Mundane Mondays

If you missed it, last week I talked about the Waiting Period I've found myself in this Fall.

But in all things, even as you wait - there are things to DO,

places to GO

people to SEE

tasks to COMPLETE...

YET, 

I've found most of my tasks to be pretty MUNDANE,

and yes, even sometimes (okay, it can be a lot of times)

BORING!

                                                (sorry LeaderTreks)

But I also know that it is the waiting periods  are TRAINING GROUNDS for battle.
So I've been purposefully infusing the mundane with specific training TACTICS.
And here, every Monday for the next several weeks I want to share some of those with you.

MUNDANE MONDAY #1
STOCKING SHELVES

Part of my duties at work include upkeep of our warehouse

(an office that not only has my desk, but SEVERAL bookshelves with all of our curriculum on it.)

 And part of upkeep means making sure there is plenty of curriculum filling the shelves
so when orders come in,
it's easy to
GRAB,
PACK,
& SHIP
the resources.

So to help break up the mundane...
I hang a verse on the shelf stocking
or place it in the box I'm unloading
and work on
MEMORIZING SCRIPTURE.

What mundane task do you have to do this week that you can make into battle training?

I Will Wait

For those of you who have been following my blog you might have picked up on the fact that I'm in a period of waiting in my life...

a transitional period...

a Mundane Mondays (and every other day) type of lifestyle.

A close college friend of mine teaches English to student in China... and I imagine her life to never have a dull moment (though she possibly might argue with me on that fact) She's currently teaching an American Culture class and they recently covered the American Civil Rights movement. After a great experiential example of what segregation and elitism felt like she had them write a letter to America with advice on segregation  She recently posted a few of their responses on her blog. Check them out HERE.

One statement caught my eye though:

" Finally, America is just a young country. You need more time to integrate and be equal."

America is just a young country... 
In the American mind set of "Give it to me now!" and "Faster, Faster, Faster" we think all our problems should blow away in the wind like chaff.

I feel like that right now...

That all my problems should blow away and answers should be immediately found. 

Forget the waiting in line I'd like the Fast Pass please!

But you know what -
I'm still YOUNG!

And there is plenty of waiting ahead of me in my life.

I just need time.

And God knows that.
Check out what his scripture says in Psalm 37
especially vs. 7

REST IN the Lord and WAIT patiently for him

that's a COMMAND my friends.
So I guess that's where I've got to be right now.

Resting in the Lord 

while sitting in the difficult balance of waiting and going

If you haven't already heard it, Mumford & Sons came out with a song that speaks directly to my heart.

Take a listen below and then check back on Monday for the start of my newest series.

Training Schedules

I am becoming a RUNNER.

I never thought those words would slip out of my mouth 

(or more appropriately out of my fingers.)

But as I actually commit to running this 5K in 11 DAYS
what is a laughable 3 miles to many
is a BIG step for me.

And I'm ENJOYING it.

Last week I added to my scheduled 3-run week a spontaneous 10 min additional in a already jam packed day. I've gone running on Sundays just to enjoy the fall weather on my favorite near by trail. On Monday I ran almost 10 minutes straight, and thought to myself, I could push myself to keep going if I wanted to... and at the end of the run thought, I really liked that: mud, fallen trees, hills and all.

So I'm becoming someone who trains my physical body

But what about my spiritual body?

Which brings my mind to this verse:

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No I beat my body and make it my salve so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize."

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

And this verse:

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." 

Hebrews 12:1-3

And at times I feel like I've been running aimlessly?
I don't have a training schedule for my spirit like I do for my body.
So I want to create one - a schedule that focuses on Scripture memorization.
And I'm going to start with 2 verses a week from now until January 1st.
Want to join me, check in on Tuesdays and Thursdays for the week's memory verses.

And I'm starting with these two verses

Do you have a training schedule?

What are you doing to keep yourself from running aimlessly?

Regular Wonderment

So if you don't know...

I've been building

HABITS.

Today was the start of my 3rd week as a regular at La Spiaza, a local coffee shop.
Every morning: M-F, 7am.
Bob (the cutest 90 year old man, also a regular) even noticed my late arrival today since I didn't quite get my hinny out of bed on time and spent way too many minutes in front of the mirror trying to figure out what to do with my ridiculously short hair today...

...but I digress.

Today I'll be running my 8th day of training for my 5K at the end of the month. (3 more weeks to go!)
Yesterday I even went for a spontaneous "run", for the 5th time in one week - and it was additional to my training schedule.

