Are You Prepared for the Race?



 

 Yes, it's about time I came back to the table with a new post, but my absence was family-related. I  recently went to San Diego, California (birth home), to be with my siblings, children, and other family members due to the passing of my mother last month; she had turned 84 years old in April and I was so thankful to God for granting her another year with us. In my mind, I wanted to see her get even older, but God had another plan for her and for the rest of us.  Even though we were numb, hurting or in disbelief at our loss, we had a memorable time in San Diego as we gathered together with  each other and close friends, we had not seen in a while. We encouraged each other, reflected on special (and funny) memories about my mother, got personal closure and celebrated her life at her home-going service held at the church where she and my late father married in 1950. It was a bitter-sweet time, which went by too quickly and then it was time for us to return to our various homes and continue life without our mother, grandmother, godmother and friend. Death is imminent and an appointment no human being on earth will escape (Hebrews 9:27).  It comes as an unwelcome guest to survivors and leaves aching hearts that no one but God can heal and an emptiness that only He can fill with Himself. The consolation for my family is that my mother is now free from  pain and sickness and  that at God's appointed time, we will see her again in Heaven.  I have heard it said that: "We are born to die."  Yes, each year takes us closer to the end of this life and the beginning of the next. Life is a race with time and we all have a specific time to run our individual race.  During the course of our lives, there are various races we will need to run; a portion will be spiritual and others will be physical just like the Peachtree Race that will be held next month here in Atlanta, GA.  Unless one is physically fit and is dedicated to properly  prepare for this race,  winning,  placing  or making it to the finish line is unlikely. 

Each year thousands of individuals participate in the 10K Peachtree Road Race (PR Race) that is sponsored annually by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) and held in Metro Atlanta, on the Fourth of July--Independence Day. One important requirement for participation is ‘timely’ registration, because the race is currently limited to 55,000 entries. The first 45,000 online registration applications received are automatically entered into the race and an additional 10,000 are randomly selected from mailed applications, which must be postmarked by the end of March.  Along with their application, participants are to include the running time from a previous race that was a 5-mile distance or longer and run on a USATF-certified course, to help determine their placement/group category.   

 

Those of us, who believe in Jesus Christ also, have a race, but our race is not of a competitive nature.  Unlike the participants of the PR Race, Christians are NOT to compete or compare, but instead, we are to cooperate with each other in our service to God.  “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress.  And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us” (Hebrews 12:1 NLT).  Let us find hope and encouragement in the life of faith demonstrated by the cloud of witnesses, who went before us.  Just as the Lord strengthened them to run their course, He will also strengthen us to run ours with endurance.  Before attempting to run any race, the following things are necessary:

• Train to ensure that you are physically fit and equipped for the task.  For the Christian race, we train by prayer, praise and studying the Word of God (Matthew 26:41; Psalm 33:1;  2 Timothy 2:15).
• Adhere to a diet that will help you to maintain and/or produce the best health and energy levels.  We must be consistent in feeding on the Word of God so we can grow in the grace and knowledge of God (2 Peter 3:18).
• Include strength training and some type of cardio exercise.  As we actively wait on the Lord and train for our God-given place of service, we gain strength. “But those who wait on the LORD will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint”  (Isaiah 40:31 NLT).
• Get proper rest each day.  We can receive perfect rest and peace in the Lord. “He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams” (Psalm 23:2 NLT).
• Have clothing that is suitable for your activity.  Having the proper clothing will help to keep the body comfortable and free to move without restriction.  We are to put on Jesus Christ and make no provision for anything that will hinder our progress in the Lord; also, we are to put on the full armor of God so we can stand against the wiles of the devil (Romans 14:14; Ephesians 6:11).
• Have shoes that will provide support for your feet during training and the activity.  We must put on and walk in the peace of the Good News of the Gospel so we will be fully prepared for service and to run our race well (Ephesians 6:15 NLT).

Just as professional runners wear light, loose-fitting clothing to be free of restrictions, we too must strip off anything burdensome—‘every sin, which is a hindrance in running the Christian race.’   In order to be free to run our race well, we must guard ourselves against becoming accustomed to the burdensome and dangerous weight of sin because Scripture tell us that the penalty for sin is death (Romans 6:23).  Aside from hindering our Christian walk (Romans 6:20), sin separates us from God and without God; we are nothing and would cease to exist.  “For in him we live and move and exist.  . . . We are his offspring” (Acts 17:28 NLT). 

