Tag Archive for 'strength'Page 2 of 2

Still in the Running

It’s Thursday, and I’m tired…weary, but I woke up feeling that way.

After a morning of meetings, we spent a couple of hours in Ikea. I love Ikea, but it’s overwhelming - but I guess 300,000 plus square feet of domestic accoutrement can make you feel like you’re in Heaven and…not - at the same time.

We have another Home Team meeting tonight - last night’s was incredible. I told Byron on the way home, “We may be a smaller group than we were a year ago, but we’re stronger and more determined - you can build a church on a group of committed people like that!”…and we are. And tonight, I know, we’ll be inspired and encouraged again.

But, still, I’m weary - maybe tonight I’ll sleep more than a few hours - maybe tomorrow I’ll eat the way I should - maybe I won’t let little things stress me out or other people’s “issues” affect or offend me…maybe.

It’s a long and winding road…

Of course, even in the weariness, there’s gratefulness - a lot of gratefulness for all the reminders along the way that I’m not alone. Every friendship that has weathered the many storms of past seasons; Every loyalty - every selfless sacrifice I’ve witnessed; Every time someone chooses to put others before themselves and their own comfort; Every smile. Every tear…

There is so much to be grateful for in this journey. So I will choose to make those things my focus, and remember to breathe…(and remember Stillness’ Whispers).

When I ran “track” (Yes, I did - don’t be a hater!), I always gravitated to the short events - the sprints. When it came to the long-distance stuff, I always struggled…I would just want to give up - NO MARATHONS FOR ME!!! But, apparently, God has other plans because this “journey” is a marathon, and I have to learn to pace myself, remove hindrances, not look back, focus on the finish line and…RUN. It’s the only way to get to the other side.

And, along the way, God sends “water breaks” - friends that are like “aloe for the soul”. He also reminds me that, although my journey is personal, I’m not running alone - there are many others in this race with me. So, I pray that I’m never the “weak link”,…

I know God will give me the strength I need - beyond that, I will do my part to keep my eyes on the prize…

Thanks to all of you who continually come along side of me and lift me up. I’m grateful…tired, but grateful.

Peace.

Published
by
angiebledsoe
on November 29, 2007
in faith, friends and life
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The Remains of the Day

Being back among the beautiful faces of C3 was…well, beautiful.

So many faces…new faces. So many stories. So much change has taken place in so many lives…in mine too.

This morning I was reminded of how much I am blessed - how others should be more of my focus - how God has blessed me to be a blessing. We say things like that a lot in church…but, this morning, it really sank in - how rich we are here in America.

Did you know that hunger could be eradicated in the world just by the amount of money Americans spend each year on ice cream! I guess, in my case, that would be better related to how much I spend on coffee…

It’s not just about not being selfish - but also about contentment. Am I content with what God has given me? Do I always have to have more? What about the millions of people who don’t have a fraction of what I discard as too worn or out of date.

At C3, we desire for God to change us…break us, if necessary - cause us to be aware of the needs around us. We desire to be a generous people who don’t just walk on by…

So, we’re changing, growing and asking God to use us to make a difference.

It was a powerful morning. I saw so many new faces - saw old friends who lift me up - was reminded that everyone has a story…there are so many needs - there is so much more to do. And so many more “miles to go before we sleep”.

I pray for strength - for courage. The better the Sunday, many times, the more difficult the Sunday afternoon or evening. The Enemy sends discouragements…

So, I pray for all that God provides for the journey. There’s strength enough for the “promises and miles”. There’s courage enough to face…whatever comes across my path. The struggle will lead me home…

Contentment, selflessness, strength, courage…faith - these are the things that I need more of - not more stuff.

A few months ago I posted some quotes that encouraged me. I reread them again tonight. I needed to remember…

“Who will tell whether one happy moment of love or the joy of breathing or walking on a bright morning and smelling the fresh air, is not worth all the suffering and effort which life implies.”- Erich Fromm

“What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like.”- Saint Augustine

“Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.” - Helen Keller

These are the things I need to remember. These are my goals. So, I fix my eyes once again, gather my courage, and thank God for the journey.

There’s so much more to fight for…and tomorrow is another day to witness that: Love Wins!

It does, you know.

Peace.

Published
by
angiebledsoe
on November 25, 2007
in church, faith, hope, life, love, social issues and sunday
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Strength in my Weakness

So, as I wrote before I’ve been feeling… “blah” all day. I just thought it was all of the rain.

Then, as i was blow-drying my hair, I noticed my underarms looked… weird - swollen. I took my temp.: Fever, again! Now I know why I haven’t felt well the past couple of days. I haven’t just been uninspired - I’ve been sick.

But, tomorrow is Sunday… at C3. So, I need to be well. It will get me over my case of the “blahs”.

There’s a wealth of inspiration to be found there.

“Are you bored with life? Then throw yourself into some work you believe in with all your heart, live for it, die for it, and you will find happiness that you had thought could never by yours.” Dale Carnegie.

The mission, the love, even the struggle… these things inspire me - they give me strength… even when, physically, I’m so far from it. Mother Teresa wrote:

“There are no great things, only small things with great love. Happy are those.”

So, I will find my happiness, inspiration, and strength in these things. She (Mother Teresa) also wrote:

“Many people mistake our work for our vocation. Our vocation is the love of Jesus.”

How inspiring! The Word explains it well in 2 Corinthians 12:9:

“He told me, ‘My grace is enough; it’s all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness.’ Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size - abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.” (The Message)

Peace.

Published
by
angiebledsoe
on October 27, 2007
in church, faith, life, love, quotes and sunday
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Let Us Run!


How does He want us to live?
Like uninspired followers of an ordinary way?
Like unforgiving zealots of a target never reached?
Like selfish children fighting to be “teacher’s pet”?
Like bullies or like priests?
How should we live to represent Him well?

Should we not live like we are:
Seasoned runners with our eyes fixed on Jesus as our only prize…
One grace-blessed beggar sharing newly found bread with another…
Forgiven ones who see others as:
The future joy of heaven
The lost lamb for whom He has searched
His most treasured creation and expression of love
The reason for His life, His ministry, His death…

How does He want us to live?
He wants us to love abundantly, give unsparingly, pray unceasingly.
He wants us to give, to dance, and to sing - all in His name…
He wants us to run…like there’s no tomorrow…run like everything depends on the passing of the baton…run with our head back and eyes focused on the prize.

We must live, love, give, and run…and the “great cloud of witnesses” is always there cheering us on.

Because the face of heaven will be determined by how well we run, how much we give, how often we tell…
For how will they hear if we do not tell them, and how will they know if we don’t show the way…

How does He want us to live?
Our human minds cannot fathom the depths of His desires for us, but it is not for us to waste much time in contemplation, but rather to:

Go, do, love, give, dance, sing, rejoice, weep, comfort, forgive, embrace, and…RUN.

For tomorrow could very well find us on the other side with no more miles to give to the journey. And then we will have only what we made of today to offer at His feet.

So, let us make the most of the miles, and add one more to heaven’s number.
While there’s still time, let us run!

- A. L. B.

Published
by
angiebledsoe
on August 4, 2007
in faith and life
. 0 Comments