"PRESSING TOWARD THE GOAL"

By: Donna Selma Lind

"But one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,  I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13-14

We can't run a race looking backwards! Though this is just what we do when we live our life in the past!

Some years ago I went to visit a friend in the hospital. It was raining cats and dogs out and I was in a big hurry to get inside. I was running toward the entrance where there was a wall of glass doors and windows. Someone called my name from the parking lot and I turned behind me to see who it was, but I forgot to stop running forward! 

I ran smack into the glass doors and knocked myself out! I woke up with a circle of very concerned people surrounding me and insisting they drag me into the ER to be examined. Although I had a goose egg on the side of my head the only real bruising was to my ego!

We can't go forward while looking backwards at the same time. 

A runner can't run the race always looking over his shoulder to see who's behind him. If he does he will trip and fall flat on his face like I did. The winning runner keeps his eyes fixed on the finish line in front of him and the prize that's waiting ahead!

Some people seem to life their life in the past, always looking backwards. They live a life filled with regrets and focus on past failures. They also look at others the same way, criticizing and complaining about things that happened a long time ago, pointing out all your mistakes and problems. 

Is that you or someone you know?

Has anyone ever been there, done that? How did that work for you?

It doesn't work. 

We don't get anywhere. We end up living in limbo. Living on yesterdays dreams. No hope for tomorrow. Stuck in the past, holding on to yesterday afraid to let go.

We have to choose. Forward or Backward. Future or Past. Life or Death.

Paul was talking to us in this verse to let us know he hadn't yet achieved his heavenly goal, but he made up his mind that he was going forward and not turning back to the past.

Paul could have easily looked at his past mistakes and sins and wallowed around in yesterdays mud-hole. No pity party for Paul! He didn't blame others or boo-hoo about all the bad things that happened to him in the past. No, instead he made a choice to receive God's loving Grace and the call on his life. He got up, dusted himself off and got back in the race and pressed on toward the goal!

What or who in your life has you stuck holding onto the past?

What or who in your life is keeping you from running the race?

What are your dreams and goals for the future?

Are you pressing toward the goal to win the heavenly prize of Christ Jesus?

Are you helping others run the race or are you holding them back because you are afraid to go forward?

Do you feel sorry for yourself and try to blame others for why you are the way you are? 

Stop looking back! Start looking forward! God has amazing plans for your future!

"I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

We are all a work in progress. We can take the things from our past and learn from them in order to help others. Nothing is wasted with God! But if we stay living in the past we will miss out on our future.

Isn't it time to get back in the race?

"All things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day-and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing." 2 Timothy 4:7-8

Run the race. Press toward the goal. 

Finish strong! 

The Lord is waiting for you at the finish line!

 "Well done, thy good and faithful servant!" Matthew 25:23

HALLELUJAH! PRAISE THE LORD AND SHARE THE GOOD NEWS!

Donna Selma Lind

"HOLD FAST!"

By: Donna Selma Lind

"Let us hold fast the confession of our faith without wavering;( for he is faithful that promised.)" Hebrews 10:23 

"HOLD FAST" A term we all have heard,quoted and some have even tattooed on their knuckles, but how many of us really understand the true Bible meaning of "HOLD FAST"? 

"HOLD FAST" has different meanings for different people and situations.

The Nautical term "HOLD FAST"on board a ship reminds the sailor when the ship is aloft in bad weather,to HOLD onto the lines (rope) FAST (tight) so the sailor's won't get tossed off the ship.

The Urban Dictionary defines "HOLD FAST" as: To bear down, grit it out, stay the course.

Lets break it down in the Webster Dictionary:
"HOLD" = To have or maintain in my grasp. To have possession or ownership. To stand firm in position.
"FAST" = Firmly Fixed. Securely attached. Rooted. Firmly Loyal. In a rapid manner.

Strong's Concordance in the Greek explains it as this :Take heed unto, give and pay close attention, mark,remain,stay, stop.

When the storms of life are raging around us and the waves are crashing against us;  Do you "HOLD FAST?" Do you HOLD FAST to your confession of faith as a Christian or do you go down with the ship?

Are you owning your position of faith? Are you loyal and fixed in your faith in God enough to ride out the storms? Without wavering? 
Wavering means doubting, not believing God is with you. 

" But let him ask in faith, without doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind." James 1:6

Years ago I was in a small fishing boat in the middle of a lake when a big storm came up out of nowhere. The rain was pouring into the boat, the waves were crashing against and spilling over the top of the boat. The lightning bolts darted the sky all around us and every time the thunder boomed I jumped a foot off my seat.
We were miles from the shoreline and the boat was filling up with water as fast as I was scooping it up and tossing it overboard with the old minnow bucket. Fear came into the boat and it was easy to look around and give up. The temperature had plummeted and we were freezing cold, teeth chattering, soaked through to the bone.
How could we ever survive this storm? I couldn't see much past the boat because the rain was so torrential and fog had set in. There was no shore, no land in sight. No way out.

I began to pray, "Jesus help us. We need you. I know you are in this boat with me. You have not abandoned me. I will HOLD FAST! My hope and my faith is in you Lord!" 

