It Matters Who You Run With

I run with a great group of ladies, (and a couple of gents).  They are all encouraging to one another and just really pleasant to be around. 
But some of them are faster than others.  And some of them are slower than others.  I usually ran with some of the slower runners because I enjoyed their company.  I honestly believed that was as fast as I could go.  After all I am a beginning marathon runner.
 One day, that all changed.  Our trainer slowed down to run with me and began to urge me on.  She told me my breathing was "mental".  I think that is a good thing...but she she told me to try speeding up some, and that I have more power than I think.
Well, she is wiser than I am and has more experience.  Only a fool won't heed sound advice.  So although it didn't seem like it, I considered what she said, and sped up a bit.  I found myself running alone.  I wasn't quite as fast as the fast runners and was a bit faster than the slow runners.  So I ran alone.
Then something happened...I discovered my own pace.  I began to speed up, and walk less.  This went on for a few runs and then "Molly" happened. (Her name has been changed to protect her identity ;-)
She is the one in the group that always finishes first.  One day, let's call it "M-day", I thought, maybe I will run with her for just a little while.  We ran and ran, and I found that the only limitation was in my head.  I found that running with her, I pushed myself like never before.  I discovered new dimensions of my abilities.
While every runner runs, not every runner is someone I should run with if I want to push myself to the limits.

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. " 1 Cor 9:24 NIV

Video Clip #3

Video Clip #2

Video Clip=On the Track

Humility

"By humilty and the fear of the Lord are riches, honor and life." Prov 22:4


I've found that on this quest to finish strong, there are many obstacles.  None of them are uglier or stinkier than pride.   Pride is not when we think we are intelligent or capable.  It is when we think more highly of ourselves than we should (Ro 12:3). We can not believe we have all the answers or know it all, yet we don't have the results working in our lives. 

The proof really is in the pudding. 

Or as I like to say, you can't argue with fruit.  A good tree cannot bear bad fruit and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.  After looking around my life, I found some "get started and not finish fruit", some inconsistent fruit and some lack of preparation fruit.  It was quite painful, but pruning always is.  But the thing about pruning is that it helps you grow, and you can't grow without humility. 

Quitting

This morning, at 5:30 when the alarm clock rang out in the dark of early morning, all I could think about was quitting.  But I didn't think "I quit!". I just thought, "Oh, I'll just sleep in today and pick back  up on Monday. No one will even know." Then I thought, "I'll know. So let me just hit snooze and then I'll go...maybe."

Right about that time, I dozed off. And in my dream, walked in a friend of mine who is on the same journey I am to overcoming obstacles. One Mom's Journey to a More Disciplined Life  She agreed to hold me accountable and it worked!! Even in my sleep and probably her sleep too. The thought of her checking in on me this week and me having to tell her, I dropped out of my training class, seemed unbearable. Mostly because it would have involved an excuse, and these days I treat excuses like contraband. 

The thing about quitting is that is doesn't seem like quitting at the time.  It seems like getting rest, taking a break, or waiting for a better time to do something,  There are all kinds of tricks our minds play on us, if we let it.
Be alert and stand guard against excuses and quitting.  Winners aren't always fast or strong, but they are those who do not draw back.

"Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him" 

Heb 10:38

 

Reaching Your Goals

(Quoting from an excellent book by E.W. Kenyon-Sign Posts on the Road to Success)

"Put your whole self into life...drive yourself."

"Don't float. Don't wait for an opportunity. Go make your opportunity."

"Success is yours. Come and get it!"


Setting goals is not the same as actually accomplishing them.  And accomplishing them is going to require intense effort, focus and endurance.

Paul puts it this way in a letter to the Philipians "...I run to win...I can't consider myself a winner yet. This is what I do: I don't look back, I lengthen my stride and I run straight toward the goal to win the prize that God's heavenly call offers in Christ Jesus." (God's Word trans)

We can't walk around thinking we've arrived or we've achieved our highest level of success. "God has ultimate, massive success for you!" ~Sarah Bowling

And we can not assume that we know it all or have done it all.  David Yonggi Cho said "The Holy Spirit doesn't speak to smart people."  The first step in reaching your goals is realizing that you just aren't there yet and that you have a lot to learn.

The next step is research. Find out what you don't know. Take classes if you need to. Study God's word to find promises and get direction, seek Him in prayer.

Surround yourself with people going in the same direction, doing the same things.  But save room for those who are already where you would like to be.

Fill your eyes and ears with what inspires you to improve and grow.

