The Race of Life

The last week God has really laid upon my heart the imagery of My Life as a Race. I was born at the start line and ever since I took my first breath I have been running a Marathon with the end point being Heaven/Eternity with my Savior and Maker. There have been different legs to this race so far (Infant/Toddler years, elementary/middle/high school, college/grad school, Carson City, Nevada, Las Vegas, Nevada), and God willing many more to come. Each leg of my race has had it challenges; each brought new people into my life some as encouragers, some for me to encourage, some to sharpen me and others so I could sharpen them. Most importantly each has enabled me to grow closer to my savior, and grow in my love and desire for a deep intimate relationship with my maker, savior, and best friend!



I had fun the last week and am continuing to brainstorm and put on paper a visual of my life so far (past 24 years). Including: key events, people, trials, lessons, scripture, stages in spiritual growth/life, and challenges I faced. If you have never thought much about it, I challenge you to take some time to reflect…For me it opened my eyes and reminded me of just how BIG my God is and how intimately involved he has been in my life since before I was born planning out the events that have unfolded and will continue to unfold in my life. When I live a life surrendered to the LORD my life will always be an adventure…there will always be challenges…there will always be moments I will want to give up…always be attacks from satan until I reach the finish line BUT When I am living in the spirit with my eyes fixed on Christ I will always have enough strength to keep going…enough peace…enough joy…enough hope…enough faith…



Throughout the Bible our life is described as a race....



In a race all the runners take part in it, but only one of them wins the prize. Run, then, in such a way as to win the prize. Every athlete in training submits to strict discipline; he does so in order to be crowned with a wreath that will not last; but we do it for one that will last forever. 1 Cor 9:24-25 (TEB)



“…. since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.” Hebrews 12:1-3



Not that I have become perfect yet; I have not yet won, but I am still running, trying to capture the prize for which Christ Jesus captured me. I can assure you my brothers, I am far from thinking that I have already won. All I can say is that I forget the past and I strain ahead for what is still to come; I am racing for the finish, for the prize to which God calls us upward to receive in Christ Jesus. Phil 3:12-14 (Jer)



...Keep yourself in training for a godly life. Physical exercise has some value in it, but spiritual exercise is valuable in every way, because it promises life both for now and for the future. This is a true saying, to be completely accepted and believed. That is why we struggle and work hard... 1 Tim 4:7-10 (TEB)



Follow the Lord's rules for doing his work, just as an athlete either follows the rules--or is disqualified and wins no prize.

2 Tim 2:5 (LB)



As for me, the hour has come for me to be sacrificed; the time is here for me to leave this life. I have done my best in the race, I have run the full distance, I have kept the faith. And now the prize of victory is waiting for me, the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the Day--and not only to me, but to all those who wait with love for him to appear. 2 Tim 4:6-8 (TEB)



...I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace. Acts 20:24 (NIV)



I wrote this a year ago & stumbled upon it tonight and it was perfect….I feel in the same spot today…a little over a year later…As God has called me into a new city, new job, out of my comfort zone…

“Since I moved to Nevada I have been missing Haiti more than ever. Probably because so much is going on, so many changes are happening, God is moving in so many BIG ways & my heart aches & longs to be there. Maybe because I took this job so that I can serve in Haiti in the summers & that is a huge motivator as everything in my life is changing. This move has challenged me to go to a new level of TRUST in my BIG GOD. I don’t know anyone out here, I am in a new town, new job, first job out of college, so much is expected & frankly at times I feel so inadequate. I can’t help but ask Why me God? I have taken a lot of time to think back on my past & I stand in Awe at the ways God has moved to form me into the person I am today. I could go on & on and list pages of situations that have happened (good & bad) that occurred to prepare me to be where I am today & be ready to keep fighting & traveling along this journey God is taking me on. God has blessed me time & time again in my past & He is blessing me so abundantly here in Nevada. During a hike last weekend as I sat on a Big rock overlooking Lake Tahoe from on top of a mountain I had just climbed, I finally took the time to stop & tune into God. God laid upon my heart this poem. It was such a sweet reminder of how God has perfect plans for each of us, He cares deeply about each of us, He loves us each so deeply, and He is so excited to take us on a journey of a lifetime that ends in His sweet precious arms. I challenge you to look back over your past, to see God’s handiwork in your life. His hand is there…even when we push Him away…He never leaves us, never stops pursuing us, never stops loving us. We are his precious children.



What God Sees

In June 1987 God breathed life into a little girl.

In that moment when the world saw a cute, fragile, precious baby…

God saw into the future and saw the women of God she would become.

In elementary school when she was the shyest person in her class and got homesick when she was away from home…

God saw into the future and saw her being bold & courageous for Him while crossing seas to share the gospel and His love.

When she was in middle school and confused about who she was & not the best in school

God saw into the future when she would be full of God-confidence & graduate grad school with a degree she could use to serve the Lord with.

When she was 12 and went on her first mission trip

God saw into the future and saw the missionary she would become.

As she was growing up & she found her talent to be loving on children & she was always being told when you grow up you should work with children

God saw into the future & saw her working with all kinds of children in the united states & overseas.

When that little girl would get easily upset & her heart would break

God smiled and looked into the future & saw a women who had a compassionate heart that broke at the site of injustice & that drove her to fight for the poor, needy, & forgotten.

And now as her heart aches & longs to be in Haiti, serving as a missionary, using her skills/degree to work with disabled children sharing God’s love to the poor, needy, & forgotten.

She is trusting in God’s perfect timing & believes there is more preparation to take place before she is ready to go.

I wonder what God sees as He looks into her future?



I don’t know what my future holds…but I know the one who does & I can face tomorrow because I know He lives & He is Mighty & He is faithful. I just got done reading the book of Genesis & reading about the journey of God’s people. They had to wait on His timing…time & time again BUT He always fulfilled His promises & ALWAYS journeyed with them. He blessed them even when other plotted harm against them. I was reminded that God works everything for His glory & His good. EVERYTHING. What others plan as harm against us God turns for His good. BUT God as I learned from Genesis PATIENCE is key, TRUST is essential, and FAITH is required. I am learning these 3 things. I am excited to see how God is going to use me now & how He is going to continue to mold me & shape me into the vessel He needs me to be, to go on the next leg of my journey. May I be a willing vessel, open to learn, open to be molded, and open to GO WHEREVER He calls me. Thank you for all your prayers & support. Please continue to keep me in your prayers as I am being stretched in ways I never dreamed but growing at the same time.



I challenge you to take an hour to sit at your maker (coach’s) feet and allow him to tell you His story of the life He has given you…Let Him reveal truths to you and encourage you in this marathon you are running. I am so thankful that God has brought each and everyone of you into my marathon and whether we got to run alongside each other for a few weeks, months, years, or are still running beside each other…I am so grateful for that time because each of you have helped me make it to the leg of the race I am on today…whether you or I knew it at the time J That is just how BIG our God is!

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