Deep Roots

Day 50/366 (2/19/2012)

Oh, God is GOOD!  I got to be a part of the team leading worship with the choir in the Chapel service this morning, then we had an amazing experience in the main auditorium for the 9:45 service (joined by the Nightingale trio--we missed you, Tommy!--roommate extraordinaire, Danielle, and the lovely Patti) learning all about being lavish in our loving and giving.  Everyone, look out!  My prayer is to be able to lavishly bless you all!  Then we ran to Panera for food and picnicked in style at Lemonia Grove.

It is humbling being in the presence of great giants whose roots run deep.  I refer not only to the hundred-year-old trees but the company present.  Regardless of age or generation, I was surrounded completely by wisdom, insight, creativity, and a passion for Christ and serving and ministry that holds them each deeply rooted in Him.  Praise the Lord!

"For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit."

                                                                                        Jeremiah 17:8

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."
                                                                                        Hebrews 12:1

Do your roots go deep?  What are you rooted in?

Beef...It's What For Dinner

~Day 49/366 (2/18/2012)

Relaxed, worked on the computer, scrubbed two toilets, wiped down counters, graded photo projects...and then Mike busted out the first barbeque of the season! 

"...for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. ¹² I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.  I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. ¹³ I can do all this through him who gives me strength."

                                                                             Philippians 4:11-13

Snuggle

Day 48/366 (2/17/2012)

What a beautiful time of fellowship today!  As a Friday, I got to spend lunch with my exquisite girlies.  Then I spent a couple of continued hours at Amy's, frolicking with her corgi Gizmo, home for a bit, then over to Heather's for laughs, munchies, and great conversation.  The perfect finish was coming home to my family for the warm puppy snuggle (as I type, I currently have the same puppy snuggling under my elbow, wrapped around my hip).

Isn't it incredible how comforting a period of warmth and rest and close contact is.  My whole day felt like a safe snuggle.  How much more can we get from a "snuggle" with our heavenly Father?

"The name of the LORD is a strong tower;
   the righteous run to it and are safe."
                                               Proverbs 18:10

Citrus & Snow

Day 47/366 (2/16/2012)

I am in awe of the Lord and how He reveals Himself in the seasons, the very weather itself.  It's finally been acting like winter for the past few days (just in time for spring).  As the clouds lifted today, we got to see what had been happening under the veil.  SNOW!  Only in California can we have orange groves flourishing in the shadow of a snow-crusted hill.

"The heavens are telling of the glory of God;
And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands."

                                                 Psalm 19:1

Winter Bloom

Day 46/366 (2/15/2012)

It has been up to 80 degrees most days this entire winter.  As such, nature is understandably confused.  The leaves on trees are beginning to grow back, flowers are budding...

The past few days, however, have actually been acting "winter-y."  We've had rain, cold weather, and even some snow.  I was walking past one of the 6th grade classrooms and saw an entire bed of flowers flourishing in the rain...

"²⁸And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹ Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?"
                                                                                Matthew 6:28-30

My Valentine

Day 45/366 (2/14/2012

Ah, Valentine's Day!  The day set aside for people to completely celebrate love.  Mike and I had a perfect evening.  Praise the Lord!  However, no matter how much we love each other, God loves us all so much more.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."   John 3:16

Rest

Day 44/366 (2/13/2012)

Call it a holiday, call it a day off, call it decadence, call it the day before Valentine's Day...call it whatever you will.  I call it a day of rest.

I slept until 1:30 today.  Yes.  1:30.  All right, I was awake and read for about 40 minutes at some point this morning, but I woke up at 1:30 with a book on my face.  I showered forever, tootled on the computer a bit, and rested.  Then Mike and I ate what for me was the first food of the day...sushi.  Home for a fire and a movie.  Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh...  Thank you, Jesus.

"²⁸ “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

                                                                               Matthew 11:28

14th Annual Palm Springs 1/2-Marathon!!!

Day 43/366 (2/12/2012)

Today's photo credit goes to my hubby!

Well, today was one for the books, at every turn.  Today I ran my first ever running event, a half-marathon.  Oh, how it was different than I was expecting.  But it was what the Lord had for me, and for that I must be deeply grateful.  Jitters ran rampant at the start.  When it was time to start, I took off like a shot.  I wanted to see if I could keep ahead of our school pack (not Angie and Ashley...I've never been able to run as fast as they); I'd been able to outstrip even the fastest of the next group at different times in the past month.  I also kept praying that that would not become my focus.  "Just focus on your race, Jenn.  Don't worry about anyone else.  Just pray for them."

I got to the second mile marker and looked at my time.  "Holy stink...I just did those two miles in 16 minutes.  16 minutes...I'm screwed."  Never in any of my training had I run that fast.  Two 8-minute miles?  At my best, I had done an average of 8:30, but that was only for 3.5 miles.  I knew there was NO way I'd be able to keep that up...and I had just blown a WAD of energy.

