Run Your Race! Keep the Faith!

•  “Fight the good fight for the faith; take hold of eternal life that you were called to and have made a good confession about in the presence of many witnesses.”

1 Timothy‬ ‭6‬:‭12‬ ‭HCSB

• “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭4‬:‭7‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

• “Don’t you know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way to win the prize.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭9‬:‭24‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

We all have been given a race to run.  And they are all different.  Mine happens to be a race I’ve had to run most of my life.  It has to do with health.  I’ve mentioned briefly in the past about different issues.  The 1st being something called a tethered Spinal Cord.  Leaving me with a lot of spinal cord damage, a condition called Tethered Cord Syndrome.  The results of that is a long painful journey and race.  Then I was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.  Another life long battle of this blood cancer.  And add to that is Breast Cancer.  All of these requiring a great deal of faith in the Lord Jesus, and stamina to run my race.  And finally I’ve been given an autoimmune disease to add to that complicated list.  That one disease has zapped every last bit of energy I have.  

Still I must run my race.  I must keep the faith.  I know I will have victory.  You may be asking how do I do it?  How do I have any faith left?  How….because I know the very source of my life.  That is my Lord Jesus Christ.  He is my source of everything.   My strength, my stamina, my hope, and my faith.  I must choose to continue on in the faith.  Run my race. 

When I’m weak, Jesus is my strength, my husband is my strength.  I know others are praying and interceding for me.  That all fills me with strength and hope and faith.  And always read the Word of God.  Have it near you.  And pray without ceasing.  

Jesus will be running that race with you.  He never leaves your side.  

Talk with Jesus. Read His word.Trust Him.

 Matthew 17:20b

“For I assure you: If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.

This is one of those “faith” verses that we are all familiar with.  I would say it is almost impossible to find someone who hasn’t heard these words spoken before.  Even those claiming they do not believe in the Scriptures have heard this spoken, or read it someplace, or may have even spoke these words themselves.

I say amen to that.  We all need those encouraging words at times in our lives.  It may be for your personal relationship with Jesus, or your relationship with your spouse, maybe for healing in your own body or  a loved ones life.  Then it could be for financial reasons. Or many other reasons we encounter in a lifetime.

Do you think those of us that hang on to this verse more than others are more apt to receive our answers than someone who barely believes in faith?  I don’t believe that.  That would mean the Lord puts your requests ahead of mine because you memorized a verse. I do not believe God does that.  He loves us all equally as the next.  He has made us in His image.  We are fearfully and wonderfully made. He likes your blonde hair as much as my red curly hair. He likes my freckles as much as your pale skin.  Ok, that’s our physical appearance.  What about our hearts?  He desires us to all be filled with His love in our hearts.  But I may have a little bubble in mine, where yours is filled to the brim.  That makes no difference to Jesus.  What He wants most of all is for us to rely on Him, in faith, for all of our needs and wants.  He doesn’t measure our prayers.  He already knows what is in our hearts.  We don’t need to plead with Him.  No matter our need or request, He will be there for us. 

16 Rejoice always! 17 Pray constantly. 18 Give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (‭‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬‬:‭16‬-‭18‬ ‭HCSB‬‬)

Sometimes we think we know the answer and how Jesus will respond.  Well why would we need faith and trust in Jesus if we knew the answers.  It all comes down to this.  Jesus loves  us more than anything.  He wants to supply our every need.  He wants to answer every prayer.  But those answers are coming from Jesus’ heart and His mouth.  He knows what’s best.  

It comes down to us reading the Scriptures, letting them stick in our hearts.  And having that faith, even if it’s only the size of a mustard seed.  Just sit back, put your feet up, and talk to Jesus.  Let Him hold you in His arms, console you, speak His love to you.  He wants that relationship with you.  It is often in those times that I find my greatest moments of peace and comfort.  For that I am so very grateful.   

As we start a new season, autumn, we get to see God’s magnificent masterpiece of the brilliant colors of the landscape.  But also we can settle down some, rest a little, and prepare for the coming of a new year.  

May you all find your rest and your peace in Jesus.  Be rejuvenated.   

Stir Up Your Gift

 Keep your gift alive and active.  Stir it up, use it.  

“Do not neglect the gift that is in you; it was given to you through prophecy, with the laying on of hands by the council of elders. Practice these things; be committed to them, so that your progress may be evident to all. Pay close attention to your life and your teaching; persevere in these things, for by doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers.”

‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭4‬:‭14‬-‭16‬ ‭

This is a Scripture that should be familiar to all of us.  Most of us have requested prayer for something.  For ourselves we want to see the power of God present in our lives.  That would be evident through the gifts God has given us.  You remember in a previous blog I wrote about the gift of discernment.  Especially when praying for others.  For many you may be led to pray for healing in someone.  And the list is unending.  

The above Scripture in Timothy tells us to keep that gift alive.  Pray that God sharpens our gift(s) everyday.  Use your gift everyday, even if it’s just you and God interceding for someone. Keep it alive and active.  

For this blog, I was not a writer.  The most writing I did was in my own personal journal.  Those entries followed my daily devotions and prayer time.  One day the Lord placed on my heart to write a blog.  I shared this, after days of praying about it, to my husband.  I was sure he’d ask me if I was ok.  This is not something I ever spoke of or even dreamt about.  To my surprise he said “that’s a great idea”.  Oh my goodness, now what?  The next step was sharing with someone I totally trusted.  I was having tea one day with our Pastor’s wife.  I asked her what she thought.  WOW!  She was so excited.  She showed me how to set a blog up.  And to step out in faith.  The rest is history.  

Knowing this is totally a gift from the Lord, not of my own desire.  But my desire is to please Jesus, honor Him, and follow through.  I pray everyday with my devotions and prayer time, Lord is there anything I should share today?  Sometimes it’s a few weeks in between.  I’ve even taken a break at times to get a fresh perspective.  But I know this is my gift and I must use it.  

I would encourage you, pray about your gifts.  Ask Jesus what He would desire for you to do.  Ask Him about something that may be on your heart.  Maybe it’s a one time thing for someone specific.  Maybe it’s for several people. One thing I know for sure, it is NOT about us. It is about Jesus and glorifying Him.  We must ask Jesus to sharpen our gift, to refresh it.  Be open to the Lord to use you to spread His love.  All for His glory.