DAILY DEVOTIONAL    TUESDAY OCTOBER 29, 2002
(1 Corinthians 9:24, Philippians 3:14, 2 Timothy 4:7)

In a race, everyone runs but only one person gets first prize. So run your race to win.

I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God is calling us up to heaven because of what Christ Jesus did for us.

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

SOURCE #1: (1 Corinthians 9:24, Philippians 3:14) The Children's Living Bible, ©1970 Tyndale House Publishers, Wheaton Illinois 60187
SOURCE #2: (2 Timothy 4:7) The New Student Bible, ©1992 Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids Michigan 49530

Fighting the good fight, finishing the course, keeping the faith. This past weekend, I had a wonderful experience as I had the chance to be on the sidelines during the Ohio State victory over a great Penn State team led by their longtime coach Joe Paterno. It was a wonderful experience for someone that has loved Ohio State football since being a very young boy. I have loved and followed all sports since I watched my first football game at age 5, and it was moving to be on the sidelines with 105,000 screaming fans in the "horseshoe" as the undefeated Buckeyes won a hard fought game that literally went down to the last play.

Sports is my one real love and enjoyment in life apart from my work for the Lord. It is my "break" from the daily real life issues that I have to deal with here at Liveprayer. It is my "enjoyment" to take a break from the tens of thousands of real life problems that I oversee each and every day. While I pray each day for every one of the nearly 1.5 million subscribers who receive this Daily Devotional, sadly, I get to actually meet only a few. From the emails that I receive each day, I am blessed to know of several professional, college, and high school football, basketball, and baseball players, as well as those who participate in other sports, that receive the Devotional. There are also hundreds of  pro, college and high school coaches that receive the Daily Devotional each morning.

Let me say give a special word to the coaches. God has given you a special place in the lives of many young men and women. YOU can be a major influence on their lives. NEVER, take this opportunity that God has given to you for granted. Your greatest victories will NOT come on the playing field, but in the lives of those young men and women that God has entrusted to you for this season of their life. For the athletes: While everyone aspires to be the best, to be compensated richly for your talents, the fact is your greatest performances, your greatest rewards will NOT come from what you do on the field. Your greatest performances will be how you share the Lord with those who God brings into your life, and your greatest rewards will not be of this earth, but what God has for you in Heaven for your faithfulness to HIM during your lifetime. GOD GAVE YOU THIS GREAT GIFT OF ATHLETIC ABILITY TO ENABLE YOU TO HAVE A PLATFORM TO SHARE THE HOPE AND LOVE THAT WE HAVE IN JESUS CHRIST THROUGH YOUR DAY TO DAY LIFE!

Athletics are a microcosm of the challenges that we face in our Christian life each day. All coaches and athletes understand that you don't win the big game on game day. It is won in the hours upon hours of preparation PRIOR to game day. YOU DON'T BECOME SUCCESSFUL SERVING THE LORD IN THE "BIG MOMENT". YOU BECOME SUCCESSFUL SERVING THE LORD IN THE HOURS UPON HOURS OF PREPARATION PRIOR TO THE BIG MOMENT! 99% of athletic contests are won by the team that executes the basics most successfully. Our walk with Christ is the same way. WE HAVE TO EXECUTE THE BASICS. WE HAVE TO PRAY EVERY DAY, READ THE WORD EVERY DAY, FIND WAYS TO SERVE GOD EVERY DAY, LOVE THOSE GOD BRINGS INTO OUR LIFE... THESE ARE THE BASICS OF OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST. When we execute the "basics" we will be successful in our walk with HIM.

I love you and care about you so much. It has been a great honor privilege to address several high school, college, and pro teams during my ministry. I realize the special place that our society has placed sports, and the impact that athletes and coaches can have because of the special abilities that God has entrusted to them. My main word of encouragement to athletes, is simply this. You have a special gift from God that will allow you opportunities to make an impact on people FAR beyond the athletic field. DON'T TAKE YOUR GIFT FOR GRANTED... AND ALLOW GOD TO USE YOU TO TOUCH LIVES. For coaches, God has given you a special place and responsiblity in the lives of young men and women. DON'T TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY AND RESPONSIBLITY FOR GRANTED.... AND ALLOW GOD TO USE YOU TO TOUCH THE LIVES OF THESE MEN AND WOMEN THAT HE BRINGS TO YOU. BOTH ATHLETES AND COACHES ARE SIMPLY INSTRUMENTS THAT GOD CAN USE TO REACH PEOPLE FAR BEYOND THE FILED OF PLAY TO SHARE THE LOVE AND HOPE THAT WE HAVE IN JESUS CHRIST.

The keys are right from Scripture. FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT, FINISH THE COURSE, AND KEEP THE FAITH!

Let me just say as we have only 2 days left this month. We are still $2,700 short of meeting all of our monthly obligations. Say a prayer right now that God will help us end this month with all of our financial needs met. HE may be calling YOU to help. It may be for just a portion of, or the entire amount. All I ask is that you 1) pray our need is met this month, 2) you are obedient to what God may be asking YOU to give. For thsoe that have responded already this month.... THANK YOU. For thsoe who have not, He is speaking to you today. Simply be obedient, and give the best gift TODAY that you possibly can.

You can give your gift on a major credit card via our secured server at our website, www.liveprayer.com under "donations". Or, you can always mail in your gift to:

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Thank you for your love, for your prayers, and for your generous support of the work here at Liveprayer. TOGETHER, we are making an impact in this lost and hurting world for the Kingdom of God!

In His love and service,
Your friend and brother in Christ,
Bill Keller

If I can help you in any way you can contact me through my personal email at bkeller@liveprayer.com.

***I am excited to let you know that the Liveprayer Daily Devotional is now available via audio each day. Simply go to http://www.liveprayer.com/DailyDevotionalAudio.html. Click on "Search by Category", then locate DAILY DEVOTIONAL. I want to thank Ed Morando for making this service available for FREE to Liveprayer.com.

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