one WHOLE year!

PRAISE THE LORD!

one year.
one year until I see Dr. Charles Koopman.
one WHOLE year.
that's 365 days.
no more otolaryngology.
for a YEAR.
no more acinic cell carcinoma.
until next may!
no more cheek/throat needle biopsies and MRIs.
until 2010. two thousand and TEN!

thank you God....
for your healing hands.
your talented doctors.
and your ultimate plan.

this will be celebrated.
tomorrow :]

a little self talk.

Doubt is like soap scum. It builds up and leaves residue and takes a bunch of extra scraping to remove.

A lot of times when I hit the pavement for a run I am starting to scrape all that residue, all that junk that builds up on my heart. This morning on one of my runs I had the idea to blog my little pep speech in hope of getting to hear yours. This little ramble of words is usually a gist of what I mumble together when I need a little shove, convincing, or reminder. It is pretty consistent with what I usually say.
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You'r goal is not to be a number. Time doesn't matter. Size doesn't matter.
You're goal is not to be someone else. God created YOU in HIS image.
You're goal is not to be who you used to be. Keep changing, moving, and challenging.
You're goal is not to be who you are. Keep asking, keep seeking, keep opening doors.

You're goal is to love. Love your Lord, love yourself, your enemy, your friends, your family
You're goal is to be self controlled. Satan may tempt you, but the Lord will sustain you.
You're goal is to hope. Hope for the imaginable and the unimaginable.
You're goal is to seek joy. Joy in all situations, in all words, in all actions.
You're goal is to keep running. Keep pushing. Keep persevering. Keep fighting.
You're goal is to never stop putting God first.
You're goal is to test your heart, your soul, your mind, your strength.

can't get away:rush of fools

I am an arrow, I am a rocket
I am a river and nothing can stop it
Cause You are the target and You are the atmosphere
You are the ocean that keeps pulling me, You're pulling me here

[Chorus:]
And I, can't get away, can't get away
Can't get away, can't get away
I can't get away, can't get away...I keep running into You
[repeat]

I am a beggar, You are the table
I am so helpless, God You are so able
And when I get turned around You change my direction
You're so perfect, I'm so broken, here You come with arms wide open
Chasing after me down every road
You're always waiting there
[Chorus]
Even when I close my eyes, I can't help but see
There's no place that I can hide, You're such a part of me
I can't get away cause I keep running into You
I can't get away...

SHOUT SHOUT SHOUT...Praise The Lord!

In anything and everything...

How do you know when to go? How do you know when to stop? How do you know what the boundaries are? What is the edge? Why are we so tempted to go to the edge?

This man was hiring a new driver for his carriage. He asked all the applicants this question:
How close can you get to the cliff without going over?

Many different answers were given...4 inches, 1/4 of an inch, and the guy who was hired said
"I have no idea how close I can get to it, but I know how far away from the edge I can get."

What a statement. What if we knew how far away we could get from that edge in our life?

First, establish that one or two things that is always tempting you, testing you, and trying you. That little nagging thought that never leaves your mind. Those idols that we put before God.

Now, remember a time when you tested the edge. You kept eating that snack even though you were full, you gossiped or lied because it sounded better, you went a little bit too far with your significant other because it just felt right. Even if it felt right at the time, I guarantee there was still that little voice of conviction or honesty that spoke. My voice always speaks softly prior to testing the edge, and then VERY LOUD after I've gone over.

I wish that prior voice was a little bit louder, a little bit bolder, and a little bit more defined. And it can be. That voice can SHOUT. It's called the word of God, and it is bolder then any other as you know where to find that voice.

The word of God tell, written in our hearts, will help us know when to stop and when to go. It will let us see the edge, test the edge, but not fall off the edge. The word of God is powerful and challenging, it is honest and convicting, but you will not fail when you need its guidance and protection. It will speak BOLDLY and it will SHOUT when you are being tempted.

There have been several different things in the past four years that have consumed my thoughts, my actions, and caused me to redefine the lines in my life. Some of them were good things and others were the "I wish I had been more careful" things. They are what they are, but I don't want them to be what they are four years from now. I want to know that I've grown and that I can ask God to intervene and SHOUT at me so it won't happen again.

Here is a great verse to start with some of those struggles. Matthew 4: 1-11

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."

Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"

Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple.

"If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written:
" 'He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone."

Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me." Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'"

Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

I pray that the angels attend to you when you feel close to that edge, I pray that the God of all Gods shouts his words in your heart so loud that you get goosebumps :]