Leaving on a Jet Plane

Wow, that title is a blast from the past. Do you remember that song? It had to be from the 70's...oh well, that's not why I'm here today...

I'm here because I just received my itinerary for my trip to India and Nepal. Yes, the tickets and airline reservations were made weeks ago, but the trip details aren't exactly what I thought. I have been given a little more responsibility than I originally thought I would have but I think we're gonna get to do some amazing things. I've learned that when one is traveling to a foreign culture that one must be flexible. Very flexible, at times. The last time I was in India I was given a speaking assignment at an event that I did not know about until 2 days before. There I was in India without any of my resources I would use if I were preparing to speak from my home office. My books were here. Papers that I wrote in seminary that I often refer to were filed away in my desk, unreachable. All I had was the Word and the Holy Spirit. He came through big time. He's good like that. But I'm here again, feeling inadequate and undeserving. Who am I that I should be given such a privilege? That the God of the universe would choose little ole me to go to such a dark corner of the world to proclaim His Good News. Wow.

I hope to blog while I'm away. We'll see. I'm not taking my laptop this time cuz I hate to drag it around and I had connection issues the last time I was there. I hope to use an internet cafe or the business office at one of the hotels. If not, I'll return with a full report sometime after April 4th. I covet your prayers for me, my friend Salena who is traveling with me, the rest of the team that we'll meet up with in India, and, most importantly, for the people we will engage while we are there.

Serving the King,

Jeanette

And then comes the physical rest...

...like it or not. We planned to go camping over Spring Break '09. Camping is, by far, one of my favorite things to do. We camped about halfway between where we live and Waco cuz my Jessica got invited to play in a basketball tournament over the weekend at Baylor. (BTW - loved, loved how those Baylor men beat Kansas and Texas in the Big 12 basketball tournament. AND, those Lady Bears WON the Big 12 Conference Championship. Sic'em Bears!) Sunday morning I got up and leaned over to fold up the couch in the Wildwood and did something to my back. I have a crazy back and, occasionally, it just doesn't work the way it's supposed to. I spent almost the entire day Sunday on the couch in the Wildwood...not how I would choose to spend my camping trip. It's now Wednesday and I'm a little better but not recovered. All the things I wanted to do over Spring Break, all the things I need to do to get ready for my trip next week, all the things that have to be done daily just to keep us rolling, are not being done by me. UGH! I'm doing lots of resting but am itching to get on with the things I need to do.

I'm leaving for a trip to India and Nepal one week from today. I will be doing some mission work and, as a bonus, will get to take a flight around Mt. Everest! I am super excited to see the tallest mountain that God created. I am looking forward to the trip and am eager to share God's Truth with those that I will meet while I am there.

The pain in my back and the powerful pain killers are keeping me from thinking of one more thing to type...ugh, again...

Serving the King,

Jeanette

Soul Rest

I've been trying to rest this week because I didn't return from our women's retreat feeling rested physically. In fact, just a couple of hours after I got home I had to go to a wedding. I sat in the back of the church with a few other friends who had done the same...we laughed about rest. (BTW, if you are reading and don't go to our church, our retreat theme this year was Rest.) While physical rest is certainly important, even vital to our physical health, the retreat was really about soul rest. How is our soul at rest even during frantic, hurried, many hat wearing, taking care of all kinds of responsibilities, times?

I spent weeks studying about rest. I planned to rest. I knew the answers in my head for soul rest. Then, once home from the retreat, those things that I struggle with that keep me from resting popped up. That's how it happens. That very thing that I am trying so hard to get -- the lesson I am trying to learn once and for all -- is the one that so easily escapes.

We talked about Elijah at the retreat. How he had seen God do some awesome things. How he was used by God to do some miraculous things. Then, there he was, on the run. Afraid for his life. Tired, worn out, hungry. God supplied his physical needs and then met with him on Mt. Horeb. "What are you doing here, Elijah?" God asked. Poor pitiful me, Elijah replied. Just off a great victory but feeling alone and abandoned.

This is not how I thought it would turn out...

Yet, all God's promises are true. He never said it would be easy but that He would never leave or forsake. He said He gives strength to the weary because He is strong and mighty. DL Moody said, "The Scriptures were given not to increase our knowledge but to change our lives." If I read that God is faithful, that He provides strength, that He alone is my resting place, but do not apply it in my daily life then it's just head knowledge. It's intended purpose, to change my life, is not accomplished. It's my choice to make -- will I rest in Him? Will I trust Him and in His Word?

