Do you ever feel bogged down? I know I do…between the demands of church, wife, three kids, 2 dogs and whoever else is wanting a piece of my time and attention I find myself weighted down to point of a standstill.
I have some friends who are marathon runners and they have shared with me some of their training and preparation for these 26 mile road races. One of the things that each of them has shared is some of the ways they cut excess weight. These runners look for the lightest of running shoes, they wear shirts and shorts made of lightweight fabric. All of these things are done in an effort run better, last longer and finish well.
All of us are running in the race of life. Many of us however have allowed ourselves to weighted down by worry, guilt, painful memories, fear and sin. These weights slow us down, they make us work harder and they rob us of our focus. When we are burdened by these weights we easily lose sight of the goal….to finish well.
Today’s encouragement comes from the following passage of scripture:
Hebrews 12:1 (NLT)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us.
There are a couple of things I want you to see in this passage. First of all God has put a cheering section in place for you. The crowd of witnesses may include your family, your friends, your co-workers and classmates. My oldest son runs in track for his high school. At his races those watching call out his name and spur him on as he runs past them. When he is falling behind they call out with words of encouragement. When he is running well they encourage him to push on. You never know who is in this crowd, and more importantly you never know the influence your life may have upon them. I have been inspired many times by watching the way others have run their race.
The second thing that we see is that we need to strip off every weight that is slowing us down. The sad part about these weights (guilt, worry, etc…) is that most of us choose to pick up those weights in the first place. We have prayed for and received God’s forgiveness and peace, but the weight is familiar and so we become like Linus from the Peanuts cartoon…we always have our security blanket with us. The weights become so familiar that they are no longer akward, because we have adapted to them and we are not even aware that they hinder us. I want you to notice who controls the burden of the hinderance…it is you. You have the option to strip it off and remove it!!!! Each day it is a choice….Am I going to carry this burden and let it weigh me down or will I leave it a the feet of Jesus?
The last point is that we run with endurance. Runners describe different stages of their runs. They talk about hitting the wall. The wall is physical and psychological point in the race where the mind and body scream out for the runner to quit. A good runner knows that this point comes right before the “runner’s high.” The runner’s high is that place where the body releases endorphins and the pain ceases. The runner can then push on to the finish line. God has set a course before you in this life. By finishing well you bring glory and honor to Him and you will inspire those who witness your race.
Today examine your race...consider your running apparel. Are you running with that medicine ball of guilt, how about that dumbbell of anxiety, perhaps it’s the backpack full of remorse. Whatever that weight is you have a choice…drop it right now or continue to carry that weight that you were never meant to bear.
Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.
Carl
Monday, April 25, 2005
Monday, April 18, 2005
Monday Morning Encouragement - April 18, 2005
Ok let’s face it…all of us deal with people in our lives who, for lack of a better term, are jerks. Maybe the guy in the cubicle fits this bill or perhaps it’s your boss. It is a fact of life that all of us deal with people who just rub us the wrong way. Many times we find ourselves being unjustly tormented by their words and actions. These people always seem to know when and where to spread their poison. You’ve come to the office having enjoyed a pleasant drive to work…and wham they hit you in the knees and change your outlook for the day. Today I want to give you some encouragement for dealing with the difficult people in your life.
Proverbs 11:17 (NLT)
Your own soul is nourished when you are kind, but you destroy yourself when you are cruel.
So how can you be kind to someone who makes your life so difficult? I want to give you a couple of steps that will help you maintain a right perspective when dealing with those who cause you grief.
First of all start with prayer. Pray for that person. No, asking God to make them something other than a jerk will not work. Instead, praying for that person means praying for their personal well being. Ask God to bless them, bless their work and bless their family. Look at what Jesus instructed along these lines:
Matthew 5:44 (NLT)
But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!
When you pray for your enemies God shifts your focus off of you and the actions that have offended you and instead puts the spotlight on God. As you pray for these people you will find that your heart begins to change. You begin to find them more tolerable and you begin to have compassion upon them.
The second step is to overwhelm them with kindness. You cannot change the actions of another person. You can only change your own actions and attitudes. It is important to realize that you won’t be much good at step 2 if you haven’t started at step 1. Kindness without serious prayer will be temporal. But when you begin with prayer your kindness will be empowered by God’s strength.
Proverbs 25:21-22 (NLT)
If your enemies are hungry, give them food to eat. If they are thirsty, give them water to drink. [22] You will heap burning coals on their heads, and the Lord will reward you.
Remember difficult people will help to develop important character qualities such as patience, perseverance and compassion into you.
Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.
Proverbs 11:17 (NLT)
Your own soul is nourished when you are kind, but you destroy yourself when you are cruel.
So how can you be kind to someone who makes your life so difficult? I want to give you a couple of steps that will help you maintain a right perspective when dealing with those who cause you grief.
First of all start with prayer. Pray for that person. No, asking God to make them something other than a jerk will not work. Instead, praying for that person means praying for their personal well being. Ask God to bless them, bless their work and bless their family. Look at what Jesus instructed along these lines:
Matthew 5:44 (NLT)
But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!
When you pray for your enemies God shifts your focus off of you and the actions that have offended you and instead puts the spotlight on God. As you pray for these people you will find that your heart begins to change. You begin to find them more tolerable and you begin to have compassion upon them.
The second step is to overwhelm them with kindness. You cannot change the actions of another person. You can only change your own actions and attitudes. It is important to realize that you won’t be much good at step 2 if you haven’t started at step 1. Kindness without serious prayer will be temporal. But when you begin with prayer your kindness will be empowered by God’s strength.
