Just Ask.

 He was walking slower than the other kids and

falling behind.

I could tell he was trying to keep up,

but he just wasn't capable.

All I wanted to do was carry him....

Contentment

 

I regret it has been two months since my last post.

A lot of incredible things have happened

in my life and I hate I have not shared them.

For so long I found my blogs to be mournful

and those "feel sorry for myself"

type of songs.

It is not the Aeron I like to be.

I went on an adventure of a lifetime in July.

I spent almost two weeks in Italy.

I traveled Cinque Terre, Florence and Rome.

Can you say, amazing right!?

I will post more on this later.

To more important things going on in my head lately.

Contentment.

I went for a little stroll yesterday afternoon.

I decided to finally spend some

quiet time, just God and me.

I walked a mile down the road and sat on a bridge.

I dived into the Bible and found myself in John.

I usually find myself reading there.

John 8:32 stood out.

"Then you will know the truth..

and the truth will set you free."

What is the truth?

The truth I believe Jesus was speaking of,

was Him.

Once you know Jesus is the Son of God,

you will know the truth, right?

..But what is the truth in my life,

that sets me free??

I feel fake.

..Sometimes, I feel I live a double life.

I am happy, free, go-lucky and adventurous.

..But on the inside there is turmoil.

I question who I am.

Do I really know me?

Will I ever be content?

A part of me feels all over the board with my thoughts.

I pray and ask God for things,

He answers and I usually get them.

However, I am never fully satisfied.

So then I ask myself, is this what I really wanted?

Do I know what I want?

I guess the better question is,

do I know what I need?

I need God that is for sure.

I talked for a good bit this morning with a doll of a friend.

She is a missionary in the Philippines and I adore her.

She put it like this,

"No, we will never be fully satisfied with what God

gives us. We will only be content with Him.

He wants us to seek Him. We cannot find full

contentment any all the worldly, tangible things.

Only in Him will we find our full

satisfaction."

Wow, she is right.

I think that is what my heart was leading me to yesterday.

After all the years' events that have tossed my heart in muck,

I have had happiness beyond measure the past few months..

only it was still not enough, because God was not the center of my focus.

He was definitely in the midst of my blessings,

but I set Him aside.

Last night was one of the best nights of sleep for me.

I went to bed satisfied and content,

because the last thing I did was pray.

I used the analogy this morning, telling my dear friend.

It is like eating healthy and exercising.

I put it off,

sometimes dread it,

or 'I don't have time',

but then when I do eat right and exercise I feel amazing!..

thinking, " wow, why have I not started this sooner

or why did I ever stop in the first place?".

We're human.

I am so human, I keep playing trial and error it seems.

But I am back running again,

literally and spiritually..

running after God.

Exercising my body and mind,

and it feels wonderful!

John 8:12

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said,

"I am the light of the world.

Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness,

but will have the light of life."

...and more thoughts to come sooner than two months down the road.

Push.

I woke up yesterday with the biggest smile on my face. That says a lot because I was on my way to run 14 miles with my mom. We are training for the Dallas Marathon. It was a cool, crisp morning and absolutely perfect running weather. At mile 12 something came over me. I felt empowered. It is the feeling God gives me when I run. Another reason why I DO run. People who hate running do not understand why we runners do crazy things like run marathons. It is hard to explain. It isn't because we are crazy, it is something much more. It is the feeling of accomplishment. The knowing that God can give you such a strength to run the distance.
We had a great run {my mom is a rockstar by the way} and she always pushes me. I am so blessed that God has put people in my life who constantly push me to be better, in all aspects of my life. Yesterday I had a dear friend tell me that when down she reads my blog. I continuously forget what a difference encouragement can make. I had been contemplating not blogging anymore, but after she shared that with me I knew there was not an option. So I will continue to write and share what great things God is doing in my life...
I will push myself and continue to push others as long as I breathe.

Do you have that one person in your life who encourages you? I want to push each of you to be that person today? Encourage one person today. Send them a note, a text, an email. Let them know you love them, that they're noticed, encourage them, push them!
Ephesians 4:29
Let no foul or polluting language, nor evil word nor unwholesome or worthless talk [ever] come out of your mouth, but only such [speech] as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the need and the occasion, that it may be a blessing and give grace (God’s favor) to those who hear it.

You Raise Me Up.

I haven't written about my running in a while and thought I might do so.

If you would like to read my two favorite posts on what I gain from my runs, 

you can read them here and here. ...or click here for all my posts on running.

.....

Running is an outlet for me.

As my feet hit the pavement, my soul awakens.

I feel closer to God more than ever.

.....

I went for a run yesterday afternoon, boy was it hot.

Not July hot, but hot enough to break a sweat in the first mile.

I've been living the life of luxury going to the gym, having a nice air conditioner cool me down.

....

I have days when it feels like I have ran a marathon...in the first half mile.

Yesterday, was one of them.

My legs felt as if they weighed a ton, each,

but I kept on.

....

It is always a struggle at first, acclimating myself to the Texas heat.

It rolls around this time every year, I digress.. because I never know how long it will stay, sometimes deep into October.

I've gotten better over the years, learning that running a few days a week outside for the first couple of weeks of summer, will make me stronger and the acclimation a slow progression, as I like it.

....

It isn't always that way.

....

Some days like yesterday, hit hard, the sun beating down on me like a thousand fires,

depriving me of my fuel which feeds my legs.

I try to endure the sun,

or sometimes run to any shade I can find on the oil top roads.

It is usually accompanied by a small prayer, requesting a breeze or a cloud.

....

I was three miles in yesterday, and dreading the last one.

I was listening to my music and it came on,

I hope you have heard it.

"You Raise Me Up" Josh Groban.

If you haven't, please listen to this wonderful melody.

It is very thought provoking.

.....

...You Raise Me Up,

So I can stand on mountains,

You Raise Me Up,

to walk on stormy seas,

I am strong,

when I am on your shoulders,

You Raise Me Up,

to more than I can be.

.....

It sends chills down my arms every time.

....

Listening to the words, and not paying attention to my feet did me much good.

My head was in the clouds.

If felt as if He rose me up..and

each stride felt like I was flying.

I must have picked up the pace, for

I looked at my watch and realized it was the fastest mile of the day.

.....

Now back to the Sun, 

I believe God can and will provide the shade we need in life.

Or He might send a light breeze to cool us down.

If there seems none to be found, perhaps He knows we can survive the heat.

Or He sees it as a time of acclimation.

Exposing us to the heat,

so that we can be better equipped for the next run...

Romans 5:3-4

More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 

and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,..