God repeated the question to Elijah a second time, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" God let him answer, then told him what was really going on. The truth of the matter. Then God told Elijah what to do next.

So, where do I go from here? When the lies that the world is screaming at me seem stronger than the feeling of rest I've got to combat that with the Truth of the Word. Confess those areas that need confession and seek out those promises that apply to what I'm going through right now. As I repeat over and over again the Truth I am able to believe it. And apply it. I place a spiritual marker and know that God is teaching me -- I plan to remember this lesson.

And from here I go out to rest.

Serving the King,

Jeanette

Blue Bell at the Finish Line

Oh my goodness - a very cold wind was blowing 5,000 miles an hour this morning in downtown Fort Worth. Johnny and I parked the car (which was rather tricky since there were over 18,000 people --not an exaggeration though I am prone to writing them -- running in 5 different races today) and were just about blown over. We walked over to the race tent and huddled over a heater until almost race time. When we walked down the block to turn on the street where the starting line was I was amazed by the sea of people. Someone behind us yelled, "huddle up to stay warm." We chatted with some of the people around us and I grew more and more excited. We faintly heard the singing of the national anthem and could hear the sound of someone making some announcements but could not make out what was being said. Then, we were off. Well, not immediately because of the bazillions of people in front of us. I felt really good and I think the wind just about carried me down the first block. Then, we turned. Uphill. By that time my toes were completely frozen. We did get passed by some people but we passed some people, too. My goal was not to walk at all and to come in under 35 minutes. Almost at the end of the race we turned a corner and had to go uphill. Ugh! I heard a dad encourage his young son and it encouraged me, too! Plus, Johnny was coaching me along the whole way. There was no way he was letting me stop! I started down the home stretch and when I first spotted the race clock it read 33:21. Then I knew it, I could do it -- finish under 35! I sped up a little and crossed the finish line when the clock read 34:08. Johnny let me finish in front of him, too. He is so chivalrous! My actual race time was 33:34. (My race time didn't actually start until I crossed the starting line which is why there is a discrepancy in the times.) I was 2049th out of 6,899 participants!

The sense of accomplishment and personal pride was overwhelming. It felt so good to have a goal, work for it, then achieve it. The great thing about running is that I wasn't measuring myself by anyone else. I knew what I could achieve and that's what I was working for. Success is powerful. Yes, it can be misused and abused. But, success used as a motivator to push harder, dream bigger is powerful.

There are no prizes for 2049th place in the Cowtown 5K. I did get a food bag with some Blue Bell in it. In my book, running 3.1 miles for a little Blue Bell and the satisfaction of doing the best I could is all I need.

Serving the King,

Jeanette

Countdown to Cowtown - Almost Race Time

Johnny and I went over to Fort Worth tonight and picked up our race packets. We walked around the race tent, talked to some vendors, and soaked in some pre-race ambiance. Then we walked across the street and ate some dinner before we came home. I've pinned my race number to my new, red UnderArmor shirt (cuz it's gonna be chilly in the morning) and put my time tag on my favorite Nike running shoes. OH MY GOODNESS - I am so excited about the Big Cowtown 5K tomorrow! It's my very first time to run in an official 5K with an official race number and time tag.

I feel so blessed to be doing something new. Johnny and I really have so much fun together and I'm thankful that we'll be running together tomorrow.

Running the Race,

Jeanette

Nineteen

Today my firstborn in nineteen. Nineteen. And, he wasn't in his bed this morning so my husband and I could go bursting in his room to sing the happy birthday song to him. Instead, I wished him happy birthday on facebook. facebook. That's how I stalk my children. It's a well-known fact that I stalk my children on facebook, I've confessed here before. I did notice he had a status change when I stopped by there this morning... (and he was up until the wee hours of the morning...I hope he made it to class this morning)

We have this wacky tradition in our family that we (Johnny and I) tell our children their "birth story" on their birthday. They've heard it before, they groan when it starts, but it's our thing. So, I'm pondering this morning if I'll tell the college boy his birth story when I see him at dinner tonight. I mean, he's in college, for heaven's sake. And now he's nineteen. And, he's bringing a new friend. This thought should not be filling my head when I have retreat work to do but I have to ask myself, when do they outgrow the telling of the birth story? (when they were 5, you might be thinking -- go away!) Did you happen to see that episode of "Everybody Loves Raymond" when Raymond could not function on his birthday because his mom didn't give him his "birth-minute kiss"? Wouldn't that be creepy if I'm still telling the birth story to my kids when they are adults with their own families?

