Up and Running
Last month I got sick. I thought it was just a common cold on top of the usual onslaught of allergies as the season changed. It wasn’t but I’m very happy that I am finally feeling at 100% and can get back to my “regular” schedule. This weekend I got to support family and friends as they ran a local 5K for charity. Our girls (our great-nieces) both beat their personal records and won 1st place for their divisions. Hubby and I so proud of them! Two of my future Great-Nephew-in-law’s cousins ran and came in just after the girls!My friend, who turns 50 in two weeks, ran her first 5K and I’m equally proud of her because she set a goal and she saw it through. Her teenage son and daughter supported her by running the 5K with her.
Mimi’s Heartbeat for Hope 5K had 180 runners register for this first time event. The event raised money for a scholarship created in Mimi’s name that will bless a graduating high school senior furthering their education in the medical field. They were also able to make a donation to the Gray for Gioblastoma Research Fund.
As I listened to my nephew talk about possibly running next year, I thought it might be something I could work towards. This year is all about getting in shape. Not just merely losing weight but actually getting stronger as well. It’s an idea rolling around in my head and I’ve got a year to train. Maybe I’ll be running alongside my family in 2026, at least for a few minutes before they smoke their senior citizen auntie on the course! It’s good to have goals right? Why not run a 5K for the first time at 64 years young? Right now it’s still an idea that’s niggling at my brain. We’ll revisit the topic in a year okay?
The weekend wouldn’t be complete without a great service at church. Things are changing for our small church. I feel it. As a church family we go through trials, and the Lord always brings us through them to a new season. We see growth. I welcome the changes and I’m so glad that God has brought me through my own trails over the past 9 months. You see, the Christian’s walk is ever evolving as we learn about the character of God, learn about our own character and the Lord’s purpose for our lives.
Nine months ago I slipped. I let doubt enter my mind. Even though people I highly respect at church encouraged me to have faith and trust that God has a plan. The result was me stepping away from something I knew in my heart God called me to do. I convinced myself that Jesus needed me to step away.
Oh how easily the enemy whispers to us and convinces us that we’re doing the right thing. We’re taking one for team Jesus, when in fact we’re letting fear and lack of faith determine our steps. God in His infinite mercy has opened the door to let me have a do-over. It took months for me to stop blaming myself then a few more months before I recognized my lack of faith. I tried to fix things on my own. There are a few of you reading this that are shaking your heads right now. We’ve all done it. We get a little out of sync with the Lord. Praise Him for gently reminding us who He is and then correcting us, loving us and forgiving us for being knuckleheads.
On Sunday, our worship team sang Behold Our God and I’ve had it on repeat since.
I live for worship each Sunday. Heck, I live to worship every day He gives me breath. We’re so good at asking God for things as we pray. And I do that, I pray for my husband’s salvation, for members of my family who are saved, but are standing in the field of lukewarm Christianity. But I’ve also begun to spend dedicated times to sit quietly and just listen for the Lord. To say, “Here I am Lord. Reveal my heart. Teach me.” Sitting silently hasn’t never been a strong point but I’m getting better. It’s had a profound effect on my prayer life and my walk.
Also on Sunday, our Pastor started a new series for Communion Sunday’s (Lord’s Supper Sundays). The Fundamental Questions Series. This week, he started with “Who is God?” Believe it or not, there are a lot of people sitting in churches on Sunday who don’t know the answers to many of the questions he’ll be asking over the next 8 months. I think it’s a great series and because our church preaches the Word, every question is answered with scripture.
It’s late and I need to at least attempt to get some sleep. Thanks for sticking around for my rambling. Rambling is my thing because I just speak my heart.
Every few weeks I bring my camera to the service to capture moments. They’re also used for the church website and our weekly bulletin. It’s one of the ways I serve God with a gift that comes from Him. Here are a few of my favorites from this week. Can you tell that I love black and white photography? Have a blessed week!
