Poem: The Race; D.H. Groberg

Quit, give up, you’re beaten”
They shout at you and plead
“There’s just too much against you
This time you can’t succeed”.

And as I start to hang my head
In front of failures face
My downward fall is broken by
The memory of a race

And hope refills my weakened will
As I recall that scene
Or just the thought of that short race
Rejuvenates my being

Childrens race, young boys
Young men, how I remember well
Excitement sure, but also fear
It wasn’t hard to tell

They all lined up so full of hope
Each thought to win that race
Or tie for first, or if not that
At least take second place

The fathers watched from off the side
Each cheering for his son
And each boy hoped to show his dad
That he could be the one

The whistle blew and off they went
Young hearts and hopes afire
To win and be the hero there
Was each young boys desire

And one boy in particular
Whose dad was in the crowd
Was running near the lead and thought
“My dad will be so proud”

But as they speeded down the field
Across a shallow dip
The little boy who thought to win
Lost his step and slipped

Trying hard to catch himself
With hands flew out to brace
And amid the laughter of the crowd
He fell flat on his face

But as he fell his dad stood up
And showed his anxious face
Which to the boy so clearly said
“Get up and win the race”

He quickly rose, no damage done
Behind a bit that’s all
And ran with all his night and mind
To make up for the fall

So anxious to restore himself
To catch up and to win
His mind went faster than his legs
He slipped and fell again

He wised then that he had quit before
With only one disgrace
“I’m hopeless as a runner now
I shouldn’t try to race”

But in the laughing crowd he searched
And found his fathers face
That steady look which said again
“Get up and win the race”

So up he jumped to try again
Ten yards behind the last
If I’m going to gain those yards he though
I’ve got to move real fast

Exerting everything he had
He regained eight or ten
But trying hard to catch the lead
He slipped and fell again

Defeat, he lay there silently
A tear dropped from his eye
There’s no sense running anymore
Three strikes, I’m out, why try?

The will to rise had disappeared
All hope had fled away
So far behind so error prone
A loser all the way

“I’ve lost, so what”, he thought
I’ll live with my disgrace
But then he thought about his dad
Whom soon he’d have to face

“Get up” the echo sounded low
“Get up” and take your place
You were not meant for failure here
“Get up”, and win the race

With borrowed will “Get up” it said
“You haven’t lost at all”
For winning is no more than this
To rise each time you fall

So up he rose to run once more
And with a new commit
He resolved, that win or lose
At least he shouldn’t quit

So far behind the others now
The most he’d ever been
Still he’d give it all he had
And run as though to win

Three times he’d fallen, stumbling
Three times he’d rose again
Too far behind to hope to win
He still ran to the end

They cheered the winning runner
As he crossed the line first place
Head high and proud and happy
No falling, no disgrace

But when the fallen youngster
Crossed the line, last place
The crowd gave him the greater cheer
For finishing the race

And even though he came in last
With head bent low, unproud
You would have thought he’d won the race
To listen to the crowd

And to his dad he sadly said
“I didn’t do too well”
“To me you won”, his father said
“You rose each time you fell”

Can I Confess Something To You?

Something disturbing happened to me at a prayer meeting the other day. One of the participants was someone on the fringes of our congregation, on the edges of society, marginalized by those around him, ostracized by most, stigmatized by his past, and hindered by his lack of mental agility. This is someone who I usually avoid or ignore. As we all got up and were in the process of leaving I glanced at him, and on the inside I hear “He is one of the least of these.”

I found this disturbing because of Mt 25:45: 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'

Why is it so easy for us to say we love God, when we don’t respond with love to everyone around us? Becoming like Jesus is much harder when we want to love with our natural, or old nature’s love, instead of His love. It is easy to love those we have a natural affinity for. It is easy to love those who are like us. It is easy to love those who are easy to love. It is not as easy to love or respond in love to the unlovable, the marginalized, the wounded who wound others, the stigmatized, those on the outer fringes of society, the social misfits, the emotionally limited, the mentally deficient, the victimized, the misfits, the dregs of a contaminated society.

Who are the ‘least of these’ to you? It certainly will not be those you have a burden for or those your are drawn to. It will be those whose presence bothers you, those you don’t want to be bothered by, those you don’t want to listen to, those who are offensive to you or have a past that is offensive to you. Add to the list those who you marginalize, who you limit, who you feel better than, or more capable than, or more moral than, or more beneficial than.

When we limit the ‘least of these’ to be the prisoners and the poor, we do not go far enough, or deep enough to understand Jesus’ heart. Jesus has said whatever we do, or don’t do, to/for the least of these, we do or don’t do to/for Him.

GO FORTH BOLDLY

The wicked man flees though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion (Prov 29:1).

2010 is a year that will provide many opportunities for the people of God, but it will require boldness to step into what God has for each of us. Boldness is confidence in God, His Word, His promises, His power, His purpose.

