Encouragement

Hey guys! I'll try to make this as brief as possible! :)

First off, congrats to everyone who participated in the Communicators For Christ masters conference! I don't know about you all, but I learned SO much during the past week. God truly blessed us by allowing CFC to conduct their masters conference right here in Austin!! :D

OK, so I really feel like God has laid something on my heart I need to share with you all. Here's the verse that God brought to my mind when I was thinking about the upcoming tournament.

"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," - Hebrews 12:1

I want to point out something. God could have said, "let us run quickly the race..." or he could have said "let us run impressively..." But he didn't. He said WITH PATIENCE Sometimes you can really get a lot of insight out of the Bible by looking at what God didn't say, but could have.

Every one's "race" is unique. For some, it is slower moving, rockier... and more dangerous. For others, it's easier. What I wanted to point out to everyone who is competing in something, or is facing a challenge that they don't believe they can handle, is that this is not a race against each other. You are to finish the race for God's glory. The people who run with patience, and finish the race, get the prize. that's it. simply do your best, finish the race, give it ALL you have, and give God the glory. :)

The DUTY is ours. the RESULTS are God's.

This is going to be difficult for a lot of people. Including me. Speech and debate tournaments are always difficult. But let's try to find the joy in finishing the race, and giving God the glory. Competition is a lot of fun, and (I'll admit) sometimes a lot more fun when you win. But at the end of the day, we are all just running our race. So I would just encourage y'all to have Faith. Trust that God will use you if you let Him. And give God the glory for everything that happens. And no matter what, don't give up. Don't give in. :)

Lay aside every weight. Run the race with endurance. :)

I just wanted to end this with a few quotes from some of my favorite songs. :D

The Voice of Truth tells me a different story. The Voice of Truth says DO NOT BE AFRAID. The Voice of Truth says this is for MY GLORY. I will choose to listen and believe the Voice of Truth.

Give me words to speak, don't let my spirit sleep. I can't think of ANYTHING WORTH SAYING but I know that I owe you MY LIFE. So Give me words to speak don't let my spirit sleep.

Do all (your best) for the Glory of Christ,

Ben Chambers