The Power of the SMALL

Notes from my sermon I deleivered today 3.27.16 at the Princess Anne Church of Christ.

It's the small things that make the difference

The power of ONE, The power of the SMALL

I want to share a few little things today. The message today isn't a big message. 

Its actually a little message. A small message. 

It's about how a little thing can become a big thing. 

It's about a few small things that can be added together. 

In itself…..a small thing might not appear as much. Drop eggs into jar.

But it's when a few things are added together over time…..they become a BIG THING.

Drop eggs into jar.

We think so often that we cannot make a difference with small things……and maybe in itself…..by itself….that might appear be true. 

DROP OF WATER

Have you ever seen a drip of water make a difference? Have you ever seen a drip of water over and over and over and over make a difference? Persistence……a constant dripping water can wear away a hole in a stone. Have you ever seen that before? Drop eggs into jar.

You wouldn't think that a single drop of water would make a difference would you? But it is certainly true and real. Could you even figure out how many drops of water it would take to make a dent in the stone? I don't think you could really come to any real answer……but you know that something that small over time certainly can make a dent. Who could you go to ask that? Google provided no help…

It's like asking Mr. Owl…..”Mr Owl, how many licks does it take to get to the tootsie roll center of a tootsie pop?” 3…..Mr. Owl didn't even try.

Job 14:18-19 “But as a mountain falls and crumbles away,And as a rock is moved from its place; As water wears away stones,And as torrents wash away the soil of the earth;So You destroy the hope of man.

How many stars are in the sky?

How many grains of sand are on the beach?

Let's think about the stars……astronomers  estimate….that means they guessed……170 billion galaxies in the observable universe….stretching out over a radius of some 45.7 billion light years. Now there are giant elliptical galaxies that have over 100 trillion stars….and then there are dwarf  galaxies that have significantly fewer. Our Milky Way has 400 billion stars…….so if you multiply the estimated average number of stars in each galaxy…..blah blah blah.

it's a septillion number of stars. That's a 1….with 24 zeros behind……..THEY DON’T HAVE A CLUE! They must have asked Mr. Owl. Drop eggs into jar.

How about sand……well enough to make a beach.

Hebrews 11:12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.

Isaiah 48:19 

Your descendants also would have been like the sand,And the offspring of your body like the grains of sand;His name would not have been cut offNor destroyed from before Me.”

RUNNING

Okay let's break it down into something a little more manageable…..for me any way.

I've shared a little of my running journey……when people hear my story now and they can't even imagine. Just a few years ago I wasn’t even able to run to the end of the street without being winded. Most said that I probably couldn't do it. In actuality it is only one simple step at a time……that's it……if you put them together it begins to add up.

 

Each mile has 5280 feet…my stride is a little over two feet when I'm running.

Each marathon is 138,336 feet

In two years I've done 22……3,043,392 feet…..of races.

That's just races…..counting training I've done 2106 miles…….11,119,152

Small steps……continuous steps…..begin to add up. Drop eggs into jar.

Now if you would've told me two years ago that I would run 22 marathons and cover nearly 12 million feet during that time…….I’d tell you you're crazy. By the way…..that would be like running from here to Los Angeles. Drop eggs into jar.

MONEY

Small continuous…..money savings account compound interest. What does it do?

$1 dollar a day…..everyday for 65 years……with only 1% interest……compounded nearly $33K

The power of ONE. Drop eggs into jar.

How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. Drop eggs into jar.

These are all things that apply more to persistence. Let's add FAITH.

I love the story about Jericho.

Joshua 6:1-14 

Now Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel; none went out, and none came in. And the Lord said to Joshua: “See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valor. 

1. You shall march around the city, all you men of war; you shall go all around the city once. 

2. This you shall do six days. 

3. And seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark. 

4. But the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, 

5. and the priests shall blow the trumpets. 

6. It shall come to pass, when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, 

7. and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, that all the people shall shout with a great shout; 

8. then the wall of the city will fall down flat. 

Drop eggs into jar.

No where in the scriptures does it ever say that all the people…..looked and said…..oh yeah that makes sense……I'm guessing that there were a few people that said, “What?”

The rest of the scripture tells exactly what they did.......

they only did part of it? 

