Deanna's Blog

Risk taking and believing

2012-02-11T21:32:00.001-06:00

It's easier to fall into the habit of walking through life. It's safer. Because you don't have to risk as much.

Sometimes, life becomes rough and hard. We can quite and wash our hands or we can push on and sludge up the hill because once we crest this hill and reach the top of this mountain the view is amazing and unbelievable.

In the trip up the mountain, we change....by becoming a stronger person.

God's Heart for Parent's

2012-01-30T13:01:00.000-06:00

I loved this and it really seemed to hit home. This came through my email on Thursday and in being with Joshua and worried about him and his friendship issues, plus with Ayva and her unknown future.... it just helps to be reminded...

God's Heart for Parents by Max Lucado

He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all - how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Romans 8:32

God has a heart for hurting parents. Should we be surprised? No, after all, God himself is a Father!

Are you separated from your child? So was God. Is someone mistreating your child? They mocked and bullied his.

Is someone taking advantage of your children? The Son of God was set up and betrayed by a greedy follower. Are you forced to watch while your child suffers? God watched his son on the cross.

But because of his great love for us, "he did not spare his own son but gave him for us all. So with Jesus, God will surely give us all things!" All things must include courage and hope!

Your child may not be in your arms - but your child is safely in his!

Cast all your cares on Him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7
Just another verse that is a great reminder....

Gratefulness

2012-01-30T10:43:00.000-06:00

Sometimes, I get bogged down and really truly forget to look at my life and just be grateful. That thought hit me last week somewhere between Thursday and Friday.

Things may be tough but tough things happen for a reason.

Take example 1: we moved to Keller at my insistence so that Joshua wouldn't have to be in three schools in three years. Because of that, Oscar and I have gotten way more time with Ayva then what is ordered by the court. He can see her any day he wants and with all of the impending changes coming, it is truly a blessing that he has had this year with her. If not, all of the changes that may happen, would be happening right when we are moving to the area.... we would miss this whole year of extra close time without it.

Which brings me to another thought (example 2)... when leaving Pennsylvania, Josh's dad didn't get very much warning. Maybe a month at the most?!? I can't remember... We have more then six months to spend with Ayva. Yes, the thought that she is leaving (or may be leaving) kills but at the same time, we have time with her and that's more then most people get... so every day with her is special and I want to remember it and be thankful for all those small moments :).

So while moving to Keller was a mistake and I was upping the timeline, there are blessings and silver linings in the grey clouds and even though I wish that I had done better and been a better wife to my husband, we would have lost so much. Truthfully, I have been upset with myself and wishing I could change circumstances or things, so that we wouldn't be experiencing these problems but even if the circumstances changed would it truly be for the better?!?

So while our outlook may not be the greates, being grateful has changed my total attitude of how I am trying to approach each day. For everyday that I have with my husband I am truly blessed and grateful...even if it's not one of the greatest days. At least I woke up with him beside me.

Forever and always...

2012-01-25T12:26:00.002-06:00

There is always hope....

2012-01-25T12:14:00.001-06:00

Disappointment

2012-01-25T11:01:00.000-06:00

Just a prayer... because I am out of words...

2012-01-24T08:45:00.000-06:00

Lord,
I know things get tough and life gets hard. In the last four days, I have seen how much Oscar still does love me and even though at times he wants leave, he still continues to stick it out with me. Not just for me but for our family and the children. My head hurts just thinking of everything that is going on in his brain and my heart is heavy because I too have caused him pain. Please just help us. Help us come through this time stronger... please help him and be with him as the changes that may be happening with his daughter are so significant and so painful for him. Please help Ayshea realize how much it is affecting him and will be affecting Ayva too. Please help us all to ease through this process. Let me be a source of strength for him in this time and to not drain him of even more energy. Please help me with my moods and that I would be able to find a stable ground so that I can also be a supporting member of this family. Lord, please take the worry and the hurt and turn our lemons into lemonade. Thank you for some of the great things that I have seen about my husband in the last few weeks, that I may not have observed before. Thank you for opening my eyes into my behavior, moods and seeing what I could become if I continue down this path. Thank you for providing what we needed in the time we needed it. I know you won't give us more then we can bear, even though at times it truly feels unbearable. What doesn't break us will only make us stronger. Help me bear witness to you and continue to develop in my own relationship with you. Thank you for your grace and providence.
Amen

Class #1 Before all of us say "I Do"

2012-01-19T14:47:00.000-06:00

Notes from last night's class:

Topic was preparing for the challenges and rewards of blending families.

