good gifts.

This is love: not that we love God, but that He loves us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
1 john 4:10

Lately I have been reading through a book of Kierkegaard's writings. I wanted to give you a glimpse into what the Lord used to encourage me today.

In repentance, you receive everything from God, even the thanks you give Him, in the same way that parents enjoy the fun of receiving a present from their child when they are really only receiving what they themselves have given. Isn't that how it is, my listener? You were always willing to thank God, but this was some how so inadequate. Then you understood that God is the one who does everything in you and then allows you the childlike pleasure of thinking that your thanks are a gift you give Him. He gives you this joy because you were unafraid of the pains of repentance and of the deep care in which a person becomes happy as a child in God. And you showed this when you were no longer afraid of realizing that this is love: not that we love God, but that God loves us.

Lace up those sneaks and join me!!

I seemed to be very dedicated for quite sometime to updating my blog and staying on task. It's been awhile. It doesn't mean that I have strayed from discipline entirely, just mainly in this area of life. For good reason people! Good reason! I have taken up running. I have never been a runner, and never thought that I could be, but I am beginning to absolutely love it; so much so that I have been contemplating signing up for the Chicago Marathon. I think it is good to push yourself every once in awhile in an area of doubt. I honestly don't believe I can run a marathon, or that I ever will, but there is a small part of me that wants to hunt down the challenge of it all. It sounds crazy... who would ever want to run 138, 435 feet? Can you imagine? But that is what draws me to the idea. It seems so far out of my reach that I want to go after it. I used to be afraid of pushing myself... afraid of taking the extra step... afraid of newness, but lately, newness has been what has energized and refreshed me.

I have found the time that I spend running very refreshing. In high school, whenever the day came to run the mile in phys ed, I wanted to fake I was sick and go to the nurse... I don't know what it was, but something inside of me dreaded the thought of going around a track four times. But, something has changed. I find myself anticipating the time I spend in the little room in my basement, listening to Ratatat, and collecting my thoughts from the passing day.