Yahweh

Swift 13.1

So, sometimes I get accused of being stubborn because, well, I can be.  =)  And last week Sunday was no exception.  After being sick for over a month and still fighting bronchitis, I decided to take on my first half marathon with one of my favorite roommates.  Seems like a good plan, right?  ;-)

Speaking of good plans, God's plans are pretty awesome!  I was amazed by His perfect provision during the race.  First, I had some awesome support at the start.  And, like I said, I got to run it with my favorite Smelly.  I was surprisingly well (thanks in part to a face mask that kept me from breathing in cold air) until about mile 7.  Then things started to go downhill (and I'm not talking about the course)

For one, I'd started to get hungry.  Of all the things to forget, I didn't pocket my GU for the race.  No worries; there was a GU station in a mile.  Except somehow Amy and I managed to miss it.

Mile 8 is where we started to hit hills, too. If you're a runner, you understand.  =)  And my lovely lung decided to start hurting. Knowing that I needed to slow down if I was going to finish, I told Smelly to go on ahead of me; she'd trained too hard to be slowed down.  She ran about 10 feet in front of me, stopped, turned around, and told me: "No.  We finish together!"  Music to my ears.  =)  And encouragement to keep putting one foot in front of the other.

By mile 9, I was really hurting. And my stomach was loudly assuring me of my hunger.  Giving up my stubbornness, I asked one of the medics if he had any GU in his bag.  He didn't.  BUT one of the runners running next to me at the time told me she had some chews that I could have if I wanted.

Sidenote: here's something that I love about runners and running  When you run, you aren't run against other people.  You run against yourself, run against your limitations, run against your doubts.  And running is like a cult in which only other runners truly understand your ambition.  And thus you bond in some sort of strange community.  You run not for personal gain but to help those along the way.  Despite our own endeavors, we were constantly cheering each other on, encouraging one another that we could accomplish a feat many don't even attempt.  Yeah, there's just something about runners...

But I digress.  So, mile 9 one of my runner friends gave me some much needed fuel.  More so, she empowered me with some much needed encouragement to keep going.

By mile 10, though, I started to feel discouraged again.  As I slowly made my way up a hill, I heard my name being called.  Confused as to who would know me by name out here, I looked up to see three of my biggest fans.  =)  Yup, my brother, sister, and nephew were there cheering me on.  Exactly the encouragement that I needed.  =)

Mile 11, 12, and 13 passed slowly as I tried to breath.  Amy stayed at my side every step of the way, encouraging me when I started to doubt, giving me the push that I needed.  Even offering a high five as we passed each mile marker.

And soon enough, the end was in sight!  We'd done it!  We'd completed our first half marathon!  

Praise God for His perfect provision!  Praise Him that He cares about the little details, cares even about encouraging us in a silly race.  Praise Him that He stands by us even when we're being ridiculously stubborn. Praise Him for placing us in communities that push us toward Him, pick us up when we fall, and lead us when we loose our way.  Praise Him for giving us endurance to keep going when we don't think we can.  Praise Him for providing exactly what we need!  

And, yeah... even though I know I'm still a princess because my Daddy's the King of kings, after 13.1 miles, I definitely didn't smell like it any more.  ;-)

To God be the glory, now and forever!

Step lightly

Your twenties is often an exciting time of constant transition and change, constant discovery, and often, constant planning.

Often it's in your twenties that major life decisions occur about college and career and marriage and friendships and beliefs.  Often it's a crossroads of decisions that direct the rest of your life.  And while this is often an exciting time, it can also often be a stressful time as pressures to map out your life abound.

Except not.  It doesn't have to be.  It can be stress free.

Once again, God has asked me to surrender my plans, to stop living in tomorrow and simply enjoy what He's given me today, for His gifts are more than enough.

There's a popular verse in Psalm 119 that describes God's Word as being a lamp to our feet and a light unto our path.  This isn't a spotlight as we may think of in our culture but  simply a lantern that offers just enough light to see our next step.  God's challenging me to stop asking what His plans are for me 10 years down the road or for when I finish school or for next semester or next month.  Rather, I'm learning to ask God what He has for me this day, how I can be used by Him and for Him this hour, this moment.  I'm learning to trust Him to guide each step rather than demanding I have a full layout of the journey.  And I rest assured in the things that He has for me.

God is good.  Where You lead me, LORD, I will follow.  Step by step, moment by moment, I will follow.

Happiness or holiness?

Lately this question has come up in discussion: does God want us to be happy or holy?

For awhile, I jumped on the latter stance, arguing that ultimately life is not about us but about God and that we should seek His glory above our own desires.  And while I believe that there is some truth in that statement, lately God has been challenging my thinking.

The answer to the above question is simply "yes".  It isn't an either/or but a both.  God calls us to be holy because ultimately holiness is for our good.  God isn't trying to squelch our fun and make our lives miserable.  Rather, He can see the whole horizon while we only see a millimeter in front of our faces.  Those things that we THINK will make us happy now in the end only result in heartache, disappointment, and pain; I know of far too many painful stories that attest to this truth.

God doesn't give us boundaries because He's some harsh dictator; He gives us boundaries because He loves us and wants what's best for us.  He wants us to seek first His kingdom and righteousness because that is what will lead to ultimate fulfillment.  He asks us to exchange immediate happiness for unending joy!  

God is good, friends.  He is faithful.  His ways are perfect.  His ways are so much greater than ours.  Trust Him today.