Spiritual Running

Since I was in elementary school, I have always hated running. I remember so vividly our PE teacher, Mrs. Meyer saying “Today we will be running outside and you have to get your 5 Popsicle sticks.” We would have to run around a very large grass area right outside our school and each time we went around we would pick up a Popsicle stick to show how many laps we had completed. I dreaded these days because I was a horrible runner. In junior high, it was even worse. Now we had a large park to run around 5 times, although we didn’t have to pick up the Popsicle sticks anymore. Those 5 laps seemed so daunting, so miserable, and I had no way out of it.

Some might say I have a fear of running and would be shocked to know that I am running in the 5K Rodeo Run this Saturday. What started out as just wanting to work out more somehow became a passion and resolution for me to run a 5K this year. So I’ve been on the hunt, in pursuit of something that I have never done, but in the midst of it all I found out it’s not me that is really running. It’s not me that is hitting the pavement. It’s not me running the distance to say I finished a 5K.

This past week on my way to the gym to run, I was given a challenge to memorize 1 Cor 9:24-27 from a friend. I knew right away that God had placed this on my heart to do and I agreed to the challenge not even knowing what the verse said. That morning I ran but I had no purpose and no drive for what I was running for. All I wanted to do was just be able to finish it.

Immediately when I got home I opened my Bible to 1 Cor 9:24-27 and stopped dead in my tracks…..

“Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win. All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.”

I felt God just pick me up and start to shake me, saying “Hello, run after me! You can do anything with me! Trust me! Grow with me!” I was instantly taken aback and knew it had nothing to do with running the distance or for a time. It’s all about running after Him and building endurance. I need to be constantly pursuing Him, communicating with Him, and growing in Him. I need to be more disciplined in my everyday life to continue in my growth and in this journey set out before me.

Since then, every day I run is a special time just between me and God. He gives me strength, endurance and courage and I continually run to seek Him in everything I do. I run with a new purpose for His eternal prize before someone or something can take it away from me.

"Awakening" - Chris Tomlin - Passion 2010

This is the most powerful song I have ever heard. When I first heard it I cried out to my Father to awaken my soul! For the last few weeks, God has grabbed a hold of my heart in a new way and my heart aches for His will to be done in my life. I have been meditating over Psalm 63:3 which says "Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you." Many people go through their Christian walks thinking they know God, but never truly experience an authentic relationship with Him and understand His complete and unconditional love. What are you waiting for? He has so much more planned for you if you just give your WHOLE life over to Him and seek an everlasting relationship with Him.

1 John 1:1-4 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched - this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete.

Time is a Gift from God

There are 24 hours in a day, 7 days in a week, and 52 weeks in a year. It might seem like a long time, but in reality it goes by in a flash. Today especially, we consume our lives with so many activities and obligations that can sometimes take over our lives. It is important to take a step back and question whether our time is being used in the best way.

We all have goals that we set out to achieve each day, but many times they don't get accomplished. It is hard to prioritize everything for our day between our work, school, church and social activies, quiet times and bible reading, and our own personal down time. Do you seem to start something but then get distracted by something else? Do you find yourself being consumed by all the technology we have today? Everyone is guility of this at sometime or another and some more than others. The key is to remember that our time on this earth is precious, God-given and we must find a place of balance.

And now, dear brothers and sisters, we give you this command in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ: Stay away from all believers who live idle lives and don't follow the traditions they received from us. For you know that you ought to imitate us. We were not idle when we were with you. We never accepted food from anyone without paying for it. We worked hard day and night so we would not be a burden to any of you. We certainly had the right to ask you to feed us, but we wanted to give you an example to follow. Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: "Those unwilling to work will not get to eat."

2 Thessalonians 3:6-10

The Bible says explicitily to not live idle lives and to work hard day and night. We cannot live out a life of stress or unambition. We have to actively seek the Lord in finding a happy medium in all of our activites. We have many obligations to our work, school, families, churches, and ourselves. We simply cannot work 60 hours in a week nor can we spend that same 60 hours volunteering. We have to play a game of give and take. In either situation we will get tired and burned out and not be able to live out a life for Christ and share our faith with others if we are not taking care of our overall wellbeing. We need an equal need of success in the workplace, a healthy body and mind, spiritual strength and nurishment, social interaction, and volunteer opportunites. The only way to accomplish this is by putting Christ into the center of our lives and praying for balance in our lives.

