Monthly Archives: November 2011

November 24, 2011 · 1:30 pm

Thankfulness…

 

On this Thanksgiving Day let’s contemplate what we are thankful for…

Are we thankful for things??? Are we thankful for people??? Are we thankful for life???  Are we thankful for all of the above???  What is our main focus??? What should it be?  I am not going to answer that question for anyone but me! 🙂

This season of my life…I am thankful for FAITH! UNANSWERED PRAYERS! GOD’S GRACE and MERCY!

Of course I am thankful for my family and friends as well as all the ‘things’ God has blessed me with…but He has taken me on a journey this year and shown me how living by FAITH can be so rewarding even when your prayers are not answered as quickly as you want them…or how you want them. 🙂

I have learned…. “An active faith can give thanks for a promise though it be not yet performed!”  A promise we hope for…a promise we long for…a promise we feel we deserve…but He knows His promise will be fulfilled in His time.

My dad sent me this quote last week…”People who seek excellence, see through closed doors to a higher calling!” On this road to Boston or hoping for Boston…God’s glory is the number one objective.  I believe His glory is being accomplished every step of the way.  I feel that because I have heard from you all…my family and friends who want this so bad for me! We will get there…I know we will.  It may not be this year…but we will get there!

I heard from Team Hoyt on Tuesday.  They have one guy in front of me for their open slot.  If he does not work out, I am in! So, I am still waiting.

Hebrews 6:15

And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Psalm 37:34

Wait for the LORD and keep his way. He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off, you will see it.

Galatians 6:9

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Romans 12:12

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Hebrews 10:36

You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.

Psalm 130:5-6

I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.

James 5:11

As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

Lamentations 3:25

The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him;

Psalm 25:4-5

Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long

Galatians 6:9

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight

Psalm 40:1

I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry

Psalm 62:5-8

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God;he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.

God is my refuge and during this time of thanksgiving…I am thankful! Thankful for His love and thankful He has me in His hand. Thankful he will fulfill His promise in His time…

Thanks for waiting with me…until next time…count your many blessings one by one!!

GOD’S POWER + MY WEAKNESS = ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE WITH GOD!!!!

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November 16, 2011 · 9:59 pm

The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.

Have I shouted how good our God is????? I say this, not because I received news today…but because I received confirmation that I am right where I am supposed to be! Waiting on His appointed time…waiting on His promise!

Habakkuk 2.3

3 For the revelation awaits an appointed time;
it speaks of the end
and will not prove false.
Though it linger, wait for it;
it will certainly come
and will not delay.

This evening’s church service was written for me.  Have you ever been sitting in church wondering how the preacher knew what was going on in your life? Feeling like you had a sign on your forehead? That was me tonight…but it was awesome.  God confirmed through scripture, through my pastor’s stories and through the application that I am where I am supposed to be…waiting on His promise…praising Him every step of the way!  Tears of joy flowed tonight.  I don’t know if God is showing up more or if I am finally paying attention(I am sure this is it!)…but, I don’t want to be anywhere different!
Hebrews 10.35-36
35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.
36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.
Waiting on His promise….whatever He has in store…whenever He has it in store!!!

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November 15, 2011 · 8:00 pm

God is in control…yes, HE is!!!

Are y’all ready for a great story?? The ending has yet to be written but the story is awesome…as is our Lord!!

This week the Lord has continued to use the scripture my brother referred to last Friday night at his house…over and over. Every devotional this week has been one of the several scripture references as its main verse.  Here they are again:

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.  1 Thessalonians 5.16-18

I see a common theme with the Lord’s nudging…I am stubborn and it takes me awhile to really get it. 🙂

To the story…all of this has taken place over the last 21 hours since I last typed the words:

God’s timing… He knows what is best and when is best. I am trusting Him IN all things!

Twenty-one hours ago, my friend Nancy (who I have met through the Run For God Bible study program…www.runforgod.com), emailed me about a charity team running Boston 2012.  She has followed my journey and has suffered through it with me every step of the way…one day literally.  I can always count on her support and prayers…thank you, Nancy! She wants this for me as much as I want it myself. So, when a friend told her about this charity team she let me know knowing I had not heard from the other one yet.  This team is Team Hoyt.

