running is cheaper than therapy

running is cheaper than therapy was printed on a shirt I almost bought this past weekend at the San Diego marathon. (Yes this past weekend I once agian ran a marathon that I did not train for. at least this year I did get in a couple of six mile runs before hand, unlike the max of 3 the last year. I really am going to train for the next one I swear).
The t-shirt caught my eye, because running for me is a form of therapy if you will only I don't have a therapist to talk to and give me feed back, I only have my thoughts, and myself to answer back. However on my runs healing does occur. I had 26 miles to think on sunday about where I have been and where I am going. here is a brief list of what I remember as pain and overheating and other such things took priority at moments during the race.
1. I thought having a run/walk ministry would be cool- think of yellow tank tops with "Run Happy " the joy of the Lord is my strength written on the back:) most people don't do activity b/c they need accountability and someone to do it with- how about tues/thurs nights run walk the neighborhood train for a 5K, 10K 1/2 marathon or full marathon
2. I have a lot to be thankful for. I spent a few miles or so thinking of all the friends and family that think Im crazy to be running and for all of them Im thankful!
3. my problems are nothing for God. As i ran you see people with shirts for various causes mainly luekemia and other cancers, but I thought wow, God knows each person in this race FYI 30,000 people ran Sunday, He knows every step, shin splint, muscle cramp, and tear that was cried and knows every person that each of them knows think about it it is mind boggling. He desires that none of them perish. but they have to hear his word. why don't I open my mouth?
4. God heals. These past few weeks I have restled with emotions in a different way and the run put my thoughts back to 3 years ago at this time I was just learning to walk without a walker, now I have run 2 marathons, completed a triathalon, and 2 pier to pier swims- He heals physically, spiritually, emotionally, and he does it so he can be glorified.
5. running clears my head and puts my focus on what is important, and its not me. Its the millions of people who don't know Christ, its family who need to feel Christ's love through me, its about relationships with people who God puts in our lives, not about stuff.

SO... I am going to train for the Long Beach Marathon which is in October (after this week of recovery:)). Anyone who wants to join me and get a taste of free therapy is welcome to join me, you don't have to keep up just be willing to get out and move you can do the 5k or just come cheer me on at mile 17, 18, and 19 as these are the most difficult for me! Let me know we can work out a training sched. I will try to post what I am doing so you can keep me accountable to actually train this time.

Running feels good when you are finished although painful during the race, just like my walk with Christ, I want to finish well even though the miles between can be painful and uphill, there are miles like 23 that feel great while mile 17 had to be walked, Christ is with us every step no matter how slow or fast our pace, he provides vasaline to help with chaffing, shot blocks and gu to provide nurishment when needed, he provides a brother to encourage us not to quit when we feel like we cant go on, the road of life is a marathon and whether you are fit or not you are in the race but how much better I may feel if I put the training time in so pick up your Bibles and get in his word work out your spiritual muscles and build your faith:)

who am I?

Some of you know that I am trying out a new sport outrigger canoe-ing (not sure that is a word) which newbie practices are on Sunday mornings, so I have been going to various churches on Saturday night (which has been interesting and quite enjoyable). Last night as the pastor was preaching through Philippians. he made the comment I'm not a (fill in the blank with career)__________________ I'm a soldier for Christ. For me to live is Christ and to die gain. Which made me think of my last post. I am not a teacher, I am a soldier for Christ and that should be my attitude each day. I need to live for Christ anything else is loss. But to live for Christ is gain. It was such a great reminder that I am not a student, teacher, aunt, maid, sister, friend but a soldier for Christ. So get your armor on and go fight the good fight this week!

what is a teacher

Today at work as situation after situation arose I asked myself is this really what a teacher does? When I think of a teacher I think of a person that leads instruction in some academic area like math or English or history. However in the last few weeks I have found myself wearing these hats: social worker- trying to find housing for a family, lawyer-dealing with laws and policy, police-trying to figure out how to get a restraining order for a parent, counselor-helping a student (not mine) get the papers needed to get to college, doctor, mother (cleaning snotty faces- so gross!) encourager-"ms.c why so gloomy, i need your smile it makes me feel goooood"(this comment turned my day around), coach, friend, referee, chef-making meals b/c they were hungry, mentor teacher, venting wall, and well a teacher. My job is not ordinary, I know, but somedays I really would like to just teach, but then who would do all the other stuff? I am glad that God has placed me where I am at, and I know he will give me all I need to do the job, but I wonder sometimes what in the world am I doing? I didn't go to school for this. So if you think about a teacher you know or had, pray for them they deal with more than the kids in the class:)

