Noodling

So here's the story. A month or so ago I was told by an ATL friend: "Don't worry. The Braves will be in the playoffs, and we will beat you guys...mark my words!" That was only one of many audacious statements he made touting the triumph that the Braves would eventually ultimately achieve over the Phillies in the post season. The grand culmination came a few weeks ago when I challenged his empty threats, and it was determined that a wager needed to be set. And that's when I was backed into potentially having to do one of the worst things I can possibly think of! Silly me...here I was thinking along the lines of a free dinner or some kind of royal treatment.

Nope. Not even close...

If the Braves took down the Phillies, I would have to go noodling!

Yes. That's right. I said NOODLING!!! I instantly regretted raising the challenge.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with what noodling entails, just watch. I'm thinking you'll understand my incredulous reaction.

And if that doesn't convince you, try it bare handed!! Are you insane?!?!

So you can imagine that I've been rooting extra hard for the Phillies over the last several weeks!  And, while I know it's neither kind nor becoming to kick someone while they're down, I probably was a touch too exuberant when I rubbed in the Phillies sweep of the Braves to finish off their season. (please count this as my public apology!) BUT, in my defense, I was honestly mostly just ecstatically relieved that I was off the hook for the noodling excursion!!!

And now you might be wondering what amazing prize I will be rewarded as the obvious victor?! Yeah...let's just say that somehow in my flabbergasted state of shock, we never got around to establishing my side of the deal.
Shoot. ;-)

Worth it

I wrote earlier this week that I wish every woman would come to realize just how valuable they really are. And I would especially love to drill that sense of significance straight into the heart of every young girl. You are worthy of respect.  You are worth waiting for. You deserve to be treated with honor. You are precious. And you should be cherished and pursued. I long to see you radiate self assurance, a sense of self sufficiency, and a knowledge that you are, indeed, worth it.

Please don't misunderstand me. I am the farthest thing from a feminist. I'm not getting up on any soapbox as an advocate for woman's rights. I'm not rallying for female dominance. And I'm completely sold out to the Biblical command, "Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord". I'm just saying that I'm also totally sold out to the rest of the command, "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church".

It flat out breaks my heart to see so many women who don't see themselves the way that God sees them. It breaks my heart when I see women settling for less than God's best for their lives. It breaks my heart to see women close themselves off so tightly and put up so many defenses that they never allow themselves to be known and truly loved. It breaks my heart to see women diving into unhealthy relationships to avoid being alone. It breaks my heart when I see women jumping at anyone who will show interest in them. It breaks my heart to see women giving away pieces of their heart and their bodies that they can never get back.

So to the young woman who is searching for love, looking for acceptance, longing for someone to fill that empty space...please know that you are worth more than a one night stand. You deserve to be treated well. You should never be made to feel little and discarded. You are worth being pursued. Your boundaries are worth keeping and need to be respected. You need to hold tight to your standards. And if you're currently in a dating relationship where you're belittled, where you have to walk on eggshells, if you're just flat out not able to be you, and especially if he hasn't made Jesus a priority in his life...RUN AWAY...NOW!!! I know it will hurt. I know it sucks to sit at home on a Friday night with nothing to do, but trust me...staying is only hurting you more. God has SO much more for your life. You are precious to Him, and He wants only the best for His daughters. Run to Him. He loves you more than any person here on earth could ever begin to love you. He accepts you just the way you are, and only He can truly satisfy that empty space. You are worth it!

In Ephesians, God gives us an amazing picture of the way you should be treated by comparing our earthly relationships to the way Christ relates to us:

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church– for we are members of his body. “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” This is a profound mystery–but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

I realize that's a pretty high standard, and humanity will never be able to perfectly mirror Christ. But I also don't believe that God put this in the Bible without expecting us to do our best to follow it. I believe this is what God intended for all of us to experience. THIS is God's best for us, and I firmly believe that He will honor your commitment to pursue His best for your life. You are worth it!!