-Some of the class was irrelevant as we are already married. Some of the key topics that they touched on was that a marriage takes a 100-100 commitment on both sides. Being married is not the easiest thing to do and being married twice is the biggest challenge. Chances of divorce are higher in a second marriage.

-Myths of blended marriage are that the new family will be just like the old family or that it's easier to blend families when the kids are older (actually research and experience has shown, the younger kids are the easier it is.)

-They talked about charting the course for a successful marriage-

-many people believe that everything will turn out alright. There is enough love to go around and being a family is easy. (called the Pollyanna effect). Problem is once people realize that it isn't easy and that it's going to take work, the ship (marriage) begins to sink until it hits rock bottom. If you aren't prepared and have a course charted out, the marriage will suffer immensely and become yet another statistic. It is very important to learn how to deal with conflict before the conflict happens.

One of the key statements that really stuck with me because I have seen it was: A blended family is worth every day of it, if you can live through it.

I can see that. If I didn't have a blended family, I would never know a very special curly haired young lady that has completely stolen and melted my heart. Not to mention her very wonderful daddy, who not only has seen me at my best but he's seen me at my worst and while we struggle, there have been significant changes for good in me and there is nothing more I desire then to be able to grow old together with him.

Life hurts

2012-01-19T14:27:00.000-06:00

I'm hurting and I can't stand here and lie about it. When your husband tells you he no longer wants to be married and you aren't even one year into the marriage, that's a serious problem. Why... why did I choose to come back to this? Part of me thinks that I was such an idiot to believe that it would all change with getting married. It was my choice last year and now we are back to where we were. It hurts so bad. I love him so much. The next six months and even a year are going to bring massive amount of changes to this family, without even throwing in the possibility of divorce.

What can I do? I am going to continue to work on myself. I have actually already placed a phone call to a counselor. I started going to a class on blended families and honestly it was quite eye opening. It helps to know that other people go through the same thing and to hear how some of them have dealt with situations. I am going to continue to blog and journal about it, so that I can understand myself more too. I know there are areas that I struggle big time with.

Some of those areas are:
-being content (happy) without looking for something else to aim for or do
-understanding and submitting to my husband without questioning.

Ephesians 5:21-26

²¹Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

²²Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

²³For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

²⁴Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

²⁵Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

-work on my trust issues (trusting in God, trusting in my husband and trusting in myself)

-stabilize my moods

-Raise my children in a good environment, putting on a unified front with my husband

I am (as he pointed out) a dreamer. Which is totally true. I envision what I want and try to go out and get it without plotting out a good course or taking the time to build that bridge to what I want.... I decide what I want and then I want it now. That doesn't work very well in life, in a relationship, in anything.

My goal is to go back to square one that we were on last year and look at promises that we made to each other. I am willing to work and I am willing to change in order to keep my family together. I have dreams about us growing old together and I don't want to give that up. I can not live in fear...

Don't leave it on the desk

2011-05-31T22:09:00.000-05:00

There was a certain Professor of Religion named Dr. Christianson, a studious man who taught at a small college in the western United States . Dr. Christianson taught the required survey course in Christianity at this particular institution. Every student was required to take this course their freshman year, regardless of his or her major.
Although Dr. Christianson tried hard to communicate the essence of the gospel in his class, he found that most of his students looked upon the course as nothing but required drudgery. Despite his best efforts, most students refused to take Christianity seriously.

This year, Dr. Christianson had a special student named Steve. Steve was only a freshman, but was studying with the intent of going onto seminary for the ministry. Steve was popular, he was well liked, and he was an imposing physical specimen. He was now the starting center on the school football team, and was the best student in the professor's class.

One day, Dr. Christianson asked Steve to stay after class so he could talk with him.

"How many push-ups can you do?"

Steve said, "I do about 200 every night."

"200? That's pretty good, Steve," Dr. Christianson said. "Do you think you could do 300?"

Steve replied, "I don't know.... I've never done 300 at a time"

"Do you think you could?" again asked Dr. Christianson.

