Use Your Wings!

Days are busy and summer is NOT a break!

I've fooled myself for many years thinking that summer was a break from the stress and schedule of the school year. But I've come to realize that we just fill the time slots with many other activities. Swimming lessons, music lessons, camps, practices etc.

I'm just as busy now as I was a few months ago. I must say that I prefer this kind of being on the move. I am enjoying every minute of it!

Having three kids means I'm usually dropping off, picking up or trying to coordinate with my husband in making sure we end the day with all three. Seriously!

As I hurried to pick up a kid from another activity, I noticed a bird trying to walk across a busy street. Cars were moving quickly and it stood waiting for the right moment.

Huh?

I thought to myself "Why is the bird walking across the street?"

I shook my head and thought "You can fly! What are you doing?"

I just assumed that it was trying to get to food in the middle of the road. That had to be it. Why would a bird, with the capability of flying over the madness, choose to walk through it?

Immediately, I heard the Holy Spirit whisper "Exactly.Why are you trying to maneuver through situations that you were created to fly over?"

Goodness Gracious!

This one hit me! HARD!

Some struggles are not for me. There are some situations, people, or feelings I should not attempt to engage or entwine.

Am I the only one?

How many of us are hiking through the terrain of unproductive situations, relationships, feelings, debates, and conflict that we are meant to circumnavigate?

"But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." I Corinthians 15:57

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away, behold, the new has come." 2 Corinthians 5:17

"What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If  God is for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:31

"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us." Romans 8:37


Why are we developing strategies to march when we have been given wings to soar?


Blessings!



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Confidence: An 11 Year Old Lesson!

You can enter my home at any moment and see evidence of my 11 year old daughter.  Colored pencils, scrapbook paper, cut outs, and glue are strewn all over the floor in at least two rooms of the house. I absolutely love this age! Kisses, hugs, love letters, snuggles and girl time are her favorites! She still giggles and enjoys hanging out with her mom! I just love her! I don't want her to grow up. I keep asking her to slow down but she keeps growing.  *sniff*

I wanted to share her with you. She is a wonderful writer and loves sharing her love for the Lord. She is my Guest Blogger this week! I hope you enjoy. 

These are her thoughts!

Many people won't believe it but being eleven takes a lot of confidence. From the classroom, to sports, to friends, confidence is a very crucial aspect for everyone.

A few months ago, I fractured my elbow during a cheerleader tumbling lesson. Devastation, pain, and hopelessness filled my heart at the news from the doctor. I knew that my life as a cheerleader took a real big crash. 

It was hard for me to watch the other girls jump and flip across the floor. All I did was sit in a wooden chair and take notes. It's hard for an eleven year old to watch other girls be amazing and not able to join in on the fun.

After nine weeks of being out, it was hard for me to get back in the rhythm of things when I got my cast off. My jumps weren't close to great. My round offs looked like cartwheels! When I stretched, I looked liked a 100 year old lady getting off the floor!

I was tired of being on the sideline and being the only one left out. I was tired of "Are you OK?' and "Do you need help?" I prayed and prayed until my voice was hoarse. I said things like "Help me become like the cheerleader I was before."

After many talks with my Mom and many prayers, God stuffed confidence into me! He made me not see what I was but what I would become. He got me to get to work and start believing in myself.

Today I am doing back handsprings and looking forward to working on back tucks!

The Lord God has been a real big...well not a big but a HUMONGOUS part of my life. He's shown me confidence, the thing that I was lacking.

My confidence comes from Him. Philippians 4:13 says "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." This is a beautiful thing. This has really changed my life. I don't have to count on my strength. I know I can count on His strength in everything I do...even a back handspring!

Confidence in Him opens doors in you that you have never seen! It's a blessing from God. 

Blessings!

E

I'm her Mom but I'm a big baby. I'm crying reading this! Sweetness...

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THE MIDDLE!

Sorry this is another running post. :-)  I 'm training for my fourth marathon and I'm spending a lot of time running. I promise it won't happen every week but today...hang in there!

I actually made it to my first group run this weekend. It was incredible. I was able to be with my people! It was a 6 mile run and I was a bit worried because I didn't get all my runs in during the week.  I really don't understand how the other running moms do it. I can't. Mariachi, competition cheer, and football always seem to happen during the time I'm supposed to be running. I could get up at 4am and run like my other running friends BUT that's not what I'm hearing in my inner man! (old school church) Only thing happening at 4am is my nighttime hot flashes! That's another post!

6 miles apparently is a walk in the park for my running group. They sailed right through. I, on the other hand, had forgotten how long 6 miles actually was.

Mile 3: I was questioning my decision to train again.
Mile 5: I was questioning my decision making skills and purpose in life.
Mile 6: I was trying my best to cross the finish, not pass out, and at the same time act like it was a piece of cake!

After running three marathons, I forgot about this part. I forgot about the pain of training. I didn't remember that as I ran with my group, it was my legs that I felt get tired. I forgot about the loss of toenails, blisters and injuries.

I only remembered the start and finish!

 Marathon 2009

It's such an incredible feeling to stand with thousands as I began on the day of the race. It was even more fulfilling to run across the finish line. Seeing my loved ones at the finish line waiting to embrace me and the feelings of actually running 26.2 miles were overwhelming.

But the MIDDLE...

I forgot about the running part! I actually forgot about the time between the start and finish. That's where we all are. You and I are in The Middle. It was great starting out with fellow believers and you can only imagine what it will be like to spend Eternity with the One whom you love most. But now it's your legs that you feel getting tired. It's your child who's walked away from the faith. It's your home that foreclosed. It's your marriage that's in trouble. It's your life that you feel is falling apart.

There are neither training sessions for the start of a race, nor sessions for how to cross the finish line. But the whole training group is dedicated to getting through the middle.

The Holy Spirit reminded me that the Bible (God's Word) was given to us to get us through the middle. From Genesis to Revelation, the Lord uses his word to encourage, instruct, heal, nourish, mend, and deliver while we are in the middle. We can't run a race and not get direction and instruction about the course.

He is our Guide:

"I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you."  Psalm 32:8

He is strengthening us:

"We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance." Romans 5:3

He knows our pain, We must accept His help:

"Now that we know what we have - Jesus, the great High Priest with ready access to God - let's not let it slip though our fingers. We don't have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He's been through weakness and testing, experienced it all - but without sin. So let's walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help." Hebrews 4: 14-16.

We can't stop. There is a finish!

"Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him."  James 1:12

I keep trying to end this neatly. I keep writing and rewriting my close. But the Holy Spirit keeps reminding me that it's not over. He has more for us. We're still in the Middle!


Blessings!

"Let us run with endurance the race God has set before us."  Hebrews 12:1

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