today i ran

I ran with Brian today. I like to walk the neighborhood and occasionally do tae bo. Sometimes I go to the gym, but today I ran. I just needed to. We ran for 20 minutes when I had to take a break. I told Brian to keep going. I would walk. So I walked a little and ran a little until, at last I saw Brian at the top of the hill!  "Brian!!" I yelled. But he was listening to his Ipod. If I could run up the hill, maybe I could catch him! The hill was too much, but at the top of the hill, was the downhill slope. I know I can catch him on the downhill run! I ran fast; I was out of breath. "Brian!" I yelled, but he still could not hear me. Now I had to prove to myself that I could catch him! I HAD to catch him! As I panted unattractively, I passed an old lady with beehive hair. At least I was faster than she was! There was Brian, on the other side of the soccer field. I cut across the field, not caring what I looked like. It occurred to me that I might throw up, but I had to catch him! So I yelled once more, this time more loudly than before, "Brian!!" And he heard me! He turned around and there I was. I had caught him!

On my way back to the car, it occurred to me, what if we chased that hard after God? What if we didn't care what we looked like or who heard us? How might our week look differently if we pursued him with such intensity!  What if we forgot about all the things we had to do and sought after him because we were thirsty for him, rather than for what he might do for us? Fortunately, God is not listening to an Ipod. He will always hear.  James 4:8 says "Come close to God, and God will come close to you." And Jeremiah 33:3 says,  "Call to me and I will answer you and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known."

truth and lies

Sometimes we believe lies. Sometimes people tell us things that simply are not true and we believe them. We believe we cannot do something because someone tells us we can't. We may believe that God is mad at us. We may believe that we lack the ability to do what we were created to do. Do you ever talk yourself into the lie that says that you can dabble in sin and not reap the heartache and consequences? Do you look in the mirror and believe that God made an unfair mistake? Have you been somehow conditioned to believe that the God who created the whole universe and keeps it spinning is too busy or does not have the ability to hear your every prayer and meet your every need? Has someone told you that you are inadequate? Do believe that you can never forgive or receive forgiveness?

How can we discern between truth and lies? Hebrews 4:12 is a powerful verse. "For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires." In God's word, we find the wisdom to discern between truth and lies. God's truth exposes the lies that we believe and gives us the power to grab hold of life-changing truths. Fill your mind with it! Grab hold of it! And be wise.