CRASH! THUD! Suddenly we hit something. The boat caught onto a little island in the middle of the big lake! When I say little, I mean little! It had one tree just big enough for the three of us to huddle under to protect us from the storm. 
We turned the row boat over dumped out our gear and sat on top of the boat under the tree until the storm passed.

In the middle of a big lake, in the midst of a ferocious storm, in a sinking boat with no way out, God had provided an Island of Refuge!

"For thou has been..strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm." Isaiah 25:4

What kind of storm is swirling around your boat? 
HOLD FAST!

When the waves are crashing all around your boat,
HOLD FAST!

When there is no way out,
HOLD FAST!

When you don't think you can survive,
HOLD FAST!

When your boat is sinking in the middle of the storm, HOLD FAST!

Jesus is your Island of Faith and Hope!

HOLD FAST TO YOUR FAITH! HOLD FAST YOUR HOPE! HOLD FAST TO JESUS!

Hallelujah! Praise the Lord and Share the Good News! 

Donna Selma Lind 

"DON'T GIVE UP!"

By: Donna Selma Lind

"JOSHUA AND MAMA SHIRLEY"

"JOSHUA"

"Doesn't look good. I don't think the little calf is going to make it." my husband reported solemnly as he came in from the barn.

 "He isn't moving, he is just laying in the hay. He's not standing up and he still isn't taking milk from his mama. I've given him two bottles of Colostrum, that's all I can do, he probably won't make it through the night."

I jumped to my feet. "What?" I cried across the room. "You're giving up on him? No way is he going to die! We are not giving up on our little calf! I am going out to the barn to pray for him!"

 I knew it was cold outside so I threw on my down parka, warm boots, hat and gloves and headed out.

I trudged through the thin blanket of snow and the frozen leaves and made my way to the barn. The sun was setting and it was reflecting a pink glow upon the snow that made it look like cotton candy was spread across the white hilly landscape.

"Hi Mama Shirley. How are you and your new little baby doing tonight?" I patted Shirley on her head and handed her some treats. She bellowed loudly and turned her head in the direction of the newborn calf lying lifeless in the hay.

I started praying loud enough that the Llamas, sheep,chickens and other cows all gathered around the fence in the pasture behind me to see what was going on.

"Get up little cow in the name of Jesus rise up! You shall not die, but you shall live and we will declare the works of the Lord! Rise up, rise up!  No sickness or disease in the name of Jesus! I speak life to you little one. I name you Joshua. You will grow up be a mighty little bull! Rest now Joshua, because tomorrow morning you are going to be running all around and kicking up your heels, full of life!"  

Shirley looked at me with her big brown eyes and let out a big M-o-o-o-o as if to say Thank you and Amen.

The other animals were still stretching their necks over the fence b-a-a-ing, m-o-o-ing, snorting and clucking with curiosity as to why I was out preaching in the barn again at this time of night!

"Don't worry Mama Shirley, the Lord has healed your baby and tomorrow he will be dancing all around in the barn."

You may think I'm crazy praying for a cow, but if the Lord cares about the sparrow, I believe he cares about our cow!

I came back in the house. My husband asked, "Did he move, did he get up?" 

"No" I said "He didn't move. But he will! Don't give up because the Lord has touched him. He is going to live!Tomorrow morning when you open up the barn door he will be running all around full of life kicking his heels up! Oh, and by the way, I named him Joshua!"

The next morning my husband came back in the house shaking his head. "Praise the Lord! You won't believe this but that little calf is running all around the barn like a ninny snorting and kicking his heels up!

I named him Joshua because in Hebrew Joshua means

"Jehovah is generous. Jehovah saves." 

Have you ever felt like giving up? Are you ready to give up now? Is there something going on that seems impossible to overcome? Does the situation look lifeless and dead to you? Does it feel like there is no way to restore what was lost? Do you think there is no way for you to survive this?

Are you feeling defeated?  

DON'T GIVE UP! Did you hear me? DON'T GIVE UP!

Rest in the Lord and know that,

JEHOVAH IS GENEROUS! JEHOVAH SAVES!  

Yes, it may look like your life, your marriage, your relationship, your children, your career, ministry and your dreams are lifeless and lying dead in the hay. DON'T GIVE UP! JEHOVAH IS GENEROUS! JEHOVAH SAVES! Jehovah is only a prayer away!

"...always pray and don't give up..." Luke 18:1

What have you given up on, or what are you ready to give up on?

The moment you're ready to quit is usually the moment right before a miracle happens. DON'T GIVE UP!

Ask God right now to be generous and to save your dream, your children, your marriage, your relationship, whatever you need but most importantly to save you and your relationship with him! 

"But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded." 2 Chronicles 15:7

NOW, RISE UP IN THE NAME OF JESUS! PRAISE THE LORD, RUN AROUND SNORT AND KICK UP YOUR HEELS LIKE A NINNY! JEHOVAH IS GENEROUS! JEHOVAH SAVES!

Hallelujah! 

Praise the Lord and Share the Good News!

Donna Selma Lind