Cultivate thanksgiving and praise in your life~avoid complaining at all cost!!

Then just get started somewhere  Pull out all the stops. Go for it!

Finally, be your own cheerleader! King David encouraged himself in the Lord when failure seemed imminent.  There will be times when no one else will encourage you, believe in you, or support your decision. But do it anyway!

On Track

In life it is so important to set goals.  Paul said in writing to the Philipian church, "It's not that I have already reached the goal or have already completed the course." (Phil 3:12)  When we set goals, we establish a unit of measurment with which to gauge our success.  So often we compare ourselves to others or some standard set by people who don't even know us.  When we fall short of these standards or realize that they aren't for us, feelings of failure can creep in. God tells us that it is unwise to compare ourselves to any one else. In the God's Word translation Paul puts it like this: "How can we brag about things that no one can evaluate?  Instead we will only brag about what God has given us to do..."(II Cor 10:12-13). The truth of the matter is that everyone has their own race or course to run.  It is unique and individual to who we are and what God has planned for us.

So we are to set down with God and ourselves and clearly mark the goals for our lives.  Write the vision and make it plain (Hab 2:2-3)

No one is ever too young for this.  As a child, my mother sat us down and set goals with us.  Reasonable, attainable goals.  And in reaching them, we developed a sense of accomplishment and confidence to keep on growing and improving.

You should set goals with specific parameters defined.  Short term, long term. lifelong and seasonal goals.  Personal, professional, spiritual, physical, social and financial goals.  Be clear and be reasonable, but mix it with faith. After all, the just shall live by faith (Heb 10:38).

Preparations

The word prepare is used in the King James version of the Bible around 81 times. In other translations, even more than that.  That gives us a good indication that God is into preparation, to say the least.  When I think of preparing in the Bible, a few favorite scriptures come to mind.  2 Tim 4:2-"Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season." Implied in that is that conditions may not always be favorable to preach, therefor we must prepare.  Prov 9:2 referring to Wisdom (personified), explains that "She has prepared her meat..." Moreover, Prov 31 describes in detail a virtuous woman who is preparing for every scenario of life, and her preparations even effect how others view her husband. My absolute favorite is John the Baptist.  His assignment on Earth was to prepare the hearts of men for the coming of Jesus in the body.  Our assignment as born-again believers is also to carry on the work of preparing the way for the Lord's return.  

Now on to natural preparations.

Looking over my list of things to do by 35, I listed a few physical goals.  In order to achieve them, I must prepare properly.  

Well, I have started jogging/walking at least 3 times per week.  Things have been going well, I have improved both speed and distance. 

I will be starting a marathon training at a local facility, if they have room.

The most interesting thing I find about training is that I really enjoy it.  When I am out there pounding the pavement and breathing in fresh air, I feel so alive and strong.  Longevity is very important to me, and I feel like this is a good step toward that.

Life Lists

When I began this blog, it was about reaching some goals I had set for the year.  Since then, I have accomplished those things and more.  For some time now I have had a list of things to do by a certain age.  Right now I am working on my 35 list.  S I have added a version of this list to the blog.  I encourage you to create one of your own.



I was talking to a group of friends about this list and things that we would like to do, and one of them said "Why wait? Do it if you're going to do it."  I don't know if they understand exactly what impact that statement had on me.  But it couldn't be more true. If I am going to do it, why wait?
That caused me to look into some other areas of my life and I realized where I unnecessarily postponed many things.Yup, that dirty little word...procrastinating. 

In light of this, I will be making some changes to the blog. 1) It won't be limited to just accomplishing goals for a year. 2) I will be inviting guest bloggers to share their insight as well, and lastly  3) I will be adding video

Down Time

Wow! If ever a lesson was 31 years late, it is the one I learned this week.

Make time to rest.

Unfortunately relaxing, though it should be the easiest thing in the world to do, is a foreign concept for me.  I feel if there is time, surely there is something productive I could be doing.  I am a very driven person who is self motivated. So all I need is a little opportunity to push myself beyond the limits.  I always feel as though I could be more productive or take something good or even great to the next level.  Are these negative qualities? NO!! Not in and of themselves.  Together with wisdom, someone possessing these qualities could turn the world upside down.

And the deception is that "if I push myslef a little harder, or deny myself this pleasure, I could get so much more done".  But it is actually the opposite.  It actually hurts your effectiveness, and decreases your productivity. 