Sure enough, I was completely exhausted by mile 5.  It was going to be a looong race.  At mile 5, Melissa came up behind me and passed me.  I honestly thanked the Lord.  I was glad I didn't have to wonder about her any more.  And I was tired...

Then at mile 7, Mayra tapped me on my shoulder.  I paced with her for a couple of blocks and then pulled back.  She was running a much smarter race than I; she had started conservatively and was still feeling great.  I was...yes, tired.

Now my goal was just to finish.  And I didn't want to walk.  Oh, I wasn't going to walk.  But was I even going to finish?  I got to mile 10 and saw Mike.  Yeah, I wanted to stop.  Kept going, though.  At mile 11, Dave, my running partner Sherri's husband, came up beside me and said, "Come on, let's stride it out!"  Guffaw.  I told him I was just trying not to fall over.  And I couldn't bring myself to check my time.  It had long since stopped being about that.  I just didn't want to walk...

Rounded the final corner into the finish line chute.  I'll say this: The Lord gave me long legs.  I had enough in me for one sprint to the end.  I did feel good about how I finished.  Final time was somewhere in the 2:17-range (I don't know the seconds).  Way longer than I had originally wanted, but I didn't walk!  And I finished!!!  (Pictures of the event)

The team was incredible.  Christy and her hubby Mike came in at 2:30-something (GREAT job!!!!).  Sherri, my running partner through most of training, had injured her calf during last weekend's 6-mile run.  Even though she came to school on crutches this past Monday, she still ran today...the whole thing!!!  She came in at 2:55-something.  When I saw her round the final turn, I had to run with her.  Yeah, I'm crying even now thinking about it.  She finished, had her time chip collected, got her medal, and we held each other and cried.  God is good.

Mary woke up yesterday with a horrible head cold.  She couldn't breathe, had no voice, and felt miserable...but she finished.  We all did.  God is so good!  For some, it was their best race yet (YAY for Ashley, Angela, Melissa, and Mayra!!).  Our guys' relay team of Jeremiah, Casey, and Josh came in at 1:42:38 (Holy COW!).  For me, I landed at a 10:20/mile for the 13.3 mile race (yeah, I mapped the whole thing on MapMyRun.com, and with my wide turns and the starting and finishing chute, it was 0.2 miles longer than I thought).  I looked back at my past long runs: 11:53 minute/mile for my first 12, 11:20 minute/mile for the second 12, then 10:16 for the 10-mile run 3 weeks ago.  SO...10:20 minute/mile for 13.3?  I'm not going to be depressed.  And God humbled me...and sustained me.  Blessed be the name of the Lord!

Continuing on, bout #1 of diarrhea happened at the park before we left.  It took us 4 HOURS to drive the usually 45-minute drive home.  A wrong-way driver on the freeway caused an "unplanned freeway closure."  (I don't know any details; I pray there were no injuries.)  The state of CA then, in its infinite wisdom, chose the middle of the day for a construction project that shut down 3 of 4 lanes.  We got off the freeway at Casino Morongo to deal with bout #2, and it took us an hour and 55 minutes to get back on the freeway!!  After 4 hours, HOME!!!  I've now gone through bouts 3 and 4 and continue to be queasy.  Holy cow, what a dooze.  But my legs feel great!  Praise the Lord!!

SO... the moral of the story is this:

"²⁸ Do you not know?
   Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
   the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
   and his understanding no one can fathom.
²⁹ He gives strength to the weary
   and increases the power of the weak.
³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary,
   and young men stumble and fall;
³¹ but those who hope in the LORD
   will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
   they will run and not grow weary,
   they will walk and not be faint."

Isaiah 40:28-31

 I love you, Lord.  This has been very cool.  ILCS Team Teach 2012, I am proud and honored to know you.  You are ALL an inspiration to me!  Thank you, Jesus!

Carb Load!

Day 42/366 (2/11/2012)

Today was the day to prep for the race tomorrow.  Man, oh, man, I am a bit of a wreck.  We drove out to Palm Springs this afternoon to pick up my bib and my timing chip, then drove the last part of the course.  Met up with a bunch of people from the running team at the California Pizza Kitchen for a carb load dinner, then Mike dropped me off at the hotel to stay with the ladies while he drove home.

I've never run before.  I've never wanted to run before.  This has been a singular experience...and I'm nervous as all get-out.  The past month I developed a speed I didn't know I had.  I'm wondering what I'll be able to do tomorrow, what expectations I'll be able to meet and exceed.   I'm afraid, too, that pride will "goeth before the fall."  Will I be able to do a 2:05 (average rate of 9:30/mile)?  Is it possible to actually do a sub-2 (shorter than 2 hours)?  Will adrenaline really kick in that much?  Will it sustain me?  Will I forget to pray for the others during the course?  Is it really becoming all about me?  "Oh, Lord, please don't let that happen.  Please help me to focus on all the other people in the race.  I want to glorify You only."

