the horse his might?
Do you clothe his neck with a mane?
Do you make him leap like the locust?
His majestic snorting is terrifying.
He paws in the valley and exults in his strength;
He goes out to meet the weapons.
He laughs at fear and is not dismayed;
He does not turn back from the sword.
Upon him rattle the quiver, the flashing spear, and the javelin.
With fierceness and rage he swallows the ground;
He cannot stand still at the sound of the trumpet.
When the trumpet sounds, he says ‘Aha!’
He smells the battle from afar, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.
Faith and Sight 