The Finish Line

Have you ever had to run the hurdles? Hurdlers are a special breed that can run fast and kick their legs high over 27-42 inch obstacles, take two steps and do it all again!

I had to try those beastly obstructions in my freshman P.E. class in high school. It was a disaster. I stand only 61.5" tall and the hurdles were chest high on me if I remember correctly. After trying multiple times to get my leg high enough to get over the hurdle without success and being bruised and scraped up from falling all over those mini mountains, I decided not to try any more. I simply stopped in front of them and trotted around. Coach finally decided that I could just run the lap without going over the hurdle. The experience makes me stand in admiration for hurdlers now when I watch track and field on tv.

Life has hurdles. Every day we come against obstacles, big and small. Each goal we set for ourselves comes with its set of circumstances that can trip us up with bruises and scrapes or offer opportunities to soar. There are choices to make when we come up against those pesky bumps in the road. We can get around some, but others need to be dealt with more aggressively. When we fly over them we feel powerful and in control. Some that tower over us may make us consider giving up. Any hardship can intimidates us into backing down and question if our goal to reach the finish line is worth it.

I know there have been many finish lines that I have failed to cross because of the stumbling blocks in my way. At those times I have felt weak. My goal has not been met. I got stuck. I failed. It is sad to know that I may never have an opportunity to win because the moment has passed. Realizing this makes me consider carefully the goals I set and the importance of committing myself fully to the task.

One of my favorite sayings is "I chase not race." The chase, unlike a race, gives me time to face my mountainous hurdles and break them down so I can proceed further toward the finish line. I do not need to race against others. I just need to keep chasing the goal I have set for myself.

The most important thing I need to remember is that God is always there to help me get past the obstacles. He is just a prayer away. Isaiah 41:13 says, "For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you." NIV We can trust His strength, His faithfulness and His love for us to get us through.

My Most Powerful God and Father, You know the trials I face today. They seem to want to trip me up and make me fail in my quest to do Your will. I want to reach the goal of pleasing You, but so often i fail to push through when it gets difficult. Forgive me Lord. Thank You for Your grace and mercy when I fall. Thank You for lifting me up in Your Fatherly hands. Give me wisdom in dealing with the hurdles I need to overcome. Give me Your Spirit to empower me to make it to the end. I want to hear the words "Well Done!"

Changing Course

Dead ends are frustrating, discouraging, and maddening! After traveling down a road that seems promising, it is never a welcome sight to find it is a dead end. This is especially true when hopes have grown and dreams dwelt safely in our hearts for a long time.

A dead end means we must turn back and pick up all the footprints we thought we had left behind. On the way we search for another route so we can again move toward our goal. Often we simply let our thoughts travel around and around wondering how we got off track, or if our journey is really meant to reach the goal that now seems so far away. We feel lost. Our steps are sluggish, so different when we boldly started off down this road.

Hope and vision are the compass that we must follow. The question I must ask is where is the hope but in our God who has promised to complete the good work HE has begun? Where is the vision except the vision of His plans that HE has? Those good plans that do not harm? The frustration and discouragement of having to turn around and change course can turn into an adventure, or a time of growth through the challenge. It is a worthy effort to follow our hearts all the way to HIM who not only waits for us but also walks along side of us!

Present Sovereign God, You are with us always. You never leave us to find our way alone. Thank You! Forgive us for allowing the obstacles to shadow Your light along the path. Open our eyes to see YOUR vision and YOUR plan. Make our feet like hind's feet to travel with lightened steps, knowing You are waiting and walking with us all the way! You are Good!

A New Year

What will the new year have in store for me? Looking into the future is difficult. I cannot see into the next hour let alone days, months, or years. I can plan my next step, but I can never be certain of what that step will be like or where it will take me. New Years Day I look into a fog-filled future and dream of what might be.

From the present I can make goals. What do I want to take into my new year? What do I want to leave behind when I turn around a find the year left behind in my past? What footprints and fingerprints will I leave as I go about my daily life?

I like watching some of the crime dramas on tv. From the scene of the crime they seem to be able to witness the past by the footprints and fingerprints left behind. I do not want my year to be a crime scene, but rather a blessing leaving behind invisible traces of my life.

Holy Lord God, You are the light that shines on the path of my every day! You set before me choices of life and death. I want to choose life, but so often I trip into a hole that would bring me to my knees in weeping. I need You to lift me up and set me back on the path where our footprints and fingerprints will be side by side. Thank You for letting me join You in the work You are doing here in my home, neighborhood and country. Let my steps be bold and sure, carefully chosen in following You!

Party Time?

Will you be going to a party for New Years? I will be manning a fireworks tent with my husband. We never were big party goers. I remember only one really big party we attended over the years. I do enjoy celebrating the incoming year in my own way.

I like to ceremonially write out my goals and review the ones from the past year. It doesn't take that long but it brings a sense of completion and satisfaction. I feel joy and peace as I sit before Gods' throne and discuss my life.

I also enjoy sitting down with my husband and sharing with him the goals I want to achieve. I always hope he will let me in on his plans too!

My party is a party of three. God, me and my husband. It is a great time! But if you would invite me to your party, I'd be glad to arrange my schedule and come celebrate with you!

2008 Review

Looking backwards is not always easy, especially if you want to watch where you are going. The only exception might be when we are looking forward into a new year. It is then that we might look back over the past year and take stock of our progress toward our goals, our growth in character and wisdom, and the direction our lives are taking.

Looking backwards can be tricky. Rear view mirrors do not always give a proper perspective, so it is important to take an honest, face to face look at yourself as you truly were in the days of the past year. sometimes my vision of the past is not too pleasant. I don't like some of the snapshots of my memories. but then there are also times of joy and blessing and some of those came because I chose to do the right thing. Either way, I am guided by those memories, to turn onto a new path, or to stay firm.

I'll be reviewing 2008 like the networks review the year, but this will be a personal reflection for my future goals. I want 2009 to look better that 2008! It will take hard work and awareness. It will be a year of trusting God and not myself to complete the good work He wants to do in me. Let get going!

Simplify

I sat down and tried to write out my goals for 2009. It seems I am wanting to accomplish many things a reach many finish lines this year. As I looked over the list I realized that my main goal should be to simplify!

I need to simplify my exercise, relationships, finances, etc., etc. If I could simplify then maybe I would find myself actually accomplishing the greater goals.

So, now to think through how to simplify my life.....that may be a bit more complicated than I think! I'll work on that tomorrow!

Daydreams and Goals

In school I used to do alot of daydreaming. It wasn't that I was not interested in school, but that I caught the string of a thought flying like a kite out the window and ran with it. I would explore the thought to the other side of the world mesmerized with the wonder of it all. Sometimes I would be caught and turned back to the task at hand, my kite spiraling down to the ground. Of course I seldom fully learned the lessons taught and so I came up short with grades.

I still daydream. I love to wander down paths lined with beautiful intriguing thoughts. While there, I enjoy conversations with God. It is a delightful past time, but does not lend itself to the accomplishment of my goals.

So, it seems I will need to rein in my kites and set up some fences where my goals and kites can live together in harmony, kites flying in the direction and for the purpose of accomplishing my goal. May the wind of the Holy Spirit blow life and purpose into both!