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The Marathon

  • For I am already being offered, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight. I have finished the course. I have kept the faith. From now on, there is stored up for me the crown of righteousness' 2 Timothy 4:6 WEB

    While having dinner with some friends of our family who happened to be avid runners, we listened to them talk about the marathons that they had completed across the country. After they told us about their last 26 mile run, I learned how to make him very angry by using only three words: Did you win?

    Apparently you don't ask a marathon runner that question, and the husband took it as a serious insult. He was Chinese, and after uttering some language that I did not understand and probably didn't want to, he explained that finishing a marathon is your win.

    You are competing against your own body, fatigue, the weather, and the clock. Everyone there has different bodies, skills, strengths, and finishing a 26-mile marathon at all is considered a victory. When he finished his thirty-minute speech, I agreed.

    As Christians we are all in a marathon. Some people move faster than others. Some hold a slower pace. It does not matter. It is staying the course, completing 'your' race.

    You are competing against your own body, its desires, weariness, and not against others. Take your time, set goals, and most importantly, if you fall, get up. No one finishes a marathon by laying on their face. Get up and keep putting one foot in front of the other one, and you will finish this marathon well just as Paul did.

    'Therefore let us also, seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us' (Hebrews 12:1).

    Prayer: Heavenly Father strengthen me today and make me steady in this race of life. Help me see the big picture of my life, and the hope that You have for me. Help me finish my race well, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.

    Note: I am sorry for the delay of the devotional this morning. Our main web server has started randomly crashing and leaving no trace as to why. It will just suddenly hard freeze in the middle of the night without a warning. This was the 6th time in the last month that it has frozen. It is 8 years old and we have replaced hard drives in the past, but now it looks like we are going to have to replace the entire unit. If you value the daily word, please consider supporting us and help us get another one. - Dion.

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21 comments
  • 1
Kay Collinsworth
Kay Collinsworth

Amen!

June 2, 2017
  • 1
Joseph Adams, Jr.
Joseph Adams, Jr.

Amen

June 2, 2017
  • 1
Greg Hall
Greg Hall

Amen!

June 2, 2017
  • 1
Jose Simo
Jose Simo

Amen, lead  us Lord.

June 2, 2017
  • 1
Cathy Webb
Cathy Webb

Staying the course, Pastor Dion! Thank you for this encouragement. Time for that new server! God is faithful!

June 2, 2017
  • 2
Tracy Carroll
Tracy Carroll

What a great & timely message this morning!!!  Thank you Pastor!!!!  Heavenly Father, I pray for everyone who reads this devotional to Tithe a little something to Refreshing Hope.  Lord, please give Refreshing Hope the server and donations that they SO desperately need and that WE need as well.  This I pray in Jesus precious name, Amen.  

June 2, 2017
  • 1
Lynn Brown
Lynn Brown

Standing in agreement with your prayers for RHM. In Jesus' name, Amen!

June 2, 2017
  • 1
Tracy Carroll
Tracy Carroll

Thank you Lynn  :o)   <3

June 2, 2017
  • 2
Marilyn DeJongh
Marilyn DeJongh

Once again, this hit the day's trials.  I have macular degeneration and get injections every six weeks . . . which I dread.  It seems I've been  "runnng a health marathon" for the last couple of years.  Hit 70 and it's been sort of a downhill run.  I know God's giving me strength to get through, really I do.  I thank God that He gave me Jesus, I just get a little panicky the day of the injections.  I realize there are others w/much worse problems.  So today, thank you God, for wakng me up and helping me face this part of my marathon.  Amen.

June 2, 2017
  • 1
Lynn Brown
Lynn Brown

Praying for you Marilyn

 

June 2, 2017
  • 1
Karen Robertson
Karen Robertson

This was a great message, Pastor Dion!  And one that I need to keep in mind!  Thank you for always giving us what we need!  And I pray that RHM will get what you need to continue this ministry!  Blessings!

June 2, 2017
  • 1
Jim Jarrell
Jim Jarrell

Thanks again Pastor, we always need to know this is not a short term fix for a long term issue.

June 2, 2017
  • 1
David  Earlywine
David Earlywine

We pray for a new server for Refreshing Hope Ministries and God please bless all. Amen 

June 2, 2017
  • 1
Scott Riegelmann
Scott Riegelmann

Thanku for this devotional pastor as I am sure with the stress of your system crashes and all it cant be easy to put that aside and focus on the job in front of you so Im am very gratefull to u all for all u do to bring us a word from God and to help teach us the scriptures meanings thank you so very much sincerely Scott R.

June 2, 2017
  • 1
Kathie Byram Lopez
Kathie Byram Lopez

Amen

June 3, 2017
  • 1
Wesley Paulus
Wesley Paulus

Amen! Pastors prayer, Heavenly Father, strengthen me today and make me steady in this race of life. Help me see the big picture of my life, and the hope that you have for me. Help me finish my race well, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray Amen!!

June 2, 2017
  • 1
Rachael Burke
Rachael Burke

Amen, help me Lord to finish the race 

June 2, 2017
  • 1
Schalk  de Beer
Schalk de Beer

Amen Lord. 

June 2, 2017
  • 1
Diane Symborski✝
Diane Symborski✝

Prayer: Heavenly Father strengthen me today and make me steady in this race of life. Help me see the big picture of my life, and the hope that You have for me. Help me finish my race well, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen. <3

 

Thank you Pastor Dion for todays devotion. :-)

June 2, 2017
  • 1
David and Dianna Wyles
David and Dianna Wyles

Prayer: Heavenly Father strengthen me today and make me steady in this race of life. Help me see the big picture of my life, and the hope that You have for me. Help me finish my race well, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Thank you so much for all you do Pastor <3 Praying everything works out with the servers.

June 3, 2017
  • 1
Ticardo Williams
Ticardo Williams

Praise God!  Thanks Pastor Todd!  Heavenly Father strengthen me today and make me steady in this race of life. Help me see the big picture of my life, and the hope that You have for me. Help me finish my race well, in the Name of Jesus Christ I pray.  Amen.

June 3, 2017