The Silence Among the Screaming Crowd

Yes, there was silence (shock and aw) among the screaming crowd for me the second and final day of the Iron Clash,  which I will get to a little later,

Athletes were to report to the venue by 7:30am to go over standards for our first event, Event 6 "Oxygenated"

"Oxygenated"

Oxygenated was an endurance workout, which is they type I love.  The reason I love this type of workout is because athletes are so used to going hard right out of the gate and then burning themselves out so quick that with a steady pace through the whole thing you usually end up passing those people.  

"Oxygenated"

30min cap

1500m row

60 burpee box jump overs

(20 @ 24", 20 @ 20", 20 @ 6")

1mi run

80 sandbag get ups 30#

Zoned out on the row with my music
going.

My strategy for this was to pace myself through the row, and zone out.  Rowing is one of the things in CrossFit I can NOT stand.  Most people in CrossFit don't like running.  I, sure enough, am the opposite.  You don't go anywhere when you row.  I remember when I used to get cherries on my tailbone from rowing, a little fix in technique and that solved that problem.  All the athletes in my heat got the 3...2...1... countdown and I turned on my music and off I went to take on that dreaded 1500m row.  It was actually over faster than I remember in  a normal row.  I made sure I kept the same pace the whole time so I wouldn't wear myself out before getting to the box jumps.  I came off the rower and on to the what felt like 100 box jumps, heck it might have well have been 100.  Some of those box jumps were iffy on my part that I'm surprised I didn't fall over to the other side flat on my face or even miss my feet and hit my shins.  My legs started to feel so heavy on those suckers.  Although, that would have helped get back down into the burpee portion.  

1 mile run...glad I brought my Newton Motion
running shoes!

My legs at this point felt so tight that heading out on that run I felt super slow.  I started to catch the girl that was in front of me and almost passed her.  Actually, I might have passed her on the way in the door.  After that it was the mad search for my judge who was standing at my station where I was to start my sandbag get ups.  Eighty of those suckers.  I switched the position of the sandbag every 5 reps, and figured out a way to pass the sandbag from shoulder to shoulder on the way down.  I grabbed the side of the mat twice without thinking but it was only a quick warning from my judge not to do it again.  Some judges were letting that pass and others weren't.  I finished with I want to say 34 sandbag get ups left when the 30min time cap hit.  

All those get ups...literally GET UP!!
I think I got stuck a couple times on
these.

The Silence Among The Noise (Event 6)
This WOD was called 3-in-1 and for a good reason.  We were to find a 1RM (RM - rep max) thruster in 2min, 1min transition period and then into a 7min WOD more of a time cap anyway.  Here are the exact details of "3-in-1"

"3-in-1"

2min to find 1RM thurster

*all athletes start with 75# on the bar

1min transition (athletes break down the weight on the bar back to 75#)
then

                                               20 ring dips

                                               25 thrusters @ 75#

                                              20 toes to bar

                                             15 OHS @ 95#

                                          10 burpee bar muscle ups

                                           5 power clean & jerk @ 125#

                                          then directly into

                                        2min to find another 1RM thruster

Apparently killing ring dips

Once the timer started I went ahead and threw extra weight on the bar, which I thought was 105#, much to my surprise after I attempted at 10# extra and failed the attempt, my judge told me that the weight was 115#.  I was hoping for a little higher considering I hit 115# back in a competition in January.  But I wasn't that worried about it.  I was really prepped for this competition.  I made sure I had my rings set to my height and then weighted for the 1min transition to be over.  Gymnastics movements tend to be my wheelhouse/specialty when it comes to CrossFit, but the girls I was competing against were really good so I wasn't expecting what happened next. 