No, they decided that five days was enough? 

No, not everyone yelled? 

No…..They followed the formula that God provided and it worked……just as it was told. Just as they were COMMANDED.

AND THE OUTCOME WAS JUST AS PROMISED.

How can that be? How can that help? That just doesn't make sense in my mind?

WOULD YOU DO IT TODAY?

There are a lot of things that we really don't have a clue of…….if I told you that there was a building down town that they didn't to drop and these were the instructions to take for demolition….would you do it? Probably not…..because it doesn't make sense………it makes FAITH.

When soldiers march in three files over a bridge, they generate a rhythmic oscillation of sine waves on the bridge. At a certain point, the bridge would start oscillating to the same rhythm as that of the marching steps.

This oscillation would reach a maximum peak when the bridge can no longer sustain its own strength and hence collapses. Therefore, soldiers are ordered to break their steps while crossing a bridge. 

It depends on the bridge. Albert Bridge in London is known to resonate at marching pace and has signs ordering troops to break step.

And the people shall go up every man straight before him.” Then Joshua the son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the Lord.” And he said to the people, “Proceed, and march around the city, and let him who is armed advance before the ark of the Lord.” So it was, when Joshua had spoken to the people, that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the Lord advanced and blew the trumpets, and the ark of the covenant of the Lord followed them. The armed men went before the priests who blew the trumpets, and the rear guard came after the ark, while the priests continued blowing the trumpets. Now Joshua had commanded the people, saying, “You shall not shout or make any noise with your voice, nor shall a word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I say to you, ‘Shout!’ Then you shall shout.” So he had the ark of the Lord circle the city, going around it once. Then they came into the camp and lodged in the camp. And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the Lord. Then seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the Lord went on continually and blew with the trumpets. And the armed men went before them. But the rear guard came after the ark of the Lord, while the priests continued blowing the trumpets. And the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp. So they did six days.

Joshua 6:15-21 

But it came to pass on the seventh day that they rose early, about the dawning of the day, and marched around the city seven times in the same manner. On that day only they marched around the city seven times. And the seventh time it happened, when the priests blew the trumpets, that Joshua said to the people: “Shout, for the Lord has given you the city! Now the city shall be doomed by the Lord to destruction, it and all who are in it. Only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all who are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent. And you, by all means abstain from the accursed things, lest you become accursed when you take of the accursed things, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it. But all the silver and gold, and vessels of bronze and iron, are consecrated to the Lord; they shall come into the treasury of the Lord.” So the people shouted when the priests blew the trumpets. And it happened when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat. Then the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city. And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, ox and sheep and donkey, with the edge of the sword.

Pound on the bottom of a building. Okay well that's science……Who made science?

We don't understand the power of the SMALL.

DAVID AND GOLIATH Drop eggs into jar.

BAPTIZED

How can getting wet really help? How can getting baptized save my sole?

I take a shower every day….I take a bath…..I think I'm good….NO…..YOU DON’T STINK EVERY DAY! Your neighbor appreciates that.

You get baptized so YOU DON’T STINK FOREVER!

You get baptized….exactly the way you were told….the way you were commanded….and the OUTCOME WILL BE JUST AS PROMISED.

Would you really want to risk it?

So how does this all apply to us? What does the little things do to contribute to our faith?

I feel in today's microwave society we don't have patience…..especially for ourselves.

We stand in front of the microwave yelling “hurry up”, because honestly 35 seconds just isn't fast enough.

READING DAILY

I am a terrible reader. I've always struggled since a child to read. But I've committed myself to read just a little bit of the bible each morning.

What if you read a single scripture a day…..each day…..what would it do?

First, Have you ever read the entire Bible? There are 31,102 versus. You would have to read until you were over 85. There are 1189 Chapters in the bible. If you read one chapter a week…..22 years. One chapter a day…..3 ¼ years. That's only about 7 minutes a day.

What could that do for you?

Matthew 6:11 

Give us this day our daily bread.

Acts 17:10-11 THE BRETHREN IN BEREA

Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more fair-minded more noble (Old King James) than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.

2 Timothy 2:15 

Be diligent study (Old King James)to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Hebrews 4:12 

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Drop eggs into jar.

