Why Do I Run?

This is how the conversation went, "Well, I ran 5 miles yesterday but today I think I'm going to run just 1 and then weight train" from the lady beside me came the words "Why would you run? Thats why I have a car- its pointless"
Today was difficult, I went to the gym with a hard heart about running. Why do I do this? Where is this getting me? And I was quickly reminded when the scripture "Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." (Hebrews 12:1) This is on a little post-it note in our classroom on the computer and it seems that everyday I see this and a little spark in my mind reminds me of why I run.
I run, because God has given me the strength to. Where am I running to? No where- except into His arms! Its the only palce that matters to me. The world could end tomorrow- then where would you be running to?
The scripture backs up how important running is. "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness ..." (2 Timothy 4:7, 8) "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.." Phillippians 3 12-14
We are to give our all. We are to run the race that is set out for us, and we aren't to give up. There will certainly be times when all you want to do is fall over on the sideline. There will be times when it seems that there is no way that you can reach the finish line. But the awesome part is you aren't running on your own. Your fellow Christian brothers and sisters are running right along with you, and Jesus is your biggest fan. He is there to help you along every step of the way.
Im training for the FULL Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon that I will run in at the end of this April, and I am scared to death! I cant even describe the feeling that is inside of me when I think about running for 26.2 miles- thats right.... 26.2 MILES! After running the 1/2 marathon last year, I felt as though I could do more. But for those people who dont understand why people run, do not judge because running in a race and crossing that finish line will be the most inspirational moment of your life! When I came upon the ending of the 1/2 marathon, I saw my mom dad and Brett just cheering me on- and I couldnt control myself I was so excited because I finished something that all of them thought that I could never do!Can you imagine for a second what it will be like to reach The finish line? When we all finish the race Paul talked about, all of heaven will be throwing a ginormous party as we step across the finish line. No one will feel like hurling or keeling over. There will be hugs, there will be laughter, and there will be huge smiles on everyone's face. It will be the most fulfilling race you will ever finish.

And I cant wait for it.......... but until then I will run

God's Amazing Blessing......

HAPPY FALL!

Judgement House is over and there have been 111 salvations! God is working miracles all around us. But I think that the most specatular miracle is what happened inside of me last night..... here it goes....

There has been a particular person on my heart for the past few weeks in that of a struggle inside this person about his faith. Satan just knows where to put his foot in and confuse people when wanting to find Christ. After much convincing, he decided to come to Judgement House. He told me that he was coming the last night and that him and his girlfriend would be coming around 7-8ish. Judgement House started the last night at 4pm and I was the first guide up to go. I got done at about 530 and decided that I would just wait for him to call me to let me know that they were on their way. Around 8 o'clock I was beginning to get concerened so I decided to call him. When he answered the phone, this is what he said, "Hey... sorry but we cant come! Im really sorry I hope that you have a good night." I was seriously crushed! Now not to compare apples to oranges, but I felt as if Brett had just dumped me! My heart was broken; I just knew that this (JH) was going to be the hammer to hit the nail on the head. I immediatly went and found my assistant pastor Steve, this man has really helped my family in many ways, and I knew that he would be the perfect person to open up my heart to. While I was in the counceling room with him, and talking with him, I just felt God's spirit there with us. When we began to pray, I prayed like I have never prayed before! I put my whole heart and sole into that prayer.....and when it was finished, I felt some relief but fear at the same time- I just knew that God was working. Well I went back to the guide room and I heard my phone beep, when I went to look at it there was a message from him that said: "Hey... my bad.. we are on our way!... see you soon!" THANK YOU LORD JESUS! YOU ARE A MIRACLE WORKER AND YOU ANSWER PRAYER! I was immediatly overwhelmed with emotion, I was speechless. I ran out of that room and went looking for Steve to show him how awsome God is and how fast God can answer prayers! In the meantime, he called and told me that he was at the door and was asking where I was. I was so excited that he was there that I just wanted to give him the biggest hug I could, but I knew that he was with his girlfriend!