And if you're interested, I love how Perry Noble comes straight out and addresses dating/relationships without holding back.  These posts he's written are awesome:

• Every Single Dude and “Dude-ett” Should Read This!!!
• How To Be Pursued By A Guy
• Six Signs The Dating Relationship Is In Trouble…
• Five Things A Single Dude NEEDS To Know…
• 10 Reasons I Should Not Be Dating Him/Her
• How To Pursue A Young Lady–Four Things You Should Know
• Top Five Temptations Single People Face When Considering A Relationship
• Advice For Single People!!!
• I/We Should Break Up Because…
• 18 Myths Singles Believe…And A Quick Note About Sunday

It Is Good

I love this excerpt from the last chapter of Shauna Niequist's Cold Tangerines:

I have to remind myself that [life] is good. I have to create hope in my life, because there's something inside me that has radar for the bad parts of life. I walk into the kitchen and all I can see are crumbs on the counter, and I look in the mirror and don't even see my face, I just see all the potential wrinkles forming. I have a dark, worst-case scenario sensor, and it takes over. It's all true. There are crumbs on the counter. I am definitely getting wrinkles. I just don't want to live in only that reality.

Because there is another reality. A better one. Hope and redemption and change are real, and they're happening all around me. So I choose to act out of that reality, because the other one makes life too hard, day after day. Life is painful, and we carry with us so much disappointment and heartbreak. But I'm fighting to save some space inside me where I can create hope. I can't live there in the disappointment anymore. I've missed whole seasons of my life. I look back and all I remember is pain. I guess I went to work or class during that time, but I don't really remember. I wasted a lot of time wishing I was different. I didn't love the gift of life because I was too busy being angry about the life I was given. I wanted it to be different. But being angry didn't change those things. It just wasted time. I can't take away the things that have happened to you or to me, but what we have, maybe as a reward for getting through all the other days, is today. Today is a gift. And if we have tomorrow, tomorrow will be a gift.

It's rebellious, in a way, to choose joy, to choose to dance, to choose to love your life. It's much easier and much more common to be miserable. But I choose to do what I can do to create hope, to celebrate life, and the act of celebrating connects me back to that life I love. We could just live our normal, day-to-day lives, saving all the good living up for someday, but I think today, just plain today, is worth it. I think it's our job, each of us, to live each day like it's a special occasion, because we've been given a gift. We get to live in this beautiful world. When I live purposefully and well, when I dance instead of sitting it out, when I let myself laugh hard, when I wear my favorite shoes on a regular Tuesday, that regular Tuesday is better.

Right now, around our house, all the leaves are falling, and there's no reason that they have to turn electric bright red before they fall, but they do, and I want to live like that. I want to say, "What can I do today that brings more beauty, more energy, more hope?" Because it seems like that's what God is saying to us, over and over. "What can I do today to remind you again how good this life is? You think the color of the sky is good now, wait till sunset. You think oranges are good? Try a tangerine." He's a crazy delightful mad scientist and keeps coming back from the lab with great, unbelievable new things, and it's a gift. It's a gift to be a part of it.

Let's echo his words, and let our lives speak those words: It is good.

Valuable

There's one thing I wish every single female out there would come to realize, take to heart, and truly embrace...

I think if we look long enough and hard enough in the mirror, we'll all see a scared little girl staring back at us. I don't care how self-assured you are. I don't care how much you seem to have your life put together. I don't care if you've got a Barbie figure and an Einstein mind. When we start to peel back the layers we've built up around our hearts, there are always insecurities of some sort.

I don't know when it started for you...

• Some little girls have been scarred early on in childhood. It might not have been something traumatic. Sometimes she just doesn't have the privilege of crawling up into her daddy's lap and knowing that he loves her. She's not shown how precious she really is. And a few bricks start being laid around her little heart to protect it from disappointment.
• Some girls grow into adolescence and start comparing themselves to all the other girls around them. She's trying to climb the ladder, but never seems to be good enough or pretty enough. She alters her image. She tries to fit in and be popular. And a few bricks are laid around her heart to protect it from insignificance.
• Some girls grow up in a relatively safe environment, but start to flounder when facing the realities of facing life alone. She sees her friends all get married, and she starts to wonder what's wrong with her. She starts dating someone who doesn't meet standards...just so she won't be alone...and she gives away pieces of herself that can't be taken back. And a few bricks are laid around her heart to protect it from guilt and shame and regret. 
• Some girls marry the man of their dreams, and then the dream crumbles in the harsh reality of life. She wilts during arguments and pulls away during conflict. She can't understand why the fairy tale isn't coming true. And a few bricks are laid around her heart to protect it from abandonment and loneliness.

