The author of the book got so into running that he was spending all his time running. He would still make church but God really wasn't a priority. A dear friend and he were talking and his friend said to him, "Don't let this (running) become your God." Too often we let other things become our God, our idols. We put our priorities into sports, our kids sports, our homes, our jobs....... The list is, unfortunately, endless.
BUT, when we take our passion for other things and add God, abundance over flows. That is what this man did. He put God into his running and created Run for God.
There are some similarities to faith and running. New runners start out doing short runs so not to overwhelm the body and the gradually work up to long runs. In our faith we start with small parts of the Bible and work our way into deeper learning. Running takes endurance and strength. In running, as in our faith, sometimes we fall or get hurt and we must pick ourselves up and start over. We must seek to heal ourselves and to grow stronger. Through scripture and prayer, we gain the strength in our faith to heal and to grow.
I am suppose to plan to train for three days each week and to plan to run a 5K in about 12 to 13 weeks. I have done a 5K but I have NEVER ran the entire 3.1 miles. This is my goal for me in 12 to 13 weeks, to run the entire 3.1 miles.
So, like I have unofficially started this study, I unofficially did my first training today. After church, I had +Marty Bowie go "run" with me. We went to Magness Creek and after a 5 min warm up ran for about 12 minutes. I haven't ran since Thanksgiving Day when we did the Turkey Trot that Go Running put on. So 12 minutes wasn't too bad. I think Marty's watch said it was about 3/4 mile. It was good for me but I feel bad for him. He was just getting warmed up. :( I wish I could find him someone to run with but then I would loose my running buddy.
I have now read week 1 of the study and I'm not sure how the Bible study part works but maybe in week 2 I shall.
Prayers are most appreciated.
+Briggs Lyons +Andrette Prather
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Run For God
Why am I reading this book?
Well the cheesy quick answer is, "I want to get in shape." But I that is too easy. I can get into shape without reading this book. But I want to do more then just get into shape. I want to be inline with God's will: spiritually, physically and financially. Since we have decided that this is the year to get right financially, I am feeling that I need to work on the physical aspect too. Why not do it all once?
I know that God doesn't want me to be wonder woman but He does want me to be able to do His work in this world. And to do that I need to be able to physically go about the challenge of His work. And to do that I need to take care of myself while growing deeper in my faith with God. I really want to get where I can go on a international mission trip and I don't feel that is something I can do physically right now. So, here I start this challenge.
With any luck I can persuade my darling husband and a few others along on this journey. +Marty Bowie, +Briggs Lyons
Well the cheesy quick answer is, "I want to get in shape." But I that is too easy. I can get into shape without reading this book. But I want to do more then just get into shape. I want to be inline with God's will: spiritually, physically and financially. Since we have decided that this is the year to get right financially, I am feeling that I need to work on the physical aspect too. Why not do it all once?
I know that God doesn't want me to be wonder woman but He does want me to be able to do His work in this world. And to do that I need to be able to physically go about the challenge of His work. And to do that I need to take care of myself while growing deeper in my faith with God. I really want to get where I can go on a international mission trip and I don't feel that is something I can do physically right now. So, here I start this challenge.
With any luck I can persuade my darling husband and a few others along on this journey. +Marty Bowie, +Briggs Lyons
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Finally FINISHED!!!!!
FINALLY!!!! After a year of working a national and then a regional and finally a state team, the project that I started last December is rolled out to our field staff. I know this isn't interesting or important to anyone else but to me it is HUGE. There has been long hours of sitting on teleconferences with DC to Hawaii WME engineers. There has been arguments over the best way to make non-scalable engineering designs scalable. And I'm seeing from my auto-correct that scalable isn't even a word. "TOO FUNNY". DC sure thinks it is. I won a few of the arguments and lost a few but I know that I tried my best to represent the state of Arkansas and the engineering that we do here.
