• Home
  • About
    • Telling THE Story
  • Speaking
    • Take Away & Content
    • Reviews and News
    • Audio
    • Video
    • Fun Footage
  • Writing
    • Ginger’s Book
    • Blog
  • Contact

Ginger Ciminello

  • Home
  • About
    • Telling THE Story
  • Speaking
    • Take Away & Content
    • Reviews and News
    • Audio
    • Video
    • Fun Footage
  • Writing
    • Ginger’s Book
    • Blog
  • Contact
When Time Matters
Goofy smiles.

When Time Matters

January 18, 2012 Posted by Ginger Ciminello Spiritual Growth

As we talk about the currency of time this week, I couldn’t help but point out the giant metaphor staring me right in the face.

I ran a half marathon this weekend.  It was a first for me and something that’s been on my goal list for almost a decade.  I can’t tell you how great it felt to check it off the list.

That’s why racing is on the brain.

Goofy smiles.

RACE= LIFE
“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. 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. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air.  No, I beat 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

Paul asks a very poignant question in this passage.  Why run a race if you don’t care about the prize?  I might rephrase it for our context and ask: Why live life without an ultimate purpose?  Hopefully our purpose is sure and we haven’t entered this race without a target goal in mind.

AIM FOR THE TARGET
I’m not a runner, but I am a goal-setter.  Once I had a goal time in mind I wanted to do anything I could to hit it.  I didn’t run aimlessly, determining that “when I get there I get there.”  Instead my running partner mapped out our time goals mile by mile and we focused on hitting the finish within a specific window of time.

Our race had tons of things that could have slowed us down.  There were bands on every corner, people dressed in crazy costumes, and some hills that threatened to slow our pace.  But we kept the music cranked and our faces forward.  And rather than stopping for water or fuel, we carried what we needed the whole race.  We stuck to the center, kept the goal in mind and just ran. 

FOCUS ON THE FINISH
It’s so important for us to stay focused on the goal set before us.  We know that there are a million things vying for our time.  If our desire is to know Him more, then we need to do whatever we can to succeed in that goal.  When we spend time with the Lord we need to be ready to run past distractions.  Turn off phones and close computers.  Even if that time is just in the shower, give Him your full attention in that moment.

Paul uses the race metaphor again beautifully:

“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 3:12-14, NIV

This is a life-long training process, but the time invested will be worth every minute spent in pursuit of the King of Kings.  Let’s keep our eyes on the prize!

“Since we are surrounded by so many examples of faith, we must get rid of everything that slows us down, especially sin that distracts us. We must run the race that lies ahead of us and never give up. We must focus on Jesus, the source and goal of our faith. He saw the joy ahead of him, so he endured death on the cross and ignored the disgrace it brought him. Then he received the highest position in heaven, the one next to the throne of God. Think about Jesus, who endured opposition from sinners, so that you don’t become tired and give up.”  Hebrews 12:1-3, GWT

Running the Race,
Ginger

Tags: RunningTime
Share
0

About Ginger Ciminello

Ginger is a work-from-home mom of two girls, the wife of a good man, as well as a speaker and writer. Her book, Forget the Corsage, was written to mentor the young women she’s met in auditoriums around the country. She has a deep desire to connect with women of all ages and encourage them to laugh, learn from her many mistakes, and connect with the Lord through a rich study of Scripture.

You also might be interested in

All I Want for Christmas (& Forever)

Nov 18, 2014

  Time is a precious commodity. I cannot believe how[...]

Thursday Tips: Getting Started

Thursday Tips: Getting Started

Jan 19, 2012

As I was lamenting the hill that we were tackling[...]

Run Fast

Run Fast

Jan 4, 2012

I’ve had “run a half marathon” on my bucket list[...]

Recent Posts

  • I’ve Got Nothing.
  • Freedom to Rest this Christmas
  • Shine, Poet!
  • All the Things 2015
  • My Anniversary Gift for Year Five: Marriage Counseling

Recent Comments

  • Ginger Ciminello on I’ve Got Nothing.
  • Ginger Ciminello on I’ve Got Nothing.
  • Victoria on I’ve Got Nothing.
  • Annie Parsons on I’ve Got Nothing.
  • Shanna on Shine, Poet!

Archives

  • May 2019
  • December 2017
  • November 2016
  • January 2016
  • October 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • July 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011

Categories

  • Advent
  • Forget The Corsage
  • Friday Finds
  • Hindsight
  • Identity
  • Lent
  • Life Lessons
  • Living His Story
  • Marriage
  • Missions
  • Purpose
  • Questions
  • Random
  • Recommendations
  • Relationships
  • Seasons
  • Speaking
  • Spiritual Growth
  • Thursday Tips
  • Uncategorized
  • Whatever Girls
  • With Joy Retreats
  • Writing

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Contact Us

We're currently offline. Send us an email and we'll get back to you, asap.

Send Message
Prev Next