On Wings Of Eagles

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Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Sacrifice

Iditarod dog sled team
Philippians 3:14 (ESV)
I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Day Six of our Alaska Adventure we went to the Iditarod museum and had the opportunity to ride on a sled pulled by dogs. It was such a great experience watching how the dogs worked together and enjoyed pulling the sled. 

Every year in Alaska, a 1000-mile dogsled race, run for prize money and prestige, commemorates an original "race" run to save lives. Back in January of 1926, six-year-old Richard Stanley showed symptoms of diphtheria, signaling the possibility of an outbreak in the small town of Nome. When the boy passed away a day later, Dr. Curtis Welch began immunizing children and adults with an experimental but effective anti-diphtheria serum. But it wasn't long before Dr. Welch's supply ran out, and the nearest serum was in Nenana, Alaska--1000 miles of frozen wilderness away. Amazingly, a group of trappers and prospectors volunteered to cover the distance with their dog teams!

Operating in relays from trading post to trapping station and beyond, one sled started out from Nome while another, carrying the serum, started from Nenana. Oblivious to frostbite, fatigue, and exhaustion, the teamsters mushed relentlessly until, after 144 hours in minus 50-degree winds, the serum was delivered to Nome. As a result, only one other life was lost to the potential epidemic. Their sacrifice had given an entire town the gift of life. Because of the sacrifice of Jesus all of humanity can be saved. 


Dear Lord, help us to continue to press on to the goal that is before us. We pray for strength to continue along even when things get tough. In the Name, of Jesus, Amen. 

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