PRAYER DAILY

What if you committed to prayer everyday?

Psalm 72:15 

And He shall live;And the gold of Sheba will be given to Him;Prayer also will be made for Him continually,And daily He shall be praised.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Ephesians 6:10-20 

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Philippians 4:6-7 

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

it's pretty well understood that you'll gather a better knowledge of our Christ. You'll develop a better relationship with him. THAT’S NOT NEW….YOU ALL KNOW THAT.

We consider The BIG THING is to get baptized. Once you get wet you've accomplished all you need. Well folks that is just the BEGINNING.

IF IT MATTERED TO YOU WOULD YOU DO MORE? MORE THAN COMMANDED?

IF IT AFFECTED YOUR BUSINESS WOULD YOU PUT MORE EFFORT? WOULD YOU STUDY?

IF IT AFFECTED YOUR HEALTH WOULD YOU TRY HARDER? WOULD EAT BETTER? WOULD YOU EXERCISE?

COMMERCIAL: If you only had to eat one piece of broccoli or do just one push-up…….If only it was that easy.

If you said I LOVE YOU on the day you got married but never said it again or showed it again…..what would that say? HOW WOULD YOU EXPECT YOUR MARRIAGE TO BE?

ITS STARTS WITH JUST ONE STEP……THE FIRST STEP…..THE COMMITMENT.

The first step is baptism. 

Acts 2:38-39 

Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

Without baptism it's like running a marathon without a race bib…..without a timing chip.

You are running aimlessly without a purpose.          Does that even make sense?

And then it's just one step at a time. And that is how you need to look at it. Not all 58,000 steps to get to the finish line….but just the step that is right in front of you.

Watch your steps…..try not to trip or stubble……but that's okay if you do….just get back up and continue down the road.

It won't happen instantaneously. 

Okay Eugene you ran a marathon……you’re done…..NOPE….I've just begun. Drop eggs into jar.

Okay Eugene you read the entire bible…..you’re done…..Nope….I’ve just begun. Drop eggs into jar.

Okay Eugene you said a prayer several times…..you’re done…..That's silly…..hey would I ever want to stop talking with my Lord. Drop eggs into jar.

Okay Eugene you told Regaina you loved her……I'm not even going there!!!!! Drop a bunch of eggs into jar.

You're jar is full…..there isn't any more room for more.

THE MORE I READ AND STUDY…..THE MORE I REALIZE HOW LITTLE I KNOW…..HOW MUCH MORE I CAN AND WANT TO ACCOMPLISH.

Its time to trade in my jar. My jar just gets bigger.

How are you filled up with the spirit? Do you want to be overflowing with the Holy Spirit?

I ask you today…..not tomorrow…..not later in the week…..not next month….next year…..BUT TODAY! WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO? 

Going forward is always so intimidating….to everyone. We don't like to share our failures with others. Our struggles, our faults, our temptations, our transgressions, our lack of ability…..guess what…..we are all SINNERS! Everyone of us in here today. We all need salvation. 

So this morning I want the barrier removed. Today we have a jar full of steps (steps-not sins)…..a jar full of commitments that we are ready to take. You know what they are. You know what you need to work on. Unless you have not one sin in your life you don't need an egg. But I'm guessing you might be like me and need a few…..maybe a handful.

So while we are singing the invitation song…..I encourage you to come forward and grab a handful of eggs. You can grab a few and then return to your seat…..the eggs will represent what steps you yourself are about to take to be a better Christian. After the song, we will ask our brother to lead us in a prayer focusing on allowing us to be consistent in taking each step daily.

Let us stand and sing.

Setting Your Goals

I recently delivered a sermon at church while the minister was away for the holidays. It's no big deal, I've done it many times before.....that wasn't my 'goal'. I decided to speak on New Years Resolutions and the goals we set for ourselves. Is it Christian like to set high standards and goals. Is it appropriate to say affirmations to yourself. I not recap my lesson but I will say this, YES! It certainly is and there are several scriptures in the Old Testament as well as the New Testament that gives us examples.

The key? Do ALL things for the glory of God. Don't get carried away with yourself and your goals/accomplishments. He is the one who provides us with the blessings that we enjoy. The blessings of success are evident in the work that I've been able to accomplish. I certainly couldn't have done it without him.

