Just wondering...how did it become the end of August already? Didn't summer just begin? Anyway~Hope everyone is doing well this morning. It is BEAUTIFUL outside this morning, maybe just on the nippy side which is wonderful considering the oppressive heat we have been experiencing!Grab a cup of something and join me for a minute or two! I'll be grabbing my nice cold water because when I drink coffee, I want to gag and stuff! :) Today, I will attempt to put to rest two issues I know everyone is absolutely sick of hearing about.
1. Running, yes, I have been a good girl this week and even increased my distance a little bit. Now don't be getting all impressed, we aren't breaking any records or anything. I would guess maybe close to 2 1/2 miles and I'm not running the whole thing. I am using a program called couch potato to 5K to train myself, so I am doing a 5 minute brisk walk, run 3 minutes, walk 1 1/2, run 5 minutes, walk 2 1/2 and then repeat the run/walk cycle one time. See, not that impressive when you know all the details! BUT, I am doing it so I am proud of myself. Last week I said I had learned something and then couldn't remember what it was. Today I remember. Fridays are always my worst run. I couldn't figure out why but I was always feeling a little slow and sluggish. I think I figured it out and am pretty sure it correlates to the overindulgence in popcorn and M&M's the night before. Just sayin'. I will probably not stop eating the said popcorn and M&M's, but at least I know why it is harder to run on Friday. I like this running program because it is slowly training my body to run longer distances. It is pitiful how hard it was just to run two minutes in the beginning...but as I have consistently trained, the running, breathing, etc. is getting easier. Okay, back to that in a minute.
2. The other issue I am going to attempt to stop discussing is the opportunity that we were hoping for. The door was shut, locked and the key thrown away this week. I am disappointed but not surprised. The truth is...I want to be mad at God. I want to say how unfair it is and how good we would have been. But I just can't seem to be. God is God. He said no. His way is right, even if it isn't what I want. He can't be wrong, He is perfect so it is me who was on the wrong track.
Our verse we are memorizing this week just hit me right where I needed it right now. It says:
" Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the herd and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation." Habakkuk 3:17-18
Okay, here is the Star translation for her current situation:
"Though you have an opportunity that looks great and it falls through, though your husband is completely stressed out and dissatisfied with his job, though the children you are trying to educate will probably flunk out of second grade and could possibly be incarcerated for killing one another in a fight over who has to clean the dog pen or vacuum the floor, though you aren't smart enough to teach an eight grader math and there isn't a single good school option out there to have...Yet I will rejoice in the Lord. I will take joy in the God of my Salvation."
He is still God...and this earth is temporary. It is not my home. Nothing we struggle through here can even compare to the glory that awaits His children. So, I want to be mad...but I can't. I have to just rejoice and know that His way really is best. He has something better, although I may never know or understand what that is. A few weeks ago, I couldn't have said that. At least not and mean it. A few weeks ago I would have pouted and cried and shook my fist at heaven and declared that it wasn't fair. If things weren't going to happen...why even be tempted by the opportunity...but, you see, He is training me. As I have spent more and more time in His Word and more and more time in prayer, He has been preparing me for a harder challenge. Make no mistake, I don't like it. Just like I don't like running while I am doing it. But when I am through, and I look back~I am glad I did it. I am glad I went through the struggle because I come out stronger and better than I was before.
So, let me encourage you today. Whatever trial you are going through today. No matter how big or small. You can rejoice...because we serve a God who is not taken by surprise. He is not scared, He can't be outdone. He loves you dearly. And while He may allow you to experience the pain of training...the reward WILL be worth it.
Hope everyone has a blessed weekend! Be sure to check out more Coffee Talk at Home Sanctuary.
16 comments:
TOTALLY LOVE the perspective on why we might be tempted by an appealing opportunity that is not going to happen. Thanks for posting!
1. Congrats on your running! I've not been as consistent this week in getting out the door to run. I'm doing a "modified" version of the C-2-5K plan (since I am too stubborn to do the smaller increments), so I'm averaging around 2.5 miles in about 30 mins. Keep up the good work! :)
2. I'm so sorry that you weren't able to go through with this. I could tell how much you really wanted to. But, I am also rejoicing with you as you choose to trust God, knowing that His plan is ultimately the best plan there is.
Have a GREAT weekend! Enjoy the cooler temperatures (I know I am)!!
First, I'm so impressed with your running. It's just NOT in the cards for this gal and really never has been, so guess I'll just continue with my treadmill walking.
