Are you caught up in the Olympics? I am! What a blessing to have the ability to record events even when I’m not at home to watch. Some things about new technology are pretty fantastic (as long as you still have young people around to help when you have questions – thanks kids). Anyway, back to the topic at hand. OLYMPICS!!!! I am not an athlete by any stretch of the imagination. The closest I ever got was twirling a baton (which I loved). But, every athlete needs someone at home cheering them on and encouraging them. That’s where I come in. I so much appreciate not only the gifts and talents of these incredible athletes but the strict training and commitments involved in making their dreams come true. [Just a side note of cheering for my son Kyle who has become quite an athlete himself in triathlons and iron man competitions – way to go! You deserve a gold medal in my book.]

1 Corinthians 9:25 “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.”

While Olympics and any kind of competition is fun, we are all in another kind of race. It’s not a competition between each other but together, we can all win the ultimate price. How about that? We don’t even have to be athletes in the Olympic sense! We can still win!!!!

Philippians 3:14 “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

Check this out:

• Our entrance fee has been paid and there is no need for a sponsor. JESUS PAID IT ALL ON THE CROSS
• We have a coach that NEVER leaves us and always guides us into truth. THE HOLY SPIRIT LIVING IN US
• And after our race is finished and we go home, THE FATHER IS WAITING FOR US WITH LOVING ARMS

And…we have a new home. You can read all the details in Revelation 21. Here is our “gold” at the end of our race:

Revelation 21:21 “The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass.”

If you have not yet selected a team for the race of live, I urge you to do it now. We never know how many more events we have before the race for us ends.

Romans 10:9 “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead you will be saved.”

Hallelujah!  Our “GOLD” is waiting for us. Let’s run the race with perseverance and stay on track, not looking to the left or right. The road is narrow but it is straight and we can’t get lost if we keep our eye on the prize.

Go Team USA! GO TEAM GOD!!!!