I like my magic shoes

Sorry it's been awhile, here's a quickie on what's going on with me!

Saw the doctor & I can now eat "free range organic poultry" (which for me means poultry for now cause I'm poor) but otherwise still same. He said I looked so much better & I told him I felt better too, but since it's only been a month it sadly must continue. I am getting used to it & the addition of poultry has helped so much (although I cannot wait the day I'll be able to eat oatmeal & beans again!)

I'm going to be starting Tina Reale's Best Body Bootcamp on Monday. So excited!!! I will be posting of my progress throughout, although limited on details for obvious reasons lol. I really am excited about getting a good muscle workout again and having that partnership push. I miss that.

On the 25th I get to go hear Dr. David Jeremiah preach at the Philips Arena, yayness! I really grown to love hearing him so cannot wait.

I will hopefully soon be looking into getting a house. The first step was made today: calling the real estate agent from my church and contacting him through email. He's going to put me in contact with some lenders so slowly but surely I may end up moving!


At church last Sunday the pastor preached on the armor of God, specifically the feet

^"And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace"

Ephesians 6:15 KJV

 

What comes to my mind first? Forrest Gump of course!  I love that movie (for those who don't know lol)  & I even added a note in my YouVersion Bible app...to quote the man himself:

"Forrest: Momma always says there's an awful lot you could tell about a person by their shoes. Where they're going. Where they've been. I've worn lots of shoes. I bet if I think about it real hard I could remember my first pair of shoes...Mama says they was magic shoes. They could take me anywhere..."

  After the early service was over I stopped & told him & he was so amused he had me email it to him so he could use if during the second service!  Gotta love Gumpisms (^-^)

What's great is how this really does apply to this verse for me...Through Christ and the Holy Spirit we really do have "Magic Shoes" that, through our Heavenly Father's love, will take us anywhere (within His will of course)!
  
Also how we take care of our "spiritual magic shoes" will say a great deal about our daily walk with the Lord.  From how much time we actually spend walking with Him to how we take care of the relationship itself and our "shoes"

Yes I am a dork...that is all


 

A little goes a LONG way...

It's amazing to me how the simplest of things, the smallest of thoughts entertained, can make the most difference.  At least being a girl, being this girl, I can go from loving myself to tears all from one little number or dress or thought.

Why do things like that effect us so, why do we let the little things creep inside and ruin a perfectly good day?

This totally happened to me. One picture and I was broken in a million pieces...how sad to let something so trivial affect me so much.  While my sisters helped, especially Elena, I'm kinda annoyed I was weak enough to fall for the negative train my mind likes to go on.  I've always tried to work on by pessimistic attitude, to flip it but this time I earned a F.

It shows you how much a little thought, small joke, or bit of sarcasm can really effect you (regardless if you think it does or not).  Studies have been done to prove the effect your thoughts can have on your mind and physical well-being.  Being someone who suffers from negativity, I've learned the truth regarding the thoughts-to-tongue connection.

"If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain" James 1:26 KJV

"Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. 

Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:  But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

 

Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God." James 3:4-9 KJV

The New Kings James version mentions a ships rudder instead of helm, a slightly different aspect of the same intention.. A focus on how something so small can change the course of something so big!  

 "Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things." James 3:4-5 NKJV

It's just a friendly reminder I think we all can use regarding keeping a positive outlook, positive thoughts, & positive speech towards ourselves & others.

Things can always be worse...instead of being down because the glass is half empty, be glad it's not broken. If the glass is broken, then be glad your dirty dishes just got that much lighter!

"For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:" 1 Peter 3:10 KJV

One last verse but something to really think about. Instead of giving yourself so much idle time to think of the poor emptying glass, how about instead doing something positive for others to take your mind off of it!  Nothing can make you feel better then when you reach out & lend a helping hand who's needs are greater then your own.  