"Well, I can try," said Steve.

"Can you do 300 in sets of 10? I have a class project in mind and I need you to do about 300 push-ups in sets of ten for this to work. Can you do it? I need you to tell me you can do it," said the professor.

Steve said, "Well... I think I can...yeah, I can do it."

Dr. Christianson said, "Good! I need you to do this on Friday.. Let me explain what I have in mind."

Friday came and Steve got to class early and sat in the front of the room. When class started, the professor pulled out a big box of donuts. No, these weren't the normal kinds of donuts, they were the extra fancy BIG kind, with cream centers and frosting swirls. Everyone was pretty excited it was Friday, the last class of the day, and they were going to get an early start on the weekend with a party in Dr. Christianson's class.

Dr. Christianson went to the first girl in the first row and asked, "Cynthia, do you want to have one of these donuts?"

Cynthia said, "Yes."

Dr. Christianson then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Cynthia can have a donut?"

"Sure!" Steve jumped down from his desk to do a quick ten. Then Steve again sat in his desk.

Dr. Christianson put a donut on Cynthia's desk.

Dr. Christianson then went to Joe, the next person, and asked, "Joe, do you want a donut?"

Joe said, "Yes." Dr. Christianson asked, "Steve would you do ten push-ups so Joe can have a donut?"

Steve did ten push-ups, Joe got a donut. And so it went, down the first aisle, Steve did ten push-ups for every person before they got their donut.

Walking down the second aisle, Dr. Christianson came to Scott. Scott was on the basketball team, and in as good condition as Steve. He was very popular and never lacking for female companionship..

When the professor asked, "Scott do you want a donut?"

Scott's reply was, "Well, can I do my own push-ups?"

Dr. Christianson said, "No, Steve has to do them."

Then Scott said, "Well, I don't want one then."

Dr... Christianson shrugged and then turned to Steve and asked, "Steve, would you do ten push-ups so Scott can have a donut he doesn't want?"

With perfect obedience Steve started to do ten push-ups.

Scott said, "HEY! I said I didn't want one!"

Dr.. Christianson said, "Look! This is my classroom, my class, my desks, and these are my donuts.

Just leave it on the desk if you don't want it." And he put a donut on Scott's desk.

Now by this time, Steve had begun to slow down a little. He just stayed on the floor between sets because it took too much effort to be getting up and down. You could start to see a little perspiration coming out around his brow.

Dr. Christianson started down the third row. Now the students were beginning to get a little angry. Dr.. Christianson asked Jenny, "Jenny, do you want a donut?"

Sternly, Jenny said, "No."

Then Dr. Christianson asked Steve, "Steve, would you do ten more push-ups so Jenny can have a donut that she doesn't want?"

Steve did ten....Jenny got a donut.

By now, a growing sense of uneasiness filled the room. The students were beginning to say, "No!" and there were all these uneaten donuts on the desks..

Steve also had to really put forth a lot of extra effort to get these push-ups done for each donut.

There began to be a small pool of sweat on the floor beneath his face, his arms and brow were beginning to get red because of the physical effort involved.

Dr. Christianson asked Robert, who was the most vocal unbeliever in the class, to watch Steve do each push up to make sure he did the full ten push-ups in a set because he couldn't bear to watch all of Steve's work for all of those uneaten donuts. He sent Robert over to where Steve was so Robert count the set and watch Steve closely.

Dr. Christianson started down the fourth row.. During his class, however, some students from other classes had wandered in and sat down on the steps along the radiators that ran down the sides of the room. When the professor realized this, he did a quick countand saw that now there were 34 students in the room.

He started to worry if Steve would be able to make it.

Dr. Christianson went on to the next person and the next and the next. Near the end of that row, Steve was really having a rough time. He was taking a lot more time to complete each set.

Steve asked Dr. Christianson, "Do I have to make my nose touch on each one?"

Dr. Christianson thought for a moment, "Well, they're your push-ups. You are in charge now. You can do them any way that you want." And Dr. Christianson went on.

A few moments later, Jason, a recent transfer student, came to the room and was about to come in when all the students yelled in one voice, "NO! Don't come in! Stay out!"
Jason didn't know what was going on. Steve picked up his head and said, "No, let him come."

