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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: PUNCH (08/27/20)
“Punch it up, will ya?” It was the booming voice of my supervisor shouting to me and my co-workers. We were about to begin a project that would make him look bad if it were even a bit late. So, on we worked, and we delivered the completed result on time. The victory was ours and we knew it. We just had to punch it up a little in order to meet the short turn-around time. My supervisor was happy and so were we.

This all too common event at work made me think of how we must keep going forward if we are to attain our goals and live our lives to the fullest. Our lives are a vapor, here today, gone tomorrow. Each of us has God-given gifts that we are to use for His glory. I love the story of Joshua and Caleb and their courage to go forward.

“See, I have set the land before you; go in and possess the land which the LORD ]swore to your fathers—to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—to give to them and their descendants after them.” Deuteronomy 1:8 (NKJV)

God had already given the Promised Land to Israel but when twelve of them went to spy it out, Joshua and Caleb were the only two who came back with a positive report. Ten said they could not overcome all of the obstacles there, but Joshua and Caleb said “yes, we can do it”. To move into the Promised Land they had to punch it up and go in forcefully and effectively with power and zest.

We need a heart of zeal and purpose to go forward and we must punch it up continually. Nobody ever said it would be easy, in fact it is impossible. God starts with the impossible. We can’t go by our own strength into the places where God is calling us to go.

God gives us an inheritance, but it is up to us to go and get it. We must always be on a forward course. It is necessary that we break camp and move forward, take risks, and reach for the unknown. We have to break up everything that holds us back and away from God’s purposes for us. Let’s go into the harvest and co-labor with the Holy Spirit. That is where we will find life.
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Barbara Culler 
09/04/20
So what did you mean by punch it up? Rephrasing the definition to fit your story would have made it easier to understand why we must punch it up for God. I believe it's something about doing better and faster. Sounds like you're saying to work harder and faster for God?
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
09/06/20
This is a powerful piece that gives me hope and a sense of peace. I realized a few years ago, my gift isn't writing original pieces as much as editing or "punching up" authors' stories. I know sometimes I hurt people's feelings with my critiques and it nearly crushes me. I only truly want to help writers to be the best they can be. It's not easy to critique something a person has poured her soul into. You've helped me realize if I remember to pray and ask God for guidance before offering advice, God is able to do amazing things with me. Sometimes I get too scared, too focused on me, too afraid. I feel like God encouraged you to write this to encourage me. I do have a purpose and even though health problems seriously limit me, God has a plan, and I need to trust him even when it feels impossible to do so. Thank you for listening to God. You've touched my heart.
Marlene Custer 
09/09/20
An interesting take on ‘punch’. Your story inspires me to do my best!