Go for the Gold!“I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”—Philippians 3:14

Six months before the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, diver and Olympic hopeful Laura Wilkinson suffered a serious foot injury. She was considered a long shot for a gold medal, but now the odds were stacked even more against her.

In stunning comeback fashion, Laura persevered through the pain and disability to pull off one of the most celebrated upsets in Olympic diving history. Her amazing journey was profiled by NBC news and is ranked as one of the all-time-greatest moments in Olympic history. Laura went for the gold…and got it.

But Laura’s greatest victory in life didn’t happen that day; it happened years earlier during a routine diving competition when she surrendered her life completely to God. Afterwards, making it to the Olympics to seek glory and fame were no longer the main priorities in her life…God was.

“This is what the Olympic experience embodies for me—I get to worship God in front of the world doing what he made me to do. There’s just no

LeanINCentral Baptist Church

Clovis, NM 88101

TH E WO R D“Exercise daily in God—no spiritual flabbiness, please! Workouts in the gymnasium are useful, but a disciplined life in God is far more so, making you fit both today and forever.”— 1 Timothy 4:8 (The Message)

Think About It

August 2012

better feeling than that.”

The prize at the end of Laura’s race was a gold medal, but the Bible says there’s a prize waiting for all of us when we persevere and run the race in our spiritual lives—a far better one than the world can offer!

To go for the spiritual gold, to be able to worship God in front of the world doing what he made each of us to do, is not unlike an Olympic athlete’s journey. We need perseverance, courage, and a commitment to the exercise and development of our faith, coupled with an understanding that it takes time—lots of time—before we can become our best.

God’s a great coach. He sees your potential, and he knows exactly how to train you. Whether you’re stuck on the couch or already sweating in the race, he’s inviting you to exercise with him and join him in his work of building you into the amazing champion you are!

So go for the gold!

• What are three ways you can “exercise” with God this month?

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2.___________________ ___________________

3.___________________ ___________________

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Meet Laura WilkinsonLaura is an amazing athlete, wife, mother, and woman of God. She travels the country sharing her inspiring story and took a few moments out of her busy schedule to share with us.

How did you become aware that God had made you a diver?I started off as a gymnast with aspirations of being an Olympian. But as I got older, I realized that I was never going to be that good at gymnastics. Something deep inside me kept saying “There is something you will be great at—keep looking!” So I did. After trying several different sports and activities, I happened onto the pool deck, and something just clicked right away, and I knew that was where I was supposed to be. God kept pushing me to find the right sport, and when he gave me a passion for diving, I think that's what made me recognize it was from him.

What from your training as an Olympic athlete helps you in your personal life?So many things! But the main one is knowing that we WILL face trials and tribulations (not if, but when)! If we hang on, persevere, and trust God with the outcome, he will be glorified, no matter how it looks to us this side of heaven.

You've won a gold medal. What do you dream of accomplishing now?It's very tough making the transition from competitor to everyday life. Sometimes I struggle with finding an outlet for my competitiveness, but I know God is working on me in this season and teaching me patience and trust.

Connect with Laura and her ministry at her website: laurawilkinson.com.

Retrain Your BrainLet’s admit it, we all have a habit we’d like to change, and we know it will take time to change it…but how much time? 21 days? 60 days? More? Researchers agree that the neurons in our brains don’t change overnight—it takes time, sometimes a lot of time, for new thought and behavior patterns to replace old ones.

Think of it this way—your neurons, acting as a team, are comfortable sitting on the couch of your habit playing the same old game. They’re more than happy to stay there (with the remote and their favorite snack, of course) and will resist your attempts to change the game.

Let’s say you want to create a new habit of reading the Bible every morning or making time for prayer every night. Don’t be surprised when your brain doesn’t want to play along, even after a few days or weeks! It takes repetition and perseverance to create a new habit…and time. But keep at it, because the good news is, as you retrain your brain, God’s transforming you!

“Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect” (Romans 12:2).

Sisters in MotionFaith + Fitness = Success!

An eight-week research study called “Sisters in Motion” engaged 62 elderly black women in Los Angeles in weekly exercise sessions, with one group also participating in Scripture readings and prayer. The women who exercised their faith as well as their bodies increased their overall activity levels by 78%, while the women who were given only exercise increased their activity by only 19%. Combining faith and fitness was more effective than exercise alone, and the experience of shared faith-based support contributed to the overall success of the group. They became healthier—both body and soul!

Grab a few sisters, and put your bodies and faith in motion too!

August 2012 | Page 3

Media Morsels Book Review

Battlefield of the Mind: Winning the Battle in Your MindAuthor: Joyce MeyerPublisher: FaithWords

“Our actions are a direct result of our thoughts. If we have a negative mind, we will have a negative life.”

With chapter titles like “Don’t make me wait for anything,” “When is my mind normal?” and “I can’t take it if things are too hard!” this book explores the variety of difficult and dysfunctional thought patterns that can negatively affect our lives.

Through this best-selling book, Joyce Meyer has helped millions of people learn how to change their lives by changing their minds. Using personal stories and revealing God’s truth, she guides readers to discover how to battle negative thoughts and help their minds to start thinking the way God thinks. To go deeper in study, a personal workbook is also available.

Movie Review

Chariots of FireRelease Date: 1981Genre: Drama, History, SportRating: PG

“I have no formula for winning the race. Everyone runs in her own way, or his own way. And where does the power come from, to see the race to its end? From within. Jesus said, ‘Behold, the Kingdom of God is within you. If with all your hearts, you truly seek me, you shall ever surely find me.’ If you commit yourself to the love of Christ, then that is how you run a straight race.”—Eric Liddell

Affectionately known as the greatest Olympic movie of all time, Chariots of Fire is an epic film, with a heroic theme, beautiful cinematography, and inspiring music. The movie is based on the true story of two runners, one Christian, one Jewish, who compete against each other in the 1924 Summer Olympics. Although they compete for the same prize, one runs for faith, the other runs for fame.

Chariots of Fire is a wonderful movie to experience with friends and family in the midst of this summer’s Olympic Games. It will inspire and challenge you to explore and discuss personal applications of the movie themes of competition, perseverance, and faith.

This page is designed to inform and educate you and is not an endorsement. Our prayer is that you will make informed decisions on what you see, read, and listen to.

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thurs Fri Sat1 2 3 4

Military Wives Bible Study6:00-7:30pm

Women of the Bible: OT 6:15-7:15 Rm 202

5 6 7 8 9 10 11Ice Cream Social & Mission Reports

Military Wives Bible Study6:00-7:30pm

Women of the Bible: OT 6:15-7:15 Rm 202

Church-wide Service Sat

Matt 25 8:30am

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7:15 Rm 202

Teachers’ Luncheon @

Central11:30am –

1:00pm

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Missions Group 9:30 am Rm 203

Women of the Bible: OT 6:15-

7:15 Rm 202

James Giles Missions Group 9:30 am Rm 203

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7:15 Rm 202

Contact for more information

Design and base content © 2012 Group Publishing, Inc., Loveland, CO, group.com/women. Permission to photocopy granted for local church use only.

AugustA Taste of What’s Happening for Women

Starting in September

“The Interrupted Life: Lessons From Jonah”

A study about navigating the unexpected,By Priscilla Shirer

Contact Name: Torie Pendleton

Phone: 903-378-8618

E-mail: womens.ministry@cbc-clovis.com

Design and base content © 2012 Group Publishing, Inc., Loveland, CO, group.com/women. Permission to photocopy granted for local church use only.