Rabbit and Turtle

Do you remember the story of Rabbit and Turtle? One day, they decided to see who is faster. Remember the story? Here, you can review it.

What an amazing turtle. Although he was slow, he did not give up and won the race! And, 2000 years ago, Jesus went through a similiar but more difficult race. Jesus came to the world to run the race to the cross. But, he was not running to win a wonderful prize, but to lose. In fact, Jesus was running to die and to lose everything. Some told him to give it up. Some told him to take a easier path. Neverthless, Jesus stayed on the course and endured the race. Why did he do this? He did it, because he loved you.

"...For the joy set before him he enudred the cross..." (Hebrews 12:2, NIV). 

---

http://www.clker.com/clipart-49505.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaxTXqK-sz0

Mountain

Have you climbed the mountain before? Do you remember what it was like? Probably, the first few hours were very painful. You may have said, "Ah, why am I doing this? This is so painful." BUT, do you remember how it felt like when you got to the top? You see, climbing up the mountain is very hard. The first few hours seem very painful. But, everything makes sense when we get to the top and see the great view!

Sometimes, in our lives, we may go through hard times. We may say, "Ah, why am I doing this right now? This is so painful." But, do you realize God is using those times to shape your character and prepare you for something greater? So, when you go through hard times. Just hang in there. Soon, you will reach the top and understand everything.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him..." 

(Romans 8:28, NIV). 

---
http://www.clker.com/clipart-13451.html

Bamboo Tree

Have you ever seen a bamboo tree? It's a very interesting tree. Because when you plant a bamboo tree seed, nothing happens for 5! years. For 5 years, Bamboo tree shows no sign of growth at all! So, these waiting periods can be very frustrating to those who want to see the tree grow!

Did you ever go through frustrating times? Maybe, you've been studying hard for school, but your grade is no good. Maybe, you've been trying to improve your singing skills, but it was no good. These can be very frustrating times.

But, do you know what happens to the bamboo tree in the 6th year? It grows explosively! It grows to almost 90 feet tall! Now, that is really tall! Way taller than the tallest person in the world! So, what was bamboo tree doing for 5 years? Well, it was growing downward to make its roots strong, so it can grow 90 feet tall in  the 6th year.

Sometimes in our lives, we get frustrated that nothing happens, even though we work hard But, do you realize those times are the times that we grow strong? God uses those times to make us strong. So that, you can grow explosively as well, in God's time!

"Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy" (Psalm 126:5).

---
Pic from http://www.clker.com/clipart-bamboo-green-1.html

Flying

Have you ever seen an airplane stop and stay still in the sky? You see, airplane once it starts flying can never stop in the sky. And, while flying sometimes airplanes meet storms, strong winds, and even lightening!  But even then, the airplane in the air cannot stop, it keeps flying until it lands.


This is kind of what it looks like when we start following Jesus Christ. The Bible says, once we start following Jesus Christ, we can never stop in the middle of the way. There will be times storms, strong winds, and even lightening come against us to make us stop following. But, even then, just as airplanes stay flying, we stay following, until God brings us to heavenly home.

" 'Follow me' Jesus said" (Matthew 4:19)

---

http://www.clker.com/clipart-flying-plane.html

Never Give up!

“Ah, come on! This is too hard! I cannot do this! Better give up!” Sounds familiar? These are the words of quitters! People who quit in the middle of things. Have you ever felt like giving up before on something? You are not alone, if you felt so before. 

Watch this video and how this athlete managed to finish the race, even when he felt like giving up.

Wow! What an amazing determination to finish the race! Do you realize what Bible says about giving up? It says, 

“Let us not give up! For in the right time, we will see the fruits, if we do not give up!” 

(Galatians 6:9, Paraphrase)

So, when you feel like giving up, don’t. Just hang in there! And with God’s help, you will see the fruits! Also, in God’s world, He does not care so much about winning as much as finishing. What He cares most about is that we "finish" the race, by never giving up. 

-----

Picture taken from http://www.clker.com/clipart-185151.html

Blinkers!

Do you know what blinkers are? They are something that horses wear on their eyes, when they run the race. Blinkers help horses fix their eyes on the race in front of them, so they do get distracted by the crowds on their sides. It looks like this:

The Bible says that when we run this life race, we need to fix our eyes on Jesus Christ (Hebrews 12:2). But, when we try to do that, we face so many distractions that keep us from doing that. For example, when we try to have some time with God through prayer, we may be tempted to do something else, more fun, and more exciting. So, we too need blinkers to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus Christ. 

What is your blinker? It can be anything such as a little post-it on your doorpost that says, "Love Jesus." Or, it can simply be an alarm clock that reminds you a time for the Bible reading and prayer. What is your blinker that keeps your eyes fixed on Jesus Christ? 

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus..." (Hebrews 12:2, ESV)

--------
The picture taken from http://www.clipartpanda.com/clipart_images/free-brown-horse-clipart-50453049