A new Thanksgiving tradition.

Yep. You guessed it ;-)

Another race!

Michael and I have changed how we eat and how we live.  Our calorie intake is lower, and our activity level is high.  As a result, another Thanksgiving will massive amounts of food and then leftovers... Well, it was less than appealing. ;-)

Hence, the gobble jog!  Michael will be running the 10k - OMG - and I'll be doing the one mile with the kids and the double jogging stroller.  I'm excited for this! 

Afterward, we'll head back home for lunch and then later head to his mom's for dinner. 

I'm happy with the changes we've made to our lifestyle.

And, I'm look forward to other changes.  First, I'm going to start pulling out of speech and debate in January.  I plan to tell the debate coach this when we get back from our Thanksgiving break.  I simply cannot go through a second semester that was anything like the first.  And it is decided - I am not coaching speech next year.  I'll tell the principal and the parents after March - before spring break. 

That decision will enable me to be a better teacher - which is my first love when it comes to anything in education - my classroom.  It will enable me to be a better person - a less stressed, angry individual.  It will enable me to be a better wife and mother - no more Saturdays away from my family!

Second change, my quiet time.  I just HAVE to get serious about a CONSISTENT quiet time with the Lord.  When I have that in my life, that is something which also makes me a better person.  And, I'm sure that is what I need right now to help fix my attitude regarding my church and some that attend there.  God is the only one that can fix my heart, and I know that if I ask, I will receive that change. And as I'm mostly sure that - at least for right now - He wants us to stay at FBC, I need for Him to show me how and why.

Sooooo... I'm thankful for new beginnings this season.  Thankful that God doesn't give up on us.  That He does not forsake His chosen.  That God is great, and God is good, so thank you Lord for this food - tomorrow. ;-)

Happy Thanksgiving ALL!

((hugz))

Philippians

I used to think my favorite book of the bible was Romans.  It's the book that after I got saved really helped me settle multiple matters of theology that I wrestled with - like the issue of whether or not a believer can lose his/her salvation (they can't) or whether or not a believer can be "entirely sanctified" here on earth as a Nazarene church I briefly attended tried to tell me (and that's false). 

It's also the book of the bible that God used to call myself to Him.  My aunt used what is called the "Roman Road" to lead me to faith in Christ. 

However, as I age as a believer, I find that God is using the book of Philippians more and more to grow me and challenge me in my faith.  Whenever I'm conflicted about something or I've slid out of fellowship with Him, He always sends me back to Philippians chapter 4.

Today, I read something there that spoke to me:

Philippians 4:2 "I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord."

There's a lot happening on Facebook as it pertains to today's election.  We have a very controversial amendment to our state constitution that we are voting on, and it's education related. 

Anything related to education - to the destruction or detriment of public education especially - gets my blood boiling.  And despite how hard I try to not post my two cents about controversial subjects on Facebook, I find that there are times when I can't hold myself back - especially when it appears everyone else feels so free to express their opinions.

It has caused rifts to form. 

So, I felt compelled to spend some time in God's word today, and He brought me back to Philippians 4 and that above verse. 

What did God communicate to me in that verse?

When Christians disagree, there is always one thing we can agree on - that Jesus is Lord!  The focus needs to be there.  MY focus needs to be there.  It's really the only thing that's going to heal our church and my heart right now.

Quiet time with God.  Muy importante!

It's time to refocus on my Jesus.  He - what brings Him glory - is what matters most.

praying for peace

Peace.  That was today's topic in our Sunday school class.

I left there knowing why I don't have a "peace which passeth all understanding " regarding just everything that  is stressing me out lately.

Pillipians 4:⁶ Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

⁷ And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

I live my life in opposition to this verse.  I am "careful" about everything (I worry).  I do not pray enough; I do not thank God enough for what I have - what He has given me. 

I also don't have peace because I don't ask for it. 

Matthew 7:7 Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

And that is why I don't have peace.  This is why I fret and worry about our church and about my work.

Then the answer seems simple enough, right?  Do these things, Jamie!  Do not worry. Pray with thanksgiving. Ask! Seek! Knock!

Why don't I do these things? 

Truth? I am a control freak.  God is slowly breaking me of this.  He has been since I became a Christian in 1995.  And, He's putting me through the grind again.  It's the grind that chips away my plans and desires and forces me to trust in His plans and desires and to wait on Him.

This is hard for me.  To give things over to God to handle.  HARD! 

But I have to do it.  For me, for mine, for Him.

Now!

running cold

Today, I ran the 5K from hell!  It was gravel paths through the woods - paths that went up, up, up... and paths that went down, down, down...  Steep paths.

up...up...up...

Round this bend, a decline that threatened to bend my ankle in half!


This race was not fun.  And it was cold! 

I've learned two things about myself as a runner... 

1. Give me a good, paved city 5K any day over one at a local park.
2. I don't like running when I'm cold.

The first newly discovered fact about me is easily fixed.  I'll just registered for those races I know will be done on a road - or at least surfaces that are paved.

The second newly discovered fact about me is a bit more of a problem.  It's November.  If I'm going to run at least one 5K a month - which is my goal - and, additionally, participate in some monthly "fun runs" with the girls when I go with Michael and he runs, then I need to get over the cold.  I'm from freakin Chicago for crying out loud!  I guess living down south for over 13 years now has thinned my blood.

Anyway, I've been reading online about how to stay warm when running.  I've found some websites that talk about the importance of a hat, a scarf, and gloves.  I sure could have used the gloves today!  I was so distracted by the fact that my fingers were going numb that I wasn't really enjoying my run like I usually do. 

Well, if any of you are runners or walkers and don't let the cold stop you, share with me how you stay warm without wearing so much that you look like an Eskimo. 

I ran this 5K in 38:45.  A sorry time when I had improved to 35 minutes.