Forgiveness

This morning I read in David Seeking A Heart Like His by Beth Moore:

"Had those who crucified Jesus asked for forgiveness? No. had they admitted their wrong? No. Then why did Christ ask God to forgive them? I believe His purpose was not for His persecutors to be let off the hook but for Christ to disavow bitterness. he chose to continue His painful destiny with the love of the Father in Him. He made no room for unforgiveness".

I am asking God to show me if there is any unforgiveness in my heart. If so, I know He will help me deal with it and move on to peace in Him.

Turn Your Eyes

I just completed my morning exercise. Only because I have the day off. I do not usually exercise in the morning.

I left the house with a plan.

1. I would walk the first block to warm up.

2. I would run from the first break in the median to the second break in the median.

3. I would walk from the second break in the median to the third break.

4. I would continue to alternate running and walking until I arrived home.

5, My goal: to move at 4 mph.

I was doing well. Cardio trainer on my cellphone was keeping me up to date on my progress. I was warmed up. My breathing had gotten under control. My hamstring was not hurting. My left foot had not gone to sleep. I was marveling at the wonder of God's world. I was moving at 4.1 mph. I was pretty pleased with myself.

My cellphone alerted me to a text message and I slowed down to a walk. I read my message. I responded. I hit the wrong button and my workout program paused. I tapped my phone again and heard:

WORKOUT COMPLETE!!!!!!!!!!!

Nooooooooooooo my workout was not complete. I still had at least 1 mile to go. I had not burned all the calories I wanted to burn. I had not. . . . . . . .

My warm muscles WERE getting cool. I started to run. My excitement WAS gone. I slowed down. My hamstring WAS hurting. I started to walk. My goal. Well, my goal of having a pace of at least 4 mph WAS not achieved.

As I WALKED home I reflected on what had gone wrong. I RESPONDED to a distraction that did not need a response. And I asked myself,

"How often do I TURN MY EYES away from the race God has set before me because of a distraction"?

These lyrics came to my mind:

Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the Light of his Glory and Grace

Did I commit a sin by answering my text message? NO!! But it did give me a LIFE LESSON for my day.

1 Corinthians 9:24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

I pray as I run through this day following God wherever HE is leading me, that I will run to get the prize. The prize of keeping my eyes on Him so that I will bring glory to His name.