Race To Endure
Ballet, tap, jazz, gymnastics, cheer leading, basketball and track are a few of the sports and extracurricular activities that I enjoyed growing up. I remember falling in love with track sometime in middle school and quickly discovering by high school that I was NOT a long-distance runner, lol. I enjoyed the races that were over and done with. I was pretty fast and with practice I got better eventually making the varsity track team by 10th grade year and running AAU for an elite team in another county. One day at a competition track meet, never having ran the 400 meter dash at a competition before, my coach threw me in a 4×400 meter relay. Startled I asked, “Coach, how do I run this race? His reply, “Run fast and run hard out the blocks, stride the straight, gain your 2nd wind in the curve and bust it home that last straight. You got this, now go!”
You all, let me clue you in here right now, I had NEVER ran the 400 meter dash outside of practice for conditioning purposes prior to this race and I was still on the JV team (I had no clue this was the race that would change my coaches opinion about me as a athlete)! I did not fully know what this man was talking about but I took his instructions and nervous as I was I did what I could with what I had and set my 1st PR (personal record) and experienced for the first time the feeling of ones glutes locking up and toppling your entire body to the ground after a very intense long sprint, lol. For those who don’t know, the 400 meter dash is the longest sprint that sprinters compete in. IT IS A RACE OF ENDURANCE. Speed and skill are key but endurance is what brings the gold home.
This particular season of my life has been a race of endurance like no other. I have been tested and tried in ways I can’t even begin to share right now or else this blog will turn into 2 or 3 chapters to a new book ?? lol (in due time, His time). Much like the 400 meter dash, I can only imagine what level of endurance traveling to 11 (possibly more) countries in 11 months will require. I didn’t think I was ready for the 400 meter dash. I was nervous but my coach trusted what he had instilled in me and pushed me to do it anyways. All the hours spent practicing every day were not aimless or a waste. Little did I know that I had been prepared for the race way before I was to run it. That day was just time to see what I would do with what had been given to me. This is practice. This is preparation time.
The Lord spoke to me a few months back and told me, “I am preparing you for The World Race.” I smiled then because I had an idea in my head of what I thought He meant. I was wrong. I had no clue the intensity and intentionality of preparation I was about to encounter. I had no idea the heartache, separation, financial struggle, physical discomfort, relationship changes, mind renewing, soul transformation and so much more that was about to ensue. I had joined the team though, Team Jesus that is, almost 10 years ago and there was no turning back. I was committed and so my journey, my faith took a turn towards maturity, growth and being proven true. This was the race to endure and I had willingly walked up to the blocks. No turning back now…
Romans 5: 3-5 (AMP)
And not only this, but [with joy] let us exult in our sufferings and rejoice in our hardships, knowing that hardship (distress, pressure, trouble) produces patient endurance; 4 and endurance, proven character (spiritual maturity); and proven character, hope and confident assurance [of eternal salvation]. 5 Such hope [in God’s promises] never disappoints us, because God’s love has been abundantly poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
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Traveling the world is not cheap, especially as a missionary and even more for an entire year! I, again, want to invite you to make a difference by giving in prayers and financial contributions so I can go to the darkest corners of the world to bring the light of Jesus Christ. Your spiritual and monetary seeds will impact generations. This is beyond you and I. Partner with me and let’s see God do the impossible!
My Goal: $18,700 & you can help! There is NOTHING too big for my God. All I ask is that you partner with the heart of God for His people & feel free to donate & pray as much as you can, want or He leads you to. I am so excited & full of Faith. I know God is going to do some AMAZING things in my life & yours.
August 2018 is my departure date but my journey starts NOW!
You may not be able to physically come with me but you sure can partner with me financially & come along for the ride as I blog my journey from now until.
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