Saturday, May 14, 2011

Running for the Finish Line

Tomorrow I will run my first half marathon.  The finish line of the race is running through the players tunnel at Lambeau Stadium and onto the field itself.  That should be really cool.  Of course, I am not excited about the weather forecast.  20 plus mile hour winds from 7-9 a.m., which is when I will be running.  Well, it will be an experience to say the least.  I've trained, I've tried preparing my mind, I will push myself to the finish line.


As throughout this whole process, it's reminded me of our "faith training."  It's caused me to think about if I am training as hard for holiness as I am for one half marathon.  The time and energy I put into this, the dedication I made each week is not the same as the dedication I make to my time with God, studying his word, praying and seeking his face.  It did cause me to increase my awareness and for that I am thankful.  

Tomorrow I will run a half marathon and it will be over.  Everyday I have a choice to run with Jesus, train with him, allow him to transform me and make me more like him.  Not running in vain, not running to be a busybody, but purposeful, boundary-setting running that means I will not get lazy about my faith, I will not let fear paralyze me and I will press on towards the goal, which is heaven.
1 Corinthians 9:25-27 (The Message)
You've all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You're after one that's gold eternally.
I don't know about you, but I'm running hard for the finish line. I'm giving it everything I've got. No sloppy living for me! I'm staying alert and in top condition. I'm not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Reality Check

I have many favorite quotes from the Campus Crusade for Christ staff conference I was at this weekend.  One that keeps popping back into my head however is "being so connected to your present reality that you miss the reality of the Lord's presence."

We talked about Sarah in Genesis 17 and how she didn't believe that God would allow her to give birth to a son at such an old age even though that is exactly what God had said he would do.  Perhaps she was focused on her past experiences, disappointments.   Whatever the case, her husband did not waiver in unbelief.

As I looked today at the story of Naomi in Ruth 1 (and then again later in the book of Ruth), I saw something there as well that reminded me of bringing our present reality into the presence of our Lord.  Naomi had indeed much to be sorrowful about.  She lost her husband and only two sons.  Naomi, though had become bitter - she asked people to no longer call her Naomi, but to call her by a name that meant bitterness, Mara.  She was missing out on the current presence of God by being so caught up in her present realities.  Am I making sense?

What is it that you are facing?  What is your current reality?  Mine is that we are packing, getting ready for a summer of traveling and moving around a lot before finally leaving everything that we know and everything that is comfortable.  I have no idea exactly what my next 6-12 plus months will look like.  But will God's presence be more real to me than any of my present realities or realities to come?  What about you?

Bring your present reality into the presence of God.  Reality doesn't then change, perspective does.  Thanks Steve Sellers.