In Psalm 103:14 the psalmist proclaims "He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust."  Sometimes we have to remind ourselves that yes, there is little that mankind cannot accomplish if we set our minds to it, but yet and still we are frail creatures, fully dependant upon an Omnipotent God. And this same Omnipotent God, worked 6 days then rested.  Not because He needed rest, but as a loving Father, set an example for us.  
As parents, entrepreneurs, wives, and all of the other hats we wear, we often don't see that it is even possible to take a break, let alone for an entire day. At least not without the roof caving in, or the world falling apart. 

But we can either approach rest proactively, or re-actively.

If you schedule down time, yes things may for a moment get out of hand, but if you are recovering from stress related illness, things will get even more out of hand.  And maybe your reputation as supermom will be injured but your reputation as a mom who loves her family and herself enough to plan for longevity will remain in tact.

Now let's talk about this race. Yes life is like a race; not a sprint but a marathon.  Endurance is key. And endurance cannot be achieved without scheduled down time. We cannot be what I call firecrackers, we start out with a bang-then fizzle out or burn out, unable to be lit again.

Last but not least, learning to schedule downtime can be passed down to your children like being a workaholic was passed down to me.

So kick back and relax. Go for a walk, or just watch the sun rise.
Enjoy your salvation. It will also make your home a happier place.

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

2 Cor 4:7

Excuses Are a Funny Thing...

When I first thought of doing this, I could only think of one or two excuses.  Then as I went along, it seemed, that every time I overcame one, there was a new one staring me in the face.  And really, I shouldn't say new. In fact, there were the same old excuses I'd used for years.They were with me for so long, that they seemed to be a part of me...

A few old acquaintances

Stopped by for tea.

A few close buddies,

to spend time with me.

It seemed, as it were,

they whispered and poked,

they prodded and jabbed,

pulled the old rope a dope!

Yes they pulled a fast 

one over on me

and all I did

was invite them to tea!

They wore a new guise

not their old garb indeed.

And you cant grow new fruit

using an old seed.

I stood to my feet,

though I staggered a bit...

a left hook then right

T.K.O, baby! That's it!!.

But I hit 'em low

and I hit 'em hard

their shiny veneers

broke into shards.

Right in the mouth 

Yeah, I got 'em good!!

"Try that again!

Oh I wish you would".

It's lights out for excuses in my life.  The process of writing this blog has begun a process in me, that is exposing to me all of the excuses I've used as crutches, wubbies, binkies, you name it. But I am done.

I am so glad for this new year and my new beginning. And that no matter how many times I fall short of what I should be, God's mercy is there to welcome me with open arms.  I am careful not to take that mercy for granted or abuse it, but I have surely needed it a time or two :-)

  Yet this I call to mind

       and therefore I have hope:

Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
       for his compassions ( mercies) never fail.

  They are new every morning;
       great is Your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:21-23 (New International Version)

 

 

Once I get the Money...

 People often say that they cannot do this or do that because they have no money.  Many Americans say, "If I ever get the money, I will do this or that."

But the truth is, if they aren't making preparations, they will never do it.  Mark Hankins said it best, when he said it this way, "Use what you have to secure what you lack."  He was using the story of Blind Bartimaeus to illustrate, that Blind Bartimaeus may not have had a way to get to Jesus, or even eyes to see when He was passing by, but he had faith, ears and a mouth.  So when he heard Jesus passing by, he cried out to Him for help.  And He got a whole lot more than that.  Jesus said "If we have faith as a mustard seed we would say...and it would..." (Lk 17:6) Our words have power. If you don't like what you are seeing, change what you are saying.  And if money is the only thing standing between you and realizing your dream, then look for free ways to get started, and believe God for the money. There are so many promises in the Bible regarding financial provision and us praying according the will of God, Him hearing us, and granting our request (I Jn 5:14-15)So dig into His Word, find the promises, be someone He can trust, ask, and recieve.

The Disorder Disorder

Disorder Defined: unpredictability and it is the opposite of law and order.

If unpredictability is a resident in our lives, it effects everything. When discussing thermodynamics, we come across a little known law, commonly called the law of entropy.  Sounds creepy. But the law of entropy is basically this: everything in the world is progressing toward a state of disorder, chaos or breakdown.  If you just look around you can see that there must be some merit to this theory. Ice melting, food rotting, the aging process, etc
The law goes on to state that entropy is always increasing or staying steady, but never decreasing. YIKES!!

