Running

In high school I was on the cross country team and ran long distance in track. I really like running, it made me feel so good to finish a big race I also loved the feeling you got after a really hard work out. The feeling where you can barely move and everything hurts, I liked this feeling a lot because it meant I had actually done something, I pushed myself hard. Since high school I haven't run that much and I really miss it so I decided to buy some new running shoes to motivate me to get back out there and run, run, run!

Running is a lot like the Christian life. When you run, you need to work at it daily or you will never get better, the same is true in the Christian life, you need to daily read the Bible, (the instruction manual on life) and meet with God in order to grow in your relationship with Him. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 "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 game 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. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize." We need to go through strict training, we need to take our Christian life seriously or no one will take us seriously when we witness to them. Do not run aimlessly in your Christian life, but run with a purpose, glorify God and share Him with others! You can't just go to sleep one night and expect to wake up the next day and be an amazing marathon runner, so it is true with Christianity. Developing your relationship with God takes time, it won't happen over night. So we must daily 'train' if we want to grow and be what God wants us to be. 

 Hebrews 12:1-2 says "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, 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, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." When you run, you want to be light and free, you don't want to be weighed down by bulky clothing and heavy weights. So in the Christian life we to must get rid of weights like sin. And how do we do that? I believe that is found in verse two, 'fix our eyes on Jesus.' When our eyes are fixed on Jesus, it is impossible to sin. We need to take our eyes off of ourselves and put them on Jesus! When our eyes are on ourselves, that is when we become selfish and sin creeps into our lives but if you are focused on Jesus; on loving Him and serving Him, it is not possible to sin. If you don't believe me try it, focus on Jesus, love Him, serve Him, listen to Him....is there any room or desire to sin while you are doing this?

Do Not Worry

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 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? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'what shall we eat?' or 'what shall we drink?' or 'what shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
~Matthew 6:25-34~

God's word is so amazing! He knows exactly what I need to hear, when I need to hear it. I found myself worrying about money earlier today, you see I currently don't have insurance because I graduated from college and my insurance from my job doesn't kick in until October 1st and I recently had some health issues which racked up some major costs. Thankfully I have enough money to pay for it and it won't leave me broke. But it did make me think, think about trusting God. I have read the above passage many, many, many times and always thought well of course I trust God, of course He will provide for me, it's what He does and I took this for granted. Tonight when I read the above passage, I read it with a heart of thanksgiving, of gratefulness, what a loving God we have who will meet all our needs! I am so grateful that I don't have to worry about tomorrow, I know my God will take care of me, whatever tomorrow holds. Instead of spending my time worrying about finances, my job, my health, etc. I want to follow what it says in verse 33 "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness....." What does that mean? Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness? To me it means that I will look to God in everything. The word first stands out to me, it doesn't say second or third but FIRST! We must seek Him. My God is Jehovah Jireh, the Lord who provides. And He was provided, more than I could ever imagine. I am so blessed to have a wonderful place to live, a job, friends, family and the list goes on. I encourage you to think about all God has provided for you and thank Him for it! What father out there doesn't want to provide for his child? He has so much for us, we just need to seek Him!

I am so past worrying, "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" If anything worrying steals our time, it causes us to not trust and to question our faith. Nothing positive ever comes out of worrying. God knows everything before it happens, He promises to never leave or forsake you. My friends please don't worry, instead pray, look to God because He will provide!

Friendship

This Saturday I went to Mishicot to hang out with some of my amazing friends. We went to the beach and ate bagels and just relaxed and shared what was going on in our lives. We talked about crazy times at work, school. God and much more. It was just what I needed. A day to get away and not think about anything but just enjoy life! And you know what!? I did! I am still adjusting to my new job and new apartment. My roommates will be moving in at the end of the month and I can not wait! I love being around people. I am so excited to see what God will bring this year and how He will provide a way through it all.

 This is Katie, I consider her my best friend. She knows just about every thing about me. We met at youth group about 8 years ago, although at the time I was friends with her older sister and she was friends with my younger sister. We ended up at the same college and our life stories/goals are similar. We both want to be missionary nurses. We are roommates who always get along and we are like sisters. She is such an encouragement to me and I can only hope that I am to her as well. And yes, we do love corn fields!

Thank you friends for such an amazing day!

A few words on Character

 Character as defined in the dictionary as the set of qualities that make somebody or something distinctive, especially somebody's qualities of mind and feeling. Character is who you are when no one is looking. I have been meditating on that last line all week. At church on Sunday we talked about character and that line really stuck with me. All week when I want to take a short cut that line comes to mind, character is who you are when no one is around. I have really been challenged this week, who am I when no one is looking? How is my character? God is always with us and knows everything we do....would He be pleased with what you are doing? Who are you when no one is looking?