Just some early morning thoughts and reflections...

What's happening in Japan is hard to miss and has caused me to think about the hundreds of thousands of people whose lives have been forever changed. The events that happened in Egypt a few months ago and what's going on in Lybia are another reminder that this world is filled with unrest and it doesn't seem to want to go away. Even with all of man's progression and knowledge, you'd think we'd get a few things figured out. And then of course there's March Madness, which no one can quite figure out, but people will bet on it like crazy! Such an insignificant thing to keep track of in light of world events, really.

In my own soul I find myself longing for a time when all will be right in the world. From the inconsistencies in my own life to world events seen on the news these days, my heart and soul groan for relief! And then I have to wonder. Do natural things speak of the invisible? Natural events like earthquakes, tsunamis. Is this the earth groaning too in wait for a redeemer?

This morning I woke at 4 am thinking about way too much. And as I pulled out Max Lucado's Devotional Bible, I read this devotion on Heaven. I'll be chewing on this today.

"The only ultimate disaster that can befall us, I have come to realize, is to feel ourselves to be home on earth. As long as we are aliens, we cannot forget our true homeland. Unhappiness on earth cultivates a hunger for heaven. By gracing us with a deep dissatisfaction, God holds our attention. The only tragedy then, is to be satisfied prematurely. To settle for earth. To be content in a strange land....
We are not happy here because we are not at home here. We are not happy here because we are not supposed to be happy here. We are "foreigners and strangers in this world. (1 Peter 2:11) Take a fish and place him on the beach. Watch his gills gasp and scales dry. Is he happy? No! How do you make him happy? Do you cover him with a mountain of cash? Do you get a beach chair and sunglasses? Do you bring him a Playfish magazine and martini? Do you wardrobe him in double-breasted fins and people skinned shoes? Of course not. Then how do you make him happy? You put him back in his element. You put him back in the water. He will never be happy on the beach simply because he was not made for the beach. And you will never be completely happy on earth simply because you were not made for this earth. Oh, you will have moments of joy. You will catch glimpses of light. You will know moments or even days of peace, but they simply do not compare with the happiness that lies ahead."

Fit2Wed

Right now our office could be called Fit2Wed instead of Fit2Race. Sayuri, Jesse and I lament about what still needs to get done all before the big day. With wedding on the brain, we each have our own distractions with this part of life. It does make for a fun/understanding work environment as we make calls to vendors on our lunch breaks or have to work on wedding details in our spare moments. But for Sayuri, the big day is here this weekend! Ready or not, the day has come. Congratulations to Dustin and Sayuri and little Bink, our office mascot. I pray for years and years of good things for the two of you.

We took on a challenge mid-February to get in better shape before our weddings and signed up for KAIA FIT (Functional Intense Training for Women) which is conveniently located just next door to work. We've had a lot of fun (and suffered a lot of good pain) with the ladies at KAIA FIT. I'm loving the set up - in Tumbleweeds Gymnastic Center. Nikki's philosophy on fitness is inspiring! After watching kids jump around and do gymnastics, she asked herself, what happens to us as adults to think we can't get in there and do that? Many women's lives have been changed by it. I love the energy and the fun of the class and the ladies who lead it. I love seeing average women get in there. You don't know what to expect each time you walk through the door except that you're going to sweat, move your body, and work it out with a bunch of other like-minded ladies of all shapes and sizes!
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On another note, interviews for my position have started, as I won't be making the commute once James and I are married. So, if you live in the Carson/Minden area and are looking for a fantastic, fast-paced, tough job, I'd say apply now. It is kind of interesting to see who comes through the doors and curiosity gets the best of me. I wonder who will carry on here at Fit2Race.

For now, I'm workin' hard to be Fit2Wed. Even though I hate all the details and the planning of a wedding, I'm enjoying the process as James and I get to know each other in different ways through this too. The hardest part is living in the moment. I have to constantly remind myself that I only have today. I'm not given tomorrow so I need to just enjoy the moments I have now with co-workers, family, friends and my handsome fiance. Tomorrow will come soon enough and I'm sure there will be plenty think about then too.

Strength

It might be the number of times I biffed it snowboarding this weekend at Northstar. It might be the fact that wedding planning has now been added to the details of every day life. It might have been the number of thoughts I've had about the exciting (but unknown) changes that are coming in the next few months. For whatever reason, this morning I was tired and felt weak.

Strength of body - Shred the mountain?! ha! My body felt like shredded meat for atleast a day.
Strength of mind - Take your thoughts captive. Remind yourself you only have today. Don't get overwhelmed. My constant struggle.
Strength of heart - Taking on the details of wedding planning requires this, even if you are a bride-zilla and/or love this kind of stuff. (not me!)

My plain and obvious need this morning was to be strengthened from above. Your own resources run out....

And guess what I opened up to this morning in la Biblia? A few passages on this very topic, something I so desperately needed to hear.

Isaiah 45
"I will go before you and will level the mountains;
I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron.
I am the LORD, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God.
I will strengthen you,"

To be strengthened with a strength that never runs out. Now that's real strength.
Just today I felt that strength running through my thoughts, my heart, my physical body even! Intangible but so real. His essence strengthening my human frame so I can do His will and be His girl. I'm so far from it, but I want it.

I started thinking about life a little and how I'm venturing into a new season, one that includes marriage and family, all very new stuff. And I asked God for the strength for that.

You want to know what He said?
"Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you." Isaiah 46

Later today I heard a song by Sidewalk Prophets
"The Words I Would Say" and I was encouraged and strengthened once again.


"Be strong in the Lord and,
Never give up hope,
You're going to do great things,
I already know,
God's got His hand on you so,
Don't live life in fear,
Forgive and forget,
But don't forget why you're here,
Take your time and pray,
These are the words I would say..."

So my hope for you is this kind of strength and this kind of relationship with the living God, where He speaks and you are changed.