Week 1 of 20

Just finished week one of training for the Houston marathon today. 19 weeks to go. So many parallels between the Christian life and running...so many.

Here's one...a quote from a former commander of mine on running a marathon..."you don't have to run fast, you just have to keep running." Really speaks to perseverance. Sometimes we think as Christians we are not as good at some part of life as someone else. Sometimes we think we need to be more skilled, educated, intelligent, eloquent, etc...for God to use us, so we either give up or don't try.

Truth is, God is the one that gives us any of those traits, and don't think for a minute He needs any of your goodness to do His work. Just remember we serve by His power alone...if we're trying to go it alone, we won't make it very far before failure or burnout. So, just keep taking risks, serving, living for Jesus Christ, and He will make you as fast as you need to be. Just keep running.

Author of Salvation

God is the Author of Salvation…The author writes a story, from beginning to end. The author knows what has happened, what is happening, and what will happen in the future - all the way to the end of the story…the author is in control of the story, not the characters. The author starts, and finishes the story.

2 Cor 5:18-19 - Now everything is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed the message of reconciliation to us.

John 3:16 - "For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.

Thank God for Good Neighbors

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. - Proverbs 17:17

Yesterday we spent the day eating, playing, and hanging out with our neighbors. Tonight we saw three different neighbors - one was asking us for a favor, we were discussing plans for the week with another, and we "begged" some food off yet another. We have been truly blessed in the past 14+ years with good neighbors, and this neighborhood is no exception. Sometimes I really dread the day we have to move again (or the day one of our neighbors moves) because we know that they will be sorely missed. It is great when you can fellowship with some of your best friends by simply wandering down the street.

But I'm sure not everyone in the world feels the way I am describing here. Not everyone feels like their neighborhood is the best...so here's a thought...try going out in the next few days and talking to one of your neighbors, just to see what life is like for them. Share a meal sometime in the driveway. Maybe you can be a blessing to them like so many of our neighbors have been to us throughout the years.