Running

The Son Gives Faith On Cloudy Days

Posted on by Carl / 2 Comments

I went out Saturday to start my long runs for a Marathon in January. It was a cloudy, cool day with no hope of sunshine. I hate to run on days like that and this day was no exception to that rule. My mind is just not positive on cloudy, dark, misty days. I wanted to run 14 miles, because I only have 10 weeks to complete my training.

I did good on my first 3 ½ mile loop through the park and downtown. I did the second loop and came back to the car for a drink and candy to restore sugar levels. I have just started running in a hilly terrain, so add that to the “I hate to run on days like this” theme. As I sat there, I started the van and headed home. I had all I could take for this day! As I pulled out, I knew I had to get back out and run more. I knew if I left, I was done for this marathon. My key to completing a marathon is making the long runs and dreaming of finishing during the run. I pulled back in and took one more lap to get my mind right. I didn’t make 14, but I didn’t quit at 7 either.

That is the way you have to use your faith. Faith is the source you go too, when you can’t see the answer.

“ NOW faith is being sure of what you HOPE for, and certain of what you CAN NOT SEE”.

Hebrew 11:1

” For we live by faith, not by sight”.

2 Corinthians 5:7

When you start to give up on anything, your faith is the source of staying power. In the darkest times of your life, God has given us faith by the Spirit. God has given you this most powerful source of ENERGY. In Galatians 5, you see faith is a fruit of the Spirit given to each one of us. You don’t have to build faith, just use God’s gift given by his Spirit. A gift can’t be earned. If you earn something that is a wage. God gave us faith by his grace. God is not looking for you to be the most wonderful Christian in the world. He makes us wonderful Christians by the gifts of the Spirit. If you could live a sinless life, then Christ came in vain. We live in and by his power.

You are never alone. If today is a cloudy day in life with no hope of sunshine, use the gift of faith to complete your run today and everyday.

MIND CHANGE: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me! My faith solves problems where I can’t see an answer. Faith is the power used to deal with unseen answers and resolutions. Do you want to please God – use the faith he gave you. How do I get faith: I confess with my mouth that I have faith and believe in my heart that God gave it to me. You get it by the confession of your mouth and what you believe in your heart. The same way you got salvation.

Running

Taking the Mystery Out of Repentance

Posted on by Carl / 2 Comments

As you read my post, I going to use the phrase “Mind Change”.  When I use this phrase, I am really asking you to “repent”.  You see the church tends to use the word “repent” to mean asking God to forgive you of a sin. That is a tradition that people have created. God has already forgiven all sin past, present and future. God put all our sin on his Son Jesus. That is what made Jesus the Savior. He was the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world and all our sin was placed upon him.  When you believe that Jesus was who He said He was and did what He said He did, you receive that same forgiveness of past, present and future sin.

Jesus preached repentance to the Jews while he was on the earth. He was really saying the “Savior” is here and all your sacrifice for sin and sin offerings are completed by my sacrifice. “Repent” – change your mind to receive God’s new plan ME!

So, my point is that you need to change your mind to the Words of the New Testament (also known as the New Contract). Jesus/Emanuel – God is with us! The curtain in the Temple was torn apart and God by his Spirit moved into his new temple – You and I.

Sin is still as deadly as ever, but the punishment for sin was placed on Jesus for those that receive His love. We choose not to sin because we love God. Love is the new force behind yours works for God. We don’t keep the law, but we keep the new Law. Love the Lord your God and your neighbor as you love yourself.

I work on my “Mind Change” every day. I have a carnal mind (a mind focused on what my human sin nature wants), but I want it to be spiritual.

Galatians 5:16 “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh”

Romans 8:6  “The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace”.

Mind Change: The New Contract is a Love thing. Love never fails! You want to get rid of the sin that hurts you every day? Stop committing that sin because you love God and start using the fruit of the Spirit – control of self (Galatians 5:22)!