This past week, I, along with my fellow colleges who also endured this last year, presented these many changes and ideas to the field staff. Though there were concerns and grumblings, we heard good feed back from all the meetings. Will that mean the next year of implementation will be easy? No but it's a start.
It feels so good to have worked so hard and know that I gave my best. Now to relax a bit and then figure out what the heck I'm suppose to do now. LOL
This past week, I, along with my fellow colleges who also endured this last year, presented these many changes and ideas to the field staff. Though there were concerns and grumblings, we heard good feed back from all the meetings. Will that mean the next year of implementation will be easy? No but it's a start.
It feels so good to have worked so hard and know that I gave my best. Now to relax a bit and then figure out what the heck I'm suppose to do now. LOL
Sunday, November 04, 2012
I QUIT!!!!! ............ Making Excuses
Do you ever make excuses to not make a change for God or excuse to not follow Christ completely?
I have made excuses to not read the Bible daily or to not get up earlier to do a devotional.
I have made excuses to not participate in church activities.
I have made excuses for gossiping by calling it discussions the problem.
I have made excuses for not tithing.
God wants us to be happy, not walking around in misery and full of guilt.
God also wants to help us. He wants to help us get through the situation. He will give us words to speak; the support we need; the forgiveness we need. God loves us and will be our cheerleader.
Now go!!!! God sends you as you are BUT He goes with you.
God says, "is there anything too difficult for me?"
Maybe our problem is we quit because we put a limit on God's ability?
What excuses are you using to keep God at a distant?
I have made excuses to not read the Bible daily or to not get up earlier to do a devotional.
I have made excuses to not participate in church activities.
I have made excuses for gossiping by calling it discussions the problem.
I have made excuses for not tithing.
God wants us to be happy, not walking around in misery and full of guilt.
God also wants to help us. He wants to help us get through the situation. He will give us words to speak; the support we need; the forgiveness we need. God loves us and will be our cheerleader.
Now go!!!! God sends you as you are BUT He goes with you.
God says, "is there anything too difficult for me?"
Maybe our problem is we quit because we put a limit on God's ability?
What excuses are you using to keep God at a distant?
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Reflections
6 years ago, Marty and I and the girls stepped out of our comfort zone to go on a mission from God. We had no special skills, no great knowledge of the Bible, and at most we were baby Christians. Marty might have been a toddler but who can tell? There was no blinding and a sight regained instant or even a voice from God moment, just a feeling that I had that I need to do more to change my world after I had spent 72 hours on the spiritual retreat called Walk to Emmaus. Now we weren't going far. It wasn't like we were going out of country or even moving out of state, we were just going to help launch a new United Methodist Church on our side of town. Yet who could have dreamed of the experience and adventure and the transformation that we would experience?
When leaving Cabot UMC, we had done barely anything but worship and Sunday school. We had help start the contemporary service and a Sunday school class (God's creation), that are still very vibrant in that church today but other then me "serving my time" in the kids Sunday school classes and taking my turn with VBS and taking a Disciple Bible Study class, we really were just "Doing" church.
I think in the beginning we were just "doing" church at Christ UMC too but somewhere along this journey it changed. Over the last 6 years, I became the children's director where I researched and researched bible studies, nursery set ups, safe toys for special gifts, VBS materials for 4 very successful summers reaching 100 + children, worked with countless, amazing moms and dads and servants of God and learned what it means to work on a shoe string budget. It was tough but I loved working with the children and listening as they would sing the VBS songs with their motions and come running up and giving me hugs at the knees.
I learned what it means to be a roady in a band doing set up and take down and set up and take down and set up and take down. It gets old in a hurry and isn't very glamorous, especially in the 100 degree heat of July and August in Arkansas.
I became a part of a cell group during the first years of which I was so glad to have Marty lead. I so enjoy hearing him explain the Bible in a way that I can comprehend. But over time we thought it would be good to start a men's study and a women's study and for the life of me I don't know how, I was assigned to lead it. I found new joy in my life. I'm not great and I don't know much but I learned that God will equip me with what I need when I need it during the studies and now I offer a women's study every Thursday evening, we are small in size but these women help grow me more.
