4. My success in running depends on my focus.
...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart.” Heb 12: 2-3
...let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus Hebrews 12: 1-2
God calls us to own our lives...to hug them to our breasts and to live them with all our hearts! No place do we see this truth more clearly than in the letter to the Hebrews, chapter 12.
Using the imagery of running, God says that now it's...
...our turn to run our lap in the race of faith!
Read MoreWe are so tied to the here and now, aren't we? But at the heart of the life of faith is belief in the unseen God and trust in His promises that this world is not all there is. People of faith are pilgrims, aliens.
All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth...Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 11:13,16
Read MoreJohn Eldridge in his book The Sacred Romance says that deep inside of us is a longing for intimacy and adventure. Here in Hebrews 11, we definitely see both! The intimacy is with a God who spoke us into existence and now can be trusted to care for us every step of the way (we will see this again in Heb 12). And the adventure...oh my! We are part of something bigger than ourselves...and that's exciting! We are in the "race of faith" with a long line of "runners"...some famous, like Abraham and Moses; some infamous and unlikely, like Rahab and Samson; and some unknown, like those who were sawn in two (among other horrors)...people "of whom the world is not worthy," the writer to the Hebrews says (Hebrews 11:38).
Read MoreI have told you all this so that you may have peace IN ME.
Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows.
But take heart, because I have overcome the world. John 16:33 NLT
God wants us to live in peace, no matter what is going on around us. But during this unsettling time, I have observed so many children of God walking through their days fighting their own lives. As a result, I think many have no peace in their souls.
In contrast, those who have come to a measure of acceptance despite the confusion do have peace because they have embraced Him who is their Peace. And they have embraced their real “today” life.
Read More"God never gives us more than we can bear!" For some reason, I've been hearing that a lot lately, have you?
I don't know about you, but in my experience, it has been the opposite! God regularly gives me more than I can bear...and I'll tell you what I think is the reason.
As I now like to say, "I'm a tough nut to crack." I'm a pretty strong personality! So for a lot of my Christian life, I've believed that it's my strength and know-how and abilities and wisdom, coupled with the blessing and help from Above, that will get the job done...successfully...even in the spiritual realm. I've eaten over and over again from the "Tree of knowledge of Good & Evil" thinking that was God's will and way!
But now I know differently. His way is His strength in my weakness! Not His help in my weakness! HIM doing it and being it!
Read MoreEveryone suffers.
You may be suffering right now, or you have recently suffered, or you may soon suffer. But for a child of God, suffering is NEVER punishment!
Jesus was punished for us!
Read MoreThis is scary. This is hard. But I have Jesus!
I was on my way to the hospital to pick up a CD and written report on my CT scan done several days ago. Something suspicious had showed up in a previous test. I wanted to find out, but I didn't want to know.
Walking from the parking lot, I sensed the Holy Spirit give me my "Jesus Prayer."
Read MoreSurely goodness and steadfast love shall follow me all the days of my life... Psalm 23:8
PAIN!
Bloody! Cutting! Unrelenting! and Soul-numbing...or is it?
For me, pain has a way of sifting through the non-essentials of life!
And I find my soul awakened abruptly from its numbing slumber to longing, loss, grief, confusion, perspective...
...but most importantly, the presence of GOD.
Read MoreYesterday was amazing!
Who knew that a trip to Dunkin’ Donuts would feed more than my body. It would feed my soul!
We were on our way to do a “Backyard DD Brunch” with our son and family. So of course we pulled into the drive thru of my favorite coffee place, Dunkin Donuts in Kettering.
The line circled around the entire building and then some, but not to worry. Those people know what they are doing — efficient service, good food, yummy donuts and muffins, and great coffee … and speedy.
So prepared with my drive through order, I spoke it loud and clear:
I posted this back in March. I need this again. Do you? Read these Scriptures aloud. Let them wash over your soul. Listen to the song … the words … the imagery … the truth.
And be still and know HE is GOD, and HE is what we need in the midst of the upheaval and discord and confusion and ungodly attitudes all around us. And may the mind of Christ have sway in us His sons and daughters! Amen….
…When in the deepest of troubles...when there is no consolation or comfort...go to the sacred place where you and the Lord live together and nothing can touch...the place of union with our God through Jesus Christ by faith (Colossians 2:9-10 ESV)...and rest in Him who rests in you (John 17:20-23 ESV)!
