Christopher Columbus became a fixture in history for discovering a new world. Our children learn this at very early ages, and we even have an annual date on the calendar to remind us of this. What few people realize is the tedious and rather mundane journey that Columbus took that led him to such a pinnacle moment of world history. When reading Columbus’ diary, there are many, many days in which Columbus simply wrote these words, “Today we sailed on.” Nothing more, nothing less.

You might think, “How boring!” Can a day be more simply or mundanely described? “Today we sailed on.” Imagine day after day after day—hundreds of days of simply “sailing on.” And yet, it was that simple repetition of doing the same thing day after day that ultimately led him to discovering “the new world!”

Hebrews 12:1 challenges us to “run with patience the race that is set before us.” When I studied these words this past week, I thought of Columbus’ diary. And as I planned my new year, I couldn’t help but reflect that God wants us to “run with patience.” He desires for us to set a healthy, steady pace for the race to which we are called.

Do you ever get impatient? Do you ever want all of your goals to happen immediately? Reality teaches us that the best things accomplished for God in this life are usually done with great patience and steady, continual effort. Thankfully, I don’t have to sprint into my new year, having to accomplish it all during the month of January. Rather, God desires for me to “run with patience”—to be willing to continue running steadfastly, refusing to quit, and gradually gaining ground day by day.

Whether you apply this principle to your own spiritual growth or to your leadership in ministry—running with patience will be a big part of your success for Christ in 2009. Spiritual growth and spiritual progress happens one little bit at a time as we “sail on” day-by-day.

Determine to run your race at God’s pace. Be balanced in purpose and keep your eyes fixed on the goal of Jesus Christ. Don’t get frustrated that you’re not running fast enough or far enough. Stay encouraged that you are running with patience. A thousand days may pass in which you would write in your journal, “Today I sailed on”—but all those days will ultimately add up to a life well lived for God’s glory!

So, sail on my friend and may God give you a great new year of running with patience!

There I was Christmas morning holding a brand new pair of New Balance jogging shoes—a Christmas gift from my family. They are awesome, but I’m still not sure how to feel about them. For several days now they have looked beautiful. A few times I’ve actually carried them around the house, feeling good about having them. They have produced a mixture of emotions and feelings since I opened them. For one thing, I’m am grateful for the thought and love behind them. Secondly, I realize they are really good shoes. It’s actually using them for their intended purpose that I’m having a tough time with.

Maybe as you stare at this new year you feel the same way I feel about those shoes—you’re thankful for it and excited about it, but at the same time just not sure you are ready for it! Before we know it, we will be off and running our race and be half way through 2009. While I’m not sure how much I love jogging, I do truly love a new year. To me, it represents a gift from God to start fresh and to anticipate a new opportunity to serve God with my time, my life, and my resources.

This past week, in preparing for the Sunday morning message, the Lord really challenged me personally about preparing for the new year. Every time I saw those jogging shoes I thought of the race that God has called me to run as we turn the calendar page to 2009. The text for the message was Hebrews 12:1-2 “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

The Lord used this passage to challenge me to “don my running shoes” spiritually speaking. He has called me to run a very set course at a steady pace that leads to a Christ-honoring destination. He reminded me that Christ has run before me and He is the author and finisher of this race. He reminded me that He is with me. He reminded me, in the face of uncertainty and cultural change, He is the goal—the person that I am to pursue with all of my heart and strength.

As a result of that personal study, I emerged with a greater anticipation for my race ahead. I truly am looking forward to running the race with patience.

I’m not so sure about jogging in those New Balance shoes, but I am sure that I want to faithfully run my spiritual race for the Lord Jesus Christ. I pray you desire to do the same! May God bless you as you run your race for Him in 2009!

The last few days have been days of reflection and preparation for 2009.  On Saturday, Terrie and I celebrated our twenty-eighth wedding anniversary.  It was a little different this year, with three married children and our youngest son away on a trip.  We enjoyed the time of reflecting on God’s blessings and looking forward to our continued service for Him.

The combined service at Lancaster Baptist Church at 11:00 yesterday morning was a real joy!   It is always exciting to get the whole church family together and lift up the name of Christ.  Out text from Hebrews 12 took us to the beginning of 2008.  Our theme Consider Christ has been predominant in every message throughout this year.

