Karen's Devotions

This is a selected collection of my devotions e-published on Daily Devotions, Journey Christian Church, Irvine, California; George Bragg, Editor. To join the mailing list, email George, gbragg@cox.net.

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As a 25+ year homeschooling vet, post-cancer, math prof, mother of five, master's track and field athlete, and certificated private pilot, I have a lot to share about what God has done in my life. In 2000 I began writing devotions as something to try when it seemed like accoustic pianists were becoming an endangered species at church. I have since found great blessings from writing and sharing. God is good.

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Circuit Training

First Published September 17, 2008

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God,
to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

One of the college courses my son Reuben is taking this fall is circuit training. This is an exercise science course designed to build and tone muscles, though other benefits may include weight loss, increased circulation, energy, and stamina. Reuben told me that students were required to spend a minimum number of sessions in the circuit training room.

In this room are various stations at which the student works on a particular weight/exercise apparatus. After spending a prescribed amount of time on the apparatus, the student moves to the next station, and so on, eventually forming a circuit of stations. Some stations are more difficult; while others are so easy that it seems unlikely they do any good. However, it’s the collective big picture, the work put in at all the stations, that will reap desired results.

My son’s class is an example of a phrase found in today’s text. Circuit training likens to “work together.” Couple this with the premise of “all things”, and we may look at two personal spiritual growth applications of Romans 8:28.

First, as we live our lives, we engage in periods learning, sharing, trials, joys, and interaction with others. Some of these periods are difficult and some are so easy that we can’t believe someone else finds them hard. Reuben finds the leg extension apparatus to be particularly difficult.

Second, we must consider the time factor of our life. Truly we only have a short time to “work together” the learning, sharing, dealing with trials, rejoicing, and interacting with others. In Reuben’s circuit training class, the students have only 30 seconds to work on each apparatus. Then, it’s on to the next station.

This time-sensitive aspect is very apparent in Proverbs 10:5, “He who gathers in summer is a son who acts wisely, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who acts shamefully.” A lost opportunity in our spiritual life may not repeat itself. We must take advantage of opportunities to work on every spiritual “station”, creating a full and God pleasing “circuit.”

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Dear Lord, thank you for life analogies that help us learn to grow in you. Help us to work diligently on both difficult and easy “stations” of spiritual grow, so that collectively, the promise of Romans 8:28 will shine through!

Copyright 2008 Karen Vaughn

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