The Olympics & Running the Race

Today starts the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing China. The best of the best athletes from around the world will gather to compete for their country. Many words could be used to describe these athletes, but I think one of the best would be perseverance.

A prime example of this perseverance was shown in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. Derek Redmond, who had previously shattered the British record for the 400 meter, was there in hopes to win a medal. He started well around the track. And then it happened. His hamstring popped, dropping him to the ground.

He fell to the ground in obvious pain. But after a few minutes he pulled himself up. Everyone else had finished the race, yet he struggled to his feet, and began hopping toward the finish line. His father was watching from the grandstands. Seeing his son fall, he jumped over the fence and ran to his son. And there arm and arm, he helped his son finish the face.

We have a relationship with our heavenly father just like that. We are running the race of our lives. The race away from the devil. The race toward righteousness. Away from sin and toward glory. But often we come up short. We fall. We try to get up. We face pain and disappointment.

And we have a heavenly father who will jump out of the stands, to help us finish the race. Persevere, and run the good race. And when you fall, look to the Father.

Here is the actual video of that race.


To read more on this exciting true story of Derek Redmond, click here.

Acts 20:24 -- 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 task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.

2 Timothy 4:7 -- I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Hebrews 12:1 -- 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.

Awards and Rewards

I've been nominated for an award! I'd like to thank the Academy....

No - seriously...a big thank you to Tammy at Not My Story But God's who thinks my blog is award-worthy. That is so awesome. More important than the award however, is the fact that Tammy thinks that I am helping people stay connected to God. Thank you Tammy!

I think everyone loves positive reinforcement, praise, awards and rewards. We like to know we are appreciated for our efforts. That should not be the reason why we are doing what we're doing, but I do think it is normal to want to be appreciated. In fact, I believe that it is a felt need. And you know God meets all of our needs.

The bible is filled with references to God rewarding us according to what we have done. So as I (figuratively) stand here holding my "Brillante Weblog Award," I can't help but focus on the future when I stand in heaven receiving a Crown of Life.

I thanked Tammy, the giver of the Weblog Award when I received it. Academy Award winners thank the Academy. When I receive the Crown of Life, and the rewards for what I have done on earth in heaven, I will be on my knees thanking God for all he has done for me.

And wondering why He is giving me a reward.

Why isn't He the one receiving one?

2 Timothy 4:8 -- Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

Psalm 62:11,12 - - One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard: that you, O God, are strong, and that you, O Lord, are loving. Surely you will reward each person according to what he has done.

Matthew 16:27 -- For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.

The GIRL in the Plastic Bubble

"The Boy in the Plastic Bubble is arguably one of the most influential and best-remembered made-for-TV movies of the 1970s" says Wikipedia. It starred John Travolta as a boy with an improperly functioning immune system, so that unfiltered air might kill him. So he is forced to live out his life in a "bubble," which was actually more like an astronaut's suit.

Sometimes I feel like I'm the girl in the plastic bubble. I live in my tight woven little world with like minded people. I'm so happy in my bubble. "Everyone" else is a Christian. We are all like minded, "good" people who love God and do our best. It is a wonderful bubble.

I step outside of my bubble into the unfiltered world and this is what I see. A 14 year old boy who feels sexually harassed by a gay 15 yr old boy murders him. A transgendered "man" gives birth to a child. And even in my own local paper the obituary of a 16 month old baby boy who is survived by his "loving mother." On the front page of the same section is her photo as she is charged in his death.

I need protection from that unfiltered world, just as the "boy in the plastic bubble" did. And while he looked like an alien in his bubble suit, I feel like an alien without one. But at the end of movie, the boy (now older) decides to see if his immunity is built up. He steps outside of his house unprotected, no bubble, and rides off with his girlfriend on her horse.

The bible is clear that we don't need a bubble for protection either. What we need is God's armor, "so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground."

So today I am praying for the world, that I might help show God's light in the darkness. And I especially pray that you and I, our families, and our children may be covered by God's armor. Because I think the day of evil has arrived.

Psalm 39:12 -- Hear my prayer, O LORD, listen to my cry for help; be not deaf to my weeping. For I dwell with you as an alien, a stranger, as all my fathers were.

