Slip/Push...

Okay, so sorry that I haven't blogged in a while.  I have been moving and working and raising a 3 yr old.  Excuses, excuses I know!  Anyway,  the Lord has just been flooding me with inspirations, thoughts, and ideas.  I don't even know if I can get them all down.  But, I will try.  

I ran a 10 miler on this past sunday.  It was somewhat rough. I was tired from being on my feet the day before and I wasn't getting the right sleep, but none-the-less, I gotter done...  ha ha

While I was running I almost turned my ankle.  Scared me!  But, the Lord used that to teach me something and I thought I would share it.  It's called the slip/push.  whether we know it or not, we are all one wrong step away from slipping over the edge of this cliff we call 'life'.  All it takes is one wrong move, one phone call, one diagnosis, one wrong turn...  The question that was posed to me from God was are you ready for that?  I mean, is your hand ready to grab mine?  In other words, are your hands empty so that you can even grab ahold oh Him?  Other times, we are pushed off the cliff.  YOu know what I mean...  an affair, abuse, discrimination...  All SHOVES over the edge by someone else.  Not fair. But, I will ask the same question. Are you ready to grab ahold of God's hand?  Because, let me tell you, His hand IS ready!!!  we all need to EMPTY ourselves so that we can grab ahold of the only thing that can save us.  Money can't. Friends can't.  church can't.  Food can't.  Sex can't.  Nothing except the hand of the Father.  He is ready, are you?  love you all!  

A time of reflection

This has been quite a weekend.  I just finished a 5 miler.  As I ran today I was just reflecting on the weekend and realized a LOT has gone on.  First and foremost, I want to tell you about saturday morning which was demolition day for the refuge farmhouse.  What a monumental day!  There were roughly 20 volunteers ranging from teenagers to mature business men!  We literally tore down the walls to this place.  gutted it.  I can't help but think about the parallelisms with the women who will be living in this place.  God is going to do a MAJOR cleaning in the lives of many!  He will empty us... only to be filled with His spirit and love and FIRE!  I weep just thinking about it.  This house will be filled with women who will get to experience the love of our Father in a way that is going to blow them away!  Read the lyrics to this song...

oh you bring hope to the hopeless
And light to those in the darkness
And death to life, now I'm alive

Oh you give peace to the restless
And joy to homes that are broken
I see you now, in you I'm found

And you open the door for me
And you lay down your life to set me free
All that I am will serve you lord

Oh you fill those who are empty
And rescue those in the valley
And through it all you calm my soul

Oh now you find me in my weakness
And heal the wounds of my heartache
And worship for you in spirit and truth

And you open the door for me
And you lay down your life to set me free
All that I am will serve you lord

And you open my eyes to see
All the wondering all of christ in me
Jesus you're everything I need

(Worship)

All honor
All glory
All praise to you (repeat)

And you open the door for me
And you lay down your life to set me free
All that I am will serve you lord

And you open my eyes to see
All the wondering all of christ in me
Jesus you're everything I need

    

As I pulled up to the road where the farmhouse is, I began to weep.  I felt like God was giving me the eyes of the women who is coming here for the first time.  Scared, excited, anxious, overjoyed, overwhelmed... I wish you all could see this place.  It is absolutely beautiful.  I will have some new photos soon.  Please pray for the ongoing construction and for the resources that it will take to allow the work to continue.  As Ked Frank has said "faith before sight".  

The other thing I wanted to share with you is something on a personal note.  As some of you know, I have been through quite a season of suffering and mourning.  Mourning over the death of a marriage and a life with someone whom I thought I would spend the rest of my time with here on this earth.  Yesterday I had to give up my dogs...  Yes, very sad.  Brady is 11 and Britney is 6.   I have gone through many storms as a direct result of my own rebellion.  I've also gone through storms as a result of spiritual warfare.  But, the most difficult of them have been storms that come as a direct result from another person's poor judgment.  This has represented a unique difficulty for me.  Why?  I have someone else in the flesh and blood to blame! I have felt a much greater potential for bitterness and unforgiveness to reside in my heart!  This is something I have to fight off everyday!  But, I can tell you this God has proved Himself faithful time and time again.  So, be encouraged today and know that He is with you through ANY storm.  No matter who causes it... you, the enemy, or someone else.  Love you all!  

obedience...

Why is obedience soooo hard?  Maybe it's just me, but I have such a hard time with it.  I recently asked one of my friends, "Does it say somewhere in the bible that I have to LIKE obedience?"

Even though I know that blessings usually follow obedience, i still struggle with it.  Anyone???

Today I was lead to Hebrews 5:7-9.  It gave me such peace to know that Christ even had to hit this one head on!  He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save Him from death.  Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for ALL WHO OBEY him!  Surely, if He can model obedience to death on a cross, I can muster up enough courage to do what God is asking me to do!  Love you all.  Hope you are having an obedient day!  

7 - Miler

I was blessed enough to get to run another long run on the farm.  I will be leaving on tuesday, so I am taking advantage of the beautiful scenery.  I listened to a song during this run called All Day by Hillsong.  Here are the lyrics:

I don't care what they say about me it's all right.  

I don't care what they think about me it's all right.  They'll get it one day.

I love you.  I'll follow you.  You are my life.  I will read my bible and pray.  

I will follow you all day.

I don't care what it costs anymore

Cause you gave it all and I'm following you.

I don't care what it takes anymore.  No matter what happens I'm going your way.  

Any one around can see.

Just how good you've been to me for all my friends that don't know you I pray that you would save them to.

Good stuff!  

Anyway, the run went well.  Athough, I had to make one pit stop...I had to use the restroom, so I pulled off to the side of the road in a wooded area.  (you can do this in the country)  The only problem was that I got absolutely swarmed with mosquitos!!!  Within seconds they were ALL over me.  and I mean ALL over...  ha ha.  Hope you all are well!  Have an awesome, God-filled day!  

Running on the farm

Well, I am in the second week of my 18-week training.  My marathon is October 25th in Washington, DC.  I am feeling pretty strong so far.  I really worked hard at my pre-training this time around.  This will be my 3rd marathon, but the first one that I will have done by myself.  Last night I ran through my parent's lane back to the woods and it was so peaceful.  It's one of my best ways of clearing my head and really hearing what the Lord wants to tell me or reveal to me. I would recommend this to anyone!!!  When I start to feel tired, I just picture the women that I am running for and it's easy to keep going.  I am running for THEM!  Please pray that I continue to get all my strength from the Lord and not rely on my own...Pray that I will forget what is behind me and strain towards what is ahead. Everyday I am trying to press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me.  HEAVENWARD IN CHRIST JESUS!  love you all!   

This is where it begins!  A small farm house in a rural setting in Kentucky.  It will house 5- 7 women at a time.  Life skills will be learned here.  Love and acceptance will be offered here.  Children will reunite with their mothers here.  Addictions will be demolished here.  But, most importantly...  Jesus will be dwelling here.  You won't want to miss this.