If you are unfamiliar with the Hoyt story…please check it out here:  http://www.teamhoyt.com .  Grab your tissue box and be inspired.  This father and son team are a dynamic duo.  The father pushes his son in races of all kinds…marathons and triathlons.  The son is a quadriplegic and is in a wheelchair.  They compete together.   I was first introduced to this father/son team in the Run For God Bible study I was a part of last year.  We watched a video on their amazing feats.  You can’t help but be inspired. Find out more above.

After reading Nancy’s email, I immediately went to the Team Hoyt webpage.  The page said their 2012 Boston team was full.  But remember, I am stubborn.  I emailed them anyway.  I gave them the thumbnail version of my journey and asked if they had any spots available.  This was the response I received in return:

Trish,

We have a team, we are full, and I just got word that we may have a hardship withdrawal.  Let me confirm that and I will get back to you.  Heartbreaker on the qualifying times.

Doug

What does this mean??? Unfortunately it means someone is hurt and may not be able to run.  It also means the door may be open for another runner to slid in. :o) ME! Maybe, anyway.  Here is what I am asking from you…pray that God’s will is done and that if this is my open door that I am able to be healed and I can run through the door. 🙂

I took this as God saying to me…Trish, hold on! I can do this for you.  I can do this better than you can EVER imagine!!!

Ephesians 3.20  Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us…

This could mean Team Hoyt or something totally different.  As another friend just commented…HIS timing is always perfect!!!  I would be more than honored to run for such an amazing team as well as raise funds for their foundation which benefits children with disabilities.  They are Christians who spread the love of Christ.  And they love to run! Wow!!! God you did it again…

Of course, I am not in yet…but I am still amazed that this could even be a possibility! God is sooo good!!!

Now, this all happened at around 2:45.  Then around 3:07 I receive the email I have been waiting on from the charity team I applied to run for…and it said, “We regret to inform you that the Alzheimer’s Association is unable to offer you a charity slot for this year’s Boston 2012 team.” Crazy!!! 30 minutes earlier I received the other email…and now this door officially closed.  God made the path to the closed-door smoother.  He allowed me to set my sights on Him again and know that even if I don’t get in the way I wanted; I will get in His way…now or later and if it is His will in the first place!

Wow! Wow! Wow!!!!

God is so incredibly good!!! He knows the desires of our hearts.

Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

My desire is to please Him in all I do…To trust Him for everything…To know He is God and see His handiwork…Boy, is He ever proving it! And who would have ever thought He would use RUNNING to do so!!!

My God is an AWESOME God!!!

Walking blessed…running soon!

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November 13, 2011 · 9:35 pm

IN all things….

www.laneybugphotos.com – My niece,Lane Lewis – our photographer

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Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.  1 Thessalonians 5.16-18

This morning my devotional was on the above scripture.  This same scripture was shared by my brother on Friday night when we had dinner as an entire family…celebrating the 50 year marriage of our parents.  God’s timing is always perfect…as we know.  As you can see by the photos in the slideshow, we had a great time being joyful and celebrating my parents and our entire family.

But back to the story…Rob read the scripture and shared a personal experience.  He shared how this scripture tells us we are supposed to give thanks IN all circumstances.  For those of you close to our family know the word ALL is our family word.  It is taken from Romans 8.28…And we know that in ALL things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

But this scripture emphasizes the word IN.  IN all things…no matter what…good and bad we are to give thanks.  That is His will for us.

In all things we gave thanks for our family this weekend…a 50 year marriage…a foundation laid for us for our families…laughter…fun…Razorback and Volunteer football…good food…great friends!!! It was a blessed time orchestrated by our heavenly Father!  Thank you Lord for loving us so bless us with this awesome family and awesome weekend!

Now, to the running…

God’s timing revisited…He knew I needed this weekend and this scripture to surface more than once.  Why? Because, I still don’t know about Boston. I am patiently waiting.  The charity informed me two weeks ago I should know in a week or so.  Nothing!  I am still hopeful.

My last post said I was back.  I was a bit premature with my comeback! After racing the Dalton race, I chose to run another one in Dayton 6 days later.  I won that one too…yay! Though, my foot did not like the racing back to back.  I have had a set back and have been off my foot for two weeks.  God’s timing…

So, Boston…do I still want to go and be a part of the run I qualified for?? Yes! Do I want to run for life or for now? Life! Do I want God’s timing for Boston or my own? God’s….With that being said…I am giving thanks IN all things…even setbacks.  After a weekend like the one we just had…life is about making memories and quality relationships.  It is about love…God’s love.  He knows what is best and when is best. I am trusting Him IN all things!

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