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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. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. I Corinthians 9:27-29 NIV  You cannot have a positive life with a negative mind. How can we truly win in life?
And never forget, we do not have to run alone.
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Be strong of of good courage, do not fear or be afraid of them for the Lord you God, He is the one who goes with you. He will not leave you, nor forsake you. Deut. 31:6  Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash AbideTo remain stable or fixed in a state. To continue in a place, to accept without objection. To trust in our God and to believe that He is with us and will speak to us. That he loves us and will take care of us in times of good and bad. With Him on our side, what do we have to fear? Honestly? He loves us. He wants to walk with us. He wants us to depend on him. Dive into his word. Learn His ways. Learn a better way to live, to love, to get along in this world. Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand... Isa. 41:10  Get to know Jesus well... Because the more you know him, the more you'll love him. The more you love him, the more you'll want to follow him. The more you follow him, the more you'll become like him. The more you become like him, the more you become your true self.  Photo by J. Balla Photography on Unsplash Father God, Help me to see Your Son clearly in my life. Help me to become a little more like him, each and every day. Speak to me through your word, through your beautiful world, and through your wonderful children, to encourage my heart to seek you more. In following Jesus and his examples, may I also find who you created me to be, and the perfect plans you have designed for my life. Thank you, Father, for your loving kindness. Amen Today, let us rejoice in all the goodness God has bestowed on us. No matter what is going on in our lives- He will walk beside us through the good and bad. All we have to do is ask. Look around. See how the earth in spring shouts for joy? Joy over renewal. Joy over rebirth. His mercies are new every morning. Great is His faithfulness. (See Lamentations 3:23) I pray that you find your joy-song today. Share something you are joyful for today in the comments below. Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth,  Photo by Robert Collins on Unsplash burst into jubilant song with music;
make music to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn-- shout for joy before the Lord, the King.
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:10 I lift up my eyes to the MOUNTAINS-- where does my help come from?  Photo by Denys Nevozhai on Unsplash For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, Declares the Lord.  Photo by Kalen Emsley on Unsplash For those of us who have a tendency to sweep unpleasantness under the carpet, or shove the uglies of our life in a closet, I have a few thoughts on this matter. A matter, I'm guilty of myself. Because, pushing the bad, sinful, hurtful things aside makes living life easier. Doesn't it? I'm not so sure.  Photo by Rhett Wesley on Unsplash It seemed like I was at odds with everyone. Arguments flew back and forth daily. I felt discontent and disappointed in myself. And I felt the distance between me and God growing like an opening chasm. My heart had taken a beating. It didn't feel dead, though. But rather prickly. Don't get too close or you might get poked too. My greatest desire was to simply be left alone. And sometimes, the trials of daily life leaves our ground dry and our heart full of thorns. It does mine.  Photo by Cristian Newman on Unsplash Long ago, I was hurt in the kind of way that sticks with you through waking moments, and sleeping moments, and clouds how you see the world. Hurts happen in this life, I've learned. Simple hurts like paper cuts, and deep woulds that leave scars and marks. The Bible says, "In this life, you will have trouble, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world." John 16:33 What happens when we are hurt is that something takes over, something that we feel justified to hang onto, something we might have a very hard time letting go of. Something that can turn our hearts to ash if we do not find a way to ditch it. There's many reasons we're are warned to forgive the hurts this world heaps on us. Unforgiveness blinds us to the joy this life has to offer. |
Author InfoJackie Castle is an author, artist and dreamer. She lives in Texas with her husband, two grown children and her dog, Banjo. She looks for the extraordinary in the ordinary in everything she experiences. Archives
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