Lessons from the Run - Finish

I have loved sharing what God has shown me as I trained for and ran this race. Today is the last post in the series, and I find myself just a little bit sad about that.

Let's see...where did we stop yesterday? Oh, yes...still on the 5K course.  I was hot and dehydrated, and more than a little tired.  But catching sight of some other runners put a little zip in my step and I pressed on. As I ran up yet another hill (remember there were no hills in my training?) I saw a sign that said I had just completed two miles.  Two miles? Are you kidding me?? Just then, a big shout went up from the crowd as a group of runners crossed the finish line.  So discouraging.  They were already finished, and I was only 2/3 of the way there!  As I plodded toward the race's end (yes, I know it was a race, but I plodded during a lot of it, ok?) with maybe a half mile still to go.... I saw them....my running partners! They had finished the race, and were coming back for me! I tried not to let them see the tears in my eyes as they began running alongside me, encouraging me. "You're almost there!" "Water just ahead!" "Only one more hill, you GOT this, girl!" My friend Kelly put her iphone on speaker and blasted Katy Perry's "Firework" as we got closer to the finish.  I literally borrowed their strength when mine was gone.

We crossed that finish line together, we cheered, and the crowd cheered!  My friends knew I was nearly last to finish (my time was 39 mins, 10 secs. No, I am not kidding) but they didn't let me finish alone!  Isn't that amazing?!  I'll leave you with a picture of us, and three things I learned about finishing:

(Ben, Kelly, Caden, Rob, Gene (darling hubs), Chris, Kristi (1st place winner), Natalie (3rd place winner), Will (1st place winner), and me #62)

*Steady is better than speedy. I am not fast, but I didn't quit.  Do your best, put one foot in front of the other, and you can finish your race.  Maybe not in record time, but... :o)

*Cheer the small victories of those just starting out. This was my first race, just a little 5K, but it was huge to me.  My friends made me believe I could achieve this goal.  In the same way, those just beginning their faith journey need to be encouraged when they take even the smallest steps toward God.  Everyone needs a cheering crowd. 

*If you're strong, don't just run YOUR race. Reach back to help those who are behind you.  I'm so glad my friends did more than just finish their races.  They thought about me, came to where I was, and helped me finish. This is a beautiful picture of discipleship and life in a community.  Yes, we run to win our race, but we only fulfill part of God's plan if we don't reach back and help someone else win theirs. 

Today's Verse:  This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.  John 15:12-13

Prayer for Today: Father, thank You for those You have placed in my life to strengthen and encourage me.  But I don't want to just run my race. My life is not my own, but Yours.  Please show me those I can help and encourage along the way.  In Jesus name, Amen. 

Grow...part one.

Since many Chick Food readers are new or new-ish Christians, I want to share a series of posts on growing in our faith. If you've made a decision to trust Christ as savior, that's a wonderful decision! You have passed from darkness into His light (1 Peter 2:9). Old things are passed away, all things have become new (2 Corinthians 5:17). But receiving Christ is just the first step on a life-long journey of following Him.  If we're going to grow, there's more to do!

You moms out there know that in order for your baby to grow and become strong and healthy, you have to feed her!  The same thing is true of spiritual babies.  In 1 Peter 2:2, we're told "as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby..." (NKJV) Other translations render the word "desire" as "crave".  If we're going to grow in faith and Christlikeness, if we're going to discover the new life God intends for us, we need to crave His word, the Bible.  God's word is the spiritual "milk", the nutrition we need to grow strong in our faith.  Although we hear God's word in sermons at church, in songs of worship, or Christian books, there is no substitute for daily time spent reading the Bible.

If your Bible is written in Elizabethan English, with lots of "thees and thous", you may want to get a more readable translation, one written in modern English, such as the New International Version (NIV) or the New Living Translation (NLT).  If you attend Crossroads, you can pick up a free NLT on our Next Steps table in the Lobby. So get your readable translation of the Bible (one you can highlight and write in!), join me here at Chick Food tomorrow, and we'll talk about developing the habit of daily Bible reading. 

Today's Verse:  Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment,³ now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.  1 Peter 2:2-3 NLT

Prayer for Today:  Dear Father, I long to become a fully devoted follower of Christ.  Help me to grow in my faith as I read Your word.  In Jesus name, I pray.  Amen.