So I’ve gotten into the habit now (see blog #1) of running for 2 miles on Monday, Wednesday and Friday’s. It takes me 28 minutes to do so then I cool off for about ¼ mile. Clyde (beloved mutt) is my companion and a good one at that, with a rare exception. This isn’t “exercise” as I have a negative connotation with the word, but actually a time of enjoyment and sensory rest for me. This morning I wasn’t paying too much attention to my surroundings partly because it’s the same route I run frequently or perhaps because I was listening to a sermon. I recently finished a six part Andy Stanley pod cast series called Break Away and have now started a 3 part called PAUSE. The series is Matthew’s account of Jesus’ time of temptation in the desert. Andy S. offers awesome application of those events for us now-it's good stuff.
Anyway, so here I was running this morning with my earbuds in and before I realized it I ran upon a snake in the road. I saw it just in the nick of time to run around it. I can’t believe I wasn’t paying attention. I always look ahead so I can watch my step, but got lazy this time. I let my guard down doing the routine.
God warns us of this in His Word, telling us to Be Careful! Stay Vigilant! Don’t Get Lazy! Why? The serpent will creep into your path to cause you harm, or throw you off track or accept what is less than God’s best. To make you fall and perhaps next time be more hesitant to go running because you might run into something that scares or intimidates you and me.
My jogging path cuts through the woods, I should be watchful for snakes and other creatures as it is their home. Why should the snake surprise me. I should EXPECT it's presence and be ready to act. We as Christians also run in a world that isn’t our home, so beloved, be watchful out there!
1 Thessalonians 5:6 (NIV) So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled.
Hebrews 12:1[ Jesus, the Example ] Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
p.s. the snake happened to be my favorite kind...come on..you know...:)
Monday, November 26, 2007
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About Me
- TheFiveOneGal
- Jacksonville, FL, United States
- My fav verse is Galatians 5:1 b/c when I asked Jesus to be my Lord, I was freed from the things that caused bondage in my life:fear...sin...unforgiving heart. I still struggle with thosethings but they do not have a chokehold on me, you know? He replaced those things with peace and the persuit of living and loving like Him.
1 comment:
Great illustration of I Peter 5:8!So what kind of snake was it???
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