My church has always been big in outreach but what's neat is recently my work has been also.  They now do something for the community in the area on most Saturdays.  What could be better for a stressed & overwhelmed student or tired and overworked employee then to take their mind off of themselves, their studies/jobs, and offering help to those around them.  The few volunteering things I do take part of always leaves me feeling more fulfilled and uplifted then before.

"Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established" Proverbs 16:3 KJV

Just some things to think on this weekend and hopefully we can begin autumn in a positive manner, with love to ourselves and others

The Female Masterpiece

Recently, the subject of women and equality has been coming up through work topics and friend's posts, and I've finally decided to write my perspective on the matter.

We are not men (shocking I know)

I don't want to be 'equal' to man, I don't think I can do anything a man does.  I am not a man, I am a women.  While we are no less than a man, we are no more than them either. I recommend everyone watch The Science of the Sexes as well as read this article from Discovery Health: Do Men & Women Have Different Brains?

^"And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; and the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.  And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed." Genesis 2:20-25 KJV

Women are God's creative expression of His amazing love for man.  We were made to be enjoyed, cherished, treasured, protected, and loved.  I don't want a man who is like me, I want a man.  Masculine, protective, logical & loving, tall, dark-haired (preferred), & handsome.  A guy that will make me feel petite, delicate, & beautiful.  I am part of man, a vital, elaborate & intricate, individualized, porcelain masterpiece. I don't want to be compared to a man, nor do I want to be one.  I am physically weaker but emotionally stronger.  While men carry the weight of the world on their shoulders, we carry their weight on ours along with the rest of the family.

We were made to complete each other, not be each other. Yes women are strong, smart, & capable.  We are just as capable at certain things, but in the end, were not a man (I'm not at least).  There are & will always be things that my brother-in-laws are better at then I am. But there are also things that I will always be better at then they are.  It's the even exchange.  Cats are cats and dogs are dogs, both are awesome pets but one is not the other.

Heads and tails may be on one coin but the head will never be the tail and the tail will never be the head, they will remain on opposite sides where they balance each other out.

“Be very careful if you make a woman cry, because God counts her tears. The woman came out of a man’s rib. Not from his feet to be walked on. Not from his head to be superior, but from the side to be equal. Under the arm to be protected, and next to the heart to be loved.” – This is written in the Hebrew Talmud, the book where all of the sayings and preaching of Rabbis are conserved over time."

Heavenly Auras

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Matthew 5:16 KJV

Random thought I had one day that I've meant to post on for awhile...most people read this verse and think figuratively. The light being the light of Christ in our hearts shining through us by love, but what if this light He emits within us actually could be seen?  What if this light was truly what auras are all about?

The first chiropractor I ever went to believed in auras. He actually had a photograph of one of his client's aura before and after being adjusted. While I've no idea what a negative aura versus a positive aura really looks like, that's just a physical example of how auras are connected to us.

There are also people referred to as energy vampires due to their aura's absorbing the energy and lights of other peoples around them. But if someone can negatively affect others then why not positively?  Maybe just by loving Christ and holding Him inside us, living for Him, our aura will be His light shining through us...a heavenly aura.

Just a quick strange thought!

Here are some links:

Aura: Wikipedia

Aura Color Meanings

Unattainable Love

"I, I have wasted so much time

Pushing You away from me

I just never saw how You could cherish me

'Cause You're a God who has all things And still You want me

And I need You to love me

And I, I won't keep my heart from You this time

And I'll stop this pretending that I can

Somehow deserve what I already have..."

I Need You to Love Me by BarlowGirl 

This song really spoke to me today, there is just something to think about there for me. 

Of all the men I've dated I have to say that the last guy would be the one that intimated me the most...I guess while I was attracted to them all he was the most attractive to me (in all manners) and I often wondered why on earth he would want to date me in the first place.  When he asked I thought it was either a joke or he was just wanting something I wasn't willing to give out.  But every time he would stop by to talk to me I wondered what a guy like that would ever see in me.  Of all the girls available and I'm sure he could of dated any, why some dorky, quirky librarian girl who's really only known for walking outside around the library building while reading...still not sure really...

