Lessons from the Black Hills

We spent eight days in the Blacks Hills. I learned many lessons while we visited GeeMa and GeePa as John calls them. I learned many lessons while we visited FCA Endurance camp as Elijah calls it (it is actually just FCA Camp).

1. A tractor is the most fun with Grandpa.

2.. Helmets are cute.

3. Throwing rocks into the rushing water can entertain for many minutes, until your brother's hat almost becomes a mistaken for a rock.
4. Who needs a pool when a water fountain will do.

5. Toys are not necessary for camp as long as the golf carts are parked outside.

6. Toons are better with friends.

7. It is important to announce to everyone on the bus that they are indeed riding a bus.

8. Grandpa has the coolest job.

Me & Self-Control

1 Peter 4:11, "If anyone speaks [which is all of us], he should do it as one speaking the very words of God."

Nothing makes you feel more convicted than when the words you say to your children are the words God has been whispering in your ear for ages. Car rides to and from work have become excersises in how much Mommy can handle before she bursts. It is often not much after a day with middle schoolers. On one particular car ride John was practicing his shreek. It is a very good, ear piercing, shrill shreek. I was trying to control my voice and calmly was asking him to please stop. When that didn't work I raised my voice and said, "Stop it, you need to listen to Mommy." And as if on cue, God whispers to me, "Yeah, Suzanne, stop it, you need to listen to me."

I am supposed to be working on self-control this year but so far I have done a lot of talking to myself about it but not a whole lot of action. This part of myself is so dissappointing. I am a pretty abnormal statistic, one would think I could do this too. I often feel like Paul when he wrote about doing the evil he did not want to do but was unable to do the good he knew he should do (Romans 7:19). God justwants me to start. I don't have to wait until Monday. I don't have to wait until I start a new Bible study. I don't have to wait until I feel better. I don't have to wait until the TV shows are on summer break.

I just have to start. I just have to listen & obey

We all need a little grace

Chris has talked for a few years about trying to qualify for the Boston Marathon (THE race for marathoners. It is so exclusive that to enter you have to run another marathon deemed worthy and get a qualifying time). This year he decided he was going to do it. He would have to run a 3 hour 10 minute marathon. This is much faster than any other marathon he has run (although he had only run one true marathon race and another during his Iron Man). He choose the Fargo Marathon because he knew it would be flat, thus giving him the best chance to run the 7:30 mile pace he needed to reach qualifying time.

Race day started with a great blessing. Rain and clouds, which kept the predicted heat and gale force winds at bay. At mile 9 he looked like he was out for a jog with his buddies. At mile 17 he looked happy and settled into a good rhythm. At mile 19 he asked for prayer; his side was hurting really badly. He was unable to breathe correctly. And so we (his little cheering section of friends and Elijah and I) prayed. I kept praying as we drove to the Fargo dome to see him finish. I prayed and cried as the clock ticked to 3:10:24. He had missed his goal by 24 seconds and I was crushed for him.

Working our way through the crowds I finally got within shouting distance. Wanting to see if I had missed anything I asked, "Did you make it?" "I think so," he replied between labored breaths. You see, the Boston Marathon qualifying time must be within 59 seconds of your qualifying time. They call it the minute of grace. Chris qualified for Boston by grace.

Obviously a parallel can be see here. After the race, Chris talked about how great he had been feeling during his race. How he had even felt he could finish in 3:05 or so but then the wheels fell off. The side ache hit and then his legs were shot. As Chris describes it during the last 6 miles he was digging as deep as he could. Chris has steadfast perseverance. His ability to set a goal, train for the goal, and meet the goal is awe inspiring, but he said this was so hard because he knew his time was slipping away but there was no more in him. Chris needed God to finish the race. Chris needed God to qualify for Boston. And God wanted Chris to remember that. And Chris did.

We all need grace...."for it is by grace you have been saved..." We would be nowhere without grace. This race reminded me to be so grateful for that free gift of grace and to be grateful that it is not only for 59 seconds but a lifetime.

Spinning

So, I know it has been way too long since I have written on this blog. Over a month now. I just can't seem to get caught up, ever. My desk at work looks like the paper recycling barfed on it. To be honest, I feel like things are spinning out of control and that is something I am not good at. I need to be in control. But, as Beth Moore says, God will keep coming at you with the same lesson until you learn it. Apparently I have figured out yet that just because the hot water heater breaks, the laundry is a week behind, the driveway has to be redone, the wall in the bathroom is flaking, I didn't get a single interview for jobs I applied for, and my kids are not sleeping through the night because they are hacking with a cold doesn't mean that God doesn't love me.