I knew that I wanted to be his guide and so I waited for almost 4 hours! When it came time, I talked to the prayer guide and asked if she would please pray especially for him.... As I watched him go through JH, I prayed so hard that he would get something out of what he way seeing. When it came time for the heaven scene, he hugged Jesus and I just knew that God needed to take over from here. In the gospel presentation....... I cried, not tears of saddness, but tears of joy and hope that he was getting something out of what was being said. Although, he did not make any physical movements that he accepted Christ, he did do one thing that makes me believe that something has changed.

As I was walking out of the gospel presentation room, he grabbed me by the shoulders and turned me around. He looked at me and said " Thank you SO much for brining me here!" he embrassed me and I just broke down. I care for this person as if he was my own brother, and I just want him to realize that Christ is the answer. As I was hugging him, I just didnt want to let go, but I knew that Christ was going to take it over from here. If God could get him here...... God can take it from here..... thats all I can do.

"God please grant me the gift for things that I cannot change"

Dear Lord,
I know first hand that you can make prayers happen-please Lord let him understand that you are the one true God. You are almighty, and all knowing! I just lift him up to you, and please work yourself into his heart! I love you Lord, and I pray that you bless all those that put their faith in you and I pray for grace to all those who have never heard your name.

Amen

Electricity, Pickles and You!

"Lord... please bless those teachers that cancel class!" :)

Yeah... yeah... I notice that its like 7:30 in the morning, but when you have to pick up a child at 5 in the morning, you tend to go to sleep at night at like 8! So im good on sleep!

So as I took a look at my blog I noticed that I really needed to update this thing. IM ENGAGED! Just thought that I would throw that in there.

I thought that I would clarify why on most things (like myspace and facebook) you will see that my username is picklegurl77. You may think- pickle? She must really like pickles? Well, on the contrary.... I ask for no onions and no pickles on almost everything that I order! So why would it say pickle? Well this goes waaaaaay back to my sophomore year in high school when I was attending wed night youth group at Hillcrest Church in Newton with my friends. The youth pastor gave us a message of this lonely cucumber. Here is a visual! Well... there was really two messages, I will quickly explain the first one. How is a pickle made? First you have to submerge a cucumber in vinigar (I think) and after a period, it will emerge as a pickle! The same is when we get baptised. All of you sins and "dirt" and "grime" are washed away and you are soaked in with the holy spirit and reamerged as a new person! A PICKLE! Yummy..... The second portion of the sermon was talking about God's electricy and how you can let is flow through you. He as well gave the example of a cucumber and a pickle. He did a simple demonstration with a battery pack, some wire, a cucumber, and a metal fork. He wrapped the wire around the fork and then stuck it into the cucumber. He said "watch....." as he connected it to the battery pack we were all in anticipation of something happeneing..... and nothing did. Confused? Yeah, so were we? What does this have to do with the price of tea in China? Well he went on to mention- "Cucumbers do not have the power to transform electricity (think back to what I mentioned previously that people who were not baptised are cucumbers). When the HolySpirit came, Jesus promised his disciples what? Right, power! The HolySpirit would bring power from on high; the power of God to transform the livesof ordinary, everyday people like you and like me. Now watch this" He did the same thing, except this time he stuck the fork in a pickle. Now I vividly remember turning to my friend saying..... oh my! he is going to electricute himself! You know... becuase pickles are wet? Well... to my surprise, when he conected the wire to the battery, THE PICKLE LIT UP! Im not joking! You should SO try this at home! :) "Look at that, a brilliantly glowing pickle! Isnt that one of the coolest things you've ever seen? I want you to remember the Electric Pickle, the gloriously glowing condiment. If God can do that with simple electricity flowing through a cucumber, how much more can He do with the power of His Spirit flowing through you? For you, friends, are much more than a pickle." I looked online and I found a picture of what you could've seen if you were there!

