His words

The other night I was laying in bed and sleep wasn't coming. rarely happens to me and I hate it when it happens. For some reason I started thinking about all the things I'd done wrong in my life. About poor decisions made and people that were affected. Very, VERY quickly it snowballed and I became upset. It was all I could do to start repeating the words, Jesus loves me, this I know. For the Bible tells me so. I said those words over and over in my head, maybe 5 times. Then the words, from the east to the west came into my brain. I thought of the song and just kept saying from the east to the west. I calmed down and thanked the Lord for His wisdom just at the moment that the enemy was taking me down. I chose to believe truth and it was a very purposeful choice. It was almost a physical change, to switch my brain's gears from the bad thoughts to the good.

Monday I told a friend about it and then went to find the verse that was in my head. It came from Psalm 103 and the entire Psalm is just so incredible. I hope it speaks to you at some point, when you most need it.

Psalm 103

Praise for the LORD'S Mercies.

A Psalm of David.
1Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And all that is within me,
bless His holy name.
2Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And forget none of His benefits;
3Who pardons all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases;
4Who redeems your life from the pit,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;
5Who satisfies your years with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.

6The LORD performs righteous deeds
And judgments for all who are oppressed.
7He made known His ways to Moses,
His acts to the sons of Israel.
8The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.
9He will not always strive with us,
Nor will He keep His anger forever.
10He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
11For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him.
12As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
13Just as a father has compassion on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
14For He Himself knows our frame;
He is mindful that we are but dust.

15As for man, his days are like grass;
As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
16When the wind has passed over it, it is no more,
And its place acknowledges it no longer.
17But the lovingkindness of the LORD is from
everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him,
And His righteousness to children's children,
18To those who keep His covenant
And remember His precepts to do them.

19The LORD has established His throne in the heavens,
And His sovereignty rules over all.
20Bless the LORD, you His angels,
Mighty in strength, who perform His word,
Obeying the voice of His word!
21Bless the LORD, all you His hosts,
You who serve Him, doing His will.
22Bless the LORD, all you works of His,
In all places of His dominion;
Bless the LORD, O my soul!

Happy Wednesday~

Faith on a Friday-

A few weeks ago I meet with a woman I hadn't talked to in several years. Before our chance meeting during a car accident on the side of the road in 2007 it had been at least 15 years since I was in her class. We, however, reconnected on facebook, of all places, and I loved reading the insight and wisdom and faith stories she wrote.

We met at a bookstore, shared a bit of where we were in life, our struggles, our successes and the basis for which all of the above comes from.

She gave me a packet of a Bible study. An in depth, inductive study on the book of 2 Timothy. I have never done an inductive study and I shared with her my desire for some structure and focus to my early morning quiet times.

Today I finished the last lesson on 2 Timothy, Chapter 1. The last questions asked my to read again chapter 1 and think about what Paul's instructions to Timothy meant to my salvation and my thoughts on my Savior.

This is what I wrote:
a. my salvation
-I have a sincere faith, as well. I pray that #1 and #2's children may be told the same thing as 1:5
-I must continually 'kindle afresh the gift of God' which is in me!
-I have been given a spirit of power, love and discipline, not timidity
-I will have to suffer for the gospel
-I will guard the treasure, w/ the help of the Holy Spirit, which dwells in me.

b. my Savior
-is God the Father AND Christ Jesus our Lord
-I desire to serve God with a clear conscience (1:3)
-God has given me my spirit
-it is for HIS purpose I have been called
-He abolished death and brought life and immortality
-The Holy Spirit dwells in me!

Lots to think about today!
Happy Friday~

10 reasons I started running and keep running

1. I thought people running on the sidewalk while I drove by were awesome

2. I kept seeing a license plate around town that said {GO RUN}

3. I needed to lose weight

4. Once I completed three miles I felt such a sense of accomplishment

5. I was able to talk with friends and not feel guilty about 'girl time'

6. I started losing that weight

7. The day I ran n.i.n.e. miles continues to be one of the most incredible of my life

8. I started a training plan and needed to stick to something

9. It became a stress outlet, when my other options had become unhealthy

10. I want to be strong and healthy for myself and my family

Why do you do what you do?

Happy Tuesday~