The timer went off for us to start and I busted out 10 ring dips first time out, then I broke them up into sets of 5 and 5.  Honestly those ring dips felt like they took longer than they did.  I started to walk toward my bar to start my thrusters.  I had tunnel vision walking to my bar and next thing I hear over the mic from DJ Rob was that I was the first off the rings and onto the 25 thrusters.  Everything in me was shocked that I was the first one off the rings.  It's almost like the feeling when you are scared half to death and you feel like everything in your body stops.  That feeling in the moment still hasn't gone away.  

Everyone enjoys some thrusters! NOT

I started on my thrusters and got to rep 11 before another competitor got on the bar.  Weightlifting is probably my weakest point in CrossFit.  Sure enough she passed me.  And I headed to the bar only a couple reps behind her.  Next was toes to bar (TTB or t2b), a grand total of 20 reps.  Having to do strict leg lifts or t2b in gymnastics makes this movement easy for me.  I knocked those out no problem and was off the bar again before the girl who I was neck and neck with was off the bar.  

Now for OHS (overhead squats).  I think this is probably one of the least favorite lifts of most CrossFitters, but it is one of my favorites.  Fifteen OHS at 95#.  We had to add and extra 20 pounds from the thrusters at 75#.  I can't remember how many reps I got into before the 7min time cap, but I was really hoping to finish them and get at least one burpee bar muscle up.  I think anytime there is a muscle up in a WOD, that is always my goal to at least get to that point.  Now holding 95# over my head for 15 reps is hard,  that's only 20-25 pounds under my bodyweight.  Of course in the heat of any WOD forget about strategy if it gets heavy or you get too tired and just try to get through the rest of the workout.  Well, of course after I had finished this workout my first thought still goes back to coming off the ring dips first and how shocking that was, but my second thought was instead of dropping the bar to the ground after a couple reps of OHS was that I should have taking the bar back down to the back squat rack position.  O well

Resetting to press back up to start OHS (overhead squats)

I'm just the little girl how busted out the ring dips like they were no big deal.  It almost felt as if there was some kind of cloud or protection shield, so to speak (like in Twilight Breaking Dawn Part 2), when walking out to my bar for the thrusters.  Besides being there with so many people cheering me on, that was the best moment and one that I will never forget no matter how many competitions I do. 

Finals

I didn't make it to the finals.  I placed 10th and only the top 8 would go to finals.  I would have done better if I wouldn't have DQ'd in Event 4 of the day prior.  I stayed to watch all my fellow teammates compete.  They all made it to finals.

Your final score all depended on the distance you lunged with a kb (1 kb for scaled, and 2 for masters) after completing a movement, the movement in front of he lunges didn't matter.  It was 4x3min rounds

Round 1 - 15 deficit handstand push ups/handstand push ups, max distance walking kb  lunge 

Round 2 - 8 muscle ups, max distance walking kb lunge

Round 3 - 20 dL, max distance walking kb lunge

Round 4 - 15 hang power clean, max distance walking kb lunge

Krystal Gray

Travis Denman

Mark Sandel

Emily Denman

The Clash of Beauty and Strength

There has always been such fear for women when it comes to weight lifting.  The fear of getting bulky.
I have been very lucky to find a community that finds the definition of our muscles and being as strong, if not stronger than men an empowering and beautiful thing.

Shevez during the 400m spring of the
pentathlon event
Her pants say, "Not Just A Pretty Face"

This was the 2nd Annual Iron Clash competition in Fayetteville, NC and I was lucky enough to compete and to get to compete with some amazing ladies, and an amazing team (CrossFit Guild).  The venue was bigger this year and even though the event had it's mishaps it was a great event.  

Pentathlon (Event 1)
Our first event was called "The Pentathlon."  It consisted of an agility course, reverse shot put throw, vertical jump, tire flip ladder, and 400m sprint.  
The agility course had cones we have to weave through, duking under polls, and jumping hurdles.  I think the best part of "The Pentathlon" was the tire flip ladder.  
We had 45sec to try and flip 7 tires, each one increasing in weight.  For every one we did not flip there were penalty points that added on to out time.

