how could i not.

I see God's hand extended towards me.

"Do you trust me?"

(When I hear this familiar voice, how could I not?
When I look into His eyes that burn with fire, how could I not?
When I feel the power of His Spirit running through my veins, how could I not?)

"Yes, Papa, I trust you," as I reach out and take his hand.

give it away.

Henry Poole Is Here = one of my favorite movies.

It's not fast moving, doesn't have you hanging on the edge of your seat, nor is it even that well known.

But I am so captivated by it.

Here's a taste...

I love the artistic beauty. I love the colors and shots that the camera captures.

I love that it speaks of hope.

I love that it creates an appetite in the soul to crave something more to believe in than what the world offers.

I love that it compels me to dish out the Hope I have been given. Freely receive...freely give...

I love the uniqueness of the characters and how they transform individually and how they impact each other as the story unfolds.

I also love the soundtrack. Seriously good music.

My ringtone (and morning alarm) right now is the bridge from the song "All Roads Lead Home" by Golden State. 

I'm breaking through these walls of steel. Pushing that wall for something real. I'm falling far and faster still. Wake up, wake up, wake up...everyone and everything.

Have a listen.

A number of songs on the soundtrack aren't even played during the movie. I think that might be the case for this next one. It's called "Believe" by The Bravery.

This one stirs me up big time. I listened to it recently and I couldn't help but hear this as a song ringing out in the world from those looking for something to believe in. 

Can you hear anyone around you singing it?

(Chorus) So give me something to believe - Cuz I am living just to breathe - And I need something more to keep on breathing for - So give me something to believe

God spoke to me as a listened, "You have the answer. You have what people want. Give it away. Give people something to believe. Me."

Let's give our families something to believe.

Let's give our cities something to believe.

Let's give our neighbors something to believe.

Let's give our workplace something to believe.

Let's give the man behind the counter at the coffeeshop something to believe.

Let's give the little girl playing in the park something to believe.

Let's give the woman in the grocery store something to believe.

Beloved Bride of Christ - you have been fully empowered by the Spirit and *commanded to release what our world is singing out for. Love of God, move us...

"As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of God is near.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give." Matthew 10:7-8

*Commanded does not equal suggested.

running. [part 2 - hydration]

Be careful what you say.

 

Because before you know it, you'll be committing to run 13.1 miles...and paying money to do it.

 

You couldn't have paid me enough money to run long distances when I was younger. I liked to sprint short distances. Give me the 50 yard dash, please. And I'll go fast and actually have fun doing it. But the mile?

Let me put it this way - The mile run day in gym class was the least looked forward to day of the school year growing up. Really.

 

So how did I find myself, three years ago, willingly dishing money out of my own pocket to run 13.1 miles? Actually, if I were to add up all the training miles, I bet I was paying to run well over 100 miles. 

 

I'm telling you, the words you speak can make things happen...

 

It started when I watched my friend run a full marathon while I lived in Duluth. Being amidst the atmosphere of the weekend's events were so exciting and motivating, I totally got swept up into it all. 

 

Because of this, I released the words, "I'd like to be a part of this someday. I bet I could do a half..." 

 

My friends heard me. 

 

Two years later, one of them wanted to run Grandma's Half Marathon and conveniently remembered my statement.

 

"Hey Suzanne, I remember you saying..."

"Ummm, hmmmm, you sure that was me who spoke that? I...think you have the wrong friend." Ha.

 

Yeah, I remembered, too. But sitting in cozy pants on my couch while contemplating running any distance, let alone 13.1, wasn't quite as motivating as standing in Canal Park cheering on the runners and getting caught in the hype a couple years before when I first made the comment.

 

Fast forward through the hesitancy. I decided to go for it. I hit up Austin- Jarrow and bought new running shoes.

 

It was go time. 

 

At first, I had one goal: Don't die in the process. 

 

Yes, aiming high, I know. 

 

After I got into a training groove, I quickly realized that was a do-able goal. 

 

I'm not saying there weren't some really hard days and tough runs, but I am convinced that anyone could complete a half marathon when one sticks to training and a healthy lifestyle.

 

After I became confident I would indeed live through this experience, I made a new goal.

 

It then became to run the entire 13.1 miles, no walking.

 

I believed it was attainable, but knew it was going to stretch me.

 

The best long run of my life was about two weeks before race day. I ran 12 miles on a beautiful Duluth Saturday. No walking. I felt amazing. After that, I figured that achieving my goal on race day would be no problem and I actually considering trying to go for it under a certain time. But race day didn't feel the same as the 12 miler a couple weeks before it. I hit mile 11 on race day and wasn't sure I could do it. My first goal of not dying slipped back into my mind. Haha, okay, kind of playing this up a bit...but it was seriously rough near the end.

 

Hot, humid conditions, getting up at 4am, the excitement of it all, thousands of people...very different conditions than a quiet run on your own on the lake walk.

 

But I kept moving forward. Friends were camped out downtown right at the time I needed to hear them cheering and shouting at me to keep going and that I could do it.

 

Eventually, I crossed the finish line. 

 

That felt gooooooooooooood.

 

As I sat with my friends soaking our feet in the cool waters of Lake Suprerior, enjoying our dip n dots and strawberries, I thought about the run and was debating if I could say that I accomplished my goal of not walking.

 

Here's the deal.

 

There are water stations throughout the route. At first, I was steady and strong enough to run by, swipe a cup, and drink as a ran. Closer to the end, I wasn't as strong & steady...or graceful. Haha

 

My upper body wasn't steady like it was in the beginning, and I couldn't keep running and drink the water without it sloshing out of the cup and all over me. Which felt good given the heat, but that doesn't keep you hydrated.

 

So for the last few water stations, I walked a few steps, giving me enough time to slam down some water.

 

So, technically, I walked and did not run the entire time. 

 

However, at the end of the day, I decided not to count that against me. I don't feel that I missed my mark. Maybe I'm justifying, but oh well.

 

Since I couldn't get much water in my body without walking, I chose to walk in order to stay hydrated and keep my body in the best shape that I could in order to cross that finish line.

 

There are so many parallels when the physical act of running and the idea of running spiritually. I've been thinking about that a lot lately, as I certainly feel like I am running now.

 

Staying hydrated both physically and spiritually right now and for the course ahead is so critical. I need to remind myself that there will be times I need to rest and drink some water. I may need to stop running for a bit in order to do that in restoring ways.

 

I just finished my last book report for school, called God's Generals. It looks into the lives of 12 great revivalists throughout history. There's so much to learn from their stories.

 

Amidst many great successes, the author wasn't shy to include the areas in which these amazing men and women didn't stay the course. Not to criticize them, but to learn from them.

 

One theme I noticed in their lives was their lack of caring for themselves, especially physically. They neglected good rest. Some neglected eating healthy. The stories didn't indicate one way or the other if any of them would exercise or not. I'm guessing there wasn't a whole lot of that going on. They came to a point of burn out and breakdowns.

 

I liken it to them running a long distance and not slowing down for the water stations to keep themselves hydrated in order to finish well. They kept pushing forward. There's a time to push forward. There's also a time to walk a few steps and drink some water. And eat strawberries. (Those were along the route, too.) 

 

There's much ahead in this race that I, and so many others, are running right now.

 

Let's take care of ourselves - physically, spiritually, emotionally. The whole shabang.

 

It's too important not to!