Passionate Aim

"Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only on receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified" (1 Corinthians 9:24-27, New American Standard Bible).

What is your target? Where is your aim? What is your passion?

Aligning our passion with our aim contributes to meeting a goal. In a Christian's life, how does God fit into the picture?  The article "Passionate Aim" by Jaye Martin discusses these things and this verse on www.christianity.com. You can find it by clicking here.

Photo from discoverarchery.org.

Who cut in on you?

"You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?" (Galations 5:7, NIV).

I woke up this morning with this verse on my mind. I'm been thinking about it all day. There are times in my life that I am running my race with fervor, and times that I stop for the least little thing and then never get back to the main thing. In one instance, I know what happened to stop me but I have not gotten back in the race. I love that Galations asked the question of "who cut in on you?" My question is, what am I going to do about it?

This verse deals with not obeying the word of God. If God has told us to run a race, then we must keep running! If we fall, we are to get up and run again. It doesn't mean we go back to the beginning, it means that we don't just stay on the sidelines. Even when it is not easy, we must go onward to what Christ has called us to do.

I don't know what race God has called you to but I pray that you will keep running. Regardless of who cut in on you, run your race to win. The enemy comes in the form of people and feeling. Anything that has stopped us needs to be put aside.

Let's run our races to win!

Finish the Race

"But I count my life of no value to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of God's grace" (Acts 20:24, HCSB).

I am not a good finisher. Some are good at working hard and running the race, some good at finishing what they started. I'm good at starting things and never finishing...which is not-so-good. I have so many projects that are incomplete right now. Our remdeling of the master suite remains ongoing so that is certainly something that needs to be finished. The Christmas decorations are ready to be put up. There are working things like syllabi to be done and emails to be sent. I have writing to do and other ministry projects just hanging. And dare I even mention the dreaded dissertation that needs to be finished?!

It is so easy to lose focus and yet Paul tells us in Acts 20 to finish the course that the Lord has called us to. I must count my life of no value and charge head to do the main thing. I must finish what He called me to start and to leave the rest. I must put aside everything that keeps me from doing my ministry.

In the next few days, I will complete my priority list for 2010. It will be a private list of the essential things that I know that the Lord is calling me to do. This list will not be a list for debate but a list that I will commit to and keep plugging away at until they are complete. The next few days will also be a time for me to finish what I started this year (2009). Just as I must start the new year well, I must finish some things already started.

I pray that the Lord will guide us all as we finish this year of commitment and begin the process of starting a new one. May He lead you every step of the way as we know Him, share Him, and lead others to do the same.

Who cut in on you?

“You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the trust? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you.” Galatians 5:7-8 (NIV)

I just love this verse. It always speaks to me. Sometimes I am great at accomplishing my goals but at other times, I just stop mid-stream. This verse hits the problem head on...what stopped me from running my race? Whoever or whatever it was, it wasn't the Lord. If He called me to do something, then I need to finish what I started.

I have to admit that I have a long list of things that need to be finished. I'm a good starter - sort of an apostle if you will - but I fall short of the completion part.

Right now, I admit that I blew it.

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, NIV

God is there for you and me when we blow it. He knows we are weak and cannot follow through on our own. He wants to be our strength and our power. Today, I'm focused on that. No matter who or what cut in on me, it wasn't as strong as God's power that is available.

Lord, help me to run the race that you have given me with your power.