The frustrating part came here in the competition.  I was originally scheduled to start event 2, "Power Breather" at 1:30pm.  I didn't end up doing this event until 3pm Saturday.

Laying down during the long break between Event 1 and 2

"Power Breather" (Event 2)
The power breather was one I wish I would have done better on, but dang those DUs (double unders).  I had to keep my body fueled for the day so I packed meals and snacks: chicken, cubed cinnamon sweet potatoes, peanut butter cookie larabar.   On this event my main concern was the wall balls, it has always been a weakness of mine.  And I think I went to the bathroom 5 times before this event just to make sure I didn't run into having to go to the bathroom during DUs.  If you have never done a DU before it always makes you go to the bathroom.

Powerbreather event
10min AMRAP
3-6-9-12...
wall balls
pull ups
10-20-30-40 DUs

DU (double under) - jumping rope where the rope passes under the feet twice while only jumping once.  You probably did this as a kid for fun.  
Power Breather was an ascending ladder for 10 minutes of wall balls, pull ups and DUs.  Each time you went through the movements, wall ball and pull ups, you added 3 reps
(3, 6, 9, 12, 15, etc) and the DUs increased by 10 every time (10, 20, 30, 40, 50, etc)
So all in all the rep scheme went like this...3/3/10, 6/6/20, 9/9/30, etc.
My first difficulty came in finding my position to it the target exactly where it needed to go.  I didn't hit it my first couple of reps which wastes time.  I could knock out the pull ups and my judge realized that.  He even told me at one point that it was what I excelled at during the WOD; I guess 8 years of gymnastics pays off.  
I had to keep taking breaks during my DUs because, yes even though I went to the bathroom 5 times to make sure I didn't have to go to the bathroom during this WOD (workout of the day), I still somehow had to go.  There is a workout shirt that says, "Will you pee for it?"  My answer...NEVER!

Rocking out some pull ups during Power Breather

I was in 8th place after the Power Breather, which I needed to be in top 8 to make the finals.  I was excited but new how much the next WOD could affect that.
"Repeatable" (Event 3 & 4)
This event was by far I think the worst event out there.  It was our Event 3 and 4.
3min to complete 
10 TnG (touch-and-go) snatches
25 cal on air assault bike
rest 1 minute
repeat

Sam Kerns busting out some calories
on the air assault bike.

For the workout there was no set weight for the snatches, as we could pick which weight we used both times we went through it.  The air assault bike is a little different from and air dyne.  On an air dyne you can just use your legs; on the air assault you had to use arms and legs or you were going to be working extra hard, not that you weren't going to already.  I knew in this event that it was going to take a lot to keep up with these girls.  The girls ahead of me were I would say at least 30lb heavier than I am and with different training programs I knew that they were going to be able to lift more weight than I was.  What was on everyone's mind was not making it through all the assigned calories on the assault bike.  And let me be the first to say, that thing SUCKED!!
I didn't complete all my calories the first round,  I had 2 left.  I was breathing so hard and my lungs burned so bad.  I wish I could describe the feeling.  I guess the only way I could say it is that I was breathing really hard and deep but my lungs would never completely fill with air so I could catch my breath.  The second time through...
Unfortunately I got DQ'd!!  I bar couldn't rest on the floor or in the hip pocket any longer than it took us to regrip the bar or for longer than a couple seconds.  If that happened we were done.  On my second set of snatches I was on the touch and go portion and on the way back down the bar slipped from my hands.  Part of me was happy because I wouldn't have to embrace the suck of the assault bike again and the other part wasn't happy because it really affected my score.

I finished day one in 10th place. Next day was all about pushing myself and playing catchup to everyone in front of me.  I was looking forward to the next two events we had before finals.
Day 2 was going to consist of "Oxygenated" and "3-in-1."  "3-in-1" hadn't been announced yet. But "Oxygenated" was a good endurance WOD which is what I'm good at, pacing myself which at times can be bad for the other WODs.

