Angels Unaware

Hebrews 13:2 "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares."

I've always loved this verse, it's one I love best in the KJV.

I had this experience Friday night. Steve had a race this weekend in Ottawa, Kansas. We went up Friday night for the pre-race briefing and dinner and to pick up his race packet. With a 6:00 a.m. start time and 30 degree temps in the morning, we didn't want to go early Saturday. 6:00 a.m. is early enough. We had said we weren't going to stay for the guest speaker, but dinner was before him and the packet pick up after so...

We went in to the room and picked the table behind Steve's running pal Elden. There were 3 gentlemen at the table, obviously not together. The conversation wasn't moving really well, but I love people and I love to hear about their lives so we exchanged first names and dove into dinner and conversation.

Quickly became between Steve and one of the men, the other two were so willing to bow out of talking. Obviously so. As David talked about teaching and running and running and teaching I asked where he taught. He says " in a classroom, with students". My smart alec self had all kinds of responses, but the grown up in me held my tongue. I didn't answer. Eventually he challenged me on letting it go and I simply said "I'll google you", as I was holding my phone and already put his name in the search engine.

Found out he teaches exercise physiology and running groups at Liberty University. Christian University. A couple of friends have kids who've just graduated from there. I love when I meet believers, anyway.

We talked and laughed and had a wonderful time. He was truly a remarkable man, christian man, investing in the youth of today, and a phenomenal ultra-running legend. In the world of ultra-running, pick a bad a$$ race and he has completed it.

When he stood up from the table he looked at Steve and I and told us it had truly been a special evening. He couldn't remember the last time he had that much fun. He went up to speak and actually shared some of our conversation. I will remember David Hornton and this pre-race dinner as a very special night.

It made me remember something my mom always told me whenever I talked about someone who was an instant friend or whom I had extreme conflict with. "The spirits inside you recognize each other".

I do need to extend this kindness to strangers further in my life. Because they may be angels, but if they aren't, they may really need some kindness.

Jesus doesn't want to change you

I read this the other day. A person who was living a life style that evangelical Christians don't agree with. In support of his lifestyle, putting down the evangelicals. I'm not taking sides or speaking out on this issue.

What I found interesting was his comment at the end of his rant, "Jesus doesn't want to change you."

Really? REALLY?

Woman at the well "go and sin no more" CHANGED

Saul killing Christians - met Jesus on the road became Paul, CHANGED

Abram met God, entered a covenant with him, became the Father of many nations, a father so late in life it was deemed impossible, and given a new name - CHANGE

The Scriptures are full of people that when they met Jesus had a radical life change.

The world today is full of people who met Jesus and had a radical life change.

To use the statement "Jesus doesn't want to change you" is totally opposed to the Scripture Philippians 1:6 "being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

I believe that if you truly meet Jesus, if you truly know Jesus, that your life should be one of continual change. Continuing to seek him. No one ever meets Jesus without change. He died on a cross so he could orchestrate change in our lives.

Anti - aging

I have decided I'm ready to age gracefully.

I will still dye my hair.

I will still use moisturizer and wrinkle cream.

I will not wear polyester.

I will not wear my hair old woman style.

But I don't believe now (or ever) that youth is better.

I like where I am in life.

I like the freedom of my children being grown.

I like the confidence I have in myself.

I like where I am in my career.

I have enjoyed every stage of life. There were times I didn't exactly like life, but it's been good.

I would not go back to 18, been there.

I would not go back to 21, done that.

I would not go back to 30, I was so busy with work and kids and family that I don't remember that.

I got to be young.

I got married.
I had my babies.
I've had great times (and some struggles).

I'm happy with where I am, and where I'm heading.

Who decided youth was better?

Who decided aging was a bad thing?

I'm pretty dang happy with my life.

I'm going to enjoy every minute of where I am, and no apologies for getting older.

This whole "anti-aging" industry? I'll use what I want of it, but I even like my laugh lines.

Yep, I'll use their wrinkle cream, but I'll enjoy my wrinkles while I rub it in!

I didn't want to get hurt

I was talking to my nephew the other day about registering for the Hard Charge obstacle race coming up the end of April. He said he decided not to do it because he "didn't want to get hurt".

I thought this was kind of funny, being the non-competitor I am. I do my best, push myself, but always stop well ahead of hurting myself. I figure I can control that to a large extent by not pushing too hard. I could still get hurt, but I can slip in the bathtub too.

Then I realized that I do this with my emotional and mental life. I don't put myself out there because "I don't want to get hurt". I don't look at things cause I might see things that will hurt me.

I know all of Steve's passwords, but I rarely look at his email or facebook or cell phone. Because I might see something that will hurt. I don't think there is anything, in fact, I'm sure there is nothing to take exception too. But you know how it is, when you go looking for something, you can find it. One dumb example, he was emailing someone a lot and it was a woman. I didn't ask who it was, but it wasn't a secret, he wasn't hiding it, I could read it if I wanted too. It nagged at me. And when I finally asked, it was his cousin. She had the same back surgery he had and was giving him advice and things to check on.

