Knee to Chin Running is Unnatural.

^"Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behindand straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."  Philippians 3:13-15 (NIV)

So lately I've been playing Xbox Kinect games with my sister in an attempt to exercise...yay, the joy.  I have come to the conclusion that video games categorized as "exercise" are out to get me.  We've played with blocks, fish, boats and what look like bales of hay.  I've boxed until I was barely able to stand and participated in track and field events that required me to run in such a way that I thought my knees would hit my chin.  There were times you play against each other and other times as a team.  I also hula-hooped, which I EXCELLED in.  My back and my mind did not agree to the movements required to hula hoop and I paid the price for that victory.  But I won and that's what matters, right?

I have to admit, there is one game we play that I really enjoy.  It involves jumping, squatting and moving side to side to avoid obstacles.  In between the obstacles are rows of stars that the player has to use their bodies to retrieve.  The rows can be diagonal, vertical or horizontal. Either way, you have to avoid the obstacle and contort your body in time to get the stars before the next obstacle.  You have to be fast.  And you have to pay attention.  There were many instances when I missed the stars.  I would get 2 stars out of the row or more or less of them. Then there were times I got all of the stars.  But no matter how many you retrieve or don't retrieve, you can't go back and get the ones you've missed and you don't have time to dwell on how you missed them, you have to keep going and focus on the obstacles ahead.

When you read the Scripture above, you notice that it says "forgetting what is behind".  In life, we don't get all the stars.  We don't always make the mark or make the grade.  There are times when you look back at a situation and say "Dang it!  I failed that test; I knew better than that!"  (You may not say "Dang it!", but I do because I don't curse.  And if you need some words to use instead of curse words, I have a list.  I'll be more than happy to share it with you, but that's another day.)  Anyhoo, we mess up.  It happens.  But before you know it, another obstacle is coming your way, so you need to focus on that.  You have to get back on your feet and be ready!  Repent and let it go!  God does.  When you sincerely repent, God forgives and lets it go.  Psalm 103:11-13 says "For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.  As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us." How cool is that!?!  So don't dwell on it; learn from it and move forward!  Remain focused on your main goal: Living your life for Christ. It won't be easy, but jump over, dodge, move around, and run through those obstacles ahead of you!  Remember, you have to remain focused and you have to be quick on your feet because the enemy doesn't take a break!  And most importantly, you and God, you're a team.  He's right there with you.  But if you keep looking back at what you've missed, you can't move forward with God and that next obstacle is going smack you right in the head!

I Am NOT a Hotline...

^"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."  Philippians 4:6 NIV

There's one thing I've learned that I hate.  That's answering phones.  As a teen, I was constantly using the telephone.  One may have thought it was connected to my head.  I didn't mind answering the telephone because there was great chance that the call was for me.  The later the call, the more likely the chance.  But now that I have a job that requires me to answer phone calls, I notice how much I hate it.  The reasons why I hate it:
1. It interrupts my work.  Whatever I am doing is now put on hold to answer the phone call.  What if I have the memory of a fish and forget what I was doing?  What if I had a prolific thought and the ringing phone caused me to lose it?  Ugh!  Stupid phone...
2. People don't care about your time or that prolific thought you just lost.  All they care about is their inquiry, which leads me to number 3.
3. No one asks simple questions.  The questions are usually followed with unnecessary information.  Whenever I hear the word "because", I know I'm in for a Lifetime movie plot.  For example:
Me: "Good morning.  Thank you for calling xxx.  How may I direct your call?"  (Notice I did not ask WHY the person is calling.)
Caller: "I need to speak someone about a pair of shoes I need to return..."

Here it comes...

"...because when I wore them to my grandmother's house, she has to have hardwood floors because her walker doesn't slide as easy across carpet, they made the most horrible squeaking noises on the hardwood floors and I can't wear these things anywhere that isn't carpeted.  And at work, we have linoleum floors so I'm sure they'll make that same noise and I can't have that noise everywhere I walk at work and I do a lot of walking, it's a hospital and...

Me: (awakes from slumber) "Let me transfer you to that department."

So, in short, if you call me, keep it simple.  I am not a hotline.  That may sound a bit harsh, but it's honesty and let's be honest, you feel the same way.

Thankfully, we serve a God who is a hotline.  He listens to each and everyone of our situations.  And while He doesn't want us to be simple as in short and vague, He does want us to be simple as in plain and simple.  Just spill out everything to Him; He wants you to be open and transparent.  How awesome is that?  He actually wants to listen to you and me!  While we should bear each other's burdens, we do not.  We feel our own burdens are enough.  And the problem is we can't help others because we are still carrying our own.  God said to cast our burdens upon Him.  Then we can help others do the same.  And how do we cast those burdens upon Him?  By talking to Him, talking to Him a lot.  He's not going to direct you to another department.  He's not seething on the other end of the line ready to smash the phone against the wall.  He listens.  And He answers.  Thank you God for not being like me.  Thank you for being my hotline.