Jogging With Jesus

"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...