While most people exercise to some type of rap or upbeat top hit song, I start my run off with a palms up, hands in the air, Christian song. One of my students, Emma Cannon, introduced me to this song during one of her presentations and it has been a favorite since then. The song is "Greater" by MercyMe, and its lyrics are going to be the focus of my blog post today.
"Bring your tired... bring your shame...bring your guilt... bring your pain... Don't you know that's not your name...You will always be much more to me..."
As I walk out the house and shut my door, this song starts my playlist because well most days my thoughts and excuses revolve around me being tired and for some reason this song pushes me to get my feet moving. These first six lines are so inspirational and really reiterate God's philosophy of placing all of your tiredness, shame, guilt, and pain before him. The ever forgiving and loving Father wants it all, and that is reassurance for me. Sometimes, the tiredness, shame, guilt, and pain can consume us in our daily lives, but He serves as a reminder that those words and feelings do not define who we are to Him. We are each individuals in his mighty kingdom. On a side note: This lyric in my mind is also like God is telling me that I am not tired (that is not my name). Even though at times, I am yelling back at him that I am!!! HAHA!
"Cause I hear a voice and he calls me redeemed...when others say Ill never be enough and greater is the one living inside of me than he who is living in the world...."
My friend Erin and I used to have a joke about how Christian songs especially those upbeat ones make you want to put your hands in the air. PALMS UP!!! At one point today, I was running with my arms open to the side (think of a plane taking off) and juggling two dog leashes. Listening to those words and feeling the breeze on my face, God was present in that moment just like He is in all of my moments. He is the voice inside my head and heart reminding me to serve my purpose each day. So as silly as I looked running down my street (wonder if my neighbors will write about the crazy lady running down the sidewalk on our neighborhood blog...haha) I was having a moment. A moment of faith, happiness, love, and a reminder just how glorious faith really is.
"Bring your doubts...bring your fears...bring your hurt...bring your tears...There will be no condemnation here... You are holy, righteous, and redeemed..."
As a child, teenager, and college student, I feel that I was fearless. As a child, I walked through creeks, played in the woods by my house, and jumped ramps with my bike. I was fearless.. no worries about snakes or falls.... pure enjoyment. As a teenager, I rode in cars that went to fast, competed against girls who were much bigger and stronger than me in sports, and created opportunities to further my education. Fearless... I WOULD be a good athlete and a great student who also had a lot of fun. As I went off to college, I feel that I became the girl who enjoyed life and all that it had to offer. I defined who I was as a person and who I wanted to become. I was the care-free, up for anything person. Today, as I look at some of my students I see the "college me" in them. As we grow older, I feel that we have many more doubts, fears, hurt, and sometimes tears. As I ran today listening to "Greater" with my palms up, I was the child, teenager, and college student.
As hard as we try not to get caught up in the race, we as adults do this every day. Do not become so caught up in the "race" that you forget what its like to be "free" of doubts, fears, hurt, and tears. We are all holy, righteous, and redeemed. And by knowing those things, lay your burdens down and pray. Faith is the greatest thing. I am thankful that I receive little reminders that God is working in my life just like He is in each of yours. We are all holy, righteous , and redeemed in his eyes. Those feelings surrounding tired, shame, guilt, pain, doubts, fears, hurt, and tears do not define us....so go CONQUER the day, or that work task, or that EXAM and in the process take a moment to see the wonderful things God has put into your life. It could be the flower that blooms that reminds you of your grandmother, the soft snores of your child or fur baby, or the hug from a friend. Each one of us are blessed sometimes we just need to take a moment to see our blessings.
I hope all of you have a blessed week! Thanks for reading and if you see some crazy girl running down the street with her palms up in the air, just honk because you know you love Jesus too!
Faith....Patience...Love, Joy
"Bring your tired... bring your shame...bring your guilt... bring your pain... Don't you know that's not your name...You will always be much more to me..."
As I walk out the house and shut my door, this song starts my playlist because well most days my thoughts and excuses revolve around me being tired and for some reason this song pushes me to get my feet moving. These first six lines are so inspirational and really reiterate God's philosophy of placing all of your tiredness, shame, guilt, and pain before him. The ever forgiving and loving Father wants it all, and that is reassurance for me. Sometimes, the tiredness, shame, guilt, and pain can consume us in our daily lives, but He serves as a reminder that those words and feelings do not define who we are to Him. We are each individuals in his mighty kingdom. On a side note: This lyric in my mind is also like God is telling me that I am not tired (that is not my name). Even though at times, I am yelling back at him that I am!!! HAHA!
"Cause I hear a voice and he calls me redeemed...when others say Ill never be enough and greater is the one living inside of me than he who is living in the world...."
My friend Erin and I used to have a joke about how Christian songs especially those upbeat ones make you want to put your hands in the air. PALMS UP!!! At one point today, I was running with my arms open to the side (think of a plane taking off) and juggling two dog leashes. Listening to those words and feeling the breeze on my face, God was present in that moment just like He is in all of my moments. He is the voice inside my head and heart reminding me to serve my purpose each day. So as silly as I looked running down my street (wonder if my neighbors will write about the crazy lady running down the sidewalk on our neighborhood blog...haha) I was having a moment. A moment of faith, happiness, love, and a reminder just how glorious faith really is.
"Bring your doubts...bring your fears...bring your hurt...bring your tears...There will be no condemnation here... You are holy, righteous, and redeemed..."
As a child, teenager, and college student, I feel that I was fearless. As a child, I walked through creeks, played in the woods by my house, and jumped ramps with my bike. I was fearless.. no worries about snakes or falls.... pure enjoyment. As a teenager, I rode in cars that went to fast, competed against girls who were much bigger and stronger than me in sports, and created opportunities to further my education. Fearless... I WOULD be a good athlete and a great student who also had a lot of fun. As I went off to college, I feel that I became the girl who enjoyed life and all that it had to offer. I defined who I was as a person and who I wanted to become. I was the care-free, up for anything person. Today, as I look at some of my students I see the "college me" in them. As we grow older, I feel that we have many more doubts, fears, hurt, and sometimes tears. As I ran today listening to "Greater" with my palms up, I was the child, teenager, and college student.
As hard as we try not to get caught up in the race, we as adults do this every day. Do not become so caught up in the "race" that you forget what its like to be "free" of doubts, fears, hurt, and tears. We are all holy, righteous, and redeemed. And by knowing those things, lay your burdens down and pray. Faith is the greatest thing. I am thankful that I receive little reminders that God is working in my life just like He is in each of yours. We are all holy, righteous , and redeemed in his eyes. Those feelings surrounding tired, shame, guilt, pain, doubts, fears, hurt, and tears do not define us....so go CONQUER the day, or that work task, or that EXAM and in the process take a moment to see the wonderful things God has put into your life. It could be the flower that blooms that reminds you of your grandmother, the soft snores of your child or fur baby, or the hug from a friend. Each one of us are blessed sometimes we just need to take a moment to see our blessings.
I hope all of you have a blessed week! Thanks for reading and if you see some crazy girl running down the street with her palms up in the air, just honk because you know you love Jesus too!
Faith....Patience...Love, Joy