Bucket List
To Run 1/2 Marathon
Rock N Roll Dallas 1/2
March 23, 2012

Wow!! I can not even begin to tell you that GOD was all over this Achievement! IF you know me, I have never been a runner. When my running buddy Sharon, asked me to do this with her, I laughed... Now I have a new hobby... I started running in the middle of December- and every Sat morning have been up at 6 or 7 out running... I did miss my sleeping in on Saturday mornings but I have loved every little lesson I learned from this journey!

So the week before the race, if you have not heard.. Well, I have not been sick in years--guess who came down with a horrible case of bronchitis. Yes it was me. On Wednesday, I was given a steroid shot, and was told there was a very high risk that I would not be able to run on Sunday. Basically I was in the beginning stages of pneumonia. So I called my Pop, and just cried.. I just started praying that the Lord would heal me. Well, the next few days are a blur-literally... I went to bed on Saturday night feeling awful, my lungs were yuck... I could not stop coughing..

So I went to my Pop and mom and we just PRAYED for a Miracle. I woke up at 12:30 ready to go and just laid in my bed praying the Lord would heal me so I could run! I was awake most of the day. At 5:15 Pop came in and woke me up. We had to do the fever check-- I was good.. But I woke up with the biggest smile on my face and a peace because I knew God was going to get me through this race.

Yes, I was a little anxious but it was time to go... After waiting forever, we started running around 8:30-- from the minute the race started I could not stop smiling-- I knew God was going to carry me through. My precious parents and friends were cheering me on and it made me keep pressing on.

My roommate Audrey and Angela made posters for us:
* Oh Hey-- If you know me I love this saying!
*This is my sisters PARTY!
**My favorite saying for the week- Focus on this MILE.
**Hurry Up we are going to be late for Church..

At mile 3 I knew we were Golden, as I saw my sweet parents and friends standing on the corner I felt great and my lungs were clear. PRAISE GOD! At mile 9 my BIG SIS D'Anna Hebert had chocolate for us.

I crossed the finish line and could not find my fam and friends fast enough... But the most important after pics and celebrating-- the coughing started back... I PRAISE GOD for this ACCOMPLISHMENT.

God heard my PRAYER he ANSWERED.. This has made me cling more to the Lord! I am beyond thankful for the relationship I have with Christ. I give him all the PRAISES for this CHECK off the Bucket List.

You can do anything...
Phil 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who Strengthens ME...

Am I finished with running, No I am just beginning!
God Bless
Jenn

Realization

Ive realized time does heal
but not all wounds go away.
Its time to realize the past is the past.
Rejection has happened time and time again.
You can't erase the wounds from your past
but you can move on in time.
Its time to realize how BEAUTIFUL YOU Are
to Realize How Much you have to Offer to the World.
The words of past Guys saying, You are an Awesome girl
but until you loose weight no Guy will date You, o
r you need to change this or that about yourself..
No Ive laid them down at Christs feet.
Satan has had a hay day with bringing these past conversations in my head,
especially when new people come into my life.
Now its time to be reminded of Who we are in Christ:
That we are to be Persevere and Build off of the Past.
Don't let something of the past keep you from moving forward.
Ive let this one weigh me down for too long..
Its time to embark on new adventures and to know
the BEST IS YET TO COME
Because GOD'S ALL OVER IT.
So in the Words of my sweet friend, Chrissie Dunham:
"The Party Don't Stop"
and I'm realizing this Party has Just TRULY Started...



Party On,
Jenn Smith

Its Just a Curve Ball

This has absolutely had to have been the Craziest week ever. I have not been sick in over 2 years..and this week of all weeks. Today has been full of craziness, but I have been to the dr, I have bronchitis, I have had a shot and am on antibiotics, staying home tomorrow... But need my body to heal quick The doc told me if I wanted to run on Sunday I need to pray hard.. Well girls that's what I'm doing..

