the Magnifying Glass

This is a share from Pastor Jack Graham.  I don't think I could have said it any better.  With the new year approaching, it's time to focus on how we can serve God with the gift He has given us.  While everyone's gift is different, our goal is the same...share our testimony and love others in a way to bring them to Christ.  Running is my "magnifying glass".  What's yours?

 

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
James 1:5
Back when I was a little boy growing up in Conway, Arkansas, one of my favorite pastimes was to take a magnifying glass outside in the yard, gather a bunch of leaves together, and use that magnifying glass to focus the light on the leaves and burn them.

Without focus, there’s no way the sunlight could’ve burnt those leaves. But when focused, that light had the power to do something powerful.

But what is it that focuses us? What is the “magnifying glass” in our lives that enables us to use the time and energy we have to accomplish a purpose much greater than ourselves? It’s the Spirit of God.
You see, God’s Spirit in our lives gives us the wisdom we need to recognize how we are gifted and gives us the direction we need to be able to focus those giftings on one thing instead of many.

As we say goodbye to 2013 today, surrender to the Spirit of God and allow Him to focus your heart and your mind wherever He would have you go in 2014. Let the Spirit magnify your God-given talents and you’ll stay more focused than ever in the coming year!

STAY FOCUSED ON WHAT GOD HAS FOR YOU BY SUBMITTING TO THE SPIRIT’S GUIDANCE ON WHERE TO CONCENTRATE!

pure motives

"But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret.  Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."  Matthew 6:3-4

What does this mean to us as Christian runners?  He is teaching that our motives for giving to God and others must be pure.  And that we are do to do His work expecting nothing in return.

As a runner, this is sometimes hard when God wants us to either slow down during a race to be a witness or an encourager or to, perhaps, run a race or distance we feel won't "look good" on our running resume or give us the bigger medal on our wall.  After all the time and effort training, we sometimes feel that we deserve to have that praise.  And, we certainly deserve to have that shiny medal!

But then, we come to the realization that we may not be running for Christ as we claim but for earthly praise and recognition exposing our pride and impure motives.  This attitude and the actions that follow are therefore, not of any benefit for spreading His love.  To be sure our motives are not selfish, we should our good deeds quietly with no thought of reward. That doesn't mean that we don't strive to be the best we can be, it means that in all we do, including the way we run our race, our actions should show that we are doing it for our true audience...God.  Let everything you do and say bring Him praise through the gift of running He has given you.

Maximize your life

A sermon worth sharing from Pastor Jack Graham:

And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

1 Peter 1:17-19


One of the great minds in the history of the world was Benjamin Franklin. During his life, he coined countless pithy statements that were packed with nuggets of truth. And one of my favorite quotes from Franklin is, “Doest thou love life? Then do not squander time, for time is the stuff life is made of.”

This statement reflects a very biblical truth: God has given each of us a certain number of minutes with which we’re able to make an impact in the world. Yet, many people squander their time here on earth and do nothing that is of significance for the Kingdom.

But the truth is that while we are here in the world (what today’s passage calls “exile”), God wants us to maximize our influence among others for the sake of the Kingdom. While many pursue riches that perish, we’re to pursue riches that will never perish… the things of Christ!

Every day you live is a gift from God. So as the Christmas decorations get ready to come down, get ready to step into the coming year renewed and recommitted to living your days to their fullest for the sake of Christ!

MAXIMIZE YOUR LIFE BY MAKING A REAL IMPACT FOR JESUS CHRIST EACH AND EVERY DAY!!!

PowerPoint Ministries · PO Box 799070, Dallas, TX 75379 · jackgraham.org

Christmas 2013

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.Isaiah 9:6 NIV

What a glorious day. Spent 18 hours driving from Missouri to El Paso, TX to spend the holiday with my husband's family.  Arrived at about 5:30 this morning and went straight in to see what Santa brought (what my husband snuck in from the truck lol).  As tired as I was, and as much as I love my family, I couldnt wait to go for a run with my best friend to celebrate His birthday.  So, after an hour or so, I was out the door (this no longer surprises any of my family:)).

With my runner friends, we celebrate birthdays by going for a run and reminiscing and laughing.  Jesus is the absolute best friend and running partner I have and I crave His companionship.  Different though is, with my worldly friends, I take care in giving them the perfect birthday gift for their special day.  On Jesus' special day, I received the gift...  we all did.  The most carefully made and perfectly wrapped gift from God.... God gave His son, Jesus, who provided the gift of Salvation.  For that, I am forever grateful and will forever tell the world so that they might receive the same gift.  His present is His presence and He happily gives it to all who ask.

Merry Christmas runner friends!!!!  Spend some time with the Lord today and thank Him for giving us Jesus.  The priceless gift of Christmas.

