13.1, 2:51, 7388

13.1 miles, in 2 hours and 51 minutes, finishing 7388 out of 12,000 participants. Not too shabby for my first half marathon! :) (This is the actual picture from the starting line this morning!!)

This morning was the Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon and Mini-Marathon. My friend Stephanie and I did the mini--13.1 miles through downtown Louisville.


One of the most encouraging things about the race was seeing so many different people wearing shirts with Scripture written across the back. I must have read at least 4 or 5 different verses throughout the run (and of course I saw some of the same ones on a bunch of different shirts). God was all around me the entire race--it was like one big 3 hour long quiet time that I just happened to be running on. How sweet!

While the race itself was hard, I found the Lord really challenging me to think about how a marathon (or half marathon in this case) is such a great metaphor for the Christian life. The discipline of training, grace for the days that training doesn't happen, perseverance to continue training even when it's cold and wet and rainy outside, more grace for when you curl up in blankets on those days instead of training, grace to continue on in obedience, etc.

The Christian life is not a sprint. It's not something that you just decide to do one day, never train for, and then try to run the short distance as hard as you can. It's a marathon. It's lots of little runs that help you finish the long run. It's small steps of discipline and obedience that lead to big steps of discipline and obedience. It's about persevering even when the hills come and your legs feel like they're going to fall out under you. It's about continuing to put one foot in front of the other even when you aren't sure where the course is taking you. It's about hitting "the wall" in mile 11 and deciding in your heart, and in your legs, that you aren't going to let anything get in your way of crossing the finish line--and you press on. And then, at mile 13 when the finish line is so close, you realize that you're actually going to finish--that you haven't been running in vain, but that you've been running the race marked out for you--and now you're almost there--about to capture the prize (in this case, a commemorative finishers medal!), and you press on.

The Christian life is about pressing on. and on. and on. In the face of adversity. In the uphills and downhills of life. In the missed "training sessions" and poor "training decisions". In the "mile 11 walls" when everything in you screams disbelief that you can actually stay the course and finish the race. You keep pressing on--one foot in front of the other--one act of obedience in front of the other. And pretty soon you're at mile 13, and the finish line is right in front you. But the prize for finishing well in the Christian life is far better than a commemorative finishers medal--it's eternity with Christ! Oh that we would run the race with endurance! :)

Here are some pictures from the day--I'm definitely ready to find another half marathon to run--who's in??


Here I am, at 5:00AM, getting ready to head out to the starting line...I was a little excited :)




This is me and Steph AFTER the race.. Stephanie walked/ran it in 3 hours and 32 minutes! I'm so proud of her!! :) Her sister Jackie (a dear friend) was sweet to bring us sunflowers at the finish line!

Here are my smelly shoes. They have been officially retired due to too many miles!! :) (Never thought I'd have to retire sneakers for that!)

And of course...after a long race, a pedicure is DEFINITELY in order!! (Too bad I lost a toenail (it's a hazard of running!) Can anyone tell which toe?? Bonus points if you get it right the first time!!) :)


We sent our medals off to be engraved (we're nerds!!), so I'll post a picture of mine when I get it next week! :)


...now seriously...who's in for the next one?! Let me know. It will change your life. :)

Don't Let Me Lose My Wonder...

"When the fear of the Lord is forgotten-we no longer catch our breath at the sight of a rainbow or the scent of a rose, as we once did… We no longer run our fingers through the water, no longer shout at the stars , or make faces at the moon. Certainly, the new can amaze us: the latest computer game, the softest diaper. Till tomorrow, till the new becomes old, till yesterday's wonder is discarded or taken for granted.

