“Karen’s Notes!
Insights from a Glory-Bound Lady”

Selected Notes
Volume 4 Number 41 “Never, Never, Never Do These Things. I mean NEVER!”
October 13, 2021

A long, long time ago I used this brief writing of Karen. For some reason I am really drawn to it today. Perhaps you or someone you know really needs to think about this as much as I do. So I am glad to share it once again. I will rewrite my observation for today.

Throughout her life, Karen had been interested in sports. When we graduated from high school, she was voted the most athletic of the gals of our senior class. She was good in every sport. Her favorite was basketball. I’m not surprised that I found a brief note written to herself at Hebrews 12:1-2.

Let me write the verse and then I will share what Karen wrote to herself. “Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1-2).

Karen wrote: For this great contest (12:1-2) there are rules of the race.
Never waste energy by complaining (Hebrews 13:5,15).
Never lose focus by comparing self to others (Hebrews 12:2, “looking unto Jesus”).
Never slow down by collecting and clinging to things (Hebrews 10:34).
Never disqualify self by compromising (1 Corinthians 9:24-27).

Michael’s observation: Even for those of us who aren’t so athletic, we still remember that our Christian life that we seek to live is described as being a race. I am so glad that the race is with the Lord and myself and not against each other. This is the reason I must intentionally keep my focus on the Lord Jesus.

For many of us it is hard to imagine that we are already into mid-October 2021. As the days and weeks fly past, if you know Christ as your personal Savior, I believe it is necessary that we keep these “Nevers” ever before our attention. How about you?