And he's nothing in comparison to God, my word. If I had a hard time with just a silly guy I didn't even date that long, how on earth could I honestly fully grasp the entirety of the love of my Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven & Earth.  He hand-crafted and hand-formed each and every one of us. His thoughts regarding us individually began before our beginning.  He could create any type of person He wanted, someone more talented, loving, caring, intelligent. Someone who hasn't screwed up as many times, who listens more and obeys more.

God comes to grow close towards me and I have the hardest times really understanding why.

Pushing away the unattainable seems to be my trend whether it be people, goals, or ideals. I try to push those things I don't believe I can have or I don't deserve.  What do I deserve?  Hell? Isolation?  Without Christ yes, but through Him I have this infinitely larger than life love, forgiveness, and grace bestowed unto me.. I have His plans for me. I'm not sure which is harder-accepting this amazing love or understanding why. 

Maybe it's not about undersanding, it's about believing. Isn't that what faith is all about?  Without faith it is impossible to please God because without faith it is impossible to fully grasp hold of Him.   

"Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." 

Isaiah 55: 6-9 KJV

God is calling to grow close towards you. Don't try to understand why, just accept through faith.

Be Your Own Kind Of Beautiful, His Kind Of Beautiful

 

Psalm 139

King James Version (KJV)

Psalm 139

 ¹O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.
 ²Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
 ³Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
 ⁴For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.

 ⁵Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.
 ⁶Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
 ⁷Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
 ⁸If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
 ⁹If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
 ¹⁰Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
 ¹¹If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.
 ¹²Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.
 ¹³For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.
 ¹⁴I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
 ¹⁵My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
 ¹⁶Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
 ¹⁷How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
 ¹⁸If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.
 ¹⁹Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.
 ²⁰For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.
 ²¹Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?
 ²²I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.
 ²³Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
 ²⁴And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Something quick that's been on my mind...I've been thinking about and talking with  my mother about the beauty of nature & she made a comment about if the world so beautiful  now just imagine what it will be like in heaven.   I realized how  unique & beautiful we are....if nature is that amazing, and when we see angels we think how beautiful they are & yet we were made in the image of God!  How awesome is that!  

Right now, after the holidays & the weight-gain associated with it, all the junk I've ate and how much I feel icky, ugly, fat, & gross. No matter how many people have told me they think I'm beautiful, or look a lot better it's just hard to see it myself.  So when this came to mind, I'd like to think that it was my heavenly Father reminding me.

Joyce's Confident Women Devotional I started this year talked about a verse in this Psalm (my favorite Psalm by-the-way) & how we are unique; that no talent we have increases our value or a talent we don't have decreases it.  With my battle at finding my self-worth & not giving in to my feelings at the start of this year, this was a nice reminder.

 

I'm about to start a fast on sweets &  portion sizes & I think my focus may be to begin my 'things I'm thankful for journal' this time with at least one thing I'm thankful for each night.  Also I'm sure that when I start eating healthy again it will help me feel better about myself because honestly when you take care of yourself & eat healthy, you feel better & more confident. You should love God enough to take care of the hand-crafted, personal, & unique image of Himself He gave you & ONLY you.

His Joy

My chest hurts with love & pain mixed, my stomach feels sick...so much has gone on outside & inside within me. Some good some bad.  Old friends returned, close friends felt pushed away...I've hurt those I love.

I want to run & I can't.  I just want to hold onto someone & cry, but can't.  I want to write the feelings, but no words flow from my finger tips, I want to draw out my emotions, but no pictures form within my mind. 

God give me your peace, your sweet serenity, comfort, joy amongst the storm that envelops this holiday season. Help me remember the true meaning of this holiday, the birth of Your son, Jesus Christ, and His love for all mankind.

I know that with You, Your love, all will be okay.

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28 KJV

Call me, oh God my Father, help me achieve your will for me. 