But where is the clash of beauty and strength?  It is not a clash in a bad way by any means.  It is the clash that being a strong woman in the weightlifting world and how much of an empowering and confident feeling that it gives you that makes it beauty.  It gives any person who tries this sport confidence in so many ways.  So welcome to the world of being a strong and beautiful woman all at one time.  

Our Clash is that our strength comes together with the beauty we already have to make it even more beautiful women!  It is our confidence in ourselves that makes us beautiful!

Is Appearance Really Everything

"In today's society there is a tendency to base people
on their physical appearances and forget what their
personality may be. A person who seems sweet and innocent
may be the devil in disguise, and a person who seem a
little rough may be the best friend everyone needs." (from http://jackash09.weebly.com/fair-is-foul-and-foul-is-fair.html)

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance 

or his height, for I have rejected him. 

The Lord does not look at the things people look at. 

People look at the outward appearance, but the 

Lord looks at the heart.”

1 Samuel 16:7

Our appearance according to others

We are critiqued on a daily basis on our appearance.  That is the first thing we are judged upon.  This could apply to the clothes you wear, your facial expressions or even just your physical appearance.  It will always be something that is taken into account no matter what we do, just like out abilities.
I wish that athletes sometimes could get chosen based on their heart and how much they work alone and not give up, and not by how well they do in a competition to get sponsored but that's not the reality of the situation.  This applies to our appearance as well.  

I have worked in the fitness industry for almost 4 years now and I get the amazing pleasure of wearing workout clothes all day long, which I find very comfortable.  Others wear business clothes or dressy casual, some wear uniforms.  I have worked in an industry that called for business casual dress and only on occasions could we wear workout clothes, appropriate by all means.  And I just couldn't seem to get the hang of it.  My business casual clothes, jeans, were too tight.  Sometimes I got it right, sometimes I didn't.  Needless to say that job didn't work out.  I know we all sometimes just want to stay in our big baggy sweat pants and hoodies to go to the grocery store, but I remember something someone told me and lord knows I don't remember who.  

My every day clothes

Dressed up for a Military Holiday Ball
last year.

"You never know who you are going to meet!"  

When it comes to our careers or even those looking for love it is completely true.  I could be dressed in my baggy pants and sweat shirt and run into someone who could provide me with a great career opportunity, but how likely are they to give you a chance if you are dressed like that.  Unfortunately, our outward appearance shows how put together we are.  Now I'm not going to give out fashion advise because I even feel out of date and wish I had clothes that I thought looked better than what I have.  I envy some of the fashion I see.  That's besides the point.  To survive in this world our outward appearance is important to others.  So always pull off your best you even on the bad days.

Our Appearance According the God

But to the Lord our God, our outward appearance does not matter.  It was the poor who were the most faithful to God, not the prophets who were dressed in their extravagant robs and jewels.  Even back then, their appearance represented a rank in society just as it sometimes does now.  Those who were teachers were always trying to accuse Jesus for claiming to be the Son of God, that they were right and that he was lying.  The felt as if they were privileged and an exception to God's laws because of their status.  That he was wrong for performing works on the Sabbath and they were not.  We can speak great words without having the best of intentions.  It is not our glamorous appearance that matters to the Lord and how we look on the outside but how our heart looks and is on the inside.  We could do all these good deeds but if we do them with bad intentions, for our own personal gain, then we have an ugly heart.  Doing things for our own personal gain will only.

"Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, 

but those who act faithfully are his delight."

Proverbs 12:22

"Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity 

than

 a rich man who is crooked in his ways."

Proverbs 28:6

So it is not our appearance to the Lord that matters it is our heart and our intentions.  How we treat others.  Do we help people truly for our own personal gain or do we help them out of compassion.  
Challenge:  do something to help someone out that you wouldn't normally do this week.

Remember we are to do the work of the Lord and through something that we have a passion for.  Everything you do, needs to be to glorify him and to the benefit of others.