Your story may be something completely different, but it's still led to a similar fundamental weakness. And if the right buttons are pushed long enough and hard enough, your determined resolve will disintegrate. Your story may be different, but I think all stories come back to the same bottom line issue...to the same underlying question: What is the foundation of your self-worth?

If there was only one thing that I could communicate to women of all ages, it's this: "You are valuable." 

The problem is that we tend to look for our value in all the wrong places. We look for approval from people. We try to fit a certain mold; look a certain way; maintain a certain weight. We seek happiness in relationships; in accomplishments; through children. And yet we never get to know who God created us to be as individuals. We never learn to find contentment in Him. We never realize how unique and wonderful He's made us. And ultimately, we fail to realize that we are beloved daughters of the Creator of the universe, and as such, we are significant and valuable.

There is nothing here on earth that will satisfy that longing in your heart, and you will continue to find futility in searching for significance outside of a relationship with your Father who loves you more than anything. Let that sink in. It's seems like such a simple concept, but it's one that holds depth beyond comprehension: Jesus loves you. [He has] loved you with an everlasting love. He loves you just the way you are. You are beautiful. He's calling, "Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with me." You are a priceless treasure, and you are exceedingly valuable.

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

5k Run

I never thought this day would come, but it's official. I'm finally doing it. I'm running in my very first 5k on Saturday. I've run off and on over the last few years. Granted, most of the time it's more off than on, but still. I've moaned and complained about how much I hate running. Seriously, when I would run while playing soccer in high school, it was a completely different ball game (no pun intended). It was totally different than running just to run. There was a point. There was something to run after. Now that I think about it, I've even whined in a blog post or two about how much I loathe running. And yet, I keep doing it. Because it's good for me. *sigh*

And now I'm actually running in an organized event?! I'm running with a bunch of other people?! I'm actually being timed?! Oh boy. I must be crazy. OR...it must be for a good cause!! Yeah, I think that's a much better explanation by far! Because it is, indeed, for an incredible cause...for an amazing little boy!!  Check out his story and details for the race here.

Come out and run, walk, bike, skate, or even crawl with us. Just come out. Come and support this wonderful family.

Side note: I love the crazy, awesome staff at Victory Church. This video truly captures two of them in all their glory. haha

Child Proof

I've owned my home for...well, let me think...  Wow.  It will be 10 years in December.  Oh my word.  I must be getting old. ;-) 

I've made changes here and there. I've painted. I've slowly pulled together coordinating pictures and accent pieces over the years. But for the most part, the main large pieces of furniture have remained the same. Let's just say that when you live somewhere for that long by yourself, there can be a tendency to get used to the way things are. And if you're like me (God help you if you are...haha), you can walk through your every day routine without even thinking, because everything has a specific spot, and it will most certainly be right where you left it when you go to reach for it the next time.  There's also a tendency to not even notice particular items and totally overlook them, because that's just where they've always been. That is...until you bring a child into the picture.

A few weeks ago, I was finally able to hang out with some dear friends that I don't get to see nearly enough, and they brought their precious wee ones with them to my house for the afternoon. Granted, one of them is still a baby, and he could do no more harm than to drool on my carpet. :-) But the same cannot be said of the sweetest one year old toddler girl I know. She really was so good, but everyone gets a little naughty when they're way overdue for a nap, right? And it was that afternoon when I realized how child proof my house is NOT. My collection of wooden elephants that my grandfather got me overseas became the first fun target of attention. Oh, and all the pretty buttons on electronic media equipment are so fun to push. The porcelain teapot on the bottom shelf, of course, just had to be touched. Then when all breakables were finally put up out of reach, those stairs...ohhhhh those stairs were there just asking to be climbed. And I will never understand what draws kids toward electrical sockets. Their tiny holes are like magnets for little fingers!