Oh sure, I was worn out and tired at the end of last year. I asked for his guidance and help and he provided. He didn't just hand me over 13 marathon medals and say POOF! You've met your crazy goals. He made me work for it. God isn't a Genie that grants wishes. He is our Father that teaches us and cares for us. I have felt very blessed to have learned so much along my path in 2015. I look forward to what he wishes to share with me in this coming year.

So I share that if you have already set your goals for 2016, take a look at them again. Do they give you the right focus? Are they for the right reason? Are you being grateful for them along the way? I think it is wonderful to set high goals. Maybe even ridiculous goals. Many motivational speakers will say that you should plan realistically. That makes sense.....and it is the safe way. Not necessarily setting a crazy number of marathons when you haven't ever done that before. I just recall the scriptures where he tells us that we will be blessed because he can accomplish "immeasurably more than we can imagine".

IMMEASURABLY MORE......THAN WE CAN IMAGINE! So right now your goals you set are potentially too small. That's right, too small. We cannot even imagine what he can do in our lives......if you have the right reason.....and the right purpose. He does ask a few things in return. To love him, your neighbor and follow his commandments. Pretty simple.

I am reminded of the story about Gideon in the bible where God wanted to show his power. He didn't send the entire army with Gideon....that would be too easy. He kept sending away the troops until he got down to only 300. And what kind of soldiers were they? I say soldiers loosely. I think they were more animals.....maybe a bit crazy. After all they were facing a HUGE force against them and God had narrowed it down to have only 300...... Great warriors?.......how about 300 that drank water like a dog. Yep.....like a dog! And they won, without one causality. God can do immeasurably more than you can imagine. Just let him.

Just believe my friends and enjoy your day. Set your goals and follow your dreams....along with your prayers.

Eugene Thompson

ET This I Believe

RUN EUGENE RUN

Should a Christian set New Year's Goals?

Did I Do Enough?

Notes from my sermon on 12.27.2015

Princess Anne Church of Christ

This is the question I ask myself ever year in the final few days in the calendar year. I always answer it the same way...NO. I'm never quite good enough or strong enough or faithful enough or successful enough.....I'm always hard on myself. I go through my list and see what I was successful at through out the year, and what I found that I failed at. 

I have to do this so I can properly evaluate myself in order to RESET my new goals. Often people use this as the only day to establish their new goals. I like to use a series of firsts, not just the first day of the year. I have a reset at the first of every month, week and even morning. Sure, I have my New Years Resolutions....or goals. I set them for personal, physical, business and of course my spiritual. It is important to have an appropriate mind set and priority when you establish these goals.

I've gone through the bible and selected a few key thoughts about characteristics you should first consider when setting your goals. After that I sought out several verses that tell us about our new goals and how they should be established.

Enjoy. 

8 Biblical Keys for Goal Setting

Faith – We serve a big God who can accomplish the impossible.  There is nothing He can’t do.  We can believe that He journeys with us and always has our best in mind.  He is trustworthy and faithful.

Humility – We never want to be in a position of demanding that things work out or that all our goals are accomplished exactly as we say.  The Lord’s will always trumps our own.  We need to be sure our attitude is one of humility before our holy and mighty God.

Commitment –  We need to commit ourselves to the tasks at hand.

Diligence – Goals often require hard work.  We need to be diligent in our effort.

Perseverance – We will face set backs and disappointments, but need to persevere through rough times.  Don’t give up!

Alignment with God’s Word and Will – Are we within the parameters of God’s Word and His character?

Forethought & Planning – Have we done the appropriate homework before starting our task?  Have we counted the cost?

Motivation – We need to ask the hard questions.  What is our goal and why?  Do we have selfish motives or are we operating with a healthy heart.

Bible Verses To Think on When Setting Goals

Goals, Plans, Desires, Paths, Visions

Psalm 20:4 “May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.”

Psalm 33:11 “But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.”

Psalm 37:4-5  Delight yourself also in the Lord,And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord,Trust also in Him,And He shall bring it to pass.

Psalm 127:1 “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.”

Proverbs 3:6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Proverbs 13:16 “All who are prudent act with knowledge, but fools expose their folly.”

