Inspirations

    And let us  run  with perseverance the race marked out for us, Hebrews 12:1   When I read this verse, I am always reminded of a track and how each person is to  “stay in their lane”.    I have always thought of it as individual and personal.    Each of us  is responsible to do what God has set before us to do.   However, the other day I was  walking on a trail that was new to me.    This trail was longer, and there was paint on  some of the trees indicating the path.   Other paths intersected and they were different  colors.   As I was walking, I enjoyed looking for the color on the trees to let me know I  was still on the right path.    My mind came again to this verse and settled on the  words  marked out for us.    I was reminded that God is the one that marks out the way  that we should go.   As I journey through life, I can know I a...

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   Philippians 3:13 As I run, one thing is sure.   I am not looking back.    Why?   It slows me down.   I need to keep my eye ahead of me.    I have no desire to fall or trip as I twist to see what is going on behind me.   What is going on behind me is not my problem.  In life, it is incredibly easy to focus on past mistakes and regrets,  or good times and memories so much so that we can’t live our present life.   We can’t run the race we are in, effectively because we are looking back. Paul in Philippians gives excellent advice for all of us.   Forget what is behind.   Don’t worry about the people,  the places,  the events...

Another thing I’ve found when running a race  is that there is a deadline,  a time at which you can no longer choose to run that race.    If you miss the deadline, forget about that race,  it isn’t happening.   In life, there are many other deadlines that we often let pass.   My dad always wanted to go to a farm show,  but sadly he allowed the opportunities to pass  and one day old age caught up with him.  He could no longer make that choice.   I, myself, have missed some deadlines  because some opportunities only happen once  and if you pass up that chance,  it won’t come around again.   Some prospects aren’t worth losing.  Chances to play with your children,  to care for an ailing parent,  to spend time with a friend or child.   The time will come  when those occasi...

                            The first thing, and the most important thing,  about running is merely the decision to run the race.   It sounds easy, and yet,  taking the first step can be the hardest part.   I remember when I decided to participate in a 5k for the first time.   I was so nervous my butterflies had butterflies.   I had so many questions;  What If I couldn’t finish?   What if I come in dead last?   What if I get lost?   Or fall?   When The debate with myself ended,  I looked at the worst-case scenarios  and decided that I would probably survive the worst that could happen.   That decision to compete was the starting point.   In our spiritual life, we will be faced with the same choice.   Th...

For the next few days,  I am going to write some thoughts  about running.   I enjoy running and along the way,  God has shown me in many ways  how what I learned about running  applies to my spiritual life as  well.    Most of it is not new,  but we can often use the reminder  as we walk through life.   I pray it serves to encourage you  and draw you closer to God.

I love running!  I always have.  When I was growing up, I didn't excel at too many things, especially in the area of sports, but I found early on that I could move, and I did better than some.  In the past few years,  I have started running at some 5k events.   I don’t always get a ribbon and, at my age, I’m not as speedy as I was in my youth, but I survive .  Later today I’ll be running a 5k.  I've had a sore muscle in my leg that has kept me from running too much this summer. So as I run today, my goal is to complete the event without my leg giving me pain.  As I was thinking about this, I was reminded that, as Christians, we are all involved in another spiritual race.  In our spiritual race, the only vital thing is that we finish.  I doubt God is going to say “You were first; you were second; and so on”.  His only desire is that we complete the Christian life we started.  He doesn't want us to stop running just becau...