Ice Cream, Cookies, and Working Out—It’s Monday

“I told the cashier that I have three stressed out college students at home. I didn’t want him to think badly of me for buying two things of ice cream and a pack of cookies.”

It’s a Monday and with that comes the blues of, why in the world am I even here? Why am I trying? Is this all even worth it?

“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air.  But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.”
 1 Corinthians 9:24-26

I’m running a race; I’m “working out” to become better than I once was. Working out, if you want results, is exhausting, you want to quit and lie down, you feel pain that you don’t want to feel, and at times you feel like you’ve been pushed too hard. 

That’s how I’ve felt lately, like a quitter, and nobody likes to feel like a quitter.

"But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.  That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Ohhh yeah, I don’t have the strength to do any of this on my own. But I have this God that has already told me He’ll coach me, that He’ll give me the grace, the joy, and the peace I need from day-to-day.

That doesn’t mean it won’t be hard, that doesn’t mean I won’t struggle. But it does tell me that when I put too much weight on the bar He’ll help me lift it off my chest. When I feel like I’ve run too far He’ll give me the air to continue on.

These hard times are just the hill before the finish line, they’re that last lap, or that final hurdle.

When I look at life from the perspective that He’s in control of this race I’m running I realize,

 I ain’t no quitter, and this ain’t no part-time gym membership.

And what I truly have come to realize: cookies and ice cream are just marvelous.


"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31 

Just a Note to My Wandering Heart

Have you ever wanted something so bad it hurt?
Have you ever thought it was part of God’s plan for your life?

Has it ever played out for you and then…

It wasn’t what you expected.

I have come to realize some times God allows certain situations to happen to help us see that perhaps our dream has changed or maybe it just isn’t the right time for that dream.  It’s almost like it’s His gentle reminder, “Hey kid, stop trying to plan this on your own, I got you.”  Or even just that calm spirit telling you, “See? You were okay, I’m working in you right now, stop trying to get ahead of me.”

He’s working in me right now. No reason to rush. No reason to figure it all out at this moment.

I have a God that takes an interest in even the smallest desire of my heart. A God who listens to my small voice and responds with a loving reminder to trust Him and remember in HIS time it will all be done.

How fantastic is a God like that?

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10

The Seasonal Friend

“Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.” –Dr. Seuss

Those mountains, they seemed so high, but you grabbed my hand and pulled me up to look at the view.

We raced through obstacles like kids on the playground.

When the rain came trickling down you made sure I splashed through the puddles.

The dark streets would light up with your laughter.
As the waves came crashing onto the shore you helped me chase them away.

I threw my head down in despair and teasingly you threw yours down in a mocking manner.

We talked.  We walked.  We laughed. We existed. 

But one day the sun came up, scorching, and it sent you on your way. 

At first glance the sun was painful to me—it blistered. I didn’t want our season to end, you became my comrade, I didn’t think you were supposed to leave.  But when the pain subsided the appreciation came. 

“I know that whatever God does,
It shall be forever.
Nothing can be added to it,
And nothing taken from it.”  Ecclesiastes 3:14

The walks and talks were for a time and in that time I grew; or rather we grew together.   

Without you that mountain would have not been so easily climbed nor that race so quickly run.  You helped me laugh through every obstacle and jump in every puddle.   You didn’t leave; our paths merely went different directions.  I was blessed to have you be that someone to walk beside me.

 The blisters from the sun are almost gone, they remind me to be grateful for our season, and for each season I’m given.  Every time I remember you I wish you the best, and I know that when the rain comes you’ll jump in and when the waves crash on the shore you’ll run after them.   

To the seasonal friend, I thank you, because you showed me how to appreciate even the smallest of memories, for it seems those are the ones that become the fondest.

“To everything there is a season, 
A time for every purpose under heaven:

A time to be born, And a time to die;


A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted;

A time to kill, And a time to heal;


A time to break down, 
And a time to build up;

A time to weep, 
And a time to laugh;


A time to mourn,
 And a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones;


A time to embrace, 
And a time to refrain from embracing

A time to gain, 
And a time to lose;


A time to keep, And a time to throw away;

A time to tear, And a time to sew;


A time to keep silence, And a time to speak;

A time to love,
 And a time to hate;


A time of war,
 And a time of peace."    

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8