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The Revolutionary: Coming March 2018
If you’ve started a reading list for 2018, I hope you’ll add The Revolutionary! Mark your calendars: The sequel to The Revisionary is scheduled to release March 20 through Write Integrity Press, and today, I’m excited to share the cover with you. Special thanks to my graphic artist Kelli Sorg (Make it Snappy) for another job well done! Portia’s story continues much differently than she had imagined. There’s no hero’s rescue for her or easy solutions to save the Brotherhood’s threadbare rebellion. The Revolutionary demands an honest look at: The source of one’s true identity The struggle of guilt The crippling effects of fear The power of second chances Summary REVOLUTIONS RUN…
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Theme for 2018: Wait and See
Like many of you, each year I write goals with the understanding that God can shape and change them however He sees best. For the last few years, I’ve also chosen a word that I hope will capture my prayers and dreams for the New Year. Lately, God’s been showing me that I need to lay aside my expectations and embrace the reality that His plans may be different than I imagined. And that’s okay. In fact, His ways are far better. However, I still struggle sometimes. “Lord, but I thought …” or “But isn’t this a good expectation?” Yet I imagine I’m somewhat like Job who thought he had…
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New Smells, New Year, and 3 Timeless Truths
I remember when I bought my first car after college. It had belonged to one owner before me and still had a faint new car smell. Even more potent was the feeling of buying a car for the first time. Perhaps you can think of an experience when life brought a “new smell.” Today, we’re on the cusp of 2018. Perhaps 2017 was a year of tremendous blessing for you, but maybe, it also brought unexpected trials or changes that have been particularly hard. For some, looking over the year doesn’t leave a warm fuzzy feeling. While reflecting on the past has its place, even more important is focusing on…
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Merry Messy Christmas
One of the first things I did after closing on my home last year was buy a Christmas tree. Yes, a Christmas tree. To clarify, I closed two days before the new year, and there was a 70% final clearance sale. That 7.5-foot tree had been sitting in my garage for 11 long months. You can only imagine how excited I was to finally unbox it and put up the beauty. And for one glorious moment, it was perfect. But only for one moment. My eight-month old kitten Ness thought I’d just transplanted a tree in the living room for his enjoyment. Having lived with a cat before, I knew…
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Embrace the Possible: Lessons from a Half Marathon
“Nothing is impossible; the word itself says, ‘I’m possible’!” This quote by Audrey Hepburn is one of my favorites, because so often, the difference between success and failure is our perspective. A decade ago, I equated running a mile as an impossibility, thanks to a curvy spine and the enablement of doctor’s notes excusing me from my physical education classes in college. Then, after graduation, my brother dared me to run anyway and get in the best shape of my life. I accepted the challenge, pushing through shin splints and back spasms. Eventually, I plateaued at 3-4 miles. In other words, I became too comfortable with my routine, until a…
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Thankful for Finish Lines
Thanksgiving is a few short days away! Many people are talking about what they’re thankful for, and today, I’m adding a new item to my gratitude list: finish lines. Last weekend, I ran my first half marathon. Thank you for letting me share about this journey with you here! Today, I just want to leave you with a few pictures and a simple challenge. Ecclesiastes 7:8a says, “The end of a thing is better than its beginning” (NKJV). This verse is a favorite for students at the end of a school year, but it also applies to many other aspects of life – half marathons or otherwise. However, no matter how great…
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3 Essentials for Race Day Readiness
My first half marathon is less than a week away! After months of following a training schedule and tracking mileage, I am beyond ready to start the actual race and reach that finish line. However, as I look back over my half-marathon training, I see practical lessons that apply to more than just race day. I hope they’ll encourage you in your personal goals and spiritual walk. #1: Get rest. The first time I ran 10 miles, I nearly passed out in the grocery store a few hours later. I was waiting behind another customer in the check-out line when a tidal wave of fatigue swept over me. Of course,…
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Dare to Know God’s Word
Know that God’s Word has to be front and center. We have to be thinking about it, be able to quote it. Refuse to let fear and discouragement hold us back; for wherever we go, God will be with us.- Lysa TerKeurst. Last week, I introduced you to TerKeurst’s book, The Best Yes, which challenged me in the area of priorities. My running friend gave me a daily calendar based on the book to help me focus daily on some key principles. The above quote reminded me that I not only need to train physically for this half marathon, but I also need to prepare mentally for the spiritual endurance…
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3 Reasons This Christian Girl Runs
I get it. Some people hate running. I once was one of them, and some days, I still am. When I tell people I’m training for a half marathon, I get a variety of responses. Most fall into one of the following categories. I’d be curious to hear yours, and I promise, you won’t hurt my feelings! [polldaddy poll=9817788] Asking the reason why Whether you’re setting goals or getting ready to make a decision, pause to ask, “Why am I doing this?” That’s a healthy question. Last time when we talked about goals, we determined the bottom line for doing anything is to glorify God (I Corinthians 10:31). Let me…
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2 Realities of Reaching Worthy Goals
I’m convinced that anything worthwhile involves sacrifice. To reach a great goal, you have to give up good things. Take sleep, for example. For the last two Saturdays, when many people enjoyed the chance to catch some extra Zs, I set my alarm early to go for a long run. Granted, I enjoyed the morning with some amazing running partners, but I had to sacrifice sleep, embrace sweat, and push through fatigue (and dewy cobwebs along the trail). But I’ll never be ready for my half marathon in November if I don’t. As I type those words, I laugh, because not many years ago, I couldn’t even run a mile.…
