What's the Goal, anyway?

I always have a goal in mind when I go out to run. A certain amount of time or distance. I often get frustrated & discouraged by my lack of reaching the goal. Sometimes I lower my standard & settle on a lesser goal. For example, for this half marathon, I remind myself I can always *walk* it. I don't really need to run because I am not in it to win. I have lowered my personal goal dramatically.

If I was really in it to win, I would not so easily give up or lower my standard, right? So in this life, who's goal is it? Are we lowering our standards to accomplish our own goals? OR are we keeping the goal & finish line in sight as we run God's race?

I know the spirit of competition is often seen in the negative in Christian circles. But why? We *want* to win or earn the *prize* don't we? Oh...but we are supposed to be serving God selflessly, right? Admit it, do we or do we not want to hear God tell us, in that day of judgment; "Well done, my good and faithful servant." ?

There is a huge difference when you are running the race to finish & when you are running to WIN! When you run to win you give over and above what you may believe you are capable. You push yourself to train harder & faster. Always wanting to move forward & show improvement. You feel disappointed if you take a step backward in your training. You take special care of what enters your body because you know it is your fuel. You want to be able to perform to an optimum in the best health.

If you are training simply to finish...well then it does not matter if you are slower one day to the next. It does not matter if you are too tired to run. If you feel discouraged, there is no motivation to push through. We do not pay as much attention tow hat we put in our bodies, we don't expect to be in tip top shape. You already know you are going to finish. It does not matter how you finish.

Do you think Olympians train w/ the goal of getting the Bronze medal? Of course not! They train for the Gold. Their goal is to be #1!

I think in our Christian lives, many times our attitude is simply to finish this life. Where is the motivation to excel? Our life is not just a race...I believe it is God's race. He encourages us to run as if we are going to get the prize, even though we know only ONE gets the prize. We are here not only to serve, but to serve in the most excellent way possible. Pushing past the obstacles and the discouragement. Taking care how we treat our 'temple' & what we allow to enter it. Next time you feel like indulging, practice extra self control. Next time you feel like slowing down, push a little faster instead. See what happens....

1Cor 9:24

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.

Predictable obstacles

I took another training run today. I realized @ a certain point in my route, I always feel like stopping. I feel like it's too hard & I just can't keep up the pace. It seems to be in a predictable spot in my route. I don't really know why it happens @ that particular spot but it does.

Life can be like that sometimes too. A predictable obstacle comes along & we want to stop! The route seems too hard to continue. Something triggers us & we *think* we just.can't.go.on! If we can recognize these predictable triggers--can we do something about them? Is there something in our life that we keep bumping into that is holding us back from staying on God's path? A trigger? A wound, sin, unresolved issue?

While running I know sometimes I have not prepared my body for the task @ hand. It's a familiar route, it's not a distance or run I have not taken before. SO why the struggle? Am I dehydrated? Jesus is the living water. Just like I need to have proper hydration through out the day, I need to have proper spiritual hydration as well. More when it is especially hot or dry outside...equals more when we are in living *heat* or dry spiritual weather.

Did I stretch, before or after? We must flex & stretch our spiritual muscles in preparation & afterward to avoid injury. It takes time & we might feel limited in our time but it is SO important.

About that route we're taking....who's route is it anyway? Is it the route we are supposed to be on? Did we choose an easy one when we should be challenging ourselves on a harder course? Am I running flat trails when I need to be on hills to be properly prepared for the race? We have to look @ the course map to know what ther ace entails & how to properly train. We must make sure we are on the route God wants us on or we're wasting our time.

to be continued...

God in our DNA

It's interesting...I believe S has dyslexia, he really struggles w/ reading (but has shown major improvement this past year) & his learning style is clearly auditory. I can see where it over compensates for him to learn & retain information (he relies on *hearing* information because he does not trust his reading the information). The interesting part, is that through this possible learning disability--is the same way he *hears* God.

I never put it together before. But God uses our very core, our dna, our preferences & even learning styles (what some could call a *disability*) to speak to us as well.

In the same way my dd love language is clearly touch, God uses that love language of hers to minister to others. She is not afraid to touch people & pray for them or to touch people & minister to them, such as the elderly & infirm.

