We have all certainly been through hurdles in life Satan's one desire is to

break us Christians, troubles and trials are always coming our way! It seems

that sometimes the more we follow God's plan for our lives, the harder

things get. And yet, God is the God of circumstances, too. No matter how

bleak it seems, He is in control.

There are four types of hurdles, those that’s are inflicted by God, or put

there by God. When this happens we always wonder why?? Why me? Why now?

Jeremiah 29:1 says ‘ I say this because I know the plans I have for you ‘

says the Lord ‘ I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you. I will

give you hope and a good future’.

Sometimes God puts hurdles in our life, as a consequence of our sins. He

disciples us because he loves us and wants to correct us and restore us to

Him. He also send them to test us, to encourage us to take a stand for

Christ and to see if we will obey Him.

Although the hurdle that we are going through may seem a bit tough, and

unjust from God, He knows exactly what he is doing. God turns all bad around

for good, for those who follow him.

The second type of hurdles that we will face, are those self-inflicted ones.

Ones that we bring about ourselves, whether it be from our own stupidity, or

just a simple mistake. We all do it, and its very common.

Its says Judges 16:17,22,28 says ‘Finally, Samson told her his secret…so the

philistines captured him and gouged out his eyes…. Then Samson prayed to the

Lord, “Sovereign Lord, remember me again”. Samson’s life, although filled

with foolish mistakes, was used mightily by God.

The third type is those inflicted by other people. This is where we get hurt

the most, we loss trust in people, but we need to look at these and remember

that it wasn’t our fault, it’s the way we react that’s important.

And some suffering is inflicted by Satan, in hopes of discouraging us and

leading us off the difficult, narrow path. If we are trying to do things

God's way, the evil one certainly isn't going to make things easy for us, is

he!

Sometimes we - I know that I do! -- underestimate Satan's power. The Bible

tells us that we should expect difficulties. Jesus was unequivocal about

this. He didn't say, "you may have trials and sorrows." He didn't say, "if

you stray off the right path you will have trials and sorrows." Nope. He

says "You will have many trials and sorrows."

Whether it be a God inflicted, a self inflicted , inflicted by someone else

Or by Satan you can’t change the hurdles in the race set before you. But you

can change your approach and the way you handle them.

There are four common reactions to hurdles. 1. you blame someone else. If

this is your fault, you need to take full responsibility for it. You can’t

blame someone else for your own mistakes and stupidity. You just hurt

someone else, and can sometimes make the problem even bigger.

2 you fine ways to avoid it. This is like in the Olympics, in the hurdle

races. If you go into someone else’s lane, you get disqualified. So you

can’t go around your problems, they just get bigger.

3 you hide from it. Your problems wont go away, you can’t ignore it, you

have to face it.

The forth option and the best, is to just confront it. It’s the best and

only option in life. You can blame someone else, you can try and avoid it

and just hide from it, but its still there. You will most likely feel guilty

about it until you deal with it. Face on.

And it doesn’t matter how you face it, as long as you face it head on, and

honestly, you will get through.

When an Olympian goes in a hurdle race, it doesn’t matter how they get over

the hurdle, as long as they stay in their lane and finish the race, they are

a winner. They don’t get disqualified if they knock ever single hurdle over,

as long as they finish the race.

It’s the same in real life

You can make a big mess of the hurdles put before you, as long as you turn

to God, all things will work out

Hebrews 12:1 says ‘We have around us many people, whose lives tell us what

faith is. So let us run this race that is set before us and never give up.

we should remove from our lives anything that would get in our way and the

sin that so easily hold us back.’

We all have a race set before us, let us all run it.

You all know Romans 8:28 which says ‘ we know that in everything God works

for the good of those who love him. They are the people he called, cause it

was his plan.’ Don’t just know this verse folks, really believe it. A lot of

Christians struggle with these sort of issues, but if we know and really

believe this verse we will all win.

Who ever inflicted the hurdles in our lives that we need to face, as long as

we turn to God, get your life back right with him, ask for his help and

guidance, all things will turn out right, and He will be glorified.

Romans 5:3-4 ‘we can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for

we know tat they are good for us—they help us learn to endure. And endurance

develops strength of character.’

Good will come out of our hurdles.