Secondly, what a testimony to knowing that God really does know best and HE really does have it all under control whether we acknowledge it or not. What a tough time this has been but it appears that it has been a time of some real spiritual growth and I just pray that HE will bless your socks off for accepting His will and knowing it is for the best. I'm praying for you and your precious family. Hugs!
Star, can I copy/paste your whole blog post (minus the running) and call it mine? I love it.
"So, let me encourage you today. Whatever trial you are going through today. No matter how big or small. You can rejoice...because we serve a God who is not taken by surprise. He is not scared, He can't be outdone. He loves you dearly. And while He may allow you to experience the pain of training...the reward WILL be worth it."
That is soooo good. I can point to so many painful portions of my life and see how He has been there, even when I didn't see it. Your perspective is such a blessing to me today. Thank you.
1. No matter how big or small the increments you run/walk, I'm still impressed. I need to get on it. Looking at possibly doing a 5K with my brother in January(?) but may be deterred by the winter weather. If not, definitely sometime in 2011!!! Thanks for the inspiration too! I'm might go with C25K plan or there's an email one from about.com also for super beginners like me.
2. I think I've just about given up on trying to do things my way, because in the end you are totally right that God does have His plans and He is perfect, so we'll just have to surrender. But what's great is that He sees the big picture of how things are better when we let Him do His thing...no matter how things may seem at the time.
I feel encouraged. Thank you and have a great weekend!
I was wondering if you were home schooled? Some day I'd like to survey a bunch of home schooling moms about their own education. I think it would be fascinating to find out what influences come into play in both the decision and the outcome. So many of the moms I know have chosen to home school.
It seems my children are not the only ones who balk at doing their chores. I know it's important to follow up on those expectations though, because I wish I'd learned better habits as a youngster.
After hearing of your big disappointment, coping right now sounds so difficult. Sometimes it is really hard to believe that His grace is enough...but it is.
Thank you for visiting and commiserating with me. It seems like we're both off-balance a bit from God's answered prayer of a "no". But isn't a slammed-shut door much better than not knowing the answer? I want those doors slammed because then I can pick myself up and move forward. I will still look back...and promptly remind myself that the Cross is *ahead* of me. Anyhow, glad that you are finding some success in running and if you need it for "me" time take the kids out for a second run later in the day -- that way you can do it twice -- ha! Good luck with the homeschooling -- you are a better mom then me in that area. . .God has definitely not called me to do that!
Star..thank you for your kind words...they are an encouragement to me. Running...oh my goodness girl...I couldn't even run the length of my house...and I have a small house...everythings just jiggles and seems to fall apart all over the place! Good for you for sticking with it. I have had situations also that I thot were perfect...and perfectly God's will...and they didn't work out....I was devastated...but later found out that if it had happened then down the road, something else that did happen never would have happened if the first thing did...does that make sense or is it just a bunch of gobbly gook...anyways...keep up the good work...you're doing a wonderful job!
Preach it sister! I love that verse.
Thanks for sharing your heart. I think we sometimes forget to share the heart break and disappointments of life in light of following a sovereign God. I find so much comfort in my life knowing God has a plan so much more excellent than anything I could dream up. Everything we experience is "Father filtered"! HE knows exactly what we need...and don't.
Hang in there girl! Praying for you and your family!
Blessings,
LydiaCate
Your encouragements are always so uplifting! I'm also very impressed by your running. I can be disciplined, but something about running makes that discipline go right out the window for me. Other forms of exercise are fine, at least!
I LOVE this. Period. This is exactly what I needed to read tonight, my friend, so thank you. :)
You are so right -- this world is temporary -- we have such amazing things to look forward to so we don't have to be so attached to what is in this space.
Thank you for putting it so well! And yay for running! Wheee!
1. thoroughly impressed with the running
2. thoroughly impressed with your spiritual maturity. I am oh-so-slowly learning to see this world as temporary. And praise God for His Word that He put in your path at this time!
Amen and AMEN!!! I needed to read your post on THIS day:) There's a reason I couldn't get to it on Friday! Thank you so much for visiting and taking time to read AND encourage me. I appreciate you! It means so much to me, as an Army wife, to know that there are folks like yourself who are supporting and praying for our military! Our family was in the process of reading the Bible chronologically. We need to get back to it now that we're settled. I just began the Couch-2-5K program. Keep on keeping on:) I pray you have a blessed week!
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