Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Thanks for your support, but I am no longer walking for the well

because........


well, cuz i'm JOGGING for it now!!!

hehehehe did i get you all again?

oh you're sooooooooooo easy!   :)

I would NEVER want to give up!  How can I?  There are still people in need.

I've been reading K.P.'s new book "No Longer a Slumdog".  wow.  Read it when you get the chance.  its free! you can just request it from his website - for free, people.  no excuses :)  and remember - you can all ask for my copy when i'm done with it... its got his signature in it... woo hooooooo!

It just reminds me of the thirst everywhere.  I have been thinking about it a lot - thinking about the people everywhere who are hurting.  Not just the dalits in India - though that group of people are so desperate for true freedom!!!  But walk down the street, drive in a new section of town, get a hot dog outside of Albertson's and look into the face of a woman who looks like she hasn't eaten for days, but is scrounging for pennies to buy a hotdog for her hungry dog.  (don't worry - we got food for the dog and for her too.  and got a hug in return. :) God is good!)

Sharing love feels amazing, doesn't it?

We GET to be the ones who share.  We GET that privilege.  whew.  its intense when you think about it.

I have to share this with you... i thought it was extra cool.

About a week after the dinner, I got a card in the mail from Gospel for Asia.  I figured it was a little thank you for attending the dinner.  But it was so much more.  My new friend Heather(Hi Heather!!! hehe) from Gospel for Asia had written me a really sweet note.  She had read my blog and was following... IS following!  a few others from GFA are following along too!  that is just cool no matter which way you slice it.  Her card is so precious to me... that's something that i'm keeping for a while :) Then she put in a verse that lifted me :)  Her words were so encouraging, but when she wrote God's Words back to me - they just do what no other words can!!  thank you for your card Heather  :)  You all at GFA are amazing!

My hubby just had his birthday, and I'm about to have mine soon, and it has gotten me really thinking.  Time, life, death - what we do here with this life, you know?  Our time is so limited. We are studying Ecclesiastes in church and that's hammering it home too.  Last week was VBS, and wow - it's those little moments in life - not necessarily the entire seasons, that can make the biggest difference - that can have SUCH meaning!  VBS was just amazing.  No words to describe truly what God did that week.  He is beautiful.

We had our weekly morning prayer at our house today and it was soooo good.  Why is it that at 5:59 am every week, I dread leaving the comfort of my bed, and an hour later at 6:59 - I am clinging on to those precious last few moments of prayer with my fellow prayer warriors.  He is so worthy to be praised.

*i just paused to watch a hummingbird out my back window.   moments...*

So - did I tell you why I'm jogging now?

I hate jogging.  I really do - I am not one of those people that feels the runner's high (or jogger's high??).  Never got that far.  I feel the pain with every step.  My knee is not bad - but it sure isn't good.  My heel spur doesn't hurt like it did - but its not like jogging on clouds either!  LOL  and I just don't like feeling my lungs burn.  i just don't like it!!!!!

who likes pain??

well i read a book - given to me by Michael - (thanks Michael) that talks about pushing your body to the limit.  yeah yeah blah blah blah.  no thank you.

well the book sucked me in and talked about this guy Dean Karnazes who is just absolutely amazing.  Just - i mean - amazing.  The human body should just give out before accomplishments like that can happen.  and i thought - i'm such a WIMPPPPP!

so... i felt challenged.  and encouraged.  and now i can't say i'm a jogger.  but i'm jogging  :)
i can't wait to see where I'm at on December 1st.  i will not be shaming myself anytime soon telling you how little i can jog right now. but it would be cool to see that i could at least jog the whole 3 miles by the end of my well walk :)

oh by the way... yes i do know that i haven't put any pictures up.  i just have the two for you here.  I keep forgetting to ask my dad and sister for the ones they took at the party!  sorry!!!!

well, i've been on a big high these past few days... and of course most of you know why - but of course, you know i won't mention it here.  :)  I'm loving where God has me!  Excited - and yet - waiting...  i love it.  I love surprises! and He just keeps surprising me!!!  I ask for one thing, and He gives me two!  just because He loves me.  Lately, i just feel really..... GOOD  - know what i mean???  But I know that we can always count on suffering to creep into our day... so I'm just trying to find that balance - trying to stay on my toes - trying to be ready for the attack that is always waiting just around the corner... but still enjoying the peace and joy He's giving me - and can KEEP giving me through the suffering too!!!

But I try not to be afraid of suffering.  I'll just remind you that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.  (That's Romans, in case ya didn't know!  hehe)

Keep praying for me please - I've been back on my treadmill alot, and its just not as fun as walking with people.  My sister and I went for a killer walk on Sunday, but it didn't feel super killer because we were keeping each other company, walking and talking!  we had such a great time.  My momma wanted to go in the worst way but she hurt her knee really badly - so we have to wait for her to heal!  :(

ok - this is a long bloggie.  I have to tell you - I will eventually post the picture of K.P. Yohannan with  me, my sis, and Matt... BUT!!! i can't do it yet!  I'll have to do it at the end of my journey - when we take one final picture at the 1000 party - but with all of us facing FORWARD :)  (i couldn't ask K.P. to turn around for the picture - he would think i was a psychopath!!!)

i love and adore you all.  you know that right?   :)

"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is NOT in vain!"  1 Cor 15:58  (emphasis, mine and Heather's hehe)

Joyful meeeeeee

Michael tried to get away, but ha ha ha - we got the picture before he hid behind the statue!!!  :)  We are all holding up 5's 4's, or 3's for the 543 party LOL..  Actually... Dave on the left is holding up 6 halves.  (cuz he is silly like that LOL)  

My children push ME now.  oh my goodness this hike was awfulllllllll!!! but in a good way... you know like in a WOW!! I DID THAT!!! AND I NEVER WANT TO DO IT AGAIN- kind of way LOL   It was hard, and and they still wanted to keep going!  the nutjobs!!!  i love that they're little walkers now :)