The joy of the Lord

The joy of the Lord

Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”Nehemiah 8:10

Do you ever notice how some people seem to be full of joy no matter what they are going through while others have to force a smile when they win millions in the lottery?  As I was running this morning, and smiling of course, I thought how the world might see me.  From a worldly standpoint, I don't have much really.  I live in a modest home that's got its share of things that need fixing.  My van is nine years old and smells like a dirty sweat sock at times.  The interior has crayon marks and spots of grease from years of happy meals eaten on the run.  I'm not rich, (can we say humble earnings) I don't have a 401k and I have more on my to do list than on my completed list.  It seems the less I need, the happier I am.  

So, why the cause for joy?  Why the smile on my face?  Glad you asked, the answer is easy.   I wake up every morning forgiven and redeemed!  He is there.  Do you get that? The King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, El Shaddai, Yahweh... He keeps me safe through the night and greets me in the morning.   There's NOTHING in the world that can compare to the gift of God's presence.  And there's NOTHING in the world that can take it away!!!  Isn't that a reason to be happy? 

In Nehemiah 8:10, the people were encouraged to eat, drink and be joyful AFTER they had heard the law of the Lord.  They had listened to the teachings and wept in repentance.  They were joyful because they had heard the Word of the Lord and they understood it. When we understand the Word of God, it just brings joy.  But to understand it, you have to read it.  

The "joy of the Lord" is indeed your strength.  Read it, understand it, and know that God has provided His word to heal us and restore us.   That's the secret to true joy.  Knowing that God is all you need and then sharing that knowledge with others.  Wow!  Aren't you happy?!!

Heavenly Father, thank you for your Word that strengthens us and reminds us of your presence in our lives.  I pray that we will study your Word diligently so we can share it with others that it may provide joy and peace in their lives.  In your precious name we pray Jesus, Amen.  

Happy Running!!!

Turn it up!!

gracerunner413: That's how I hear You

gracerunner413: That's how I hear You: That's how I hear You "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." Psalm 19:1 I ...

That's how I hear You

That's how I hear You

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." Psalm 19:1

I love to hear God's voice.   It's all around me.  It's in His creations. It's in His word.   He's as real to me as any thing you can see, touch or feel.  While I may not hear it audibly, there is no denying it.  Every christian, at one time or another though, has wondered whether God has talked to them.  They wonder if maybe they missed it.  If we do hear Him, we question whether the thought was something we made up or maybe just something we wanted to hear.  How can we know for sure?  

The bible records God speaking out loud to many people.  He spoke to Moses when he said, " "I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.'""  He spoke to David too, "In the course of time, David inquired of the LORD. "Shall I go up to one of the towns of Judah?" he asked. The LORD said, "Go up." David asked, "Where shall I go?" "To Hebron," the LORD answered." 2 Samuel 2:1.  In fact,he spoke to Cain, Noah, Job, Isaac, Ezekial and Paul too (and many others).

Although most times not audibly, God is still speaking to us today.  He speaks to us through His word. "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17.  He speaks to us through the bible giving us everything we need to know to be saved and to live a life pleasing to Him.  2 Peter 1:3 declares, "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by his own glory and goodness."

He can also speak to us through events as He guides us through life placing people or things in our path at the exact time we need them.   Someone's name may come to mind persuading you to call them at a moment when they need a friend.   Or you may get an uneasy feeling taking the same road to work only to take a different route and avoid an accident. And through the Holy Spirit, our consciences discern what is right and wrong.  It's that feeling of uneasiness when you're doing something you know isn't right.  It's also that feeling of joy when you are immersed in His word!

God is all around us speaking through his creations. Psalm 19:1-4 says, "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world." 

Just go for a run.  Breathe in the air, listen to the birds make melody and the trees sing as their branches move to the wind.  Lift your hands in praise and feel His presence as His joy and peace overcome you. That's God speaking!

Heavenly Father, thank you for being such a caring God that you talk to each of us.  Help us to discern your voice and hear your message Lord.  You are amazing and we love to worship you. May Your voice guide us all our days."

Happy Running!!!

gracerunner413: The power of words

gracerunner413: The power of words: The power of words "Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body."  Proverbs 16:24 Wor...