" “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?  Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.  Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?  So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Matthew 6:25-34

Fixing my Sweet Tooth While on Whole Life and Nike+ SportsWatch

Okay, yes I am a fitness and nutrition nut but even I have my vices.  I admit I have a sweet tooth and yes I indulge that weekly with something that wouldn't typically be on the healthy side of the nutrition scale, i.e. ice cream, donuts, ice cream, cake, ice cream.  You get the idea. 

So with the whole life challenge I basically can't have anything sweet at all so I have been finding some alternatives.  

Dates can be used to add in may things whether to add sweetness or act as a binder, such as protein/granola bars.  I have been having to find alternatives for some of my snacks in the morning since it usually consists of some type or processed protein bar.  So for snacks this past week I decided to make Bacon Wrapped Pecan Dates which are pictured below and I also made today Bacon Wrapped Cinnamon Pineapple.  I somehow find time to make these things in between running from job to job, but the best part is a lot of it is in the oven so I can multitask while they are cooking.

Bacon Wrapped Pecan Dates

 Bacon Wrapped Pecan Dates/Pineapple
12 dates
       (or fresh pineapple chunks)
Uncured bacon 
12 pecans (for dates)
cinnamon (optional)

For Dates:
1. preheat oven to 425F
2.  Remove pits from dates (the pits almost look like pecans).  To remove, just place a slit in the date and pull apart and replace with pecan.  You can leave the pecans out if you prefer.
3. Cut bacon in half (about 4in each piece)
4. Wrap/roll bacon around date or pineapple and secure with a toothpick.
5.  Place in the oven for 20-30min depending on your preference on how long you like the bacon to cook or look.  Keep an eye on it.
6.  For the pineapple with cinnamon.  I sprinkled cinnamon on the pineapple, as well as the bacon.

*Note:  for cholesterol friendly I used turkey bacon
Recipes from Practical Paleo cookbook

I usually reheat them in the microwave, but only for a couple seconds (at the most 20) because those suckers get hot.  I will say they are very sweet.  I can't even believe the health benefits of dates and all the vitamins and minerals they have in them.  And to think I just had these for the first time the other week.

I Never Win ANYTHING!!

I participated in the Nike Women's Half Marathon that took place in Washington D.C. back in April.  They have it twice a year, in D.C. and San Francisco (which is coming up) and this race is hard to get into because it it a lottery draw.  LUNA Bar is one of the races sponsors and I follow them on Facebook.  They were having a contest one day regarding nutrition.  They would choose 3 people out of the millions who asked a nutrition question regarding how to fuel your body for performance.  The prize...Nike+ SportWatch

I am a runner, as well as a CrossFitter, so I had to ask, 

T:  "What is a good carb, that is not a grain, that in conducive to run training?  I'm trying to find something besides sweet potatoes."

LB: "Regular potatoes are great as well also fruits and dairy products contain carbs."

Grains and dairy aren't big on the paleo diet, and although I don't follow it strictly I do try and stick to it as much as I can.  I usually have oatmeal twice a week because of run training.  Anyway.

I somehow got chosen as one of the winners for this.  I sent them my address and just receive the watch in the mail yesterday. They also sent me a full box of one of the new flavors, chocolate coconut almond, they are trying for their protein bar line.  Just the ingredients alone say Almond Joy to me.  I look forward to testing out the watch on my runs and trying these protein bars.  Will give you a review of the watch and bars later.

I also tried making a pumpkin pie protein shake recipe today.  It need some perfecting...thickness and will post the recipe soon.   And be on the lookout for a quick homemade ice cream recipe!

Midnight Run and My Whole Life

All sane workout junkies drive all night for an event right?  Well that's what I did on this past Friday night.  I started the day with coaching at 6am (waking up at 415am), jumped in with the 9am class to workout and then headed to my apartment to make sure I had everything packed before I headed to the second job at 130pm.  My main concern that day, besides making sure I had everything packed so I could leave straight from work to head to Charlotte was what in the world was I going to order from Sonic (milkshake or turtle molten cake sundae).  Now you're probably asking why this was a big decision and normally I only have things like that on a Sunday.

