Earlier this week my daughter asked me “Mommy, other than Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, what is your favorite day of the week and why?” Without hesitation I answered Tuesday. I love Tuesday because Tuesday is the day set aside to pray for the members of our church. One of my favorite things about being on staff at Southside Church is the fact that we are a staff who truly prays over the cards that are filled out each week. It brings me such joy to learn that a prayer has been answered. It thrills me to know that the people are trusting us with sometimes really intimate details of their lives because they just want someone to stand with them, and believe me, we are. Isn’t that why we’re in this thing in the first place? We need to know that we’re not running this race alone?
I’m currently in training to run the Ukrops 10K race. Last Saturday morning, I met some people to run. That was my 6 mile day. The people that I was running with were much faster than me. I’d never run more than 5 miles before, but I was ready and determined to do the 6. I started off and quickly fell way behind, but they kept coming back for me so I knew that they weren’t going to leave me behind to do this on my own… not knowing the right way to go. My favorite part was the very end when my friend JoAnn ran beside me as we ran the very last part of the run… one lap around the track at Thomas Dale High School. She cheered me on telling me I was doing a great job and don’t give up. When we were all done… I cried. I cried because I had set a goal for myself and I kept trying until I did it, but I was also thankful that someone was there along the way cheering me on to not give up. I am SOO lucky to have a lot of cheerleaders in my life. I would have given up years ago, but we have a promise from God.
I love the way this is said in Hebrews 12 from the Message Bible
1-3Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!
4-11In this all-out match against sin, others have suffered far worse than you, to say nothing of what Jesus went through—all that bloodshed! So don't feel sorry for yourselves. Or have you forgotten how good parents treat children, and that God regards you as his children? My dear child, don't shrug off God's discipline, but don't be crushed by it either. It's the child he loves that he disciplines; the child he embraces, he also corrects.God is educating you; that's why you must never drop out. He's treating you as dear children. This trouble you're in isn't punishment; it's training, the normal experience of children. Only irresponsible parents leave children to fend for themselves. Would you prefer an irresponsible God? We respect our own parents for training and not spoiling us, so why not embrace God's training so we can truly live? While we were children, our parents did what seemed best to them. But God is doing what is best for us, training us to live God's holy best. At the time, discipline isn't much fun. It always feels like it's going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it's the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God.
12-13So don't sit around on your hands! No more dragging your feet! Clear the path for long-distance runners so no one will trip and fall, so no one will step in a hole and sprain an ankle. Help each other out. And run for it!
Whatever you are facing today… don’t do it alone. You have a church who will cheer you on and you have a Father who sometimes will discipline you even if it hurts a little bit at times. It’s all part of the training and in the end… the prize will be WELL worth it!
I love being a part of your team and I can’t wait to lead you into His presence this Sunday. Pastor Hancock will be with us at Midlothian and Wynne will be preaching. Invite your neighbors and friends.
OUR TEAM WINS!!! WOO HOO!
Christy
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