Going For Gold

I sure have enjoyed the Olympics.  This is the first time in about 30 years that we have been able to enjoy so much of the different events.  So many years we have not had a television and up until a few months ago we were only able to get two channels.  It has been so cool to see these athletes  who have worked so hard, many times overcoming extreme obstacles to become gold metal winners.  Also, in many of the  interviews I saw, many of the athletes were Christians and gave God the credit for getting them to the place to be an Olympian.  YEA GOD!!!!  As I watched many of the races, and marathons it reminded me of  I Cor. 9: 24-27  
"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. ²⁵ Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. ²⁶ Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. ²⁷ No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize."


As I watched so many of the stories of the Olympians I could not believe what so many of them have endured to be a champion to win a "crown" or metal that won't last.  One runner has been shot in his legs, a diver, had cracked her skull, several had parents recently die, one athlete had broken her back.   So many of the athletes had Kinesio tape to help sore muscles and to help reduce inflammation.  I applaud them all for how they have persevered.  They pushed through the pain and it paid off.  They have been a challenge to me to finish strong.   Heb. 12: 1  comes to mind.

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."
     I am thankful for the examples of those who have run the race before me.  I pray the Lord will help me to run the race and to persevere.  I also think of the example of the people on the side lines, the ones handing the marathon runners a bottle of water.  I pray God will also help me to be that "bottle of water", that encourager, to those also running the race.

Congratulations to the Olympians and thank-you for the challenge you have been to me!