As civilization advances, the sense of wonder declines. We get so preoccupied with ourselves, the words we speak, the plans and projects we conceive that we become immune to the glory of creation. We barely notice the cloud passing over the moon or the dewdrops clinging to the rose leaves. The ice on the pond comes and goes. The wild black­berries ripen and wither. The blackbird nests outside our bed­room window: We don't see her. We avoid the cold and the heat. We refrigerate ourselves in summer and entomb our­selves in plastic in winter. We rake up every leaf as fast as it falls. We are so accustomed to buying prepackaged meats and fish and fowl in supermarkets we never think and blink about the bounty of Gods creation. We grow complacent and lead practical lives. We miss the experience of awe, reverence, and wonder!" Brennan Manning, The Ragamuffin Gospel

Don't Let Me Lose My Wonder (Keith and Kristyn Getty)

I've seen days melt into nights, in circles of lights,
I've watched a spider spin a star between the window box flowers,
I've heard you laugh and cry in a single sigh, and a story form within.

Don't let me lose my wonder.
Don't let me lose my wonder.

I saw her broken, dreams inside, but helping others fly,
I saw his eyes, without a doubt, though other lights faded out,
And though her calling roared, such graciousness flowed
From the vision of her soul.

A baby cried through the dark beneath a jeweled spark,
I knew Your voice upon the hill and heard my lostness still,
I found my home in the light, where wrong was made right
And You rose like the morning star.

Don't let me lose my wonder
Don't let me lose my wonder.

Encouraging Words

"The grand trial of a life of religion is a trial of the heart. We have sins, we have weaknesses and temptations, which tend to a dreadful discouragement. Sin easily besets us. We easily wander from God. Holiness is an uphill work. Our feet often stagger in the path of our pilgrimage, and tears of bitterness gush from our eyes, lest such weak, and tempted, and erring creatures should never reach heaven. Devils tempt us. The world presents its deceitful allurements, and more deceitful and dangerous claims. What shall cheer us when our heart sinks within us? Whither shall we fly for comfort, when our hearts are bleeding, when our sins are so many, when our gain in holiness is so little, when our light goes out, and the gloom of an impenetrable midnight settles down upon our poor and helpless soul? We cannot, indeed, mount up to the inner sanctuary of God, open the seven-sealed book, and read our names recorded in it by the pen of the Eternal. But we can know that such a book is there; and that the pen of our Father has filled it with His eternal decrees, not one of which shall fail of accomplishment, as surely as His own throne shall stand. And when we find in ourselves, amid our tearful struggles, even the feeble beginnings of holiness, we know that God has commenced His work for us,--a work which He planned before the world was; and that he who has 'begun a good work in us, will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ,' carrying into effect His eternal plan."

Ichabod Spencer, A Pastor's Sketches

Fun new coffee shop

Louisville never ceases to amaze me. Just when I think the city is running out of new places to go, someone shows me another gem! Such was the case last week when a friend suggested we go to a coffee house called Ray's Monkey House to study. Ray's is a coffee house like none I've ever seen. Instead of coffee colored walls, each room is painted in vivid colors (the girls bathroom is hot pink. and when I say "hot pink", I mean HOT pink!) The coffee house is designed with KIDS in mind. A COFFEE shop for KIDS? Well, maybe it's more for parents than it is for kids, but the coffee shop has a miniature kitchen playset, a table with a racetrack for hot wheels cars, a variety of board games (chinese checkers, scrabble, ants in the pants, to name a few), and childrens books are strewn throughout. They even have a kids open mic night every Friday night for children to tell stories, sing songs, play instruments, etc, story hour twice a week, and they bring in kid-friendly entertainment on occasion.

Here are a few pictures from their blog... You can kind of see the kitchen play set in the back corner.
Here's a picture of the upstairs during one of the story time events. The car track is in the back right hand corner where one of the children is busy at work racing cars!

