It’s a crazy ride…. just hold on

We went…
We ran…
We ran more….
and ran, and ran, and ran…
and we conquered!

It was a long and grueling 26.2 miles, but with passion, fight, and some serious super-natural strength, I finished the Carlsbad Marathon with just enough insanity to want to run another one in August.

The journey over the past 18 weeks was incredible, and the race day was just icing on the cake. To get to run the marathon with dear friends, and to celebrate the end of the race with family and friends… it couldn’t have been a better day. Even with the semi-sprained ankle, and other aches from post-race trauma, I would do it all over again.

Breathing deeply the reality of accomplishment, I really have to admire the Lord for his incredible ability to sustain, strengthen, and bless his children… not to mention his word that I had to repeat over and over as I labored along. Without that, and a little help from my running partner, I would have given up.

halleluia for the race.
i want to keep running it.
one foot in front of the other.

This peaceful morning, I got up, rode my bike to the Saturday morning Farmer’s Market to buy an apple and an orange, pick up some coffee, and greet the day.

When got home, i decided to spend the morning creating with the Lord… as time with Him.. in silence… and clinging to this particular word that He keeps bringing to my mind, and echoing through my soul…

I don’t know what it is about Hope. I know the Lord designed us to “hold fast the confession of our Hope…” and I think, in these days of joy, pain, longing, love, sorrow, hurt, and passion, the only thing I can do is cling to the HOPE that resides alone in the shadow of His wings… the Hope of Glory, the Hope found in Him.

Not in what I want…
or think I deserve…
or in a tangible representation of blessings on this Earth…

But in Christ alone.

17 days til the big race… 

I am (along with two other friends) running in the Carlsbad Marathon on January 20th. I will admit that I am, even after 16 weeks of training, intimidated by the thought of 26.2 miles.

It has been a part-time job, training for this race… and I have really enjoyed the challenge. I can’t believe that the Lord has designed our bodies to withstand the pound-pound-pounding of miles of asphalt.

One thing that has hit home most of all, and quite obviously so, are the words that Paul declares– to run patiently this race set before me.  Oh man, that is true… in the physical, tangible sense, but also in the journey with the Lord. I love word-pictures, and I am literally living this one out.
Minute by Minute.
Mile after Mile.
Day after day.

I have literally said outloud to myself as I run, “this isn’t anyone else’s race. it’s between you and the Lord.” And when I begin to get passed by faster joggers on the path, or see someone’s life that includes something I think I want or deserve, and begin to compare, or run faster, or get jealous, or frustrated… i remember this race is between the Lord and me.

the countdown continues…