SHOE SALE!!

I am a new Christian, and I have done a lot of thinking. I keep asking myself one question:
“How can I explain this journey, and have everyone understand…?” I have come up with one way to hopefully explain.
I think that buying and wearing brand new shoes is the best way to explain my journey. We all have bought new shoes that don’t fit perfectly, well when I became a Christian I felt like it just didn’t fit at first. I have had shoes that are too tight, but I continue to walk in them because I know (as I hope you all do) that if you keep walking THEY WILL get comfortable…it’s almost a guarantee. I feel like I walked funny in the beginning of my Walk with the Lord. I didn’t know how to pray, I never knew the words to any of the songs, and clapping IN CHURCH was the most uncomfortable….BUT with God’s help I kept walking. Have you ever watched a pair of shoes go down in price? I mean seriously watch them, and when they finally get to your “drive out” price you buy them and you almost can’t believe you ACTUALLY HAVE THEM ON!!! Being a new Christian and learning about the grace and mercy that Jesus has for us is a lot like that, I have looked in the mirror and said WOW he really loves me, just the way I am. I actually can wear these shoes…I am good enough! Have you ever looked at someone else and thought, “There is no way THAT would ever look good on me.” I feel that way sometimes being a Christian. It just looks better on other people, they must pray better then me or they must really know someone UP THERE. Have you ever met a Christian that just makes it look easy? They can quote scripture; they even pray OUTLOUD without messing up. I call this person the High Heel Christian, she is very put together and is also very confident in Christianity, but if she shoes come off she may feel a little lost.
I hate to admit this but I have lost a shoe before! What a horrible feeling…I know I have seen it somewhere but I just can’t figure out where. Sometimes I feel lost as a new Christian, like recently just finding out what ‘equally yoked’ really meant…I had no idea it had nothing to do with getting the same amount of eggs at IHOP. Don’t you wish you could just borrow someone else’s shoes for awhile, because yours feel so uncomfortable? Jesus wants my walk with Him to be very personal; he wants me to know Him personally. I can’t cheat the process and live through someone else’s journey.
I also have to surround myself with other people who wear shoes. It’s important that I have someone in my circle of friends that will be honest and say, “Honey those shoes look horrible-please never wear them again!” I like to call this person a Boot Christian; she will get in the middle of everything and make sure you are on the right path. She does have a vulnerable side, but it may take a long time to see. I’m still learning what type of Christian I am. I am hoping that I am more of a Tennis Shoe Christian…I want to be comfortable I want to run where Jesus tells me to, I want to always be prepared in prayer. I know that the Tennis Shoe doesn’t always match everything I wear, but in Christ I match everything and everyone. With Him on my side, I cannot go wrong.
Now I know that being a Christian is way more rewarding then wearing new shoes, but I have to think that if we try and keep things simple, and not try to complicate Jesus, that maybe, just maybe more of us will buy more shoes and be proud to wear them.

Running even when your not being chased.....

I am a new runner....if you know me you know how NEW I really am. It's pretty sad when you have to google "running new start breathe" to even get started with the process.
I learned that there is a process, and if you don't follow it perfectly you can be in DANGER-sounds scary-huh? Tell me about it.....

I print out the instructions and I wish they would have NOT let me read ahead-but I did.....
and who ever wrote these instructions is a very excited runner who has never doubted herself a day in her life...
"In just 9 short weeks you will be running 3 miles"
"9 weeks huh.....OK!", I said still standing at the printer.

You start out with 60 seconds of running and then 90 seconds of walking and you do THIS back and forth for 20 minutes. pretty easy huh? I couldn't wait to get started-really.
SO-I made the Acadamy trip-we have all made this trip-I was even walking different when I went-I was a runner and I was acting like one. I was confident and I knew what I wanted.

Instead of walking around the store I decided to ask someone b/c I didn't want to get winded.....
I asked, "Yes I need a new stop watch-mine broke" I did NOT want to sound NEW.
They pointed me in the direction and I WAS OFF.....to go and search for my new best friend.
WOW----if no one has ever searched for a stop watch you are in for a surprise. They had everything you could think of except for the one that RAN FOR YOU...don't worry I looked.

After searching for almost 30 minutes I started to sweat because they didn't have the air on in there-because we are athletes and we DON'T care about air, I finally found one.
Now I needed a new shirt-a running shirt-because I had to look amazing and a new shirt can make you run faster.....well Acadamy does not carry plus sizes, I am guessing because once you make it to that store you should have already lost your weight, needless to say I was upset.
I ended up buying a men's T-Shirt that was actually perfect and on sale. All this for a 60 second run.
While waiting in the check out line I ended up picking up some "Energy Beans" I know I couldn't believe I found those so quickly, but finding the right stop watch was so difficult.
After eating them I learned that they just gave me that sugar high that I can get with any kind of JELLY BEANS....the picture of the "ENERGY" Bean on the package with the sweat band on threw me off. "ok?"

I was ready.
I looked like a runner.
I sounded like a runner (iPod Shuffle was charged)
I could keep time like a runner (stop watch)
I WAS A RUNNER

I get to the track and I am ready to BE A RUNNER....I go to a high-school track around my house and if there is something going on at the school I cannot get on the track....well I drive there, I am pumped and ready...THE ENERGY BEANS HAVE KICKED IN!
And-yes you guessed it something was going on AT THE TRACK.....

SO-I went home and started the real journey the next morning.....
I DID purchase a Jump Roap though and did that (whatever you wanna call it) for 12 seconds, I was NOT going to let all that prepping go to waste.......I drank a Vitamin water and went to bed!

What an amazing start to this amazing journey!