I am reminded every day that everything I do in life, I do to glorify God. No to make anyone "happy" or glorify myself. Everything that I have, is God's. If I would die tomorrow, I would not take anything with me! Although I sometimes wonder what we wear- clothing wise- when we do face judgement, will we be naked or will we wear what we were wearing when we died? Hummm.... The Lord has show me alot of things these past few months that I know I need to work on, and Lord, im trying! Lord, i'm trying to hear what your saying and trying to hear what you want me to do.

There is something that has been weighing heavy on my heart since Jim came back from Africa. I talked with him the other weekend about his trip and he asked the question...." You should really consider going! God knows your passion for children and I think that you could really make a difference with those kids" Oh my.... what do you do with that? Soome telling you that you should go half way around the world to minister to kids. Humm.... God, you know that if it is your will... I will listen!

Something else that is weighing heavy is the death of a friend. Ronnie Schmidt. Ronnie died in action on August 2, 2008 in Iraq. Although it was too short of notice to get off work, I did ask one of my friends to send me pictures of the funeral- and his funeral was a true tribute!

This picture was taken before he left for Iraq

This is Ronnie's body arriving in Wichita

Ronnie being carried to Grace Community Church

As you can imagine this is the patriot guard on the way to the grave site



After seeing Ronnie's mom in WalMart last time I was home. I decide to email her and talk with her about how she was doing. Although she was a little distraut I called and prayed with her. She said that there was alot of support for that first few weeks, but she said that she feels everyone has left her. I told her that God will never leave you and he knows the pain that you are feeling. She sent me these pictures from his platoon in Iraq. (They are home now. My friend Colt just cam home this past weekend... Ronnie was in this plattoon as well!)
A salute to the fallen soldier

We love you Ronnie and we will never forget what you did. You will always remind us that freedom is not free. Please remember to pray for our troops continuously!

*For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16*

Where have the days gone?

As mentioned in my previous post... what happen to those good ole days? High school was the greatest time for me! I had so many friends... and we would just have a great time- EVERY DAY! I guess im just not ready to grow up, I miss being silly and immature and leading a carefree lifestyle. But I understand that there has to be a time where maturity hits. That is what the sermon today was about, maturity at 130. Pastor Dave talked about Jacob and how his father said that he could die once he saw his son. Dave talked about how we are never too old to start over and forget about the past.

Where are my friends..... what happpened to us. I know what happened to some of us, but it seems like maturity got the hold of some of us. There are some that I haven't talked to in a long time and then there are some who left the state. My high school was very connected, people were nice to each other-for the most part. I guess that there are times that I just wish I could start all over..... and fix those things that I broke...... but, you live and learn, and that I have done.

This is a tribute to all of those friends and to the good times that I hope we can all remember!

My Kayla!

Kayla and Nettie

Katie Jessica
Jackie
Courtney



Casey

And to the person that I miss so dearly.... Krista. I so remember everything, and I loved it! You were the sister that I never had. I know that we cant travel back in time, but there are sometimes that I so dearly wish that I could. Maybe things would be different now.

*It was graduation that changed me... these girls would all go seperate ways-well after WSU. Lead different ways.... and most importantly think differently. Love is what holds a bond and I really feel that us 4 had a bond and turely cared for eachother....... but time is now gone.

*So farewell my friends.... for graduation has come and gone. And it is now time to grow up, get some knowledge and spread our wings. Hopefully we can all meet again!*

Numbers 6:24-26The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.

Psalm 37:4Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart.

This is me... and this is who I am!

This looks all to familiar, xanga has a new name! :)

I'm Nicole, almost 22yrs old and I grew up in Newton. I work with wonderful children (14 two year olds) and have a boyfriend of 4 years! He is my everything.

