Crossroads and God's Sovereignty

There is a story of a Scottish woman who earned a modest living by peddling her wares along the roads of her country. Each day she would travel about, and when she came to an intersection, she would toss a stick in the air. Whichever way the stick was pointed was the way she went. On one occasion an old man stood across the road from her as she tossed the stick into the air once, twice, three times. Finally the old man asked, “Why are you throwing that stick like that?”

I’m letting God show me which way to go by using this stick,” She said.

“Then why did you throw it three times?” the old man asked.

“Because the first two times, He was pointing me in the wrong direction,” was her reply

I pray that I trust the sovereignty of God in every circumstances and that I will follow his leading unquestionably.

Psalm 139: 23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; 24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.

(Source of the Story from John Maxwell Partners in Prayer) 

Keep Breathing

Do you ever wonder if you have what it takes? This is a question that men wrestle with sometimes. Do you ever get overwhelmed with, well let’s just say – LIFE? Do you ever feel isolated, lonely, or inadequate? When you feel this way I want you to BREATH.

Moses evidently felt this way in his encounter with God recorded in Exodus 3. He experiences the burning bush, encounters the living God, and all this in the middle of nowhere while taking care of wandering sheep. At this point in his life if you could “Google” his name it would reveal who he was – murderer, deserter, wanted, and unfound. God saw a different image of the man.

He called Moses to a task that was a bit overwhelming. God allowed him to ask two questions. “But Moses said to God, “Who am I{?}” This question is one of internals. Do I have enough? Can I do this? God answers him in reassurance by affirming “I will certainly be with you.” Breath Moses, Breath!

Still uncertain Moses asks the second question. It rolls out something like this – Who are you?  Specifically he asks “What is {YOUR} His name?’ what shall I say to them?” This question is one of eternals. I’m so glad he asked. Up till now no one has openly asked this question of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The awesome wonder is that God answered this question directly. “And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.”

I AM. Hebrew, the language and sound Moses heard, Yahweh! Yah-Weh, say it slowly and lowly; Yaw-Weh, say it with reverence and a whisper. Can you hear the sound? Yah-Weh. Yah-Weh. Yah-Weh.

This is the sound of inhaling and exhaling. Breath! This is the sound of a heart-beat. Yah-Weh means to be, to exist, to have and cause life. Breath!

God says to us I am life! I am your life! I am your source! I am ENOUGH!

Do you have what it takes? Yes, because He says you do – BREATH!

Can you do this? Yes, because He says you can – Breath!  

So whatever you do please keep breathing.

Start 2014 Off Right!

Hello Campers!
Hope that you ended 2013 in a big way. We had kind of an emotional end to the year. But through it all running became my solace, my peace, and my diversion. I've taken to the streets more and extended my distances.
The new challenge for me as a novice runner is adapting to the colder temperatures. Layers have become extremely important to the run. Speed and increasing speed has given over to endurance and longer distances. Motivation is still high and guilt sets in whenever I even think about missing a schedule day to run.

This reminds me of how important it is at this time of year to practice our spiritual disciplines. We must keep moving both physically and spiritually. I wish to share with you these words  of encouragements.

Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.

Colossians 4:2 NLT

Charles Spurgeon wrote about the necessity of prayer in our lives this way. “We may be certain that whatever God has made prominent in his Word, he intended to be conspicuous in our lives. If he has said much about prayer, it is because he knows we have much need of it. So deep are our necessities, that until we are in heaven we must not cease to pray…Pray that this year thou mayst be holy, humble, zealous, and patient; have closer communion with Christ, and enter oftener into the banqueting-house of his love. Pray that thou mayst be an example and a blessing unto others, and that thou mayst live more to the glory of thy Master. The motto for this year must be, “Continue in prayer.”

The Game is Won Days Ahead!

Football is gearing up for us right now. We reminded the boys yesterday that the game is won before we play it. In fact, the game is won days ahead of time. It is the work we put into the practice that pays off in the game. Some people simply take "plays" off and short cut themselves. In a team sport that can cost your family the game.

Spiritual matters are the same way my friends. We must train everyday to stay sharp and fresh so that in the day of battle we are ready to win. Are you staying sharp spiritually? Are you spending fresh moments in the Word and in prayer? Or are you taking "plays" off?