Professor Christianson said, "You realize that if Jason comes in you will have to do ten push-ups for him?"

Steve said, "Yes, let him come in. Give him a donut."

Dr. Christianson said, "Okay, Steve, I'll let you get Jason's out of the way right now.

Jason, do you want a donut?"

Jason, new to the room, hardly knew what was going on. "Yes," he said, "give me a donut."

"Steve, will you do ten push-ups so that Jason can have a donut?"

Steve did ten push-ups very slowly and with great effort. Jason, bewildered, was handed a donut and sat down.

Dr Christianson finished the fourth row, and then started on those visitors seated by the heaters. Steve's arms were now shaking with each push-up in a struggle to lift himself against the force of gravity. By this time sweat was profusely dropping off of his face, there was no sound except his heavy breathing; there was not a dry eye in the room..

The very last two students in the room were two young women, both cheerleaders, and very popular. Dr. Christianson went to Linda, the second to last, and asked, "Linda, do you want a doughnut?"

Linda said, very sadly, "No, thank you."

Professor Christianson quietly asked, "Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Linda can have a donut she doesn't want?"

Grunting from the effort, Steve did ten very slow push-ups for Linda.

Then Dr. Christianson turned to the last girl, Susan. "Susan, do you want a donut?"

Susan, with tears flowing down her face, began to cry. "Dr. Christianson, why can't I help him?"

Dr Christianson, with tears of his own, said, "No, Steve has to do it alone; I have given him this task and he is in charge of seeing that everyone has an opportunity for a donut whether they want it or not.. When I decided to have a party this last day of class, I looked at my grade book. Steve here is the only student with a perfect grade. Everyone else has failed a test, skipped class, or offered me inferior work. Steve told me that in football practice, when a player messes up he must do push-ups. I told Steve that none of you could come to my party unless he paid the price by doing your push-ups. He and I made a deal for your sakes."

"Steve, would you do ten push-ups so Susan can have a donut?"

As Steve very slowly finished his last push-up, with the understanding that he had accomplished all that was required of him, having done 350 push-ups, his arms buckled beneath him and he fell to the floor.

Dr. Christianson turned to the room and said, "And so it was, that our Savior, Jesus Christ, on the cross, plead to the Father, 'Into thy hands I commend my spirit.' With the understanding that He had done everything that was required of Him, He yielded up His life. And like some of those in this room, many of us leave the gift on the desk, uneaten. "

Two students helped Steve up off the floor and to a seat, physically exhausted, but wearing a thin smile.

"Well done, good and faithful servant," said the professor, adding, "Not all sermons are preached in words."

Turning to his class, the professor said, "My wish is that you might understand and fully comprehend all the riches of grace and mercy that have been given to you through the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He spared not His Only Begotten Son, but gave Him up for us all, for the whole Church, now and forever. Whether or not we choose to accept His gift to us, the price has been paid."

"Wouldn't you be foolish and ungrateful to leave it lying on the desk?"

Instinct vs. Morals

2011-04-07T23:21:00.000-05:00

In chapter two, CS Lewis goes on to expand the topic of the Law of morality or decent behaviour. The innate sense in us that help guide our decisions about what is right and what is wrong. Is this an instinct or is it something completely different? A definitition of instinct pulled from The Free Dictionary is:
1. An inborn pattern of behavior that is characteristic of a species and is often a response to specific environmental stimuli: the spawning instinct in salmon; altruistic instincts in social animals.
2. A powerful motivation or impulse.
3. An innate capability or aptitude: an instinct for tact and diplomacy.

Wikipedia stated that: Some sociologists argue that humans have no instincts, defining them as a "complex pattern of behavior present in every specimen of a particular species, that is innate, and that cannot be overridden." Said sociologists argue that drives such as sex and hunger cannot be considered instincts, as they can be overridden. This definitory argument is present in many introductory sociology and biology textbooks,[6] but is still hotly debated.

Make a list of instincts and let's do some comparisons:
-self preservation (the desire to stay alive)
-greed
-sleeping
-sex
-aggression
-fight or flight
-herding
-mothering

So how does moral law factor into instinctive behavior? Is it in and of itself and instinct or is it some other key component in our human nature. CS Lewis argues that moral law is another part of human behavior, in effect our conscience that helps guide and control our instincts appropriately. He used the example of a person drowning and calling for help. Self preservation instinct would keep us away and on "safe" ground, yet our herding instinct will produce the desire to assist and help the person. Moral law will guide the impulses to what is correct and right in that situation at that point in time.