Dry Seasons

"O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water."  Psalm 63:1


Ever find yourself in a dry place in your spiritual life?  If you're like me, it will affect your running, your attitude and the way you deal with life.

I have taken for granted that God has always been there for my day to day needs.  I trust Him and look forward to being in His presence on my daily runs, my favorite part of the day. But, for the last two weeks, I wasn't running well and I wasn't feeling His presence.  I knew that He hadn't deserted me but I wondered why He was so silent.  What lesson was there in this?  Whatever it was, I was feeling depressed.  
Yesterday, I decided I had had enough!  I was going to run and praise Him without abandon.  So, with headphones turned up and set to Toby Mac, I set off to do some speed work and hit the hills.  After an hour or so, I felt much better (at least I was pursuing the renewed relationship) but I still felt that cloud looming over me and the knowledge that my joy was not fully restored.  It was then I told the Lord that I was going to pray and worship until I could feel His presence again.  No stopping!  I was going to be a pest and keep asking Him to talk to me.   Then, at bible study later that day, Pastor made the comment that, in the dry seasons, God sometimes wants us to find Him in different ways.  That's it!!!  I had made my devotion time habitual.  Wake, coffee, run and praise, lunch and bible study...done.  Been going good for two years, why should I change?

Because God wanted to see if I still thirsted for Him!  Did I still long for Him?!!!  And, did I still believe that I am nothing without Him?  Yes, yes and yes!!!  Went to bed with a humble heart enveloped in His presence and woke up smiling and ready to run.  Did 10 miles of fast running and hills and feel rejuvenated and refreshed.  Haven't had a good run like that in a long time.  What's stopping you from the same?  If you don't know Him intimately, keep searching.  Show Him that you truly long for Him and He will restore you.

And your praise goes on....

Psalm 69:34

New International Version (NIV)

34 Let heaven and earth praise him,
    the seas and all that move in them,

Set out this morning to run.  Wind chill of about 7-10 and snowing.  Snowed most of last night.  So, the kids got a school day.  And, I got to sleep in.  Already a great start to a blessed day for sure.  

While the kids played, I dressed in layers including trail shoes, a face mask and mittens.  The roads looked slick.  I soon found out looks were not deceiving this morning.  Rather than run close to the highway and risk being the victim of a sliding car, I took the gravel road close to my house.  It goes on for miles and is joined on both sides by pastures filled with black angus cows.  The only traffic today would be the farmers putting hay out for their animals.  So, it was very quiet and peaceful.  

I was in awe this morning of the sounds surrounding me.  The world is so noisy, God's whispers are drowned out.  As my feet melodically ground out a rhythm in the snow, the last remaining leaves in the trees rustled in the wind as the snow blew by.  The cattle followed me for a bit as I ran by making a stampeding noise barely muffled by the fallen snow.  Then they got spooked and ran off kicking up snow.  What a sight.  

Days like today remind me of God's omnipotence.  He truly is everywhere.  We only need to listen.  Once again, I am truly humbled by His creations.  What a beautiful world He created for us to enjoy.  So beautiful, in fact, it seems to praise Him for it.  

Matthew 28:19 (ESV)

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Acts 1:8 (ESV)

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth

The bible is pretty clear that we,as Christians, have a responsibility to witness.  While we all do it in different ways, we all MUST do it.  I prefer to do mine on the run.  

Today's windchill was 7 degrees with spitting sleet.  This definitely required me to wear a warmer jacket than usual.  Aaaahhh... the joys of winter running.  Left me with a dilemma though.  Stay warm on my run with an appropriate jacket and not be a witness or freeze to death in the summer/fall team413 clothing I had and be a witness.  There had to be a way to do both so I just covered my running coat with a summer tank top emblazoned with the message, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."  Certainly not a runway winner but it works for me.

Why is this important?  I run 6-7 days a week (40+ miles weekly) in the snow, sleet, rain or heat.  I also run alongside a busy highway since I live in the country and don't have many options.  While witnessing at races is very important, I am missing out on using the other 95% of my running for something positive.  You see, I'm sold out!  Any run (or activity) not done with the purpose of serving and/or bringing praise to the Lord is worthless.  When people see me running in these conditions with scripture emblazoned on my back, it makes them wonder.  Not just why I do it but HOW!!!   The why most people will never understand but the How is simple... through Christ's strength and the power of the holy spirit.  The simple wearing of a shirt on every run regardless of the conditions has allowed me to witness to more people than I ever could doing anything else.  So YES, it is important and I will continue to do it.

  So, however you decide to witness is up to you but don't miss even one opportunity.  If you reach just one person, it makes it "worth it all".