Everyone says not to give into peer pressure, but early this summer I caved into the constant pressure coming from my closest friends to join the Huntington High School Cross Country Team. I didn’t know much about Cross Country other than that it was running long distances. The first few weeks of practice were pretty easy, and I could manage the relaxed 3 ½ to 6 mile runs. But when the season officially started in the first week of August, the training became intense. During these hottest weeks of the summer we were doing 10+ mile runs. We would do a run in the morning when it was cool, but then later that night at 6 o’clock, we would have to run again in the scorching heat. On some of these days, my mind would start to scream at me at that I couldn’t go any farther, but I pushed on through. I discovered strength which I didn’t know I had. I would wake up in the morning, and not want to get out of bed because my body was so sore. But God gave me the mental strength to get out of bed, and the physical strength to continue to run.
There is one workout in particular that strikes despair into the heart of even the most seasoned runner. Mile Repeats. It consists of running four miles as fast as possible, with short breaks between each mile. I remember one of these workouts in particular where God helped me do a miraculous thing. The first mile I ran was clocked in at 6:00. The next mile I ran was 5:55. I had never run two miles under 6:01 before, so this was already a record breaking day for me. I knew that the third mile is the hardest mentally to run. As the other boys were yelling “Oh God”, using his name in vain, I asked God for help with this mile. The coach yelled “go”, and I took off. My head was spinning, and my legs felt like lead, but I pushed through the mile and came in at a time of 5:53. That was a tie with my personal record! On the final mile, I knew that if God could help me through that third mile, then I could push through the fourth one, too. On the fourth mile my time was 5:43. God gave me the strength to cut 10 seconds off my record, and that was even after just running 3 miles. I looked up the heavens and thanked God for giving me that great strength.
Sometimes when we are weak, exhausted, thinking we can’t go on any farther, sometimes all we have to do is look to God to help us through our problems. When you do ask God for help, he can give you great and glorious things.
Matthew 7:7 Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
Job 5:9 He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.
Matt Shideler
Saturday, January 03, 2009
Friday, January 02, 2009
Devotional 1-3-09
Lectionary Reading for January 3-Psalms 145:1-13
The reading for today in Psalms is a Psalm of praise and shows us how great the love of our forefathers was for their God and Savior.
I have five grandsons and often ponder on what I can do for them. What gifts can I give? As the boys grow I feel that there are only two lasting gifts I can give. I can pray for them, that their needs be met, that they may grow in Christ, and that they might do that which God intended.
The other gift that I can and do give is to tell them as often as I see them that they are loved. So I have made it a habit each time I see them to tell them (usually a whisper in their ear) that I love them. When I talk to their parents on the phone the call always ends with “Love you.” It is so important that each one knows that they are loved.
David gives us an idea of what may be the perfect gift. In verse four we are told that we should pass the message of God’s good works on to the next generations. We are to praise the works of God. How will the next generations know of God’s good works unless they hear it, and who is there to tell them? This should be one of our missions in life. Surly our gracious God will impact our children as we give praise of the mighty works of God. I am meditating on how best to pass the message on to the next generations without offending and in a way that they will hear. We hope that the way we live our life will be a witness to God’s good works, but I believe that God may want us to do more so I meditate on the best way I can do his will.
We are reminded in verse five to meditate on Gods good works, and to sing of God’s righteousness. As we sing the hymns of our church do we pay attention to the words? How many of the hymns extol God’s greatness? These hymns are the way that some have passed down the wondrous works of God.
We are reminded that God is a gracious God and full of compassion. What a wonderful gift he gives us. This is the truth that we carry with us in our walk with him. We are blessed as the people of God.
Marilyn Holleron
The reading for today in Psalms is a Psalm of praise and shows us how great the love of our forefathers was for their God and Savior.
I have five grandsons and often ponder on what I can do for them. What gifts can I give? As the boys grow I feel that there are only two lasting gifts I can give. I can pray for them, that their needs be met, that they may grow in Christ, and that they might do that which God intended.
The other gift that I can and do give is to tell them as often as I see them that they are loved. So I have made it a habit each time I see them to tell them (usually a whisper in their ear) that I love them. When I talk to their parents on the phone the call always ends with “Love you.” It is so important that each one knows that they are loved.
David gives us an idea of what may be the perfect gift. In verse four we are told that we should pass the message of God’s good works on to the next generations. We are to praise the works of God. How will the next generations know of God’s good works unless they hear it, and who is there to tell them? This should be one of our missions in life. Surly our gracious God will impact our children as we give praise of the mighty works of God. I am meditating on how best to pass the message on to the next generations without offending and in a way that they will hear. We hope that the way we live our life will be a witness to God’s good works, but I believe that God may want us to do more so I meditate on the best way I can do his will.
We are reminded in verse five to meditate on Gods good works, and to sing of God’s righteousness. As we sing the hymns of our church do we pay attention to the words? How many of the hymns extol God’s greatness? These hymns are the way that some have passed down the wondrous works of God.
We are reminded that God is a gracious God and full of compassion. What a wonderful gift he gives us. This is the truth that we carry with us in our walk with him. We are blessed as the people of God.
Marilyn Holleron
Thursday, January 01, 2009
Devotional 1-2-09
Related scriptures: Isaiah 11:6, Luke 2:41-52
Key verse: Mark 9:15 – “Truly, I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”
Sometime we make our religion too complicated. Over the centuries Christians have propounded numerous rules, doctrines and dogmas. Even today, some of us will discuss, debate and pontificate the finer points of theology endlessly.