It seems obvious to me now, but I never put it together before. Love languages or learning styles never seemed, to me, to have any spiritual significance....until now.

How could I have *not* realized that every aspect of our personality is designed by God, to be used by God for his purposes.

I retain information that I *read* better than if I hear it. I more of a thinker than a feeler. God speaks to me in thoughts and insights through reading his word. I don't ever necessarily *feel* God.

It was such a lightbulb moment to realize that even a perceived disability is designed by God. That God would use even that, in my own son, to minister to him & to use him to minister to others. He takes it very seriously when told or asked to pray & listen for God's voice. And he really hears him too, accurately!

My dd love language as well...God uses that within her to minister to others. She loves to care for elderly & rub lotion on their arms & hands, or the sick as well. She was never afraid of visiting my grandma when she was in the care center & always wanted to rub lotion on her. I beleive God has given her that love language to heal & minister to others.

I am continually fascinated by God's unique design of each of us, in every last fine detail of our lives.

Are we ready, church?

The economy is failing--or has it failed? Unemployment is @ an all time high. I'm not stating anything all 2 of my readers don't already know. Here in CA our state budget is going through *major* cuts. Where do the cuts take place? Public services, of course.

Local public schools have no summer school this summer. Local parks have had to cut summer activities & sports programs. Social services programs (welfare) have been drastically cut when many people currently need them the *most*!

What did we do before public programs? We handled things *privately*. Churches were the main source of resources for hungry & down trodden, hard on their luck people.

Somewhere along the line we dropped the ball & the government took over. We began to out source & *refer* those in need to the government. Guess what!?! The government isn't going to get credit anymore!

It's time to go back to our roots, church. It is US that have been instructed to feed the poor, the hungry, to care for orphans & widows. The opportunity we've been wanting is NOW!

Our local park, a publicly funded park, recently allowed us to hold our Vacation Bible School on their park property... UNheard of! They even kept their offices open later than scheduled just so we could have it. Why? They had nothing else to offer the children this summer because their park program had been *so* reduced.

When the government no longer has the resources it's time for US to step up to the plate. What will we offer? Will we share? or horde? it's time to stock up our church food pantries. Time to reach out to youth that have no where to go & nothing to do this summer, or after school. Time to deliver some blankets, tents, water bottles, socks & food to the increasing number of homeless.

I believe the faces you see @ church are about to change. Yes, plenty of people come to Christ in hard times cause it's *convenient*...but how many of us came to Christ, initially because of what HE could do for US? right? We wanted to be *saved*. The person sitting next to you in the pew may no longer be so clean cut & freshly showered. The lost, the lonely, the broken & the needy are looking for answers and government programs no longer have them.

Are you ready church? Are you willing church? Are WE ready to step out of our comfort zones? Out of our comfortable homes. Are we ready & willing to start LIVING what we're preaching? Willing to *live* what we believe?

If so---I firmly believe revival will happen. If we can be brave enough to step out, reach out, in the name of love, which is the name of God! NOW is the time church. Forget what has been *said* from the pulpit, words may no longer be necessary. Time to put our $$$, our time, our own resources, where our mouth has been for decades now.

I don't know about you but *I* am so excited. It's time for the church to stand up & be taken seriously. We've already been *heard, it's time to be SEEN!

It's time to work together, as one body. Pull our resources & energy & yes, $ if you have it. If we all share what we do have, then no one should go hungry. Be creative. Maybe you can start an after school tutoring program. Or like we did, VBS @ the park this year. Start making those connections, building those relationships.


Mat 25:34
"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.

Mat 25:35
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,

Mat 25:36
I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

Mat 25:37
"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?

Mat 25:38
When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?

Mat 25:39
When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

Mat 25:40
"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

Tedious

We received a letter a couple weeks ago stating that we had failed to report some income...or something like that. We were assigned an appointment with another case manager. The top of the letter had our regular case manager's contact info.

I called her to find out what this was about. She informed me she was not the person to speak to but the person listed @ the bottom of the page. She also told me that it was the fraud department. ACK!

The letter also let us know that we were required to bring in all proof of income dated from Oct. 2008. Weird because we were not in the system until Dh lost his job in Dec. 08. Why the necessary extra info? It also stated that if an *over-issuance*{of food stamps} had been given then it would be corrected (lessening the amount you receive until it balances out) or if purposely fraudulent, suspension of food stamps would happen.

