running without growing weary?

So do you run?

I do. And that "I do" is definitely because of the "I do" that locked me into a covenant love with my triathlete husband. Long ago and far away I was one unhealthy dame. With smoke stained lungs I embraced running about 16 years ago. I never thought I would heal let alone enjoy a long run. I did heal - and I do love running. However - AND i do mean HOWEVER - when I have not run for awhile - even a few days - it is amazing how quickly what I had already accomplished in stamina and distance - diminishes. When I do not maintain - DAILY - stride and pace and distance - I quickly plummet in my running ability...which is not THAT great to begin with - but still - every little bit helps, right?

So where am I goin' with this? Let me tell ya...Tear jerker with our amazing God that I have to share with you - or I'll BURST! He is so so so so great, THIS GOD of ours! He is the one who heals, sustains, - and who is the banner under which we run!

I have begun to pursue a Master's degree in Theological studies. My husband and I have prayed long and hard over this pursuit. It's life changing. I had thought I would return to the English teaching realm. I even considered going for a PhD. in English Education - I met with my ol' professor and everything - but God continued to impress upon my heart that the desire He that has given me - is for His Word. MY HEART LONGING is for women to embrace His Word. The English classroom could never satisfy that God given ache. And no amount of money could either. So - we're investing in this degree and this call that God confirmed in some very cool ways - (another blog another day) - and we are trusting Him to flip the bill and sustain us along the way. (Our God owns the cattle on a thousand hills Psalm 50:10 - and He owns the hills too!)

I went for a run Tuesday morning, after spending some time with Jesus in His Word...I was processing all I was taking on with this degree- and all that I hoped to accomplish - and being wife, mom, our home, Vintage, Mom2Mom, working on our book (publisher waiting on ME!)... My greatest concern: can I do it?

Now mind you - in the midst of so much life goin' on this summer, I have not run a great deal. My distance and speed have suffered. Trying to increase both, I have felt like I was lumbering - but I continued to do intervals and press toward what I knew I had once been able to accomplish in my Asics. (If you're a runner - you know that you always wonder is the point of struggle is the graveyard gate for your running days. Ya know? I hate that thought!) So this run was going to be about maintaing speed ...not an interval run. I just wanted to see if I could pace consistently and feel stronger while doing it.

I started out and was initially pleased. I didn't feel so slow. I wasn't breathing as hard...NOTHING hurt. I pressed on. My mind left the road and went to the work that I would have to do that day. Reading. Paper. Cooking. Laundry. How would I write this paper? Thought upon thought. However as I ran, and noticed I wasn't lumbering - I kept interrupting my list of "to do's" with the realization of "I'm doing it! I'm running faster!" - and my heart was pumping steadily, not hard. I'm was not winded. I could go faster! I was amazed! I didn't want to think about it too much in case it would stop. You know that feeling? But I couldn't help it! I was actually smiling when I was running! I was almost giddy.

I thought to myself  about how I was actually afraid to keep going because it might start to hurt. I thought -maybe I should slow down and baby myself so I don't find out I really can't do it. That thought was quickly pummeled by my former hard core running partner/mentor - whispering in my memory "You'll be amazed by what your body really can do." So I kept it up...and as I was running at this pace, and in the midst of this distance and speed I heard a verse...over my breathing - over my own thoughts.

"They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:31. Immediately my mind went from the run to the issue that God knows is on my heart.  He was directing my thoughts and I was listening. I can accomplish what He has trained me to do. It may scare me. I may hurt. But I can do it - running without growing weary, and walking when I can slow down - without passing out from the heart pounding pace I have just been at, and without going the distance ALONE. Everything that I had just considered about my physical run - was redefined spiritually for me in light of Isaiah 40:31.

I have not been in school for awhile. I will get the hang of it again. The reading and writing amounts - (distance) and the speed at which I do it - will improve as I continue in it - training and disciplining myself to keep at it daily. I will be able to accomplish what I have set my heart and mind to do - not because I love it, - even though I do! - but because this is the reason for the Healing, Provision and Banner over my life.

Tears. God teaches us so beautifully, doesn't He? He uses everything and anything in our day to speak to us. The beauty of it is that HIS WORD is attached to it. His truth pervades everything when we have hidden it in our hearts.

I won't be afraid of the work. I won't be afraid of the pace. I will be confident in my Coach - my Running Partner's Word to my soul.

We're going to make it. Hold on. We're going to make it. You are not alone.

How 'bout you? You clippin' at a pace that seems too hard, too fast. Talk to our Daddy. He will show you not only the path, and the direction to take on it - Psalm 119 -He'll give you the strength to finish the journey.
GAME ON!

LOVIN' this Jesus life with you! Lovin' it!!!

ahhh...manit'sgood!...
and now...you guessed it. I'm off to....rrrr...read.