THE OLYMPICS ARE OVER!
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. Hebrews 12:1
The Olympics are over! Did you watch any of the different sports that they call disciplines? There were 98 events in 15 winter sport disciplines. What an appropriate word – disciplines! What amazing skills all these athletes had from around the world. You may have heard one or two stories that touched your heart of the many sacrifices the participants, parents and others made, including businesses and towns. May you and I never forget the cost the athletes paid with their strict discipline, tenacity, perseverance, pain and suffering for those who participated in the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics in Russia for years to be prepared to be in the Olympics.
So many different stories come from these many young men and women who have been getting ready to go to Sochi, Russia. Now it is over, everyone is leaving and headed home, with or without a medal, and some with new injuries. I heard and saw one story of the two skaters, Meryl Davis and Charlie White, who won the gold medal for their figure skating ice dance. They have been together for “17 years of hard work†as they both started skating together when they were children.
Another person that maybe of interest to you is David Wise. I saw the headline and I had to read it as David won the first Gold Medal Olympic halfpipe skiing title. What is so unusual is David is 23 and is a husband, a father of a 2-year-old daughter and youth director at his church in Nevada. In the future, he has hopes of becoming a pastor. I am sure that David will be able to teach his congregation, about tenacity, discipline and perseverance from a personal point of view.
I believe when we all get to Heaven we will see the winners from every nation who have run the race for marriage restoration. They have been throwing off the sins of temptations that keep coming down the road to the Finish Line of their marriage being resurrected, rebuilt and restored. These special people, called, “faithful standers,†have kept their eyes on Jesus and there will be a great victory celebration for all the marriages that have had their love rekindled and their marriages restored in Heaven
What does discipline mean? In the American College Dictionary it is defined as: Training to act in accordance with rules; drill; military discipline; Instructions and exercise designed to train to proper conduct or action; punishment inflicted by way of correction and training; the training effect of way of correction and training, and etc.
I believe you and I must be disciplined in being a Christian and as a stander praying for your marriage. As I have briefly watched the Olympics, I know that each athlete did not accomplish their disciplines in Skiing or Figure Skating or other sports by practicing their sport once or twice a week. It took much discipline in their life and they had to make a total commitment to accomplish the task that it would require to be able to compete in becoming part of the Olympic team. Many try to get on the Olympic team more than once and it may take years before they are good enough. What perseverance and commitment. Do you have that perseverance and commitment to your marriage, to your spouse and to your Lord?
Why should we Christians not have the tenacity and perseverance to run the Olympic-size race marked out for us in spiritual growth, standing, praying, and fasting for our marriages to be restored? Why do we need a group of people to cheer us on, when really it is a personal commitment and goal like each of the athletes has had to make? There is no family member or friend who will be able to do all the training that is involved in reaching your personal goal. The goal that you have to win the gold medal goes to the Lord, for Him to get all the glory, honor and praise. Your dividend will be that you and your spouse will reap a marriage rebuilt on the solid rock of Jesus Christ.
I hope you will watch some of the Olympics highlights that are on the Internet this week, so that you will be encouraged to shake off any hopelessness, doubt or fear and choose to join God's team of winners throughout the Bible. As Hebrews 12:1b says, 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.
What is hindering you from running the race that your Lord has asked you to run with perseverance? May you stand up and throw off everything that is hindering your stand for marriage restoration. Is it oppression or depression? Shake it off! Instead, run the race with faith, hope, perseverance and endurance knowing that your Coach is on the sideline ready to tell you about different plays that you can try when you trip up. You must keep your eyes, heart and life focused on your Lord Jesus, the author and perfecter of your faith. Be patient in running the race with endurance even if others may quit around you. Remember, you are running the race of marriage restoration to the finish line with your private coaches cheering you on, God and the Holy Spirit.
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day - and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. 2 Timothy 4:7-8
Are you willing to make that total commitment to your Lord and trust in His plan and purpose in your life for marriage restoration? I know it will not be easy, but the trophy at the end will be worth all the hard work. As you press on toward the goal you will be seeing many loved ones, co-workers and friends who have come to know your Lord Jesus Christ.
How are you doing in your discipline for your marriage restoration? Have you stopped working out daily? Are you on the sideline watching others be disciplined, working out, and getting stronger in their sport each day? What should you be doing in your workout? Open your Bible and read and study it diligently every day as your manual for how to get to the finish line. Be sure to talk to your Coach regularly. You need to tell Him about your worries and weaknesses. Then be sure to listen to Him telling you how to be more skilled in being an athlete, running the race for marriage restoration. Be careful and watch out for the enemy, as he wants you to quit and give up on your dream, vision and goal for your marriage.
You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. Galatians 5:7-8
The Olympics had a huge audience so I pray that people around the world and of all ages will apply all that they observed to their own personal lives. The athletes’ coaches were very important to each of the athletes. They could not have won without them. You marriage will not be restored either unless you spend more than a small amount of time each day with your Coach, the Holy Spirit. You must also go to church where you will be with others who have also started running their race that the Lord has called them to do. Do not become weary or lose heart, but stand firm and run the race to the finish line so your marriage will be restored!
Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58
You are loved,
Charlyne Steinkamp
Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc.