This morning I read this great proverb and it can apply to your situation (and football): "Those too lazy to plow in the right season will have no food at the harvest."  Proverbs 20:4 NLT
(Those too lazy to do the drill will not win the game! Told you I could apply it to football)

Rundown: coached football 2 hours, Pilates class 1 hour, ballistics, ran 1 plus miles, stadium steps x 10)

What's lacking?

Ouch! Have you ever been in the middle of a great workout and seemingly out of no where a cramp hits? This happened on Saturday during an awesome time of training. Amazingly, I never saw it coming. There was no warning at all. But this was totally avoidable.

This calf cramp hit me because of somethings that were lacking in my body. And my body made a choice to send me a clear message. Over the last couple of weeks my routine has changed and with that my intake of fluids and out put of sweat also. Because of increased activity and increased heat the sweat was rolling. However, even though I know better I was not replacing the sodium and potassium being depleted. My lack in Na and K (scientifically speaking) made me scream.

We must be careful when routines change. We must drink deep and keep filled with the oil of life, especially our spiritual life. Reminds me of what Paul prayed for a some people he loved. 1 Thessalonians 3:10 "night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith?"  We can get weak in the faith when we stop drinking in the Word and dipping into the Spirit.

So, let's perfect those things that are lacking in our lives. Drink plenty, fill up on the Sodium (Salt), and get some rest (in the Lord).

Rundown: Saturday - Ballistics, 4 miles, stadium x 20, core, 1 mile run...ouch walk home. Tuesday: Ballistics, coached 2 hours, 1 mile easy run. Wednesday: Ballistics, coached 1.5 hours, Mission service project, 1 mile quick run, Stadium x 10, 40 meter sprints x 4, 100 meter sprints x 2, 5 minute ab!!

Get more than you put in!

There is a new pathway in my life. Really surprises me since I am not now nor have I ever been a morning person. Priorities and timing have forced me to make a decision. Two days in a row now the alarm clock has sounded sometime in the 4 o'clock hour. Rolling out of bed and pulling on my running shoes and hit the track and street by 5 am.

There are some dedicated runners that have been doing this for years. You understand fully why someone would push themselves to this point. This is discipline. This may develop into dedication or delusion. Anything worth while requires you to discipline yourself, work hard, and sometimes rise at strange times to accomplish your goals.

I understand a little better this morning what the Psalmist was talking about in Psalm 126: 6. "He who continually goes forth weeping, Bearing seed for sowing, Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, Bringing his sheaves [with him]." You will harvest what you plant. Many times you will do the hard work in tears of planting so that you can enjoy the harvest.

Do the hard work today! Work hard to plant in all your relationships what will bring joy in the harvest. This will include honesty, passion, love, and trust. When these seeds are full grown you will have joy in your relationships.

(Rundown: 4 miles on the road, lower core 6 min, and time of prayer with some awesome men!)

Are you ready for battle?

We had the fun this morning of pulling all the middle school football players together for our team photo today. Always exciting to line these boys up according to their numbers and get them ready. They looked great! 

The big question came up from one of the players. Then the debate was sparked. I have no idea what the team decided. All this will be a surprise to me when the pictures come back. One of the boys asked loudly, "Do we smile?" 

It hit me that these young athletes in some sense know they are preparing for battle. Sure the battle is brief with limited time periods and officials and rules to maintain order. But it is a battle none the less. 

As a believer I am in a battle every day! This needs to be reminded to us. Reminds me of something Piper writes that prayer is...

A Wartime Walkie-Talkie, Not a Domestic Intercom. Prayer is the walkie-talkie on the battlefield of the world. It calls on God for courage (Ephesians 6:19). It calls in for troop deployment and target location (Acts 13:1, 2, 3). It calls in for protection and air cover (Matthew 6:13; Luke 21:36). It calls in for firepower to blast open a way for the Word (Colossians 4:3). It calls in for the miracle of healing for the wounded soldiers (James 5:16). It calls in for supplies for the forces (Matthew 6:11; Philippians 4:6). And it calls in for needed reinforcements (Matthew 9:38). This is the place of prayer—on the battlefield of the world. It is a wartime walkie-talkie for spiritual warfare, not a domestic intercom to increase the comforts of the saints. And one of the reasons it malfunctions in the hands of so many Christian soldiers is that they have gone AWOL. (Piper, J. The Pleasures of God: Meditations on God's delight in Being God. Page 343-372. Sisters, Or.: Multnomah Publishers)