Whole Life Challenge at Midnight 
As of Saturday, Sept. 30th I started the Whole Life Challenge with my CrossFit gym.  It is a wellness challenge. I would normally call it a fitness challenge, but it incorporates stretching, lifestyle (distractions), exercise, etc.  This would be the last time I would be able to have a treat like that for the next 8 weeks, hence why there was a sundae on the way home!  

Tempting right?
M&M's, bananas, Great Harvest Bread Co. granola
bars, pro bar energy bars, pretzels, brownies,
larabars, and more.

This run was a way for me to see some old friends and meet some new ones.  That's one of the positives about the running community.  They stick together on runs, especially at night.  At the run they had a snack table to help keep us fueled for however many laps we were going to run.  There were M&Ms, tortilla chips, larabars, brownies, etc.  Of course I had to indulge a little before 12am rolled around.  
In Charlotte, there is a running/biking loop called the Booty Loop.  It is a 2.7 mile loop through Myers Park.  My goal of 4 laps, but I only ran 2, totaling 5.4 miles.  I could tell my body was not properly fueled, I was tired from being up all day (since 415am), and my legs were already sore from the previous days workout as well as that morning.

Saw this on my 1st lap and thought it was
a great inspiration to those running
that night and all other times of the day

I decided to take on the challenge of doing the performance level of the challenge.  The only thing that is different from the other levels (lifestyle and kickstart) is the restrictions on the nutrition.  The main thing I noticed right away compared to my normal diet is that I am not allowed to have honey or oatmeal.  I have oatmeal about twice a week because of run training, bread on Sundays as a cheat, and honey basically every day as part of my nightly treat and I add it to my green tea in the mornings.  

So the nutrition is still a work in progress because I realized how much stuff that I can have that is mixed into some food items.  A lot of marinades I can't have and it is hard to find things without those particular ingredients in them.  
Let me tell you, Saturday and Sunday were a complete struggle.  I felt bad going to my sister-in-laws Pure Romance party and having to take my own food.   And Sunday my body had gotten used to the carbs so I had to find something to eat that contained tons of carbs, my body was screaming.  But one of the positives about this challenge is the daily stretching.  I am looking forward to actually taking the time to stretch every day and increasing my flexibility, especially since it's something I should already do being a coach and an athlete.  Yes, I lack taking the time to stretch everyday like I should.

Midnight Run VII Group 

So throughout this challenge I will post some recipes and some exercises for each major muscle group.  This challenge will definitely be hard, but I am looking forward to it.  

Staying Disciplined

It is all about staying disciplined and looking at the long term benefits to our health.  We can't get distracted by what we want at the moment just to get off the path of our final destination.  Hebrews 12:1 helps

"Therefore, since we are surround by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.  And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us"

~Hebrews 12:1

This verse really emphasizes how we get distracted by what we want at that moment.  Our long term goal is to be closer to God, be with him in heaven, and to live a life that glorifies him.  Our other idols seem to be more appealing at the time than being a child of God.  God never promised that our paths would be easy when following him.  But we are not meant to walk on this path alone.  We are meant to help each other when we go astray and to enhance each others gifts as Christians.  Each person is meant to disciple for God in a different way; through teaching, singing, craftsmanship, etc.  We as a whole can worship God stronger than we ever could as an individual.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,

whenever you face trials of many kinds,

because you know that the 

testing of your Faith produces perseverance."

James 1:1-3

This is what is it like with athletics.  When we train are have something we are training for, whether it be a some sort of competition (race, CrossFit, endurance for a charity fund, etc) or just to become better at what we do as athletes.  Even those just beginning their fitness journey have goals.  There will always be set backs to those goals.  And sometimes those set backs come from things we temporarily want pleasures from; i.e. that juicy burger, ice cream or we just wake up and are not in the mood to train that day when on a training schedule or take a break while on vacation.  It is getting back on that regiment that is the hardest part.  We have work hard for to each that finish line, and while that work may sometimes get hard and overwhelming we know that reaching the finish line at the end will be well worth it.  

