Continuing the Race Set Before Us

Leaving home is very emotional. As we drove off to start a new chapter, Chris and I couldn't help, but shed some tears. We have made so many wonderful memories with family and friends and have started our marriage and our life as a family of four in GA. So now what? Well, more emotions...excitement, zeal, anticipation and a zillion other emotions. There is something refreshing and exciting about starting a new chapter though, especially with the promise that as we seek Our Lord and Savior, He will take us from glory to glory as He continues His good work in us.
continued...

Today, I was lead to Hebrews 12:1-2 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."

I recently finished a marathon with my twin sister (a few days ago, actually),so the above verse hits me in a new way. You see, I started the race with more comforts (so I thought) than I really needed. By mile three, I took off four articles of clothing which were keeping me way too hot and additionally "weighed me down". I wonder what in my life is keeping me from living the life that God has for me. What sins have I become so comfortable with that I don't realize that I need to get rid of them to continue in God's call for my life?
"Running with endurance" also has a new meaning. For one, it hurts sometimes. I mean, I had some major calf crampage at one point and for a couple miles, I was doing some kind of a jog-limp, where I had to swing my right leg and use my left leg to push off the weight (I'm sure I looked ridiculous)and all of this in the pouring rain for 26 miles. A picture of running my spiritual race with Christ? Afterall this life with Christ is not meant to be a cake walk. As a believer I am promised tribulations WILL come with my spiritual race on earth, so what will I do when they do? Hopefully, like the marathon, just keep running with endurance toward the prize, relying on Him.
The other major revelation is that I need fellowship with my brothers and sisters. I prayed my way through a good bit of the race, but I know I would not have run the entire thing if my sister, Debbie Richie, and twin sister, Shahla, weren't there to encourage me. Shahla and I met Debbie around mile 15 and she said, "Good job! Keep it up!" We immediately attached our selves to this sister of encouragement all the way to the finish. We found out right away what she wasall about. She was a track and cross-country coach for the past 7 years. She was also someone that lived for the Lord. She quoted scripture, stopped to rub bio-freeze on my calf and just kept encouraging with motivational stories and words of affirmation. It was Debbie's 33rd marathon, so not surprising that she was prepared with everything imaginable in her fanny pack to help those around her. She later told us that she considers running these races a part of her ministry of coaching. You can not imagine how thankful Shahla and I were for her ministry to us. Fellowship...oh the power of fellowship and accountability!!! Before Debbie came running next to us, Shahla and I talked to each other wondering if we'd have to give up our goal of running the entire race and resign to walking, but once we entered the fellowship of Coach Debbie, walking was not an option. No doubt that's what fellowship does in my spiritual life. I know that when I am surrounded by those that are living a holy life unto the Lord, sins that were optional become undesirable in the light of His Best. Thank God for my brothers and sisters in Christ!!
Lastly, it's all about looking forward towards Christ. What has lasting value? Living for Him, the prize that is eternal...even more, He actually does have rewards for us in heaven. There is a joy set before us, which no eye has seen no ear has heard...I mean I finished a stinkin marathon for a t-shirt and a medal!! How much more willing to suffer for my Savior? Hopefully, a lot more each day with His strength! Amen!
Like the race, sometimes it is about taking one step at a time. I remember a wise woman once told me to Love your Lord one day at a time in His strength and sometimes one hour at a time...perhaps sometimes it will even take one minute at a time, but always in His strength. One more thing...I felt a need to pray throughout the marathon. Perhaps whenever I really set my minds to run THE race Christ has called me to, I am more eager to pray in my need to recieve His Strength. Basically, I'm called to live in and through Him, so if I'm still living in my own strength then maybe there's more in store that I'm missing...Maybe