So we can see that we've got a fight on our hands. I've done some of my own research into disorder.  And the interesting thing about disorder is that, when you begin to get rid of disorder (or create order), you somehow, find even more disorder.  And depending on how long you had the disorder, you adapt your lifestyle to fit the disorder and stop considering it disorder.

Disorder can come in all shapes and sizes.  For some it is a shopping disorder, eating disorder, tv watching disorder, etc.  For others, it is an organizational disorder (too much or too little), a time management disorder, a procrastination disorder, or an  I don't have any disorder-in fact I am perfect disorder.

Either way, disorder is not God's plan for our life.  In fact, in 1 Corinthians 14:40 we are instructed to do everything decently and in order.  Then we can read in Jeremiah 29:11, that God tells us that He knows the thoughts that He thinks toward us, thoughts of peace, and not of evil. To give us a future filled with hope. When disorder has taken over your life, like an over grown weed in a garden, there is no room for peace.  And the longer it is allowed to grow, the more room there is for hopelessness.  

So what do we do once we spot a disorder weed trying to grow in our garden, or we look with exasperation at the disorder weeds already full grown in our once idealic garden?

Cry out to God.  David said in my distress I cried out to the Lord, He heard my voice from His temple and my cry came before Him, even to His ears.  Be honest and straight forward. "God, You said to do things decently and in order, and I can see some areas of my life that I did not do that.  Have mercy on me!! Help me get things in order and be gracious to me in the meantime. I can't do it alone and I need you to help me as only You can! Thank You for Your help! In Jesus Name."

Then create an action plan.  What steps will you take to create order? Don't base this plan on what you need to get in order to do.  Base your action plan on what you have now and what you can do now. 

Lastly, Take the first step!! After that it will get easier.  But that first step creates momentum, and momentum can carry you a long way.

I am certain that God, who began a good work in you, will continue His work until it is finally finished...Phil 1:6

I Just Don't Feel Like It

In 2010 I need things to be different. My life is good. I am happy. Yet, deep down inside I know that I have not lived up to my full potential. Personally, I rather hate the status quo. If you linger too long with the status quo, you will invariably, end up behind, or at least not where you should be.

I've noticed in my life at one point or another, when things are good, and I've accomplished enough to not feel guilty, I settle in. I become comfortable. Comfortable is a killer of dreams and possibility.

We all have moments, if not days when we just don't feel like it. I think sometimes when I "just don't feel like it" it is because I am ok with things the way they are. We often say we want change. But if, in fact, we really wanted change, wouldn't we just change? Our desire to change has to be great enough to move us to action.

We are not alone in our efforts. Paul writing to the Philipian church tells us "For it is God which works in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure".

So today, my prayer is "Thank You, Lord, that you are working in me, not only to do, but also to want to do, what pleases you"!

Dealing With Disappointment

I am continuing to go down the list of hindrances to motivation and excuses.

I had developed quite a bit of forward momentum from Day 1.  Since then I have been getting a massive amount of things accomplished. I already settled into my new chore schedule, whittled away my to-do list, drank a liter of water a day, and turned the world upside at work.  Then today, like a freight train, disappointment hit.  It involved something I had poured my heart and soul into, and it didn't turn out the way that I desired, or planned.  And God understands how disappointment feels to us.  He said "hope deferred makes the heart sick (Prov 13:12)".
However, I let this disappointment began to affect my disposition.  Once I allowed it to do that, motivation flew like a wild bird out of the window.
All of this forward momentum I had created and all of the tall buildings I leaped in a single bound, got to my head. I somehow thought I had the Midas touch or something.  That quickly I had forgotten, that it is God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect.  I had forgotten my prayer about God working in me both to do and want to do what pleases Him.  I had accomplished what I did because of Him, and if I  but trust in Him, give this matter to Him entirely, He can bring success in that too.
I breathed a little bit more. 
Regardless of what the disappointment or delay is, it can have the same text book effect.  It kills motivation.
We must stop the train of disappointment, thoroughly inspect the cargo, and not allow delivery of the tainted goods.
Paul said this to the Corinthians "therefore we do not lose heart...for our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal (2 Cor 4:16-18)".

My Reading List

One of my goals this year is to read at least two books per month for myself.  I have finished "Is Your To Do List About to Do You In?".  It was okay.  It pointed out the obvious...that I need to cut back some things in my schedule.  I am also rereading a favorite of mine.