The power of words

The power of words

"Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body."  Proverbs 16:24

Words have power.  At God's word, the heavens came into being. At His word, we came to life.  Our words don't have this kind of power but they do have the power to bless or curse others, to build someone up or tear them down.  If our mouths speak what's in our hearts, what does that say about us?  Matthew 12:35-37 warns us to be careful with our words "The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."

Beth Salinger, Hospital Hill Run Director wrote the following, "For many years I have written about the Power of Words. I often focus on removing the words "only" and "just" from our vocabulary i.e. I am ONLY doing the 5K, I am JUST a walker. What we say to ourselves can be very empowering or demoralizing. But what about the words we use around others?

This weekend I was at an expo and taking discounted registrations. A family of four came to the booth and the two young girls wanted to participate in the race (both around age 8 - 11 years old). The mother proudly told me that her older daughter had been a part of Girls on the Run for the last three years and thought it would be a good idea to do the race as a family. The father then spoke up and said that he didn't want to pay for the older daughter (the one who had been participating with Girls on the Run for THREE years) because she was ONLY a walker. Both girls walked away from the booth with their heads held low, they had gotten the message, that they were not good enough. Doing their best, which may mean walking right now, was not good enough for Dad.

Words are powerful. They can empower someone to do extraordinary things or make someone feel like he or she is not good enough. I say we all need to kick ONLY and JUST out of our vocabularies. Change your words, and you will change your attitude. And, a great attitude gets you to the finish line every time."

What a reminder to be careful about what we say.  Especially when it comes to our children.  Words, once given away, can't be taken back.  Choose them carefully and use them wisely.  "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."  Ephesians 4:29

Heavenly Father, thank you for your Word as a guide for us.  We pray that we would choose our words carefully and use them to build others up rather than tear them down.  Especially when it comes to our children, help us to glorify You in our speech teaching our children Your ways.  In your precious name Jesus, Amen.  

Happy Running!!!

gracerunner413: Runners and rest

gracerunner413: Runners and rest: Runners and rest "By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his wor...

Runners and rest

Runners and rest

"By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.  Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from  the work of creating that he had done."  Genesis 2:2-3

I absolutely love to run!  Bet you could have never guessed that one huh?   I would run every day if I could. Up until recently, my goal was always to run 7 days a week-rain, snow, sleet or sunshine, I was hitting the road.  I almost felt guilty if I even thought about taking a day off.  Like me, most runners are type A so I know I'm not alone.   After battling some nagging injuries, I was forced to question my thoughts on rest days and God's purpose for giving them to us.

Everyone knows that God rested on the seventh day.  He created the earth and everything in it in six days and then rested. We can be sure that God was not tired from making the earth since He is all powerful and can do all things.  No. That wasn't His reason for resting.  He was doing it as an example for us to follow.  In this world where we are praised for our hard work and doing as much as possible, He knew we needed our bodies needed a day to rest and fellowship with Him.  After all He made us, shouldn't we trust that He knows what's best for our bodies? There's nothing God tells us to do that is not for our benefit.  Jesus led by example too when He told the disciples to "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place."  Mark 6:31-32.  If rest wasn't important, He would not have instructed the disciples to do so.

A study by runners.about.com says the following about rest days:  Most runners need at least one, even two, days off from running and other exercise. Research has shown that taking at least one day off a week reduces the frequency of overuse injuries, such as shin splints and stress fractures. Even the most elite runners take rest days, although rest days for them usually involve a low-impact cross-training activity, such as swimming. Those types of cross-training days are considered to be rest days because they give the joints and muscles you use in running a break.  http://running.about.com/od/injuryprevention/f/restdays.htm

As a Christian runner, it's even more important to take a day off from running.  By not obeying the command Christ has given us, we run the risk of elevating our running to a status above the One who created us to do it.  Running is our way to glorify Christ, it should not be a distraction from Him.  We should use that day to praise Him for the good things He has done in our lives.  Hebrews 4:9-10 says, "There remains then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from their works." 

So take a day off every week.  Don't feel guilty or be anxious about it, instead enjoy it and thank Him for it. Rest, recover and replenish from the world.  By following His example, you'll be running better and stronger for it.  

Heavenly Father, thank you for reminding us that rest is important.  Help us to remember that running is a gift from you and you are the One to be glorified by it.  Please give us peace and direction during our times of rest when we focus our minds on you Lord.  In your precious name we pray Jesus, Amen.  

Happy Running!!!