Saturday, January 31, 2009

Brain Dump!

I had a lot of thoughts and things going on in the 'ole brain today-here's the dump:


-Starting the day in The Word always makes the day a little smoother.
-I am thankful for my job and co-workers.
-I am thankful for co-workers who are also friends.
-I am thankful for friends staying downtown G-Vegas late-night to wait on me!
-I will not give any money to the animal shelter man who sits outside of Dollar Tree while a kid dies of hunger every three seconds in Africa.
-I will always enjoy Jacob Johnson concerts; and the quote of the night was...."We got our lives planned out for tomorrow, but we don't know what we're doing today."  JJ-beautiful.
-I am falling in love...with swimming.
-I cannot wait to be an Ironman.





Tuesday, January 27, 2009

I have stopped praying before eating...

That's right.  I have stopped saying my "before meal" prayers.  Something that has been a staple for me for the past, well, forever.  It has been tough not bowing my head before I devour a meal-and, essentially, that is why I stopped doing it.

I had a good convo with good friends about a month and a half ago about this very subject.  We all agreed that our "before meal" prayers weren't really prayers at all.  I know that for as long as I can remember, I have basically been a Pharisee about praying and not even realized it.  I would pray before a meal as a possible "witnessing tool".  I thought, "maybe some one will see me praying and get saved," (something along those lines.)  Definitely not the right reason to be praying.  I also began to think about what I prayed before a meal.  I soon realized it was basically the same old blahness every time.  To the God who created me, has sustained me, blessed me beyond belief- "Thank you for this food, Amen." doesn't seem to cut it.  

My "before meal" prayers were not genuine and I did not pray for the right reason.  So I stopped.  And guess what.  I feel more grateful now for food and the little things I take for granted than ever.  

For example, I did my bi-monthly grocery shopping the other day and was waiting in the Deli line waiting for some fresh cut cheese-I was leaning over my grocery cart and saw the $75 worth (budgeted!) of groceries and was overwhelmed.  I immediately thanked the Lord for the bounty.  I have never not known when the next meal was going to come.  (4/5 of the World's population worries about that everyday.)  

Now, I am not advocating not praying.  This is something that I need to do out of respect and to honor my Mighty God better.  When you pray-do not be flippant; don't be passive; pray like you've never prayed before everytime you go to the Lord; pray BIG; and Honor God in your prayers and all that you do.



Wednesday, January 21, 2009

10 Reasons why running on the Treadmill Stinks!

1. You can't spit.
2. You can't blow snot rockets ( I do this all the time when I run)
3. Basically, you do not move.
4. You always get drops of sweat flying on you from the guy/gal on the treadmill beside you.
5. You feel like everyone is watching you
6. The guy beside you always tries to race you!
7. It is so hard to focus.
8. When the TVs in the gym are showing the Echannel, it's hard to stay motivated.
9. Miss out on the scenery.
10.It's boring!!!!!!!

Hope you enjoyed!

Friday, January 16, 2009

Compliments and Encouragment

Build others up!  To often through everyday life and the media we hear people being "bashed."I have heard that for ever negative thing someone says to you, it takes 10 positive things to overcome it.  Why waste time hurting others when we could say nothing at all, or...do the complete opposite and give somebody a compliment.  Everybody loves 'em!  

Today on my long run I was hurting pretty bad.  A guy on a bike passed me and shouted, "Nice Jacket!!"  (I was wearing my Steve Prefontaine hoody.)  This random stranger gave me a compliment, I was stoked!  I turned the corner, saw the finish, and sprinted the rest of the run!  

Little acts of kindness like that go a long way, their easy, and it doesn't take much effort.  

You never know whose life you may be impacting!
Build a brother (or sister) up!  1 Thess 5:11
And thanks to the man on the Alpharetta Greenway!
Okay, so it was sub-freezing temps on the run, but not snowing.  This is an internet pic of the Greenway.

Bi-Lo Marathon!

It's getting closer...in fact, it's sneaking up on me!  The Bi-Lo Marathon in Myrtle Beach, SC is only one month away.  I'm not going to lie, I am a little anxious.  My training was going great until about mid-November or so.  In fact, then I ran a great 14 mile run downtown Greenville at 8:48 min/mile.  I got done with that training run and raised my hands to God (long-distance running is so spiritual to me!)  Later that week, according to Paula Radcliffe on my iPod, I ran my fastest mile time.  The next day-I couldn't feel my foot.  Self-diagnosed Plantar Fasciitus.  There were some mornings that I couldn't even walk.  

I took about a month off and am now trying to get back in Marathon shape.  Last week was an 8.5 mile long run, today was a 12 miler.  16 and 20 over the following weeks and a taper down the two weeks before the race.

Wish me luck, it's going to be great running with friends on a flat course.  I'm super stoked. 

 I think I deserve an ice-cream sandwich!