The Stalwart Runner by Paula Friedrichsen

The Stalwart Runner

You're in a race. It's a marathon. At times it's perfect—everything you could hope a marathon to be. During those times you sing as you run, you smile as you run, you praise as you run. The sky is blue, the clouds are puffy, the breeze cool. You love running!

At about mile seven you get a sharp pain in your foot; a thorn has dug itself deep into your heel. What began as an irritating nuisance has become a prickling, agonizing, distraction. With each step pain shoots through your foot. You endure.

More running… More pain… Yet, you endure. There's no stopping on this race—only the finishers get a crown. So you endure some more.

You decide at mile thirteen running isn't all that fun. The wind blows dust into your eyes. The sun beats down on you in a merciless, unbroken gaze. Everything hurts. Each step is hard. You wonder how you ever loved running before. You cry... you yell... you pray... you question... but all while running. You're a runner, and runners run.

Your thoughts are dominated by the pain in your heel. Why would God allow such a thing to hinder and hamper your marathon? What purpose could it possibly serve? You ask God; Can I stop running now? Just for a while? Just for a day? But you pray while running, because you’re a runner… and runners run.

At mile seventeen you feel a surge of energy. Strength from an unseen force has filled you with resolve. The pain in your foot is hardly noticeable. And on you run. At mile nineteen your joy is restored. You run with joy! Yes, you love running! You remember now! At mile twenty-two a stranger offers you a cup of cool water. Ahhhh, better now! You run refreshed. You run joyful. You run strong! At mile twenty-three a song of worship bubbles up from your spirit—the same spirit that felt broken and faithless only a few miles ago. It’s a new song, one that begs to be sung. And you praise as you run, singing the new song of exultation! You love running!

Mile twenty-four you’re still strong, you’re still joyful, you’re still singing, you’re still smiling. The wind in your hair, the sun on your face, one step after another…when a thought hits you? What about the thorn? And as you run, you put your attention on your heel to find in surprise, the thorn remains. The pain still present. The sting still stinging. God hasn’t taken it away—but only eclipsed it with the joy of running.

At the end of the race a crowd awaits; your mother, arms stretched out. Daddy is there with hugs and loving words. There are friends at the finish line that had finished their race before you. Favorite pastors, Sunday school teachers, co-workers, neighbors. Lives you had touched…. lives that had touched yours. All waiting. All clapping. All encouraging. Many told you of their own thorns, and you were surprised. You thought your thorn had indicated God’s disapproval. You never realized that many, many, many others had run with thorns themselves. But they had. And so had you. And, you all had finished the race. You could have quit. You could have refused to continue on—but you didn’t.

And then… Jesus. He’s behind the crowd of friends and family. He stands with a smile, and a song. As he walks toward you He is singing. With long strides He makes His way through the crowd, singing loudly. Unbelievingly you smile shyly and look behind you to make sure it’s you He’s singing to. Yes! He’s singing to you! A song of love, a song of joy, a song of pride. A song so personal… so private… so intimate… that the crowd fades from your mind as your Savior and friend walks toward you to welcome you home.

“The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing."
Zephaniah 3:17

And what about that thorn? Well... His grace was sufficient, His power made perfect, and when you were weak, He was strong.

Paula Friedrichsen is a member of Church on the Mountain, a vibrant community of believers in Crowley Lake. We meet at 9:30 Sunday mornings. Call for more information: 935-4272 or www.ChurchOnTheMountain.org

6 Keys to Enjoying the Sweet Life in Sour Times by Paula Friedrichsen

Key 1: Develop a Vibrant Prayer Life
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6

A vibrant prayer life is the single most important facet to surviving during difficult times. The upsetting realities of our lives become so much easier to bear when we spend time with God each day. We may not come away from our prayer times having all the answers, but we definitely come away with peace, joy, and strength to continue the journey. As we pour out our hearts to the Lord He brings a clarity and perspective that could never be gained from our own understanding and reasoning abilities.

Key 2: Pursue Peace
I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:8

Rising grocery costs, sky rocketing gas prices, unaffordable medical insurance… it’s enough to make even Pollyanna squirm. I’m a “glass half full” kind of gal, but in this day and age it can be challenging to stay peaceful and positive when the glass appears to be draining quickly. It’s at those times that the Lord gently reminds me that I have only one source of true peace during anxious times…Christ Jesus himself.

