What is my race?

Today, God used a sermon to speak to me. Our worship minister, Aron, spoke today about how Paul in his missionary journeys stayed focused on the race he was running for the sake of the Gospel. Paul didn't let his circumstance or his success get in the way of continuing toward the goal that Christ set before him.

Aron started his sermon by asking the question, "What is MY race?" We all have a part to play in the kingdom of God, we all have different talents and abilities, and sometimes it is hard to remember what we are all racing toward.
1. Seek first the Kingdom of God
2. Stay in shape by fellowship, accountability and loving companionship coupled with daily studying of God's plans and promises in His word
3. PERSEVERE

Sometimes we lose sight of the only race we should be running. The race that draws us closer to God, the race that proclaims Jesus as our only hope.
Hebrews 12:1a-2 "lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

I know my forever RACE, but yesterday I ran a different kind of race. I participated in a sprint triathlon with 18 other friends from church. This was up at Barnes Lake in Columbiaville, MI, near Lapeer. A sprint tri is a 300m swim, 13.5 mile bike ride and then followed by a 3.4 mile run. We had a blast. We had been training for 2 months and it was so great to see everyone do so well and complete the race. I had a blast encouraging friends to push themselves and accomplish goals they had set.

This is the second year in a row I have participated in a sprint tri. I was very glad to have last year's experience under my belt. I love to train outside. I love to run and ride my bike, however, I don't LOVE to swim. I especially don't LOVE to feel like I am going to drown. So the swim has been and probably always will be my worst leg of the race.

This course was a bit more difficult than last year's with more hills and less paved roads. The weather was perfect and the water was clear and warm. I managed to shave 4 minutes off my time from last year with a more difficult course and some longer distances this year.

To my surprise, I placed 1st place in the women's division, but my stiffest competition made a wrong turn on her bike ride, so the outcome could have been different. I was excited and surprised.

Here are a few pictures of the day(I am in the purple swim suit). It was wonderful to have Mike and the girls cheering me on as well as other friends and their families.

So I am hoping for some more racing in my future, but today I rest in the knowledge of knowing what I am racing for. 2 Timothy 4:7-8 "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up 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 loved His appearing."