Philippians 4:4-8

New International Version (NIV)

Final Exhortations

 ^"4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  ⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."

Gold Rush

Day 41/366 (2/10/2012)

I'm really struggling with nerves for the half-marathon.  I keep thinking I'll oversleep, not be able to find parking, get lost on the course...  Ridiculous, really.

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline."    2 Timothy 1:7

Trying to put it behind me with a fresh hot episode of "Gold Rush."

Perfection

Day 40/366 (2/9/2012)

The race, the half-marathon for which we've been training for four months, is this weekend, Sunday.  It's strange, the whole time I haven't been running during the mid-week as I should have been, just doing the long runs on the Saturday mornings.  Now, in this week leading up to the actual event, we're not allowed to do any running...and all I can think of is how much I want to get out there and stretch my legs.

After school, I trucked out to Corona for church choir practice.  But first, I got to have dinner with my wonderhubby.  Fuji Apple Chicken Salad, baguette, Mountain Dew, Cranberry Orange Smoothie, and a shortbread cookie...and time with my love!  We sat outside and took our time.  The sun set around us.  We strolled through Old Navy and bought a pair of shoes to replace a horribly uncomfortable pair I was wearing.  And we talked.  And spent time.  Then I got to sing hymns and praises to our Lord in choir.  Perfection.

"You shall go out with joy
and be led forth in peace.
The mountains and the hills will break forth before You!
There'll be shouts of joy
and all the trees of the field will clap, will clap their hands."

Static

Day 39/366 (2/8/2012)

This post is late, and again I apologize.  I am of course posting after the fact, so words are a bit beyond me.  It was a Wednesday.  I had a meeting after school, got to talk to both of my bosses about school stuff, made tilapia pitas for dinner (thanks, allrecipes.com!), then went to choir (smelling of fried fish), singing Bluegrass for Jesus!

And...static.  Yeah, anyone have any good verses or songs that can be applied to static, attraction, etc.?  Mike suggested Galatians 3:24:

"So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith."

Others?

Angel of Light

Day 38/366 (2/7/2012)

Today a federal appellate court repealed California's Prop 8, otherwise known as the ban on same-sex marriage.  "The panel ruled 2-1 that California voters violated the U.S. Constitution by singling out gays and lesbians when they wrote a ban on same-sex marriage into the constitution (Michael A. Lindenberger, TIME Magazine)."  There was an explosion of joy via Twitter and other social networking sites.

Satan is not as successful as he is at deceiving people by presenting himself as scary and evil and overly...satanic.  No.  He gets people by appealing to their desires.  He is attractive and very alluring.

"...For even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light."  2 Corinthians 11:14

He tells people what they want to hear.  Through an elaborate smoke and mirrors diversion, he focuses our attention on what we want to see and believe, all the while masking from us his reality:

"Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."  1 Peter 5:8

 Consider the metaphor of the duck decoy.  The decoy is a real, tangible item designed to make actual ducks feel comfortable and safe.  Though it is real, however, it is not telling the truth.  The Truth is that there is a hunter hidden just behind the reeds, waiting to blow the ducks away.

Look closely at the picture I posted.  This is not a photograph of the sun bursting through the gloom of a stormy day illuminating the fragile, upturned maple leaves.  No.  The sun had already set behind the clouds.  Rather, the leaves are reflecting the light of a Stater Bros parking lot lamp.  A street light.  Not quite as glorious, eh?

Do you see what you want to see?  Hear what you want to hear?

Or are you interested in Truth?

Value

Day 37/366 (2/6/2012)

As all the crows of Yucaipa descended on the trees outside my classroom, I was struck by the beautiful concept of worth, of value.

"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"
                                                                                  Matthew 6:26

 You are much more valuable than they.  Do you know the love of your Creator, the supplier of all your needs?

Be still my beating heart...

Day 36/366 (2/5/2012)

Today was one of those days when heaven opens and pours down its angel choirs and heavenly blessing.  I don't mean to be trite and all "Christian-y."  Truly, I feel like I got to be in the presence of the Lord today.  Mike, our wonderful Lauren, and I all got to lead worship for the disabilities ministry at our church.  Pure praise and worship flowed freely from people who have plenty of reason to feel that they got the short end of the stick.  And yet they literally shouted their love of God to all who would listen.  It was impossible to be in the room and not be blessed.

I had to choose one of the pictures I had taken during rehearsal to post today.  But the true photo of the day for me was taken by our Karen, who captured a glimpse into the spirit of the morning.

