Summer's Gone!

Yep!

It's been a while! Not on purpose this time. I can't tell you how I have been itching to get onto this thing, but life around here cranks up a notch when school is out!

This summer has been a wild ride! A lot of waiting. A lot of wanting. A lot of whining too! When life as you know it hangs in the balance, it is hard not to whine! However, God has taught me more this summer than I could ever have imagined. He has also blessed me more than I could ever have imagined.

First of all, this prairie weather has been crazy! I just gotta get that off my chest. I know, I blog about the weather a lot, but I'm sure I'm not alone in shaking my head over this frigid summer we have had!

I remember a few summers ago, overhearing a mom and daughter in a clothing store. The girl was wowed by a stack of gorgeous jeans and mentioned to her mom that she would loooove a pair.
To this, the mom replied, "It's summer! We don't wear jeans in summer!"
To this, Roxanna May of the Prairies thought, "Umm.... how long have you lived here?!!!!"

This summer has definitely been the "year of the pants!"

For me, the summer really kicked off on Father's Day. That was the day of the Super Run.

YES. I DID IT!

Running this race was huge for me! I know it was only 2.6 miles, but in my eyes, it was darn near around the world!!!!! I even asked for prayer for this cuz I was so petrified that I would not be able to do it! I desperately wanted God to care about this little thing!

You see, I have had issues in the past when it comes to completing things; finishing what I started. I go full steam ahead with a "great idea" and then I come to a stand still because I can't get around, over or under an obstacle.

When I asked for prayer, it was in a group setting at a church retreat. I was paired with 3 women I knew in name only. After the prayer, a word from the Lord was spoken over me by one woman and scripture was given to me by another.

The word spoken was:
Completing this run would open doors to tackling and completing other things in my life because I would have the confidence to succeed instead of the fear of failure.

The scripture was:
Hebrews 6:11&12
" We want each of you to show the same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised."

Hebrews 12:12&13
"Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. Make level paths for your feet so that the lame may not be disables, but rather healed."

I poured over and journalled about this scripture as I counted down the days to the big race. I wrestled with backing out of the race because I was so afraid of failing and disappointing my baby girl. But no, that would have have been the bigger disappointment to her.

I prayed daily. I ran daily. I chewed on scripture daily. I thought about crossing the finish line with my girl. I kept on keeping on.

The words spoken over me and the scripture that agreed, revealed to me in 2.6 miles what the race of our lives is supposed to look like:

...show the same diligence...do not become lazy...imitate those who have inherited what was promised.
The only reason I could get thorough those miles was because when I wanted to give up, I didn't.

...strengthen your feeble arm and weak knees...make level paths...so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.
Race day came. Much to my surprise, it was ME encouraging and poking my 10 year old running partner across the finish line!

We finished the race together that day. I would have carried her across that finish line if I had to.

And THAT, my friends, is how we are to run this mortal race of life. What a lesson. I will never forget it! I am diligently working to apply it to every area of my life. I am humbly asking God to strengthen me when I want to quit.

I have a prize to inherit.
And I want to help others inherit it too.

I'm headed out for a run now!