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Slight Adjustments

I was doing some work around the house this morning and noticed how my eyes just didn’t feel right.  Luckily, just a quick trip in front of the mirror to slip in my contacts alleviated that problem.  And really, those optical wonders only offer me a slight correction, but they make a world of difference in the ways things work!

And so maybe this can be a contact for you spirit today, providing just a slight bit of optical correction to keep you focused correctly.

We must keep our eyes on Jesus, who leads us and makes our faith complete. Hebrews 12:2 Contemporary English Version (CEV)

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Blessed Be The Hallowtide

Since today is the day following  All Hallow’s Eve, it must be All Saints Day!  A day set up a long time ago to remember all the Hallowed, or all the Saints.  I am not always convinced about this saint thing, since we all will be presented before God forgiven because of our acceptance of Christ’s sacrifice.  But, I am convinced we should remember those that have run the race well before us.  I mean just spend some time in Hebrews 11, and then there is this started off Hebrews 12.

 

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.  Hebrews 12:1 NLT

 

Remember that huge crowd today, and lighten your own load a little!

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Don’t Just Thresh Wheat

There’s a story in the old book of Judges where a man named Gideon.  Gideon’s nation was repressed in slavery for over 100 years and on this day he is hiding from his oppressors threshing wheat.  And that’s when he gets a surprise visitor.

12 When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” Judges 6:12

Or if I can paraphrase I think the angel of the Lord said something like this.

Hey, Gideon, old buddy, don’t you know that you are a mighty warrior? The Lord has promised you great things if you trust him, but you are just hanging out threshing wheat, being normal.  Go, free your land and your people from its oppressors.

And I strongly believe that today, many of us will just thresh wheat, not wanted to be seen, when the Lord has said to us, “I am with you , mighty warrior!, free those around you from their oppressors.”!

 

because God has said,

“Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you.”

So we say with confidence,

“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?” Hebrews 13:5-6

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Colors Day

Today is colors day, or Show Your Colors Day.  The day at the start of the College Football season that you are to wear the colors of the team that you support.  It’s not a new day here at the Buffet,  I have written about it the last couple of years ( here and here).

I am working from home today as I get ready for the big holiday weekend – and to save a little gas, since the prices shot up at ae ridiculous rate this week.  Anyway, since I am working at home, it’s harder for me to show my colors, so I will do it with this little video, which also serves as a motivational tool.

Without Challenge, There Can Be No Mountaineers.

I love it!

Even if you are not a Mountaineer fan, I have you can take a little inspiration for the need to face challenges, and how those lead to advancement.  Challenges make you better, challenges hone your skills and challenges provide the path to reward.

Tackle the challenges in front of you.

 

17 Our temporary minor problems are producing an eternal stockpile of glory for us that is beyond all comparison. 2  Corinthians 4:17 Common English Bible (CEB)

 

11 We don’t enjoy discipline when we get it. It is painful. But later, after we have learned our lesson from it, we will enjoy the peace that comes from doing what is right.  12 You have become weak, so make yourselves strong again. 13 Live in the right way so that you will be saved and your weakness will not cause you to be lost.  Hebrews 12:11-13 Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

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Fixed and Fast

Last night I went out for a 4 mile run on the nice soft flat top of the local levee.  Since it’s so flat it can be an easy run or a fast run depending on how you feel.  I intended to do something sort of in the middle – quick but controlled.

I started my run a few blocks from the trail head and just as I approached the start of the levee another gentlemen started down the path.  Uh-no!  a rabbit.   So as I rounded the first turn and could see across the levee for quite a distance I noticed there were several runners and walkers out in front of me.  One by one, I placed my eyes on the back of the individual in front of me and ran them down.  As I approached the first mile, I noticed another runner in the distance, maybe 1/4 mile ahead, and sub consciously I fixed in on him.  I traveled through the first mile 15 seconds faster than I wanted, but I was feeling so fleet a foot and completely in control.  I continued ahead, slowly gaining on the object of my fixation.   I come along side the final runner with about a third of a mile to my turn around marker, the two-mile.  We arrived together at the two-mile mark more than 20 seconds faster than my intended pace and even faster than the first mile. Yes!

He was continuing down the path, so we parted ways and I turned around.  Since there were no returning runners in front of me, I had nothing to focus on but to gloat of my achievements!  And as you can guess, my time greatly reduced on the two miles back in.

This morning, I came across these great proverbs

25 Let your eyes look straight ahead;
fix your gaze directly before you.

26 Give careful thought to the paths for your feet
and be steadfast in all your ways.

27 Do not turn to the right or the left;
keep your foot from evil.

I could not help but be reminded of my trip across the levee last night.  As long as I had someone to focus on, to fix my gaze directly on, I was in the zone.  Moving efficiently and effectively towards the target – actually not even realizing the effort I was giving!  But as soon as I had no focus.  As soon as I could observe the grass, and the distance, and the birds, and get absorbing in myself gratifying thoughts, my efficiently was greatly reduced.

So it is with our spirits!  Make sure you are focused on the right thing today.

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God Hebrews 12:2 NIV