In addition to the kid-friendly environment, Ray's is also deeply concerned with social justice, fair trade and organic living. They also roast their own coffee beans right in the coffee shop. And if you order tea it comes out in its own little pot on a fun wooden tray. Come visit Louisville, and we'll be sure to stop by Ray's! :)

GRE

The GRE was yesterday, and PRAISE THE LORD, I never have to take that thing again!!! I am very grateful for the above book which provided enough practice tests and tips to get me the scores I need to get into Bellarmine! PRAISE GOD! Now all I have to do is get that application finished and send it in, and I'm on my way! God is great, He is greatly to be praised! :)

Hymn sing-alongs

My roommate, Anna, and I have a habit of breaking into random hymn sing-alongs in the wee hours of the night. I'm not even really sure how it started, but randomly we'll break into song and then the hymnal comes out and a good bit later we'll fall into bed. Random, yes, but rather encouraging.
Since coming to Louisville, I've really become a fan of hymns. Don't get me wrong, I love a good Passion worship session, but there's just something about the old hymns that makes me feel connected to believers from hundreds of years ago--singing the same songs to the same God who never changes. The truths in those hymns are still the truths we cling to today. God is faithful to sustain His people throughout generations!

If you've never heard of Indelible Grace, you should definitely check them out. They've taken old hymns and put them to newer music. They are currently on my ipod rotation, and probably will be for a long time to come.

Here are the words to one of the hymns that I've been enjoying these days. It reminds us of all we have in Christ.

Out of My Bondage (Jesus I Come)

Out of my bondage, sorrow, and night
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come
Into Thy freedom, gladness, and light
Jesus, I come to Thee
Out of my sickness, into Thy health
Out of my want and into Thy wealth
Out of my sin and into Thyself
Jesus, I come to Thee


Out of my shameful failure and loss
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come
Into the glorious gain of Thy cross
Jesus, I come to Thee
Out of earth's sorrows into Thy balm
Out of life's storms and into Thy calm
Out of distress to jubilant psalm
Jesus, I come to Thee


Out of unrest and arrogant pride
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come
Into Thy blessed will to abide
Jesus, I come to Thee
Out of myself to dwell in Thy love
Out of despair into raptures above
Upward for aye on wings like a dove
Jesus, I come to Thee


Out of the fear and dread of the tomb
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come
Into the joy and light of Thy throne
Jesus, I come to Thee
Out of the depths of ruin untold
Into the peace of Thy sheltering fold
Ever Thy glorious face to behold
Jesus, I come to Thee

Funny.

My dear friend, Lisa, had this magnet posted on her blog today--I thought it was amusing, and thought I'd pass it along. For those of you with teenagers, or soon to be teenagers, I'm sure you can relate! :)

Must Read.

I just finished the book Family Driven Faith by Voddie Baucham, Jr. and I have to say, I think every family (or every person who wants to have a family someday) should read this book. I had to read it for one of my classes, but I am so glad that I did.

In this book Voddie lays a foundation to reclaim the parents as the primary people responsible for the discipleship of their children--not the children's minister or the youth pastor, or even the senior pastor of the church; not the Christian school teachers or Sunday school teachers--but the parents. He gives examples of his own families failure of this in the past, and how they are seeking to change.

The biggest thing I took away from this book was the need for daily family devotions. The Baucham's are reading through a catechism in the mornings (like Westminster, Sprugeon's, etc), reading one question and then discussing what it means, and then singing a few worship songs and praying. At night before bed they are reading through the entire Bible in a year---all as a family. What an incredible way to model quiet times and devotion to the Lord as a family--to train and disciple children in the fear and admonition of the Lord, and to grow closer together as a family in the process.

I'm not saying that everything in the book is for everyone--and either is he. The Baucham's homeschool all of their children (even in high school), and attend a church with no youth group, children's ministry or nursery. However, their commitment to family worship and discipleship is one that all parents can benefit from reading about.

I try to limit the number of books I recommend to busy moms and dads (because who has time to read??), but I really think this one is worth the read. It's not too long (I read it in two days) so I'm sure that if you read it a chapter a night before bed you'd have it done in no time.

Check it out, and let me know what you think. :)