{Seek First | Personal}

I'm finishing up the craziness of this summer, and during this all I tend to forget what is most important in life thus getting overwhelmed and tired. God was reminding me of that this morning, and then in my devotional He drove the point home again. 

"Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added onto you." {Matthew 6:33} 

"You will not find My Peace by engaging in excessive planning: attempting to control what will happen in the future... I did not design the human mind to figure out the future. That is beyond your capability. I crafted your mind for continual communication with Me. " {Jesus Calling, by Sarah Young}

"Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him." {Psalm 37:7}

{image taken last spring on our family trip to southern Missouri} 

{Thanksgiving | Personal}

"Your responsibility is to be receptive to this {unconditional love}. {thankfulness} and {trust} are your primary receptors. Thank Me for everything; trust Me in all times."

"Thank Me throughout this day for {My Presence} and {My Peace}... the best way to receive these glorious gifts is to thank Me for them. It is impossible to spend too much time {thanking} and {praising} Me. I created you first and foremost to glorify Me." - Jesus Calling, by Sarah Young

"Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His Name." - Hebrews 13:15

Thanking Him for the greatest gift He's given us... the opportunity to come into His presence, and to be able to feel His unconditional love despite what we have done. 

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Image from communion during Junction122's Thanksgiving Dinner

{Preparation | Personal}

"Beginning your day alone with Me is essential preparation for success. A great athlete takes time to prepare himself mentally for the feat ahead of him before he moves a muscle. If you are not adequately equipped for the journey, you will grow weary and lose heart. Relax with Me while I ready you for action." {Jesus Calling, by Sarah Young}

I read this in my devotional two days after I ran my first half marathon, and I had to laugh. I completely experienced this in the physical sense... I was NOT mentally prepared for this race, and I tried to rely just on pure muscle strength to get me through it, which ended up not working (who knew? haha).

But the same is so true in our relationship with our Father, and the rest of our life. So often we try to "muscle through it", without preparing for the day or task or battle ahead of us first. The week before my race I failed to get enough sleep and eat the right foods, and that was my first problem. When we're faced with something tough in life, our first step should be resting with the Lord, but usually our choice of a first step is to get out there and RUN.

Back when I played softball in highschool, I remember my dad telling me over and over and over again that softball (and baseball), is so much more mental than physical skill. And I would see it... when my attitude was strong going into the batters box, and I KNEW I could hit this girl, my batting average soared.

When we spend time resting in God's Presence, and gaining confidence in our relationship with Him and the power and strength that comes from Him, THEN we are prepared for our second step, which is the training, or the running.

I know from experience that my most miserable runs come when I haven't mentally prepared for them. I remember running a 7 mile run and having a great time, I felt so good after it... and then two days later I ran just 3 and it was horrible. I struggled through it, had a hard time staying on pace, and from the first quarter mile all I could think about was being done. I was obviously physically able to run 3 miles, but mentally I wasn't.

I don't want my life to be like that 3-miler, when it could so easily be different. And it can change from day to day if we aren't focused on the Lord.

Focus on the Lord! Let everything else become blurry as you prepare for the tasks that God has ahead of you. Don't give up.

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders us and the sin that so easily entagles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." {Hebrews 12:1}

"For while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come." {1 Timothy 4:8}

{Happy Monday | Personal}

Happy Monday everyone!

Life has been so crazy lately, like one of my friends said, "geeze, feels like I have to get on your waiting list." haha!

Busy with photography, working on this lovely session right now... aren't they just so adorable!? This is my third year photographing their family, and I just love spending time with them. I pulled up to their house last week, and all three kids race out to my car before I even step out... "guess what!? we got baby cows!" "I'm four now! and she's three!" "Lets go look at the horses!" "do you like my cat? Our other cat ran away!" "We had popcorn for a snack!" Pretty much stealing my heart.

This Saturday I'm looking forward to Jon and Carol's wedding. It's an intimate little gathering in Isle, MN that is totally and uniquely THEM, and I am SO excited that I get to be a part of it. Can't wait!

I'm training for a 10 mile race, that is in LESS THAN TWO WEEKS! >_< It's my first race over a 5k distance, and I'm both nervous and super excited.