My Georgia red clay running self...

You always forget the joy of something when you're doing it all the time until you can't anymore, and then the memories always comeback the rare occasions you get to indulge again.

This came this morning when I got to do a morning run together with God. I used to love them, but the joy became commonplace until my schedule and weather made it so I couldn't anymore. So this morning, I remembered the joy of my old morning runs.

I started thinking about all those who got me to where I am physically.  Those that got me into working out, health, and running distance on trails.  Of course I would be the start when I decided to join a gym in the first place.  Jeremy would be the second.

I would have to thank him for enjoying the act of torturing me.  I remember getting so mad at him for almost everything.  Making me run for just 10 minutes on a treadmill...he would have to reach over and turn up my machine because I would refuse, and he would smile and laugh.  Or when he would make me do weights and then make fun of me the entire time, making statements about how I made ugly faces while I worked out. 

But he would push me, and had more faith in what I could do than I did, which might be why now I have such a problem always wanting to challenge myself with more.  He showed me I could do anything. 

He also was the start of my healthy diet-at a time when I ate horribly and he ate crazy healthy. In fact he had a plug in his old Lexus 'Lexy' so he could blend shakes right after working out.  I remember he built muscle so fast it would make me mad, and he would always tell me "if you would eat better maybe you would"...

...not enough motivation at the time...

I would just tell him to shut-up and smile back, but it planted seeds in this Georgia red clay, and they actually sprouted.

Then came the marine, Jake.  A close friend of mine who said that when he got back from his mission he wanted to run with me on the silver comet trail, not knowing the fullness of how much I really didn't like running...how much I loathed it. I tried to get started before he arrived for a head start, but it didn't work too well. 

But running with him taught me to pace myself, how to breathe, staying hydrated, and gaining distance. Reaching that point were you find your what I call 'happy pace' and just float there. He knew I could run farther, faster, and harder than I did. He is the reason I am a long distance endurance-style runner and the best thing he taught me was to let go and enjoy the run.  He brought many deep (and silly) run conversations and is probably was the only person who I could ever find who was willing to run with me-besides God.

Looking back at myself before Jake, before Jeremy (aka J-Dawg), amazes me.  Running today thinking at where I came from, how far I've traveled in the world of health-it all really started with them. Those that believed in me before I even did; that saw my potential when nobody else could. It reminds me of my father when he was able to garden.  He could see our horrible hilly, red clay dirt back yard and saw the potential for an amazing garden.  Early in the mornings I remember him waking up before the sun, lining his truck bed with tarp; he would then go to a horse farm and shovel horse manure all Saturday. Bringing it back home, he would mix it in the clay, and drive back to the farm. Over and over again until it was too dark.  He knew what to plant when, and took great care all year long at whatever he was growing. Pulling weeds, pruning, and at the end harvesting and enjoying the fruit (or vegetable) of his labor.

Isn't this what God does in each of our lives?  He brings those in our lives who can see the vision and are willing to work the field, willing to shovel manure.

"Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest" Luke 10:2 KJV

So thank you to J-Dawg, thank you to Jake.  For being willing to shovel my manure and seeing my potential.  Seeing that I'm worth it.  Without you, I don't know where I would be, if alive what kind of life it would be. I would never have gotten the joy of having runs with the Lord and many-a-blog would not have written. 

You inspired me, believed in me, saw my worth.

Symphony of my Own Trip Through the Looking Glass

It starts out with a normal run, not really feeling like it in the heat of the day after a long Monday at work, but knowing God's called me for a run with Him... the light turns green I press play on my iPod.

"Apperception" begins to play, & so the story begins to unfold within my mind's eye...

(sorry I couldn't find the song I heard online but here's the infomation for it, my version is 6:01 long)
Song: Apperception
Various Artists
Album: Trance Stimuli

We start our life like a run, were going slower than we'd like...not too super enthused really, just trying to get through that day, hour, moment of time that is our life. Were moving in our own power, trying to keep ourselves motivated in going forward despite a good reason for it...and then God comes.

