RUN THE RACE

Well, another week has come and gone and I have a VERY busy week-end coming up.  Tonight I am going to pick up my oldest granddaughter and travel down to Newport Beach to have her hair done by Jessie.  Then we will grab some quick dinner and go and see the movie Dear John.  I am looking forward to this one on one time with her.  It seems as if these kind of movies give us a wonderful opportunity to discuss the relationship issues that always seem to be on her young little mind.  I am grateful that she seems to WANT to have these discussions with me, and that I at least get this small opportunity to teach her what I consider to be important about this area of her life.  Then on Sat. Jeff and I will head down to San Diego to the birthday party for my youngest granddaughter Donatella.  She will be a year old on Valentine's Day.   I am soo looking forward to this time with their family.  Then on Sunday we will go to church of course, and then celebrate with our side of the family both Donatella's and Cody's first birthday with a party at our house.  We have a LARGE crowd coming.  And then, I think the majority of the crowd will stay to watch the Super Bowl.  I decided I'd better post my Spiritual Sunday post today, as I really doubt I will get much of an opportunity later this week-end.  To join the other bloggers joining in this event, please click HERE.

1Cor 9:25 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.

As I was thinking about the upcoming Super Bowl, this verse came to my mind.  I myself am not really into the Super Bowl that much, (or football in general haha), though I try to keep that on the downlow here as my husband (who went to Nebraska on a football scholarship for goodness sake) and my sons are all BIG fans.  I guess for that matter, my daughter Melody is as big a football fan as there comes as well.  I am not even totally sure what two teams are in it this year, but I "think" it might be the Colts and the Saints.  I DO know the two teams my kids were rooting for, the SAN DIEGO CHARGERS for Jimmy, and the NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS for Melody, and whichever one my husband was wanting to get in (which was the team with the older quarterback), did NOT get into the Super Bowl this year.  I pay enough attention when they are all "discussing" what is happening, to have at least picked this up.  So for all of them, the Super Bowl this year is not a giant event, but missing it is still COMPLETELY out of the question, haha.  But what I was thinking about is what went into this particular sporting event, or any sporting event for that matter.  Months and months of training, hard work, sacrifice and dedication I am very sure indeed.  Everyone involved, coaches, players, their wives and even all the fans, have had their eye on the prize, or in this case the Super Bowl, since the beginning of the season.  Really for a lot of those players I imagine that this might be a goal that they have worked for and sought after and dreamed about since they were very young boys.  There is no way you can get into a game at this level without having done all of that.  And while this is DEFINITELY a huge accomplishment, and worthwhile goal, it is still at the end of the day, just a game.  And when you think about it, all they really get at the end of all of this, is a trophy and a ring that will no doubt one day tarnish and perish, even if it is passed down from one generation to the next. 

Hebrew 12:1 ... and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.

As Christians we too are pressing on everyday with our eye on the prize at the end of the journey.  God has set before us a race. We must run it; and it will involve effort and commitment. Just being passive never runs a race. God wants us to run the race, and finish it right!  Ultimately, how much more important is this race that we all find ourselves in?  We must put our best into everyday, and press on regardless of whatever obstacles and hardships the enemy tries to throw at us.  And our reward at the end? 

2 Timothy 4:8  Finally, there is laid up for me the CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.


James 1:12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the CROWN OF LIFE which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

Yes, our prize at the end of the race is imperishable for sure.  It will endure forever and always into all eternity with Jesus Christ our Lord.