Our God is a God Who Provides

On Thanksgiving day I was completely and utterly swept off my feet by the Lord's provision for His people. Allow me to explain: It was about noon and Kyle and I were all set to have a wonderful meal with our wonderful family (about 20 total) when I received a text from my friend Nocona that said, "My grandpa gave me a 2001 Explorer and paid for the insurance for a year!" My heart leapt up in my throat for that dear family!!!!! They have been following so closely and fervently to God and His call on their lives to start a church in New Braunfels TX and have been operating their household of 5 on one reliable car. The night before Nocona asked me for prayer while feeling kind of weary! 

The whole time we were talking and I was praying the Lord had a solution and wonderful gift ready for that dear family. I am reminded of a story that Beth Moore tells in her Believing God Bible study:

One day Beth was walking her dogs when she saw a few ducks on the sidewalk just walking around and bathing in a puddle. Just over the bump on the side of the sidewalk was a HUGE pond and she was telling those ducks to get in that pond! She reminds us that sometimes we splash in the puddle of life when the pond is within reach! Can you imagine the Lord's frustration when He reminds us that, "those who wait on the Lord will find new strength! They will walk and not grow weary. They will run and faint" 

Praise Him that He knows what we need before we know we need it and HE provides a way!

THANKFUL

Here are a few things I am thankful for: 

1. my husband
2. my family
3. my friends
4. my cat Stetson
5. pizza delivery people
6. Sunday School
7. worship music
8. the ability to run
9. chocolate
10. music
11. dangly earrings
12. grace
13. healing
14. and much much more

I am thankful that we can approach His throne and that Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father in Heaven and INTERCEDES for ME! (and you :) ) I am thankful that the other night when darkness fell on me so very quickly I was able to speak His word and  truth over my life and sent that darkness packing!! I awoke to a new day and am thankful that His grace is new every morning. I am thankful that He came to my rescue once again and is mighty to save.

There Will be a Day

So sometimes I struggle with depression. It comes at inappropriate times and usually when I think it is gone for good. I know that God heals and strives for my heart but darn it...I get tired of this trial. It has been almost 5 years since my world seemed to fall apart and I am so ready to not deal with that bit of darkness that is within me. I heard a song the other day on my way to New Braunfels that brought tears to my eyes (you probably can't believe that) and made me Love Him even more for reminding me that pain and suffering are temporary and He is here all of the time. 

Here are the lyrics from Jeremy Camps new song: 

There Will Be A Day 

I try to hold on to this world with everything I have
But I feel the weight of what it brings, and the hurt that tries to grab
The many trials that seem to never end, His word declares this truth,
that we will enter in this rest with wonders anew

But I hold on to this hope and the promise that He brings
That there will be a place with no more suffering

(Chorus)
There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, and no more fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place, will be no more, we'll see Jesus face to face
But until that day, we'll hold on to you always

I know the journey seems so long
You feel you’re walking on your own
But there has never been a step
Where you’ve walked out all alone
(Chorus)
Troubled soul don’t lose your heart
Cause joy and peace he brings
And the beauty that’s in store
Outweighs the hurt of life’s sting

I can’t wait until that day where the very one I’ve lived for always will wipe away the sorrow that I’ve faced

 To touch the scars that rescued me from a life of shame and misery this is why this is why I sing 

Patches

The ultimate goal is to get this jacket:

Its the award for completing all 6 races in the Austin Distance Challenge   and it helps me keep on running. This past Sunday I completed the 10 mile run for the water which is the second of the six races. I have 4 more runs to go and am now even more motivated because after the last race they handed me 2 patches that can be sewn on to... THE JACKET!!! It kinda reminds me of girl scouts and patches and I am just so excited!!! After the first race (the 10 K) I started to doubt myself but am exhilarated to keep on running. 

When I hit the 8 mile mark of the ten mile race this weekend something extraordinary happened to me. I have never ever in my life run farther than 8 miles so I knew that every step after that was on uncharted territory (for me). I felt tired but somehow ecstatic! About that time Jeremy Camps, "Restored" began to play on my IPOD and I got goose bumps all over me. I can't even describe what I felt all over me. Some would call it "runners high" for me I know it was the Lord. I have never felt closer to Him in all of my life and I give Him all the glory for every step that I was able to accomplish on Sunday. I praise Him because He knows me better than me and that He knows just how excited and motivated I would be because of a patch. He thrills me like no other and I think He wants His children to try hard stuff. He wants us to keep pressing on. Here are the lyrics of that song that He spoke to me so clearly on my run! 

JEREMY CAMP

RESTORED

All this time I've wandered around
Searching for the things I'll never know
I've been searching for this answer that
Only will be found in Your love

And I feel it my heart is being mended by Your touch
And I hear it Your voice that's shown my purpose in this world

You have restored me from my feeble and broken soul
You have restored me (2x)

I've only come to realize my strength will be made perfect at Your throne
Laying all reflections down to see the precious beauty that You've shown

And I feel it my heart is being mended by Your touch
And I hear it Your voice that's shown my purpose in this world

You have restored me from my feeble and broken soul
You have restored me (2x)

Laying all these questions down
You've answered what I need
You've given more than I deserve
You're making me complete

You've given all these open doors
I'm humbled at Your feet
Because of what You've done for me

10 Miles???

I have come to the conclusion as to how I will be running my 10 mile race on Sunday. Some would ask, "don't you just run?" but no. There has to be some sort of strategy especially when trying to accomplish a distance you have never run before. My friend Sara originally said that she will be running for 5 minutes/walking 1 minute and so on and so forth for 10 miles. I was agreeing with her on her game plan but today felt really unsettled about it. So here is what I have decided:

 I will walk only at water stations AND for no longer than one minute. 

Whew! I feel much better now! 

Somehow I felt like I was cheating myself if I agreed to run 5 walk 1. I can live with my race decision now and no longer feel like a cheater. Now for the question of the night: Will anyone be around RUNTEX tomorrow between 10AM and 6PM???? I will not be in town during that time to pick up my running packet for Saturday and would owe the person who could pick this up for me BIG TIME!!!!!!!

Thanks and Goodnight!

My Favorite Things

I was inspired by Jenny H to tell the blog reader world of a few of my favorite things. I will let you in on 10 in no particular order. 

1. Traveling- Not only do I LOVE seeing new places but I absolutely positively LOVE airports! I love to watch people reunite with loved ones with excitement and adoration. I love hotel continental breakfasts and I love everything involved in the whole traveling experience.
2. Cheese Enchiladas- When I go and eat Mexican food at a new place I always like to try the cheese enchiladas. The best I have found so far are at Salsalito's in San Antonio off of Nacogdoches road. 
3. Running!- I have loved running since the 7th grade when I joined the track team (and earned the record for the 200 meter dash). These days I am more of a distance runner and will be running a 10 miler on Sunday!
4. Reading- I am a big book nerd. There is nothing better than curling up on the couch under my RANGERS blanket from high school and reading a good book. My favorite author is Nicholas Sparks and I also enjoy anything by Beth Moore. 
5. Coffee- If you know me at all you will know that I start my mornings with a nice cup of coffee. If I had it my way I would have a Javachino from Mocha's and Java's which is the coffee shop where I studied my way through college in San Marcos. They are so very good!
6. Laughing- I'm pretty corny and grew up with a dad who made everything light hearted and a joke. Sometimes its hard for me to take things seriously because my dad taught me to enjoy life and have a good laugh. 
7. Sending/receiving cards- I love encouragement (who doesn't?) and I also LOVE encouraging others. Life is too short to not let people know how much they mean to you. My new favorite quotes is, "The truest test of relationships is not how loyal we are when our friends fail, but how THRILLED we are when they succeed" 
8. Dessert- love it! mostly Chocolate!
9. Journaling- I wish I wrote in my journal more ofter but hey, I blog..I think that counts!
10. My wonderful Husband Kyle- He is the love of my life and I had no idea when we first met how much more I would love him with every passing day. He is my best friend in the whole world and the only one that "gets me" even though he isn't sure if he does :)