Key 3: Nurture Fulfilling Friendships
A friend loves at all times… Proverbs 17:17

One of the greatest sources of comfort during dark times is the soothing reassurance that comes from sharing our troubles with a close friend. Faithful friends have a wonderful way of offering a listening ear and a sympathetic hug. When our lives are feeling chaotic, anxious, or out of control, it’s easy to isolate ourselves. But it’s at that time especially that we need our friends! Resist the urge to become a hermit when suffering. Instead, make that call, reach out, and share your troubles with your friend.

Key 4: Cultivate a Quiet Life
Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life… 1 Thessalonians 4:11

Some people’s lives are crammed so full of noise and entertainment that they’re seldom alone with their own thoughts. Our culture offers us a plethora of stimulating activities and amusing diversions. And unless you happen live in an Amish farmhouse nestled in the rolling hills of Pennsylvania, you’ve been inundated with sensory overload: televisions blaring, video games blasting, cell phones ringing, car stereos booming, and iPods rockin’. As a society we’ve lost our appreciation for a quiet life. Yet, the very thing we need when suffering through upsetting times is quiet. Quiet to feel our feelings and think our thoughts…solitude in which God can speak to us and comfort us. But if every moment is filled with some kind of entertainment or communication, we’ll never have the time or space to process our emotions. Charles Spurgeon once said, “Quietude, which some men cannot abide because it reveals their inward poverty, is as a palace of cedar to the wise, for along its hallowed courts the King in his beauty deigns to walk.”

Key 5: Embrace a Healthy Lifestyle
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own. 1 Corinthians 6:19

When weathering a crisis, the first thing to go is usually our healthful eating and exercise habits. Anxiety has a way of making even the most health-conscience person shove large quantities of chips and chocolate in their mouth. Yet, our healthy lifestyle can be an island of sanity and normalcy amidst the roaring waves of calamity. When going through upsetting times it’s important to continue to nurture yourself with good food, consistent exercise, and plenty of rest.

Key 6: Release Your Need for Control
It’s human nature to want to control and “manage” the people and circumstances in our lives—but most of the upsetting realities of our day are beyond our control. Yet, as we allow God’s transforming Word to enter our hearts and minds, we’ll find it easier to trust His plan for our lives….even in anxious times. Letting go of the perceived control we have over our lives and submitting to God’s plan involves trust. Just as we drop down wearily onto a sturdy chair—trusting that it will hold our weight and give us rest… We can come to God with our anxieties, weariness, and worries and collapse into His loving arms. He is sturdy and reliable, and His strength will never fail. God is more then able to soothe our anxieties and give us direction and guidance. If we choose to rest in His care we will leave His presence refreshed, filled with new perspective, and with our faith renewed.

Paula Friedrichsen is a member of Church on the Mountain, a vibrant community of believers in Crowley Lake. We meet at 9:30 Sunday mornings. Call for more information: 935-4272 or www.ChurchOnTheMountain.org

Return to Me by Peggy Stovesand

It was like any ordinary grocery shopping day for me. I pulled into the parking lot noticing all the cars piled high with skis and snowboards. Still the town had very little snow. I bet I’ll run into some pretty grumpy people today, I thought. Christmas had come and gone with not a dusting of the white stuff.

I jumped out of my car and began to think of how very lucky these people were . . . snow or no snow compared to my daughter’s teacher. This was the day he was having a liver transplant.

The grocery store was crowded and I started down the aisle in a sea of unfamiliar faces. Dan, the teacher who I knew well, was really on my mind. I knew at that very moment he was in surgery getting a new liver.

I had seen a movie about a heart transplant about a month earlier called “Return to Me”. The scenarios were so similar. In the movie a young woman (Minnie Driver) in a hospital awaited a new heart. As Dan had been 3 weeks at UCLA Medical Center awaiting what would be his new liver. In the movie a beautiful, vibrant woman died in an accident to give up her heart. In Dan’s case it was a handsome, robust young man who would donate his liver to Dan. A death so that someone could live. How does it all work, Lord? It had to be a perfect match and Dan was assured that this was the one. In “Return to Me” Minnie Driver gets her new heart and it turns out to be a very successful operation.

I headed toward the check-out station with a full cart. I was anxious to get home and check my answer phone. Would there be any messages about Dan?

