What You Put In Is What You Get Out!

So this morning I was looking at my schedule and figured out that I wasn't going to be able to run this afternoon due to my little sister-in-law's birthday party. Plus it was supposed to rain. So I went ahead and laced up my Nikes and went for my run this morning. However, what I forgot to do was eat! So when I got out to the park I was running much slower than I wanted to.

Lesson for today: you must have fuel in order to perform. I'll have to keep that in mind when I start doing my early morning runs next week.

Ironically this is also what I learned in my Bible study today. Daniel (also called Belteshazzar), Hananiah (also called Shadrach), Mishael (also called Meshach), and Azariah (also called Abednego) (Daniel 1:7 NLT) were all taken into the royal service when the Babylonians conquered Jerusalem. I affectionally call them Shack, Rack and Benny from my Veggietales days. :)

The king gave them a ration of the king's food and wine but Daniel and the others did not want to eat it. They said that their diet would be much better if they just ate vegetables and water. So the king's servant put them to the test for ten days and sure enough, Daniel and the other boys looked much better at the end of ten days then those who had been drinking the king's food and wine.

What we put in our bodies is what our bodies are going to give us back. I didn't put fuel in my body this morning, therefore my body was not able to go as fast as I wanted it to. We have to take care of the bodies that God has given us. They are miraculous creations and much more capable than what we give them credit for.

So next time you're at the grocery store, think about the produce section instead of your canned vegetable aisle. :)

I'm still running across America!

Ressurection

Today’s message is about restoration.

The Lord has been telling Israel about their sins, about all the destruction that was coming to them. He told them that they would be taunted and dragged away from their land by foreign nations. It’s gotten to the point where the Lord even says it will be so bad, parents will eat their children because they will be so hungry!

But the Lord takes a turn in Ezekiel 36. He starts foretelling the restoration of the people of Israel. He says, “I am furious that you have suffered shame before the surrounding nations.” Why is He furious? It’s because “I was concerned for my hold name, on which my people brought shame among the nations.” The Israelites had done evil, gone away from the ways of the Lord. They were no longer glorifying His name. What we have to realize here is that the Lord does not want people to glorify His name just because He has an ego. He want’s people to glorify His name because He made all things and knows the best way to live on the Earth. The Law Moses wrote had instructions on how to deal with disease and keep the nation clean long before the people ever knew about germs. If we do what He says in the Bible, we are living the way we should and pointing other people to the best way to live, which is by the glory of God.

The flip side of it, is He loves us! He is sad that His people have gone astray. You remember the whole “I hope they repent” part that I wrote about two days ago? God did not want His people to suffer, but they had to be punished for their actions. God is perfect and cannot be in connection to His people without their judgement being paid.

Here’s my favorite part:

“Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.”

He is already telling the people of His plans for Jesus! Jesus provided the ultimate sacrifice that was finally enough for our sins and we are washed clean (symbolized by baptism) and we are given the Holy Spirit to guide us in our day to day lives.

But we have to be the first to initiate:

“I am ready to hear Israel’s prayers and to increase their numbers like a flock. They will be as numerous as the sacred flocks that fill Jerusalem’s streets at the time of her festivals. The ruined cities will be crowded with people once more, and everyone will know that I am the Lord.”

He is ready to take the dead and destroyed and revive it. But He has to hear their prayers first! Same thing goes for you and me. Have you prayed for God to restore what’s dead and destroyed in your life? Pray to Him and He will make it known that He is the Lord!

Midweek

Had a great day today! I really did not know how much my God was prepping me for the next level of my ministry. I had a great day meeting with people and planning for the next things God has planned for our church. I am so hopeful for all the things that can happen!

Running today just plain old hurt. I am still sore from the last time I went running and my muscles haven't had time to recover yet. Oh well. Stretching a lot tonight!

Today I encourage you to read Lamentations; specifically chapter 3. The writer grieves over what he has gone through. He starts that "[He is] the one who has seen the afflictions that come from the rod of the LORD's anger" (verse 1). While he laments over the suffering he has gone through, he turns a corner and says, "I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning" (verse 20-23).

Nothing you are going through or striving for is hard enough for the love of the Lord to come through for you. Trust Him and let Him work through you. I promise you will be amazed with not only the process, but the outcome when you see the glory of God!

My progress across America!

Submission

Jeremiah. I do not know a lot about him but I’ve been learning! That’s why today’s blog is about Jeremiah and the word he had from the Lord.

