I haven't blogged for a while because I've been running a marathon... not literally... but it sure feels like it. Weekend before last I had the privilege to be the speaker for the most delightful group of women from Crossroads Community Church in Nampa, ID. The Retreat was at the beautiful Quaker Hill Conference Center in McCall. Our theme was "Bloom Where You're Planted" and we can... wherever God plants us... even in the snow! I had the opportunity to spend time with many of the women one on one and I left confident that God had touched lives and changed lives for His glory! If any of you Crossroads women read this... I'd love to hear a comment from you!
I got home that Sunday night and Monday morning began preparing the "sermon" titled "Free to Run... Free to Win" for this past Sunday at my own church, Summit View. It is a timely message all about our Christian journey being likened to running an actual marathon. It is such a great visual metaphor with many similarities and lots of great lessons to be gleaned. I could never run a 26.2 marathon nor would I want to... but I can run the race of faith... and so can you. This message is about looking at the lies that keep us from running... or running well... and then confronting those lies with the Truth that sets us free... free to run faster, and farther to the glory of God. I am confident you will be encouraged if you have the time to listen.
One thing I believe God really spoke to my heart personally through this message was that our race of faith is a marathon and not a sprint. I can tend to sprint sometimes and sprinting can lead to burn out or injury. I knew as I was preparing the message, that my body was weak and weary from running non-stop for about three weeks and could hear God saying this is what I want you to hear... and just to make sure I got, within 5 minutes after I gave the message second service, I lost my voice. It's just gone and now other cold/flu symptoms have come to dwell as well. It was like God saying if you won't slow down, I'll slow you down. I would so appreciate your prayers for speedy healing... and my husband's as well! Okay Lord... I think I've learned my lesson... heal me quickly... I don't have time for this! LOL
"I have fought the fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith"
and hear the Lord say...
"Well done my good and faithful servant" "Welcome home my child."
Thank You for paying the price for our entry fee into this race of faith with your own blood on calvary. And when we grow weary and hear the familiar voices that whisper, "you can't do this... it's too hard... who do you think you are... is it really worth it?" remind us that you deemed it worth enough to die for. Train us up Lord, strengthen our faith muscles and develop our endurance to run freer, faster, and farther than we thought we ever could. Amen.
