Make the most of yourself….. for that is all there is of you! – Ralph Waldo Emerson

I like it.  How about you?

Reminds me of two verses I was also taught to teach that we should give all we have, since we are doing it for Him.

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God! 1 Corinthians 10:31

Give what you got!

Today it’s Freebie Friday at the Buffet – and no it’s not in honor of the 13th. It’s a gentle reminder of the fabulous freedom that abounds for followers of the Christ, and a reminder of how to put that freedom to good use!

 ²³ “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. ²⁴No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.  1 Corinthians 10:23-24 New International Version (NIV)

Enjoy the freedom, I hope others notice how you use it!

So here we are on the 11th day of the new year. Many of you are trying new things, many of you are working to change and transform yourself.  And you are probably sitting in a time where you feel really awkward and uncomfortable with what you are doing.    That is how it is when we get out of our comfort zone.  It’s just plain awkward.

But here is what I know – the more I get out there on the roads, the comfort will return, and the growth and strength will return as well.

I think it’s no wonder that Paul equates the Christian life with one of a runner.  Because each day, we must continue to push, continue to change, continue to train, continue to stretch our comfort zones, and we will see change.

Change – not to achieve something, but change that happens ‘in view of His Mercies” that brings glory to the father.

Keep it up.

 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.  1 Corinthians 9:24-27  New International Version (NIV)

Think about braces for a moment.  All that metal strapped to a set of crooked and misplaced teeth.  Then over time, an adjustment here and a little pressure here, and some rubber bands to pull on the other side.  Each month small adjustments.  Behind all those metal smiles there is a transformation taking place, until finally one day the braces come off and viola!  There are teeth that are straight and correct aligned and ready to once again eat hard candy and popcorn!

Don’t you wish there were braces for your spiritual life.  Just strap on some metal, allow some one else to make adjustments and then boom, one day – everything is in it’s correct place and we are ‘perfect’.   Unfortunately, it’s not that way.  However, we can learn from all the minor adjustments and the way that all the small changes going on behind the braces create huge changes when it’s all said and done.

That reminds me of the verse behind this whole Daily Buffet thing.  A verse that I come back to often

Anyway, it seems like the cool thing is to do good, and to help right social injustice.  I think it’s cool, especially becaue we have the freedom to do whatever in the world we want.

²³ “I have the right to do anything,” I Cor 10:23

But, I don’t want to jump on the do good bandwagon only because it’s cool and trendy.  I want to do it because I care about other people. ( but of course, lots of times I don’t!!)  And that’s how Paul finishes up the chapter I mentioned above,

For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.

He tells use don’t just do good for ourselves, but that we should use our freedoms to seek good because we care about people, and we are doing good for them!  As a matter of fact he says it twice!

²⁴ No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.

Do good for Others today!  I don’t think that it will be a disappointment!

Last night, my sister sent me some pictures of one of my childhood homes that she visited during her high school reunion, I barely recongized the place as it has changed so much.  Ouch! Oh and then I realized that my parents were around my age when we moved out of that house.  Double Ouch!!!

Today, I dropped my two children off for the start of high school and junior high respectivitely. Triple Ouch!

I have been reminded with quite a lot of force over the last few days about the passing of time and the true breivity of life.   However, I am also reminded about the richness of blessings that I have enjoyed in this life here, even while I focus on the coming promise!

Even so, there’s no getting around the actuteness of our lives.  But this is not a time to be sorrowful, nor regretful.  This is a time to throw up your RAWK Fist and grab life, before it’s gone!

And of course a day and a post about running sends me directly to one of my favorite verses in the whole entire bible. Yes, the one over in 2 Corinthians that I used to have on my wall in my bedroom when I was a young boy right next to my running goals.

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. (1 Corinthians 9:24-27, New International Version)

And as most of you know this is the cornerstone verse for this blog, when it is take from the American Standard Version:

²⁴ Know ye not that they that run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? Even so run; that ye may attain.

²⁵ And every man that striveth in the games exerciseth self-control in all things. Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

²⁶ I therefore so run, as not uncertainly; so fight I, as not beating the air:

²⁷ but I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage: lest by any means, after that I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected. (1 Corinthians 9:24-27, American Standard Version)

On the National Running Day web site, they have various statements that fill in the I Run… badge that you see at the top of this post.  I think this verse is a pretty good way to fill in that statement – “I Run.. with certainty, making my body my slave, and winning the prize!’

Get out and run a little today, even if it is from the front porch to the mailbox and back. And more importantly, run the race of life in a way as to get the prize and keep on buffeting your spiritual body each and every day!

And then also think about how you are choosing to use those freedoms that you have been afforded.

²³ “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. ²⁴ No one should seek their own good, but the good of others. (1 Corinthians 10:23-24, New International Version)

And so it is with us.  Today we leave the Golgotha, we leave the tomb – knowing the man Jesus died and was raised again.  We know that death was defeated.  We know that he is victorious.  And what will you do with that today, the day after?

²⁰ But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. ²¹ For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. ²² For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. (1 Corinthians 15:20-22, New International Version, ©2011)

So, now on to a exergisis about fools in the bible. No no, surprisingly I have not spent much creativity on something cute for April Fool’s Day, and so I don’t have a great April Fool’s verse or thought. But I did find a thoughts on foolishness that could keep you going.

 ¹ The fool says in his heart,
   “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, their deeds are vile;
   there is no one who does good. (Psalm 14:1, New International Version, ©2011)

and

²⁵ For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. (1 Corinthians 1:25, New International Version, ©2011)

Man, I would hate to be the victim of one of God’s April Fool’s jokes!
But seriously on this day we play the fool, remember that the creator did play a little joke on the Devil a little further in April – when he let the evil forces of the world think they could kill his son. – only to have his rise again three days later. Who’s the joke on now?

Enjoy the day!