Hide me in the shadow of your wings. Psalm 17:8b
Read MoreIn the midst of this pandemic … and all the controversy it has spawned. Yes, among Christians too. Now more than ever, we need HIM!!!!!!
… my indwelling Lord Jesus Christ is my All in All! He is the Father's Ultimate Gift to me...no-thing else, no-thing more!
Jesus + Nothing = Everything
Read MoreFor the last six months or so, I have been leading a small group of maturing sisters in the Lord. We call ourselves “Branches,” from the metaphor Jesus uses of Himself and His people in the gospel of John, chapter 15 — “I am the Vine; you are the branches.”
Our unifying theme is “living from our union with Christ.” We all long to understand and experience the freedom and fullness of our indwelling Lord Jesus through His Holy Spirit living in us and through us as us. And so we study and share and pray with and for each other.
In the course of our meetings and discussions, I was moved to write the following email. Maybe you would like to “eavesdrop” and read our mail. Feel free to jump in and respond. We can learn from each other.
Also be sure to check out our reading list and related blogs.
Read MoreSunrises are always serendipities -- not that we don't expect them and not that they don't always come, but we never know what we will get. Each one is different, and each one is a gift from the hand of our Creator! Maybe the gift part is more true than we realize, because each sunrise signals a new day. And really, none of us is promised that day ahead of time...pure grace when it comes!
Read MoreI'm at my "Happy Place," the Jersey Shore. It took the whole summer to get here this year, but it was so worth the wait.
I am never disappointed at the beach. I see and hear and feel and smell and even taste God here in a unique way. The vastness of the ocean and the littleness of me on the shore help to correct my perspective about God and my life. And the sunrise over the ocean speaks with new messages every day.
These mornings here at sunrise in Belmar, I have been arrested by an awesome observation.
Read MoreSince my mom moved to the beach in New Jersey many years ago, I've been able to spend the early morning hours on the beach.
Now I am basically an intuitive, rather than sensory person (a la Myers-Briggs). But I've found over the years that my senses come alive at the beach.
Read MoreFor several years before my mom went to Jesus, I spent lots of precious time with her on the coast in New Jersey. One of the highlights had always been my early morning walks along the beach at sunrise.
Since the summer is coming to an end, school is gearing up with all its uncertainties, and we are staying put in Ohio, I’m returning to this blog that I wrote after a sweet summer with my mom at my sister's house in Belmar.
Maybe you too need some peaceful reflection today. Why not join me as I "go down the shore" and enjoy the glory of our great Creator in pictures (my own), Scriptures and song.
Blessings, my friend.
Read MoreWe are remaining in OHIO this summer…canceling our upcoming week on Long Beach Island at the Jersey Shore because of a 14 day mandated quarantine. So I’m revisiting my many ocean sunrise posts.
Join me as I reminisce and experience the immensity and beauty of our ever fresh and new God of Creation:
Read MoreYears ago, when our family was gong through a cancer health crisis, I read a book on alternative cancer therapies. It was a good book, but the best and most memorable part of the book to me was the introduction by Dr Patch Adams. You may remember the movie about this doc played by Robin Williams.
In the intro, the real Patch Adams said something I will never forget. He said, “Live while you’re alive.” He said probably for most of us it takes a life-threatening crisis like a cancer diagnosis to realize the preciousness as well as the brevity of life. It is then that people really begin to grab hold of each day as the gift it is.
Read MoreI was searching around in my blog the other day, looking for this post. Though I wrote it five years ago, I think it applies not only for that time, but also for today . . . and actually every today of my life. It preaches to me (the author) to never lose sight of the present reality of my God in my very real today.
If I just lost you with that last statement, why not keep on reading.
This is where I chose to live. How about you?
Read MoreJanet Renner Loyd has been a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ most of her life. Her formal education includes a degree in education from the University of Arizona and also a degree in Bible & Theology from Moody Bible Institute. For more than thirty years, she has been involved in teaching and leading women’s Bible studies, retreats, and meetings…most notably Precept upon Precept and various studies that she has personally developed. Professionally, Jan recently retired from teaching language and writing to GED and adult ESOL students.
About her life, Jan says, “The most important thing about me is my relationship with my Father God through my Lord Jesus Christ. I am forever grateful to Him for His love, mercy, and grace to me and my family and friends...and the world.”
Jan has been happily married to John Loyd for more than forty years. They have two adult, married children and five lively young grandsons.