Proverbs 25:21-22 (NLT)
If your enemies are hungry, give them food to eat. If they are thirsty, give them water to drink. [22] You will heap burning coals on their heads, and the Lord will reward you.
Remember difficult people will help to develop important character qualities such as patience, perseverance and compassion into you.
Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.
Monday, April 11, 2005
Monday Morning Encouragement - April 11, 2005
I grew up in Kansas & Oklahoma an area affectionately known as “tornado alley.” During my lifetime I have seen numerous tornadoes and have even been left homeless by one.
For those living in the plains this time of year is not just spring, but tornado season. To better protect the public the National Weather Service will often issue a tornado watch. A tornado watch means that developing conditions are favorable for the development of tornadoes. When a watch is issued it is expected that you will keep your eye to the sky and be ready to seek shelter at a moments notice.
It is with this thought in mind that I want to speak to the watches and warnings that God sends into your life.
1 Peter 5:8 (NLT)
Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour.
2 Peter 3:17 (NLT)
I am warning you ahead of time, dear friends, so that you can watch out and not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people. I don't want you to lose your own secure footing.
There is always a spiritual battle raging for your life. When we are not careful we are susceptible to getting off course and making decisions that bring hardship and pain into our lives. Just like tornadic thunderstorms, temptation slowly moves into our lives and we become complacent in guarding our hearts. Then all of the sudden…the spriritual tornado appears and begins to ravage the landscape of our lives.
Are you paying attention to the warnings in your life? God warns us of approaching storms through His Word, through others and through the convicting power of His Spirit within us. But just like the people living in tornado alley, you can either heed the warnings or you can simply ignore them and take a gamble.
God has placed His early warning system in your life to protect and sustain you. When the warnings sound…take heed, seek refuge in His Word, surround yourself with the strength of others.
Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be upon you this week.
Carl
For those living in the plains this time of year is not just spring, but tornado season. To better protect the public the National Weather Service will often issue a tornado watch. A tornado watch means that developing conditions are favorable for the development of tornadoes. When a watch is issued it is expected that you will keep your eye to the sky and be ready to seek shelter at a moments notice.
It is with this thought in mind that I want to speak to the watches and warnings that God sends into your life.
1 Peter 5:8 (NLT)
Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour.
2 Peter 3:17 (NLT)
I am warning you ahead of time, dear friends, so that you can watch out and not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people. I don't want you to lose your own secure footing.
There is always a spiritual battle raging for your life. When we are not careful we are susceptible to getting off course and making decisions that bring hardship and pain into our lives. Just like tornadic thunderstorms, temptation slowly moves into our lives and we become complacent in guarding our hearts. Then all of the sudden…the spriritual tornado appears and begins to ravage the landscape of our lives.
Are you paying attention to the warnings in your life? God warns us of approaching storms through His Word, through others and through the convicting power of His Spirit within us. But just like the people living in tornado alley, you can either heed the warnings or you can simply ignore them and take a gamble.
God has placed His early warning system in your life to protect and sustain you. When the warnings sound…take heed, seek refuge in His Word, surround yourself with the strength of others.
Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be upon you this week.
Carl
Monday, April 04, 2005
Good morning! If you’re like me you are glad to see the sun out shining again. Today is the Pirates opening home game….spring is here (for the most part).
This morning I want to challenge you with the thought of being ready to encounter Jesus throughout your day.
Luke 12:40 (NLT)
You must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected."
As I was driving to the church yesterday morning, I was somewhat amused by the unprepared condition of the road crews for yesterday’s snow storm. The road crews were not expecting a large snowfall and ended up being caught of guard.
In our day to day routine, how many times do we get so busy that we fail to see Jesus working in our lives? Yet, Jesus wants to be a part of each and every day. He is looking for opportunities to drop in and reveal himself in a special way.
Sadly it is even possible to be so busy doing good things, religious activity and acts of service that we crowd Jesus out of the picture. As a pastor, there have been times that I have found myself getting so busy with the work of Jesus, that I miss Jesus completely.
Without having that intimacy with Jesus, our work for him becomes less than what it should be. We meet deep needs in others with shallow words and pointed advice, that while it may be Biblical, lacks the very compassion of Christ.
Today allow Jesus to interrupt your routine. Allow him to drop by for a visit. Spend your lunch hour with Him. Look for Jesus in your day. When this day is done reflect on the places that you’ve felt his touch and experienced his presence throughout this beautiful day.
Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.
Carl
This morning I want to challenge you with the thought of being ready to encounter Jesus throughout your day.
Luke 12:40 (NLT)
You must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected."
As I was driving to the church yesterday morning, I was somewhat amused by the unprepared condition of the road crews for yesterday’s snow storm. The road crews were not expecting a large snowfall and ended up being caught of guard.
In our day to day routine, how many times do we get so busy that we fail to see Jesus working in our lives? Yet, Jesus wants to be a part of each and every day. He is looking for opportunities to drop in and reveal himself in a special way.
Sadly it is even possible to be so busy doing good things, religious activity and acts of service that we crowd Jesus out of the picture. As a pastor, there have been times that I have found myself getting so busy with the work of Jesus, that I miss Jesus completely.
Without having that intimacy with Jesus, our work for him becomes less than what it should be. We meet deep needs in others with shallow words and pointed advice, that while it may be Biblical, lacks the very compassion of Christ.
Today allow Jesus to interrupt your routine. Allow him to drop by for a visit. Spend your lunch hour with Him. Look for Jesus in your day. When this day is done reflect on the places that you’ve felt his touch and experienced his presence throughout this beautiful day.
Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.
Carl
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)