TBT: The Prize

1Corinthians 11:2

1Corinthians 9:24-27

Oh, where to begin!  Writing a weekly blog?  Putting "pen to paper" once a week to ramble my rumblings about Christ?  What am I thinking?  Who will actually read this silly thing?  Seriously, I am kidding myself to think people will come back to read this week after week after week. What I have to say is really not that important.

Those are the thoughts rolling through my head. I don't really even know where to begin climbing this TBT mountain but to just start. I pulled the old "close your eyes and open the Bible and use that first verse trick" to make my first TBT devotion. And there I have it. The Lord already speaking to my insecurities.

The first verse I flipped to was 1Corinthians 11:2 "I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the teachings just as I passed them on to you". I thought, well that is a nice little affirmation I am on the right track her. My eyes then glanced over to the neighboring page to another passage.

"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."

So there we have it folks!  Some weeks will be more difficult to get my posts up for TBT, I am certainly not a Bible scholar by a long stretch, so I know I will flounder for words, but at the end of the day, what matters is that I am continue to run my race for His glory.  I am training for the final race so I will be qualified for the final prize.

Amen!

The First Throwback

Throwback Thursday otherwise known as TBT or #TBT is the new hip way to post fun and meaningful pictures from the past on Facebook.  Let me tell you.  I have a beautiful... and ugly kind of past, as I should.  I am a Child of God aka, a sinner.  There are some photographs I hope never make it to the newsfeed of Facebook, and some that would NOT be cute in any type of TBT situation.  Have I mentioned how glad I am that social media was not around in my younger years?

I have experienced many successes, and many "throwback" experiences where I have used poor judgement in my life that quite simply make me want to throw-up!  Through my actions and words, I have made many people happy, making a difference in lives.  In that same breath, I have also been a huge jerk to people and have damaged some relationships beyond repair.  I dare to dream that I am not the only person out there who can describe their life in this fashion.

As we have upon us another weekly TBT on Facebook, right on the heels of the death of a college friend on Tuesday, I got to thinking about "throwingback".  I began to dig through some of my old pictures from college which reminded me of some some amazing times and wonderful friendships, but also some friendships that have been broken and bad choices made.

Your memory is a complex character.  It can spawn all kinds of emotions.  TBT may stir memories for people that may hurt.  I stirred up some tonight that hurt.  I got to thinking more.  I thought, "thank the LORD I have come full circle into who I am, with several rough years in the middle.  I am thankful I can throwback to you anytime I need to, God."  Thus, the idea of the TBT blog was born.

TBT, the blog, will be focused on the word of God and my reflections.  My prayer is TBT4Him will serve as a weekly safe haven for people to "throwback" on their lives and how Christ is working in them and has always worked through them.

I look forward to throwingback to the words of old to help me grow in my relationship with Him.  Maybe, just maybe, I can touch a few lives along the way.

Amen.