Training for the Race: Part I

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?  Run in such a way as to get the prize.  Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training.  They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.  Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air.  No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize."  1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (NIV)

Dedicated athletes train diligently to excel in their sport.  Spring football practice started yesterday in my town's high school.  It is about 4 or 5 months from when the season will start, but they're already out there training.  Just think of all the hard work that happens for the game - for the win - the prize.  Meetings to learn the plays, practices to put the plays into action, running to stay in shape, lifting weights to become stronger.  I would venture to say that some even watch their diet to be healthy as well.

Like athletes, Christians must also train to lead a Christ led life. We must also have self-discipline, self denial, and preparation.  We have an eternal prize at the end of our race, so we must not "run" aimlessly.  We have a purpose and a destination, so we must keep our eyes on the goal to win our reward in Christ's Kingdom.

When I think of ways that we prepare, I think of studying the Bible and going to worship and Sunday School to gain knowledge.  It's like the meetings the athletes have to learn their plays.  We have to know it to put it into action - live it and to pass it on . 

Self-discipline and self denial are ways for us to refuse worldly behavior and focus on Godly ways. As a dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, we must deny worldly ways as to not defile God's temple.  Also, we must deny ourselves to be a follower of Christ.  Jesus said, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross, and follow me.  If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it.  But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will find true life." Mark 8:34-35 (NLT)

Next time I plan to explore keeping the distractions from our race for Christ at bay.  Until then, keep running!

"And God will generously provide all you need.  Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others."  2 Corinthians 9:8 (NLT)

I grabbed a freshly laundered pair of jeans out of the dryer and put them on.  I just happened to have checked the back pocket.  Don't know why I did, but there was a 5 dollar bill.  It's not a ton, but it was just what I needed, and I didn't even know it at the time.

Later that afternoon, I noticed my son had a pretty bad bug bite on his leg.  It looked concerning, so I took him to the doctor.  The lady behind the desk told me, "I just need to collect your $5 copay."  Oh, man.  I ran out of the house without my wallet, but then I remembered I still had that cash in my back pocket.  I thought a prayer of praise and thankfulness that God had provided for even such a small need.

Dwelling Place

"Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?" 1 Corinthians 3:16 (NIV)

Being reminded that the Holy Spirit lives within me certainly makes me think twice about how I act, what I say, and how I even treat myself (diet and excercise).  We should also think about how we treat one another - how would you treat another temple/dwelling place of God?  I touched on how we should treat one another using the Golden Rule, but realizing that our fellow Christians are a dwelling place of God gives it a whole new perspective. 

I don't want to skip over an amazing part in the above verse.  God's Spirit lives IN us. "And now you also have heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you.  And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago."  Ephesians 1:13 (NLT)

Since God is in us, he is always with us, and gives us the power to do his will.  "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13 (NKJV) We may just be mere humans, and feel like a task is daunting or even impossible, but God can do anything.  "Is anything too hard for the Lord?..." Genesis 18:14 (NLT)

I at times feel uncomfortable, timid may be a better word, to witness to others, but I am getting more courage because I'm remembering and believing and trusting that God is dwelling within me and gives me the power and strength to do his will.  It is a comfort knowing that he is always right there, and we don't have to go through anything alone.

Out of the Mouths of Babes

"For this world is not our home; we are looking forward to our city in heaven, which is yet to come." Hebrews 13:14 (NLT)

My husband and son have talks about life...and in some cases, death. I jotted down a couple after they happened so I could remember the things he says at such a young age.  (He'll be 4 in 2 weeks)

This first story was in October 2010 when David and Carter were walking together to get the mail.

Carter: Hey Daddy, look at what I found.
David: What is it, buddy?
C: It's part of a worm.
D: Let me see.
C: See, but won't move.
D: It's dead, buddy.
C: Did somebody dead it?
D: Well, everything that lives dies.  If you live long enough, then you eventually die.  The good news for you and me is that we go to heaven when we die, and we will live with Jesus and always be happy.  Jesus saves us and we will live with him forever.
C: And Jesus can fly, too.
D: Sure he can, he's God.
C: He's a hero, like the monkey king.(a super hero character on Ni Hao Kai-Lan)
D: Sure, but Jesus is the best hero because he doesn't just save peoples' lives, he saves their souls.
C: And their muscles.
D: But mostly their souls.
C: But we don't have souls.
D: Yes we do.
C: And testicles, too.
D: Yeah, and testicles, too.  (Carter was born with testicular torsion, so yes, it was saved.)

