Run with Endurance

In four weeks, I am running my first 10 K in Mobile, Alabama. The Azalea Trail 10 K. It's supposed to be a big deal with a bunch of free stuff at the end, not much of it I like. I'm running it with Dad. I am so excited although at this moment I'm glaring at the weather, which is preventing me from a good outdoor run. Running has grown from something I did every now and then in high school for the heck of it to something I love to do. It has to be one of the greatest things ever and, unless you're entering crazy stuff like 10Ks, is absolutely free. It's addicting. Literally. If you get all sciencey it releases endorphins which make you feel great and this gives you a high. You can get it with any exercise, but at this time it's called the runner's high and I am addicted. In fact, sitting right here my entire body is going "C'mon, you need to run in the dark. You know you want to." Another reason I love it is because of the freedom to explore new trails and roads and you can do it anywhere. I love running on the beach especially in the morning when the sun is coming up. The air clears your head. It's a God moment. Thank You for my legs. Running makes me feel great-from the high to how toned my body gets. Staying healthy is very important. I can go on forever on how everyone should keep themselves in shape, but I want to think of happy things like running. All I'm saying is our bodies are now the temple of God and you should read the sections in Exodus, Nehemiah, 1 Kings and some of the old prophets where these people so much time to build the temple of God. And now that temple is you so you should take just as much care to take care of it. There...can't go five minutes without something important to say. Sigh. Maybe I'll drive home and get on a treadmill so at least I can satisfy my impatient, but sore, legs.
iRun 

Pirates!

Yesturday my dad called me and told me he didn't want to buy a sailboat anymore. His dream was to retire, buy a sailboat and sail around the world, or at least the Carribbean, until yesturday. Why did he change his mind? On the news, if you haven't heard the story, this couple retired and began sailing around the world passing out Bibles. At some point they were stopped by Somoli pirates and killed. You'd have to look the story up to get facts, but this is about it. Isn't that awesome? While passing out Bible they were murdered by pirates! I mean, I'm sad for them, but think about it. They could've died comfortable in a retirement home down in Florida perfecting their golf swing, but instead they traveled the world and taking the gospel with them. That's how I want to die. And by Somoli pirates. Dude, that's amazing! And they're story is being broadcasted apparently, and even if it's small it's getting out there. I don't want to die in selfish luxury; I want to die taking the Word to the world. And pirates would be a pretty cool end.

Matthew 24:14 (New International Version, ©2010)

And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Let's get out of our comfort zones and show the world what who our God is.

F is for Friends

The last couple of weeks haven't been the best. Work has been getting to me plus stress from all these big decisions in life. Trying to figure out God's will. Yesturday I ended up going to my homie Jenn's house, which I haven't gotten to do in a while. So much has been going on and all and it's been crazy around here on both sides. All we did is walk up and down here driveway at a casual pace talking about life, liberty and Mark Driscoll. Then we ate the best salad ever and went to Ms. Jerri's for Bible study. But it was amazing!!! And I feel back to normal...a little tired after a long busy day, but this is Megan again. I think working at where work is a little stressful for everyone and then all my decisions and praying. Anyway, that's not what this is about. My father used to say, well he said a lot of things, but one of the things he used to say all you need in life is one good friend in life. For the most part, I've always had good friends. Carrie has been my bestest friend for forever, but with me living in Opelika and her still in Griffin we don't see each as much or talk as much. I never thought I was missing anything and maybe at the time I wasn't. And yes, Jesus is enough. But as God provided me for Jenn, and she likes to point out, I think God's definitely using her and this friendship in my life. She is a great friend. God gave me you!! My shout out to one of three of my blog fans. If anyone else reads this, I'd really like to know.  

The Armor of God

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.


18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

The Armor of God

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.


18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

Tell a Friend

So last week, well for a while, I've been thinking about my Christian walk and what it means to be a Christian. I've always in the past thought, I need to tell people about Jesus and then I try. Cept I don't try, I chicken out or miss opportunities or whatever. But this is an essential part of the Christian faith. Like that guy in the Bible who found the pearl and sold everything to buy the field it's in. That's how big this message is we have. Actually way bigger than that pearl. People's souls are at stack. Millions of people are dying and going to hell and I'm too afraid to give them the good news. Anyway, I've been thinking about it a lot, and finding it everywhere, and then I get Mitchell's blog which is all about this topic. It's like God's going hello, I'm talking to you!! Yes, you kid. So that's been my goal all week: to tell at least one person about Jesus. That's all I need, one opportunity. What's bad is I'm going to bed dreaming about it now. I have to tell someone. How can I call myself a follower of Christ if I don't tell anyone? No one is going to walk up to me and ask why am I so happy all the time. I have to go tell people. Share this pearl I have stumbled upon. So this is my challenge to myself: tell at least one person about Jesus this week. By midnight Saturday. Once I get used to it, I'm sure it'll come easier. I just have to get into the practice of doing and I have to start somewhere.
http://sanctuary247.com/MD/

