We are currently traveling back from a glorious birthday weekend with my side of our wonderful family. The Lord has truly blessed Mike and me with an amazing family on both sides. The Taylor clan and the Newsom clan are collectively the best group of people ever! I am biased but I would venture to say others would say the same. 🙂 Thank you Lord for surrounding my with people who love me unconditionally and make me a better person!!! (Thanks to my niece Lane we had amazing photos taken of the Taylor side in Indy by Courtney Venable….it was GREAT fun!)
I love these people more than words could EVER describe!!!
Now to the real reason for this post…as we are driving down the interstate we are listening to Christian music. Mike and I both are listening and singing along. (For those of you who have heard both of us sing…you know HE is way better and I need to be listening and not singing. LOL!) I CAN ONLY IMAGINE just played. What a powerful song!!! I will NEVER forget the first time I heard this song!
I CAN ONLY IMAGINE…Mercy Me
I can only imagine
What it will be like
When I walk
By your side
I can only imagine
What my eyes will see
When your face
Is before me
I can only imagine
[Chorus:]
Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel
Will I dance for you Jesus or in awe of you be still
Will I stand in your presence or to my knees will I fall
Will I sing hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all
I can only imagine
I can only imagine
When that day comes
And I find myself
Standing in the Son
I can only imagine
When all I will do
Is forever
Forever worship You
I can only imagine
[Chorus]
I can only imagine [x2]
I can only imagine
When all I will do
Is forever, forever worship you
What is so fitting for God’s timing in letting me hear and remember this is that I heard it first on a long run when I hadn’t been running long. I was doing a long training run around White Rock Lake in Dallas, Texas. I was training for my first marathon. At that time I was overtaken with emotion thinking about how I will respond when I meet our Lord and Savior. I remember praising HIM with every step and being in awe of His saving grace when in NO way I deserved it!!
Never did I dream that some 13 years later I would be approaching my 9th marathon and it would be Boston. I could truly only imagine that then. Now, He has made it reality! As tears fill my eyes now, my emotion is real and raw. God loves us so much He wants to show us things we can only imagine. He wants to help us live for Him in a way that glorifies Him and brings us joy! WOW!
Why me?? Why now??? Age? Wisdom? Faith? Commitment? Failure? Hard work? Hard ache? It is a combination of them all. I can honestly tell you that I do not want to do it any other way!!! He is the way. He is the truth. He is the light! He is LIFE!!!! The ups and downs of life are doable because He is ALWAYS by my side!!! He is a friend of mine!!! (another song playing now!)
The Lord knew 13+ years ago He would be leading on this journey. He knew He would be paving the way for me to run and use running as a huge part of my testimony. He knew I would have heartache and success along the way. He knew I would be running Boston once and now twice. He knew He would be taking a non-athlete to heights only HE could take reach. I am in NO way a natural. He gives me a drive that truly comes from Him. He gives me the desire to finish what I started and finish well!
1 Corinthians 9.24
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way to get the prize.
2 Timothy 4.7
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
As Casting Crowns sings, “You are already there!” He goes before us. He is paving the way from Hopkinton to Boston. He knows what will happen on April 15. He is waiting!
Deuteronomy 31.8
the Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.
Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.
He knows what April 15, 2013 holds. He knows how He will use it for His glory. My prayer is that I stay true to Him and give it right back to Him every step of the way!!! This brings me comfort and confidence as I prepare to taper this week and physically and mentally prepare for the big day.
Over this next week, my goal is to immerse myself in Him and truly praise him over the 26 easy miles that lead me to HIS 26.2 on April 15. Will you join me? Will you help me pray that He keeps me injury free, that He leads me every step of the way and that He helps me run for Him? God is so good! All things truly work together. Because of HIM I run! Running Blessed!!!
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.
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