The Christian Marathon of Life

I am a runner and have been since Jr. high, technically speaking, if you call getting nicknamed "Crash" for falling over my first set of hurdle jumps running... even later in my early running rendezvous, the special nickname came back again for my notorious spill at our Regional meet my freshman year in high school, and getting hit by a truck with my bff Marne while I was, ironically, running (yes, it was very freshman of us to run across a busy road without a crosswalk... so this must be where my fear of crossing streets comes from... I even have feared intersections.)

So, what was I saying, yes, even with all my infamous woes, I love running. Recently, I went to visit my new favorite vacation spot which happens to be my sister's house in Seabrook, Texas. I decided I would do my long run the first morning there.

Around 9 the next morning, I set off. As I ran, God began to show me similarities running has to the Christian's walk with God. Without further ado, I would like to share my word picture with you.

When a runner begins their run, they begin with more energy. They are not yet overwhelmed with tired legs or unstable breathing patterns. They are not fighting to keep moving. They are probably taking off with a pretty good pace to begin their run. In our Christian walk, we set off so well in the beginning usually. "Our first love" relationship with Christ is similar even to a new couple. They are madly in love in the beginning. I can remember when I first set my teenage heart on Christ, and I began to spend time with Him. I would study the Bible and pray every night in my room for at least an hour, if not longer. I loved my time with God. I naturally began memorizing scripture as I was reading so much of it. From time to time, I would even fall asleep with my light on because I had fallen asleep spending time with God. God's joy truly flooded all the other areas of my life and I talked about what He was doing or shared scriptures with others or prayed for them. I started my journey with Christ so well, just as I began my run so well that particular morning.

My goal run for that morning was an hour, which is approximately 6 miles (ten minute miles to be exact). Within my run, I had to find my stride. My stride was a consistent pace that I would set myself to possess, with steady breathing, with good bodily form as opposed to elbows and feet flying everywhere, only to exhaust me more. But rather, a consistent, steady, constant, patterned pace to keep up. Some strides way out blow mine, I know that with the right training and mindset, it is possible to obtain a very fast pace, something I have yet to do. How is our pace with God? I seem to be constantly asking myself this question. Many times I only have a failed response and need Christ's forgiveness. However, I know that He is my consistency... especially when it's tough for me to find my pace. He is to be my center and focus, His Word an ongoing path for me to follow whichever direction I am heading. And though my particular run might end soon, there is always another run another day, and I will always need my consistency to be in Christ. My distracted heart must not dwell upon life's troubles, but the One who helps me overcome them. We must find our consistent stride in Christ.

As I was running that day I also thought about the movie Forest Gump. I loved the running seens with him taking off one day and just running for so long. And his followers. The people needed someone to believe in. I have recently found a running friend that has blessed me immensly. She holds me accountable to the sport I love so passionately and lazily. When we run together, we push each other to run well wiht our constant encouragment. Now we are training for a half marathon. I am so excited as it has long been a hope of mine to do another one. (I did my first full marathon in 2005, prebaby.) Where are our running partners in our journey with Christ? The individuals in the body of Christ desparately need the accountablity, encouragment, strength, prayers that come from healthy friendship. We need more than just motivation, we need tough love. We need each other's honesty to help keep us and grow us in our walk with Christ. Just as Gump's runners followed him so diligently, who will follow us? Who will we encourage along the way in our run? Where are we called to minister in and outside of the body of Christ? I have always found that a run is always so much easier when you're with another person. The conversation, the challenges, it truly is more fulfilling that running alone. We need eachother.

I stated earlier that my goal was to run an hour that morning. I did complete it in the end, but not without some mental and physical hardship. I was tired. My legs did begin to hurt. I had to refocus my breathing several times. I had to push myself to complete my goal and not give up. I also wanted to recover my pace, if I had slowed down any, and especially finish strong.
For those of you who know me well, you might have heard me say once, twice, or several times, that I believe our generation is living in the end times. Well, now I'm saying it again because I still believe it to be true. But whether the end or not, it is a pecuilar and tough time to live in. Extreme natural disasters, major global and national government decisions and even wars and potential of more. All of this hangs over our head as we endure the pressure of fitting in to a very fast paced and changing world. Fashion pressures, financial strains, marriage, raising children, the list goes on of all that hovers us in our every day endeavors. Life is tough. Period. We must find something within ourselves, with God's help, to finish strong. Live well, love much, laugh often... do whatever you have to do to live with conviction, integrity, passionate pursuit of Christ, and selfless love. Find the sprint within you to finish strong. All of the pain you are enduring is only temporary now anyway... Christ knew this so He even promised us life abundantly (John 10:10). Endure this run of life. Endure it well, don't let the enemy rain on your run with Christ... but out run him and his lies in Christ name... don't you think this is what God wants? And if so... won't He give us the ability to do so? Be encouraged- He's never tired... you can make it!