 This next story brings tears to my eyes.  David's granddaddy is very sick with cancer, and will be going home to the Lord really soon.  

David was talking to Carter last night and told him that Granddaddy may have to go to heaven this weekend.

David said, "So, if you see Daddy sad, it may be because Granddaddy went to heaven."

They talked a little more and then David told him, "Granddaddy doesn't feel very good at all, so he may have to go to heaven."

And sweet little Carter said, "But you feel better when you're in heaven."

How true is that?  From the mouths of babes.  Remember life here is temporary, but our destination, heaven, is eternal.  Jesus said, "There are many rooms in my Father's home, and I am going to prepare a place for you.  If this were not so, I would tell you plainly.  When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am."  John 14:2-3 (NLT)

How awesome is that?  One day, we will always be with Jesus, where he is.  If this world has you down, remember our final destination, and the company there.

Pray About Everything...Even the Little Things

"Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.  Tell God what you need and thank him for all that he has done." Philippians 4:6 (NLT)

"Pray continually." 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NIV)

I could write my anecdote on a number of things that have been happening in my life lately, but I'm just going to touch on a couple today.  While discussing a matter on my heart today with my husband, I felt frustrated that he didn't seemed as concerned about it as I was.

"How come you don't seem to care?"

"Because I see no point in dwelling on something I know won't change."

"How do you know it won't change?  Have you prayed about it?"

"No. Why do you have to be right?"

I chuckled a bit at his last statement, but he got the point.  He may not be able to change it, but God sure can.  While doing my Bible study this afternoon, I came across a verse that tells me God has it under control, and it is all his will.  "For our God is in the heavens, and he does as he wishes." Psalm 115:3 (NLT)

We are to pray to him about everything.  Every little thing on our heart.  Pray without ceasing as 1 Thessalonians says.  We are to continually praise him for all that he has done, and all that he will do.  He is our Provider, so he will meet our needs.

I had to be humbly reminded of that recently.  This is a story I shared with my church's Lenten Devotional Book that reminds me how important prayer is in every aspect of life.  Even something mundane as paying the bills.

My family has grown, so therefore, so have the expenses.  Anyone that goes to the grocery store or to the gas pump can tell you that things cost more now.  So, this has me worrying, How will we afford everything?  What will we need to cut back on? Is this bill due before we get the next paycheck?  

I found myself so stressed about how everything was going to work out, that I did what I should have done in the first place.  I prayed.  I prayed several times a day.  I thanked the Lord for the wonderful blessings He had given me, and asked Him to please help me manage our family’s finances in a way that would be pleasing to Him.

One day, I was telling my husband what I busy week I had planned for all the orders I had recently received.  He jokingly asked, “Did you pray for more orders?” As soon as he said this, the light bulb switched on.  This is how He decided to provide!  I didn’t know how He would do it, but I knew he would provide in some way.

Prayer is a conversation with God.  Don't let the lines of communication down.  He wants that relationship with you.

Know the Why

"Teach your children to choose the right path, and when they are older, they will remain upon it." Proverbs 22:6 (NLT)

The other day when I was listening to the radio, the program was talking about teenagers in high school and college straying away from being involved in church.  Also, how when confronted on why do believe that, they were not able to defend their beliefs.

I feel it was because some of us never understood why we believe what we do, and why we are a follower of Christ.  Do we just go to church because Mom and Dad took us when we were younger, and it was now just out of habit?  Or as our preacher said in his sermon, because they were following the "rules" and "traditions"; Are we going through the motions because they're the rules, or because we have a relationship with Jesus?

I take the above verse from Proverbs to mean teach your children how to make decisions and the why so that when they are older, they are able to decide for themselves the right path. If we know why we are a follower of Christ, we will be better prepared to defend our beliefs if confronted.  This also helps us be convicted in our beliefs which would help us better witness.

I take this as a great challenge to educate my children as well as myself on what it means to be a Christian.  That maintaining a "moral code" is only a part of it, that we must be followers of Christ and have a relationship with him.

Are you just maintaining a moral code or following Christ?

Assured Reliance

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding." Proverbs 3:5 (NLT)

 "Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about what happens to you." 1 Peter 5:7

While chatting with a friend over some business today, I discovered some news about her upcoming move that would've had me in a panic if it were happening to me.

Me: "How much do I owe you?"

Her: " Just hold payment for now since I don't know what my new address will be."

