Billy was a track runner and he did not need extra weight.  

But summer was a disaster.  Too many milk-shakes.  Too many burgers.  Too many French fries.  

'You've lost three seconds on the hundred-yard sprint,' the school coach told Billy.  'You're carrying extra weight.  Don't know if you'll make the team.'  

Billy had not disciplined his body.  He had eaten the wrong things.  

The Bible says Christians must also discipline our bodies, that is, not allow into our lives things that stop us from being like Jesus.

Prayer: Cleanse me, O God, and keep me clean today.  Amen.

The whole town was asleep.  

Sonja dragged herself out of bed, quickly ate breakfast, and cycled to the community ice rink.  There, her coach led her through her skating routine.  For the past three years, every morning had started this way for Sonja.  

At the skating championship finals, the winner was declared.  Sonja!  Her years of work had brought its reward.  

The same thing is true in our Christian life.  If we take time and effort to follow Jesus, our lives will become like His.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to follow You today.  Amen.

The contest had a $10 first prize.  Whoever blew the biggest balloon would win.  

Jeffrey blew and blew until his face was blue.  Already, Jeffrey was planning what he would buy with the $10.  

Then - you guessed it - his dreams ended with a BANG.  The balloon burst.  Jeffrey had worked for nothing.  His labor was useless.

Be sure that the prize you're living for won't be like Jeffrey's.  God promised a sure prize to everybody who faithfully serves the Lord Jesus Christ - peace and joy in this life and everlasting glory in Heaven.  What a prize!

Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your great rewards to faithful believers.  Amen.

My vine took five years before it gave me grapes.  Five years of careful pruning, covering it in winter, supporting it with sticks, keeping dogs and cats (and sometimes children) away from it.  Five years!  Then, it started bearing fruit.

God wants us to bear fruit.  He does everything that's needed to care for us so we can bear fruit for Him.  

If we are growing in our Christian lives, our family and friends should see the fruit of love and kindness growing in us.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to bear fruit for You today.  Amen.

Babies love milk.  They don't understand how, but milk makes them grow.  They can't eat big steaks or pizza, but they must have milk.  

If a baby didn't have milk, it would likely die.

The Bible is like milk.  It is food for 'baby' Christians.  It helps us to grow.  We may not understand how, but God says it does and He says we should take the milk of God's Word into our lives.

Do you read the Bible every day?  That's the milk God is talking about.

Prayer: Lord, help me to take in the milk of Your Word by reading and obeying it every day.  Amen.