This week, the Paralympics opened with a message of inclusion and positivity. Around 4,400 athletes are taking part in the events, including 25 Kiwis. The Paralympics is about human resilience and the determination of athletes who overcome various challenges to compete at such a high level. This caused me to reflect on how we make the most of our abilities and blessings, and the importance of using them wisely.

Coming up on Sunday 15 September is our Annual General Meeting. Reports are being prepared by various people and groups to reflect our activities from last year. These reports reveal the provision of God and His goodness to us and are testimonies to show His mercies are new every morning and His steadfast love never fails. 

The Olympics are over, and the New Zealand team came home with a record 20 medals, what an amazing effort! I wonder what the standout for you was. For me, it was the joy on the faces of the competitors whether they gained a medal or not that was so apparent. They were just so thrilled to be there and compete. 

Watching the highs and low of champion athletes in the Olympic games is a learning moment for me. I watch the reactions of the athletes and their supporters, I listen to the commentators analysis and of course observe my own feelings and emotion.

The bible talks about the race we run daily as children of God. The Apostle Paul tells us that a race has been set before us (Hebrew 12:1), and he instructs us to run in such a way as to obtain the prize (1 Corinthians 9:24). Our race begins when we declare with our mouths that “Jesus is Lord” and believe in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead (Romans 10:9).