Musical Testimony

OK, so some people get really crazy with this and I have nothing wrong with secular music. I mean it took me a while to get to this point (2 years) and I'll still hear it and start singing along. I also wrote a blog about it. Anyway, about two years ago I felt I should stop listening to my secular music. It was one of those pressing on your heart moments. So I went through my music and got rid of the worse stuff. At that I was content. I listened to country music and classic rock...for the most part. Some of it I had to change the station. I also listened to the majority of Christian, but I would alternate stations and whatnot. So a few months ago, my Ladies Bible Study did a 40 day fast of different stuff for a reason. I fasted all books with the exception of the Bible (that's a whole nother story). Honestly I had been thinking of getting rid of the rest of my secular music too. At this point I only listened to the majority of Christian music. I had maybe 10 secular albums on my Ipod and I would flip to different stations sometimes on my radio. Anyway...bc I get sidetracked...my friend Kayla did fast secular music. We joked she could only listen to Chris Tomlin. Ms. Jerri, the woman who leads our study, said something powerful ab it and I can't remember what it was, but it struck me and when I got home I opened to where I was reading in I think Levitus where God's telling the Isrealites "hey, I told y'all to take out all these other communities but you left em. Now they're going to be a thrown in your sides" (Megan paraphrase) So I knew I had to get rid of what was left and it was surprisingly easy. Like, I love "Jesus musik" (That's a song, btw) I love praising God and it makes me focus on Him. I feel like I can better glorify His name listening to music prasing Him. This is also my story and I have nothing against anyone else listening to it. You aren't going to hell bc you listen to secular music. You'll go to hell bc you don't have a personal relationship with Jesus. I have to agree I'm passionate about music. Love it!! Any more q's, feel free to ask.

It's Not Funny

Yesturday I was pulling out off my street when a F150 drove by with the words "Tommy's Hoe" written across the top of the windshield. I've seen people with stop like this, some far worse, but this caught my attention for a moment. Actually, it kinda made me sad. I've heard guys call girls stuff like this or the girls refer to themselves like this and they do it jokingly. For some reason they think it's hilarious to call themselves this or something worse. Before a couple of years ago I would have shook my head and not thought much of it. Only now I realize there is something wrong. These women deserve so much better. Do they even really think it's funny? I've said it in a previous post: these women were created by and in the image of an amazing God who thinks so much of them. They are so much more than just Tommy's hoe. If you think of yourself as a hoe, let me sit you down and explain to you how much more important you are. God loves you and has a special plan just for you, as long as you let Him. Those words aren't funny; they're insulting. They insult both you and your awesomeness and they also insult my God and His creation.
And to the Tommys of the world, how dare you say this to a woman. This is a woman of God and you want to call her a hoe. She deserves so much more than you. She needs to be uplifted. Maybe you are joking, but it's not funny. What you should do is go get her some flowers, brush your hair and tell her how beautiful she is. Stop with your insulting jokes.
She is worth so much more.   

Cheating

About a week ago I received a message from someone who's doing a research project on cheating. In it she asked a couple of questions about my (well, everyone's) opinion on cheating. At first I was thinking like cheating on a test...can you see how stretched my mind's been lately. Course she wasn't, but I have just as strong opinions on this as on the other. Actually, maybe a little stronger.
Cheating is a wrong. I could break it down and call it adultery. That would save me from from confusing it with the other cheating.
Now why do I believe this? Well, it's breaking a covenant when someone cheats. When someone says their vows, it means for life. God designed marriage to be between a man and a woman till death do y'all part. Genesis 2:24 says for this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to be his wife, and they will become one flesh. Marriage is an union between two people, one flesh, and cheating disrupts this adding another person. I mean, once you get into Leviticus, the punishment under the old law was pretty harsh. Thank God for grace.
God also says he hates divorce in Malachi, and cheating often leads to that. I hate divorce too.
That's just a simple basis of why I don't like it. I could get deeper into it, but I'm going to move on.
I've seen the consequences of what cheating does. I've never cheated on anyone, seeing as I've never really even dated anyone. I have assumptions on why someone might cheat, but they aren't set in stone. (I think I know more of being on the other side) I don't think it matters male or female on who's more likely. Although there are vast difference between the genders, they probably boil down to the same. We're all sinners and it's in our nature. In the Bible, Jesus even says if you lust after a man ( or woman) you've commited adultery in your heart. Which means about all of us have commited it. That's why we needed a Savior. But the act is a whole nother story...what makes a person go for it? Like I said, I have thoughts.
Now the personal deepfound reason of why I don't like cheating is because, other than how it disrupts the covenant of marriage, it leaves deep marks on a relationship...relationships. The person who you cheated on feels betrayed. Yes, forgiveness is possible and I highly encourage reconcilation, but it's a painful process. If you have a family, you aren't just hurting your spouse. Feeling of betrayal, of embarrassment and distrust. It'll be hard to build this trust back. What about if the kids find out? More than likely they'll feel just as betrayed. It could have lasting consequences on their lives.
Fortunately, in my life I think it shaped me into the woman I've become. Yes, I still have issues, but Jesus has definitely helped me through my past. God has used my experiences to grow me. Looking back I can see where He used every experience to strengthen my walk with Him. Not saying it didn't hurt. It did and, like I said, I hate divorce. I don't like cheating. I've watched how it's hurt people and is hurting people right now. I actually would like to hurt anyone who cheats on their spouse. On their family.
I remind myself of a lot of things and try to pray for them instead. Something I have to understand is they're hurting too. Course it's hard, especially when you see someone you love hurting from the actions of someone else. The ignorant actions of a sinful man. And I say man as general man or woman. Let's face it: God loves them too. They are made in His image and regardless of what they do, He loves them. I have to pray for God to help me pray for them and see them as He sees them.
If you want to get down to it, we've all commited adultery against Him. We've chosen to sin against a holy God. That's a deep subject that I don't think I can start on in this blog. Actually I should keep to cheating.
This sounds really scatteredd to me and maybe I should have actually written it out and edited it before I posted it, but I'm just going with this. It's late and I'm tired. Thanks for sticking with me to this point.