Columbus Marathon

This time last week I was anticipating Sunday's race day. Looking at weather.com I was in deliberation of what to wear! When training, I had always worn shorts and the weather was supposed to be 29 degrees, but warming up to a high of 50- so I decided shorts it would be! Prior to leaving for Columbus on Saturday I went on-line to listen to Charles Stanley-he is a wise preacher from Atlanta. As I clicked on his link to the latest podcast, there was the title of his sermon.....Endurance! I chuckled at the thought-as this has been my theme- I need endurance to run this race! As I listened, Charles talked of the verse from Hebrews 12- to throw off the sin that so easily entangles that we may run the race with endurance. He noted that the Word said sin and not sins- that we all have a weakness towards a particular sin and then went on to talk about runners. Runners do not wear bulky clothes (hence me running in my shorts, :), pick out light running shoes so that can run the race. So with that Word I was off to Columbus. My friend Christy drove to my house and off we went together to Columbus. That night was a carb night and a Wii night! Went to bed at a decent time since we were getting up at 5:40AM!

Race Day!! With my only big races being the Indy Half, I was conditioned to be placed in a carrel, not in Columbus. You made your way to an open space. Since it was 29 degrees, I did have my sweats on until the race and then gave it the dramatic toss to the side- where many donated clothes were to be had. I remember the thought trying to come to my mind that I was about to embark in 4+ hours of running. Thankfully, that thought was quickly shot down- as I could not bear to think what was ahead. Rather by God's grace, I was able to enjoy the scenery! I absolutely LOVE to run in new places. Of course being a post Ohio State student, I am familiar with Columbus, but not running in it! My friend Mitsu was assisting me with being my coach. She was running the half marathon. As we headed around the bend in Bexley I looked over and there was this familiar face- our Governor, cheering on us runners. The trees were absolutely beautiful! There were bands and fans along the way. Around mile 11-12 my best friend, her family & boyfriend and my friend Christy were all stationed on the sideline cheering us on. I felt like I could smile for another two miles! Which did end about that time as Mitsu was heading left for her finish line and I continued. I about wanted to cry- thinking I was off for another 13.1 miles now by myself. So as I thought about spiritual principles- I thought how there is a weeding out of people- when the race ahead is long this is when endurance is imperative and if there is no endurance you are sidelined. As the half marathoners left, so did the number of fans, the bands and all of a sudden the race was feeling more desolate. Thankfully I knew my parents were going to be stationed around mile 15. Anticipating their smiling faces, I spotted them first and started waving- what encouragement is given from people, but especially those we love! Running through Ohio State's campus, it was very apropos that I "ran" into a fellow that used to be part of Campus Crusade for Christ when I was there. We chatted for awhile and he stated that he was now a grad student at Purdue. It was nice chatting as it broke up the monotony of the pounding on the pavement. Running by the new Ohio Union we commented on how much had changed. As Daniel ran ahead, I later met up with a man who had Proverbs 4:23 on the back of his shirt. As I came close, I told him that I liked the verse on his shirt. We talked as well- which again was nice. Then after the water station we went our separate ways. How true that is of life- there are times when we have certain people come in our lives and then they leave. After that water station, there came the longest stretch of the race. Absolutely no fans, a lot of wind, rather dull and lonely. There are times in life when this occurs, but the race must continue. After that stretch, hark there was another band! Now we were approaching 8 miles left in the race! Yippee! There were two additional times that the people that I loved cheered me on- yeah! This propelled me to the downhill stretch of the race. I remember thinking at mile 22- only four more miles! On that Monday I had run 5 and that was what I was thinking about- I had just done this! Then when 3 approached I thought- I just ran 3 miles on Friday. I was forgetting what laid behind- the past 22 miles, but pressed forward with great anticipation of the finish line! At mile 23 I was anticipating Mitsu's return and at mile 24 there she was! She was gearing up as she saw me approach and came back in to cheer me on. We had anticipated that I would be hitting the wall, but by God's grace and the prayers of the saints these legs continued with great endurance. A big thank you to all who prayed! As Mitsu came back, I was about to cry again! My emotions were on a high. Then at mile 25 my discipler and Bible Study leader at Ohio State, Carrie Walker, shouted my name and ran in with me and prayed for me. At this point I was somewhat of a daze; and she prayed for my last mile. Which led me to run the last mile at my fastest time: 9 min 19 sec mile! What a blessing to run the last mile with my fastest time- and the last .2 miles were all down hill- sprinting and then with raised hand in hand Mitsu and I crossed the finish line! Done at last! And a great endorphin rush as well! Praise be to God who allows us to run the race He has for us- oh Lord, it truly can be such a mental race at times- to have the right perspective. Help us to enjoy the scenery along the way and not be bogged down by the load ahead- You are the one that gives us strength! Help us to be thankful at all times along the way- thank You for your grace to run the race and not fall on our face!