Its funny how life works sometimes. The person that you could fall in love with really could just be the random person on the street. As in the song by Reba MacEntire "Somebody in the next car, somebody on the morning train, somebody in the coffee shop that you walk right by everyday. Somebody that you look at. but never really see. Somebody out there.... is somebody!" Im in love... and I know that it will be a long term love. Whatever it takes we will make it work. Im excited to announce-for anyone that hasn't already found out- Brett and I are moving in together. Now I know that this to some people may not be the best thing, but something inside me feels otherwise. I know that it is againt God's will but I am apt to stay pure (well.... re-purified). It is sometimes hard to trust God when your experience seems to say otherwise, but let me leave you with these wise words from Proverbs:

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

*God, just please help me through the hard times, and let us glorify you all times!*

Marriage is sacred to me, and always will be. Even though Brett and I are not married....YET. We have had conversations and prayed together over this decision (moving in). It's just I have been alone for so long that my heart is aching for the love and comfort of my one true love to be near me. Through alot of our relationship either I have left for school or Brett has been at school, leaving only the weekends for us to be together. Every night when I would go to bed I would just pray that God would ease me breaking heart of loneliness.

*When life gives you lemons.... you've got to make lemonade*

This phrase has become all too familiar in my life so far. Studies show that eight times out of ten, the middle child is forgotten if there are more than three children in the family; and right now I feel like the forbidden child. It seems that in everything I do in life, I am forgotten or pushed to the side. Im a very outgoing person-but lately I have really felt close to myself, and im not really for sure why. Sometimes I feel that I work so hard, only to get "thanks". Everything I do, I do for God, and I know that someday God will celebrate everything that I do for others in a remarkable way! Sometimes, people can be very selfish and take others for granted. Which is another feeling that is attacking me at this moment. I just wish that people would take into account for others feelings and learn to be accountable for their own actions. Everything is not about you, and everything is not about me. I know that others have certain obligations, but actions speak louder than words- and sometimes they hurt others feelings. That's all I am going to "talk" about... im beginning to cry. Im not trying to cause drama, this is just a place (since I can type faster than I can write-stinkin journal!)that I feel I can express myself.

I want to introduce you to Jim Horning. Jim is the Youth Pastor at Grace Community Church here in Newton. Jim just came back from taking a 6 week sabatical to his home in Ohio and to Africa. I talked with Jim this morning and looked at some pictures with him. Jim among many others, I consider my heros. Jim is the type of Christian that I dream to be. While I was talking with Jim, I just saw Christ's love raidiating out of him, and he was speaking to me. From this moment on I am on a search of a mission trip that will speak to me; weither it be a trip back to Reynosa Mexico or somewhere else in the world. Please pray that God will answer my prayer and help me light my path to missonary.

One way that I do feel God woking in my life is a drama called Judgement House. It is an eight scene walk-through drama that tells a story about choices, both good and bad. It is so inspiring to me watching how "ordinary" people are transformed from the time that they enter to the time that they come out. People who have never heard the story of Jesus Christ come in not knowing what they are about to expect. My dad played a critical role in last years, by playing an alcoholic father who hits his daughter, unemployed and is verbally abusive. Now I know that some of these do not apply to my life but some of them did. Everyone, even the people that volunteer their time get something out of doing this; my dad sincerely apologized to me after Judgement House last year for all the things that he did to me and my mom. Although I deep down haven't found it in my heart to fully forgive my dad, but who really can? I mean he really hurt me deaply, but he did teach me the values that I now carry with me about marriage! I know that someday I will, but I think that when he starts treating me like a daughter and not just an invador of his home something will click and it will be clear to me his true feelings.

I invite all to come and worship at this years Judgement House at Grace Community Church! October 23rd-26th and October 31st-November2nd!

Please keep all those who are serving in out military in your thoughts and prayers!

Colt Pfautz- Iraq -ArmyCasey Kientz-Iraq-Marines

Well.... lets see how long I remember to update this thing! :) Sometimes, life just gets ahold of me and a computer seems to be the last things I remember to look at!

I will leave you with this final thought from Isaiah:

But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear. Isaiah 59:2

*No bridge reaches God . . . except one.*