I heard these words I want to live by from Marge Hickman at the Leadville Race Series office/store last week. She was telling me that she fell and sprained her ankle during the Leadville 100, but she finished the race. That is an accomplishment!
I've been running a lot this summer, and I've decided that I am probably going to be a distance runner with a slow and steady pace. My goal will never be to win a race, but to finish it and enjoy every step. I lost sight of that for a while; in running and in life. I'm so glad Marge reminded me!
I had an experience earlier this summer that is an excellent lesson for me now. I was climbing Horsetooth Mountain with some friends. My one goal was to keep up with them, and I failed miserably. This lead to frustration and discouragement and I completely missed out on the beauty of the day. I did not enjoy one minute of the journey because I was so focused on the pace rather than reaching the top in my own time and enjoying the view along the way.
Looking back, I can see where I went wrong...my goal. I forgot that my goal should be enjoying the journey...loving every minute of it. I have to run my race (and live my life) at my own pace. I cannot compare my speed or my distance to anyone else. My eyes need to be on the Author and Finisher of my faith...Jesus...and on the finish line. Remind me of that when I run my first 5K in September!
I WILL finish the race running and I will enjoy EVERY step of the journey!
Monday, July 29, 2013
Sunday, July 28, 2013
No comparison!
I have been really struggling this summer with comparing myself to other people. I thought I had left that behind me; maybe outgrown it. Apparently, I haven't. I often hear myself say things like..."I'm too short. I'm too fat. I'm too slow. I am so uncoordinated! I talk too much. I'm too loud. I put my heart out there too much. I am not a good wife/mom/friend. I am not a good writer. I am not talented enough. I'll never be a teacher like...." (I work with a building full of amazing teachers!) You get the picture. In my mind, nothing I am or do is ever going to be good enough.
The truth is that I am fearfully and wonderfully and UNIQUELY made by God. (Psalm 139) He made this person known as Dawn Marie Karr. He carefully chose which genes I got from each of my parents...it certainly was NOT random chance! He gave me my physical characteristics and my personality. He gave me an enthusiastic and passionate spirit that loves deeply (and gets hurt easily), puts people and relationships first always, worships and sings with everything in me, and teaches with my heart. I am loyal, committed, fiercely protective, and an over-the-top caretaker. I am always thinking, analyzing, and looking for ways to make things better. I am a problem-solver. I am an extrovert who is always looking inward and assessing my own state of being.
God made me the person that I am...does that mean there is no opportunity for growth and change? May it never be! Our physical appearance does not even stay the same from the time we enter this world until the time we leave it...we are always changing. God made us with a free will that grows and changes with our physical bodies. It is God's job and NOT mine to speak to my heart about what needs to change in me. I am His creation! My job is to look at Him, listen to Him, and respond to Him. If I would take my eyes off of the people I admire so much and look at my Father, He will show me who I really am!
The truth is that I am fearfully and wonderfully and UNIQUELY made by God. (Psalm 139) He made this person known as Dawn Marie Karr. He carefully chose which genes I got from each of my parents...it certainly was NOT random chance! He gave me my physical characteristics and my personality. He gave me an enthusiastic and passionate spirit that loves deeply (and gets hurt easily), puts people and relationships first always, worships and sings with everything in me, and teaches with my heart. I am loyal, committed, fiercely protective, and an over-the-top caretaker. I am always thinking, analyzing, and looking for ways to make things better. I am a problem-solver. I am an extrovert who is always looking inward and assessing my own state of being.
God made me the person that I am...does that mean there is no opportunity for growth and change? May it never be! Our physical appearance does not even stay the same from the time we enter this world until the time we leave it...we are always changing. God made us with a free will that grows and changes with our physical bodies. It is God's job and NOT mine to speak to my heart about what needs to change in me. I am His creation! My job is to look at Him, listen to Him, and respond to Him. If I would take my eyes off of the people I admire so much and look at my Father, He will show me who I really am!
Monday, July 15, 2013
Encouraged
Yesterday, Pastor Don Oft was reminding us at Impact Church how blessed we are, with the purpose of encouraging us. That got me thinking about the word encourage. Webster's dictionary defines encourage: to inspire with courage, spirit, or hope. No wonder I love to be encouraged! I can't imagine anything better than being filled with courage, spirit, and hope! Words of encouragement (affirmation) are my love language...that is how I give love to people and that is how I best receive love from people too.
I have a lot of opportunities to give words of encouragement...Joe and Christopher, my family, my friends, my students, my colleagues, my church family...the list is endless. I tend to hit times of emptiness; times when I've given everything I have and there is no one around to inspire me with courage, spirit, and hope. One of the lessons that I am learning this summer is to be filled and inspired by Jesus, not solely depending on people to encourage me. I am so thankful that God gave us His written word and that it is filled with encouragement and inspiration straight from Him! Here are some of my favorites...
Psalm 139:13-14 (the whole chapter is awesome!) For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
Psalm 42:5 Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
Romans 8:31, 38, 39 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19 And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
Psalm 31:24 Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.
Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
That did it for me...I am feeling inspired with courage, spirit, and hope! I choose to stay here...to be filled with God's Word and encouraged!
I have a lot of opportunities to give words of encouragement...Joe and Christopher, my family, my friends, my students, my colleagues, my church family...the list is endless. I tend to hit times of emptiness; times when I've given everything I have and there is no one around to inspire me with courage, spirit, and hope. One of the lessons that I am learning this summer is to be filled and inspired by Jesus, not solely depending on people to encourage me. I am so thankful that God gave us His written word and that it is filled with encouragement and inspiration straight from Him! Here are some of my favorites...
Psalm 139:13-14 (the whole chapter is awesome!) For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
Psalm 42:5 Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
Romans 8:31, 38, 39 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19 And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
Psalm 31:24 Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.
Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
That did it for me...I am feeling inspired with courage, spirit, and hope! I choose to stay here...to be filled with God's Word and encouraged!
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
More than a conqueror
"What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but gave him up for us all-how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died-more than that, who was raised to life-is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? NO, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." Romans 8: 31-35, 37
That is what I want to be...more than a conqueror! I seem to be running into little things that discourage me. Like the crack in the sidewalk that trips me when I run, these small distractions can lay me out flat and leave me scraped up and bleeding. I've learned to watch the sidewalk and step over the cracks. I'm also working on falling so that I can get back up quickly with minimal damage. Why is it that the "cracks" in my life seem so much bigger than the ones in the sidewalk? Why are they harder for me to avoid?
I get caught up in the comparison game in all parts of my life. I am my own worst critic and I have spent much of my life scrutinizing and criticizing myself. I am always found lacking in my own mind. What I can do is never good enough. No wonder I feel defeated! Just writing those words depresses me!
Enough of my own thinking...time for the TRUTH! If God is for ME, who can be against me? God gave Jesus for ME and He justifies ME. Jesus is sitting at the right hand of the Father interceding for ME. Can anything (including my own shortcomings and beliefs about myself) separate me from Jesus' love for ME? Nope! I am more than a conqueror because God loves ME! It is time to let those truths sink deep into my heart and live as more than a conqueror!
That is what I want to be...more than a conqueror! I seem to be running into little things that discourage me. Like the crack in the sidewalk that trips me when I run, these small distractions can lay me out flat and leave me scraped up and bleeding. I've learned to watch the sidewalk and step over the cracks. I'm also working on falling so that I can get back up quickly with minimal damage. Why is it that the "cracks" in my life seem so much bigger than the ones in the sidewalk? Why are they harder for me to avoid?
I get caught up in the comparison game in all parts of my life. I am my own worst critic and I have spent much of my life scrutinizing and criticizing myself. I am always found lacking in my own mind. What I can do is never good enough. No wonder I feel defeated! Just writing those words depresses me!
Enough of my own thinking...time for the TRUTH! If God is for ME, who can be against me? God gave Jesus for ME and He justifies ME. Jesus is sitting at the right hand of the Father interceding for ME. Can anything (including my own shortcomings and beliefs about myself) separate me from Jesus' love for ME? Nope! I am more than a conqueror because God loves ME! It is time to let those truths sink deep into my heart and live as more than a conqueror!
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
discipline and obedience
The two go hand in hand, or at least they should in my mind. We often think of discipline as punishment or correction, but I'm defining discipline as training that corrects, molds, or perfects; self-control; orderly or prescribed conduct or behavior. I am disciplined in my running...most mornings I don't feel like running when I get out of bed, but regardless of my feelings, I put on my running shoes and hit the sidewalk. Unfortunately, that seems to be the end of my disciplined behavior. I have a wish list in my head of places in my life that I would like to exercise self-control and discipline. My eating habits need some serious help. I would like to discipline my mouth to speak only words of life and encouragement. My mind runs amuck with thoughts of worry, fear, and discouragement. I'm sure there are more, but those are my BIG 3.
Discipline will come from being obedient to God. If I would just ask Him and listen before I eat, or speak, or think, and then choose to be obedient, discipline would be easier. Being obedient is so much better than trying to figure out on my own how to do things the right way. 2 Corinthians 10:5 says that we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. That would be a great place for me to start. Every time I think something that is not true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8), I need to get rid of those thoughts and replace them with thoughts that are. That would impact my words as well since my mouth speaks what is in my heart and what is in my heart came from my thoughts.
This is going to be a journey of learning and choosing obedience and discipline. Today is only the beginning, but habits can be broken and changed. I have hope!
Discipline will come from being obedient to God. If I would just ask Him and listen before I eat, or speak, or think, and then choose to be obedient, discipline would be easier. Being obedient is so much better than trying to figure out on my own how to do things the right way. 2 Corinthians 10:5 says that we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. That would be a great place for me to start. Every time I think something that is not true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8), I need to get rid of those thoughts and replace them with thoughts that are. That would impact my words as well since my mouth speaks what is in my heart and what is in my heart came from my thoughts.
This is going to be a journey of learning and choosing obedience and discipline. Today is only the beginning, but habits can be broken and changed. I have hope!
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