He reveals Himself, the answer...we stop focusing on the motion, the surroundings, the heat, we stop focusing on ourselves and look to Him.  We feed off Him, becoming more energized as we go, more curious of who He is, of His love. The run, our lives, becoming focused on finding out more about Him, growing closer to Him. With every step we take He pushes us forward, leaving His footprint behind us.

But as time goes, somewhere along the lines we lose focus, we start to see less of Him too much of ourselves, our own false perceived power and feeling of control, too much focus gets put on our speed, our own holiness, we begin to breed self righteousness and we lose sight of Him. As we run along, not even realizing His light growing lighter, fading with time.  Not even feeling the drag in every step as we go along...until it hits us, we're alone.

We're lost.

We backtrack, trying to discover when we lost Him, but He cannot be found in the places of our past.  We press forward, with caution...it getting darker as we go. Suddenly we see a small side trail, rough and unpaved, we must have passed it the first time.  Slowly turning from the main trail, turning from the comfort of the path of the world into a trail unknown.

As we run, sunlight unseen, blindly pressing forward into unknown. Having to trust that He is with you, guiding you despite the fact you can't feel Him.  You trip over branches and roots dispersed randomly throughout your path. Falling, cutting your face, you're knees...you begin to cry out to God, within yourself, within your soul.  With all emotions and feelings within you, hurting and alone.

Rain begins to fall, lightly at first, slowly. But it picks up, and through the heavy downpour, you begin to feel something, you feel Him. And with each drop He washes away your blood, your dirt. He cleanses your scars and your spirit. The sun breaks through the rain and you feel His energy again, as you press forward with your run.  This time letting Him guide you.

"There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death."

Proverbs 14:12 KJV

As I ran today without my glasses or contacts, the fuzziness made each step I took feel a bit harder to take, probably because I couldn't clearly see my future ending destination.  All object in sight are closer than they appeared.  It reminded me of that verse in the love chapter:

"For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." I Corinthians 13:12 KJV

And it's so true, especially for the times we live in now.  This life makes me feel like Alice and the Looking Glass sometimes.

Always at war the the Red Queen & White Queens-one of my own mind, and one of the world trying to sway me by 'relentlessly confound me by using word play to thwart my attempts at logical discussion.' As I grab hold of the red queen and shake her with all my might, the Red King of all Kings and LORD of all Lords finds me and we go in checkmate [His death on the cross, His blood cleansing me from all unrighteousness] and one day I will be released from this temporary sleep and wake up to spend eternity with Him!

(and while I've never fully read the books, now I want too!)

It's In The Little Things

It's funny how the little things you do everyday mindlessly, the things you don't think twice upon, can affect others.

This morning a friend of mine, Chelsi, posted about how just an unconscious smile blessed someone that day.  Something she not only didn't think about, but is self-conscious about also!  I remember working at QuikTrip and, while in the middle of a fight on the checkstand, I did my fake happy girly voice and smiled, with the usual greeting to the lady who came in and walked up to my register. As we finished the transaction she thanked me, and was so appreciative to see someone who actually was happy and loved their job, how rare that was.  It made me feel a tink bad honestly for faking it but it also actually changed my mood too!  Not only did the Lord use me to brighten up her day but He innocently used her to change my attitude and cheer me up!

Today at lunch, after eating I did my usual walking around the library reading, and passed a student who told me I inspired him to try walking while he read and now he loved it!  I can't recall how long I've walked around that library reading various books over the past 3 years, but to think that something so simple, God can use to reach others, amazes me.

But then He does it for me everyday...in the little things He blesses me with.  A beautiful painted sky every morning or the glowing of the moon and stars at night, uniquely crafted each time.  A bird bathing in a puddle, a lighting bug's cute little butt all lit up, honey bees, flowers, the sound of rain drops and the flash of a lightening, or even just the secondhand unprovoked compliment from my mother.