Seriously, when I invited my friends over to hang out, I never once thought about any of those things! Apparently I'm a touch inexperienced. haha!  And in my friend's defense, she really handled her daughter's curious fingers so amazingly well. She disciplined out of love, and she said "no" to protect her daughter from harm. I loved watching her parenting skills in action. I have so much to learn, and I'm so glad I have great examples all around me!

It's surprising how many things there are in our own lives that we've lived with for so long that we just start to overlook them. We get comfortable in our routine. We don't even realize it when we have things that need to be cleaned up in our hearts. And if we actually do recognize that there's mess, we're the only ones who see it. We can justify it. We can sweep it under the rug. And no one is the wiser. That is...until you bring a friend into the mix. Someone to hold you accountable. Someone who will point out those areas in your life that are fragile. That are dangerous. That need to be cleaned up. That really should be off limits.

We're all a work in progress.
We can all tend to be blind to our own deficiencies.
We all need a wake up call from time to time.
We're all in need of a little child proofing in our lives.

I have so much to learn, so I love surrounding myself with friends who are great examples of God's grace, love, mercy, and truth. Friends who will hold me accountable. Friends who will not only point out my weaknesses, but will, in turn, help me child proof my heart. And I love planting God's Word within my mind. Setting it like a seal over my soul. Because it's for my good. It's for my own protection.

Proverbs 4
Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction;
pay attention and gain understanding.

When I was a boy in my father’s house,
still tender, and an only child of my mother,
he taught me and said,
“Lay hold of my words with all your heart;
keep my commands and you will live.
Get wisdom, get understanding;
do not forget my words or swerve from them.
Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;
love her, and she will watch over you.
Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom.
Though it cost all you have, get understanding.

Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
guard it well, for it is your life.
Do not set foot on the path of the wicked
or walk in the way of evil men.
Avoid it, do not travel on it;
turn from it and go on your way.

The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,
shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
they do not know what makes them stumble.

Above all else, guard your heart,
for it is the wellspring of life. 

Follow

Twisted turning road ahead of me

Foggy steps my feet take

Winding down or up I can't see

Stumbling blindly through life's heartache

Hands clinging desperately

To the line of life I need

To the only One I know

Who will always lead

Where I should follow

Heart crying out my plea

For saving grace to rescue me

You're the only One I know

Who will always lead

If I'll learn to follow

Change

It's crazy to think that a year ago, my little world as I knew it totally turned upside down. The safe little bubble that I had built up and lived in completely imploded. I suppose in comparison to the crisis situations that I've seen other people go through, it might have been insignificant. But for me, it was earth shattering. Not knowing who to trust. Not knowing what to do. Not knowing anything really.

And yet in the middle of it all, there was a strange sense of peace. 

You see, this wasn't the first time I've had the rug pulled out from under me.  It wasn't the first time I've experienced heartache.  It wasn't the first time I've been left in complete bewilderment. Not understanding. Not knowing who to trust. Not knowing what to do.  But I think this most recent time was different somehow, and I think it's because of things that God has been teaching me step by step especially over the last few years.

For the first time in my life, I knew that my focus was first and foremost dead set on following what God wanted for me. Even if it meant change (which up until that point hadn't really been a part of my vocabulary). Even if it meant leaving everything that I loved doing and was thrilled beyond words to be involved in.  Even if it scared the crap out of me. So while I felt completely out of control and disoriented, somehow I knew that God was in control. I knew that no matter what happened, He would walk through it with me. And if God was asking me to uproot myself and start over, then He would certainly not waste the amazing things that He had begun in my life or the passions that He had been stirring in my heart.

There was really only one thing I kept coming back to amidst my uncertainty. Even if I didn't understand, I knew that if God was calling me to change, then I could change.  I would change. And I found peace in that. Overwhelming peace.

Sitting on her front porch, a great friend encouraged me to trust my gut, and trust that if I've truly been seeking God's will and His guidance, then God was in that peace that I was experiencing. And that's when I think the lightbulb finally went on, and it finally clicked. I realized that maybe I wasn't so uncertain about what I needed to do after all.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Crazier still, once I started to embrace that peace and follow God's leading, that's when change actually started to hold a hint of excitement for me. I'm actually starting to look forward to it! I love what Steven Furtick posted on twitter yesterday: Everything I ever thought I needed that God took away, turns out it was blocking something BETTER He had prepared. And let me tell you, I've seen God open some amazing doors along the way. And as I continue to learn to let go of my will and follow His, I'm thinking there's a whole slew of incredible opportunities just waiting to unfold in God's perfect timing.