So is moral law just a form of education or social convention that we have learned over time? We do learn things from people that are around us and our culture does mold us. But think about it.... when we compare one culture to another culture, we are measuring them against each other and one may or may not come up lesser or greater then the other. Therefore, we are measuring them against a common standard in order to make that decision.

My Own Little World with Lyrics - Matthew West

2011-04-05T20:20:00.000-05:00

Tobymac - City on Our Knees with Lyrics

2011-04-05T20:13:00.000-05:00

Let's go back to the very beginning....

2011-04-05T20:07:00.000-05:00

And when I say let's go back to the very beginning, I mean the very beginning. Currently, I am reading a book titled "Mere Christianity", by CS Lewis (famous author of the Narnia series....) and he goes all the way back to the beginning also to look just at the root of humanity. Not a single person, not a single thing just humanity in general.

The book was written during World War II and was actually presented as topics of conversation on the radio. Reading it can be a little more tedious then I thought but in general, I am really impressed with what I am learning.

In the forward, a few things stood out to me. One: Lewis wrote this book in order to help us see religion with fresh eyes, as a radical faith whose followers are like underground groups gathering during a time of war, hoping to hear messages of hope because evil seems to have the upper hand. Two: He also discusses that christianity in and of itself is a way of life, not a philosophy, theology, something to be talked about, discussed and then tabled to return to later for follow up discussions. No, Lewis was once quoted as saying that, "It (Christianitiy) is a way of life, one that challenges us always to remember. There are no ordinary people and it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit." (Just dwell on that thought a little longer.... gives me a little different view of the people that I see every day...)

The first section of the book is titled: Right and Wrong, a clue to the meaning of the universe.... He goes over in detail how we as humans have a standard code of conduct, a way in which is understood as right and proper, or a intuitive understanding of what is right and what is wrong. It's in our human nature, we don't have to really think about it, it's just part of us. Think of how many times a child has said, "that's not fair..." Really?!? How so? Has the child been told what is fair and what is not fair? No. The child instinctively and intuitively knows what is right and what is wrong. This is our basis of human nature. In some people, this intuition is repressed or overshadowed by other issues (think of manic depressive people, schizophrenia, multiple personalities, etc). We as a human race have a common belief of what is right and what is wrong. I loved the illustration that Lewis gave of people running away from war. Do we admire them? Hold them in high esteem? No, it is the soldiers who selflessly give their lives so that we can maintain freedom, that we admire. Someone who is selfish is not deserving of admiration and is usually turned into an example of how not to behave. So instead of thinking so broadly, lets turn the tables onto ourselves... How many times in one day, have we as humans been impatient, irritable, and on edge but instead of stating that we are in the wrong, we continue to shift the blame and excuse ourself as being tired or hungry. In essence finding a reason or scapegoat that our behavior is in some effect excusable and not our fault.

Questions of the day.... (or maybe I should term it homework).
What are the two points that CS Lewis is emphasizing throughout the first chapter? In his opinion, there are two facts that our universe is built on and the foundation of all clear thinking.....

I AM - MARK SCHULTZ

2011-03-29T10:56:00.000-05:00

Mark Schultz Broken & Beautiful

2011-03-29T10:49:00.000-05:00

Roman's Road

2011-03-29T10:47:00.000-05:00

I found this on the internet and it's a really good reminder for me. Especially right now as Easter is almost here about what really happened on the cross and what Jesus has done for us.

The ROMANS ROAD....is a pathway you can walk.

It is a group of Bible verses from the book of Romans in the New Testament. If you walk down this road you will end up understanding how to be saved.

Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
We all have sin in our hearts. We all were born with sin.
We were born under the power of sin's control.
- Admit that you are a sinner.

Romans 6:23a "...The wages of sin is death..."
Sin has an ending. It results in death. We all face physical death, which is a result of sin. But a worse death is spiritual death that alienates us from God, and will last for all eternity. The Bible teaches that there is a place called the Lake of Fire where lost people will be in torment forever. It is the place where people who are spiritually dead will remain.
- Understand that you deserve death for your sin.