In conclusion, let's return to our first love in our run with Christ. Let your consistent stride be focussed on Christ and His love. Run with others in the body of Christ and encourage those who follow you. (You do have followers whether you realize it or not, definetly if you have children, and even younger siblings!) Finish strong in Christ name!

The Most Important Thing On My List

So tonight during my devotions I was thinking about things that are important to me:

Family
Work
Exercise (even though I do so little of it, my potbelly AKA pooch AKA flabby area AKA muffin top AKA baby fat even if you don't have a baby AKA whatever you personally prefer to call that particular area, won't let me stop thinking about it)
School (Lucas and I are in pursuit of Associates and Bachelor degrees)
Food (oh how I love thee)
Friendships (I am a people person and social butterfly usually)
Financial Concerns (hence, we're going to school to improve that whole "situation")
Vegging Out (lazy days are so fun sometimes)

I wrote down two different prayers:
I love You and even as I try not to be legalistic but come to You in sincerity, help me God to find the "balance" if there is one, which means You are first and foremost in my life and that no other gods come before You.

I was reminded of this verse:
"Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you." The verses continue as they talk of not worrying about our clothes and what we will wear, or our food and what we will eat because, in paraphrase, God provides all of these things for His children, just as He provides for the flower lillies and the birds. Also, do not store up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where moth and rust destroy. ~ Matthew 6

(stick with me, it all comes together in the end :))
Earlier I had written this prayer:
Lord, guide my decisions. Remind me that the growing pains I have are only teaching me to love You more. I am reminded that living here in this life is a sacrifice for You. Yet there is joy in abundant life (John 10:10) here because that is what You desire for me. It comes as I truly come to know you which is based on, but not limited to, one of the many principles of Your Word: "Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." (Matthew 10:39)

You see, when He is my first priority above everything on my list, and then some, then the paradox lies that I will also find Him in and throughout all of these things. Each thing on my list is of an uttermost importance to me, some, of course on a higher level, but He still deserves my greatest attention, even above my family.... Why? Because I, and you, were created for Him, to know Him, to love Him, and so much more. I am not writing about a fanatical or head in the clouds relationship, but a real, day to day, intimate, He will help us within our most desperate and crazy times, relationship with Christ, who died for our sins, so that this unity with Him could even be possible in the first place.

And the truth is, that it is a sacrifice, or it at least feels like one, when we hear the promptings of the Holy Spirit when Christ is not truly first. He gently and persistently reminds us by His little nudges and whispers, to put Him first. This might mean us waking up earlier to pray and read our Bible, thus sacrificing our important sleep. Or maybe we feel called to witness more at work and school. Or maybe our nudge is to listen to Christian music. Or is our nudge, just to take the beginning steps in getting closer to Him in the first place, because we are just learning what it really means to sincerely love God, because maybe we're new to the whole God thing. And as important as the things are on our 'important" list, He, and the state of our relationship with Him, is so much more important than any of those things. And we are called to love Him more than it all. (Matthew 10:37)

So, when I (we) put Him first, when I seek Him by reading my Bible, or utter a heartfelt prayer to Him at any second of the day, when He truly is my first and foremost priority... "all these things will be added" unto me, and you. Because then our priorities truly are straight, He is the center and our reason for being, and we will see and appreciate those tremendous blessings that already exist, such as, our family, or the dreaded school day and even homework, finding the motivation within the lack of motivation to exercise...or whatever else might be on that special list of ours, we will see Him woven in and through it all. Amen.

I am also reminded of an excellent worship song by Michael Frye, the words are below, as well as a link you can copy and paste of a great music video of the song. May His Holy Spirit truly bring us closer to Him, through all of our growing pains of life, in every sacrifice... Amen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXzEHN6sK4s

Jesus be the center
Be my source, be my light Jesus
Jesus be the center
Be my song Jesus

Be the fire in my heart
Be the wind in my sails
Be the reason that I live

Jesus Jesus
Jesus be my vision
Be my help
Be my guide Jesus