Me:  Wait, what?? "You mean you don't know where you're moving to, or you don't know the address of it, yet?"

Her: "Both! I won't know exactly where I am moving to until this weekend. I have a few apartment appointments early Saturday."

Me: !!!  "Stepping out in faith?"

Her: "Yep. Exactly! haha! We have to be out of our house by the 25th. Our landlord put her house on short sale and will be moving into our current house. Thus why we have to be out so soon. However, we are trying to view apartments and get approvals for an early move in."

Me: "Wow."

Her: "So that's why I have no idea really where we are moving! It sounds crazy, I know. I'm just trusting that the Lord is taking care of all the red tape. In the meantime, I'm working on packing these next few weeks."

Me: "You sound like you have the right attitude."

Her: "We believe that if you lift up any crisis and keep faith, that the Lord will take care of everything! And that is true! So no need to panic."

Isn't her faith just awesome?  I have to remind myself all the time that the Lord has things taken care of, and we need not "depend on your own understanding" as Proverbs says. 

I looked up the definition of 'trust' in Webster's dictionary.  When I read it, I immediately thought each part of the definition applied to God.

Trust: assured reliance on the character, strength, or truth of someone or something.

Just put the definition into the verse instead of just the word 'trust' and see how it sounds.

Have assured reliance on the character, strength, and truth of the Lord with all your heart...

Yes, you can rely on God's character, God's strength, AND God's truth because he cares for you. 

The Golden Rule

"Do for others what you would like them to do for you.  This is a summary of all that is taught in the law and the prophets."  Matthew 7:12 (NLT)

My son is in pre-school.  Behavior is reported to parents by a green, yellow, or red star in their folder that comes home with them each day.  As I'm sure you've already figured, green is good.  Yellow means they got in trouble for something.  Red means they got in trouble multiple times and had to be sent to the director of the school. 

He has come home a few times with yellow stars, after all, he is 3, so sometimes behavior isn't perfect.  He knows we'll be disappointed, so he sounds morose when he tells us he got a yellow star that day.  Today he told me he got a yellow star, so I checked his folder for the explanation.  He had hit another boy, and while in time out, tripped another. (He is going on a rebellious streak lately!)

I asked him, "Would you want someone to do that to you?"

"No."

"So, why did you do that?"

"I don't know." (his answer for everything lately)

Each time he fights with his sister, or happens to get in trouble at school, I have him repeat the Golden Rule.  Think it'll sink in?  I sure hope so...

I've read commentary that the golden rule is stated in many religions, but is stated negatively as, "Don't do to other what you don't want done to you."  Jesus has turned the words into more of a challenge by saying, "Do to others what you want done to you."  We don't just avoid doing the mean or unpleasant things to others, but are challenged to show love like we want to be shown.

It could be as simple as a smile and a "hello" to be something that you would like.  You never know when that other person could really need it.  When I'm among a new group of people, I can be a little shy, so I like it when others will come up to me to introduce themselves or just say, glad you're here...whatever the case may be.  I try to put myself in others' shoes, so when I'm on the other side of that situation, I try to remember how it makes me feel when someone makes the effort.

What act of love, goodness, or mercy can you show someone today?

Salt of the Earth

Jesus said, "You are the salt of the earth.  But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor?  Can you make it useful again?  It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless."  Matthew 5:13 (NLT)

I open the lid of the perfectly cooked rice, and steam rises, filling my nose with the smell of rice.  It smells good, and makes me even hungrier.  I dish out a heap of rice onto my plate, dig in with my fork, and take that expected bite....  Huh, it tastes...bland.  This isn't very good at all actually.  "What went wrong?" I wonder then I remember, I forgot to salt the water the rice is cooked in!  Oh, how much difference a little seasoning makes. 

I want to be a useful seasoning.  I don't want to be bland, blah, and thrown out.  I want to be flavorful and show others to my Jesus by making an effort to positively effect/witness to those around me.

If we are just like the rest of the world, how will they see (taste) our seasoning?  If I am just like everyone else, not showing the ways of Jesus, then I will become worthless.  We should affect others in a positive way, just as salt brings out the best flavor of food.

I'm striving to be a better witness, so if I actively seek to be the flavor in someone's world, I feel that my witness will follow suit.  I am in no way an expert, saint, etc...but I know Jesus loves me.  I am his, and he is mine.

I'm starting this blog as a way to season the earth, or at least the small part that I come in contact with. 

Are you flavorful or bland?