What Am I Thinking?!

Valentine’s has long come and gone, February is almost over, and I am nearly ill with my lack of progress.  Of course it doesn’t help that I’ve been less than stellar with both my training and my eating habits.  I think maybe I’m having a mid-life crisis (a.k.a. pity party) as nothing seems to feel right these days.  And right now, I’m of the opinion that it’s too late for me to do any of my “Bucket List” items – I’m too old, too overweight, and too unmotivated to do anything different.  What do I do with that?

So, I decided to sign up to run the Spokane Marathon on Sunday, October 11^th.  Truly, I am a nut job – I’m aware of it – thought you all might as well be too!  This gives me 8 months to pull it together and make something happen.  By the way, this race has “several challenging hills along the way” with one called “Doomsday Hill” at the 22 mile mark ... that just seems like a sick joke to me.  Maybe I better look at doing a different race; this one isn’t even a Boston qualifier! 

In reality, I’m not worried about “qualifying for Boston” right now.  I just want to get one full marathon completed and see what it’s like and how I do.  Then maybe I can look at doing a race that would “get me to the big time” or in my case, “get me a check mark on my bucket list” – which is to run the Boston Marathon. 

If I can accomplish this goal – running a full marathon (not necessarily Boston) – then perhaps I will feel confident enough to undertake some other things that I’ve been afraid to try.  Fear has always been a powerful de-motivator for me … and the list of my fears is long and complicated – I’ll not get into that whole thing here; but suffice it to say, I need to get some courage (think of the cowardly lion).

How’s that for a prayer request?  Please, if/when you think of me, pray for courage and perseverance for this journey; and not just for the physical one (exercise and eating), but also for my spiritual journey (specifically my relationship to CHRIST and the path HE currently has me on).  All of this is – and has been – very hard for me … much harder than when I pressed on before to run the half-marathon.  As I said at the start, so far it’s not been a great experience:  I’m emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually drained.

I’ll leave you with this, my quote of the week by Mary Anne Radmacher:  “Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow’”.

Lori <◦})><

Sharing life ... sharing Christ

Happy New Year!

It is January … 2015 … can you believe it?  It sounds like some kind of sci-fi movie year – something you hear of but never really expect to reach.  And now that I mention it, my time clock is counting down for my full marathon experience.  YIKES! 

In actuality however, my training is going okay – slow, but steady.  I’m up to 2 and 3 miles at a time on my treadmill and I’m picking up a second workout in the afternoons of varied inclines (also on the treadmill) for 30 minutes or so.  Both 3-6 days per week.  (Throw in a little weight training, cycling and some stretches and I’ve got a complete workout … too bad I don’t have enough time to get to do that every day!) 

Thankfully, the Christmas “goodies” are off the counter as well so that I can start putting more effort into my diet.  Low-carb living here I come!  (Bob Harper – from The Biggest Loser – and I have become “friends”, so I’ve been following some of his “Skinny Rules” regarding food.  Not full-on low-carb since he includes:  oatmeal, whole-grains, apples, and berries on the menu; but still good.)

Did I tell you all that I’m doing this because “running a marathon is on my bucket list”?  That is true, running a marathon is on my list, but to be more specific, it’s actually “running the Boston Marathon” that’s on my list.  Why Boston you ask?  Because … it’s the only marathon that has to be qualified for!  The other key word is:  running.  I want to run it, not walk it.  Run. It.  (I should put that on a warm-up jacket!  Speaking of which, the one I really would like would say:  “training for a marathon” on the back with the words: “walk, jog run, sprint, bolt” down the front – something just for fun, and with a little attitude!)

Anyway … I’m trying to be more definitive in what it is I want and then reaching that goal.  I’m a good starter of things, but haven’t really thought of myself as a good finisher – which I think is maybe more important.  “It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish … and the hardest part about finishing is starting.”  I just made that up, right now, on the spur of the moment … of course someone else has probably already made it up, but none-the-less, I like it.  And it’s true ... probably for most things in life.  

Okey dokey then.  Must go and get something done – chore-wise, not workout-wise – we’re having guests and I have some housekeeping and food preparation to do.  Until next time …

Lori <◦})><

Sharing life ... sharing Christ

Merry Christmas!

“A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things JESUS said would not be a great moral teacher.  He would either be a lunatic – on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg – or else he would be the Devil of Hell.  You must make your choice.  Either this man was, and is, the SON of GOD; or else a madman or something worse.  You can shut HIM up for a fool, you can spit at HIM and kill HIM as a demon; or you can fall at HIS feet and call HIM LORD and GOD.  But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about HIS being a great human teacher.  HE has not left that open to us.”  C.S. Lewis

Once again I find myself confronted by Christmas, and if you’re anything like me, you have mixed emotions about a season that brings hope to so many while at the same time being mocked by so many others.  It seems that Christmas is being methodically stripped of CHRIST.

