The Race (before, during, and after)

I can understand, that for many people, running long distance and training for a long distance race is not necessarily a spiritual experience.  However, for me; God used this time to draw me closer to Him.  From the beginning, I knew that this was something I was suppost to do.  I was going to do this for Ashley, to run a half marathon, was something I never thought I would do, and for Ashley, I know that cancer is something she would never have signed up for either. 

 During most of my training runs, I listened to worship music and prayed as I ran.  I prayed for people I passed by, I prayed for Zach and our marriage, I prayed for family, I prayed for people hurting, I prayed for forgiveness of my sins, places I failed, and for His mercy and love. God opened my eyes to His love.  One run in particular, I do not have good enough words to describe it, but I saw each person in my life who I know: family, friends, and acquaintances, and I SAW, if only a glimpse, the intense love God has for that person. For each individual. It was like a bright glow, warm, rainbow of light.  By the way, God's heart ache's for you. 

The night before the race, I laid in bed and meditated on Psalm 40.  Here are some of the verses:

V. 1-3 "I waited patiently for the Lord; And He inclined to me, And heard my cry.  He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth-Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the Lord." --That's me!

During the race, my ipod played songs that helped push me along.  Here are the songs that I particularly remember that lifted me up (not all necessarily Christian, and not all fast pace, but each I remember brought me joy and God used to nudge me forward)

Listen to the Sound (Building 429) - at mile 5, almost half way...almost.  His grace is reaching for us, His grace is reaching out!

Light up the Sky (The Afters) - He is with me.

7x70 (Chris August) - but forgiveness made a way.

Never say Never (The Fray) - Don't let me go, don't let me go.

This one's for the girls (Martina McBride)

Work That (Mary J. Blige) - I think about mile 7 or so. MJB told me to "work what you got, I'm talkin about things that I know.  Be yourself!"

Meant to Live (Switchfoot)

Let's Get it Started (Black Eyed Peas)

Eye of the Tiger (Surviver mix) - mile 9 needed this!

Ray of Light (Madonna)

Where you Lead me (Mercy Me)

And then, today, the day after the big race.  God has led me to His word, to guide me into the wisdom to know that like a long distance race, life is not easy.  But with Jesus, it is never in vain. 

Acts 20:24 "...Nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I have received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God."

Hebrews 12:1-2 "...let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith..."

I also want to say, that I could not have done it without the love and support of my family, my husband, and the encouragment of the TEAM in Training folks! I know God used each of them as well to inspire me to keep moving.  It reminded me, that as a Christian, I do not live on an island. God uses others to encourage, teach, learn, and challenge us! I love each of you very much.  I am so blessed to have such an encouraging family of support.  And how blessed I was to experience it.  Go Team Ashley!

We remember

Today, on September 11, 2011 we remember that horrific day for our country 10 years ago.  I don't think President Obama could have picked a better reading for the beginning of the memorial service in New York, as I heard him pray Psalm 46 from the Bible.

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.  Selah

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.  God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts.  The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.  Selah

Come and see the works of the Lord, the desolations he has brought on the earth.  He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire. 

'Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.'

The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress." Selah


As the families who lost their loved ones read the names, nearly 3000 people who died that day.  I pray they take these words to heart, I pray we look to Lord Almighty, the God of Jacob, who is ever present in our troubles.  I am praying for our great, free country today.  That we look to God for our comfort and strength.

For when life happens

Hebrews 10:32, 35-36 


"Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering.  So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.  You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised."  *

(V. 39) "But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved." *

Colossians 2:6-10

"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, stregthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.  See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.  For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority."  *

1 Peter 1:21-22

"Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart." *


Colossians 3:12-14

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."  *

*Praying all this is locked secure in my heart today, and forever and ever.