the race

Today, we spent watching our two blessings run, jump, and participate in their elementary track meet.  We're uncertain as to where they have gotten their running abilities.  They both LOVE to run.  Our oldest has a running passion, and we think his brother is fast because he is always running AWAY from him...especially when playing football, etc.  :)  How fun to see them run, knowing that however they did, we were proud of them. 


This past week, my dear husband took our blessings to the track several times to practice their long jumps, a softball throw (for our youngest), and sprinting for both :)  Practice so that they would be ready for their races today. 


Life is a whole lot like that...each of us is running a race...some lives might be jogs, some might resemble long distance, determined, steady races, and others look more like sprints.  Each race is as important and possessing great potential to point those watching to the Trainer.  God, our Personal Trainer, takes us out to practice for the big races...those trials that inevitably come our way to make our faith in God and our relationship with Him stronger than ever before.

Are we ready?  Are we taking the time to spend with Him as things are going well...learning from His Word...talking with Him about all of the things He has allowed to cross our path...praying for wisdom and strength...thanking Him?  What is our race of life like?


Hold fast, friends!  Stand your ground in Him!  Set our eyes on Jesus and choose to be like Him.  Take the time to prepare for the big meets...because they will come...ready or not :)  Set our eyes on Jesus and choose to be like Him.  Press on faithfully!

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Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, 

but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.

But one thing I do:  

Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:12-14

I have fought the good fight,

I have finished the race,

I have kept the faith.

II Timothy 4:7

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses,

let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles,

and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus,

the author and perfecter of our faith,

who for the joy set before Him 

endured the cross,

scorning its shame,

and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Consider Him Who endured such opposition from sinful men,

so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Hebrews 12:1-3

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me,

if only I may finish the race and complete the task

the Lord Jesus has given me--

the ask of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.

Acts 20:24

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Lord, thank You for working with and in us

to make our race

strong and steady.

Help us to fix our eyes on You

so our race might be straight

to You.

Make us arrows to You

for those who cross our path and

who don't already know You.

Give us wisdom to see the opportunities

You place before us.

To You alone, Jesus...