Some where among all this I found time to go back and work some of those Emmaus Walks where I was pushed into a new change, public presentation of a talk to women I don't know. I have never been a public speaker and would do everything in my power to avoid it. I even took a lower grade in school to avoid getting up in front of people. But either through the children, the cell group or the women's studies I had learned that God never asked the person we would pick to do it but the one that stuttered or the one that was not the most beautiful to do his work and so I stepped out of that box. I have since been blessed to give 10 Emmaus talks and 1 chrysalis talk and was even an Emmaus Lay Director where I had to stand up all weekend and read long passages to the women.
But God wasn't done yet, having taken a break from children's, He called me to begin working with the youth as a Youth Coordinator. I never thought I could work with youth. They seem like foreign creatures to me but I guess with the blessing of two of the most precious daughters and the blessing of several wonderful Jones boys + Cory, I found a new place to serve. The youth group of Christ UMC has changed so much in this last year. It has grown to 16 who attend regularly now and I can see the start of more growth on the horizon.
During all of this, I wasn't the only one changing or growing. Marty went on his Emmaus walk just 6 months after I did and felt the call to do more. He wasn't sure what but since we had just started with the new church start, he thought it was that. He soon realized it wasn't it and after going back and working an Emmaus walk himself, he came home to tell me that he thought God was calling him to preach. LOL. Good friends had been telling him that for years but I guess he finally heard it from God.
He has been on that path now for 4 of the last 6 years and just last week he completed the last course work and is now a local pastor for the United Methodist Church.
Who would have thought 6 years ago that today, I would be a pastor's wife. Children's - ok, I've always loved kids. Teaching women's studies - ok, they're not that hard you are really just asking the questions in the books and letting the women take you were God wants you to go. Youth - ok that is a bet of stretch but I grew into it with Emily and the Jones boys. But pastor's wife???? Boy does God have a sense of humor. He has been laughing at me for more years then I knew.
I never knew I was growing. I never realized I was being reshaped. I felt the heat of the kiln oh so many times as he would mold me into His design. I felt the pruning of the dead branches I clung so tightly too. And I cried at the pain as we would watch other members come and go.
In all the time, I don't think I ever really thought that He was reshaping me to work in a mission field other then Christ UMC, but today our family closed this book of our lives because God has a plan for us and it's time to move to the next adventure.
It's not good-bye Christ UMC but take care and keep the faith. Continue on this wonderful mission because God has a wonderful plan for you all. If you have been sitting on the edge just waiting for the moment then take the opportunity to jump into God's plan for you. I don't know what it will be, I certainly didn't but I know that if you open your heart and just follow where ever, doing what ever God calls you to do, you will be moved as Marty and I and the girls have been moved and grown during our time at this wonderful church we will always call home.
When leaving Cabot UMC, we had done barely anything but worship and Sunday school. We had help start the contemporary service and a Sunday school class (God's creation), that are still very vibrant in that church today but other then me "serving my time" in the kids Sunday school classes and taking my turn with VBS and taking a Disciple Bible Study class, we really were just "Doing" church.
I think in the beginning we were just "doing" church at Christ UMC too but somewhere along this journey it changed. Over the last 6 years, I became the children's director where I researched and researched bible studies, nursery set ups, safe toys for special gifts, VBS materials for 4 very successful summers reaching 100 + children, worked with countless, amazing moms and dads and servants of God and learned what it means to work on a shoe string budget. It was tough but I loved working with the children and listening as they would sing the VBS songs with their motions and come running up and giving me hugs at the knees.
I learned what it means to be a roady in a band doing set up and take down and set up and take down and set up and take down. It gets old in a hurry and isn't very glamorous, especially in the 100 degree heat of July and August in Arkansas.