I have been going through the chronological Bible and boy, am I making some connections I haven’t made before! There was a section of last week where I had missed a bunch of days of reading. So thanks to the ESV and YouBible people, I listened to the scripture that I hadn’t read yet on my way to work. The section I was on was Jeremiah. What was really cool is that I was able to hear all the chapters as one and I found an amazing story indeed!

I’m going to start in chapter 18, since that’s where I started in my car.

The Lord gives Jeremiah a vision of a potter. Verse 4 says “but the jar he was making did not turn out as he had hoped, so he crushed it into a lump of clay again and started over.”

It continues, “Then the Lord gave me this message, “O Israel, can I not do to you as this potter has done to his clay? As the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand. If I announce that a certain nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, run down, and destroyed, but that nation renounces its evil ways, I will not destroy it as I had planned. And if I announce that I will plant and build up a certain nation or kingdom but then that nation turns to evil and refuses to obey me, I will not bless it as I said I would? ... Say to them this is what the Lords says: I am planning disaster for you instead of good. So turn from your evil ways, each of you, and do what is right.”

I love that visual! The Lord can make good things out of bad even if the process sometimes hurts and takes a while. What we are about to find out is that Israel goes under such a process.

In chapter 26, the Lord tells Jeremiah that he needs to stand in front of the Temple of the Lord and make an announcement to everyone there. What I find really important is that He tells Jeremiah to “Give them my entire message; include every word.” (Jeremiah 26:2b) Then goes on to say, “Perhaps they will listen and turn from their evil ways. Then I will change my mind about the disaster I am ready to pour our on them because of their sins.” (Jeremiah 26:3)

Even before the Lord tells His people about his plans for their destruction, He is already hoping He doesn’t have to do it! I think we can all identify with not wanting to discipline our children, but we are willing to if we have to for their benefit!

So what does He say? “Tell them that the Lord says, ‘You must obey me! You must live according to the way I have instructed you in my laws. You must pay attention to the exhortations of my servants the prophets. I have sent them to you over and over again. But you have not paid any attention to them. If you do not obey me, then I will do to this temple what I did to Shiloh. And I will make this city an example to be used in curses by people from all the nations on the earth.’” (Jeremiah 26:4-6)

Ouch. Tough parenting. But in order to make a new pot the old pot has to be destroyed right?

But the crowd responded in typical bad behavior fashion:

“Jeremiah had just barely finished saying all the Lord had commanded him to say to all the people. All at once some of the priests, the prophets, and the people grabbed him and shouted, ‘You deserve to die!’” (Jeremiah 26:8)

All I can say is, “Run Jeremiah, run!”

However, the Lord took care of Jeremiah. Long story short, the people did not kill Jeremiah.

But King Jehoiakim was much different. The prophet Uriah was telling people the same thing and the king killed him. Not looking too good for Jeremiah or the people of Israel.

So now some Biblical history! In 2 Kings chapter 24 we find out that Babylon invaded the land of Judah and King Jehoiakim surrendered to King Nebuchadnezzar and paid tribute to him for three years. However, he then rebelled. When he rebelled, Babylonian, Aramean, Moabite and Ammonite raiders destroyed Judah (just like the Lord promised!) and Jehoiakim died. His son Jehoiachin became the next king (verse 6). He however, did evil in the sight of the Lord just like his dad and he only lasted three months! King Nebuchadnezzer came up and besieged Jesrusalem and King Jehoiachin surrendered.

So Jerusalem was destroyed, just like Jeremiah had told the people at the temple. King Nebuchadnezzar exiled 7,000 of the best troops and 1,000 craftsman and artisans who were fit for war (verse 16). King Nebuchadnezzar then appointed Zedekiah (formerly Mattanhiah) king. But as war continued, there was a lot of talk amongst the people to rebel against the Babylonians and regain their city back. King Zedekiah was caught between the will of his people and the will of the king who appointed him king of Judah!

Now back to Jeremiah, chapter 27.

The Lord tells Jeremiah to fasten a yoke to himself and send messages to the kings that have come to see King Zedekiah in Jerusalem (verse 3). This is what the Lord said:

“Charge them to give their masters a message from me. Tell them, ‘The Lord God of Israel who rules over all says to give your masters this message. “I made the earth and the people and animals on it by my mighty power and great strength, and I give it to whomever I see fit. I have at this time placed all these nations of yours under the power of my servant, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. I have even made all the wild animals subject to him. All nations must serve him and his son and grandson until the time comes for his own nation to fall. Then many nations and great kings will in turn subjugate Babylon. But suppose a nation or a kingdom will not be subject to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. Suppose it will not submit to the yoke of servitude to him. I, the Lord, affirm that I will punish that nation. I will use the king of Babylon to punish it with war, starvation, and disease until I have destroyed it. So do not listen to your prophets or to those who claim to predict the future by divination, by dreams, by consulting the dead, or by practicing magic. They keep telling you, ‘You do not need to be subject to the king of Babylon.’ Do not listen to them, because their prophecies are lies. Listening to them will only cause you to be taken far away from your native land. I will drive you out of your country and you will die in exile. Things will go better for the nation that submits to the yoke of servitude to the king of Babylon and is subject to him. I will leave that nation in its native land. Its people can continue to farm it and live in it. I, the Lord, affirm it!”’” (Jeremiah 27:4-11)

Whoa!! That’s a big command from the Lord! Just like the clay submitted in the hand of the potter, the Lord wanted his people to submit to the authority God has placed over them or they would be destroyed! The Bible goes on to say that this was the same message to King Zedekiah. So the question is, did Zedekiah listen?

The Bible says that he didn’t listen (chapter 37 verse 2) but he called for Jeremiah and asked Jeremiah “Please pray to the Lord our God for us.” This makes me laugh. I feel like he did what many of us do today. We know we are not in the will of God, but we ask Him to bless our plans anyways. The Lord tells Jeremiah “The king of Judah set you to ask me what is going to happen. Tell him ‘Pharaoh’s arm is about to return to Egypt, though he came here to help you. Then the Babylonians will come back and capture this city and burn it to the ground.’”

How’s that for a direct answer?

Long story short, Jeremiah gets arrested on false charges. The king gives him special treatment as a prisoner. In my opinion (and I may be wrong) I think it’s because he believes Jeremiah. But deep down, he likes the idea of being a sovereign king. He likes the idea of being in control and calling the shots. However, he is having to conduct a war in a city that is low on morale and food. Letting his troops hear that they are going to lose doesn’t do much for them wanting to fight to save their city and make him king over it.

There comes a point where Zedekiah and Jeremiah have a heart to heart. Jeremiah has been in prison and the city is under siege. The king asks Jeremiah “I want to ask you something and don’t hide the truth” (chapter 38 verse 14). He asks what the Lord would have him do in this situation. Jeremiah tells him, “If you surrender to the Babylonian officers, you and your family will live, and the city will not be burned down. But if you refuse to surrender, you ill not escape! This city will be handed over to the Babylonians and they will burn it to the ground.”

I think this is an amazing point in King Zedekiah’s life! God is in the midst of bringing the destruction he promised on Jerusalem but he is giving the king one more chance. The Lord has already said it is his will for all nations to be subjects under Babylon and those who surrender will remain in their native lands and will live. Those who don’t will be destroyed. Surrendering to Babylon is equivalent to surrendering to the will of God, and this is the choice that King Zedekiah has at this moment!

Unfortunately, Zedekiah didn’t surrender. He said, “But I am afraid to surrender. For the Babylonians may hand me over to the Judeans who have defected to them. And who knows what they will do to me!” What is also not stated is that he would have to give up the dream of being a sovereign king and being in control.

Zedekiah was more afraid of what people would do to him rather than what the Lord would do through him. Because of his unwillingness to put his trust in the Lord, the Babylonians destroyed his family and Jerusalem. The very thing Zedekiah was afraid of happening if he surrendered happened because he didn’t surrender. The Bible tells us him and his family went through a gruesome and traumatic death.

While this is a very sad story in Zedekiah, the amazing thing is, God still brought about his glory through the Israelites. They were crushed just like the clay in the dream Jeremiah had under Babylon for a number of years. But the Lord reformed the pot and brought them back to their land to rebuild (details on that is a whole ‘nother blog). God still showed his glory to the nations and transformed the people of Israel though the reign of the Babylonians.

What should also be stated is you have that choice too. God is telling you to do something right now. I don’t know what it is. It may seem hard. It may be uncomfortable. But what you don’t realize is He has a plan for you and he wants you to fulfill it and see God’s glory shine in your life to those around you! What it takes however, is submission to the process. Being reformed into the person Jesus has planned for you isn’t easy.

This story taught me that yes, the process is hard. But I cannot let the fear I have had in my life keep me from surrendering to the process. I am going to have to give up control of a few things. But I hold onto the promise that God has that He has a future for me if I look for Him wholeheartedly.

I’m willing to do it and I have already begun the process. The question is, are you?