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. Hebrews 12:1
The Olympics are over! Did you watch any of the different sports that they call disciplines? There were 98 events in 15 winter sport disciplines. What an appropriate word – disciplines! What amazing skills all these athletes had from around the world. You may have heard one or two stories that touched your heart of the many sacrifices the participants, parents and others made, including businesses and towns. May you and I never forget the cost the athletes paid with their strict discipline, tenacity, perseverance, pain and suffering for those who participated in the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics in Russia for years to be prepared to be in the Olympics.
So many different stories come from these many young men and women who have been getting ready to go to Sochi, Russia. Now it is over, everyone is leaving and headed home, with or without a medal, and some with new injuries. I heard and saw one story of the two skaters, Meryl Davis and Charlie White, who won the gold medal for their figure skating ice dance. They have been together for “17 years of hard work†as they both started skating together when they were children.
Another person that maybe of interest to you is David Wise. I saw the headline and I had to read it as David won the first Gold Medal Olympic halfpipe skiing title. What is so unusual is David is 23 and is a husband, a father of a 2-year-old daughter and youth director at his church in Nevada. In the future, he has hopes of becoming a pastor. I am sure that David will be able to teach his congregation, about tenacity, discipline and perseverance from a personal point of view.
I believe when we all get to Heaven we will see the winners from every nation who have run the race for marriage restoration. They have been throwing off the sins of temptations that keep coming down the road to the Finish Line of their marriage being resurrected, rebuilt and restored. These special people, called, “faithful standers,†have kept their eyes on Jesus and there will be a great victory celebration for all the marriages that have had their love rekindled and their marriages restored in Heaven
What does discipline mean? In the American College Dictionary it is defined as: Training to act in accordance with rules; drill; military discipline; Instructions and exercise designed to train to proper conduct or action; punishment inflicted by way of correction and training; the training effect of way of correction and training, and etc.
I believe you and I must be disciplined in being a Christian and as a stander praying for your marriage. As I have briefly watched the Olympics, I know that each athlete did not accomplish their disciplines in Skiing or Figure Skating or other sports by practicing their sport once or twice a week. It took much discipline in their life and they had to make a total commitment to accomplish the task that it would require to be able to compete in becoming part of the Olympic team. Many try to get on the Olympic team more than once and it may take years before they are good enough. What perseverance and commitment. Do you have that perseverance and commitment to your marriage, to your spouse and to your Lord?
Why should we Christians not have the tenacity and perseverance to run the Olympic-size race marked out for us in spiritual growth, standing, praying, and fasting for our marriages to be restored? Why do we need a group of people to cheer us on, when really it is a personal commitment and goal like each of the athletes has had to make? There is no family member or friend who will be able to do all the training that is involved in reaching your personal goal. The goal that you have to win the gold medal goes to the Lord, for Him to get all the glory, honor and praise. Your dividend will be that you and your spouse will reap a marriage rebuilt on the solid rock of Jesus Christ.
I hope you will watch some of the Olympics highlights that are on the Internet this week, so that you will be encouraged to shake off any hopelessness, doubt or fear and choose to join God's team of winners throughout the Bible. As Hebrews 12:1b says, 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.
What is hindering you from running the race that your Lord has asked you to run with perseverance? May you stand up and throw off everything that is hindering your stand for marriage restoration. Is it oppression or depression? Shake it off! Instead, run the race with faith, hope, perseverance and endurance knowing that your Coach is on the sideline ready to tell you about different plays that you can try when you trip up. You must keep your eyes, heart and life focused on your Lord Jesus, the author and perfecter of your faith. Be patient in running the race with endurance even if others may quit around you. Remember, you are running the race of marriage restoration to the finish line with your private coaches cheering you on, God and the Holy Spirit.
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day - and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. 2 Timothy 4:7-8
Are you willing to make that total commitment to your Lord and trust in His plan and purpose in your life for marriage restoration? I know it will not be easy, but the trophy at the end will be worth all the hard work. As you press on toward the goal you will be seeing many loved ones, co-workers and friends who have come to know your Lord Jesus Christ.
How are you doing in your discipline for your marriage restoration? Have you stopped working out daily? Are you on the sideline watching others be disciplined, working out, and getting stronger in their sport each day? What should you be doing in your workout? Open your Bible and read and study it diligently every day as your manual for how to get to the finish line. Be sure to talk to your Coach regularly. You need to tell Him about your worries and weaknesses. Then be sure to listen to Him telling you how to be more skilled in being an athlete, running the race for marriage restoration. Be careful and watch out for the enemy, as he wants you to quit and give up on your dream, vision and goal for your marriage.
You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. Galatians 5:7-8
The Olympics had a huge audience so I pray that people around the world and of all ages will apply all that they observed to their own personal lives. The athletes’ coaches were very important to each of the athletes. They could not have won without them. You marriage will not be restored either unless you spend more than a small amount of time each day with your Coach, the Holy Spirit. You must also go to church where you will be with others who have also started running their race that the Lord has called them to do. Do not become weary or lose heart, but stand firm and run the race to the finish line so your marriage will be restored!
Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58
You are loved,
Charlyne Steinkamp
Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc.