I'll admit I was scared. I wracked my brain trying to think of when I may have forgotten to report anything. The letter stated they had received employment information from our previous employer and they didn't match. I wonder, if they already received the information, why do *I* have to bring it in?

DH couldn't even find all his paycheck stubs from that far back.

The day came for the appointment, I prayed and prayed and prayed and prayed some more. I prayed the appointment would be ok, they would believe us and we would be treated like human beings. I also prayed even more diligently that Dh would get an awesome paying gig that would eliminate completely, any and all need to be 'in the system'. period.

We arrived & surprisingly it wasn't long before our name was called. The name on the letter appeared to be a male name but there was a female waiting at the cubicle desk. She informed me that i Had received a letter giving me this appointment date & that there was income that had not been reported BUT that I did report it. Therefore, there was no need for the appointment today. She continued on to say that the computer automatically spits these letters out if your income is over a certain amount???? And that next time I should call first to verify if I really need to come in or not. Sorry.

W.H.E.W!!! I was so relieved and happy & thankful to God. I did not mind one bit going in for it to be *nothing*. I thanked God all the way out of that office. DH even said to me, as we were walking away, "I guess your prayers really worked."

Uhh..YAH!!! :D

Are you *buying* trash?

We produce so much trash but I try to follow those 3 annoying R's, right? Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!

Then I heard or read something somewhere about the trash we produce. It dawned on me about the TRASH I actually pay $$$ for & BUY! Disposable *anything* is simply buying TRASH!

Those disposable wipes? Disposable baby wipes. Paper plates. Disposable diapers...the list can go on & on. These are purchases where the product is specifically made to throw in the TRASH!

I can understand for extreme cases of necessary sanitation. For the everyday, average healthy person, some vinegar & a washcloth can suffice for a disinfectant. Along w/ my cloth diaper use, I can use a wash cloth for cleaning baby & simply toss in the diaper bucket. Don't get me started on how simple it really is to use cloth diapers either!

Once you see it as buying trash, it may change your perspective on what you are willing to spend your $$$ on, don't you think?

SuperWoman

Those are quite a pair of shoes to fill, if you ask me! But I have been hearing it a lot lately....Why exactly, I'm not sure.

Cause I have 4 children now? (the youngest being a mere 3 mos old)
Because I spoke @ the womens retreat? I mean, really, it's just sitting there. lol
Because they think *I* put it *all* together? helloooo? I had a TEAM!
Because somehow I appear to *have it all together* @ any given moment? Let's get REAL!!! ;-)

I've aired enough dirty laundry on here to last for decades. I see no need to do that now.

The reality IS: all I am or appear to be, all I have or appear to *have* is simply because of Christ who lives within me. Nothing more, nothing less. I truly believe, if I have accomplished anything, it is only because of Christ within me that has given me gifts & talents and/or has equipped me w/ the tools necessary to appear to have accomplished something.

Even something like running. It is God who has blessed me w/ the health & legs to run. I can choose to sit on my *bigger side*....& many days I do, if truth be told. It won't make me a better runner if I do though.

Other days I *know* I don't want to take anything for granted. So...I put on my running shoes. I speak because God gives me words & I believe there is a limited window of opportunity for sharing @ times.

I feel passionate & excited for my future (regardless of present circumstances) because I believe in a God that desires growth, perseverance in hard times & praise in good times. And I believe in this God because he is the only truth I have known in my life. He is the only 'thing' that has never let me down.

SuperWoman! hmph! :)


Jam 1:17
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Let Freedom Ring!

Today is Independence Day! yes.

I realize that I have a few hidden parts of my life that keep me from being truly free. Free from the past. Free from reminders. Free from pain.

I decided to make a choice. I let it go. For me, it was a physical act of deleting a few things I was purposely holding onto. Why? I'm not sure exactly....a feeling of jic...

Then who was my trust really in? revenge? myself? Certainly not God if I was choosing to hold onto something *else*. Holding onto the past...today I choose to move forward & grab onto the *future*.
:-D

So today...I let it go.

delete. Delete. DELETE!!!

Goodbye forever!
& Good riddance.

Free at last, free at last. Thank the Lord I'm free at last!