My Running Epiphany

Today I struggled through running two miles. Everything within me screamed to quit at a quarter mile. I have to admit - I wasn't sure I would keep going.

Then it occurred to me - this running is a personal metaphor for ministry. Stay with me here - it was profound to me.

My little 2 mile run is my ministry. As I seek to minister to others, I can quit early on when it is especially difficult, or I can set my mind to finish the course! I can be discouraged when I realize my pace is slow and others are zooming around me - or I can stay on my course and run the best that I can.

I can choose to blame Satan for throwing darts at my ministry which make it more difficult, kind of like the cars speeding by, pushing me into the grass for safety, or the exhaust fumes from the trucks and buses, making it difficult to breathe - or - I can realize that the biggest thing standing in my way is me.

For example, every morning I have to choose to get up and work out. Sometimes the weather is bad, sometimes I'm too tired, sometimes I JUST DON'T WANT TO!!! I have to make the choice to get up and go. Sometimes I don't make that choice, and I pay for it when I get back into training! I'm sure you can see the connection. Sometimes you just have to get up and get moving where the Lord is telling you to go!

I also get in my own way by the choices I make when I am not running! I might eat too much of the wrong kinds of food, not get enough rest, not drink enough water, neglect my core workouts, etc. I can make the course much more difficult to run by the things I do to my body! In the same way, I can make ministry harder by neglecting my spiritual condition - neglecting time in God's Word, neglecting prayer, entertaining sin, etc. How can I expect to minister well when my own spirit has not been "trained."

I can find myself discouraged with my running when I think of all the people I know who are running farther and faster! So many people are out there running marathons or even sprinting through 5Ks. Why am I struggling over 2 lousy miles? Then I am reminded - there was a time I couldn't even run one mile without stopping. This is my course for now. I have to keep focused on the course that is before me. Maybe when I reach my goals, in time, I'll be able to run a marathon or view a 5K as a sprint. Regardless, I have to focus on my own course.

I know I have been discouraged when looking at the ministries of others. So many successful people expanding the Kingdom of God. But then I realize - they have to make the same choices I do. We all have a course to run. Some people are built for speed, some for endurance, some for shear perseverance.

My son, Noah says I was showing perseverance this morning.

I would like to be fast. I would like to run far. I would like to be light on my feet. But most of all, I want to find my race, and run it well!

I am the worst blogger ever!

That pretty much sums it up. Yep.

So Daisy starts Kindergarten, Gabe starts preschool, and Noah will be a big Second Grader! Where does the time go?

Over the last several months, too much has happened to try to catch anyone up who actually reads this, so instead of trying I will promise to write at least once a week.

Noah Turns 7! A lesson in love....

Can you believe it? My little Noah turns 7 years old in just a few short minutes! Before I know it, he'll graduate from highschool. It won't be long after that, and he'll get married! Which leads me to my thoughts.....

Noah has a little girl in his class that is sweet on him. Whenever he walks into the room, her whole face lights up. She takes him by the hand, squeezes him arm really hard when he's talking out of turn (trying to keep him out of trouble!) and overall just seems to really enjoy him being around.

Did I mention how much I like this little girl? Honestly, I don't know much about her beyond her name, but I know she loves my Noah and that's enough for me! I can't help but like someone that beams when she sees my boy.

That'a exactly the kind of woman I want to marry Noah. I don't care what she looks like, how many degrees she has, how much money she makes, etc. I just want someone who loves the Lord, and who will light up at the sight of my boy, Noah.

It was during these thoughts that God spoke to my Spirit. It was as if he said, "That's just how I feel when you take the time to APPRECIATE the people I have created - My children." It suddenly occured to me that it actually pleases God to watch us "light up" when we see each other, after all, we're all His children!

Happy birthday Noah!

Daisy's 5th Birthday Party
Jimmy Needham - of course
Kids at Sea World being Polar Bears

For Sharon

This post is for Sharon - should she dare check in to see if there is anything new.....

I guess I have been busier than I realized. I thought I was only a few weeks behind on posting, not almost 2 months!

I should have a lot to say.......more later!

Not Abandoned

This morning I was reading in Mark 15:33 - chapter 16. Verse 33 says that it went dark from the 6th hour to the 9th hour. It was the 9th hour when Jesus cried in a loud voice, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me."

It struck me that it was dark for so long, then Jesus finally shouted out his despair. It made me think of how we can suffer for a long time before we break. It wasn't long after Jesus cried out that he died. But of course, we know the rest of the story - that God had not forsaken Him, but breathed life into him.

It made me think of so many who feel completely abandoned. We all need to remember that even when it has been dark for so long, God has not forsaken us. Feeling like that is very real. Jesus felt it. But just as God had something better in store after the struggle for Jesus - He also has something better for us.

I'm not talking about heaven. Jesus had many more things to do here before his ascension. Let's not forget that! Jesus had to go through the pain and suffering. We would have no hope otherwise. There is some purpose for what each of us are going through. It doesn't necessarily make the struggles easier when we remember that, but it helps to keep our eyes on the hope that we have. God has not actually forsaken us.

He breathed life into Jesus. But Jesus had to submit His spirit to God first for that to happen. Luke 23:46 records that Jesus' last words were (in a loud voice) "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." I think in order for God to breathe life into us, we have to hand it over to him. As long as we carry our own burdens, they will be ours. Once we turn ourselves, worries and all, over to God, He is free to breathe life in us. He will renew us, and display His power in our lives, just as He did with Jesus.

A Post By Noah M. Terrell

So far I have had a great school week. God has protected me lot's of time's. Hard time's, scary time's, sad time's, any time's, and God can protect you! I got my bible at chrch today. I also have very nice parents. Donna {mommy} and todd {daddy}. Daisy and Gabe are very nice too. I have a watch too. That's all. Have a nice day. From:Noah.