DEAR READERS,
YESTERDAY, MY DAUGHTER AND HER FRIENDS WERE HAVING A SWIMMING COMPETITION, AND SHE WAS RELATING TO ME ABOUT A SWIMMING RELAY.
SHE SAID, SHE WAS SO DISAPPOINTED AT FIRSt, AS THEY WERE LOSING THE EVENT,ALMOST THE LAST TEAM. HOWEVER,AS THE LAST SWIMMER, SHE MANAGES TO OVERCOME THE REST AND FINISHED FIRST.
UNFORTUNATELY, SHE SAID, HER TEAM WERE DISQUALIFIED AS THE WINNER, BECAUSE ONE TEACHER CLAIMED THAT SHE JUMPED AHEAD , BEFORE THE THIRD SWIMMER TOUCHES THE WALL. SHE PROTESTED, BUT WHEN THE PRINCIPAL TOLD HER TO CALM DOWN AND TO TAKE HER LOST GRACIOUSLY, SHE SUBMITTED.
I WAS RATHER SURPRISED AT HER RESPONSE, AND I ENCOURAGED HER, AND TOLD HER THAT SHE ALREADY DID HER BEST, AND PERHAPS DID EAGERLY JUMPED INTO THE POOL IN ADVANCE, BY A MERE HAND TOUCH DOWN. BUT, I AM MOST IMPRESSED IS THAT SHE TOOK IT GRACIOUSLY.
WINNING AND LOOSING IN CERTAIN COMPETITION IS IMPORTANT, BUT THE ATTITUDE OF BEING A GRACIOUS WINNER OR LOOSER IS MORE IMPORTANT.BY SUBMITTING TO HER PRINCIPAL IS COMMENDABLE.
THESE SECULAR RACES ARE IMPORTANT, BUT THERE IS THE "SPIRITUAL RACE" WHICH IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THESE.
PAUL IN HIS WRITING TO TIMOTHY EXHORTED HIM TO BE DILIGENT TO PRESENT HIMSELF APPROVED TO GOD, A WORKER WHO DOES NOT NEED TO BE ASHAMED, RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH. BUT SHUN PROFANE AND IDLE BABBLINGS, FOR THEY WILL INCREASE TO MORE UNGODLINESS. AND THEIR MESSAGE WILL SPREAD LIKE CANCER. 2 TIM. 2:15-17a.
DO NOT LAY UP FOR YOURSELVES, TREASURES O EARTH WHERE , WHERE MOTH AND RUST DESTROY AND WHERE THIEVES BREAK IN AND STEAL. BUT LAY UP FOR YOURSELVES TREAURES IN HEAVEN, WHERE NEITHER MOTH NOR RUST DESTROYS AND WHERE THIEVES DO NOT BREAK IN AND STEAL. FOR WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS, THERE YOUR HEART WILL BE ALSO. MATT. 6:19-21
FOR WHAT PROFIT IS IT TO A MAN IF HE GAINS THE WHOLE WORLD, AND LOSES HIS OWN SOUL? OR WHAT WILL A MAN GIVE IN EXCHANGE FOR HIS SOUL?
MATT. 16:26
AND FINALLY, WHEN THE RACE IS ENDED....... MAY YOU BE ABLE TO PROCLAIM
I HAVE FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT, I HAVE FINISHED THE RACE, I HAVE KEPT THE FAITH. 2 TIM. 4: 7
MAY GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU IN THE READING AND MEDITATION OF HIS WORDS.
