It's all about You

I'm coming back to the heart of worship,

and it's all about You, all about You Jesus.

My run today was an act of refocus, an act of return.  I gave it all to Him today remembering that He is my provider.  Without Him, I wouldn't be in the position I am in, able to run each and every day.  So often do I take that for granted.  It is so easy for me to forget that running is more than a stress relief, more than a fun hobby, more than provider of praise.  Running is a time of worship.  

I feel extremely close to God while running as the world He so awesomely created goes whizzing by.  I love the melodies created by the pounding of the pavement, my heartbeat, my breath, and the sounds of the world.  I feel attuned to the Spirit and how much I truly and desperately love the breath and the life that It gives me.  Running is an act of worship and should be treated accordingly; this I need to always remember.  I need to remember how I felt today, after this run and be worshipping You in each and every step I take on my run.

blessed life

Feeling good, feeling great.  My life is slowly increasing in pace allowing for gradually less free time, but somehow I am adjusting accordingly.  I am absolutely in love with the beautiful new house I am living in (you can see all of our amazing crafts and DIYs here).  And despite some major construction going on, were just getting a new roof, siding, windows, and porches (no big deal) I find peace and joy every time I walk in the door.  It has been an amazing blessing being in this community of 9 lovely friends.

Though I am injured (again) track has been surprisingly great.  Even through the changes in training and coaching I am once again falling more in love with Christ through my running and the amazing women I get to practice with each and every day.

That is all the update I have time for today as I am about to go enjoy the amazing sites and the beautiful weather by having lunch with an amazing lady at the Union in Madison.  I am thankful and feel so blessed today.

ice cream dreams

your love crashes over me

like an endless flood you overwhelm me

caught in the current i fade away

yet your love overtakes me

you have captured my heart

over again i am freed

you take my sin and redeem me again

always consuming is your love

i am forever yours

Resting

Rest isn't a verb often used in my life.  I often hear myself using the phrase "I'll sleep when I am dead" (not a good way of viewing life).  The world we all live in is a hustle and bustle world that never sleeps, never pauses, never rests.  I am a person who does not want to miss out on anything that the world offers me so I sacrifice my rest for more time to study, run, hang out with friends, or work.  I am not a person who is apt to just take a day, an hour, or a minute off of "something important" to take a breather.

During my past month at Saranac, we talked a lot about rest and what that looks like in a life being lived in the world.  Being secluded from the speedy movements of the world it was easy to find time to rest in the busyness of working at camp.  Yet, going back into life and back into the reality it has already proven extremely difficult to hit the pause button.

My pause button has two modes of rest, a button for physical rest and another for spiritual rest.  My physical rest is easily refilled and restored with a good 8 hours of sleep or by taking care of my body after a hard workout.  This first type of rest is much easier for me to attain.  It is the second type, spiritual rest, that is constantly being drained and never completely filled.  I so readily make excuses to not spend time with my Love by getting that extra hour of sleep, or by being too tired to do anything but look at blogs or watch TV.  This saddens me because I know in my heart of hearts that it is rest in Christ that fills me up and can give me more strength than any physical rest can.  During the past month I was physically exhausted yet I was more alive than I had ever been.  All that strength and perseverance and love and joy came from above, it didn't come from sleep or from myself.  It was all from Jesus.

If only I can continue to thrive on His awesome power in this world that I am now surrounded in.  I pray that I can remember to begin every day with rest in You, resting before I start my work so that I can credit You with giving me the endurance to carry on.  It is You who has the ability to let my work flourish, Lord.  I pray for no feelings of guilt to creep up on me during my times of rest both physically and spiritually.

You

set a fire down in my soul, that i can't contain that i can't control. i want more of you god, i want more of you god. there's no place i'd rather be. no place i'd rather be, no place i'd rather be, than here in your love. here in your love

hello world

I cannot fathom the fact that classes start again tomorrow.  It seems as if summer flew past me without a second glance backwards.  I am getting thrown back into the chaos of to-do lists, studying, time management, running - back into the chaos of real life.

It is terrifying going into this year realizing that I have no plans, no idea how I am going to use my major (or if I even want to continue it), and relying on God to be my only provider and my planner.

If I take one thing out of the past month of working and living completely in touch with God's power is the fact that God will provide.  He knows the plans He has for me.  He created me even before I existed and loves me unconditionally.  He will never let me go or throw me into the unknown with no means of escape or a way to reach Him.  His power is more mighty than any plan I can cook up for myself to become better.  His will is stronger than any humanly desire I might have.

I can only pray to have Him be my one desire day in and day out.  I am scared of the fact that I can so easily slip and fall back into the current I am so desperately fighting against.  All my temptations surround me each and every day yet, when I rely on Him to give me strength and to fight for me, I can stay afloat.

I am so thankful to be living in an amazing community of 8 other girls who are all amazing women of God.  I am so blessed to be in such a positive place full of people who will hold me accountable.  I cannot wait to see how God works in us and in our time together.  The group of us is going to be a lot stronger than any one of us separated and all of us are going to grow together in His love.