We train with others because they encourage us to keep going on bad days or days where we are not in the mood.  Just like on the midnight run.  I started out on my second lap by myself and the first lap, it was hard to keep running once I got away from the group.  I had a nice couple come up to me while on my second lap and stuck with me the rest of the time and it completely took my mind off the loop and I was completely interested in our conversation.  Or even in CrossFit when you are the first, middle, or last person done you are still being cheered on by those around you.  You are coached by those around you to help you get through the rest of the workout.  Our fellow Christians are there to help distract us from those temporary pleasures that Satan is tempting us with.  Once we get wrapped up in sin and how it makes us feel, it is hard to escape that feeling.

Just like staying focused on our ending life with God we know will be well worth it in the end to end up with him for the rest of our lives than to end up with Satan the rest of our lives.  Whether it is related to your faith or your athletes stay disciplined and keep your eyes on the ending prize, not letting your eyes stray to the left or to the right.

Staying Focused on the Right Thing

What is more important in your life?
Material/flesh desires or your relationship
with God?

We all have things we focus a lot on or stress out way too much about.  For me personally right now it is work and studying for my CSCS certification (Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist).  Others wish that they were not alone and could find someone to fall in love with; I've been there too, many times.
When this starts to happen our focus slips away from our relationship with God, whether it be not going to him for the concern of our future in prayer or even feeling like you will never find that person you are meant to spend the rest of your life with.  

"Those who live according to the flesh

have their minds set on what the flesh desires;

but those who live in accordance with the Spirit

have their minds set on what the Spirit desires."

Romans 8:5

This verse refers to our personal desires of pleasure.
Let's start with the later one, feeling like you will never find the person you are meant to be with.  Admit it, no one wants to be alone the rest of their lives.  Even men want a wife and kid(s) one day.  Yes, I have my guilty pleasure show of watching "Say Yes to the Dress," and that one day I will be trying on dresses.  But where exactly does that longing feeling get us, only wanting that feeling and to find that person even more right?  It will never give us that fulfilling love that we receive and feel from God, and no one will ever love us as much as God will. I always try to remember whenever I am feeling really lonely and wish that I had a significant other, that the only person I need is God.  He loves us more than anyone ever will.

But seek first his kingdom and righteousness,

and all these things will be given to you as well."

Matthew 6:33

If we look at society today, we see a lot of people spending more time working than almost anything else.  It can tear apart families, social lives, and even take us away from our relationship with God.  I have been guilty of this so many times, including now.    I have days where I wake up at 4:15am and work until 8:30pm. I can't remember how many times, countless, I have gotten home at night from working all day and all I want to do is just sit on my couch and relax.  I don't want to think about anything at all, so reading is the last thing on my mind.  I usually end up spending most of my time prepping everything I need for the next day.  But then I go to bed wishing I had more time to read my Bible and spend just that alone time with God.  It always gives me clarity for situations, and sometimes it even feels like a slap in the face.

"No one can serve two masters.  Either you

wil hate the one and love the other, or you will be 

devoted to the one and despise the other.  You 

cannot serve both God and money."

Matthew 6:24

So how exactly do we fix this so that we are spending time with God?  Start out small, whether it is making it a goal to go to church at least once a week, reading a Bible verse once a day (there's an app for that), or listening to a sermon on your computer while cooking or on your phone while I'm driving. For me personally, one of the things I do is write down in a journal my prayers.  It holds me accountable for spending time with God.  Even when I read my Bible I have a study plans and take notes as I go along.  This is my interpretation of what I'm reading.  Remember that when we place our worries with the Lord, he will take care of them.  It might not be right away, but he has the perfect time for everything.  The good and the bad.

