Press Toward The Mark

My brother preached a message some time ago about always pressing toward the mark.  You might ask yourself what does that mean?  To me, it means to always be heading in a direction that takes us straight to the Lord.  When I meet Him face to face I want to hear Him say "Well done thou good and faithful servant". How do we reach "the mark" when this old world weighs us down and tries to take us farther and farther in the opposite direction?  First of all, we have to get rid of the things that are holding us back.  We must forget our past failures and successes.  Our sins are in the past, they have been forgiven.  Most of us have no problem forgetting about something we have failed at, but many may question why we should forget about our past success and strengths.  Philippians 3:13&14 -  "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but THIS one thing I DO, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.  We have a tendency to feel proud of ourselves when we've done something good or have been successful at something. The danger in that is, we lose sight in the fact that we were able to accomplish that thing because of the Lord.  As Paul said in the previous verse, we need to put it all behind us, good and bad, and look toward what we can do in the future.  We have to always be "pressing toward the mark".  It's hard to move on when you have failed, and sometimes I think it's even harder when you have succeeded.  I think about the high school football player who reached the highlight of his life at 16 or 17 because he couldn't move on past the success on the field.  Thankfully, God has given us a plan....it's His word.  Phillippians 4:13 "I can do ALL things through Christ which strengtheneth me".  We must RELY on the Lord.  Without Him, we are nothing, but with HIM we can do ALL things.  We need to REJOICE in the things of God.  I Thessalonians 5:16 "Rejoice evermore".  We need to have RESOLVE in the things of the Lord.  We have to make up our minds to do whatever the Lord is calling us to do.  Phillippians 4:11 " Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content".  It's interesting that Paul says he has learned to be content.  Sometimes, the Lord has to teach us lessons so we will understand that it's much better to be in His perfect will than to be outside of His will.  He has a plan for us and we have to resolve ourselves to His will.  We need to REALIGN our thinking.  Phillippians 4:8&9 "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and it there be any praise, think on these things.  Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.  Our thinking has to stay focused on the Lord and His word.  Even nonbelievers understand this concept.  I have seen and read many "self help" books that talk about positive affirmations and positive self talk.  They understand you will become what you are putting into your mind.  We must put the things of the Lord in our minds and in our hearts.  Finally, we need to REMEMBER what Christ has done.  Psalms 103:12 "As far as the east is from the west, as far hath he removed our transgressions from us".  Hebrews 10:17 "And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more".  Jesus died for us so that we can have life eternal.  Romans 10:13 "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved".  He didn't specify a particular race, or religious group, or male, or female..my bible says "WHOSOEVER".  This is a special week for Christians.  Passion week....take time to think about what Christ did for us and especially take time to tell someone who doesn't know Him.  I hope you all have a wonderful Easter and enjoy the time with family and all the good food!  Thanks for reading today, I promise my brother did a much better job in the pulpit, but I hope I was able to get some thoughts across for you to ponder.  Love you!

Life Is Not Always On Time But God Is!

Hey ya'll...it's been a few days since my last post.  I have been so busy with my "new" life.  A year, or even 6 months ago I would have never believed this would be my life.  When I think about where I thought I was heading with my life and the detours that have taken me down a different path it's mind boggling.  The peace I have experienced in the last month is over whelming.  My whole life has been filled with anxiety...always worrying about how I was going to accomplish things or financial worries, finally I'm happy.  It's very interesting to see how the Lord works, how He puts the pieces together and how perfectly they fit.  My husband is a bit cynical about things sometimes, bless his heart.  He has been known to say that when something good happens, he waits for the bad to happen.  What I have seen is that when something seemingly bad happens, something GREAT is coming!  When you get that bad news just remember that the Lord already knew about it and He is already working it out for you.  I don't have all the answers about life, I'm at the beginning of my journey and I know I have many miles to go.  Bad things happen to good people.  I get it, I know bad things happen.  I also know that if we truly submit our lives to the Lord and let Him guide us on every step, we can experience peace and joy and He will give us grace to get through the bad stuff.  Listen, I have been the person who had to do it "my way".  I grew up in church and became a Christian when I as just 3 years old, or so I was told.  I don't remember any of it, however, what I do remember is being in church, and growing up in a Christian home, and being prayed for by a Christian mama and daddy.  It's taken me 42 years to appreciate it and fully understand how much they loved me.  I have always been the "wild child" in our family.  My personality is, let's say, extremely outgoing.  I'm the first to try it, and that's not always been a good thing.  With that personality, came a very strong, stubborn will that as I look back has gotten me into so much trouble.  I hate to say that I had to be broken, but when I think of the song Molding a Masterpiece, I can see that the Lord had to heat me up so I could become easily molded in His hands.  It's not easy being heated up ya'll...it gets hot!  I'm so glad to be turning into the vessel that He would have me to be.  I don't know what the future is, but I'm excited to see what God has in store for me.  Remember life can really beat us down, but God is there to pick us up and dust us off.  

Here are the words to the song mentioned above, it means a lot to me and I hope it will encourage you.  Love you all.

Molding a Masterpiece by Ron Hamilton

Master Potter, why do You labor all day,
Giving such effort to rough, worthless pieces of clay?
Why such feeling in Your hands? Why such care in every touch?
Why all the struggle? Your creation is nothing but dust.

I'm molding a masterpiece, a work of great beauty.
I'm molding a masterpiece; My labor's not done.
A trophy, a treasure or worth beyond measure
I'm molding a masterpiece, a masterpiece of love.

Loving Jesus, why are the children all here,
Gathered around You and eagerly clinging so near?
Urgent matters clamor loudly, and the children interfere
Why do You hold them, and so tenderly dry every tear?
I'm molding a masterpiece, a work of great beauty.
I'm molding a masterpiece; My labor's not done.
A trophy, a treasure or worth beyond measure
I'm molding a masterpiece, a masterpiece of love.

Heavenly Father, sometimes I question Your way:
Why do You ask me to mold simple pieces of clay?
Give me eyes to see the future, though it's hidden from my view;
Give me compassion as I'm molding a treasure for You.
I'm molding a masterpiece, a work of great beauty.
I'm molding a masterpiece; My labor's not done.
A trophy, a treasure or worth beyond measure
I'm molding a masterpiece, a masterpiece of love.