God's Enormity

I am currently reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan and absolutely cannot put it down. It is so full of insight into how big and powerful our God is. Just in the first few chapters there is so much to take in, reflect on, and think twice about.

God created our entire universe, the earth, the galaxies, the land, the water, the skies, and He also created you and me. Can you even grasp the idea that the God that created the whole universe also created you? He is the One that loves you unconditionally and is always with you. It is really hard to take in and comprehend, but once you do, you'll look at God radically different.

In our relationship with the creator of the universe, why do we always ask Him to speak to us? Rather we should sit patiently in awe of His divine creation and worship His works.

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work or his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. Psalm 19:1-4

When He created the world, He also decided that you would one day walk this earth, proclaiming His love, and doing His work. He knew millions of years ago how your life would be lived.

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,

before you were born I set you apart;

I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." Jeremiah 1:5

God sought you out and marked you as His. He had a plan for your life from the beginning of time. He wanted you to live a life proclaiming His son as the one who came to earth to save us from our sins. He is the great and mighty One. The Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Revelation 22:13 You are here with a purpose to live a life for Him and spread the works of His son. In everything you do, worship Him and He will lead you to a path of righteousness and a complete and fulfilling life.

Our Generation is Worth Nothing

There is an overwhelming stigma in our society regarding our generation. Many people believe that young people today are consumed by technology, social medias, and have no fear of our actions. Many older adults see us just as crazy kids, having no goals for our lives, and incapable of making our world a better place. While there is some truth to this, I believe they are not seeing the whole picture.

The media plays a major role in how the world sees us and they report mainly on how there are some young people that make mistakes from time to time. What they don't show are the many young people that truly are trying to make a difference in our society. It can be seen in the young lives being lived out for Jesus Christ. All across our country and the world, our generation is gathering to worship, learn, transform the lives of others, and give back. It is this that gives us hope for a bright future.

There is one piece of scripture that comes to mind in all of this. Something that gives our generation and all young people a reason to continue helping to change the lives of our peers.

Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. Do not neglect your gift, which was given to you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you.

1 Timothy 4:12-14

When I first heard this, I was astounded and in awe of God's love and compassion for young people. It reminds us all that our generation lives in this lifetime for a specific purpose and we truly can make a difference. We have to put our focus on Him though and live out a life that serves Him. We have to "set an example" for our peers and all of society. In doing so, God will use you for His marvelous works. I've seen it first-hand through many young people and even through me. Don't let anyone tell you that our generation is worth nothing or that we can't make a difference because with God you can do anything.

We were all put on this earth with specific gifts and talents. There will be some people who will become teachers or pastors, some who will become doctors or lawyers, some who will become famous inventors or musicians. We were all created differently and will leave a mark on the world in different ways, but when we come together in the light of our Lord amazing things will happen. Lets change how society thinks of us and reach out our hand to our peers that desperately need unconditional love and salvation.

2010

It is 2010 and I have made a resolution to start a blog. So here I go with a new adventure. To start off here is a list of my other resolutions for this year!

Grow a stronger relationship with Jesus Christ

Go to the gym on a more consistent basis

Train to run a 5k

Finish my year Bible reading plan that I started in August 2009

Pass my teaching certification tests and complete my student teaching

Impact a child's life

Read some of the many books I have bought including: Crazy Love by Francis Chan, Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge, The Complete Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer, True Colors by Kristin Hannah, The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks, The Next Thing on My List by Jill Smolinski, Completely His by Shannon Ethridge, Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom, Vision in White by Nora Roberts, Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay, and Second Chance by Jane Green

Volunteer for Beach Retreat 2010

Learn to play 5 new songs on the piano

Be a better Sweet Adeline performer by rehearsing 4 days a week

Take a vacation to somewhere I have not been before

Grow in my leadership positions