winning takes on something new

Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.

I like to win. Just like a friend of mine who was sharing with a group I was in, there was a time in my life when I thought winning a game was really important. I am still competitive, but winning takes on something new when God is in the mix.

If we are just trying to get ahead, to win a game or to be successful through the old definitions of success, we will do whatever it takes to get ahead. That might mean hurting people, cheating or just about anything. None of that is true when God gives us the definitions. That is not true when we treasure what God says more than what men say.

Do we really care what God thinks? Do we want what God wants? Do we realize that what will last is what comes from and is all about God?

Winning takes on something new as we allow God to take the central place in our lives.

2 Timothy 2:5 (NLT)

And athletes cannot win the prize unless they follow the rules.

That verse shouts at people who love to win. There are people we know that will quit if they are sure they can’t win. It is not so about the people who care about God. We will be like the athlete who puts his eye and heart on the finish line. Are we willing to train, to work hard so that we can win or so we can win people to Jesus?

Luke 21:19 (NLT)

By standing firm, you will win your souls.

We are winners when God is our guide and when God sets the finish line. I pray that we will allow God to make winning take on something new in our lives.

Pray for these things:

Pray for Dr. Oliver Ali, an eye DR in our community, as he is in critical condition in a Roanoke hospital suffering from meningitis. Virginia Wood will be having surgery today. Pray for her healing and strength (write Virginia at PO Box 365 Fieldale, VA 24089). April Haynes is battling kidney stones and will be seeing a specialist later this week. Pray that she will get help and healing (write April and Joe at 336 Kenmore Ave., Martinsville, VA 24112). Sharon Joyce asks us to pray for her brother Jimmy who is having lots of pain and seeking medical help. Lisa Wood asks us to pray for her friend Wendy Gauldin who has a mass on her thyroid. Continue to pray for Harry Rice as he deals with the affects of a stroke, for Frances Johnson as she battles several health concerns and depression. Last, please pray for Laura Branch from our church.

Catalyst ticket arrived

My ticket to the Catalyst Conference, in Atlanta Oct 8-10, just arrived. I'm excited!

Have you heard of EDITH BURNS?

Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas . She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favorite patient was Edith Burns. One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of Edith Burns. When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her. Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved. Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure. Edith began by saying,"My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Beverly said, "Why yes I do." Edith said, "Well, what do you ...

wash feet, sharing hope

John 13:4-5,14 NLT So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him… 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. Jesus set the example we follow. He served. He valued and gave value to others. That is why we choose to serve. For 18 years our church has shared an outreach called back2school, and for 16 of those years we have chosen to give students brand new shoes and socks as well as washing their feet. It is one of the most important parts of this event. Washing feet is a humbling experience where both the give and the receiver learn how to share some moments that might change their lives. Jesus said we should do this. See the verse above. Follow His example, do what He did, and give far more than you will ever know....

Michael Harrison's e-devotion

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