I'm done...

 

"I'm done.."

I would venture to say every runner has said that to themselves.

For a couple of weeks I have been trying to psyche myself up to building endurance on my run, or adding mileage.  I have been at 3 to 3.5 miles for a year and I felt like now was the time to add more.  A week ago I added almost a mile and did 4.4.  This week I was like ok, I am doing 5.  So Tuesday came and I was ready.  I have to admit I actually prayed this before I ran, "God please give me the strength to make 5, amen.".  I very intentionally slowed my pace.  I am normally an 11 min mile, I slowed it to 12.5 to 13.  Mile 1 went well, mile 2 got a cramp in my calf, mile 3 was ok, then started into mile 4 and my legs got mad at me and my brain started to tell me to just quit, it's not worth it....

"I'm done..." I thought to myself.

Then I started arguing with myself, "it's only half a mile more than you did last week", "you can do this" "no I can't" "yes you can" "I'm tired" "my legs hurt" "your still a mile from your car, you might as well jog"

I walked for a minute or two, then even though my legs where screaming, my head was pounding, and I felt exhausted I still picked up the jog and finished out 5 miles.  It wasn't pretty, but I finished.  why?  because the end justified the means, the pain was worth hitting the goal.

I related a lot of things in life to running now, but obviously if you read me enough you know that.

Life is a lot like running. 

We try so hard to live life the way God would want us to, and yet it seems the harder we try the harder life gets.  It seems the more we try to be good and do the right things the more complicated life becomes.  The more we try to say "no", the more we find ourselves saying "yes" to things we shouldn't.

Then we get to a point where we start telling ourselves "I can't be good anymore" "I'm tired of fighting temptation" "I'm exhausted"  that's it...

I'm done...

^9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (Ga 6:9., NIV)

Your not alone, we all face the same battle, although most will never admit it.

You can't give up, you shouldn't give up, and you won't give up.  There is a harvest God is waiting to do in your life.  If you give up, there is no harvest.

Your not done....
God's not done...

Take a deep breath, refocus, and remember why you started.

I couldn't have said that any better myself...

Chris

knocked down

Knocked down, sometimes we feel like it can't happen. 

Mike Tyson was a fighting machine, no one could touch him when his career began, let alone knock him down.  Then came James "Bonecrusher" Smith.  I remember watching Tyson fight and listening to his interviews.  He was good, really good, but it's inevitable that no matter how good you are, how quick you are, or how strong you are; you will get knocked down.

I have been going rounds with a fighter, my enemy....

^12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Eph 6:12., NIV)

I'm tired, I'm battered, I'm bruised; sometimes I feel like I CAN'T go one more round, I feel like I CAN'T get back up, I feel like I CAN'T take one more hit.  That's it, I'm down, I'm done, start the 10 count.

Then I hear the voice that reminds me:

^7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. ^8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; ^9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. ^10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. (2 Co 4:7-10., NIV)

and so I get back up again

You can too.  I know it's hard, I know your battle, and I also know that you and I have a coach that gives us power like no other.  Jesus is our advocate, He is our cheerleader, and He is your biggest fan.  When you get knocked down, you look to him.  He is your greatest source of energy.  He will give it to you, all you need is to ask.

Those of you who are knocked down and feel like your taking a beating, I pray for you and you pray for me.

Summer 2013 I met the man that knocked Tyson down for the first time:  James "bonecrusher" Smith.

Chris...

Broken

Broken:  adjective, damaged or made weak (Webster's)

Brokenhearted:  adjective, overcome by grief or despair (Webster's)

What do you do when you feel... broken....brokenhearted.  It's a tough place to be.  You feel damaged and overwhelmed, with no seeming solution to pull you out.  The harder you fight the deeper you sink.  The tougher you try to get the harder you fall, and nothing seems to help.  There seems to be no answers, and the solution seems no where in sight.

Who do you turn to?  what do you do?  Does anyone really care?  Will anyone listen, I mean really listen...  Is anyone out there?

Brokenhearted.

A wall goes up, no one gets in.

Broken.

Can't think straight.  Can't focus.

and then.....

^18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted

and saves those who are crushed in spirit. (Ps 34:18., NIV)

Brokenhearted AND crushed, that is a tough place to be, no lets be honest it's a horrible place to be.

Even though we don't feel it, the LORD is close.  He is right there.  His arms are wrapped around us.  He is whispering "I love you" in your ear.  He wants you to know it will be ok.  He wants you to know even when it seems no one (and I mean no one) else is there.... HE IS.

^3 He heals the brokenhearted

and binds up their wounds.  (Ps 147:3., NIV)

Even better news:  He will heal.

Our question:  How long will it take to heal?  That my friend is a very good question.

The answer:  Depends on how deep the wound is, and how you take care of it.  Also consider this when you re-injure the same wound it takes longer to heal.

So how do we take care of it?  Go back to the basics.  Work on your relationship with God.  He ultimately is the ONLY one who can put back together a person that is broken, He is the only one who can put back together a heart that has been broken.  To work on your relationship is the most important thing.  Spend time getting to know Him all over again.  Read His love letter to you (the Bible), spend time in conversation with Him (prayer), focus on Him (worship), and have fun with Him (Fellowship).

Figure out what caused the wound.  Figure out what caused you to be broken.  Learn from it.

For the broken and the brokenhearted, God will clean and take care of the wound so be patient through the pain.

Chris

 

playing with a full deck

How many times have you said to yourself, "life's not fair", "if only I had this...", or "if only this would happen...".

My life, and your life, is it.  This is the hand you have been dealt.  There are things in life you and I cannot control.  My circumstances, or yours, are there and now we have to make a choice.  We either deal with it and flourish, or whine about it and drown in self pity.

In the book of Genesis we learn of a man named Joseph.  In chapter 37, we learn that his father favors him over his brothers, we also learn that he has dreams that clearly foreshadow him being leader over his brothers.  Joseph shared this with his brothers which makes them even more jealous.  Towards the end of the chapter his brothers are plotting to off him, but at the last minute his brother Judah talks his brothers into selling Him into slavery.  That is Card number 1.

While in slavery Joseph is sold to Potiphar (chapter 39), while there Potiphar's wife became fond of him and wanted to sleep with him.  Joseph refuses and she cries "rape".  Joseph is falsely accused and put in prison.  that is Card number 2.

While in prison (chapter 40) Joseph interprets dreams for a couple of men that worked for the Pharaoh, Joseph asked that in return that the chief cupbearer mention Joseph favorably to the king, to which he does not.  That is card number 3.

Three really bad cards that where dealt to Joseph:  Sold into slavery, falsely accused, imprisoned and forgotten about.

The interesting thing about each  and every situation is that in everything He did, He flourished at it:

Genesis 39:2, "the Lord gave him success in everything he did". (while he was a slave)
Genesis 39:23, "the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did".  (while in prison)
Genesis 41:39-40, "The Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you.  You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders.  Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you." (when everyone had forgotten him)

Joseph story is not unique, we are all dealt with difficult circumstances.  How we deal with them shows our true identity and how strong our faith is.

Reality is in much of life we cannot change the cards we have been dealt, however we can change how we react and deal with them.

The choice is yours.