I became a part of a cell group during the first years of which I was so glad to have Marty lead. I so enjoy hearing him explain the Bible in a way that I can comprehend. But over time we thought it would be good to start a men's study and a women's study and for the life of me I don't know how, I was assigned to lead it. I found new joy in my life. I'm not great and I don't know much but I learned that God will equip me with what I need when I need it during the studies and now I offer a women's study every Thursday evening, we are small in size but these women help grow me more.
Some where among all this I found time to go back and work some of those Emmaus Walks where I was pushed into a new change, public presentation of a talk to women I don't know. I have never been a public speaker and would do everything in my power to avoid it. I even took a lower grade in school to avoid getting up in front of people. But either through the children, the cell group or the women's studies I had learned that God never asked the person we would pick to do it but the one that stuttered or the one that was not the most beautiful to do his work and so I stepped out of that box. I have since been blessed to give 10 Emmaus talks and 1 chrysalis talk and was even an Emmaus Lay Director where I had to stand up all weekend and read long passages to the women.
But God wasn't done yet, having taken a break from children's, He called me to begin working with the youth as a Youth Coordinator. I never thought I could work with youth. They seem like foreign creatures to me but I guess with the blessing of two of the most precious daughters and the blessing of several wonderful Jones boys + Cory, I found a new place to serve. The youth group of Christ UMC has changed so much in this last year. It has grown to 16 who attend regularly now and I can see the start of more growth on the horizon.
During all of this, I wasn't the only one changing or growing. Marty went on his Emmaus walk just 6 months after I did and felt the call to do more. He wasn't sure what but since we had just started with the new church start, he thought it was that. He soon realized it wasn't it and after going back and working an Emmaus walk himself, he came home to tell me that he thought God was calling him to preach. LOL. Good friends had been telling him that for years but I guess he finally heard it from God.
He has been on that path now for 4 of the last 6 years and just last week he completed the last course work and is now a local pastor for the United Methodist Church.
Who would have thought 6 years ago that today, I would be a pastor's wife. Children's - ok, I've always loved kids. Teaching women's studies - ok, they're not that hard you are really just asking the questions in the books and letting the women take you were God wants you to go. Youth - ok that is a bet of stretch but I grew into it with Emily and the Jones boys. But pastor's wife???? Boy does God have a sense of humor. He has been laughing at me for more years then I knew.
I never knew I was growing. I never realized I was being reshaped. I felt the heat of the kiln oh so many times as he would mold me into His design. I felt the pruning of the dead branches I clung so tightly too. And I cried at the pain as we would watch other members come and go.
In all the time, I don't think I ever really thought that He was reshaping me to work in a mission field other then Christ UMC, but today our family closed this book of our lives because God has a plan for us and it's time to move to the next adventure.
It's not good-bye Christ UMC but take care and keep the faith. Continue on this wonderful mission because God has a wonderful plan for you all. If you have been sitting on the edge just waiting for the moment then take the opportunity to jump into God's plan for you. I don't know what it will be, I certainly didn't but I know that if you open your heart and just follow where ever, doing what ever God calls you to do, you will be moved as Marty and I and the girls have been moved and grown during our time at this wonderful church we will always call home.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
One dress, two different teenagers, 23 years apart.
One dress, two different teenagers, 23 years apart. |
| 1989 |
 |
| 2012 |
Thank you God for the blessing of my beautiful, wonderful daughter.