To tell or not to tell....that's the question.

Serving the King,

Jeanette

Countdown to Cowtown

Johnny and I are running in the Cowtown 5K this coming Saturday! I am so excited. 5K is just my starting place...maybe next year I'll do the whole marathon. Johnny and I do hope to run in a 10K that will be put on by my brother's running club later in the fall. But, for now, I'm just hoping to reach my goal of running the 5K in under 35 minutes. Now, for you seious runners, you may scoff at my 35 minute goal. Look, folks, when I signed up and started training I couldn't even run 1 mile without having to walk.

I was out running this morning and thinking about God and the outdoors and goal-setting. Sometimes I forget what it is that I love about running. First of all, I'm an outdoor-lovin' kind of gal. Second of all, I really like how I feel when I'm done. Thirdly, but not necessarily lastly cuz I could go on & on about running, I like the quietness, the communication with God, and the freedom of it. (was that 3 things under thirdly?) Here are my thoughts today, my last Monday of training before the big race:

Goal-setting is good. Our son told us yesterday at lunch that his college roommate has made goals for every part of his life for this semester. Goals keep us focused and moving forward in the right direction. They give us purpose. When I'm attempting to run but haven't set any particular goal, if I feel tired then I'll just walk. I won't necessarily push myself. But, when I've got a goal set that is looming before me, I'll still go out on that day that I don't particularly feel like it. I'll go to the gym and run on the treadmill even if I don't want to when the weather is bad.

Goals help us stay focused even when we have setbacks. If you were reading last week and know about my fall in the garage, then you might guess that I'm a bit off my training schedule since I didn't really run last week. Sometimes a setback might make us want to give up, think that our goal is unattainable. Getting off track can be really discouraging. But, the Cowtown is happening this weekend whether I fell or not. Will I let a little fall in the garage keep me from getting up Saturday morning, lacing up my running shoes, and accomplishing what I set out to accomplish?

Goals help us move forward. Sometimes when I'm running I'll get a sidestitch. If I'm not training I might just decide to walk (cause that's easier and makes me feel better). However, when I have a goal I'm trying to make for that day, then I will concentrate more on my breathing and keep running until the sidestitch goes away. When those hard times come, disappointments happen, it can be so easy to focus on the hard thing or the disappointment. That's when you gotta focus on the goal that's ahead instead.

It's a good idea to share your goals with someone. I really like running with Johnny. Even though I didn't have a great time today out on my run, I feel confident that I will reach my goal this weekend cuz I always run faster when I run with Johnny. He pushes me, he encourages me, he holds me accountable. Even on Saturday, I know he could run the Cowtown way faster than me. He's not doing it to see how fast he can run it -- he's doing it to help me reach my goal. Sometimes it seems safer to keep our goals to ourself. If we don't tell, then no one will know if we don't reach it, if we happen to fail along the way. The flip side is that we don't have the encouragement or the strength that another person gives us.

Be reasonable in goal-setting. I used to be able to run 3.1 miles in just under 28 minutes (and, kids, that's about the fastest ever for me....ok, I know I'm not burning up the road or setting any speed records but that was a good time for me) and I would have loved for my goal for this race to be 3.1 in under 30 minutes. I knew that was a pretty lofty goal for this season in my life. Make your goals attainable. Not easy or something that doesn't require effort, but something that is realistic. When I reach my goal of under 35 minutes this weekend, then it will inspire me to set a higher goal for the next time.

Keep God in focus in goal-setting. I love to talk to God when I'm out running. Where I used to run in Odessa I could talk out-loud and no one was around to hear me. I don't really have the luxury here....especially at the gym. Sometimes I am afraid that I've said something out loud that I didn't mean to. Anyway, my mind seems clear when I'm running. All the laundry or dirty dishes or dusty pieces of furniture are not distracting me. It's just me and Him. And, truthfully, the purpose of running is to stay healthy and fit -- especially at this stage in my life -- which makes me more useful in God's kingdom. The better I feel physically, the more I can accomplish for kingdom purposes.

So, tomorrow I'll be at the gym doing my speed workout cuz that's what I do on Tuesday when I'm training for a race, trying to reach my goal. What will you be doing tomorrow to reach your goals?

Stay focused, push through the hardships & distractions, find your accountability partner, talk to Your Heavenly Father about it.

Serving the King,

Jeanette