Proverbs 16:3 “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.”

Proverbs 16:9 “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.”

Proverbs 19:21 “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”

Proverbs 21:5 “The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.”

Proverbs 24:27 “Put your outdoor work in order and get your fields ready; after that, build your house.”

Proverbs 29:18 “Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, But happy is he who keeps the law.”

Isaiah 32:8 “But the noble make noble plans, and by noble deeds they stand.”

Jeremiah 17:7 “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.”

Habakkuk 2:2-3 “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that whoever reads it may run with it.”

Matthew 17:20 “Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.'”

Luke 14:28 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?”

John 6:27 “Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”

Romans 12:2 “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Philippians 3:13-14  “Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,  I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

Philippians 4:13 “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

Hebrews 10:35-36 “So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.  You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.”

Hebrews 12:1-2a “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, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.”

James 4:13-15 “Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.'”

2 Chronicles 15:7 “But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.”

Hope this gives you some perspective in setting your goals this year. Set them right and the Lord will prosper. God Bless my friends.

Eugene Thompson

ET This I Believe 

Sermon: Run Forrest Run

Running is my addiction. Many of you already know that. For some reason it has caught ahold of me and I just do it. I don't do it very well, but I do it. I run all over my neighborhood and sign up for races and do them all. I enjoy the races.  

Did you know that the word race in Greek means agony.......isn't that ironic.

There are many times that I wholeheartedly feel the agony.

Forrest Gump: That day, for no particular reason, I decided to go for a little run. So I ran to the end of the road. And when I got there, I thought maybe I'd run to the end of town. And when I got there, I thought maybe I'd just run across Greenbow County. And I figured, since I run this far, maybe I'd just run across the great state of Alabama. And that's what I did. I ran clear across Alabama. For no particular reason I just kept on going. I ran clear to the ocean. And when I got there, I figured, since I'd gone this far, I might as well turn around, just keep on going. When I got to another ocean, I figured, since I'd gone this far, I might as well just turn back, keep right on going.

For most of us running like Forrest Gump doesn't come quite that easy. It certainly doesn't for me. It looks like a huge feat when we hear about the distance he ran. We can hardly getter head wrapped around something like that and how far and how hard it must be.

- 1,169 Days Forrest runs (Or, as he put it, 3 years, 2 months, 14 days, 16 hours)

- 19,024 Miles Forrest completes during his three-year run

- 16 Average miles Forrest runs per day, based on my Google map calculations

There was a couple in Australia that ran everyday last year.....each day the distance of a marathon. That is over 9500 miles.....to go around the entire country......and they were in their 60s........Forrest was 35 and a fictional character.

We don't think about the over all task when we start.

How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.

How do you run a marathon? One step at a time.

When I run.....because I am so slow.....I have a lot if time to think about things. All sorts of things. I've designed a project or two in my head, I've thought about all the things I should do.....all the things I shouldn't do. I've solved many problems in my head while running, created several too. I've sang a song......no one around me don't worry I didn't scare anyone. I've cried....thinking about my mom and dad. I've laughed thinking about the joy of finishing my next challenge.

 

January was my first marathon ever. 26.2 miles. I had only ever ran 17 miles once and then 20 miles. But I have added up a bunch of shorter runs to prepare. I started keeping track December of 2011. During 2012 I ran only 50 times. Only five were 10 miles or more. That December I hurt my Achilles and could hardly run the first part of the entire year.  2013 I ran 66 times. Ten of those runs were over 10 miles but not until September. This year I have already run fives times over 10 miles.

A total of 136 runs for a total of 760 miles;

144 hours and burned 115,000 calories. 55,727 steps.

This year's goals are 6 marathons, 6 half marathons + the other little races =1000 miles. 2,126,984 steps

One step at a time.

Paul compares the Christian life to running a race. There are a lot of semblance.

STRATEGIES FOR A SUCCESSFUL FINISH.

1 Corinthians 9:24-25

24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.

So how do we insure the way that we run the race in our Christian life to insure we receive the prize.You want to finish your race and receive your prize. There are heavenly rewards that will be given for faithful service and sacrifice on our journey.