So I don't go looking for things that will hurt. I don't do things that will hurt I'm basically the same as my nephew, and I snickered at him.

I don't think there is anything wrong with protecting ourselves from pain. Not at all. But if we don't put ourselves out there, we won't grow and learn. A pain free life would not be near as rewarding as learning to deal with the pain, grow from the pain, overcome, deal with issues, make relationships better and stronger. Push us out of what is comfortable. Push us into healing.

And we all need our healer.

Carry your cross

Matthew 16:24 "Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me."

This verse sounds like you are in for a rough time if you want to be a disciple of Jesus.

from the "Son of God" movie

This doesn't look like something I want to do.

Steve and I went and saw this movie. We had watched "The Bible" series on the History channel when showed it as a mini-series and I loved it. Forget tearing it apart for "scripturally accurate", or dissecting it for theological accuracy. It's like throwing the baby out with the bath water. It was a wonderful experience to watch as a movie.

When I watched the movie one of the things that struck me that I hadn't noticed before is the verse above says take up your cross.

When Jesus couldn't carry his cross anymore, even the callous roman soldiers had someone help him. If they could make sure Jesus was helped when he need it, I want to believe that when my cross gets to heavy to carry that Jesus is right there to help me.

Makes the idea of taking up my cross and carrying and following a little easier in the rough times.

Honestly...

This is a hard time of year for me. The month of March. Specifically this week.

I try not "celebrate" or honor bad memories and times of my life.

I've spent the last year or so redeeming - this is the word I choose to use - my bad memories, going to the places that were triggers of harder times and making new good memories. (I can't fix Applebee's though. Bad night there, but the food is so awful I just can't make a good memory,lol).

This fall I'm redeeming one that really isn't bad, per se, but is not as great as it should have been. Steve is going to run the Niagara Falls International Marathon with me the end of October. I'm very excited, runs from the Canadian side of the Falls to the New York side. I guess I should get us registered here pretty quick. We are going to be in Buffalo, New York for 5 days and then go to Boston for 4 days. We get to see some dear friends while we're there, I want another trip to the museum, the harbor and the shopping district we went to. (I'm a touch disappointed that my friends Phil and Wendi just moved back to Texas because I was going to meet them for dinner one night as well).

Having said all that, it's still hard sometimes. It's better the longer time goes on, and the more triggers I take care of, the more bad memories I wipe out with good memories, the better it is.

I'm not comparing my difficulty to this, but the other day I saw a facebook post of a woman who said that ten years ago today she had miscarried and her baby was in Heaven and they still missed her. It just reinforced that some things leave a mark deep enough that you don't forget. You remember. But how you remember, how you choose to deal with the memories, how you choose to move forward, while not technically "moving on" is up to you.

I find myself praying in more situations that God doesn't fix the problem, that he gives me the strength to do what I should. To make the right decision. To do to the best of my ability what I can and then ask God to help me to leave the rest in God's hand, secure in the knowledge that he does have my best interest at heart. That might be pain, but if I allow him to use it for good, he will be.

More

The older I get, the less I know

The more I follow Jesus, the more I realize I miss the mark

The more I love, the more I see where my heart is hard

The more I give, the more I see need

I feel my eyes are opened so much more now than they ever have been. I never thought I was selfish or self absorbed, but I made increasingly aware that I have missed so much around me.

It's time to approach life with eyes wide open and look for opportunities to follow Jesus more, love more, give more.

All things considered...

You know how when you have a bad day you should stop and count your blessings? I've not been able to do that.

I counted the people that their driving ticked me off on the way home (really, who cuts in line at the drive thru? and major pet peeve, speed up to get in front of me to slow down and turn).

Today I swiped my debit card in the cafeteria and it was declined. Forget the embarrassment that comes with that, I was ticked. I went to the ATM and it also declined me. I checked my balance just to see what was going on, but as I thought, I had plenty of money. Figuring it was the computer on my way to work out I swiped it for gas. DECLINED! Now I'm really upset, call the bank, that whole Target thing? I had used my debit card there. I had either not seen, not received, or ignored the letter from the bank that said my card would be canceled (they don't email or text from my bank, what century is this???). I walk into work out, look at Marquis and say "I hate people". To be clear, the people who stole the numbers from Target and made my life difficult.

PEOPLE!!! If it ain't yours, don't take it! Money, identity, debit card numbers, husbands, ice cream sandwiches (yep, leave my skinny cows alone).

I have a bad supplier that is blaming all their shortages and missed shipments on me. Seriously? With this computer age, you think I can't pull the data that shows I'm right? But I'm getting tired of defending myself to my new boss.

I have a meeting every day that's a quarter mile walk. It's a further walk than that to my car. The scooter was gone, I ended up in knee deep snow to avoid a truck and forklift that were passing each other. I was wearing my boots, but was wearing them with a skirt.

One of my kids cost me $498.17 this weekend.

This weather makes my skin dry and itchy.

Maybe tomorrow I'll count my blessings. I can at least count to one, right?

All things considered...today was not the best day. But as I sit here at home with Steve in the recliner next to me and the dog under my feet and chili burritos in my belly, I guess I did find something good.