Romans 6:23b "...But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Salvation is a free gift from God to you! You can't earn this gift, but you must reach out and receive it.
- Ask God to forgive you and save you.

Romans 5:8, "God demonstrates His own love for us, in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us!"
When Jesus died on the cross He paid sin's penalty. He paid the price for all sin, and when He took all the sins of the world on Himself on the cross, He bought us out of slavery to sin and death! The only condition is that we believe in Him and what He has done for us, understanding that we are now joined with Him, and that He is our life. He did all this because He loved us and gave Himself for us!
- Give your life to God... His love poured out in Jesus on the cross is your only hope to have forgiveness and change. His love bought you out of being a slave to sin. His love is what saves you -- not religion, or church membership. God loves you!

Romans 10:13 "Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved!"
- Call out to God in the name of Jesus!

Romans 10:9,10 "...If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, you shall be saved; for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation."
- If you know that God is knocking on your heart's door, ask Him to come into your heart.

Jesus said, Revelation 3:20a "Behold I stand at the door and knock, if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him..."
- Is Jesus knocking on your heart's door?

Believe in Him.
Ask Him to come in to your heart by faith,
and ask Him to reveal Himself to you.
Open the Bible to the Gospel of John and read what God says about Jesus,
about you, and about being born again.
God will help you. He loves you.

You need to look for a local church where
God's word is preached. The Bible says that we are to desire
God's word like a newborn baby desires mother's milk.
Aren't you hungry to know the truth?

Water baptism is one of the ways you first show that you have been joined to Jesus. This is an action, and actions will not save you. However, it is an act of obedience and a symbol of commitment.

The symbolism is this:
When you go down in the water you show that
You have been crucified and buried with Him,
And when you come up out of the water you show that
you have been raised to walk with Him in newness of life.
(See Romans chapter 6)

You have been born again.
(See John chapter 3)

Your body has become God's temple.
Your heart is where He lives.
Forgiveness is yours in Jesus.
And you belong to Him.
You were sin's slave.
But now...

You are a child of GOD!
John 1:12
"As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name!"

MercyMe - I Can Only Imagine

2011-03-28T00:59:00.000-05:00

The Race

2011-03-28T00:48:00.003-05:00

I remember it so clearly. Two legs further ahead of me, pounding the pavement in an even tempo. The difference in this runner and his legs versus the other 4,000 plus runners?!? Tattooed on the left leg was the word GOD'S and on the right leg was WILL. Seen together, God's will was running ahead of me and leaving me in the dust. While running behind him, I couldn't help but reflect on my life....my entire life. For some reason, I have always felt that I am always chasing after but never quite living fully in step or coordinated with God's will. I've always been the one in charge of my life, never completely surrendering to his will or his calling. Continued reflection through the run made me wonder, "What would it be like to really be in step with God's will?" (See You Tube video of Mercy Me performing "I Can Only Imagine")

What would it be like to live a life following exactly in his footsteps, synchronizing the rise and fall of each footstep and breath that we take in. Letting God take control and set the pace of this race. I'm a broken life with more then one scratched palm, banged up knee, twisted ankle (you name it, I am injury prone). Life hasn't been easy doing things my way and what if following God's promptings made it worse? What if being in sync with God cost me dearly? Could I do it? Would I be able to claw myself back up and haul myself out for yet another run with God's will? Why complete the course, why run and torture myself day in and day out?!?
Because...this is training. Training is and can be brutal. Full of blood (think injury prone again), sweat and tears...aches and pains of pulled muscles and sheer exhaustion from adhering to the strict training schedule. Why do runners do this? Marathoners, triathletes, and Olympic competitors...why?!?

Because...one vision is ultimately clear: To finish the race.

To finish the race and complete the fight. This is how we set our PR's in running and this is how we do the same with God's will. By following the prescribed training plan (his Bible) and staying in tune with him (through prayer)....the miles will disappear from out feet and we will begin to accomplish what we came for.... The joy in finishing and giving it our best effort and to be able to see that finish line and push ourselves beyond what we thought was possible until we can cross that line, where standing there with eyes shining and nail pierced arms extended, we can finally collapse into the arms of our saviour and hear those most precious words ever..... "Well done my good and faithful servant, well done."