On Wednesday some friends and I are going up to Park Rapids for the Impact World Tour. Check out the website if you're interested in going! http://www.impactworldtour.com/Groups/1000087595/Impact_World_Tour/locations/United_States/Hubbard_County/Hubbard_County.aspx

I also started a new job.. I'm now managing for the swim school that I work for (www.splashschoolusa.com), which I think will be a great fit for me. I'm really excited to get to be a bigger part in the school. But it means I am back to three jobs...Apparently I can never last very long with just two. haha!

And one last thing....I read this in Jesus Calling this morning, and it was so good for me today:

"Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! They walk, O Lord, in the light of Your countenance. In Your name they rejoice all day long." {Psalm 89:15-16}

Remember to rejoice in His name, ALL DAY LONG!

{Weakness | Personal}

I've been fighting shin splints these past few weeks, ever since I did five hours of biking, ran a 5k, swam with 325 children triathletes, swam a 1/2 mile race, and played ultimate frisbee all in one weekend. Smartest idea ever, right? I'm supposed to be training for a 10 mile race in less than four weeks, and I can barely limp through two miles.

I sat  down this morning to read my bible and I was complaining to God about it. This is the second year I've signed up for the 10 mile.. the first year I came down with mono, and wasn't able to run. So it's been on my list to conquer for a while. I was really looking forward to it this year.

After finishing my griping I opened Jesus Calling and the first thing I read hit me over the head. I had to stop and re-read it... wondering if I was just seeing things, or if that's what it really said.

"Accept each day exactly as it comes to you. By that, I mean not only the circumstances of your day, but also the condition of your body." {Jesus Calling, September 8th entry}

It went on to say more:

"Even if you wrongly choose the first alternative (giving up vs. relying on Me), I will not reject you. You can turn to Me at any point, and I will help you crawl out of the mire of discouragement. I will infuse My strength into you moment by moment, giving you all that you need for this day." 

 Because in our weakness {both mental, spiritual and physical}, He is strong. When we are weak, then we can acknowledge that everything we accomplish is from Him.

Remember to rest today in His strength and His power. Forget about your own weakness, your own pain and inadequacy, and focus on Him.

"For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you. " {2 Corinthians 13:4}

{Persistence | Personal}

"When you walk through a day in trusting dependence on Me, My aching heart is soothed. Gently bring your attention back to Me whenever it wanders away. I look for persistence - rather than perfection - in your walk with Me. " {Jesus Calling, Sarah Young}

*Photo taken on Lake Superior at Tettegouche State Park

{Your Path | Personal}

"You are on the path of My choosing. There is no randomness about your life. As you give yourself more and more to a life of constant communion with Me, you will find that you simply have not time for worry." {Jesus Calling, by Sarah Young}

I've been learning lately that the path that the Lord is choosing for me doesn't consist of where I am, or where I am going, or where I am living, or what I am doing, or how I am serving Him. Instead, it consists of my relationship with Him. 
That's what the "path" is. Walking and talking with Jesus. Listening and obeying. Loving Him.

That's all that matters. And that's all He wants from us.

Too often I get caught up in how *I* think my path should be looking, and the majority of the time I think it involves moving and doing and going. I quickly loose sight of what it really means to walk the path of Christ.

Walking and talking with Jesus. Loving Him. That's all He wants from me. If I am pursuing that then I am on the right path. 


I'm right where I'm supposed to be. 


"What can I do for You // What can I bring to You // What kind of song would You like me to sing? // 'cause I'll dance a dance for You // pour out my love for You // What can I do for You beautiful King.

"Cause I can't thank you enough."

"And I hear You sing to me // you, don't have to do a thing // just simply be with Me and let those things go // 'cause they can wait another minute // wait, this moment is too sweet // just please stay here with Me and love on Me a little longer.

"Cause I like to be with you a little longer. I am in love with you." {A Little Longer, Jenn Johnson}

{His Peace | Personal}

"You will not find lasting peace in the world around you, in circumstances, or in human relationships. The external world is always in flux - under the curse of death and decay...
"Take time to delve into the riches of My residing Presence." {Jesus Calling, Sarah Young} 

"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in on body, and be thankful." {Colossians 3:15}

Each day remember that we are called to let His peace rule in our hearts, nothing else, just His peace. Everything else fades away when we concentrate on His peace and Presence in our life.