Ephesians 6:13-18 - - Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

1 John 5:19 -- We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.

Work & Pray

Happy Friday! Before I start my regular posting, I wanted to share a couple of things with you guys.

1. My husband thought yesterday's post was not "so fabulous" but so vain sounding. I tried to explain it was tongue-in-cheek, and can only hope that he didn't get it because he is a man and that you gals all got it. I'm not saying that I am "so fabulous" - just that I'd like Jesus to shine fabulously through me!

2. My daughter was called to carry flags at the new church on Sunday (she volunteered; my introverted, don't do anything in public nearly 9 yr old). So she will be in the 9:30 and 11 services. And I was called to lead prayer in Sunday school. I think God is letting us know we are at the church were we belong. And I just love how he answers our prayers. So this is a praise.


Okay - on to our regularly scheduled post:

"Time spent working for God is not the same as time spent with God." said T. Suzanne Eller at the She Speaks Conference. This quote was something I took and committed to memory. It's true. I can be blogging for God and running around completing my ministry projects (so fabulous -LOL), and be so busy doing stuff "for God" that I'm not spending time with him.

Do you ever fall into this trap? One of the reasons I love leading a bible study is that it keeps me in the word. I haven't made a secret of the fact that I've been living on Easy Street over the summer. I got out of the bible habit. And I truly felt myself drift away from God.

Did I still believe in God? You bet your bippy! I love that guy! But I wasn't spending any time with him. And like any of our other relationships (spouse, kids, friends) when you don't spend time together you can drift apart.

The first thing I started to do is quote "Draw nearer to God and he'll draw nearer to you" to myself about 1 million times. Then I drew nearer. I started reading the bible again, and praying, and making time.

If you are so busy working for God, I urge you to pause - and spend some time with him. He's waiting. And it probably wouldn't hurt to spend some more time with your husband, kids and friends too. And, you know, I feel neglected if you don't leave me comments, so could you spare some free time for that?

But seriously, all work and no PRAY makes you a dull girl. Get prayin'. And then you'll shine for Jesus!

James 4:8 -- Come near to God and he will come near to you.

Psalm 119:10 - - I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.

Proverbs 9:10 -- Respect and obey the LORD! This is the beginning of wisdom. To have understanding, you must know the Holy God. (Contemporary English Version)

Ministry So Fabulous

"We ask ourselves, who I am to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God...your playing small does not serve the world." I love this quote, which is found on the home page of Ministry So Fabulous.

I've been thinking a lot about my ministry this summer. At my old church I've led a bible study for stay home moms for nearly 9 years. I have coordinated the Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) group. I sit on the Christian School Board. I also sit on the Parents Advisory Committee at my daughters' school. To borrow from the blog above, I have a ministry - so fabulous.

But my tenure as MOPS coordinator is over. I've left my old church as well. I am in the process of figuring out where God wants me to minister. Do I continue to lead my study for stay home moms? Do I start a new ministry with all that entails, at my new church? Is God calling me to a time away from leadership to a servants role, and a time to be led instead of lead?

What about my writing? Where does that fit in? If I am to find time to write articles for publication, a new ministry on my heart, how does that fit in with all my "old" ministries? And of course my blog, that is a new ministry in itself. (So fabulous, is it not?)

I guess part of the answer is to raise up new leaders to fill my old roles. I've already done that in MOPS. Is it time to do that with bible study too? Where shall I lead? Where shall I follow?

I'm praying to God for the answers. All I know for certain is that I want to have a ministry so fabulous. Because really, who am I not to be fabulous, gorgeous, talented and brilliant?

Acts 6:1-4 -- ...their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, "It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word."

2 Timothy 4:5 -- But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

Romans 12:6-8 -- We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

A Clean House is a Sign of...

I saw this cutie graphic on another blog, and I had to share it with you all. I think it sums up my home life. I can spend too much time on the computer, but since I don't enjoy house work any excuse would do! I've seen other versions of this motto "A clean house is a sign of a wasted life" or "A clean house is a sign of a dull woman."