Here's what has been on my mind today... Things don't go as we planned do they...Like we have everything planned out in life then we might get a curve ball and change courses... Change is not always in my middle name, but I adjust to it.. In my case I am a planner, I had my workouts all planned for the week and then I get sick... YUCK!! But what I know is I'm praying through it, I'm letting go of the worry game and just resting in Him... Do we really rest in the Lord completely like Jesus wants us too?? This is what I have learned on Day 9 of my prayer journey... Resting in him, not getting upset when things don't work out the way I want them too.. Now today I have been full of emotions, frustrated that I am sick.. Ive really been missing my parents wishing they lived here and my mom could bring me her amazing homemade soup with my favorite noodles...
But I have to stop and say I Praise you Lord for this obstacle and I praise you for what you are going to teach me through being sick... Hes already taught me about listening to him and just resting in him...

Hows your resting in the Lord?? Are you still trying to take your own control in some areas...
I would love to hear what you are learning!!
Blessing and Love
Jenn

The Storm

To start this morning off here is something to know about me, Im a very light sleeper. So the fact that it was raining so hard last night, I was awake through it. As I listened to the rain hit, I started just praying. As I kind of got a little nervous as it got louder with thunder and lightining, the Lord reminded me of this verse:

Ex 14:13-14
And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”

In another version I read it said you have only to be calm. I dont know about you but through this storm and the storms we face in life, I get worked up and loose my calmness. I want to rest in Christ even more knowing that he is at work in us and is fighting for us.... Which means he is hearing our Prayers and his plan is PERFECT!We just have to keep Praying...

Happy Tuesday,
Jenn

Questions, Questions and Questions

• Do you ever feel frustrated when you are praying about a certain topic?
  
• Do you ever get tired of praying for the same thing day in and day out?

• Are do you ever feel God is being silent and you are not hearing from him??
  
• Do you ever get tired of Waiting on the Lord for his timing?

These are all questions I have asked myself over the last couple of months. But God is always right on time with verses to continue to Press into him and to answer our PRAYERS.

Psalms 62:5
For God alone, O my soul,
Wait in Silence,
for my hope is from him.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress, I shall not be shaken.
On God rests my Salvation and my glory;
my mighty rock, my refuge is GOD.
Trust in Him at all times O people;
POUR out your heart before him,
God is a refuge for us.

Wow! Is that a Good Word or what??? My Father in Heaven wants me to tell him everything that is going on, even when I am frustrated over a situation that I am praying through. The more we pour and spend time with our Father, the more he will teach us and we will see his plan as he opens our eyes to see as he sees the situation.

Believing and Blessings,
Jenn

Favorite Sayings

This morning I want to share with you 2 of my favorite sayings!

Surrender
- that is my Word for the Year. In everything I do I need to surrender to God, this means PRaying like never before and listening to God. If you know me I am Great at talking, but now its time to sit back and listen to God.


God is....
Not a God of Confusion
or TEASE

HE is not going to give me something that I want as a tease, he is showing me what is out in the world, whether it be for me or not. He does not want us to forget the good blessings he has given us.

I think of Sarah who prayed for years for her baby, and what happened God provided in his timing. WE do not need to give up and stop praying when we are not hearing our answers to our prayers but dive in even harder-- SHOWING GOD that we Trust him and this is leads to True Obedience..

Sharing what God is teaching me:)
Jenn

Praying in a New Way


As many as you know I have just finished reading the Book Circle Makers. This book has really changed my Prayer life in the fact that I know pray scripture over the areas in my life.


2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

This verse is a Reminder that God is has written these words from the bible, and its our GUIDE for living. As I am praying over the certain topic, I pray the scripture over it as well. Today, I want to share with you a diagram I made in my Prayer Journal:

I made a web, sorry I dont know how to make it on here. In the middle of the spider web I wrote(BE SPECIFIC)

A Mate
In Love With You
Leads Me
Makes me Want to be More Like Chirst
Loves Kids


Next, I went and found scriptures and drew them as the legs.

Ephesians 3:20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us


Psalms 37:4 Delight in the Lord and he will Give you the Desires of your heart.

Genesis 2:18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for[a] him.”

If you ask not, you will not receive answer--- BIG

As I pray over this topic, other scriptures have been revealed. I hope this helps you as you are circling your Prayers...

God Bless and Love
Jenn