Push Forward

My favorite part of a cross country race is before the race even starts. The part when the girls on my team are all in a huddle with our arms linked together and we pray together. I usually head up this prayer and it almost always goes the same way...

"God we thank you for blessing us with the ability to run. Remind us that even when we want to quit You have given us the strenght to push forward. And God let us remember that we race for the glory of You. In Your Name, Amen." 

Step up to the line. On your mark. Get set. Gun. Stride out. Settle in. Get a pace. Keep sights on the girl ahead. Pass her. Next girl. 

This is my mindset for the first half of the race and then the hurt starts, the doubt sets in. I have officially hit "the wall". At this point in the race, I think it's better to quit than keep going. 

Voices tell me, "It'll hurt less if you stop". "No one else will pass you if you quit now". "You're tired" "Give up" 

But among these voices...one says, "You are not tired. I'm right here with you. Push forward...." 

And so I push forward, push forward, push forward...

I believe that at times in our walk with Christ (at least in my own), we hit "the wall". We get tired...tired of being pushed around, tired of politics, tired of never getting anywhere, and tired of wondering where God is in times of struggle. We hear the voices of the devil tempting us to sin and turn our hearts from God.

In all the voices the devil puts in your head, listen for the one that is telling you..."You are not tired. I'm right here with you. Push forward...." Listen for that voice and let it give you the strength to finish the race with a new spark. Remember that you are running the race for the glory of God, remember that it is not for the glory of yourself and finish the race even faster and stronger than you started...

push forward, push forward, push forward...

Tebow Time

It seems strange that I would mention Tim Tebow considering the fact that his team lost this Saturday, but I have my reasons. 
1.) Any athlete thinking they will never be as good as this person, or never as strong as this person, or never as accomplished as this person should just take a glance at Mr. Tebow. They said he would never be a high school quarterback...check. They said he would never play college football...check. They said he would never be a first round draft pick...check. They said he would never start in the NFL...check. They said he would never win a playoff game...check. How did he do all this? Hard work, determination, God. 
2.) He worked hard to quiet the nay sayers, but they still won't shut up. Even other Christians tell him to "tone it down". We should be jumping for joy, praising, and 'tebowing" whenever Tim opens his mouth to give glory to God, but we cower and act embarrassed. Hey Tim, you keep making other "Christians" embarrassed. Never stop. 
3.) It doesn't matter if Tim Tebow is an NFL quarterback or not, God will give him a platform to bring glory to Him. It isn't an act, Tebow is for real. He won't stop. No matter what anyone says, how much anyone ridicules him, not matter what anyone does we haven't seen the last of Tebow or his awesome PASSION and devotion for God. 


So no,






Tebow Time isn't over. 

Passionately Devoted.

today my cross country coach showed me something that is crucial to anything you might be devoted to. she showed me her passion for the sport and the passion she has for making my teammates and I great runners. last night my coach got some news that on some of our routes we run people are calling and complaining to the school that we aren't being safe. the school's solution to this problem is having us stay close to school thus running around the practice football field. to some of you reading this doesn't seem to pose much of a problem but to a runner this is almost torturous. my coach understands that running laps around the football field will do nothing for the team and will make her seem like a bad coach when we lose all the time. my coach is so passionate about running and making us better she was in tears at the thought of us doing laps around the football field, upset that no one takes cross country seriously, and angry that we aren't getting te respect we deserve even though we are busting our butts to be the best we can. my coach is so devoted to this sport that I would bet anything that at this very moment she is thinking of new routes. my coach is passionate, devoted, whole-hearted, and all in about running. what are you devoted to? what would you do for something you were passionate about? what lights a fire in you? my challenge: be a coach t. don't back down from serving God with all your heart because you face some adversity. be passionately devoted.

To Barry, Jessi, and Sveta

Barry
I remember many dinners and evenings spent with you! I even remember one game of Pretty Pretty Princess you were kind enough to play with Emma and me! I will always think of you as my big brother and sometimes even a second dad. I know I speak for myself and many others when I say that is a huge blessing to have you in my life being a role model to me. I thank God for you everyday and I am so glad Sveta is being blessed by God with a daddy like you.

Jessi
I may not have known you as long as I have known Barry, but I feel like I do. I feel like I can talk to you about anything and I feel like you won't judge me on what I say. I look up to you and I want to be a Godly wife and mother when I grow up just like you. You are going to be a spectacular mother to Sveta! I cannot wait to see her grow up with you  as her mommy!

Sveta
I cannot wait to meet you! I am so excited for you to come home! I pray that you will see me as a big sister and friend! Whenever you have a problem that mom and dad don't understand just come talk to me I'm there for you! I pray for your safety and I hope you get to come home soon!
P.S I really think you will like the color of your room! It's my favorite color! :)

Dear God,
Please be with Barry and Jessi and Sveta while they are in Russia. Surround them with your love for them. Bring them all home safely.
Amen

Where is the love?

"Father, father, father help us. We need some guidance from above. These people got me questioning where is the love?"
-Black Eyed Peas

Go to your TV right now. Turn it on the news. Tell me is this news positive? Does this news display love in any aspect? Let me answer that for you....absolutely not. No love is not the word in this case. I believe the word is hate. Countries HATE one another, people HATE one another, and races HATE one another. WHERE IS THE LOVE?

I know where the love is...in Jesus. We as Christians have this special love in our heart, but the problem is we only display this love to other Christians. WE HAVE THE LOVE! We can share the love and hope in Jesus Christ we hold in our hearts. Don't keep it a secret one second longer! Share your love with anyone and everyone you come in contact with! If we spread God's love like it's a virus we won't need to ask...
WHERE IS THE LOVE? <3

POWER OUTAGE

Last night at about eight 'o' clock everything went dark. A collective gasp went up through the house even though we knew it was coming.  Earlier in the evening we saw a transformer blow up and we knew we weren't far from being the next darkened house on the block. We didn't sit in the dark long. Candles and flashlights were soon lit and spread out in various areas of the house. It doesn't cease to amaze how one candle can pierce the darkest night.

A child sits in an orphanage wondering what they did wrong. They sit alone. Family or hope? None. This child has the mind set that no one would care if they were dead or alive. They don't know that they have a father! A father who loves them beyond belief! But they may never know that. They may sit in that orphanage alone, unloved, and forgotten. Unless ONE person shows them the love of Jesus Christ. Knowledge that there is someone who loves them enough to die for them is almost too much for them to believe. These children have been sitting in a POWER OUTAGE for only God knows how long! When one person comes with a simple burning candle there is hope for them!

Tell me....

Who wants to sit in the dark?

Sudoku

Whenever I play sudoku one number always seems to be out of place and that one number frustrates me to no end. I try and I try but one measly number is the fall to my entire sudoku empire! This number presents a challenge and that is why I keep coming back to the stupid number game to try and conquer that tiny, minuscule, imperfect number. I am a tiny, minuscule, (very) imperfect number. God does not give up on me like I give up on the number in the sudoku game. He keeps coming back to me putting me back into place. Loving me until I realize I can't live without him. I am that one number that throws the whole game off but God just picks me back up, puts me in the right spot, and the game is won. You might say God is the ultimate sudoku player and I would have to agree.