Those words out of the mouth of a 5 time Olympian to my student athlete are still resonating within me two days later! "YOU'VE GOT TO WANT IT!" Those are wise words for more than athletes. Paul, from the Bible says we should all train as an athlete running for the prize!
What the Olympian said in my home on Christmas Eve is lifting my eyes to the horizon of New Years Eve. They are asking ME "What do you want that badly this coming year?"
The answer my heart gives is that I want more of the Lord in my life! I want to hear HIM more, I want to experience HIM more, and I want to be more like HIM!
Our church suggested that we corporately begin the New Year with a 21 day fast. Fast from whatever the Lord tells us to fast from, while reminding us that as we deny ourselves from something we also devote ourselves to something. This sounds a lot like training to me: twenty-one days of intensive focus for wanting something! Some want financial freedom, some want healthier eating habits, while others want healing and restoration in relationships.
What do YOU want?
I know how I will spend my 21 days of training for the New Year! I am denying myself sleep and devoting myself to being in the Lords presence each morning! I have to train myself to set my alarm much earlier than I ever would, however I am anticipating more of the Lord than I normally would receive without the training!
How will you begin your New Year?
Why not allow the wisdom of an Olympian who continues to train athletes for their moment of receiving their reward to resonate? You've just got to want it!
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” 1 Corinthians 9:4-24-25
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Hebrews 12:1
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Painting with Fire
So this one is for my teen girls out there! Those that love all things art...and those that I love! Have I told you how much you mean to me? It's so fun bowing before the Lord with you!
I painted with fire last week. It was AWESOME! The fire brought out the pattern of the wood. Without the fire the wood just looked like boring wood. But then the torch touched the surface and all of a sudden COLOR APPEARED!!! It was brown color and so beautiful. It had varying hues of brown. The colored DANCED! REALLY! It travelled in one direction of wood grain and then all of a sudden there was a twist in the grain and the color moved abruptly following the twist.
What are you following? Are you just going down the path not really making your own decisions? Are you following someone elses decision for you? It's ok to follow someone elses decision as long as it doesn't go against what the Lord is wanting you to do. But what is The Lord wanting YOU to do? Are you asking HIM? Are you allowing yourself to be the grain of wood that the fire of the Lord can travel down?
I've been thinking a lot about my own life and decision making. It's funny, but there have been several very difficult decisions I've had to make in the last several years where others have misinterpreted the motive behind my decision. That didn't feel good! Recently, the Lord has been showing me that my heart intentions were pure. That I didn't base my decision on someone else, or in anger, or on some faulty foundation. But I had made my decision based upon conviction from the Lord. HE is trying to show me that decisions based upon Godly conviction honors HIM! And you know what? Honoring and worshiping The King of Kings is really all I ever want to do!!!!
How about you? You want to honor The King with me? Then start making your decisions based upon Godly convictions! You may not always please people with your decision...but you will definitely please the Lord!
I love you girl and I'm praying for you! oh...btw...please don't paint with fire without your parents permission. In fact, let's just do that in art class...k?
I painted with fire last week. It was AWESOME! The fire brought out the pattern of the wood. Without the fire the wood just looked like boring wood. But then the torch touched the surface and all of a sudden COLOR APPEARED!!! It was brown color and so beautiful. It had varying hues of brown. The colored DANCED! REALLY! It travelled in one direction of wood grain and then all of a sudden there was a twist in the grain and the color moved abruptly following the twist.
What are you following? Are you just going down the path not really making your own decisions? Are you following someone elses decision for you? It's ok to follow someone elses decision as long as it doesn't go against what the Lord is wanting you to do. But what is The Lord wanting YOU to do? Are you asking HIM? Are you allowing yourself to be the grain of wood that the fire of the Lord can travel down?
I've been thinking a lot about my own life and decision making. It's funny, but there have been several very difficult decisions I've had to make in the last several years where others have misinterpreted the motive behind my decision. That didn't feel good! Recently, the Lord has been showing me that my heart intentions were pure. That I didn't base my decision on someone else, or in anger, or on some faulty foundation. But I had made my decision based upon conviction from the Lord. HE is trying to show me that decisions based upon Godly conviction honors HIM! And you know what? Honoring and worshiping The King of Kings is really all I ever want to do!!!!
How about you? You want to honor The King with me? Then start making your decisions based upon Godly convictions! You may not always please people with your decision...but you will definitely please the Lord!
I love you girl and I'm praying for you! oh...btw...please don't paint with fire without your parents permission. In fact, let's just do that in art class...k?
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