"Eric Liddell: You came to see a race today. To see someone win. It happened to be me. But I want you to do more than just watch a race. I want you to take part in it. I want to compare faith to running in a race. It's hard. It requires concentration of will, energy of soul. You experience elation when the winner breaks the tape - especially if you've got a bet on it. But how long does that last? You go home. Maybe you're dinner's burnt. Maybe you haven't got a job. So who am I to say, Believe, have faith, in the face of life's realities? I would like to give you something more permanent, but I can only point the way. I have no formula for winning the race. Everyone runs in her own way, or his own way. And where does the power come from, to see the race to its end? From within. Jesus said, Behold, the Kingdom of God is within you. If with all your hearts, you truly seek me, you shall ever surely find me. If you commit yourself to the love of Christ, then that is how you run a straight race."

From Chariots of Fire.

I only thought this was appropriate... Since today is RACE DAY!

"Love means never giving up seeing the best in eachother" - Anonymous

Running

Running for me is therapy. I love the feeling of going out and pushing myself. I don't know why... I just do. I love to run. And well, a few weekends ago I got to watch a marathon in my hometown... What an awesome opportunity. Seriously if you ever get the opportunity: go watch a marathon.

After the marathon, I got to talk to a few different runners and I heard their stories... Running symbolizes something different for everyone. And that's what is incredible I think... But at the same time: we all have been given this gift and this drive, to go out and give it our best.

On one of my runs a few weeks ago, I saw a man that had lost his legs on my run... He was climbing into the back of his car and crawling through. I may not know what it's like to be missing legs, but I know the feeling of being confined to the wheelchair. The constant struggle and battle.

This reminded me what a blessing it is that I am able to run today. I am so thankful for my work-out's and getting up each day to run. This weekend I will be racing for our local Christian radio station Family Life Network, this radio station has been such a blessing to me.. I am so happy I get to represent such a great cause this weekend and run with the blessing that God has given me.

Tough Decisions

As I sat on the bus for a fundraiser, we began watching a movie...

Not just any movie, a movie full of sexual innuendos and what most would call inappropriate for any kids. The question that popped into my mind as the president of this organization was: do we pull this movie from the TV? Do we just apologize for the inappropriate scenes and hope that no one was too offended?
What is our role as Christians to stand up and be different? In Romans it says: Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2). Would this small moment be considered how we conformed to the typical social mores of society instead of putting off our old self? I don't know. But it definitely has made me think... How will people know that I am a Christian if I don't stand up for the things that present others pure to Christ?

• Next to physical survival, the greatest need of a human being is psychological survival--to be understood, to be affirmed, to be validated, to be appreciated. Seek first to understand, then to be understood. - Stephen Covey & St. Francis of Assisi

I am not.

Sorry, this was supposed to be posted a few nights ago... Oh well! Here it is!
Each morning I wake up... And I enter the day with an expectation that this day will be better than the last. I enter it knowing God is there waking up with me and by my side.

Some days this same feeling follows me throughout the day. There it is, by my side holding me up. However, some days this feeling sweeps out from under me and I get caught up in things. And slowly, my good day becomes something that I can barely handle. Today was one of those blindsiding days...

I cried so hard I shook, every little stress had piled up and I was a mess... There was no smile to be had and I cried to the Lord. I was in the midst of the storm. And it felt as though Jesus was in the belly of my ship sleeping as I panicked in fear. I screamed to God over the roar of my cries... But it didn't seem to be enough. I couldn't get past it. I was a mess. My whole body shook. No peace just pain. I began to wonder about my life... Is it worth it? What have I done that has helped or honored God? How can God use this?

I began to realize: I was buying into lies. Lies about my life and about the things surrounding me. I have to counter them. I can't keep buying into the cheap imitation brand of faith: when the real deal is right before me. I have to name it and decide not to let it claim my heart... This is so hard. It's so hard to get the gumption to get off the couch or to reach out for help. And then it's even harder when your help seems to fade away and no one answers their phone.

But when we think about it: if we truly look at scripture we know that as Christians we have asked Jesus to come into our hearts and the holy spirit dwells within us. So therefore, the illustration of the ship can be quite true to our lives... We can awake Jesus from our hearts and tell him we need him to speak to the storms within our lives. And that's so cool to me.

I am not strong enough... I am not saved by my good deeds. But I know a God that is. And that's what is good enough. He is more than enough. And tonight and always I will bank my trust in that. However, that does not discredit the scary storms and the emotions and pain of feeling all alone.

I stole this video from my friend Shorty's blog. It seemed like it fit for me tonight too.