But for those of us whose lives have been transformed by the indescribable power wrapped up in those swaddling clothes some two thousand years ago, celebrating anything other than the birth of JESUS makes about as much sense as exchanging all that we have gained in CHRIST for a mouthful of cotton candy.

For us, Christmas means new birth.  This season speaks of a living hope for a time when all of our pains and sorrows will be swept away by unrelenting waves of joy and bliss.  During the coming weeks I urge you to fix your minds on the greatest gift ever conceived by man or GOD, the gift of life and power and laughter and pleasure and peace offered freely by a SAVIOR born in Bethlehem.

Isn’t that why we give gifts?  Don’t we mean to say, “Accept this token of GOD’s goodness to you from me, and remember that it’s only a dim reflection of the gift that CHRIST has given you in rebirth and just a foretaste of the incomparable gift that awaits you in heaven”.

And whatever else you do during this time of celebration remember that when you give the gift it has rich uncompromising meaning, because in its own small way it represents a gift that, however misunderstood by the world, is life itself to those of us who believe.

“When JESUS came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, HE asked HIS disciples, ‘Who do people say the SON of man is?’ They replied, ‘Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets’.  ‘But what about you?’ HE asked.  ‘Who do you say I am?’”  Matthew 16:13-15

This holy-day season, may you open your heart to find the answer to HIS question for yourself. 

Merry Christmas, and may the LORD richly bless you with HIS presence in the coming year …

Lori <◦})><

Sharing life ... sharing Christ

FYI:  Portions of the previous text are from something I had cut, copied, and pasted into a Christmas letter file several years ago because it spoke to my heart. However, somewhere in that process, I lost the original information as to who wrote what from where – if you recognize some of material and/or who the author(s) might be, please let me know for proper crediting. If it's yours, I'm sorry; please forgive me and my ineptness - no thievery intended.  In any case ... I hope it speaks to you as much as it still does to me.

New Attitude

“New Attitude” … that’s what I’m looking for (and have been for as long as I’ve been a CHRIST follower it seems) … and I think maybe I’ve finally found it in a little bit of Scripture teaching from Romans Chapter 4 – as learned in our adult Sunday School class.

I believe (and have for a long time) that JESUS is GOD’s Son and (based on my profession of faith as such) my LORD and SAVIOR, that HE was crucified and buried and rose again, and that HE now sits at the right hand of the FATHER waiting for the rest of the story to play out – in GOD’s timing of course!  But I have struggled for years with moving that knowledge from my head to my heart; because (and I know you will all be surprised by this) I am far from perfect … and I sin … all the time. 

And that sin constantly moves me away from GOD – don’t take that as GOD moving away from me because HE doesn’t (HE does not love me more when I am good nor less when I sin … HE just plain loves me … and you too!); my sin separates me from GOD because I stop focusing on HIM and who HE is and what HE’s done (because of what I’ve done).  This is where repentance comes in ... when I confess, and say I’m sorry, GOD forgives me ... always.

Okay, now we’re getting to the “struggle” I mentioned earlier.  Theoretically, I get all that:  I sin, move away from GOD, feel bad about what I’ve done, and so I repent, and then become forgiven.  Wait for it … but I don’t always feel forgiven, and that (I think) has been the problem.  I’ve been trying to live up to a standard that was never even intended for me.  Let me explain … or better yet, let’s let Romans Chapter 4 explain it.  My personal comments will follow the bolded paragraphs of Scripture.

“Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What did he discover about being made right with God? If his good deeds had made him acceptable to God, he would have had something to boast about.  But that was not God’s way.  For the Scriptures tell us, ‘Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.’”

GOD counts me righteous because of my belief (my faith) in HIM – not because of anything I have (or have not) done – but because of everything CHRIST (GOD) has done.

“When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned. But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners. David also spoke of this when he described the happiness of those who are declared righteous without working for it:  ‘Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight.  Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of sin.’”

My faith (my belief) in GOD and what HE has done – and is doing, and will do – for me is what makes me righteous (keeps me in right standing with HIM).  I don’t have to try and work for GOD’s forgiveness, I just have to turn to HIM trusting (and believing) that HE will do what HE promised as declared in HIS Word.  HIS faithfulness brings me to faith and keeps me there … and can I tell you, that is a “joyful” thought! 

“Now, is this blessing only for the Jews, or is it also for uncircumcised Gentiles? Well, we have been saying that Abraham was counted as righteous by God because of his faith. But how did this happen? Was he counted as righteous only after he was circumcised, or was it before he was circumcised? Clearly, God accepted Abraham before he was circumcised!”

Jew or Gentile, circumcised or not, we are all the same (righteous in GOD’s sight) if we have faith like Abraham.

