Good morning, everyone. Grace and peace be with you.
The first of two 50k challenges is over. I did not make it. I landed with just over 45k on my story. However, as I was explaining it to my husband, it was not a competition; it was a challenge. A challenge to do the difficult. A challenge to set up steady routines for writing. A challenge of discipline. A challenge to beat procrastination. To have a support group to lean on when you feel defeated. I know of one of the competitors who made that 50k mark this month. They hit 51+. I was hopeful, as I hit the 42k mark with three days to go, however, life had a different theory for my time. It’s okay…45k and a story that is truly developing.
So the second 50k challenge, using the same story, is definitely doable. And 50 is just the minimum. I am not sure where or how large this one is going to be. The plots and life that this story is bringing to me, alone, are amazing. I am still hopeful that I will have the story written, edited, polished, and published by the first of the year. As long as my beta readers do not hang me … ha ha.
Challenge.
I googled the word, and the first definition that arrived was this: A call to take part in a contest or competition, especially a duel.
I think we would all agree that this is an accurate representation of our walk with Christ. A call to compete against darkness. To take part in the contest of souls. To duel the enemy for the sake of what is Good.
Would you agree? How about these definitions, found on the Mirriam-Webster site:
1. To dispute 2. To confront. 3. To call out. 4. To question. 5. To arouse or stimulate 6. A stimulating task or problem.
These all prove to be very accurate in our walk. We dispute the wrong, we confront evil, we call out the unrighteous, we question the sinner, and … it all proves to be a stimulating task or problem.
Yes?
So, to say our walk with Christ is a challenge … is not a negative connotation, but an invigorating and cleansing drive to the prize and that is to hear those faithful words, “Well done. Good and faithful servant.”
Ultimately, everyone wants to be in heaven. Even those who do not believe want to be in paradise and not hell. The unfortunate part is that those who do not believe do not have the key to the gate to get in. Sadly, even some of those who claim to believe do not have the key to getting in. That is where you and I come in.
When we said ‘yes’ to Christ, we said ‘yes’ to this challenge. We agreed to take up the gauntlet and lead the charge against the chaos of the world, to save or help save as many as we can from the enemy’s snare. It is difficult at times. It is hard to keep going when the brick wall seems impenetrable. The conflict grows while the resolution gets lost…it is crushing. However, Jesus did not say this would be a walk in the park; he said that we would have difficulties and hardships…but His house is beautiful, big house. Well worth our effort.
This weekend, I have to finish a short story for a competition, work on the series book, assist the guys in the She Shed, and my normal laundry and cooking duties as well. The challenge here is not to lose sight of the prize … fellowship and a job well done. Giving all that I have. I had no desire to be up this early, and I have been up since 5. But here I am.
Today, I encourage you to prayerfully look at your challenges and decipher the pitfalls…then prayerfully and boldly claim, “Challenge Accepted”. Step forward in faith and meet them head-on. You got this.
***I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.—1 John 5:13
The first of two 50k challenges is over. I did not make it. I landed with just over 45k on my story. However, as I was explaining it to my husband, it was not a competition; it was a challenge. A challenge to do the difficult. A challenge to set up steady routines for writing. A challenge of discipline. A challenge to beat procrastination. To have a support group to lean on when you feel defeated. I know of one of the competitors who made that 50k mark this month. They hit 51+. I was hopeful, as I hit the 42k mark with three days to go, however, life had a different theory for my time. It’s okay…45k and a story that is truly developing.
So the second 50k challenge, using the same story, is definitely doable. And 50 is just the minimum. I am not sure where or how large this one is going to be. The plots and life that this story is bringing to me, alone, are amazing. I am still hopeful that I will have the story written, edited, polished, and published by the first of the year. As long as my beta readers do not hang me … ha ha.
Challenge.
I googled the word, and the first definition that arrived was this: A call to take part in a contest or competition, especially a duel.
I think we would all agree that this is an accurate representation of our walk with Christ. A call to compete against darkness. To take part in the contest of souls. To duel the enemy for the sake of what is Good.
Would you agree? How about these definitions, found on the Mirriam-Webster site:
1. To dispute 2. To confront. 3. To call out. 4. To question. 5. To arouse or stimulate 6. A stimulating task or problem.
These all prove to be very accurate in our walk. We dispute the wrong, we confront evil, we call out the unrighteous, we question the sinner, and … it all proves to be a stimulating task or problem.