Acts 17:24-26 ‘The God who made the whole world and everything in it is the

Lord of the land and the sky. He doesn’t live in temples built by human

hands. This God is the one who gives life, breath and everything else to

people’.

We can take on any hurdle as long as we trust god, some how it will work

out.

Take full responsibility of the hurdles in your life, turn to God, trust

Him, look forward and finish the race. It’s the approach that will decide

how you finish, whether it will make you or break you. Just have faith in

Jesus.

Look at Jesus, towards the end of His life. He said ‘Its finished’ He has

the biggest hurdle, than we ever had., the ultimate hurdle. His death was

Gods plan for his life, he couldn’t take this at first and questioned God.

But he over came that hurdle and put His trust in God.

Then he had to over come the hurdle that it was the people of the land that

wanted him crucified. He over came that, by putting his trust in God again.

He one the biggest race, the ultimate race, once for all, for ALL people. He

trusted God, finished the race and won!

Remember You can’t change the hurdles in the race set before you… but you

can change your approach and the way you handle it. Turn to God!!

As Aly presented her thoughts..

I thought of the scripture .. I can do ALL things through Christ who

strengths me.

All things, overcome all hurdles, amen

I have chosen to look at the hurdle jumper; This is a person who has chosen

a specific field to run in.

When you accepted Christ you knew that your goal would be to overcome the

world

No hurdle jumper is surprised when they enter the field and see these

obstacles

they expect them, they depend on them, for they could not be jumpers without

them.

But when a hurdle jumper choose this field of athletics, can they instantly

run and jump?

Laugh Out Loud NO!

I remember the hurdle jump, I remember me on the ground with 5 hurdles

tangled around my arms and legs.

Jumping hurdles, takes training. It take proficence, Timing.. Trust in ones

training and self, and their trainer..

So to become a hurdle jumper, you first must find an expert trainer. We know

that Jesus is the expert..

Many times a Coach has an assistant; your assistant is your pastor

Your teacher who ever you have that trains you, you must have confidence in

them, they are the best the most efficient at training you. Because, YOU

want to win the GOLD.

To begin you will exercise. Exercise in the word you must know it and use

it and the more you do, the stronger you will be, practice jumping over

little things. No jumper sets out cold. They must stretch, so as to not pull

a muscle. Some of us try far too much, too soon. Or too big. And pull a

muscle and never try to jump again.

So we need to use wisdom in our training, the jumper needs confidence in

their training, in the way the hurdles are set up, it is up to the

professional trainer to put each hurdle exactly spaced apart.

One thing I know about jumping hurdles, is the jumper never looks at the

hurdle they look over the top of them to the finish. This depend totally on

there training, timing, strength and whether they see themselves already

over and finished

As Aly posted, IT IS FINISHED, the word says ‘these things come that ye

might be made strong’

And over the years I have learned I have choices. I can either make my

hurdles stumbling blocks, or stepping-stones. I want the GOLD. I want to

win, I want to hear well done GOOD and faithful servant.

So to do this, I must see myself, finished and keep training, in the word,

in prayer, in praise, in speaking to you and other songs and hymns, and good

things, things that will empower me to jump that next hurdle.

In life there must be hurdles, because we are to over come the world as

Jesus did.

We look to him, our example, He have overcome, because he overcame and HE

lives inside of us, with all power, all know how ALL.

We look to the Master Trainer. . JESUS

We listen. Learn. And practice. Jumping over and over. Till we become

Hinds..

Jumping and jumping with ease, flying, never noticing the hurdles, for our

eyes are not on circumstances. But on the finish line, Hurdles become a

blur, when you Look at the Master they only become bigger than you when you

look Down, .so Look up, Look in the Face of you trainer.

Stop complaining about hurdles and start flying over them. You’re chosen to

jump

You’re created in His image and likeness, you have all the stuff inside of

you to fly HIGH, but you must tap into the source.

We know how, but we don't always train and then ask how come I stumbled and

fell?

But truly little children, we know why, we did not look to the Master, we

did not practice,

we did not exercise. But in the end, when we fall, He is at the finish with

oil of healing and mending and encouragement.

YOU can do better tomorrow, let us begin today.

I thank God he has spent much time teaching me to jump and will spend no

less with any of His children. Look to Your Master Trainer and above all

don't Give UP!.