1. PACE YOURSELF.

In running a marathon, pace is so important. At the starting line, you are all charged up and ready to go. Adrenalin is flowing and the natural tendency is to go all out and give it everything you have. You have to practice constraint and pace yourself for the long haul.

Going into the marathon, I knew what pace I needed to do in order to finish. I started out with that pace even though I could have done a faster pace at the start. Going slow at the start and taking my time, paid off at the end. In the last six miles, I passed many people that were walking and some limping. They did not pace their self. They started out too fast and didn’t have it in them to finish at the end.

Beloved, we are in this for the long haul. We don’t want anything to cut our mission off short. We want to accomplish everything that we have been placed on this earth to accomplish.

The race is easy when you are surrounded by friends. When you're running past the bands or the water stops or the crowds cheering you. But what about the times when you are alone? When you are on the back highway and there isn't anyone near by? There will be times when our journey is dark, is difficult, is painful.

By mentioning this in this manner, it implies that just because you signed up for the race or start it doesn't mean that you will finish it.

Matthew 7:21

21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

SIGN UP for the race

Sounds a little bit over simplified but you cannot just show up to one of the events and just run......okay you can but it doesn't count. So if you don't "SIGN UP" to be a Christian then your race won't count. The second part of Matthew 7:21 is those who do the will of My Father.

HEAR, BELIEVE, REPENT, CONFESS, BE BAPTISED

WEAR YOUR RACE BIB

You will need to put your bib on and wear it on your front. Everyone will know you are part of the race. So don't you also need to wear your Christianity Bib? Showing everyone that you are a Christian? However it isn't a jersey. It is your light.

Matthew 5:14-16

14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

We show others and proclaim Jesus & the truth by our light & our good works.

PREPARE YOURSELF

Do you think we can just wake up one morning......like Forrest Gump.....and run a marathon. I'm a bit OCD when it comes to dressing and preparing. I did it in football by making sure everything was perfect for the tape on my ankles or gear or knee wraps. I still do it for a race. Socks are just right, knee wrap isn't wrinkled. Everything just right to avoid distractions. (Remember the distractions part...I will come back to that later.)

Ephesians 6:14-17

Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

When you look at the front line of those getting ready to run......you don't see a guy dressed in a snow parka, boots and a backpack full of sodas a Twinkies for the journey!

Hebrews 12:1-2

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

BUNCH HERE!

First we have all those saints before us cheering us that have finished the race.

ENCOURAGEMENT

People are along side the race, from volunteers to strangers just watching, calling your name, telling you that you've got this. It's a good run. They don't know me but they call out my name because it's on my bib.

Hebrews 10:24-25

24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

Just the coming together here this morning and other times is an encouragement.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 & 14

11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.

WATER STOPS ( along with encouragement)

Our nourishment is God’s Word and prayer. God’s Word strengthens and sustains us throughout our journey. Prayer is where we refuel and receive the supernatural power and healing that we need to continue.

2. GET RID OF ANYTHING THAT HINDERS.

At mile 16, I got a rock in my shoe. I tried to ignore it, but it started in my heel and worked its way to the bottom of my foot. I had a decision to make. If I stop to take my shoe off and get rid of the rock, I lose time. If I keep running with the rock in my

shoe, my foot would become raw by the time I finish and it may stop me from finishing. I stopped, took my show off and got rid of the rock. It cost me some time, but I finished the race.

Disney, 25,000 runners, Shamrock 3,500. Disney there were too many people that were walking. Made me feel it was okay to walk. It was okay to be like everyone else.

In our journey, there will be many hindrances that will endanger our finish. We will have decisions to make. Decide to get rid of anything that will hinder your mission. It's those distractions that I talked about before. You may be struggling with a hindrance right now; something that will keep you from fulfilling your mission in life. Get rid of it. Finish the race.

3. WATCH OUT FOR WRONG TURNS.

Around mile 22, I took a wrong turn and by the time I figured out that I was going down the wrong path, I added two tenths of a mile onto my distance. Now two tenths does not seem much, but after you have run 22 miles, believe me, two tenths is a lot. When I reached mile 26.2 and should have been done, I wasn’t. I had to press on because I added extra distance on to my marathon.

