The Darkness, The Man, The Snake, and The Soundtrack

So, I've recently started running.  Yes, I know... blah blah blah... if you're friends with me on Facebook you'll be glad to know that this won't feature any stats about how far or how long my runs take me.  However, I think its important to add that I have experienced God's voice more powerfully in some of my most recent workouts than ever before.  Its interesting, I think, that when we take our bodies into unfamiliar territory, our minds seem to compensate by allowing a bit more freedom in thought.  So... with that said, let me tell you about how God spoke to me this morning. 

The darkness... 9 times out of 10 I run in the dark.  This is not really by choice.  I have three children and a working husband that depend on me being home to care for them around 7am.  So, I leave around 6.  Its dark, sometimes damp, and always chillingly quiet.  I don't like that I run in the dark.  It feels dangerous and lonely.  I recently watched a documentary on the legal ownership of exotic animals and I'm prepared to be pounced on by a Siberian tiger every morning.  My breathing is quicker than usual and all my senses are heightened.  Did I mention that I don't like running in the dark?  Most mornings I play NeedToBreathe's "Slumber" at least two times before leaving to remind myself that "glory waits outside your window."  Its hard to drag myself out of bed to such uninviting surroundings.  Unfortunately, my Christian brothers and sisters, this is the world in which we live.  Its dark, its uninviting, and we can choose to stay in bed.  What a travesty if that is our daily choice.  We are the light of the world.  If we stay in bed, how bright are we anyway, and how will the darkness be misplaced?  We have to shine... we have to run the race.

The man...  As I finished my first mile this morning a man turned onto the street about 25 feet ahead of me.  We were both going in the same direction and he seemed to be a bit older than I am.  I thought it would be fun to have someone to focus on "catching."  I noticed he ran VERY differently than I.  At that same moment I remembered a friend mentioning on FB that if you shuffle your feet you can usually run longer because it takes less energy.  While I pondered these thoughts I started trying them... first running like he did, with very short quick steps... then shuffling my feet a bit.  As I looked up again I noticed he was much farther away from me than before.  I checked my pace and realized I had slowed almost 30 seconds per mile.  CRAZY!  I snapped out of that quick enough and decided whatever "technique" came naturally to me was probably best.  Dang... nevermind on the "catching" part!  I started thinking about all the times I had looked around at what others were doing and decided that their practices and outcomes were what I would try.  Oh how we can lose focus when we look at others.  God made me on purpose... and I'm unique.  I can't hold myself to others standards and I can't expect their outcomes to be what's best for me.  I'll waste energy and lose time if I don't cut it out. 

The Snake... You're all going to laugh at me now.  I'm coming up on 2 miles and I noticed what I initially thought was a stick on the sidewalk.  Then it started moving.  YIKES!!!  I'm squirming just writing this.  The snake was tiny... probably 7 or 8 inches at most.  However, I was completely off the sidewalk.  I even looked back a couple times once I past it to make sure it wasn't coming after me... like it could do anything!!  We have an enemy.  Fortunately for us, God has given us tools and abilities that allow us to stay the course even when we see him a mile away.  We can resist.  I could have resisted that snake with my heel... but even with how creepy he was, that just seems cruel.  Let's start facing things instead of running.  Running takes us off course, wastes our energy, and allows the little snake too much satisfaction.

The Soundtrack... For me this is the most important part of my run.  I can literally shave or add quite a bit of time depending on what I'm putting in my ears.  Its all about the tempo for me.  I noticed around mile 3 that  I had slowed considerably.  So, I skipped to the beginning of my playlist.  Nothing a little Britt Nicole wouldn't solve!  So, my friends, what are we putting in our heads?  Is it helping or hindering our pace?  We can listen to the lies of the world or we can choose to make the Word our daily helping.  It will make a difference. 

The point of all of this is that I needed to be focused.  Any break of that focus caused a loss in time and energy.  We have to be the same way.  Give me one pure and holy passion!  When we focus on Christ and His abilities and POWER in our lives, the troubles of this life will fade away.  I'm not saying we won't have to endure them, but we can choose to let Christ guide us through them with endurance.  We are destined for a place much better than this... so lets not waste our time.  

Summer...

Its been a long time.  A really long time.  Its been summer... and let's face it, when my kids are home everyday I have literally no time for anything extra.  I need to apologize for being absent.  Unfortunately, this morning I started realizing that I've been absent from more things than just my blog. 
Several things lately have been pulling at my eyelids but this morning my eyes snapped open, out of this summer coma I seem to have slipped into.  Wade and I have been amazed by a few major blessings recently realized.  And I hate that I'm amazed by that.  Don't get me wrong... I never want to be expectant to the point of feeling entitled.  That's not where I'm going with this.  However, I don't ever want to lose sight of the greatness of our God to the point that simple blessings blow me away.  Does that make sense?  This is all something I've been sorting through this afternoon.  Forgive me if I write a retraction tomorrow! :)
I was in place on the worship team this morning and as the piano played the intro to "Amazed" I found myself choking up.  The words scrolling across the screen caught me like a deer in the headlights.  "You danced over me, while I was unaware.  You sing over me, but I never hear the sound."  That has been me.  I have been unaware.  I have been deaf to this amazing song playing throughout my life the past few months.  I've been doing daily tasks completely void of the joy intended for God's people.  I'm not unhappy, but I'm not living the life that God intends for His children. 
I am blessed.  That's all.  If nothing else happens to me in my entire life... I am blessed.  I have three of the most beautiful children to ever walk on this planet.  I have a husband that loves me and supports me in every way.  I had breakfast, lunch, and dinner today.  I am breathing right now.  Ugh... and I am beyond blessed before all of that because I have salvation. 
So, here's where I am right now.  I have a lot on my plate for this next school year.  I have felt God prompting me to get out of my mommy box and start living in ministry to those around me.  I am putting myself out there in several new ventures and I'm excited about it all.
But, before I can even begin to minister to others I have to take a few deep breaths... I have to set my face to the wind and I have to allow myself to live on the edge.  Those of you that know me well at all, know that I enjoy a little risk.  I want to run into the unknown with my eyes wide open experiencing everything that God has for me in this time of life.  I want to allow myself to be voulnerable with people around me so that God can use my flaws and other's flaws to draw us ever closer to Himself.  I want His Spirit to make my heart flutter and beat so fast because I'm hearing Him call me to action.  I want to be available.  I want to be awake. 
Let's do this together people.  Let's set our alarm clocks and lets wake up.  Let's allow Him to transform what we do daily.  Let's see needs and meet them.  Let's be in His Word to the point that we can say we're "abiding" in Him.  Let's encourage one another to seek Him on levels we've only dreamed about before.  Let's be committed.  Let's be dangerous.  Let's do this thing.