Yes?
So, to say our walk with Christ is a challenge … is not a negative connotation, but an invigorating and cleansing drive to the prize and that is to hear those faithful words, “Well done. Good and faithful servant.”
Ultimately, everyone wants to be in heaven. Even those who do not believe want to be in paradise and not hell. The unfortunate part is that those who do not believe do not have the key to the gate to get in. Sadly, even some of those who claim to believe do not have the key to getting in. That is where you and I come in.
When we said ‘yes’ to Christ, we said ‘yes’ to this challenge. We agreed to take up the gauntlet and lead the charge against the chaos of the world, to save or help save as many as we can from the enemy’s snare. It is difficult at times. It is hard to keep going when the brick wall seems impenetrable. The conflict grows while the resolution gets lost…it is crushing. However, Jesus did not say this would be a walk in the park; he said that we would have difficulties and hardships…but His house is beautiful, big house. Well worth our effort.
This weekend, I have to finish a short story for a competition, work on the series book, assist the guys in the She Shed, and my normal laundry and cooking duties as well. The challenge here is not to lose sight of the prize … fellowship and a job well done. Giving all that I have. I had no desire to be up this early, and I have been up since 5. But here I am.
Today, I encourage you to prayerfully look at your challenges and decipher the pitfalls…then prayerfully and boldly claim, “Challenge Accepted”. Step forward in faith and meet them head-on. You got this.
***I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.—1 John 5:13
Good morning, everyone. Grace and peace be with you.
The first of two 50k challenges is over. I did not make it. I landed with just over 45k on my story. However, as I was explaining it to my husband, it was not a competition; it was a challenge. A challenge to do the difficult. A challenge to set up steady routines for writing. A challenge of discipline. A challenge to beat procrastination. To have a support group to lean on when you feel defeated. I know of one of the competitors who made that 50k mark this month. They hit 51+. I was hopeful, as I hit the 42k mark with three days to go, however, life had a different theory for my time. It’s okay…45k and a story that is truly developing.
So the second 50k challenge, using the same story, is definitely doable. And 50 is just the minimum. I am not sure where or how large this one is going to be. The plots and life that this story is bringing to me, alone, are amazing. I am still hopeful that I will have the story written, edited, polished, and published by the first of the year. As long as my beta readers do not hang me … ha ha.
Challenge.
I googled the word, and the first definition that arrived was this: A call to take part in a contest or competition, especially a duel.
I think we would all agree that this is an accurate representation of our walk with Christ. A call to compete against darkness. To take part in the contest of souls. To duel the enemy for the sake of what is Good.
Would you agree? How about these definitions, found on the Mirriam-Webster site:
1. To dispute 2. To confront. 3. To call out. 4. To question. 5. To arouse or stimulate 6. A stimulating task or problem.
These all prove to be very accurate in our walk. We dispute the wrong, we confront evil, we call out the unrighteous, we question the sinner, and … it all proves to be a stimulating task or problem.
Yes?
So, to say our walk with Christ is a challenge … is not a negative connotation, but an invigorating and cleansing drive to the prize and that is to hear those faithful words, “Well done. Good and faithful servant.”
Ultimately, everyone wants to be in heaven. Even those who do not believe want to be in paradise and not hell. The unfortunate part is that those who do not believe do not have the key to the gate to get in. Sadly, even some of those who claim to believe do not have the key to getting in. That is where you and I come in.
When we said ‘yes’ to Christ, we said ‘yes’ to this challenge. We agreed to take up the gauntlet and lead the charge against the chaos of the world, to save or help save as many as we can from the enemy’s snare. It is difficult at times. It is hard to keep going when the brick wall seems impenetrable. The conflict grows while the resolution gets lost…it is crushing. However, Jesus did not say this would be a walk in the park; he said that we would have difficulties and hardships…but His house is beautiful, big house. Well worth our effort.
This weekend, I have to finish a short story for a competition, work on the series book, assist the guys in the She Shed, and my normal laundry and cooking duties as well. The challenge here is not to lose sight of the prize … fellowship and a job well done. Giving all that I have. I had no desire to be up this early, and I have been up since 5. But here I am.
Today, I encourage you to prayerfully look at your challenges and decipher the pitfalls…then prayerfully and boldly claim, “Challenge Accepted”. Step forward in faith and meet them head-on. You got this.
***I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.—1 John 5:13
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