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?

By Your Side

Why are you striving these days
Why are you trying to earn grace
Why are you crying
Let me lift up your face
Just don't turn away

Why are you looking for love
Why are you still searching as if I'm not enough
To where will you go child
Tell me where will you run
To where will you run

And I'll be by your side
Wherever you fall
In the dead of night
Whenever you call
And please don't fight
These hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you

Look at these hands and my side
They swallowed the grave on that night
When I drank the world's sin
So I could carry you in
And give you life
I want to give you life

Cause I, I love you
I want you to know
That I, I love you
I'll never let you go

Wow, do you ever find a song that totally relates to what you are going through? Tonight, this song is everything I feel and it just hit me as I sat on my bed and just cried out to God. Why is it that sometimes we need to be told something like a thousand times before we go, "oh, I get it!" When everything seems to be going so wrong God is still there loving me, He is always by my side. I have heard this song so many times before but tonight it took on a whole new meaning for me. I need to stop looking for other people to love me and just look to God because He does love me and will never let me go! In a way I have insulted God, (it was really hard to admit this and harder yet to type it!) I have said in my heart God you are not enough and I need more, more than You...wow that must have hurt God a lot. God's love is ALL I need, it is more than enough and way more than I deserve!

 I'm not sure what God is going to do with life and where I will end up but I do know that God's love will get me through anything and everything. So God, I am sorry for looking for love in all the wrong places and I give you all of me. I know You won't relent until You have it all, so I'm giving it all to You.

Walking with God

I was reflecting on my walk with God today and realized something, I don't always walk with Him. Actually most of the time I am either running ahead of Him or lagging behind. Sometimes I leap into something because I think it is what He has for me and I don't even think to pray and ask if this is right. I just run ahead and than I am frustrated because I feel lost because I tried to get ahead and go the way I though was right. Other times I lag behind, I know what He wants me to do and I don't want to do it due to fear, selfishness, pride, and the list could go on and on.

For the first time this summer I have really felt the peace of God, the peace that you know comes from Him because there is no way you could manufacture this peace by yourself. It is so amazing, there are no words to describe how good it is to know that you are walking side by side with the Creator of the universe! That He cares enough to take my hand and lead me through life. That if I fall, He is there to pick me up and set me on my feet again.

I know that God has led me to the place where I live and work and I am so excited to see how He will use it for His glory because right now that is all that I want. He has done so much for me and will continue to do many more amazing things in my life that I just want to do something for Him. I want to serve Him everyday. I know I can never "pay Him back" for all He has done for me but I desire more than ever to serve Him and use my life to give Him glory and praise.

"Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way." 2 Thessalonians 3:16

Valerie Young RN BSN

That's right! I am officially a Registered Nurse! I passed the NCLEX, no more studying endless hours and worrying about taking the test, it is all over and I can breathe once again! I have been training at my new job this past week and now have a 3 day weekend! Wednesday I went to lifest and saw some great bands and hung out with some great friends! Friday I had lunch with Liz and Alexa. We talked about starting a women's bible study which really excited me! I miss going to Bible study! Tomorrow I am going to lifest again and than seeing some old friends.