Saturday, February 04, 2012
Driving Fun
Running errands today to get the final pieces Emily needed for formal next Friday night: strapless bra, hoses, shoes and jewelry. While making all these errands Emily got to do the driving. She got to drive from Dark Hollow up North Hills Blvd to Fairway to Lakewood Village. She does really good but she need practice on the parking. Turning into driveways and parking spaces seams to be a bit of a challenge but she is learning. After finding her shoes at Shoe Carnival, she drove to McCain Mall. She did so very good. She is nervous and tense but hey she's driving my suburban. It's huge and has V8 under the hood. That's a lot of power underneath her foot. We're not allowing her to drive on the interstate yet, so I drove us from the mall out to Crystal Hill but she took back over at the Citgo and drove down to the Big Dam Bridge to pick up Marty who we had dropped off at the Little Rock submarine to do his long run. Then she drove back to the Citgo and Dad took over and drove us back to Cabot. Emily took back over at the Exxon station and drove home. She hasn't tried to drive out of our driveway yet but that will be soon. She is babysitting tonight and I did let her drive over to Mrs. Tina's house. It was just before dark and the latest time of day that she has driven.
I'm really surprised at the patience I have with her while teaching her to drive. I talk her through it and I don't think I raise my voice too much. Only on the turns into driveways or into parking places to keep her from putting the sub into a ditch or hitting that car. But more parking lot work is in the future. Marty and I are so very proud of how she is doing.
I'm really surprised at the patience I have with her while teaching her to drive. I talk her through it and I don't think I raise my voice too much. Only on the turns into driveways or into parking places to keep her from putting the sub into a ditch or hitting that car. But more parking lot work is in the future. Marty and I are so very proud of how she is doing.
Tuesday, January 03, 2012
What is really Tithe?
Ok. I'm really trying to figure this out and I am totally torn. I fully believe that all mine and Marty's money is God's and we are blessed to have every penny and we only have every penny because of Him. Our church is a small church and like most churches are having financial issues because the world is having financial issues. One of the first things that people cut back on when their money gets tight is their money to the church. Marty and I are really wanting to do our part and feel it is our obligations to follow the word of God but here is where I'm confused. Is tithe 10% of our gross or our net?
Now I'm not trying to split hairs here or to short God. I would give him 20% if I could but I would like to know where the line is. Here is why I ask. (I'm using round fake numbers here to make the math easier and to not just say I make X amount so don't read anything into the numbers. If you want to know my income, call me. I've got nothing to hide but I'm not publishing it on the net.) I make a good salary. As does Marty. And because of that Uncle Sam really likes to collect "his fair share". From my salary is taken: retirement, social secrity, state taxes, federal taxes, health care insurance, dental insurance, FICA, TSP. This equates to 49% of my gross income that I never, ever see. At least I will see some (I pray) when I retire (which I will tithe on then), but 49% that is not available for use by Marty or me to pay any bill or use as we would like. So if I make $500 a week, Uncle Sam gets $246 a week and Marty and I get $254 a week.
So if Marty and I give $25.40 a week to the church, are we considered tithers? Or must we give $50.00 a week?
I'm really serious about this because my goal is to be a tither. I just don't know what that really is. This year we are reaching down and doing the 10% of net for the first time and it is really going to be scarifical giving. I don't know how the money will stretch each month, though I know God does. I guess that's why it bugs me so much because I want to be called tither but if it's gross I don't know if I have the faith to make that jump.
Now I'm not trying to split hairs here or to short God. I would give him 20% if I could but I would like to know where the line is. Here is why I ask. (I'm using round fake numbers here to make the math easier and to not just say I make X amount so don't read anything into the numbers. If you want to know my income, call me. I've got nothing to hide but I'm not publishing it on the net.) I make a good salary. As does Marty. And because of that Uncle Sam really likes to collect "his fair share". From my salary is taken: retirement, social secrity, state taxes, federal taxes, health care insurance, dental insurance, FICA, TSP. This equates to 49% of my gross income that I never, ever see. At least I will see some (I pray) when I retire (which I will tithe on then), but 49% that is not available for use by Marty or me to pay any bill or use as we would like. So if I make $500 a week, Uncle Sam gets $246 a week and Marty and I get $254 a week.
So if Marty and I give $25.40 a week to the church, are we considered tithers? Or must we give $50.00 a week?