I remember several years back when I got injured and I was so upset that I couldn't run, when running at the time was all I wanted to do.  I was doing really well in the races that I was participating in, always placing in my age group.  When I got injured I realized how much running races had taken over my life and had made me lose sight of my relationship with God.  I believe still to this day that God had it planned for me to get injured so that I could refocus my life on him.

Trying to make something beautiful out of a bad
situation.  My knee injury several years back.

Just as in the Bible, the people of Israel would stray from God and they would be handed over to another nation.  It is only when they were in trouble that they would turn to God and God would send someone to deliver them.  When they had that leader they were strong in worshiping the Lord.  Find that leader for yourself, not just God alone as your leader, but a friend to do a Bible study with and tell each other your interpretations of what you read.  Stay focused on God and your stress and worries will be taken from you.

I will live you with two verses.

"Commit to the Lord whatever you do,

and he will establish your plans."

Provers 16:3

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow,

for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each

day has enough trouble of its own."

Matthew 6:34

Jeremiah 29:11

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper

you and not to harm you, plans to five you hope and a future.'"

--Jeremiah 29:11

-The Individual

I believe that this verse can be one of the most misinterpreted verses in the Bible.  Now before you stop reading this post, let me explain.

You didn't hear a lot about the verse Jeremiah 29:11 until Soul Surfer came out.  This was a movie about Bethany Hamilton who lost her arm in a surfing accident and her faith was very strong in God.  She struggled, as many of us do, when we go through trailing times about our faith in God and if he is really there for us and why he would puts us through such things.  This verse was specifically quoted in the movie when she was trying to figure out her purpose.

Now back to why I think the verse is misused.  We solely pick out this verse for when we are going through a hard time.  Yes, I have done it too.  But if you take a look at the story behind the verse it is about the people of Jerusalem being carried and in exile in Babylon by King Nebuchadenezzer.  It was a letter sent to King Nebuchadenezzer that this verse is written in.  

The Lord in this letter is telling his people to not get discouraged about being in exile.  Settle in the land as if it was your own and not that they are exiled in.  He tells them to seek peace and prosperity because if the city prospers, so will they.  After seventy years in Bablyon God will fulfill the promise that he has made to his people.  So this verse isn't about the individual it is about the people.  He has put his people of Jerusalem in exile in Babylon for a reason.  He has a plan for them while they are there.  They might have not been very prosperous while living in Jerusalem, so he has sent them to Bablyon for a greater purpose.  

"'Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will

listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with 

all your heart.  I will be found in you,' declares the Lord, ' and will bring 

you back from captivity."

Jeremiah 29:12-14 (not all of 14)

I am not saying by any means not to quote this verse when you are going through hard times, but use this verse also for motivation, encouragement when you are going through good times as well.  We often only quote these verses when we feel as if God has left us.  We know he has a purpose for our lives, but we often forget to praise him when things are going well also.  God puts you in places in your life for a reason, the joy in that position might not last forever or where you are at might not last forever but at some point where you are or were brings you happiness.  Praise God for that because he has a purpose for you being there.  No matter the joy that where you are at in your life brings, never put it before God.

The Whole

Now I want to look at this verse regarding the whole since I just went through the individual.  There are so many things going on in this country right now.  

In regards to politics...(could get a little touchy for others)

There are many people who are unhappy with the presidency (Obama), and of course there are those that are, and how things have been handled, policies that have been put in place, etc.  If you look at these couple verses as a whole you see that God is talking about a group of people, not the individual.  He put the whole people into exile for 70, yes that's right seventy years.  But in that time he told the people to embrace the situation they were in and build from it, as we should.  I mean heck, we could go through more bad presidents and crisis with other countries (North Korea, Russian, Ukraine) before we end up with a good one or in a better situation.  So on that note, embrace the situation we as a country are in right now whether we like it or not, settle in it and develop as a people from it the best we can.