The Making of M.O.M.

I've never liked running, ever. When I was in college, I played on the volleyball team. Our coach was hardcore and during preseason would make us get up 2 to 3 times a week and run. Our goal was to run a mile in 8 minutes or less. I know, I know...that's not incredibly fast. However, volleyball players are sprinters my nature. I never minded sprinting, it was the long distances, you know longer than the straight aways, that I hated. Each morning we ran our timed mile, I'd wake up (have I mentioned I'm not a morning person either?) at 5:30am, slip into my workout clothes and, while dry-heaving, tie up my running shoes. The dry heaving would continue as I walked the 100 or so yards across campus to the track. The closer I got to the track, the more I'd dry heave. I'm not kidding. Even now, thinking about it, my heart is racing.

The dry heaving would continue as our coach made us run an entire warm up lap. I felt that this warm up lap was completely unnecessary and I didn't understand why she would make me use up perfectly good running energy to "warm up."

Usually, I finished my mile in less than 8 minutes, but almost always I barfed afterwards. I would have to syke myself out with each step, saying something stupid like,

"The next time I'm right here I'll only have 3 laps left."

"Okay, just make it to the next line and then you'll only have 11 more lines left" (referring to the starting lines on the track).

Mental toughness when running was never my forte. I could handle practicing for 3-4 hours at a time, do sprinting drills, suicides, etc. but distance running....NO THANKS!

So, with that said why is it, I ask you, that I feel the need to become a runner? (There it goes again, my heart is starting to race.) Why do I feel this drive to run? Well, I've been following the blog of Lindsey Broere, a friend from my middle school days. I don't know what in the crap she's training for, but she's running like a mad lady. I think I read somewhere the other day that she ran for like 4 hours or something. Can I just say "NOT A CHANCE IN YOU-KNOW-WHERE!!!"

Nonetheless, I have felt called to run. Maybe it's because of the way Lindsey talks about the quiet time, or the consistency, or the way that she feels God is communicating to her thru the endurance and physical exertion. At any rate, I'm going to give it a try. I could use the toughening up and the opportunity to shed some extra pounds.

As I said before, I'm NOT a runner. I'll probably start off with a brisk walk and work my way up. If you read this, and you ARE a runner, I'd enjoy any tips you might like to share. For the rest of you, just PRAY.

And, if you see me, laying face down in the grass on the side of the road, don't be alarmed. I'm probably just cooling off.

****By the way, this is my 100th post! Yay!******

Today I had the privilege of watching my 4 year old daughter boldly proclaim her faith in front of 500+ people. If you've been following my blog, you know that almost a full year ago Elizabeth prayed to receive Christ. However, because of my shallow faith, because of my lack of understanding, because I couldn't see her faith with my own eyes, I didn't believe her. Today, she was bold, today I could see, today I witnessed true believing.

Since Elizabeth had spoken with Bailey, we knew that she truly understood what it means to have Christ within you. Therefore, we asked her if she was ready to take the next step. We asked her if she was ready to proclaim her faith openly. The service we attend is the largest service time at our church. On a crowded Sunday, there could be as many as 700 people in the Multi-purpose Building (I'm really guessing. It could be 500 or so, I stink at guessing numbers).

During the time of invitation, Elizabeth did not waiver. She courageously walked in front of all of those adults and talked with "Pister" Michael about her decision. Along with 3 other people, she was presented to the church and after service was greeted by all of our friends and church family. It was an awesome thing to watch and I fought tears most of the afternoon. Just as Luke said on our way home from church,

"It's so awesome to know that we will get to spend eternity with our daughter."

I couldn't agree more.

Today also sparked a lot of thought. Why is it that Elizabeth needed to proclaim her faith? Why is that needed? What's the point? Is she more saved if she does this? Is it jut for show? I dug into some scripture and here's what I found.

1. Scripture commands us to speak that Christ Jesus is in our heart. The confession of our tounge, the act of willfully saying it, makes it true. Romans 10:9-10 says,

That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

See it? Right there is says, that in your heart you believe and with the confession of your mouth you are saved. Yes, she had already confessed it to me, Luke, Bailey and anyone that asked. But going public means more than just telling those you already know, it means telling people that you've never met. It means facing challenging situations and having the courage to speak it, outloud. My baby did just that.

2. I want her to be bold in her faith. As a beliver, I don't claim to know all the answers. Crap, sometimes, I look at opposing arguments, science and other things and wonder why I believe what I believe. Then, I have to dig to find answers. However, the first step is being bold. Knowing what you believe because it's real and alive and living within you. I like how it is explained in Colossians 1:27b-28:

And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory. So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ.

What an awesome thing to know a secret that gives you assurance. What an awesome thing to know that it isn't really a secret! It's meant to share!

I'm such a proud momma today! I'm proud of my little girl for knowing that Jesus is, in fact, real and alive. For understanding that He lives within her.

I'm humbled that God would allow me to witness such an extraordinary event in my child's life. I'm humbled that God used Luke and I, as minuscule as our role was, to show her His love. Thank you Lord, thank you.