Running in the Rain

Marathon training is definitely not for the non-committed. Dedication from waking up early, enduring many pounding steps, tight muscles afterwards, which lead to many reps of stretching are all part of the gamut. Yesterday was the peak of my training as the official number of miles totaled, drum roll please, 22. So in the 22 miles ran, rain occurred. The first seven to eight miles the weather was clear and then a light mist fell. The mist then turned into rain. My mind wanted to focus on the rain and to think I had to run 14 more miles in the rain was almost unbearable. I couldn't stay there. Why not run in the rain? Well, I do prefer to be dry and I can't control the rain. Rain combining with sweat does create burning in the eyes and with a soaked running top, drenched hands- not an inch of dry space anywhere, leads to continued wet eyes. In the midst of this- my will had to kick in. Recently I had thought of the verse- Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength. I've heard that the soul encompasses the mind, will and emotion. There is something about the word will. I WILL be thankful- or I will to be thankful. In the midst I started praying about the things that I was thankful for- this was instant mind renewal. Interesting (of course this is all God's design) when we renew our minds, you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. I knew there was no coincidence as I headed home from Columbus yesterday that I heard- Praise You in this storm twice on the radio. If you're not familiar with this song- the lyrics talk of praising God in the midst of our storms. It's easy to run in the cool peak of the morning when the sun is beginning to rise; however, it's another story when one has to run in the midst of rain. All of a sudden your senses are more aware of the heaviness of the rain as well as the hindrance of your senses- your sight. How true when the rain comes our sight is altered. However, God remains the same- He is worthy to be praised- He is our hope; He gives us the strength to continue to run in the rain. Oh Lord, we need Your grace to run, running in the times of rain, running in the times of drought, running when we are hungry.....but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:31).

American Idol History

I've been inconsistently watching American Idol, but I did see the results of which singer would be cut. This time Matt Giraud was the one who received the least amount of votes. However, this year the judges could save the fate of one of the contestants by saving them from being cut. As Matt sang to seek favor from the judges, the judges huddled together and came to the historic conclusion that Matt would be saved. The crowd went wild- his friends went wild and swarmed him with overwhelming hugs.
Overexuberant joy was flowing in this place. Salvation- means to rescue or safety....There is salvation in no one else (Jesus); for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12...oh the joy that salvation brings...as David said- restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation...My heart shall rejoice in Thy salvation. As we saw there is joy in salvation in the TV- but think of the magnification of true salvation....and we don't have to perform for it, it's given to us as a free gift.

First Butterfly Spotting

All I can say is that the LORD contiues to make me smile :) He is about transformation! So on Tuesday I was visiting my grandmother and as I was getting out of my car, what beholds my eyes, but the first butterfly of the spring. I believe this is the one:
Cabbage White, which is the first butterfly identified in Ohio!
Here it is:

Cover

This morning I was reading from 1 Corinthians 13. Yes, the love chapter. Does it seem like you don't think about the famous chapters from the Bible or the verses. It's kind of like reciting the pledge of allegiance or singing the Star Spangled Banner- it's become rote and then you don't think about it. Well, it was good to go back to 1 Corinthians 13. It's all about Love! Love is amazing! I thought I'd share just a couple of insights. Love never fails. Wow~ you can never go wrong with loving! I love how the LORD defines love. You can never go wrong with being patient, being kind. Then I was looking at how love beareth all. After looking that word up in the Greek it means cover- like a roof! A roof provides protection- keeps out things like rain, birds, snow that shouldn't be in our home! Wow- God's love is a protection for us. Love covers a multitude of sin. So, when we love others it's a protection as well- loving God's way. Love doesn't equate to being a people pleaser- it's truth and grace; it's Jesus. Hopefully I will be writing again this week- my reminder to myself: shadows.....

You are You!

This song by Rick Pino has been going through my mind today, here are the lyrics: "stick your tongue out like when you were a child, cause it's raining. Stop trying to be the next who's who....only try to be the next you. Stop trying to be the next who's who...only try to be the next you. He loves me like I am, He loves me like I am. He loves like I am....repeat....come and see my ministry you don't care about your Father's will just if you'll be on TV. Your gift can move the body and your gift can move the soul, but their spirit stays dry as a bone - too concerned about what other people think and you're not concerned enough about what your Daddy thinks. You've got all the right words and all the right songs, but He'll even take you with your poopy diaper on. I could be the biggest mess in the world it doesn't change His love for me.

Today I read in Phillipians 3- as Paul wrote about that if anyone were to have confidence in the flesh, he did. I stopped to think, what are the things that bring significance- my job, my home, my car, my relationships- and Paul talks about how we are not to have confidence in the flesh, but in Christ- that everything else loses its signficance when compared with Christ. As we in America and probably around the world try to find identity- we try to find it in things that were never intended to define us. To be defined by being found in Him is a profound and glorious thought! To be holy and blameless, to be His beloved, His creation, that He is our helper- that He has created us to be a beautiful part in His body. There is no way that one person can be the whole body- that is Christ.

As I was reading tonight in the Master Plan of Evangelism: Robert Coleman states, "The fact that there is no record in the disciples complaining about the pre-eminence of the three (Peter, James & John), though they did murmur about other things, is proof that where preference is shown in the right spirit and for the right reason offence need not arise. " Henry Latham suggests that the selection of these three served to impress the whole company the need for 'self abnegation' (to deny oneself- had to look that one up). In his analysis it was actually intended to show the apostles that 'Christ gave what charge He would to whom He would; that in God's service it is an honor enough to be employed at all; and that no man is to be discouraged because he sees allotted to another what appears to be a higher sphere of work than his own.'"

So Lord, teach us who You have made us in the body- and encourage those other parts- and see that each of our parts are important in the unity of Your body!

Faithful

This past week the word that I keep seeing is faithful. Multiple times this is used to describe God's character. When I looked up the definition of faithful it means: to be trusted, trustworthy. God is faithful. Even at times when it may not feel like it or seem like it to our human eyes; ah, but He is....He is Faithful and True.