Best Tip Ever

What a week! I mean that in the best way and in a semi-exhausted way, too.

To start with the AMAZING, God has opened my eyes to a specific part of His Word and given me such a new sense of freedom! Running and training for the half is going really well. E had his first ECFE class tonight. He really seemed to enjoy himself and I got to catch up with an old friend!

For the bad, E has been trying his hand at tantrums. These tantrums aren't horrible, super-long-lasting kicking and screaming; just occasional meltdowns that have been testing both Leo and I. I thought kids were supposed to save their tantrums for the "Terrible Two's"!

The Best Running Tip Ever: Friends don't let friends eat bacon before a hard run. Today's workout was a 5-mile tempo run (7:54~7:42/mile) and I was hoping my breakfast wouldn't make a second appearance. Next week I will write about a bit more serious exercise tips :)

What is your best running tip? Or how about a parenting tip?

About that Epiphany...

My entire life I've struggled with guilt and the insecurity of not being or doing "enough". Before I was a Christian, I never felt good enough for other people. And in my new life in Christ, I have struggled with not feeling good enough for God or His grace (which, really, I'm not without Jesus!). I have been reading through 1 John 3 lately and God made verse 20 jump out of the page and grab my heart (not literally).
Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God. Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything. 1 JOHN 3:18-20 (emphasis added by me)
This doesn't mean that we should ignore our conscience or rationalize our behavior, but set our hearts on God's love. God is SO MUCH GREATER than our feelings. He even knows our motives as well as our actions. God's Voice of assurance is stronger than the accusing voice of our conscience.

What this means is that when that nagging guilt of my conscience pops up, I need to remember to see myself the way God sees me. If you are in Christ, God does not condemn you (from Romans 8:1)!

After reading through 1 John 3, I feel more freedom than I ever have before. It's hard to imagine that I am a child of God and that God lavishes His love on me (from 1 John 3:1)! Instead of feeling condemned for past mistakes, sinful temptations that still pop up, or comparing our relationship with God to others, we can be free and have rest.

Because of that freedom, we are able to serve the Lord and bless others with all that we are and with full confidence, rather than being stifled by our self-condemnation.

It seems a bit strange that I named this blog "Life to the Full" yet I have been living as a slave to self-condemnation for so long, doesn't it? Then again, maybe this is God's purpose for this blog.

Honestly, if this was my last post, it will have fulfilled an amazing purpose in my life just to simply teach me what it feels like to live to the full in Christ.
"Being a Christian is not about dying to all our passions, desires, joys, and things we look forward to doing. It is about having them to the max. There is a transition period where maybe we do have to clean ourselves from unhealthy desires, passions, etc., but in the end we are supposed to have the most fulfilled life here on earth that we could dream of. We are supposed to be alive, fully alive, in Christ." Ryan Hall in "Running with Joy"
Have you ever had an epiphany that totally changed the way you see life?

Things You Should Try This Weekend!

Try this combo for a snack: Greek yogurt + homemade granola = amazing


Attempt a coffee date with a baby: Fruit & Veggie treats for E and a coffee for me :) About 30 minutes later he had a mini-meltdown in Target. Yay!


Explore the nearest sidewalk: The mundane things (like rocks) in life are so fascinating to E! I adore his passion for life.


Give cous cous a chance: "Cous cous" is that rice-looking stuff. A girlfriend recommended that I try it and it's so good! Usually I make a lot of brown rice, so this has been a pleasant change.


Have a wonderful weekend!

Linking up at #FellowshipFridays13.

Comments

  1. I remember when Keenan started having tantrums and boy they were not fun! They were never super drawn out, but long enough. It's hard to deal with them, but distraction and diverting his attention to something else seemed to work well. Hang in there, as it will pass sooner than you think!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for the encouragement, Melissa! The key is to prevent the tantrums lately has been to keep E from getting over-tired and hungry - that's his breaking point. Problem is, I can't always get him down for a nap before he hits that point :s

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  2. Thank you for sharing this Scripture! I needed to hear that God is greater than our feelings. Blessings to you! I'm visiting from Fellowship Fridays.

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    Replies
    1. Your welcome, Angela. Thanks for stopping by!

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