In life there are many opportunities to take wrong turns. If we take those turns, it will add distance to our journey and increase our struggle to finish. Be cautious. Stay on the path that Jesus has set for you. Jesus is The Only Way to the finish line.

4. STAY FOCUSED.

I do everything possible to remain focused during a run. Music to zone out, I don't really hear the words. Just background noise. I focus on the path in front of me. I would really enjoy looking up and seeing my surroundings......but I seem to look down the ever passing aggregate. One rock at a time.....one step at a time.

On our Christian walk, there will be pain and suffering along the way. To endure, we must stay focused on the purpose of our walk. Our purpose is to continue the ministry of Jesus. To stay focused, we must fix our eyes on Jesus. Jesus will get us across the finish line.

Peter took his eyes off Jesus and started sinking into the water.

Hebrews 12:2 NIV back to this scripture

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

I can’t adequately describe to you the feeling of crossing the finish line. 5:51 later. As I approached the finish line in Florida, "Our God is an Awesome God"  as I crossed the 26 mile marker last week......100 yards to the finish......my toe felt like it exploded. Pain shot through my body.....from my little toe! Fear shot through my body that I might not be able to make it! Wait it's a little toe. So I thought about the scripture in Matthew 18 KJV

8 Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.

......right then, my pinky toe offendeth me.......so I sprinted with a little gimp. As I crossed the finish line I was able to hug family and give my body much needed rest. It felt so good when they placed the medal around my neck. I had finished the race and received the prize.

 

Beloved, run the race to receive the prize.

Your reward for Christian service is great.

1. Pace yourself for the long haul.

2. Get rid of anything that hinders.

3. Watch out for wrong turns.

4. Stay focused on Jesus.

Finish the race.

Receive the prize.

Hebrews 12:1 "the race that is set before us."

I try not to dwell on how slow I am or rather how others are faster than me. It's my race....I try to better myself each time. 21 min 17 secs better.

1. We each have our own race to run! That is, you cannot run in my lane and I cannot run in yours!

2. We are not in competition, but we are on the same team! My job isn't to outrun you, my job is to run for Jesus, the race that He has planned for me.

3. Our course has been individually designed! The race you are running has been prepared just for you. The best thing we can do is run our race to the best of our God-given ability.

INVITATION: Are you prepared for the race? Have you taken the steps?

HEAR, BELIEVE, REPENT, CONFESS, BE BAPTISED

Time is our enemy. Sometimes we push aside what we know is ever pressing towards us. No matter how prepared or unprepared, We never know when our race stops:

The first marathoner.....ran from Marathon Greece to Athens died after delivering the message from the battlefield that the Persians had been defeated.

Cameron Gallager age 16 from Richmond trained nine weeks with her best friend. They ran side by side the whole race. Parents saw her finish with a smile from ear to ear. 50 yards past the finish line she collapsed.

The self-discipline that we need in our service to God and others is given to us by the Spirit of God that resides within us. 2 Timothy 1:7 NIV "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline."

 

The Heart of the Matter

Here is a question for you. “Why are you here this morning?”

You might think that sounds kind of like a question that you might ask a teenage class and well you would be right. I have taught a few classes and a few devotionals to the teens in my day.  Not sure how many but let’s just say it has been a few over the years. After all these years I had the tables turned on me a few weeks ago.  I sat in a teenage class and I was one of the students….taught by one of my students long ago.  MY SON!

My son had been asked to substitute for another teacher that was out of town.  It was the middle school class and the teacher provided a copy of the material he could present to the class. That was on a Thursday…..On Friday, another teacher called and said he also was going to be out of town and wondered if he could combine his high school class with the middle school class.  Of course he said yes, but could really teach the High School kids the lesson that was meant for the middle schoolers. So he pulled out a lesson he had heard previously….not by me….another bible teacher.

So here I sat listening to my son give a lesson to 30+ students.

He started off the class with the question I posed to you, “Why are you here today?” Can you imagine what sort of responses were said in the class.

1.       “My parents told me to get in the car.”

2.       “I didn’t have a choice.”

3.       “It has always been what we have done.”

4.       My parents began brainwashing me at a young age.”

There finally was an answer that said I want to be here and I want to please the Lord.