I do not know what the future holds.  I do not know where God might call me.  I do not know what may be on the horizon.  But I do know without a doubt that as long as I'm running hard after God and following His lead, I never have to be afraid. I can trust that His plan will always be so much greater than my own. I can rest in His peace no matter what He might ask me to change.

Four Chords

I've never really thought about how many songs are out there that are built off of the exact same chord progression.  Four chords...apparently that's all you need to write a good love song.  And North Point Community Church rocks this medley!!  I love it!!

It's Friday, and I have nothing in depth or profound to expound on with this one. 

This is just awesome.  End of story...

Epic Fail

This clip got passed around the office this week, and I just died laughing...

Don't worry...it's fake.  No one was harmed in the filming of this video.  Therefore, it's ok to laugh at the kid's demise!  :-)

It's crazy though.  You kind of  forget the fact that their tablecloth trick actually worked, because you're left in shock (and laughter) at the epic failure that happens afterwards.  I think life is like that sometimes.  How many times do we try something new and triumph in our success, only to have the world come crashing down around us in the very next second?  How many times do we lose sight of how far God has brought us when we're yet again smacked in the face with that one area of life that just doesn't want to fall into place?  How many times do we forget about the incredible blessings that God has lavished on us when we encounter disappointment, loss, or heartache?

It's in times like this that I'm so very thankful that we have God's Word to run to - to remind us of His love and faithfulness and to give us hope. There is nothing in life...no pain, no crisis, no failure...that is too epic for Him to overcome! 

I have been deprived of peace;
I have forgotten what prosperity is.
So I say, “My splendor is gone
and all that I had hoped from the Lord.”
I remember my affliction and my wandering,
the bitterness and the gall.
I well remember them,
and my soul is downcast within me.
Yet this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope:
Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him.”
The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;
it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the Lord.

Lamentations 3:17-26 

Holy

I see the Lord

Clothed in splendor

Too brilliant

Too awesome

Too wonderful to comprehend

I fall to my knees

And I cry

Holy, You're holy, holy Lord

Holy, so holy, holy Lord

I'm not worthy

Stained with sin

Too guilty

Too broken

Too unclean to raise my head

I fall to my knees

And I cry

Holy, You're holy, holy Lord

Holy, so holy, holy Lord

Then He lifted me

Redeemed my life

Gave freedom

Gave healing

Gave power to begin again

I stand to my feet

I lift up my eyes

I raise my hands to You

And I cry

Holy, You're holy, holy Lord

Holy, so holy, holy Lord

I Love This Church!!

I headed up north to State College last weekend to watch Penn State and Alabama square off against each other. It's amazing to see an entire town transformed for game day. People flock in all decked out in their game day apparel touting their support for their school, and during this white out game, it was even easier to spot the crimson Bama fans dotting the stadium. "We Are!!...Penn State!!" could be heard as people chanted around town, and you could feel the anticipation build as you got closer to Beaver Stadium and game time approached. The Blue Band came out to kick off the game (as you can see above), and the place erupted. The Nittany Lion led a call and response as one side of the stadium shouted "WE ARE!!", and the other side answered "PENN STATE!!". The air was filled with passionate excitement, and fans were ready.

So how is it that we can go to a football game and cheer on our favorite team...yelling, screaming, clapping, waving our pom-poms...and then go to church on Sunday and sit there sullen and straight faced without any excitement at all?? Shouldn't our relationship with God be exciting? Shouldn't we enjoy the community of believers that gather together to celebrate the God who created us and loves us? I'm not saying we need to jump up and down, dance in the aisles, and wave flags...although, maybe there is a time and a place for that as well. I'm just saying that maybe we should actually realize why we're going to church in the first place and Who we're actually there for. Isn't God an even bigger reason to celebrate? Shouldn't He be the greatest reason of all to celebrate? Maybe we should actually let that sink in and have an affect on our hearts.

