"Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it. Athletes exercise self-control in all things; they do it to receive a perishable wealth, but we an imperishable one. So I do not run aimlessly, nor do I box through beating the air; but I punish my bod and enslave it, so that after proclaiming to others I myself should not be disqualified."
These verses to me can mean a world of things. As im looking over what I will be teaching kids this upcoming week, I can't help but share my thoughts about this verse. Being an athlete and a follower of Jesus Christ, I know that in my "christian" race, I have to run to receive the prize. I'm not going to get to the point unless I work for it, unless I prove that I deserve it. I have to make the effort, similar to sports, you really gotta train to win. Like reaching the next level in my tennis game, it isn't gonna come to me, I have to WORK for it. I have to put in the hours, put myself through mental and physical pain, but accept and believe that i'll get to the point I want to reach. Many try it out, but temptations or false teachings bring them down and they choose not to fight them. How are you ever going to reach a certain point if you think its "too hard" or "i just dont think its possible"??
One thing that really grinds my gears is when people say that christianity is stupid because they don't want someone telling them how to live their life and rules they have to follow. IT IS NOT A SET OF RULES. i just want to yell in their faces and tell them they have no idea what they are missing out on, but that of course wouldn't be the right thing to do haha. I am not living because of what someone is telling me to do, I am choosing to live this way because of a love and power that is so much greater than me. I am so so blessed and God has done such amazing things in my life, why would I turn away from that? why would i not give Him my life and make it His?? Everyday i wonder how much better this world would be if we all believed. if we all had a faith that was so strong, how could anything go wrong? I can tell you one thing, I know my friends lives would be changed, they would be completely new people and I know a few of them that could really use it right about now, but what am i to do? By being an example I can only pray that one day they will get to live out the same things I do, get to experience the feeling of such a love that is so great that it can't be explained. Through my words and actions, I pray everyday that I can be the best living example of Jesus that I can be. Yes, I slip sometimes and I admit I'm not the perfect one, but I can tell when somebody is a christian because of a certain light they have, a certain presence about them that is extremely strong.
I want nothing more than to be with my friends in Heaven. I can't put into words the instant connection I feel with people who share my beliefs, it's like you instantly have so much more in common than you can explain. Some of the best relationships I have shared are with those who are followers because we have so much to talk about, and they can see things through my perspective, and help me base my decisions on that. Not only do they help me see clearly, but they keep me on track. They remind me that God is so good and that He is surrounding me with those who lift me up, something that I constantly need. and for those of my best friends who aren't believers, I see God in each and every one of them. I see Him working in all of their lives and touching them. They say they get lucky sometimes and they say that they just wanna have fun and screw all those rules, but they dont realize that I'm praying for them all the time and I'm watching my prayers being answered. Lifes too short to miss out on a love like His, a love that's everlasting and one that will carry you through anything that is thrown your way.
'Jesus said in Matthew 10:22 that the person who endures to the end shall be saved. You fight to stay in the race. You are fighting against an enemy who wants you to fail. He doesn't want you to finish the race. He does not want you to obtain that crown--the prize. He will do whatever he can to trip you up but you have to be determined and press on.'
Isn't this true in everyday life? There are always things battling against us trying to get us to fail, always something negative that is trying to stop us from achieving things. It isn't going to be easy, life is hard. But God is with you, ALL THE TIME. Whether you choose to believe it or not, He's always gonna be by your side, always picking you up when you fall, and always there to lift you up.
So to all of you who have argued with me about christianity being a set of rules, I'm sorry you feel that way because I'm certainly not living my life because of what somebody else has told me to do. God isn't TELLING me what to do, I'm choosing to follow Him. God will always forgive you and will always accept you for who you are. The relationship I got with the big guy is pretty strong and nobody is gonna come between us, we are tight likee peanut butta and jellyy :) haha
please pray for me as I head to camp tomorrow & pray that I'll touch the kids that I'll be working with in such a way that they can leave camp different then when they arrived <3
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