Category: Daily Post

PROGRAMMING NOTE: My schedule is still really crazy and I have been having a hard time getting the writing time. I do apologize for the inconsistency!

Did you see the end of the Tour de France yesterday? The tour leader went down in a crazy crash just meters from the finish of a very long stage. The crash evidently did a number on his collarbone and he is withdrawing from the tour.

The crash was just at the bottom of a very steep incline that lead to the finish. Literally it was probably 600 meters from the finish. The part I found interesting was that immediately after the crash his teammates stopped and checked on him and then this:

Those two guys rode the remainder of the course giving their leader a push from the back so that he could finish. There’s a big lesson there, which I think you can see!

Find those around you today who need a push up the hill.

2 Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2 (NASB)

Wow!  What a game last night!   

The thing I liked most about the victory besides the lopsided score was the unity that could be felt all across the country.  Twitter, Facebook, commercials, newscasts, everyone was pulling for the women and the USA!

United!

That’s a powerful thing!   Just imagine what could happen if this type of unity was experienced in other phases of life!

But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ. For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. (‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭13-14‬ NLT)

It’s the weekend we celebrate our country’s Independence!   And with all the flag flap that has been going on over the last few weeks, we should take a look at some of the original flags that were flown. This ‘Liberty’ or Moultrie flag was one of the first American flags flown in the South and is the basis for South Carolina’s current flag.    It also seems to echo the words inscribed on the Liberty bell

proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof – Leviticus 25:10

It seems to me that this gets us back to something that is worth standing up and fighting for.

Oh, and by the way, here is something else to consider this weekend. Did you know that back in the day, when the Liberty we enjoy today was only an idea and the colonies were fighting to become a new country,  one British governor wrote home to the King saying, “If you ask an American who is his master, he’ll tell you he has none. And he has no governor but Jesus Christ.”

Consider that as you celebrate our independence this weekend.  What a wonderful gift that was delivered to all of us!

Today after a few weeks of vacation I get to start over.  I thought this thought from Andy Stanley was a good one to share today.  It applies well for me today, but also has strong application for many phases of life! 
  
By the way, this come from his talks about starting over that are worth the listen.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭28‬ NIV)

I mentioned last week that I had several half thoughts that I just could not make time to get down into some coherent complete thought.   Here’s one of those!!
Yesterday I was glancing through my phone for a picture and rediscovered this great thought:  
Run the mile you are in!  That is great running advice and it is great advice for life!  I suppose it’s the runners version of the old adage bloom where you are planted.   It both encourages us to be present and to pay attention to the part of the race we are in!  

Last night I came across two different verses that seemed to emphasize this same concept.  First is from the Christ as he encourages his audience;

Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. (‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭34‬ KJV)

The second is from the letter to the Ephesians:

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. (‭Ephesians‬ ‭5‬:‭15-16‬ NIV)

My friend Sam told me this winter he loved that I frequently said ‘it is what it is’ when discussing situations and life stuff that was beyond our control.  I think it to be a wise outlook.  Besides what can you do about it , but to be wise, make the most of it and run the mile you are in.