Perhaps – just perhaps – we should simplify. Perhaps we should get back to basics – be more childlike. Ask yourself, how do children perceive God and Christianity? Here is one example. Eight year old Denny Dutton of Chula Vista, California was given an assignment to explain God and Christ to the best of his ability (yes, I did say he was 8 years old.)
“One of God’s main jobs is making people. He makes them to replace the ones that die, so there will be enough people to take care of things on earth. He doesn’t make grown-ups, just babies. I think because they are smaller and easier to make. That way He doesn’t have to take up His valuable time teaching them to talk and walk. He can just leave that to mothers and fathers.“God’s second most important job is listening to prayers. An awful lot of this goes on, since some people, like preachers and things, pray at times beside bedtime. God doesn’t have time to listen to the radio or TV because of this. Because He hears everything, there must be a terrible lot of noise in His ears, unless He has thought of a way to turn it off.
“God sees everything and hears everything and is everywhere which keeps Him pretty busy. So you shouldn’t go wasting His time by going over your Mom and Dad’s head asking for something they said you couldn’t have.
“Atheists are people who don’t believe in God. I don’t think there are any in Chula Vista. At least there aren’t any who come to our church.
“Jesus is God’s Son. He sued to do all the hard work like walking on water and performing miracles and trying to teach the people who didn’t want to learn about God. They finally got tired of Him preaching to them, and they crucified Him. He He was good and kind, like His Father, and He told His Father that they didn’t know what they were doing and to forgive them, and God said, ‘OK.’
“His Dad (God) appreciated everything that He had done and all His hard work on earth so He told Him He didn’t have to go out on the road anymore. He could stay in heaven. So He did. And now He helps His Dad out by listening to prayers and seeing things which are important for God to take care of and which ones He can take care of Himself without having to bother God.
Like a secretary, only more important.
“You can pray anytime you want, and they are sure to help you because they got it worked out so one of them is on duty all the time.
“You should always go to church on Sunday because it makes God happy, and if there’s anybody you want to make happy, it’s God. Don’t skip church or do something you think will be more fun like going to the beach. This is wrong. And besides the sun doesn’t come out at the beach until noon anyway.
“If you don’t believe in God, besides being an atheist, you will be very lonely, because your parents can’t go everywhere with you, like to camp, but God can. It is good to know He’s around you when you’re scared in the dark or when you can’t swim and you get thrown into really deep water by big kids.
“But…you shouldn’t just always think of what God can do for you. I figure God put me here, and He can take me back anytime He pleases. And … that’s why I believe in God.”
Closing Prayer: Lord, please make me more childlike. Give me the faith of a child so that I can raise my face to your face and receive your blessing and the love that wipes away all complications, distractions and hypocrisy. Amen.
Charlie Lewis
Key verse: Mark 9:15 – “Truly, I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”
Sometime we make our religion too complicated. Over the centuries Christians have propounded numerous rules, doctrines and dogmas. Even today, some of us will discuss, debate and pontificate the finer points of theology endlessly.
Perhaps – just perhaps – we should simplify. Perhaps we should get back to basics – be more childlike. Ask yourself, how do children perceive God and Christianity? Here is one example. Eight year old Denny Dutton of Chula Vista, California was given an assignment to explain God and Christ to the best of his ability (yes, I did say he was 8 years old.)
“One of God’s main jobs is making people. He makes them to replace the ones that die, so there will be enough people to take care of things on earth. He doesn’t make grown-ups, just babies. I think because they are smaller and easier to make. That way He doesn’t have to take up His valuable time teaching them to talk and walk. He can just leave that to mothers and fathers.“God’s second most important job is listening to prayers. An awful lot of this goes on, since some people, like preachers and things, pray at times beside bedtime. God doesn’t have time to listen to the radio or TV because of this. Because He hears everything, there must be a terrible lot of noise in His ears, unless He has thought of a way to turn it off.
“God sees everything and hears everything and is everywhere which keeps Him pretty busy. So you shouldn’t go wasting His time by going over your Mom and Dad’s head asking for something they said you couldn’t have.
“Atheists are people who don’t believe in God. I don’t think there are any in Chula Vista. At least there aren’t any who come to our church.
“Jesus is God’s Son. He sued to do all the hard work like walking on water and performing miracles and trying to teach the people who didn’t want to learn about God. They finally got tired of Him preaching to them, and they crucified Him. He He was good and kind, like His Father, and He told His Father that they didn’t know what they were doing and to forgive them, and God said, ‘OK.’
“His Dad (God) appreciated everything that He had done and all His hard work on earth so He told Him He didn’t have to go out on the road anymore. He could stay in heaven. So He did. And now He helps His Dad out by listening to prayers and seeing things which are important for God to take care of and which ones He can take care of Himself without having to bother God.
Like a secretary, only more important.
“You can pray anytime you want, and they are sure to help you because they got it worked out so one of them is on duty all the time.
“You should always go to church on Sunday because it makes God happy, and if there’s anybody you want to make happy, it’s God. Don’t skip church or do something you think will be more fun like going to the beach. This is wrong. And besides the sun doesn’t come out at the beach until noon anyway.
“If you don’t believe in God, besides being an atheist, you will be very lonely, because your parents can’t go everywhere with you, like to camp, but God can. It is good to know He’s around you when you’re scared in the dark or when you can’t swim and you get thrown into really deep water by big kids.
“But…you shouldn’t just always think of what God can do for you. I figure God put me here, and He can take me back anytime He pleases. And … that’s why I believe in God.”
Closing Prayer: Lord, please make me more childlike. Give me the faith of a child so that I can raise my face to your face and receive your blessing and the love that wipes away all complications, distractions and hypocrisy. Amen.
Charlie Lewis
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