House work seems like a dreaded job. But does the bible tell us anything about that? Well, there is the dreaded Proverbs 31 woman...(I mean the lady in the bible, not Lysa TerKeurst.) We learn that she "works with eager hands." (v.13) That is exactly how I do the laundry, with eager hands...ummm, right. "She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family" (v.15). It is dark when I get up...in the winter months. And of course I provide food for my family...McDonald's is food, right?

Okay, clearly I'm exaggerating. My family rarely eats McDonalds. We are more the Chinese take-out type. But to continue with the lesson, verse 27 says "she watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness."

Mainly I think I am eating 100% whole wheat...but perhaps I can occasionally have a slice of that bread of idleness. So today I pray to be more purposeful in my daily life at home. To get my "jobs" done quickly & efficiently so that I can be a good example to my daughters.

And to teach them that a clean house is a sign of a Proverbs 31 woman. You don't have to bake your own bread, just don't eat the bread of idleness.

Titus 2:4-5 -- Then they {the older women} can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands so that no one will malign the word of God.

Proverbs 10:4 - - Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.

Proverbs 15:17 - - Better a meal of vegetables where this is love than a fattened calf with hatred."

Knockin' on Heaven's Door

Knock Knock. Who's there?
Boo. Boo Who?
Sorry I made you cry!

That's the joke going around my house lately, by my nearly 9 yr old daughter. She's at the age where riddles and knock-knock jokes are fun times, and she follows me around with her joke book telling me joke after joke.

Knock-knock. Who's there?
Apple tree. Apple tree who?
Sorry I made you cry!

What?? That joke is the version my 4 yr old tells. She hears all the knock knock jokes, and she wants to get involved too. She sees the fun, and wants to be a part, but she doesn't understand what makes the joke funny. So she makes the joke her own, without really getting the point.

Some Christians have this problem too! They hear the message of Christ, and believe it. They want to be involved too. So they start to share the stories of the bible, but they are just repeating things they've heard and can get the story mixed up along the way. And suddenly there are lots of confused Christians (and non-Christians) out there.

Don't think it could happen to you? Quick, answer these questions.

1. How long was Noah on the ark?
2. How many of each animal were on the ark?
3. How many wise men were there visiting Jesus?
4. Where did the wise men visit Jesus?
5. After Jesus rose from the dead, how long was he on the earth?

Answers:

1. Well, if you read my blog you already know that Noah was not on the ark for 40 days. While it rained for 40 days, he was on the ark for 7 months! I just realized this myself last week when reading the bible account of the story, and not a child's story book.

2. Um, 2 of each animal right? Genesis 7:2 says "Take with you SEVEN of every kind of clean animal, a male and its mate, and two of every kind of unclean animal, a male and its mate, and also seven of every kind of bird...." Okay, so that is way more than 2 of each. The first sentence actually refers to seven pairs - so that is 14 of each kind of clean animal. Why did we think two? Well, there were two of each for the purpose of being fruitful and multiplying...but there was also some eating going on I think.

3. Three wise men, everyone knows that right!? The bible does not say three. In Matthew 2 it says "After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came." (Magi or wise men). It never references how many. Only that they brought gold and incense and myrrh.

4. Well, of course anyone who owns a nativity scene knows that the Wise Men came to the stable...right after the shepherds, right? Actually, Matt 2:11 says "On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him." House? Biblical scholars point to the fact Jesus was under 2 since Herod sent down the order to kill all children under 2, but was probably around 1 yr old and at his home, not the stable by this point.

5. If you attend a church where the creed is spoken, you know "He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead, and ascended into heaven." I always thought that meant immediately, or at least soon. He spoke to Mary at the grave, visited the disciples and off he ascended. He was actually on earth for 40 days before he went to heaven. Acts 1:3 says "He appeared to them over a period of forty days."

Like my 4 yr old, we can hear the stories and get confused, adding our own take on them. We need to make sure we are reading the bible to get the true story. It is great to be a witness for God, but make sure you're spreading the truth. If you're not sure, pray to God for wisdom (knock and the door will be opened!). And if all else fails, seek godly counsel from a bible study leader or pastor. But remember, test what you hear with the bible.

Knock knock. Who's there?
Lettuce. Lettuce who?
Lettuce pray! (Let us pray).

Matthew 7:7,8 - - "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."

Revelation 3:20 - - Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.