In a traditional race, there are participants, who will earn a place of recognition (e.g. second and third place), some might even receive honorable mention but only one receives first place in a given race and/or in specific categories.  The Christian race differs because we each have an individual course that we must run well and at our own pace.  The blessing in this race is that, if we endure and don’t become weary and faint, we will receive the prize God has for each of us (Galatians 6:9).  We are to “strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven” (Philippians 3:14 NLT). 

Those who wish to participate in the AJC 10k Peachtree Road Race can only run once a year. Once registration is submitted, it is time to start training for the big event.  On the day of the race, excited participants will run the PR race to the best of their physical ability, but there will only be one first place runner in each category. Once the race is over and the winners are publicly acknowledged, the participants will go back home to their usual routines. The race that is set before believers is currently in progress and began the day we accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of our lives. God will provide us the grace and strength we need to continue our race until the day of the Lord Jesus Christ.  What a day of excitement it will be when we reach the finish line and joyously receive our prize and eternal reward and finally hear the Lord say: “. . ., well done, my good and faithful servant . . .  Let’s celebrate together” (Matthew 25:23 NLT)!  Are you prepared for the race?




Thoughts About Waiting

Greetings to you! I'm back again to blog and I do trust that all is well with you. I thank God that all is well with me and my loved ones! I must confess that I'm still wet around the ears with blogging and basically it's yet a challenge to consistently find time to create a new and inspirational blog. You want to hear something funny? I almost couldn't find my blog page, so I could sign in (don't laugh). Can you imagine that? I picked the wrong search engine on my computer and it was doing some quirky things and wouldn't land on the right page.  Lately, I have been somewhat distracted by personal priorities and before this evening was to preoccupied with other concerns to sit down and share some thoughts. I've been thinking about waiting, because I have been doing a lot of it lately. It seems like there's always something or someone to wait for and we can also wait on people; that could be waiting for them to show up or it could our waiting on them in a nice way; like a waiter in a restaurant.

In our busy civilization, where there is so much to do and so little time, the one thing we prefer not do if possible is WAITING. But, no matter how we try to avoid waiting, we don't always succeed.  And, sometimes, the harder we try not to wait, the longer we end up waiting – whether we are in line at the grocery store, at the bank, sitting in the car on the Interstate or waiting for a green light at a busy intersection.  WAITING IS A PART OF OUR LIVES AND IS INEVITABLE!

What is it that causes us to be impatient: intolerant or anxious about a delay? WAITING is nothing to dread or dislike and serves a great purpose in our spiritual lives.  Have you ever thought about the positive side to waiting? Perhaps, if we focused on the benefits, we would gain a greater appreciation for waiting. We could look at it like an art, which must learned in order to be perfected.

We all could use and sometimes need—‘a period of waiting, an interval or delay, where we remain and stay put in expectation’ of something or someone.  Although, we might not see the need or understand the why, when we are subjected to it, God knows the importance and what He desires to do in our lives through waiting.  Waiting provides a time for growth and/or change.

 I often think of those who farm and have great respect for them because, they seem to have an understanding of two (2) very important life-principles: 1. They know how to properly sow and reap, and 2. They are familiar with the times and seasons of cultivating and are patient during the process of harvesting.  If farmers were to choose (to be impatient and) NOT wait for the right time to harvest their crops, they would suffer a great loss and we too would be affected and left without produce and grains for our daily sustenance. 

 Since, we're all going to have to wait during out life time, it's important that we consider the 'way' we wait or should I  say-- our attitude.  We can wait with grace or with much grumbling.  The Bible contains numerous passages that exhort us to wait and some include the benefits of ‘waiting patiently’ on the Lord. We know from personal experience that, waiting does not always come easy for us but, we must learn to wait and wait patiently for God: ‘bearing pains or trials calmly and without complaint.’   The Lord is able to teach us and make our wills conform to His. “. . . it is God who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight.” (Philippians 2:13, Amp.)

