training

RUN ROCKY RUN!!! GOD LOVES YOU!!!

Standard

“Run Rocky Run” I yelled out – like the Forest Gump line modified for this half marathon and 5K fun run. I thought with the fun of last week and the feeling of making a difference last week at the full marathon, this again was the perfect job for an encourager – and cool too…  The Rocky steps – the hustle and bustle – and the lightest of traffic at the early hour said to my gut – not so bad! and wow – the chance parking spot was so perfect – yeah I had like less than a half mile to walk, I could even hear the loudspeakers… this time I was not the volunteer doing water – I just never got a chance to sign up for this – but felt that ability to be there for the cheers – so I grabbed my foamboard and said: “why not?!”…

I would walk a 5 K sure, but why anyone would want to run 13 plus miles or run any miles is beyond me – but I understand these folks have goals and hopes and the gumption to do it – and after the running there was the walking in of the stragglers – OH, what a perfect place to cheer – like a reverse parade where the runners are looking at you!  and the sign I made? “GOD LOVES YOU” – yeah! – held above my Rocky sign was purposeful “God loves you” – and even though I needed no acknowledgement of the sign – I did need (and get that Holy Spirit whisper) of “yeah – this is the best place for you right now” – “you have nothing better to do right now” – so this is a good morning activity in beautiful brilliant sunshine. and yes I did bring my gloves…

I wanted to do sticky letters but the sharpies there were perfect and I wrote it up. The Rocky Run Rocky sign provided at the big tent-city event was a nice addition –  gobs of spectators at the 5K finish dissipated and now was actually quieter as the majority of the now 13.1 mile folks were hauling it in. I stood about a half mile from the finish – and just before the area where they would have lots of cheers – but this area was quieter – one or two cowbells – and the runners had time to read the simple sign with a sigh – and a few of us encouragers who just felt THIS was our mission for the morning were in this spot – the almost home position – and yeah…

After a few smiles – I got a few hands to the sky – a few “YES HE DOES” – and a few “AND HE LOVES YOU TOO!” – sometimes I thought – well time to wrap this up – or need to sit down – so I saw a concrete barrier to rest on for few minutes – next time I am bringing my chair – and then back up to the side of the race – and more smiles and thank yous and even a couple photos !!!! “BEST SIGN ALL DAY” a few yelled – and these ladies who were cheering behind me decided to walk over and ask: “The people love your sign – what is on it?” – then the “OH!” when they read it – “GOD LOVES YOU” – classic and true and not hidden… 

How often we are not in the moment – to know there is a race going on – in everyone’s lives – how often we should just stop to breath ourselves by bringing it to others and give them the leap up. 

Again – their marathon race is not my race – ON THE TRACK – but the RACE OF LIFE? YEAH – that is my race too – our race – and yours too. We are all needing to be encouragers where we are “on pace” with the needs…

People need to know: GOD LOVES YOU!

Amen

The Good Stuff God is Known For, Daniel 1

Standard

Suitable for back to school talk – back to focus – back to God…

God is known for so many good things, miracles and such – and just good living – Daniel’s story tells of, in chapter 1, that devotion to God is a really good thing to have – and this devotion is obedience and understanding that God’s rules and plans are good for us. Even God’s vegetables…  really God is good.

Daniel and his friends are “recruited” really forced because this is the time of besiege of Jerusalem by Babylon – and Daniel and three others are being “trained” to serve in the King’s court – trained for 3 years – (that is unbelievable too – three years of what kind of training?) – but Daniel refuses to eat’s the kings table food (which was probably the best they could offer those days) – but God offered something better – and not just vegetables – He offered the wisdom to live. Daniel and his three other companions tapped into God’s wisdom. 

First – after refusing to eat – the guard made a plea with Daniel – look I am only doing my job – help me out here – well Daniel made an agreement for a trial basis to test things out – and only 10 days ate under God’s purposes – and guess what – not just eating but exercising too and learning and what not…  And they turned out to be the best of the best… and they didn’t have to be enchanters or magicians, just God’s people.

In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.

Yes, it took three years and yes it took work and yes it took wisdom to learn – most importantly it took the dedication to God to live the life that He wanted them to live – and the rest was gravy – no I am not talking about vegetable gravy…

The good stuff God is known for is His dedication to those dedicated to Him. The wisdom to know – and the means to work – even under the oppressive circumstances. 

I’m glad God is in control. Let’s listen to Him always.

Amen

—

Daniel 1

Daniel’s Training in Babylon

In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.  And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia and put in the treasure house of his god.

Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility— young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians. The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service.

Among those who were chosen were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.

But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel, but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.”

Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.

At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.

To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.

At the end of the time set by the king to bring them into his service, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service. In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.

And Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus.