It's hard to believe that 4 years ago I was battling with depression. For 2 of those years my mind was a battle field. Every morning I would wake up afraid to face the day because physically and mentally I did not feel adequate to handle anything...to take care of 2 boys, take care of my house, chores, etc. The more I tried to keep up with the demands of life, the deeper I sunk.
Looking back now and through my recent experiences...
I am grateful for trials
I am grateful for His Word which is my comfort
I am grateful for His unconditional love...its what keeps you going when human love fails.
I am grateful for the gift of mercy
I am grateful for the gift of grace
I am grateful for forgiveness
I am grateful for answered prayers.....He is so faithful!
I am grateful for knowledge shared
I am grateful for true friendship
I am grateful for open doors
I am grateful for life's experiences
I am grateful for every opportunity presented to me
I am grateful for the ability to choose
I am grateful for family
I am grateful for the gifts He's given me
I am grateful for health
I am grateful for all the people in my life....good or bad.
I am grateful for discernment
I am grateful for His revelations
I am grateful for all I've learned and will continue to learn
I am grateful for every single day
I am grateful for this journey!
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Marathon
Let us go over to the other side. Mark 4:35
When I started this blog, I had decided to start on a life changing journey, which is why this blog is entitled as such. One of the major ones being to run a marathon!
San Diego was the marathon of choice and I am overjoyed to say I did it! 26.2 miles. All my training and obstacles I had to hurdle paid off at the end. Though I sit here in pain as I type away, every bit of it is well worth the feeling of accomplishing something that research states only about one tenth of a percent to one percent of the population accomplishes. Of course, I wasn't aware of that until I heard someone say it over a bullhorn on the sidelines of the course. What an inspiring thought along mile 8!
Running through the course, you run into all kinds of people from newbies like me to elite runners; from the young to the 75 year old seasoned runners, who by the way were passing me up and finished way before me!! LOL!! The course being 26.2 miles gives you a lot of time to think as well. So many things came to mind. Thought about how far I'd gotten milage wise in training, when at the beginning 6 miles was a huge feat to now 26.2! At half of the race (13 miles) it was inspiring to see some of the people in my training club. Especially one of the pace leaders, who is in his 70's, running after he had just done the L.A. marathon the week before. I think it was at about mile 17 my body started revolting and the realization that there were still 9 miles to go set in,so I was pleasantly surprised to see friends on the sidelines cheering at mile 20, which in turn gave a boost of energy and lifted the spirits up! So thankful for them!
But it was close to 4.2 miles left, that I started thinking about all the obstacles I had to hurdle to get to this day, this race. Thought about the sacrifices..being a mom and wife...encountered people who with their words or lack of support tried to discourage. At the same time, I thought of those who only spoke words of encouragement and during the week of the race, would send inspiring texts of prayer and how proud they were at what I was about to accomplish.
I correlate all of this with this race that God has asked us all to be in. You see along the way, you realize that as you prepare, that even the people closest to you might not understand why you sacrifice so much for what God has called you to do and say things to discourage you from accomplishing the task He has asked of you. The enemy speaks through others to feed your doubts and insecurities so as to keep you from realizing and experiencing that which God is crucially trying to convey to each and everyone of us!! But God is so good. He will not leave you nor forsake you. He will not call you to a race and not prepare you for it. He sends people in your life to speak words of life and encouragement. He sends people who have gone through similar trials and through the knowledge they've gained, uses them to guide you every step of the way! I kept hearing His voice saying, "I've prepared you for this day and am with you, just as I've shown you time and time again...just as I've promised." At the same time, one of the people on the sidelines was walking up and down telling us that from this point on to the finish, it was your mind that was going to get your through to the other side.
So, I looked over at my coach, running partner, and friend, who is an experienced runner, who graciously decided to run my first marathon with me, and let him know I was ready to kick in and finish this thing!! We finished in 6:01 hrs. and met up with another friend that ran and my husband who were waiting at the end of the race. But as we crossed the finish line, I became overwhelmed with joy and a sense of accomplisment that had I not fought back the tears...those tears would have told the story of my journey to the other side.
When I started this blog, I had decided to start on a life changing journey, which is why this blog is entitled as such. One of the major ones being to run a marathon!
San Diego was the marathon of choice and I am overjoyed to say I did it! 26.2 miles. All my training and obstacles I had to hurdle paid off at the end. Though I sit here in pain as I type away, every bit of it is well worth the feeling of accomplishing something that research states only about one tenth of a percent to one percent of the population accomplishes. Of course, I wasn't aware of that until I heard someone say it over a bullhorn on the sidelines of the course. What an inspiring thought along mile 8!
Running through the course, you run into all kinds of people from newbies like me to elite runners; from the young to the 75 year old seasoned runners, who by the way were passing me up and finished way before me!! LOL!! The course being 26.2 miles gives you a lot of time to think as well. So many things came to mind. Thought about how far I'd gotten milage wise in training, when at the beginning 6 miles was a huge feat to now 26.2! At half of the race (13 miles) it was inspiring to see some of the people in my training club. Especially one of the pace leaders, who is in his 70's, running after he had just done the L.A. marathon the week before. I think it was at about mile 17 my body started revolting and the realization that there were still 9 miles to go set in,so I was pleasantly surprised to see friends on the sidelines cheering at mile 20, which in turn gave a boost of energy and lifted the spirits up! So thankful for them!
But it was close to 4.2 miles left, that I started thinking about all the obstacles I had to hurdle to get to this day, this race. Thought about the sacrifices..being a mom and wife...encountered people who with their words or lack of support tried to discourage. At the same time, I thought of those who only spoke words of encouragement and during the week of the race, would send inspiring texts of prayer and how proud they were at what I was about to accomplish.
I correlate all of this with this race that God has asked us all to be in. You see along the way, you realize that as you prepare, that even the people closest to you might not understand why you sacrifice so much for what God has called you to do and say things to discourage you from accomplishing the task He has asked of you. The enemy speaks through others to feed your doubts and insecurities so as to keep you from realizing and experiencing that which God is crucially trying to convey to each and everyone of us!! But God is so good. He will not leave you nor forsake you. He will not call you to a race and not prepare you for it. He sends people in your life to speak words of life and encouragement. He sends people who have gone through similar trials and through the knowledge they've gained, uses them to guide you every step of the way! I kept hearing His voice saying, "I've prepared you for this day and am with you, just as I've shown you time and time again...just as I've promised." At the same time, one of the people on the sidelines was walking up and down telling us that from this point on to the finish, it was your mind that was going to get your through to the other side.
So, I looked over at my coach, running partner, and friend, who is an experienced runner, who graciously decided to run my first marathon with me, and let him know I was ready to kick in and finish this thing!! We finished in 6:01 hrs. and met up with another friend that ran and my husband who were waiting at the end of the race. But as we crossed the finish line, I became overwhelmed with joy and a sense of accomplisment that had I not fought back the tears...those tears would have told the story of my journey to the other side.
Likewise, when we finish this Christian race and get to the other side with Christ, our tears and songs will tell the heavenly hosts the story of our journey and the realization that all we endured was more than worth it.
Revelation 5:11-13 (New International Version)
11Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12In a loud voice they sang: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!"
13Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!"
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