I'm really serious about this because my goal is to be a tither. I just don't know what that really is. This year we are reaching down and doing the 10% of net for the first time and it is really going to be scarifical giving. I don't know how the money will stretch each month, though I know God does. I guess that's why it bugs me so much because I want to be called tither but if it's gross I don't know if I have the faith to make that jump.
Monday, January 02, 2012
Pinnacle Mountain Day
Headed to Pinnacle Mountain this morning to hike to the top but found that they are doing some trail maintenance. You can still go up the west side but you have to take the base trail around to the park access road and then go up from there.
The view from about marker 5, maybe 6 looking back north. It was a beautiful clear day. Just wish my camera lens had been clean. Dang it!!!!
The girls were full of themselves today. We laughed all the way up and all the way down the mountain. From watching them hanging out in trees, to scaling the rocks, to striking poses, they were cracking Marty and me up! The joy of being parents of two fabulous girls.
Dad found himself in a bit of trouble and required a hand from the girls. Ha Ha.
Erin was enjoying being at the top of the world striking poses for me. She has been looking forward to the day when I would let her scramble across the rocks without hollering at her to be careful.
I think the smile says it all!!! Thank you God for the beautiful day that you blessed us with.
Sunday, January 01, 2012
What is there to say?
I sit here trying to think of something to write and find myself without words. Or is it that I'm without subject. Of course I could use the obvious ones of new years and new resolutions. I could talk more about my hopes and dreams but really those are boring.
What about the fact that the tree is now down and the decorations (for the most part) are put away. I could look back at the many changes of 2011. The making of new friends or the lost of old ones. The many attempts to change either through weight lose to the journey of walking as Christ.
There have been moments of pure joy (not as many as I would have liked) and days of great pain that caused tears to fall without ceasing (far more then I care to remember). Each and every moment though, are pieces of my life that make me, well, me. Through some pain, I learned that each moment is precious and to take for granted our time with those whom we love could lead us regretting our choices and the priorities that led to those choices. Through other pain, I learned that we can only change ones self and it matters not if we forgive someone of their actions, we may still need to set limits concerning them if their actions continue to be the same. I have learned that secrets are some times kept by others because they think it is the best for all, but in all actually secrets only cause more pain and sorrow and leave people feeling lonely. Joy came from witnessing 17 women deepen their walks with God over a period of 72 hours and from seeing the joy on a 14 year old's face as she passed her driving test and made 3rd chair 2nd alto at All Region choir. More joy came through the deepening of a relationship over the summer with two family members that I had not had an opportunity before to really get to know.
There are many things from 2011 to think about and learn from but that's just it, they are to be learned from. They are not the to be hung onto and wallowed in. It's a new day. And a new day is a new opportunity to be whom God is calling me to be.
What about the fact that the tree is now down and the decorations (for the most part) are put away. I could look back at the many changes of 2011. The making of new friends or the lost of old ones. The many attempts to change either through weight lose to the journey of walking as Christ.
There have been moments of pure joy (not as many as I would have liked) and days of great pain that caused tears to fall without ceasing (far more then I care to remember). Each and every moment though, are pieces of my life that make me, well, me. Through some pain, I learned that each moment is precious and to take for granted our time with those whom we love could lead us regretting our choices and the priorities that led to those choices. Through other pain, I learned that we can only change ones self and it matters not if we forgive someone of their actions, we may still need to set limits concerning them if their actions continue to be the same. I have learned that secrets are some times kept by others because they think it is the best for all, but in all actually secrets only cause more pain and sorrow and leave people feeling lonely. Joy came from witnessing 17 women deepen their walks with God over a period of 72 hours and from seeing the joy on a 14 year old's face as she passed her driving test and made 3rd chair 2nd alto at All Region choir. More joy came through the deepening of a relationship over the summer with two family members that I had not had an opportunity before to really get to know.
There are many things from 2011 to think about and learn from but that's just it, they are to be learned from. They are not the to be hung onto and wallowed in. It's a new day. And a new day is a new opportunity to be whom God is calling me to be.
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