^"For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.”"

1 Corinthians 1:26-31 NKJV

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^"Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen." 

1 Timothy 1:16-17 KJV

Offering Me

I offer you my essence

I offer you my strength

I offer you my selfishness

I offer you my pain

my story is laid before you

my life displayed before you

my broken spirit is healed before you

my tears captured before you

You fill my hands with healing

You fill my heart with love

You fill my soul with forgiveness

You fill my eyes with light

" And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: for all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had" Luke 21:3-4 KJV

"And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: and to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question." Mark 12:32-34 KJV

"Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God, that I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost. I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God." Romans 15:15-17 KJV

"Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour...For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light" Ephesians 5:1,8 KJV

"Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all. For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me." Philippians 2:16-18 KJV

 

" For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,

 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;

 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin."

Hebrews 10:14-18 KJV

Time Ticking Away

So much happens so quickly nowadays, it's hard to keep a hold on time and not letting it get wasted away...

Today is Leap Second Adjustment Time, one of the times that have been favored for the addition or subtraction of a second from our clock time to coordinate atomic and astronomical time. The determination to adjust is made by the International Earth Rotation Service of the International Bureau of Weights and Measures, at Paris, France.

This brings to my mind thoughts of the value of time, of seconds.  We tend to think of time as so fixed and finite but in reality, maybe not so much?

"But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." 2 Peter 3:8 KJV

How do we then define time, how does one go about having the 'time of their lives'?  I don't think humanity really has a hold of what it is to begin with.  To me then, it's the quality of our moments on this earth that I define as time.

This is something that has been bouncing within my brain-quality versus quantity of time.  We are always looking for more time, we want to live longer lives but what's the use of having a mass quantity of years here if the quality of the time was pathetic?

Who lived a fuller life, a baby who dies in the hands of its mother in perfect peace, with love and immense joy...or an extremely old man, angry and alone, with no friends and loved ones?

I think we all search for more time because we secretly realize how much of time we have wasted so far and are scared to try and discover something worthy within ourselves to express our lives by.  Maybe we all have a fear that we have no depth or quality, so we'd rather keep delaying our finish line to see if we will ever discover something worth anything. The truth is that the only good thing inside, the only thing that gives us quality, is the Lord God almighty.  Jesus within each of us, His Holy Spirit, is the only part that really can add to this life anything of value.

Strange as it is, I started this on a run (shocker I know) after a friend wanted me to help them get back into running.  Everybody who wants to always tells me that they don't want to hold me back, but in reality they aren't, they add to me.

Yes, I can run pretty far compared to some people, but also when looking at others my miles seem slow and pathetic, just a warm up for multi-day runners.  What makes a run worth anything is the experience you have during.  My time with God the Father, or wonderful conversations with friends are what truly define a good run I think, not how hard I pushed myself...not how fast I ran...not how many calories I just burned...not how high is my heart rate...not how out of breath I am...& not how many people I passed along the way.

Like with dancing, I don't think it's about how well someone danced...how on step they were, but more how much of themselves they poured into it...this is what I love about art and dance honestly, seeing people expressed so openly.

This concept I then realized applies to me whether your talking about a physical run, spiritual run, or just the running of our lives.

Proverbs Women

Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.

She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.

She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.

She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.

She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.

Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.

Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

Proverbs 31: 10-31 KJV

I am the Proverbs women my mom believes me to be, and God calls me to be

We are all Trees of His Light

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

Galatians 5: 22-26 KJV

For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

Ephesians 5: 8-10 KJV

I bear the fruit of the Spirit, I shine His light. I don't lust or envy others-I cherish them. Every gift is from God, whether my own or anothers, and all benefit Him and His glorious name.

Forgiven

To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him

Daniel 9:9 KJV

He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

Psalm 103:10-12

If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?

But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.

I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.