Hebrews 12 reminds us that the Christian life is a race, with Jesus Christ as our goal.  The following thoughts are gleaned from the Scriptures and may be of help to you in your New Year.

I.      The Preparation for the Race.

A. Remove the hindrances or weights
.

B. Repent from sin.

NOTE:  We must make up our minds today to lay aside the weights and sin.  “If you don’t make up your mind, your unmade mind will unmake you.”

Psalm 18:23 says, “I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity.”
II.     The Pace of the Race

A. It is a set pace.

NOTE:  Everyone has his own course to run for the Lord.

B. It is a steady race.

NOTE:  We are to run with patience the race that is set before us.
III.    The Pursuit of Our Race

A. We are pursuing a Person—Jesus

NOTE:  We are to be looking to Him. “Success is a moving target, but leadership is a fixed goal.”  Make Jesus Christ your goal!

B. We are pursuing a pattern. (verse 3)

NOTE:  We must consider Christ as our example in this race.

“It belongs to my Christian profession to be vilified, slandered, reproached, and reviled.  And since all this is nothing but that, as God and my conscience testify, I rejoice in being reproached for Christ’s sake.” —John Bunyan, 1658, Bedford, England

May God bless you as you set your goals and direction for 2009!

Praise the Lord for the great things He accomplished in 2007. God has once again proven His goodness to us. I’m looking forward to what He has in store for us in the upcoming year.

It has been said, “Each new year is God’s gift to us; what we do with this year is our gift to Him.” On this final day of 2007, may we each prepare our lives spiritually for the new year.

In Philippians 3:13-14, the Apostle Paul wrote these words: “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

Before you get too far into the new year, make sure you have what you need to survive spiritually.

1. You Will Need Grace vs. 13
A. Grace to Admit Your Place (I have not yet apprehended)
B. Grace to Release Your Past (forgetting those things which are behind)
2. You Will Need a Goal vs 10
A. To Know Him
- Make “knowing Him” your first priority
- Make knowing His Word your priority

As you make your goals, remember the acronym S.M.A.R.T.

Specific
Measurable
Action Oriented – Not just philosophical
Realistic
Timely

B. To Serve Him
C. To Please Him

3. You Will Need a Guide
A. The Scriptures Will Guide You vs. 15-16
B. The Holy Spirit Will Guide You John 16:13
C. Spiritual Leaders Will Guide You vs. 17

Someone once said, “Opportunities are seldom labeled.” However, I have always felt that every New Year is a new opportunity to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is a new opportunity to move forward along life’s journey and to make one’s life more eternally meaningful.

Because I believe 2007 is a new opportunity for the Lord, I have spent much time in prayer, Bible reading, and goal-setting for this year. I trust that you, too, have set some goals and are trusting the Lord to use you in a greater way!

It has been said, “He who aims at nothing hits it every time!” I would rather try and fail than never try to do the things God lays upon my heart. Let me encourage you to step out by faith in this New Year.

For me and for the church family where I serve, it is my heart’s desire that everything we do will be for the honor of Christ and for the furthering of His faith in this world. We are challenged to live “for the faith” and it is my prayer that generations to come will talk in the faith because of the goals and prayers that have been established already this year.

A pastor by the name of Walter Schoedel once prepared a list of resolutions for the New Year. He called his list “The Seven Ups.” This had nothing to do with the soft drink, but had everything to do with attitudes toward the New Year.

The first is WAKE UP – begin the day with the Lord. It is His day. Rejoice in it.

The second is DRESS UP – put on a smile. It improves your looks. It says something about your attitude.

The third is SHUT UP – watch your tongue. Don’t gossip. Say nice things. Learn to listen.

The fourth is STAND UP – take a stand for what you believe. Resist evil. Do good.

The fifth is LOOK UP – open your eyes to the Lord. After all, He is your only Saviour and He has promised to return!

The sixth is REACH UP – spend time in prayer with adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplications to the Lord.

And finally, LIFT UP – be available to those in need, serving, supporting and sharing with each of them.

Whatever your goals for the new year, it is my prayer that God will bless you and use you for His glory!