In a haze, I absentmindedly watched the checker as she scanned my purchases and I happened to notice the person behind me. She didn’t look like a skier. Her dark hair pulled up underneath a tri-cornered scarf. No make-up, but fresh appearing. To me she looked like Minnie Driver, the actress who had been consuming my thoughts since I was in the market. I turned and casually said to her, “Has anyone ever told you that you look like Minnie Driver?” With a tiny grin that burst into a smile she said “Why, yes they do!”
It was at that moment that I knew it WAS Minnie Driver!!! I said “You ARE Minnie Driver, aren’t you?” She said “yes”. A million thoughts flooded through my brain. What kind of coincidence is this? I felt encouraged. Bubbling forth, I spilled the whole scenario to her about Dan and his transplant going on (at that very moment) at UCLA. “Oh”, she commented, “I did all my research for the part in “Return to Me” at UCLA. It’s a wonderful place. I’m sure he’ll do just fine.”

Yes, I was sure he would too. Guess I just needed someone else to say it out loud for me. “Would you sign an autograph for him?” I asked, knowing that Tammy, the checker, was anxious to keep her line moving and had no idea of what was transpiring before her eyes. “Sure” she said as I fumbled for a pen and anything she could write on. I retrieved a pen from the bottom of my purse and without looking further just put down my grocery receipt in front of her for her to sign. Here’s what she wrote:

TO DEAR DAN, WISHING YOU A SPEEDY RECOVERY
(drawing of a heart)
Minnie Driver
Xxx

I left the store with receipt in hand, thinking surely I could have come up with something better for her to sign on than a grocery receipt. But as I was looking at the endearing signature, I noticed how it had the exact date and time of this amazing encounter on it. When I would give this autograph to Dan he could see that all this had transpired exactly during his surgery on the exact date at the exact time.

At a time when my doubts were high and I became discouraged --- God just said “let your thoughts return to me.”

The Blatant Evidence of Love by Tara McDonald

Most mornings I wake up with a ridiculous grin on my face and a merry tune on my lips. I get out of my warm bed and look out at the beautiful mountains, the towering peaks and shining white snow. The tall aspens outside my window impart a stained-glass effect on my wall, and the rays of sunshine peer through the frail branches. I open my window and breathe in the crisp cool scent that accompanies these mornings, and I calmly close my eyes. Once, in this early hour, I even saw an eagle flying. I feel warm, peaceful, and totally blessed to enjoy the beauty that God has given me.

But what about the days when I don’t wake up feeling perfectly fantastic? What do I do when I’m not immediately struck by the beauty that God has given us in our everyday lives? Life is full of hardship, sadness, and just plain old bad days. So is it still possible to be overwhelmed by God’s creation even when we don’t see it right away?

You may call him God, Lord, Abba, or any variety of other names, but He is and always will be, our Heavenly Father. We are his beloved children, and he absolutely adores us.

When you adore someone, what do you do for them? Everything. You send them flowers, you give them hugs, you draw them pictures. You do anything you can to let them know you love them. Even when they’re having a hard time recognizing your love you continue to give it. 1 John 3:1-2 reads, “See what love The Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.”

We have Biblical proof that we are God’s children, and that He delights to thrill us! One of the simplest ways he does this is by providing us with His beauty, grace and love in our everyday lives. A good friend, a phone call, the lack of traffic, an amazing sunrise. Even these simple random occurrences can brighten our day if we let them.

In Psalm 21:6 the Psalmist sings, “Surely you have granted him eternal blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence,” For me, it comes through spending time in worship and then carrying His spirit with me throughout the day.” What is worship? It is Gods children praising him for his goodness. Does not it make sense that God would then reflect his goodness on us after we reflect on it? He uses the physical to display his glory to us, for that is where our bodies and minds exist. The things that grace the spiritual are often blessings that we do not recognize, whereas when our physical man sees natural beauty, it is identified with ease.

“From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth (Psalm 50:2).” God’s beauty is evident in all the earth. Once it is identified, how do we not acknowledge the Lord as Sovereign Father and Creator? Mark 6:2 declares, “What great deeds are done by His hands.”

Think of simple things like colors: What crazy thing went through God’s mind when He made all the amazing shades? Black and white could have been where our sight stopped, but our Father chose to dote on us, his children, by gracing this world with the rainbow.

Flowers, birds, clouds, and the seasons. Weather, winter, frost, and stormy seas. Exotic creatures, islands, beaches, and paradises. We are told in Habakkuk 2:14 that “the earth is filled with the Lord's glory”. And we don’t even need to search to find it! Look around you now. Stop reading, and just look. What did you see?

Perhaps you saw a darling family member, an interesting cloud formation, a beautiful scene. Everywhere we look we can find evidence of God’s glory and beauty and it doesn’t take a good mood to recognize. For the Father, “has made everything beautiful in its time (Ecclesiastes 3:11)”.