God deserves our excitement. God deserves our joy. God deserves our best.

I want to be contagious. I want the excitement that I've found in my relationship with Christ to be caught by others around me. I want to spread the joy that God's put in my heart and effect people I come into contact with. I want to worship all week long in anticipation of joining with my church family each weekend to celebrate together. And even more than that, I want to turn that celebration into action. Not only by being responsive within our time of corporate worship, but also by responding through serving within my church.

I love my church!!

I'm loving the current "I Love This Church" series that Pastor Curt is sharing with us, and I love that we have the opportunity to be involved, share our excitement, live out our faith, and do something about it by giving back.

Glorious

I was out for a run last night, and this song shuffled into my music mix. Its bpm is perfect for the speed I typically run at, and I found myself pushing forward with more energy with every step. Here's the problem though: I CANNOT help but sing along with this song! There I was...out on the trail...singing and running. Well, to be honest, I wasn't really successful at doing either one combined together like that. So it didn't take long for me to stop singing. Instead, I just found myself smiling and raising my hands in worship. It's a good thing I didn't pass too many people. They would've gotten a good show.

FYI: if you ever see me smiling while I'm out on the trail, I can guarantee it has NOTHING to do with the fact that I'm running. :-)

We look to You, eyes upon Your cross
We live for You, and count it all as loss
We hold on to You, knowing You have overcome
We trust You, giving up our hearts
We wait for You, knowing You will come
We belong to You, You have given life to us
Great is Your name and we give You praise

You are Glorious, high above the heavens
You are Glorious, in brilliance unapproachable
And marvelous
We await our Savior, Glorious

No enemy can keep us from You
Our victory, anchored in truth
More than conquerors, in You we will overcome

You are Glorious, high above the heavens
You are Glorious, in brilliance unapproachable
And marvelous
We await our Savior

Sovereign King, over all things
We give You honor
Humbly You came, forever You reign

You are Glorious, high above the heavens
You are Glorious, in brilliance unapproachable
And marvelous
We await our Savior, Jesus
High above the heavens
You are Glorious, in brilliance unapproachable
And marvelous
We await our Savior, Glorious
You are glorious

Waters Rise

Wow...there is water EVERYWHERE in central PA.
A storm system that stalled over top of us brought rain...LOTS of rain.  And the rain brought flooding...LOTS of flooding.

Lancaster County was hit hard:

Lititz Springs Park

Linear Park under water in Lititz

772 near Brownstown

Route 23 crossing the Conestoga River

Main Street in Denver

322 in Ephrata

Green Dragon under water

Crazy fools in Mount Joy

And Lebanon County was hit just as badly:

Collapsed roads

More roads washing away 

And then there are areas farther north near my parents:

Poor Knoebels Amusement Park  :-(

Crazy high waters surround all the bridges heading into my hometown.  Mandatory evacuations for some areas had been put in place:

Route 11 bridge heading into the underpass in Norry

That's a BRIDGE...the water is usually WAY down below.

The Susquehanna is taking over

When the waters rise around me I am safe
In the valley Lord, You are near always
You have me surrounded by Your grace
When my strength is gone, I won't be afraid
You are with me always

Training

This past weekend I witnessed the culmination of weeks upon weeks of my two friends' training efforts. Sacred time was carved into schedules. Sleep was sacrificed. Muscles were sore. Perspiration flowed. And I'm thinking there may have been some blood and tears to accompany that sweat along the way as well. At the end of it all, they ran in the Virginia Beach half marathon.

This wasn't the first half marathon that they've run. Actually, this was their third of four they're running in this year, and the ninth one they've run since they initially started training. Sure, they may take a week or two off here and there in between races, and they may cut back on the intensity and the distance of their runs during the winter. But they've come to learn that in order to get ready for the next big race, they need to be in a constant state of training.

