Plan B

While I was training for my first marathon, I read about having a "Plan B."  If the day wasn't going right, if weather was crazy, or if a sudden illness hit, maybe my time goal might not happen, but "Plan B" would mean finishing.  I thought that was a good idea.  When I knew hitting a sub 4 hour wasn't going to happen, I was still determined to finish, no matter how long it took.  Plan A was actually to finish strong and injury free, no time assigned to it.  So Plan B meant stick with Plan A!

Bro. Kerr preached an excellent message on Thursday night about things that tears cannot fix.  Decisions that take us away from God, that lead down paths of destruction instead of righteousness.  He said even if a person makes it back to God, no amount of tears of repentance can restore what was willingly given away.  Sin will leave scars.  He said some of you are already planning on backsliding and then coming back to God, but it will never be the same.  More than once he said, "Backsliding is not cool!"

On Friday night, Bro. Kerr talked about a young lady who walked away from God because she didn't find a husband as quickly as she wanted.  She had a "Plan B" in mind.  If God didn't provide, she would walk away.  She had already decided that backsliding was an option.

I have lived this way my entire life and I don't plan to change now.  I don't have a Plan B when it comes to my salvation.  There is only one way and I'm sticking to it.  It doesn't matter if my day isn't going right, if storms come, or illness strikes, Plan B is to stick with Plan A!

Jeremiah 6:16 "Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls."

The Pace Team

During my marathon there were several runners who were part of a Pace Team.  Each member was assigned a finishing time.  If you wanted to finish in 4 hours and 10 minutes, you ran with the 4:10 pacer.  Les was at the finish line and he said each pacer came in exactly on time.  I would love to be a good enough runner to be a pacer!

I'm sure each of the pacers could have finished in a faster time on their own, but they put their own ambitions aside for the sake of others.  Runners who stayed with them were able to meet their finishing goals.

I couldn't help but compare that to real life.  We're all running, trying to finish.  There are times we are pace setters and other times we're hoping to stay on pace.  With each trial we make it through, there are lessons we've learned.  Lessons we can pass on to others who may face the same situation down the road.

Once our eyes are opened to victories of all sizes, we can see them more easily in ourselves and in everyone else. There is no better feeling than to acknowledge someone else's milestones, especially the little ones that they haven't thought to celebrate. Remind them. 
~Kristin Armstrong, MILEstones, Mile Markers, Runner's

It would be very selfish of us to not share our experiences with someone who is facing the same path.  It would also be very foolish to ignore the words of wisdom from someone who has already been there and done that.

Just as there were many runners who were faster than me, there were runners who were slower.  I was passed by many and passed many.  It wasn't unusual to pass the same person as they took a walk break, then be passed by them while I took a walk break.  Those who offered a kind word of encouragement, a smile, or a "we're almost there," gave me hope that the journey was going to be worth it.

"Running is not, as it so often seems, only about what you did in your last race or about how many miles you ran last week. It is, in a much more important way, about community, about appreciating all the miles run by other runners, too."
~ Richard O'Brien 

Are you in need of some pacing today?  Look to those wiser than you, those who are further down the road.  If your journey has been long and your pace steady, don't forget those who are coming up behind you.

Paths

I received these photos via email from my aunt.  The pictures are amazing, but the path that my life has taken, with God's help has been even more so!

Psalm 16:11
Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Psalm 23:3
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Psalm 25:4
Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.
 

Psalm 25:10
All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.
 

Psalm 27:11
Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.

Psalm 119:105
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Psalm 142:3
When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me.

Proverbs 2:8
He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.

Proverbs 4:18
But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

Proverbs 4:26
Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established

Proverbs 8:20
I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:

Isaiah 2:3
And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

Jeremiah 6:16
Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.

Matthew 3:3
For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6 
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.