We will be presented with many opportunities to show forth the power and purposes of God this year. In order to step out into these God ordained moments we will have to ask the question, speak the word, pray the prayer, and follow His promptings out of our comfort zone.

If we look through the lens of 2009 to view 2010 we will be hesitant to do anything.

If we look through the lens of the world news to view 2010 we will be filled with fear.

If we look through the lens of the economy of 2009 to view 2010 we will be filled with hesitation and doubt.

If we look through the lens of current circumstances to view 2010 we will draw back and look for safety.

If we look through the lens of the Word of God to view 2010 we will be filled with confidence and boldness in Him. We will recognize what He is doing about us and have an eagerness to join Him in what He is doing.

Let's go forth boldly into 2010 knowing that we have a mandate from God to manifest His Kingdom wherever we go. Let's exercise the boldness that comes from being clothed in His righteousness. Let's be the light shining in a dark place. Let's walk with the Lion of Judah proclaiming His kingdom, pursuing Him and His purposes, and positioning ourselves for His glory to be released.

Despised And Disdained

For He has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one; He has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help. (Ps 22:24)

Have you ever pretended to not notice someone in the midst of their plight ... their afflection? It may have been someone needing food or clothing or a ride or help in getting themselves straightened out or help for a loved one. They may have been lost, or fallen, or attacked or captured by addiction. It could have been someone overwhelmed by life or an urgent need. Me too.

God is not like that. He doesn't turn a blind eye or a deaf ear. He doesn't ignore or pretend to be unaware. He doesn't hid his face but listens for an invitation to help. As it is said in Exodus 3, God sees, hears, cares, and responds.

Man may desert us or ignore us, but not God. He is ever listening for the cry that welcomes Him and his activity in our lives.

Let It flow

O God You are awesome in all your ways
It is to You that my spirit does pray
All that is my life is found in You
May your Holy Fire fall on me anew

O Creator Spirit come capture my soul
Overflow my life and make me whole
Father, Son, and Spirit I want to know
Come River of God, let it flow, let it flow, let it flow

Glory And Belief

"How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God? (Jn 5:44 NASB)

Let’s take a moment and ask ourselves which we desire more, to receive glory from man or the glory that is from God. Do we do what we do to be seen by men and be recognized and well thought of by them, or do we do what we do because we love God? Do we do what we do because we want to impress others or give them a certain impression of our selves, or do we do what we do because of who we are? Do we only do what we do only when people can see us doing it, or do we also do what we do when they can‘t?

The Pharisees did nothing in hiddeness. Matthew writes, "Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them 'Rabbi.' (Mt 25:5-7 NIV).

Both desires have an effect on our ability to believe God and His Word. One group loves to be seen, recognized, and given honor by man resulting in the inability to believe God because they do not hold Him in honor. The other group loves to be hidden in and see God, resulting in the ability to believe God, trust in Him and His word.

Religion is about performance and being recognized for that performance resulting in rituals. Relationship on the other hand is about knowing and being known, resulting in being and doing. Being is enjoying being His and in relationship with Him and hidden in Him resulting in an overflow of His life through us enabling our doing of the good works which God prepared beforehand for us to walk in (Ep 2:10).

One brings glory to man, the other brings glory to God. One brings the inability to believe, the other increases the ability to believe. One brings death, the other brings Life.

Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved praise from men more than praise from God. (Jn 12:42-43 NIV)

Jesus’ Peace

All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (Jn 14:25-27)

I think I can safely say that most of us would like to have peace, we would like to have great peace, all the time. Jesus has said that He has given us this peace, so how do we appropriate it into our lives?

First of all , through the Holy Spirit. If we belong to God, the Holy Spirit is within us, and Romans 14:27 says the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” This is a relationship that must be developed through time spend with God, through the fellowship of the Holy Spirit (2 Cor:13:14).

Also as we do this the fruit of the Holy Spirit will begin to develop and mature in our lives and “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Gal 5:22-23)


Secondly, through applying ourselves to the Word of God, and applying the Word of God to ourselves. Psalm 119:165 says “Great peace have they who love Your law; nothing shall offend them or make them stumble.” This is not just reading the Word of God, but also letting it speak into our lives and change us and our behavior, being obedient to it, and speaking it over our lives and circumstances.

Thirdly through prayer. Philippians 4:4-7 says “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Fourthly, this is followed very quickly with what we choose to think about. Paul suggests in Philippians 4:8-9 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

And let’s not forget Isaiah 26:3 AMP “You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You.

Fifthly, it takes faith. Hebrews 11:65 says “without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

If we think our faith is too small, the doing of these things will bring about increased faith, and it only takes faith the size of a mustard seed to get a mountain into the sea or to do the impossible. Jesus said in Matthew 17:20 “if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.] (Jn 14:27 AMP)