One of my friends, unfortunately, had a little run in with some e coli bacteria from her out of the country excursion the prior weekend. But she, albeit somewhat stubbornly, still ran anyway. And while I think she'd tell you that this wasn't really one of her better races, after all that training, there was no backing out. You see, some days running comes a little easier than others. Some days you feel like you're on top of the world, and you have the energy to run for miles on end. But sometimes different conditions hit. Excessive heat and humidity. Poor food choices during the day. A run in with e coli or the common cold. Even simply rolling out on the wrong side of the bed in the morning. Something just doesn't click. Everything hurts. You're gasping for air. You just want to lay down...right there...on the pavement...and sleep. But when you're in the middle of training, you get up and run anyway. And even more so, when the day of the big race comes, you force yourself to get up and run anyway!

It's my hope that I can stay in a constant state of training in my own daily life...in my spiritual life...in my relationship with God.  I'm running this race that God's set before me in order to win.  I want to ultimately finish this race well and win the prize...eternal life with my Father in heaven.  And I'm coming to learn that in order to run this race, it takes an awful lot of training and dedication.  Sacred time needs to be carved into my schedule to spend in God's word and prayer.  It takes hard work and sometimes even a little sweat equity to put myself out there and give of myself to others.  To be a part of God's church.  To sacrifice things that people around me may see as fun and pleasurable, but will ultimately hinder my ability to run this race in peak condition.

It's inevitable.  I know there are days that poor choices will cause me to stumble.  When I'm not willing to deal with sin issues in my life that come up and fester in my heart.  Life is just downright hard sometimes.  Everything hurts, and I'm simply trying to get through the day and breathe.  I just want to lay down...right there...on the floor...and give up.  But when you're in the middle of training, you get up and run anyway.  When you're training to win the most significant and precious prize of all, you force yourself to get up and run anyway!!

...let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.

Celebrating Good

I look around, and I see a world that God spoke into being.  With just a word, the heavens and the earth came into existence.  And when God created this world, it was GOOD.  The light was good.  The sky, land, and sea were good.  The plants and animals were good.  Mankind, created in God's image, was GOOD.  God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. 

Well...it was good at least. In this crazy life we live, there are a lot of things that seem hurtful and painful and just plain destructive.  The fact is, this old world is slowly wearing out. And on top of that, there is war and fighting. There are natural disasters...seemingly more now than there have ever been. And we are all a sinful people with sinful natures who just outright mess up...a lot. It's no wonder that sometimes I find myself getting stuck focusing on the negative.  

I'm realizing that there really are good things all around us though, and I just need to step up and recognize them. 

Orange and pink sunsets
Bible verses that speak to your soul
Spring flower blooms
Encouragement exactly when needed
Babies laughing and cooing
Smiles that light up your entire face
Promises of rainbows
Friends who know your soul and protect your heart
Morning dew drops catching early morning rays of light
Answered prayers
Life nourishing rain

Sometimes it comes easy.  In the high points of life, it's easy to be positive and see good in everything.  But there are often times when I need to force myself to find the good amidst the storms that rage in life.  I love how God still creates good even the darkest times, and I want to make sure I celebrate His goodness and the good blessings He gives.

I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me.

WE ARE!!!

I love the fall. It's the best season ever! I love the cooler, crisp weather. I love watching the leaves change into their various brilliant colors.  I love the autumn scents in the air. I love wearing hoodies in the evening.  And most of all, I love the fact that it's football season!!  COLLEGE FOOTBALL SEASON IS FINALLY HERE!!!  I can't believe games start again tonight.  The jersey is coming back out!! I'm so stinkin' excited!! It really is the MOST wonderful time of the year!!  Time to get pumped up!!  Time to cheer on the boys!!!

WE ARE!!!!

PENN STATE!!!!

  

Whispers

My heart's response to yesterday's post...

Dampen the roar

Catch my attention

To hang on Your every word

There's so much to miss

If I remain unstirred

Help me be still

Focus my thought

Tune my ear to Your will

Silence my voice

Quiet my heart

I want to hear Your whisper above the noise

Sweep me away

Rest the busy

To help me find You today

I know You still speak

If I take time to pray

Help me be still

Focus my thought

Tune my ear to Your will

Silence my voice

Quiet my heart

I want to hear Your whisper above the noise

Help me to stop

And listen

Lord, whisper Your love to me

Jesus, whisper Your love to me