Anyone who knows me, knows I am always talking about the dreams God gave us and praying for my friends and loved ones that He helps them come to pass in thier lives. For some I have seen with my own eyes some of those dreams to come to pass. I know some of them, as big as the world is, so is their dream. As for myself, I am walking out some of those dreams even now. But I know there is more.

I said all that to say this. Regardless of where you are in life, there is always room to go to the next level. Room to see that next dream on the list come to pass. If you wonder what the next level is, if you see the next level not far off, or if you just need to know how to get there...Here is a great tool:

"Renew, Refocus and Recover! A Road Trip To the Life You Deserve." Get two copies and keep one for yourself and give one to a sister, friend, colleague, or even your mother for Mother's Day.

It is time to stop dreaming in life and start living the life you dream.

A friend was kind enough to give me a copy as a gift, and telling her thank you hasn't been enough. I have read, and frequently refer back to those now bent pages. I use the highlighter, ink and tear stained pages as a reference. Because until I have everything I dream of, I refuse to settle for second best ever again. This book has renewed my tenacity and helped me streamline my efforts to achieve what God has put in my heart.

The beauty of this book is that unlike some self-help books, you don't have have to be broke, busted and disgusted to get something out of it. The message of the book meets you where you are at and can be applied to any situation you are facing.

Buy it today.  Renew, Refocus and Recover- by Raquel R. Robinson

By the way, I realize that there are those who are always recommending the next bestselling book. I am not one of those people nor do I follow the advice of those people. Furthermore, when I read a book, I need it to change my life or at a minimum be worth the time that I set aside to read it.
Those of us who can recall anything from our economics class, recall "opportunity costs". If it is not worth my time, I will not read it. I am confident this will be worth your time.


To check out some of the other books on my reading list this year, look on the left side of this blog.

Dealing With Grief

Today, I am aching.

From the inside out. 

I hurt in a way that I am just not used to hurting.  Yet, I am thankful and humbled that I have had 31 years with one of the most amazing women on the planet.  I could say that she changed my life, but really she helped to shape it.  She was like a rudder on my ship, and her strength and fortitude helped me stay the course. 
She survived the Great Depression, war, divorce, racism, sexism and raising three children as a single mother. 

But she didn't just survive, she lived. 

In my thirty one years, I've never seen her bitter   She never complained that life was not fair.  She squared her shoulders, bowed her knees, and embraced us tenderly.  Her ninety five years were marked with dertermination, sacrifice, joy and love. 
She was also an entreprenuer.  She owned and operated a very successful dry cleaners in the heart of a thriving community, in a time when women were not afforded such opportunities. 
Even in her last years, she was full of spunk, and tenacity.  Her wit was just as quick as it ever was, and her eyes still shined brightly.
She was well loved and will be celebrated by many.

So, yes, my heart is heavy, but I am not overcome.  Her legacy goes on and all of the things she built with wisdom, remain until this day.  She also knew Jesus, and I am comforted as I remember that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.  I know she is in that great cloud of witnesses, cheering me on as I run this race that is set before me.

Moving Right Along

WOW!!!
It has been very long since I last blogged.  But I have lots of good news to report.
I am moving right along through my reading list, I even read a couple of extra books that weren't on the list.
My home is a happier place.  We also started having family game/movie night. 

And my fat jeans are once again, my fat jeans!!

I must admit, in the beginning some of these things seemed sooooo tedious. but now it seems like I have acquired some discipline and formed new habits.  But I still have 9 mos to go.

Laziness

Laziness. Hmm. Seems simple enough. Or so I thought.

I like to work and enjoy starting new projects.  The worse thing anyone could've called me is lazy.  And if they had, I wouldn't have believed them.

Then, the light came on.  Laziness isn't not wanting to do work (that is part of it). Biblical laziness is starting and not finishing. OUCH!!!

Guilty as charged.

Let me show you what I mean:

The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.(Proverbs 20:4)

The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets. (Proverbs 22:13)

The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious. (Proverbs 12:27)

Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord...So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.' "His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.  (Matthew 25:25-27 (New International Version)

You see, in all of these examples, the sluggard (lazy person), did something. But they had excuses that kept them from finishing what they started. 

When I read these verses, I could easily recall all of the things I began but had yet to complete. 

But just like with anything else, we can go to God and ask for forgiveness and help to do better.

So I prayed "Lord, forgive me for being lazy. Help me not to make excuses, but rather to be the finisher that you created me to be in Christ. Thank You!"

It is just that simple. Then He will give you wisdom and whatever else you need to be a finisher.

We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

Hebrews 6:11-13 (New International Version)