“Circumcision was a sign that Abraham already had faith and that God had already accepted him and declared him to be righteous – even before he was circumcised. So Abraham is the spiritual father of those who have faith but have not been circumcised. They are counted as righteous because of their faith. And Abraham is also the spiritual father of those who have been circumcised, but only if they have the same kind of faith Abraham had before he was circumcised.”

Circumcision is still a sign of faith, but it is the circumcision of the heart (a heart that’s been broken by the things that break GOD’s heart … one that wants to do what’s right as specified in the Bible) that counts toward righteousness with GOD.  Abraham didn’t yet have the “law” (Ten Commandments and then some) but his faith in GOD makes him my – and yours, if you’re a follower of JESUS CHRIST – spiritual father.

“Clearly, God’s promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants was based not on his obedience to God’s law, but on a right relationship with God that comes by faith. If God’s promise is only for those who obey the law, then faith is not necessary and the promise is pointless. For the law always brings punishment on those who try to obey it. (The only way to avoid breaking the law is to have no law to break!)”

Did you catch that … “If God’s promise is only for those who obey the law, then faith is not necessary and the promise is pointless.”  The promise is not about keeping the law … it is about Abraham’s – and ultimately mine and yours – faith.  I am not under the law, I never have been.  That was not the Covenant that GOD made with Abraham, and thereby not with me as I am a spiritual child of his.  I am part of the promise given to Abraham by the LORD for future followers of CHRIST.  (My relationship with GOD, JESUS, and the HOLY SPIRIT is based on faith.)  Don’t you think that is totally amazing?  I am free from the law – and believe me, when you’ve broken every commandment and have lived with guilt and shame for your entire life, it’s very freeing to find out that the heavy yoke I’ve been carrying was not what GOD had intended.  Hallelujah!

That doesn’t mean we aren’t to try and live a life pleasing to the LORD, because we are – remember what HIS Word says:  we’re to bring glory and honor and praise and thanksgiving to HIM and we can’t do that when we’re only living for ourselves.  Love the LORD with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength … and love your neighbor – which is anybody you come in contact with – as yourself.

“So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. And we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the law of Moses, if we have faith like Abraham’s. For Abraham is the father of all who believe. That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him, ‘I have made you the father of many nations.’ This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing.”

This promise is GOD’s faithfulness to me, brought to life by my faith in HIM.  I am a new creation ... the old has gone, the new has come.  GOD picked me out of the miry clay of my sin, and sent me soaring to new life through faith in HIM … I am forgiven, I am set free.

“Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, ‘That’s how many descendants you will have!’ And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb.”

I have been hopeless, and I have almost given up everything; but now I’m thinking differently.  I have a “new attitude”.

“Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous. And when God counted him as righteous, it wasn’t just for Abraham’s benefit. It was recorded for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God.”

What a great Chapter of Scripture … what a wonderful proclamation for those who follow CHRIST.  You too, can be free from the yoke of sin if you put your faith in JESUS CHRIST and begin a life-long exploration of what it means to walk with, and live for, the LORD.

Thanks for hanging in there with me, I know this is a long segment; but don’t go yet.  I want to give you a little bit of an update on my marathon training program.  It’s going along pretty well since I switched to a Jeff Galloway plan – a bit slower perhaps, but I’m getting it done!  And that’s what counts, right? 

This week I’m up to 25 minutes (alternating walking and running) at level 2 on my treadmill.  I’m building slowly – 5 minute increase each week with a difficulty level increase each month.  I know, it doesn’t sound like much, and it isn’t if you’re already in great shape, not significantly overweight, or uhmm … how shall I say it … old.  Anyway, it’s working.  I’m even thinking of picking up an extra workout in the late afternoons on some days to increase my fat-burning potential.  We’ll see …

Let’s see … what else is going on … I am feeling better (I seem to have finally shaken my sinus infection; and my blood pressured meds have leveled out).  I have two weeks left of a Women’s Bible Study Group that I’ve been leading – thought provoking, challenging, sometimes annoying … and that’s just the women!  NOT! … I’m actually referring to the material and the presenters!  (Just seeing if you’re paying attention Linsey as I think you’re the only one who reads this – maybe Dennis … and perhaps Sheila McCalmont too ;)  No really ... I like my little group, we have a lot of fun together; and the material (“The Emotionally Healthy Woman” by Geri Scazzero) is pretty good too.  I don’t agree with everything – or the way everything is presented – but then again, that’s how it is with most studies.    

Since I can’t seem to come up with anything else to say at the moment, I guess I’ll sign off.  My next posting probably won’t be out until right around Christmas, and that’s more than likely what it will be about.  Stay tuned …

Lori <◦})><

Sharing life ... sharing Christ