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Train Today, Triumph Tomorrow

I recently received an email with the subject line “Train Today, Triumph Tomorrow”.   The email which happened  to be attempting to persuade me to purchase soccer gear, shoes and apparel was full of nice catchy images like this:

traintoday

and this:

easy

 

Although it did not inspire me to buy shoes, it did inspire me to capture the images and share them with you. Those two slogans, “Train today to triumph tomorrow” and “Train Hard, Win Easy” can be applied to our daily walks as well.  They call to the need to prepare our physical bodies.  I remind you to prepare your spirit mind.  Each day, progressing a little big more down the path, growing and becoming more and more prepare for whatever spiritual battles lie in front of you.  That doesn’t mean we will be perfect, although my dad always said ‘perfect practice makes perfect’, a line he borrowed from some basketball coach name Lehman, I think.  Anyway, lets do it.  Train today, so we will triumph tomorrow!

12 So brothers and sisters, since God has shown us great mercy, I beg you to offer your lives as a living sacrifice to him. Your offering must be only for God and pleasing to him, which is the spiritual way for you to worship. 2 Do not be shaped by this world; instead be changed within by a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to decide what God wants for you; you will know what is good and pleasing to him and what is perfect.  Romans 12:1-2 (NCV)

 

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Ye Be Hallowed

I saw this stupid t-shirt recently,

Those who hate,shall hate henceforth

and after the initial ‘ha-ha’, I sayeth to myself, “This shall not be-eth, change is the destiny of man!”

Here’s the proof ( in old English)

Whether ye know not, that wicked men shall not wield the kingdom of God? Do not ye err; neither lechers, neither men that serve maumets [neither men serving to idols], neither adulterers, neither lechers against kind, neither they that do lechery with men,10 neither thieves, neither avaricious men [neither covetous men, or niggards], neither men full of drunkenness, neither cursers, neither raveners, shall wield the kingdom of God.

11 And ye were sometime these things [And these things ye were sometime]; but ye be washed, but ye be hallowed, but ye be justified in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

And don’t forget that today

And just in case, that old English be confusing to ye, unto ye I present an approach of more modern lexicon.

 

9-10 Surely you know that the people who do wrong will not inherit God’s kingdom. Do not be fooled. Those who sin sexually, worship idols, take part in adultery, those who are male prostitutes, or men who have sexual relations with other men, those who steal, are greedy, get drunk, lie about others, or rob—these people will not inherit God’s kingdom.11In the past, some of you were like that, but you were washed clean. You were made holy, and you were made right with God in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 New Century Version (NCV)

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Bye Bye Old Self

For some reason this verse has circled around my head all week.  I think it has been driven by some current events, but  also around thoughts about my we accept behaviors in our selves as just the way I am.

22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds;24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.  Ephesians 4

The Christ bore our sins for us, and made us new, and he pleads with us to put off the old corrupted self and have a new attitude.  It’s this change that is so fundamental to following the Christ and can create so much freedom and power in your life.

What part of your old self are you holding on to as your identity, that would be better off with a replacement?

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Capturing Transformation

What is so amazing about transformation is that we really see it happen right in front of our eyes.  You have to look over time to see it.  This is why we like to look at old photographs, and why parents put notches on door frames – so you can measure, observe and be inspired by the transformation.

Well, we are in the digital age, so cast door frames to the wind.  Check out what this film maker has done with his son and daughter.  He has captured their growth from infancy to current day ( 9 and 12) a week at a time. It’s a fascinating few minutes as you see them pass through the stages of live and transform right before your eyes.

As a parent these video’s are just a tad depressing when you realize that those 12 years seemed to have passed in a mere 120 seconds!

But at the same time, it’s incredibly inspiring, and encouraging.  We work everyday for change and transformation, but sometimes we don’t have the correct perspective to see it.  Keep working to transform yourself each day.  I am sure that if you could see yourself a week at a time, you would be wowed, just like these videos.

18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18 English Standard Version (ESV)

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Don’t Resist

Unfortunately, I am pressed for time for morning, and I had a great idea that I wanted to share.  Oh well, if the Lord allows, I will post that later.  But these few simple words below are probably more powerful anyway.

 1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2 New International Version (NI

That reminds me of this quote I read on the Twitters last night:

“People don’t resist change. They resist being changed!” – Peter Senge

 

Don’t resist!