Let us not forget this simple but powerful exhortation (author unknown): “The Bridge of patience connects you with the promises of God for your life.” Also, we must learn to wait on God because; there is spiritual worth and benefit that is gained in the process.  The greatest benefit comes when “. . . we wait and watch [constantly living in hope] for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and [His] being visible to all.” (1 Corinthians 1:7b, Amp.)

 I really want to learn to wait in a way that pleases God, how about you, Is that your prayer?

 If you desire to learn to wait and especially to wait on God, read the modern-day Psalm below. It is my sacred song or prayer request to God asking Him to teach me to wait on Him; it too can be your sacred song or prayer. If I learn to wait on God, I can avoid being anxious and instead I can rest in Him without a care for they have been cast upon Him. Now that's what I call being cool, calm and collected in God!

Psalm for Waiting

Blessed be the God of all creation and the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  How faithful You are O Lord, to Your people and how merciful You are to mankind.  

Lord, I know that time is not principal to You and that, one day with You is as a thousand years yet, sometimes a day seems much longer to me than just a day. I cannot even conceive what it would be like to wait a thousand years.  It is during those times that I realize how much I need to learn to wait on You.  Teach me Lord to wait and not whine; to wait patiently on You, to wait graciously and in faith—believing in You and believing You without reservation. Selah!

Teach me Lord, to make good use of my time even when it seems to stand still because, I know You are faithful to keep Your promises.  Although, You are never early or never late, You are always on time.  Actually, 'You are under time, above time, and around time.'  You are the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end of time. Selah!

As I wait, I must remember that I will renew my strength and will not be disappointed no matter how long I have to wait on You -- as long as I wait in faith - believing.  You will never leave or forsake me for You are faithful and Your promises You will perform at Your appointed time.  You are worthy of all praise and Your works are marvelous and wonderful to behold.  My soul will bless the Lord. Bless the Lord for He is good! Praise the Lord all ye people!  Praise the Lord as you wait on Him! Wait patiently for the Lord and He will strengthen your heart. Selah (Pause and calmly think of about that)!

TIMELESS TREASURE

Although, there's much concern today about the present economy in our nation and the world at large, people continue to be focused on getting and keeping the best jobs and earning more money in order to obtain more material things. Some of those things are true necessities and others are designated for hobbies or recreation. When these items get old or have lost their appeal, they end up in the garage or the attic with the other gadgets, toys, tools, and whatnot. Some of those things might even be considered treasures of some sort, while other items end up being sold during a family garage sale.

It's easy to see how during the course of our lives, we can come into the possession of so many things and even forget when they were purchased or where they came from. Some might have been purchased brand new; some bought from a resale or antique shop, and others things might have been inherited. Things that are easy to obtain or replace end up being discarded or recycled, while other things are retained with careful preservation because they are unusual and considered priceless treasures. Some treasures are considered timeless, because their value is measured by the one, who possesses them. A quotable quote that can help us understand the importance of treasures to others is: “One man’s junk is another man’s treasure.”

What is the meaning of timeless?

1. Unchanged, remaining invariable throughout time; or

2. Eternal: having no beginning or end. The first definition would or could be applied to materials things and sometimes people, who never seem to age and are able to maintain a youthful appearance. 

Do you have something in your possession that can be considered timeless? There's probably something special or unique about your possession that makes it priceless or timeless to you. It is probably safe to  assume that most people consider things that seen and felt priceless or timeless, there are some things that we cannot see or feel that could be just as valuable.

Some time ago, I received an E-mail, about something I believe (and I'm confident there are others, who believe the same) could be considered a timeless treasure but when we don't know and realize the value of a thing, we will either abuse it or take it for granted. I'm sure you're wondering now, so I will stop with the suspense. This timeless treasure is: GOOD ADVICE. 

I haven't met anyone yet, who is not familiar with ‘good advice;’ we have all been a recipient of it some time or another during the course of our lives. Unfortunately, we are not always receptive to the one giving this treasure to us and sometimes fail to heed the counsel in the words that are given. Unlike other treasures we already have in our possession, if we refuse this one, it can be very costly and cause us great suffering. On the other hand, if we receive and heed good (and sound) advice, it can result in great blessings for us and our loved ones and even save our lives. While you assess your personal valuables, be sure to also hold on to the timeless treasure of good advice and if you have used it properly, you can feel good about sharing it with others.  Now pause and calmly think of that!