As I sat there I was thinking that out of all the individuals in that class, even the teacher, all of them were influenced by their parents.  They were initially all there because of what their parents required of them. Except for me.  I had a bit of different perspective as I was converted in my early 20s and not by my parents. Nobody in my family is in the church.  I was also the only parent in the class and understood from also a different perspective of why a parent would want to influence their child in the first place.  Obviously so they were not lost. This should be a “shoe in” for a conversion but we know that this is not always the case.

That was my son’s warm up question and then he went on with his lesson on Tyre from Ezekiel.  Something that I found very interesting and had not studied in detail before.

My lesson is not about my son.  I preach on my experiences that cross my path in life. Things that influence me. You see my son mentioned to me later that the question, “Why are you here today?” was something that was asked of him in a psychology class in college. However it was more along the lines of “Why do you go to church?”  Do you know what the primary answer was? It basically went back to “My parents told me to go.”

So, a very long introduction into what boils down to “I go to church because of the faith of my parents or of others.” Can you imagine what the professor did to the students…..yep, he really tore into them for their lack of having their own faith. A borrowed faith isn’t what we need.

We have to have our own heart fully committed to the Lord.

Heart is mentioned 926 times….roughly…..all different types of hearts.

^{EZEKIEL 11:17} 
Therefore say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “I will gather you from the peoples, assemble you from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.”’ ¹⁸ And they will go there, and they will take away all its detestable things and all its abominations from there. ¹⁹ Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them,^[a] and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh, ²⁰ that they may walk in My statutes and keep My judgments and do them; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God. ²¹ But as for those whose hearts follow the desire for their detestable things and their abominations, I will recompense their deeds on their own heads,” says the Lord God.
^{EZEKIEL 18:30 
 30} “Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways,” says the Lord God. “Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin. ³¹ Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel? ³² For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,” says the Lord God. “Therefore turn and live!”
WHOLE HEART

1.      Psalm 119:2
Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, Who seek Him with the whole heart!

2.      Psalm 119:10
With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!
 

3.      Psalm 119:34
Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law; Indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
 

4.      Psalm 119:58
I entreated Your favor with my whole heart; Be merciful to me according to Your word.
 

5.      Psalm 119:69
The proud have forged a lie against me, But I will keep Your precepts with my whole heart.
 

6.      Psalm 119:145
קI cry out with my whole heart; Hear me, O LORD! I will keep Your statutes.

I ask you the question again, “Why are you here today?”

I am going GUESS that you originally became a follower of Christ because of maybe two things.

1.       You loved him. You trusted him, you believe in him, you believe in his promise. You seek eternal salvation with him in Heaven.

2.       The other part has to be that you fear him. You fear the other option that awaits you if it isn’t heaven.  Hell. Eternal Damnation. Do you think you might be a bit uncomfortable?

Sunburn is a bit uncomfortable. Hell is more than a sunburn.

I am also going to GUESS that you are here because you believe is his WHOLE PROMISE.

What comes with a WHOLE PROMISE….A WHOLE HEART? Maybe the question isn’t “Why are you hear today?” but instead, “Why aren’t you here today?...tonight? Wednesday? Why aren’t  you acting like a Christian all the other times? Why do you NOT put me first? You ask something pretty great of me but you give me little in return.

I really like that new car…..How much is it? OOO that is expensive…well I am committed to having  this new car, can I pay half of what you are asking? Hmmm, sure we will deliver it to your front door tomorrow. The car gets there and it doesn’t have any tires, there isn’t any air conditioning in fact there isn’t any engine.  You call up dealer and say, “Hey, you didn’t give me a WHOLE CAR…..yeah, you didn’t give me the WHOLE PAYMENT.

What if our salvation was like that? What if we got to Heaven and we had given less than a WHOLE HEART? You get to the gates and check in….Name? Eugene. Yes, we have your cottage over here…just beyond the gates…..What..Cottage? I thought I was getting a mansion? And why are we over here and not inside the gates…..Well you are in heaven…you are just in the Suburb of Heaven.  Suburb? What? Hey, my cottage doesn’t even have a roof.  Well that is true but we don’t get much rain here in Heaven so you should be okay.

It doesn’t work that way…..you are either in or out. He provides you a WHOLE PROMISE.