Ready, Set, Go!

This weekend I got to support my housemate and friend, Bridget, in the annual Disney half marathon. I am so thankful for this sister; she not only disciplines her body by running hard physically, but she also disciplines her mind and heart through running hard spiritually. She is a sister that I have seen continually PUTTING OFF that which pollutes life, and PUTTING ON righteousness. She loves Jesus so much and wants others to see Him through her! This sister’s prayer request in weeks past has been that she would have opportunities to share the gospel with people that she would meet through the Disney marathon. The Lord answered by having her run into an old friend from Michigan, where she grew up. He found her before the race began, and as they briefly caught up with each other’s lives before the race, Bridget got to share the gospel with her friend the first four miles of the race (Yes, while running)! She didn’t know if she would see this friend again, so she could not pass this opportunity up. She had tried to share with him a couple of years back, but had lost contact with him. I really see the hand of God in bringing this old friend back into her life. So neat to see when the Lord does those kinds of things and answers prayers in those ways. He will put His saints who love Him right to work if we are willing and asking for those opportunities!

As for my time with Bridget, we got to enjoy the Orange County culture for the weekend: Wonderful Galdamez family hospitality, Huntington Beach, sand, the pier, swimming, reading, sun, and shade (we didn’t want to leave the beach, but we had to move out of the sun. If I stayed in the sun any longer and got any darker I think I would have turned black, and if she would have stayed any longer she would have gotten sun burned. So, we moved to some shade underneath the pier). It was such a blessed time of sisterhood and a reminder of how much I enjoy one-on-one time with people over groups. Groups can be fun, but there is nothing like that one-on-one time with people that is so encouraging, refreshing, sharpening, and a treat from my Father above. God has blessed me abundantly in this season with godly sisters, and I am trying to soak it all up, while I can!

Bridget and I got to do a lot of walking around the OC the day before her race. She had to register in downtown Disney, which was far from where we parked. While walking we noticed a young mom and her daughter who was about two and a half years old. The daughter was very cute, one of those chunky toddlers whose legs could barely fit side by side as she sat in her upright stroller. Her mom had bought a slice of pizza for her daughter and put the small pizza box in a bag (I imagine so they could walk to a prettier place to sit down and eat it, because there wasn’t really a place to sit and enjoy it where they were standing outside of the store). However, when the daughter saw the little pizza box, she forcefully grabbed it from the bag, pushed the top of the box open, and screamed as her mother pulled it away from her hands. The little girl’s arms and legs got really stiff, stuck straight out, and her fingers looked like spirit fingers reaching for the pizza. Her Mom said, “No, you need to wait!” And, the girl jumped out of her stroller, stomped her feet on the ground and said, “Noooooooo, I want it nooooooowww!” This little girl was no longer cute, in fact, the situation got quiet ugly. Her Mother didn’t tell her she could not have the pizza, she just said that she had to wait. As Bridget and I walked away from the situation, I told her, “That is me!” God always has me in a time of waiting; if it is not one thing, it is another. He knows that waiting until He brings the situation and circumstances together is what’s best, but sinful me is discontent, and wants that instant gratification that is falsely satisfying. When I do that, I am like that screaming child, only this is before the Father (Yuck, I don’t want to be that Lord)! The mother knew that it would have been better to find a nice place to sit first, but the daughter had her eyes so fixed on the pizza that she couldn’t even hear or see where her mother was coming from.

I love when my heavenly Father puts wind in my sail to help me get through and grow during the numerous waiting periods that come in life. Seeing how this girl responded, encouraged me all the more to be patient and be thankful for how my loving Father uses those times to draw me closer to Him. Reminds me of that song, “Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord, we will wait upon the Lord, we will wait upon the Lord.” Heavenly Father, ultimately I CANNOT WAIT TO BE WITH YOU!

After Bridget and I saw this situation, we were encouraged all the more to listen to the road signs and signal lights from above. To enjoy the moments of getting ready (get ready!), the moments of setting (set!), before the going gets going (go!)!

1 Chronicles 16:11--Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.

Philippians 1:6--being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Psalms 125--Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion; which cannot be moved, but abides forever. (Wow, Mount Zion!)