The county fair….
My first county fair that I can remember was the Tulare County Fair in California…all I really remember about it was seeing a de-scented skunk…it was obviously was of much interest to me as a small child…but the event was the beginning of a long life of attending and eventually participating in the fair…
My dad had done the same with FFA agriculture, my husband also had FFA and 4H…I did 4H and realizing I could earn money by entering fair exhibits as a child, that definitely was a draw…
As adult, it is a challenge to myself…
Over the years , it was Humboldt county fairs in California and Nevada, Benton, Decshutes, Malheur Counties in Oregon, Elko County in Nevada, Nevada and Oregon State fairs and now, Canyon County…
My children grew up going and sometimes entering, as well, at local fairs…it was thing we did and and some still do…
It was and is a gathering place for long time friends, to eat “fair “ food, to oooh and aaah over various entries, to sit on hard wooden benches at the livestock shows, to encourage students with their livestock, to congratulate or commiserate with others, to see new products, to ride the carnival rides…just a place for fun…after a long hot summer readying for soon-to-start school…
Paul spoke of running a race for the prize…for some that race is the county or state fair…you practice and practice that chocolate cake ( as one of my nieces did) to get it just right for the fair…or you tame your animals to lead well…or sew or bake or can extra well to enter…for the blue ribbon…the prize…all these are temporal and have no eternal value…
Our real life-changing prize is Jesus… his glory, his Gift, His love, his Salvation…it is free to those who believe…to those who put their trust in His saving grace…no blue, red, white or honorable mention ribbons…he shows no partiality…and He loved us before we even loved Him…he chose us…
We are the exhibits…to some a sweet fragrance…we are the sheep of his pasture…
Thank YOU…
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.
1Cor.9.24-25
I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Phil.3.14
But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.
2Cor.2.14-17
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Matt.5.14, 16
Press on, press on…
1 | Press on, press on toward the goal— The all-inclusive Christ. To gain the prize of God’s high call, Press on, press on to Christ! |
| Pressing on! Pressing on! Pressing on! Hallelujah for the prize We’re pressing on! On and on! To gain the Christ of God! | |
2 | Press on, press on, count all things loss. All that is gain to us, To win the prize, the Christ of God, Is far more glorious! |
3 | Press on, press on to know the Lord And resurrection power— Oh, this is our supreme reward, E’en in the suffering hour! |
4 | Press on, press on, this one thing do, Forget the things behind; Press onward to the Christ before, Press onward with this mind! |
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