God provides

I had the chance to stay in Santa Maria this weekend with the fantastic O'Roarks. It occured to me this weekend that although they knew Mike, I had never been to their place until after the accident. Why is this important? well really its not except that sometimes I question God's timing, but the more I consider things the more I realize that He has perfect timing. The O'Roarks house provides a quiet place (I really mean silent), with a really comfy bed (where I sleep more than 2 hours at a time), crazy good food (apple Jacks, coco pebbles, waffles, Orcuit burger just to name a few), and great conversation. But what it really provides is a place where I have peace about life. After every visit I come back rested and motivated to get through stuff I need to complete. It gives me just enough time away from my routine to get recharged. I have my own memories in Santa Maria and the surrounding beach towns. Mike never was there so they are mine. Which is good, because it reminds me that God still has plans for me and that life can be enjoyed without Mike by my side (even though I know he wanted to ride that little train). He created the amazing green hills and powerful ocean waves that crash on the desolate white sand beaches for me to enjoy and to see His glory on display. He provided a friendship with people who love me as if Im family, which is really a blessing that words cannot describe. God knew I would need the O'Roarks to help with my healing and brought them in my life at just the right time. There are no accidents with God. and as much as the car accident changed my life I know it was not a surprise to God, nor are any of the other trials that I face. He has perfect timing and as much as I don't want to believe that at times, if I truly look at everything around me I know it is all under His control. God provides/and will continue to provide what I need to get through all of it.

tired

thats what I am.

Lessons I'm learning

In my monday night bible study we are studying the book of John. this week we are in ch.11 where Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. The substitute teaching leader had some great points in her lecture that I was convicted and challenged by so I thought I would share. The things in "quatation marks" are her words and questions, everything else are my random thoughts.

"Illnesses, delays, and disapointments can be opportunities to glorify God."
If you read ch11 you will see that Jesus hears that Lazarus whom he loves is sick. Now if you love someone and you hear that they are sick your reaction is probably going to be to check in on them, go visit, call, and if you are a doctor you would go see them, Jesus who could have healed him without going to him remains where he is two days. It wasn't like he got the news late and he would leave in the morning, he waited 2 days. Why, because he loved them. Jesus had a plan and he knew that the illness was not unto death but was for the glory of God (v. ) How often do we see a situation and we ask for God to come and when we dont see immediate response we cry out where is God, or he must not care, or why me? why now?? God making us wait can show just how much he loves us more than an immediate response that gives us what we think we want. In the waiting God may be creating an opportunity for himself to be glorified. Every trial is a test of our faith. Jesus did not answer Mary and Martha request b/c he wanted to give them so much more.

Other points:
"What has Jesus accomplished in your life this year? If you take the time to look for God you will find him and he will lift you up." are you looking for God? or just going through the motions
"The "what ifs" of life will keep you in despair." Mary n Martha Im sure asked what if Jesus had been here, what if we sent the messenger earlier.... but that doesn't change anything, the only thing that changed the situation was to go to Jesus. and Jesus gave Martha hope, real hope Rom 5:5 "God's hope is a promise that is certian" where are you turning in your trials? are you looking for Jesus or are you looking for answers (the ones you want)?
'
There is so much in this chapter, but it made me see just how real Jesus was. He loved his friends then and he loves me. His tender words to Mary and Martha he offers to me. "I am the resurection and the life whoever believes in me though he die, yet shall he live and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never di. Do you believe this?"(Jn. 11:25-26)

Many have read this passage before, but I was challenged to really think do I believe this or do I just know it. Am I putting my belief into practice or am I relying on me? God will answer in his time and for His glory, but we need to be looking and expecting that he will.

funny story

so today I am in a meeting with several people in the smaller of my classrooms. The whole meeting I smelled old pee. I thought at first it was the lady next to me, but she is always dressed nice and well couldn't be so then I thought maybe one of my students had gone and we hadn't noticed. The whole time I was thinking we need to mop, why hasn't anyone else smelled this until now, how do I tell the students you can't pee in class. Then I went back to the office and the smell was there too. So I decided to take a deeper whif of my jacket, the one I have been wearing all week, and well there was the source. AUSSIE had left his mark, now I wondered when had he done it, for how many days have I been the lady smelling like pee. and what else in my house has he marked. Oh the joy of dogs! Happy Tuesday!