Marathon

2012 Mississippi Blues Marathon, Jackson, MS by NatalieMaynor

Good morning, beloved,

My dad is running a marathon today. I’m sure he is awake and already getting himself going today. My heart is with him as he works through the butterflies and gets himself focused for the 26 miles and 385 yards. I’m going to track him as he runs. His name is Jeff. Pray for him. He has been training for this..:) I know he is going to kick it and do great. He set himself a goal and he is doing it.

Makes me think of our lives…as we get up in the morning, we need to fix our eyes:

Hebrews 12

1THEREFORE THEN, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud( a cloud, a large dense multitude, a throng) of witnesses [who have borne testimony to the Truth], let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us,

Running in kazbegi marathon by Yftaheco

2Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Vincenza Sicari crossing the line to win the 2008 Turin Marathon by Sport Communities from Italia

3Just think of Him Who endured from sinners such grievous opposition and bitter hostility against Himself [reckon up and consider it all in comparison with your trials], so that you may not grow weary or exhausted, losing heart and relaxing and fainting in your minds.

Heavens Peak, Glacier National Park, Montana, U.S. Image taken on October 8, 2004.

Friends, there are some amazing word pictures here!

The Amplified does a nice safe job with the word witnesses, check out the Greek word: martys–those who after his example have proved the strength and genuineness of their faith in Christ by undergoing a violent death. Friends, when you hear a preacher tell you God means for your life to be nice, safe, in other words, always happy. Head out the door. Lies. Lies. Lies.  Is it fun? NO! I’m telling you friends, God isn’t going to ask something of you that His sweet, beloved Son hasn’t endured. (I’ve talked about this before, haven’t I? Sorry..I’m off.) Wait, one more thing. When you are in your time of suffering, does Jesus feel any closer? You keep your Bible open, keep crying out to Him..and He will be faithful. NO fear. 🙂

Anyway, you see the word, right? martys..martyr? Not only are the brave martyrs surrounding us (poor word..) check this word out in the Greek: perikeimai;to be compassed with, have round one, cleaved.  COOL!! 🙂

I’m telling I don’t want the next part on me:  let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us.. right?

Hydrangea petiolaris — (synonym: Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris).
Growing on a house wall, in fall color. by User:SB_Johnny

And as Dad gets set up this morning for his race…this next part reminds me: let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us. He will not be the first. Or second. Yet, his goal is worthy. He is pacing himself to finish the race. Keep his eye on the goal. The end. And we would do well to remember the same for our race in life. We get our noses in dirty dishes, job stress, chaos and we forget to pull our heads up and look at the finish line! (Not that we can throw off these things, but we can respond with the temporal mindset that they require…)

2Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

http://shroudofturin.wordpress.com/2011/02/23/akianes-jesus-heaven-is-for-real-and-the-man-in-the-turin-shroud/

Just think of Him Who endured from sinners such grievous opposition and bitter hostility against Himself [reckon up and consider it all in comparison with your trials], so that you may not grow weary or exhausted, losing heart and relaxing and fainting in your minds.

Keep thinking of Him. Look to Him. So that…you may not grow weary. 🙂 Praise Him, friends. Keep your eyes on the goal.  Pray on. Pray on.