Training Week 2

Today began the first day of week 2. Week 2's are notorious for being hard. On the Biggest Loser they have the lowest weight loss. For me, I think 'oh I did so great week 1' that I slack off sometimes in week 2. What I actually do is just completely fall off the bandwagon. THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN THIS WEEK! I promise it to myself and to you all. :)

Jared and I signed up for our 5K. It's called the Monster Mash on October 27th. It's actually at a horse track! How cool is that? PLUS you get to dress up in fun outfits. Anybody have a bright idea of what Jared and I should go as?

What I learned today from God. I sometimes really just don't want to go to church. I was so tired this morning I actually slept on the way to church. But once I got there I had a blast with the kids. We 'fished' and learned that even when it gets frustrating, we should trust Jesus, just like Peter, James and John did when they first met Jesus fishing.

Funny how God uses my own lessons to reach me where I need it most. :)

Logged 2.58 miles and I'm running along the York river now!

Verse to run with:
"Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised." (Hebrews 10:36 NLT)

My Quest Across America!

Hello everybody! So I have decided that just running is so boring. So I'm setting a goal for myself to run a marathon!

Why do you say? Well, because I've always wanted to run a marathon and I always thought it would be amazing. However, I never thought I could do it. I have realized that God asks me to do crazy things too but with His help I can do all things!

In addition to running a marathon, I also found this amazing website that virtually lets you run across America! It goes along the old Route 66 from one side of the country to another. I'm going to log my training miles on this website and see where my miles take me. I mean come on...it gives you pictures of the road! (See attached picture)

This isn't all about me though. This is about you too. I hope that me pushing myself inspires you to see God has big plans for you too and with Him you can do all things!

Two verses to ponder into our hearts as we run...

"I can do all things through him who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13 ESV)

"but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint." (Isaiah 40:31 ESV)

God bless. :)

My God is so big!

Many of us go through our day to day lives and get bogged down by what we have to do in a day. Paying rent, working with a certain someone, getting through traffic...you know. Hard things right? I know many of us deal with physical, emotional and spiritual baggage. We have an illness, grieve for a loved one that died, are stressed out by the desire to become significant or are just struggling to get out of bed and do something productive because it seems pointless. As human beings we strive to be a positive influence but many times we hurt each other emotionally or are too wrapped up in ourselves to see how we influence those around us.

What we lack is heavenly perspective. If you would turn to Isaiah chapter 40 please. If you don't have a Bible click here: http://bible.org/netbible/

Starting in verse 6:

A voice says, Cry [prophesy]! And I said, What shall I cry?
[The voice answered, Proclaim:] All flesh is as frail as grass, and all that makes it attractive [its kindness, its goodwill, its mercy from God, its glory and comeliness, however good] is transitory, like the flower of the field.
The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the Lord blows upon it; surely [all] the people are like grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. (Isaiah 40:6-8 AMP)

This verse tells us that even in our best, we are but a passing flower...we die. I know I have a black thumb but I'm pretty sure the flowers that get put in my vases go bad within a couple of weeks. Just as quick as they bloom and look pretty, they whither and die and I have to throw them away. The Bible says we are just like that. But the Bible also says God is NOT like that. You could even say God is like the vase. He is the one who holds all the beauty and displays it for the world to see so that people can come to know Him!

Why would you want to know God?

"Behold, the Lord God will come with might, and His arm will rule for Him. Behold, His reward is with Him, and His recompense before Him." (Isaiah 40:10 AMP)

God is mighty!

"He will feed His flock like a shepherd: He will gather the lambs in His arm, He will carry them in His bosom and will gently lead those that have their young." (Isaiah 40:11 AMP)

God is compassionate! I don't think it was an accident that the verses describing His power and His love got put back to back.

"Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, marked off the heavens with a [nine-inch] span, enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance?" (Isaiah 40:12 AMP)

I love this verse! We try to measure everything with science but most of the time it's all just theory in the end. God is the only one who can physically do all these mighty things. He created the Earth and knows everything in it.

"Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord, or as His counselor has taught Him? With whom did He take counsel, that instruction might be given Him? Who taught Him the path of justice and taught Him knowledge and showed Him the way of understanding?" (Isaiah 40:13, 14 AMP)

God is the one who created justice, love and understanding. Only from Him can we get these things!

"Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket and are counted as small dust on the scales; behold, He takes up the isles like a very little thing. And all Lebanon’s [forests] cannot supply sufficient fuel, nor all its wild beasts furnish victims enough to burn sacrifices [worthy of the Lord]. All the nations are as nothing before Him; they are regarded by Him as less than nothing and emptiness (waste, futility, and worthlessness)." (Isaiah 40:15-17 AMP)

Even though God gave the Jews a means to atone for their sins with sacrifices, we could not sacrifice enough to be worthy of God's greatness. He doesn't just want to rule over us, He wants to have a relationship with us!

