So it has been a little while since my last post and I apologize to anyone who had been following and has been nervously, antsily, and tortured wondering what has going through my mind or what happened to me. I’ve been super busy trying to get stuff in order before summer camp work begins and I’ve been able to do some domestic travel to NYC (imagine the sketch 10 hour bus ride possible and x that by about 5 and you’re close to experiencing an overnight bus ride from Greensboro to China Town = making memories) and Kentucky (Baby showers are manly, I’ve convinced myself don’t sway me!).
I came across a quote by Arthur Wallis, who is a pretty incredible writer. But this quote seemed to resonate down inside me. He wrote:
“Above the incessant noise of human activity we have “heard the sound of marching”
that tells us God is on the move.”
Just soak that in for a couple minutes and think about how He has moved in the last couple days for you.
I think it’s hit home the last few weeks because I can honestly tell you that about once a week I lay awake listening to some crazy thunder rumbling overhead in an awe struck trance just thinking. I can’t really tell you what I think because I’m not entirely sure, but to stop and listen without iPod engaging the situation and burying yourself in your covers is a surreal experience! Thunder in the Bible is such a powerful term because usually it is referred to as God speaking Psalms 18, 29, 77, Exodus 19, John 12:28 and 2 Samuel 22:14 which says, “The Lord thundered from heaven; the voice of the most high resounded.”
I’m just gonna throw this out there but God has been talking. I can’t honestly say that I have been wholeheartedly listening all the time, but He keeps coming back and knocking on the window for sure. I’ma throw this out there, I don’t claim to know everything but I can guarantee He’s not just whispering in your ear as well but He is resounding through your space and He wants you to recognize that our whole being is to adamantly glorify God as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
I often times struggle to live full heartedly like God has got my back. I wake every morning and pray a prayer that I want to feel the peace and reassurance that God will lead me through the day and that I feel a peace beyond recognition in the situations that I encounter and that my feet won’t move too fast or stray too far from recognizing God’s presence in everything I do.
I’ve almost finished Francis Chan’s, “Crazy Love” for what makes a handful of times.. But one of my favorite analogies he makes in the book is to imagine running while eating a box of twinkies. He goes on to say:
“Besides being self-defeating and sideache-inducing, it would also be near impossible–you would have to stop running in order to eat the Twinkies. In the same way, you have to stop loving and pursuing Christ in order to sin. When you are pursuing love, running toward Christ, you do not have opportunity to wonder, Am I doing this right? or Did I serve enough this week? When you are running toward Christ, you are freed up to serve, love, and give thanks without guilt, worry, or fear. As long as you are running, you are safe.”
Now I KNOW the truth to this idea. I love running and somehow almost every year of college I somehow suckered myself and everyone I could possibly talk into it to run one of the most prestigious and serious barely over a 5k racing event called the Krispy Kreme Challenge. In this race you have to dress as ridiculously as possible and you run 2 miles in downtown Raleigh to Krispy Kreme where you put down 12 not so hot caked on glazed donuts and then run 2 miles back. Now before we go on I want to make it clear I truly believe “the kreme” will be in heaven and I know what you’re thinking “that would be awesome and you are a little girl for talking smack about “the kreme“!” My response to you is “I don’t really have a response just wanted to dramatically increase the epicness of this story.” So anyways first two miles, money.. 12 donuts, “my gosh”.. To run again after = “I know God loves me because 1) I haven’t croaked from a heart attack and 2) I’m so jacked up on sugar 2 miles stands no chance.” Now the problem is the race is in the AM. For the rest of the day you lay around cursing the thought of a hot sign and lazily not doing anything, it’s paralyzing!
We surround ourselves with so many ideas that look sweet or appetizing as we run by but the truth is the only TRUE fulfillment we can find is to set our eyes on Jesus and run like everything else depends on Him! It’s freeing and makes the race so much more worth running!! Running the World Race wide open, ya hear?
One last thing and you can go read some other blog. I found this to be interesting and awesome, the Aramaic word for prayer means “to set a trap.” It’s also the subject of my favorite joke of all time “How do you catch a polar bear?” but I’m not sure that you’re ready for it and most people who know me really well don’t think it’s very funny and would either steer you clear! But completely off topic, if you’re dying to know you can hit me up…
Anyways, just want you guys to know I’m setting some huge bear traps for you guys as we prepare for the journey ahead. Hope everything with everyone is going great (very broad and not detailed but we’re talking huge bear trap) and if there’s anything specific I can throw up for you just comment below..
Jesus Party,
Thomas
Jams of the week (since I’ve seemed to add my music of the moment on every post).. Chris Thile and Michael Daves = WOW, Whole record is sick, get you pumped for a run or go eat a dozen donuts! Hah live it up guys