WHAT?
Who is this girl!?!

I've been fasting from breakfast every Monday morning to get my heart centered in the right place and
help rely on God as I continue in my second year at LeaderTreks.
Wednesday lunch and dinner are also fasted meals as I prepare my heart to seek God with my church family concerning the direction God is taking Jericho Road.

A fear of mine with all this habit making though?

That it's awesome and new right now. 

I'm afraid that complacency with grow and I'll find myself simply leading a practical life. 

That I'll begin to miss the experience of 

AWE, REVERENCE, and WONDER.

I spent Sunday morning with Brennan Manning at Starbucks. He told me:

"We should be ASTONISHED at the goodness of God, STUNNED that He should bother to call us by name, our mouths wide open at His love, BEWILDERED that at this very moment we are standing on holy ground."

(okay, so I didn't get to actually have coffee with Brennan, 

but I was reading his book The Ragamuffin Gospel).

So as my habits get rolling and regular, my prayer this week is that I never stop noticing the wonderment.

"Dear Lord, grant me the GRACE of wonder.
SURPRISE me, AMAZE me, AWE me
 in every crevice of Your universe. [...]
Each day ENRAPTURE me
with Your MARVELOUS things without number." 

(Joshua Abraham Heschel)

Some of the things that I've marveled at last week:

Getting up at 6am to be at La Spiaza by 7am does have its advantages. SUNRISES!

Grace, my 5K training buddy, and I after our 2.6 interval run in the FREEZING rain last Thursday. 

The sunset on my drive home after the "Rain Run"... so BEAUTIFUL!!!!!

After taking the above sunset picture, I turned my car around to leave the parking lot I was sitting in and found this fiery bush. God's wonder displayed so clearly.

What is God amazing you with in your life?

Listening In The Silence

At Jericho Road on Sunday's we are currently focusing on values that the Leadership hopes we share as a church body.

Last week Karen Mains talked about HOSPITALITYYesterday Jeff talked about Listening to God.

The Patriarchs listened:

"Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, 'Abraham!' 'Here I am,' he replied."
(Genesis 22:1)

"The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, 'Samuel! Samuel!' Then Samuel said, 'Speak, for your servant is listening.'"
(1 Samuel 3:10)

Jesus listened:

"One of those days Jesus went out to a mountain side to pray, and spent the night praying to God."
(Luke 6:12)

"Jesus answered, 'My teaching is not my own. It comes from him who sent me. If anyone chooses to do God's will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.'"
(John 7:16-17)

The First Church listened:

"Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, 'Go south to the road-the desert road-that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.'"
(Acts 8:26)

"About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. [...] While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, 'Simon, three men are looking for you. So get up and go downstairs . Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.'"
(Acts 10:9,19-20)

I love the Greek word for "said" in this last passage.

                                  λέγω legō

1) to say, to speak

a) affirm over, maintain

b) to teach

c) to exhort, advise, to command, direct

d) to point out with words, intend, mean, mean to say

e) to call by name, to call, name

f) to speak out, speak of, mention

He's calling by name, He's exhorting, advising, commanding and directing.

Are you listening for it?

I stink at this - and I've found I'm even worse in public areas

 (since I've been doing my dates with God at La Spiaza, the local coffee shop). 

But I'm committing to doing it this week.
 I'm committed to hearing what God is saying to me.

Will you join me?

Here's how:

1) Grab your Bible, blank journal/paper, 2 different colored pens (use one color to write your prayers and the other to write/draw what comes to mind.)

2) Start off by Adoring God (praising him simply for who he is)

3) Get right with God. Confess what is on your heart. You can do it free verse or find a liturgical prayer

4) Ask God to open your ears and heart to his voice

5) Listen - seriously, sit back, close your eyes if you need to, and just listen. I find it helpful to pull out a verse to meditate on just to help my mind not wander too far - however, sometimes God speaks through those wanderings. This morning I used Psalm 63:1.

6) Draw/Write down what comes to mind. If a specific scripture comes to mind flip open your Bible and read it. Go with your gut.

7) End your time Thanking/Adoring God. 

This can seem weird to do on your own at times. It is amazing to do together in a group. Currently a group of about 30 people from my church are meeting once a week and following this basic method. After we listen, we take some time to share with each other what we heard. It is truly amazing how all the images/words are along the same lines. If you are nervous about doing this, find a buddy and see how God rewards your faithfulness together.

I'd also love to hear what God is saying to you.

If you'd like to share just leave a comment!