Jogging With Jesus

"Give thanks to the LORD and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done." Psalm 105:1  Although this is supposed to be a "jogging" blog, my post today will not be about jogging. It will instead be about a huge blessing the Lord has given our family.  Around a year ago, Jack started preschool. We had him enrolled in a Christian preschool at a local Methodist church, and he absolutely loved it! His teachers were amazing, he had a great group of classmates, and most of all, Jack loved learning about God. He loved it so much, it was the first thing he asked his teacher at orientation. "When are we going to learn about God?" I have to take a moment here to explain something. I grew up in a small town in Arkansas and public school is all I've ever known. I even decided on a public university over a private Christian university when I attended college. My degree is in early childhood education and most of our emphasis wa

"Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the LORD will be greatly praised." Proverbs 31:30 While perusing Facebook this evening, I read an interesting blog post. The title was "Why Christian Girls Post Seductive Selfies." It really got me thinking.  Where was this post when I was in high school? College? But even if it had been around, would I have read it? Listened? Heeded it's advice? Probably not.  I was that girl. Almost desperate for attention from the opposite sex, it reflected in the way I dressed and often in the way I acted. "Selfies" weren't what we called them, but I definitely knew how to take the "right" picture. I hear a lot these days that parents should control and monitor how their daughters dress/act/etc. And that's true, to an extent. Christian parents are judged and berated by other Christians for not "having a handle on th

"If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:8-9 I know I've already written a blog post today, but I've had an epiphany.  Are you ready for it? Here it goes.  I. AM. NOT. PERFECT. Don't tell me you already knew that?  Okay, you did. And I knew it too.  I just haven't been living like it. You see, I have this problem. I have this tendency to try so very hard to be perfect ... and when I fail, because I always will... I condemn myself.  I feel defeated. I feel guilty. Why CAN'T I be the perfect wife? The perfect mom? The perfect daughter? The perfect sibling? The perfect friend? The perfect Christian? Oh that's right. I'm not God. And let's be honest, I have a head knowledge of that.  I know that realistically, I can&#

"Be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord." 1 Corinthians 15:58 This has been an awesome week for me, as far as running goes! Last Wednesday, I ran a 5k on base and although I didn't PR on my 5k time, I DID PR on my 2 mile time! (18:57!) It was an extremely hot race, but I can tell that I'm slowly getting faster and stronger! While running, God brought Isaiah 40:31 to mind, "But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint!" It was just what I needed! Yesterday, I surprised myself AGAIN by breaking my 1.5 mile and 2 mile records! (13:11 and 17:51!) I almost threw up afterward, but I was pretty excited! The current training I'm doing is preparing me to pass an Army PT test. (No, I'm NOT joining the Army!) My goal was to run 2 miles in under 18 minutes and I did it! I've also started cr

"You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God." I Peter 3:4  What an eventful month it has been! I challenged myself to run 100km in June and I can't believe it ... I actually succeeded! Don't ask what possessed me to take on that challenge in one of the hottest months of the year. I'm really not sure! In other exciting news, I finally ran a mile faster than my goal of 8:30! I finished a mile this past Saturday in 8:23. Not only that, but I kept running! I finished 1.5 miles in 13:43 and 2 miles in 19:03. It was a very happy day for me! And lastly, I finally got a hybrid bicycle! I can't wait to start cross training ... and trying something new while talking to God! While doing my Bible reading today, I came across I Peter 3:4, "You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of

"Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall." Psalm 55:22 My 100km challenge is going so well! So far, I've run at least 2 miles every single day of June, except the 6th. But I made up for it by running a 10k on Saturday morning. So far, I've finished 24 miles this month. Just 38 left to go! This past weekend, I started to feel very overwhelmed. Sometimes I personally put way too much on my plate and when I feel like I can't get it all done, I break down a little.  Okay, a lot. My daughter's birthday party is coming up soon, my son started science camp this week, I'm teaching Zoo Zone for the month of June, we have family coming into town this week, and on top of all that, my husband is on swing shift! On Saturday morning, 6.2 miles were EXACTLY what I needed to release some stress! While talking to God, I realized that a lot of my stress really comes from me. 

"Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air." 1 Corinthians 9:26 A lot of things have happened for me, as far as running goes, the past few days. Sunday night, I beat my mile record by 5 seconds! I really tried to beat 8:30 but it just didn't happen. I finished in 8:52, but I was still so excited to pass 8:57! I haven't even come close since last year! I also dedicated myself to a 100km in June challenge! That's 62.137 miles! But more than the distance, that's 2 miles with God daily! On Sunday, I ran with my praise and worship music for the first time in a long time. My iPod has been dead and sometimes I enjoy it just being me, the road, and the Lord. But one song came on and touched my heart in particular.  "For all of this life Your Spirit ignites A heavenly fire Untouched by the night You opened our eyes Turned death into life Revealing all truth There's no on

"With God's help we will do mighty things ... " Psalm 60:12a Last night, I was able to run my sixth 5k since I began this jogging journey. When I say ran, I literally mean ran! I was able to run the ENTIRE 3.1 miles without walking for the first time, ever! Although I really wanted to break 30 minutes, my main goal was to finish a 5k with no walking and I did it! I'm so thankful for my sweet friend Mallory, who is a 5k beast, for staying with me and encouraging me to keep going! We were able to keep a 10:04 pace and finished in 31:01. A new personal record for me! Every time I run a race, I'm so thankful that the Lord convicted me last year to make fitness a priority in my life. When I run, I'm only able to finish because of God's help. Psalm 60:12 literally speaks right to my heart. With God's help, I can do mighty things. Whether it be running a race, teaching my children, being a friend, or loving my husband, with God's he

"So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31 I feel like I've started my last several blogs with, "I know it's be awhile..." and it's true. When I got out of my regular running routine, I got out of my blogging routine. I've also found that I'm a lot more motivated when I'm self-motivated . When no one was reading this blog, I wrote a lot more often.  After the Disney Princess Half, my running schedule was pretty much nonexistent. My husband was getting ready for a PT test and then went through five weeks of ALS, so it was really hard to find time to run. I have to give myself a little credit, though. I hate pushing the jogging stroller, but since that's the only way I've been able to go running lately, I've been doing it. Even though it's tough, my daughter loves going, so that in itself is worth it! She's become quite an avid bird watcher! :) I'

"There will be sounds of joy and gladness and the happy sounds of brides and bridegrooms. There will be the sounds of people bringing to the Temple of the LORD their offerings of thanks to the LORD . They will say, 'Praise the LORD All-Powerful, because the LORD is good! His love continues forever!' They will say this beause I will again do good things for Judah, as I did in the beginning," says the LORD.  Jeremiah 33:11 Have you ever had one of those days where you can tell that God is right there actively working in your life? Even though the day may actually be tough, you can almost physically see God's Hand moving. I've had one of those days today. Little bits and pieces of blessings that I can not only see now, at the end of the day, but that I recognized as they occurred. I'm so thankful for days like today.  It all started this morning. I've been really trying hard to get up early and have some quiet time before the kids wake up. I

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won't become weary and give up." Hebrews 12:1-3   It has been several months since I last posted, but that's mostly been because of lack of training! After my first half marathon in Pensacola in November, our family stayed busy with traveling, holidays, the flu, and abnormally cold weather for Florida. With the Disney Princess Half Marathon quickly approaching, I was filled with more dread than excitement. I knew I had