Psalm 130:3-5 KJV

To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence

Ephesians 1:6-8 KJV

I have been forgiven. 
I am forgiven.
I will be forgiven.
There is nothing I can do to deserve it, I don't need to deserve it, as it is a gift bestowed upon me by my God the Father and Jesus Christ out of their amazing unfathomable love and grace that cover my soul. And if God can forgive me, I forgive myself also

God is my DJ~iPod not required...

So I ran a half marathon today, my sunrise run driving me farther than I would've dreamed that day.  A small prayer turning into a wonderful blessing.

Normally I have to listen to music at least to start but this run, it just didn't fit for some reason.  The whole reason I wanted to run with the sun that morning is to enjoy nature singing it awake.

Birds and frogs rejoicing together, crickets and insects of all sorts being the orchestra, the orange glow of the sunrising through the trees spotting the path before me, I couldn't ask for more. As I ran a bird flew down beside me, and began to race!  As we ran together I began to pass-for it is rather difficult to keep the pace of a bird (a fast bird for his size though might-I-add) he then took off in flight, and whooped me...till we meet again dear friend...later I had to run under fallen trees and never realized how the beauty of a storm outlasts it sometimes...and now know that I love running underneath tunnels of trees! It made a whole new experience out of my normal trail run.

Yet amongst all of this my mind and heart start to wonder and I pray, oh LORD, help me keep my mind, thoughts, upon you...speak to me God, guide my heart.  YOU are the reason I am out here.

As I ran my normal long distance and was finishing up, about 2 miles left I begin to pass a nature loop a friend ran with me on once, and had the strange desire to try running it also. First passing it thinking I'm crazy and totally unprepared for that kind of a distance, not to mention my already blistered feet won't be happy by the end, I brushed it off and ran on...and then turned around and went for it!  How often of a chance was I going to get to try it with the wonderful breeze and weather God had blessed me with, and the stamina to pull it off.  As I started the trail, the beauty of nature took hold and I totally lost track of myself and time.

The beauty of that trail, nature all around you, and oh how I love running alongside the creek!  Hearing the water flow and splash over the rocks as the breeze and mist from the water brushes against you.  Then running on the wooden bridge over the water with trees gracing each side of you creating a canopy. As hard as the extra miles were I couldn't even tell I had become so absorbed within my surroundings.

As the loop ended and I began the end of my run back on the trail, I had a total new focus on God and His creations all around me, and He blessed the end of my run with two birds playing right beside me!  Fluttering with each other, it was awesome.  I wouldn't have traded those extra miles for anything. That experience for anything.  That time to bond with Him for anything. Discovering myself for anything, because I realized through this run-that running in nature with my heavenly Father is the only time I feel totally and completely myself, comfortable with myself, accepting of all that God created me to be.

So on this note, here is Day 15:

I am a tree-hugging, nature girl.  An animal loving, vegetable enthusiast, garden-growing naturalist health nut...and PROUD OF IT! God has given me a unity with nature, a respect for His creations that I don't totally understand. But, if it took Him 6 days to create them all, I will spend my lifetime enjoying them.

 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.

 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.

 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

Genesis 1: 28-31 KJV

Me on Purpose

 For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb.
 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;^[b]
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.
 My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
Psalm 139: 13-16 KJV

I was prethought out, hand crafted, unique, designed and formed.  Each feature and aspect of me and my body were shaped softly by the very hands of my God that way on purpose.



Finding My Inner Cookie Monster

 When He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear Me, everyone, and understand: There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man.

Mark 7:14-15 KJV

But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.”  
And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.”  This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again.

Acts 10:14-16 KJV

I will eat the cookie dough, raw, & enjoy it...because I deserve to every time and again

I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy...

Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.

²⁸And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.

Psalm 35:27-28 KJV

I am a joyful uplifting person who speaks positive things, always giving glory to the Most High God.

God always comes through...

And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.  And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them.

Exodus 2: 24-25 KJV

God respects me, He remembers His promises He has made to me and will come through