After reading these verses my simple conclusion is, God is so big! Reminds me of the children's song (I am a children's pastor):

"My God is so big, so strong and so mighty there's nothing my God cannot do!"

The problem is, we (yes, including me) reduce God in size in our minds. We ignore the power and the might and the control (hello!) that He has over the universe! Not just that, but He loves you! My husband would do anything for me and I him. Our love is like a flower compared to the everlasting and perfect love that God has for us (verse 6-8 remember?)

This is my favorite part:

"Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, does not faint or grow weary; there is no searching of His understanding. He gives power to the faint and weary, and to him who has no might He increases strength [causing it to multiply and making it to abound]. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and [selected] young men shall feebly stumble and fall exhausted; But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired." (Isaiah 40:15, 28-31 AMP)

[Insert Händel's Hallelujah Chorus!] God loves us so much that He sees those who wait on the word of the Lord and gives them strength for the hard times. Not only will these people persevere, but they will soar to new heights! As in, places they were never able to reach before the hard time! I know we have big obstacles in our paths. God will help you overcome them if you ask Him for that help!

I know I needed that refreshing perspective on how great and powerful God is. I hope that perspective helps you today too.

"My God is so big, so strong and so mighty there's nothing my God cannot do!"

Kayaking Trip

About a week ago me and J went on a great date with our puppy by kayaking down the Woodlands Waterway all the way to a dragon statue at the end of the lake. We had a blast looking at all the wildlife and chasing birds and ducks. Our dog only jumped in once. :) Hope you enjoy this!

The Blank Page

I laugh every time I open a word document and click on the option for “blank page.”

There is nothing more exciting or daunting as a blank page.

The exciting part is that the blank page can become anything you want. It can become a story, a thought, an inspirational message or a crushing blow to someone all with a few simple words put on the page. It can be come a masterpiece of art. It can become a paper airplane for pete’s sake!

The daunting part is deciding what it is going to be. With so many possibilities, the deciding process can be stressful, daunting and just pain problematic. This is especially the case for me as a very creative person. I want the piece of paper to become something special. I don’t want to waste the piece of paper. I want the the piece of paper to be the best piece of paper in the world! But trying to decide what best to do with the piece of paper causes me writer/creativity block and makes me stressed out!

This has happened over the past month as I have entered a new journey in life. I made a very difficult choice and left the medical field for a ministry opportunity. I now minister to kids! Their problems over not having dessert or fighting over the TV can sometimes seem unimportant. However, they see these as real problems in their life. If we don’t train our kids to deal with these problems in a way that pleases God, how are they going to learn to handle real big problems down the road in a way that brings God glory? Problems like...dealing with a blank page! :)

I came into the ministry position with basically a blank slate. I could do anything I wanted with the room, with the curriculum, with the volunteer organization...you name it I could change it! I have every opportunity to make this ministry exactly how I want it to be. The thing is, this ministry has become exactly what a blank page is to me...a paralyzing task where I want the best for my blank sheet of paper, but I don’t know what to do with it.

What is ironic in this situation is that the ministry I have been called to work in mirrors what God is doing in my life. I have changed lanes, gone a different course. I used to be a blank sheet of paper. Now I have tears, holes, fears, a little yellowing (or sunburn from the hot Texas sun) things written down from what I or other people have said. Thing is, I am not the prettiest looking sheet of paper in the world.

Would you believe that God wants to take my sheet of paper, and make it into a new blank page? It’s like making your own paper! I have taken old receipts, magazines, papers to be recycled from school, put them in a blender, soaked them in water, then made paper by forming sheets from the pulp with mesh and a picture frame. I have made some beautiful paper and used it as personal stationary from some things that I wanted to throw away.

God does the same thing with us when we put our trust in Him. Granted the blending and soaking and drying and pressing isn’t the “funnest” process in the world to go through. Yet I am a new blank sheet of paper, waiting for God to write on me and use me for His glory. I have the anxiety and the stress I feel about the literal blank sheet of paper about my life sometimes. I want it to be the best life so that God can be glorified.

The thing is I am not in control! If I want my literal, metaphorical or life piece of paper to be the best it can be, I have to let God write on it, not me. I fail. I mess up. I can never be perfect and be the best. He can though.

My ministry and my life are not my own to write on. They belong to God and God only. As terrifying as a blank page can be, the anxiety is nothing compared to the excitement that comes when you know the author of the universe is going to write on your page.