"Everlasting God"

Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord

Our God, You reign forever
Our Hope, our Strong Deliverer
You are the everlasting God
The everlasting God
You do not faint
You won't grow weary

Our God, You reign forever
Our Hope, our Strong Deliverer
You are the everlasting God
The everlasting God
You do not faint
You won't grow weary

You're the defender of the weak
You comfort those in need
You lift us up on wings like eagles

A Time to Dance

Day 35/366 (2/4/2012)

"Let them praise his name in the dance..."  Psalm 149:3

"And David danced before the Lord with all his might..."  2 Samuel 6:14

As I was looking for scripture to include about the glorious experience of dance, I came across a Christian salsa dancer's blog.  Edie brought up many considerations in ballroom I had never considered.  Though the website is a little rough around the edges, I really appreciated her insight into partner dancing (specifically salsa).  It's worth a read.

All this is inspired by tonight's outing with my lovely Karen and her exquisite mother, Cathy, and friend, Verda.  We were gifted with tickets to the "Best of Ballroom" event at the California Theatre of the Performing Arts in San Bernardino.  It was...indescribable.  Cathy summed it up by saying, "We paid the right price."  I loved it; it wasn't immensely fantastic quality, but it was most certainly a night out of the ordinary, and we laughed and cheered and guffawed in all the right places.  A blessed evening!

Ecclesiastes 3

A Time for Everything

 ^"1 There is a time for everything,
   and a season for every activity under the heavens:  ² a time to be born and a time to die,
   a time to plant and a time to uproot,
 ³ a time to kill and a time to heal,
   a time to tear down and a time to build,
 ⁴ a time to weep and a time to laugh,
   a time to mourn and a time to dance..."

Empty cups...or full?

*Day 34/366 (2/3/2012)

Are you a cup half-empty person or a cup half-full?  Before you you might see 3 empty cups.  I see 3 beautifully full tributes to an exquisitely brimming afternoon.  I had lunch with my bosses and cohorts as we discussed planning of our upcoming fundraising gala event, then I got to spend hours with Heather and Amy at Starbucks catching up.  Home to Thai food with hubby.

4Enter his gates with thanksgiving

and his courts with praise;

give thanks to him and praise his name.

5For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;

his faithfulness continues through all generations.

                              Psalm 100:4-5

Lockdowns to MUTEMATH (and everything in between!)

Day 33/366 (2/2/2012) Groundhog Day

Yes, the day was littered with excitement.  First we had an actual precautionary lockdown on campus after school, then I got to convert Crystal and Angela into 100-year-old ladies (actually, tomorrow is the 100th day of school [a big deal in primary grades] and they are all dressing as 100-year-old people [GREAT idea!!!!!]; I was merely teaching them how to do old lady make-up...they look PHENOMENAL!!!).  After scuzzying them up, Mike and I hopped in the car and headed to LA to fulfill a Christmas gift: Mutemath Odd Soul Tour Concert Tickets at Club Nokia in Los Angeles.

Our tickets said 8.  We got there at 7:15.  Read a very small sign on a window.  The doors opened at 8; the concert didn't start until 10:00!!  You know you're getting old when that announcement alone almost makes you want to cry.  The good news: It was a great concert, I took tons of photos (surprise, surprise), we had VIP 2nd row seats, and directly in front of me sat Tina Majorino who played Deb in Napolean Dynamite (no, she was not wearing her hair in a side ponytail...or peddling lanyards).  She's a huge Mutemath fan; it was really fun watching her watch the concert.  Be sure to check out the photo album of the concert.

God is in the details.  He is in the mundane.  He is in the exciting.  The students are all safe.  We got home safely.  A good time was had in LA.  Christian musicians performed to a secular crowd.  "Let everything that has breath praise the LORD; praise the LORD!" Psalm 150:6

TinkerBling!

Day 32/366 (2/1/2012)

Holy cow, I'm posting this late.  For that I apologize.  Wednesday (pictured above) I went running after school with Christie, Mayra, and the TinkerBell ROCK STAR, Sherri!  This past weekend we were without Sherri as she ran the TinkerBell half-marathon, beginning in Disneyland, out into the streets of Anaheim, and ending in Disneyland California Adventure.  Most runners wore wings, bands played, and characters were out in full force along the route to give high fives.  HOW FUN!!

While we ran, I shared with my ladies an epiphany I had.  In the book Heaven Is For Real by Todd Burpo, attention is brought to how often God listens to, is blessed by, and responds to the prayers of the friends of the afflicted and needy.  Mike and I have had so many people pray fervently for us over the years, for any number of things.  With faith, I trust that the Lord has been and will continue to be blessed by the prayers of our faithful friends.  And I got to thinking...I want to be a faithful praying friend.  I want my prayers on others' behalf to be rich and effective and full of blessing. 

"May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer."
                                                                                  Psalm 19:14

SO...

How can I be praying for you?