A Running Daughter Of The King

This morning, I got the opportunity to run at my favorite running location. It's a local park that joins with another park. It's beautiful. And it's flat ;-)

I've been updating my playlist - cause I just gotta have tunes when I run - and one of the most recent songs I've added is Tricia Brock's "Daughter of the King."

My oldest daughter, Beth, brought this song to my attention, and it is simply wonderful. Full of truths!

Truths I needed to hear this morning...

All you ever wanted to be

Was someone the world would see

You dress to impress

You put on your best

And all it left you was empty

Running and listening to the lyrics that began this tune, I began to consider my priorities in this life...

What am I doing? Why am I doing it? 

But a dress won't make a princess

And jewels won't make a queen

Cause you were made for more than this

You're worth more than what you see

I ponder over this a lot when I run: Am I spending time on what really matters? What really matters? Who really matters?

My husband... my girls... my Jesus...

You are fearfully and wonderfully

A daughter of the King

You are perfect in the Maker's eyes

Even when you don't believe

His love poured out for who you are

Not who you wanna be

You are fearfully and wonderfully made

A daughter of the King

And perspective comes when I run to tunes that hold such truth, like this one. I see what matters most in this life. My Jesus and how He sees me. 

Living. Running. For Him. I am His daughter.

There's a simplicity in this. A peace that comes from contemplating this...

It's not about the things you can see

The mirror has the world deceived

Just look at you heart to find who you are

Cause image is not in beauty

While running, listening to this song, I find rest. That sounds contradictory, but it's true. I find rest knowing that I am His daughter. I am His. Fearfully and wonderfully made. For such a time as this. 

I do not run in vain.

And in this knowledge, I feel strong.

So I will continue to run the race before me.

And time will fade

Beauty will age

But the good we do lives on

Cause the glass slipper only lasts so long 

Run on, daughter of the King!

Win Win

Last Saturday, Chick-fil-A sponsored a race to benefit education and special olympics in our county.

I wasn't sure if I was going to get to run this race. My hubby also wanted to run it, so I tried to find a babysitter so we could go enjoy the race together, but that didn't work out. Since someone was going to have to stay home with the kids, I was gonna sit this one out so hubby could go, but then my awesome, selfless, and giving husband said I could run it! And then I caught a nasty stomach bug. But praise the Lord, the day before the race found me feeling much better, and I got to enjoy the day with some of my favorite running buddies!!!

Pre-run selfie with running buddies Jordan, Jaimee, Bruce and Pamm!

It was a hot day, but, in my humble opinion, this GREAT course will always be worth the run. It is almost entirely flat, and it takes place inside two connecting parks - beautiful parks! The only elevation runners experience is when they go over an awesome bridge. #win

It was just that, a winning day. My run felt great despite the fact that my running time of 36:32 isn't my best for this course, and I also won a free three month membership to a nearby gym complete with access to a personal trainer!

My buddies were winners too! Jordan improved her 5K time, Jaimee's school (she's a teacher) won $1,500 in prize money, Bruce placed second in his age group, and Pamm ran a race for the first time in a long time (way to jump back out there!).

That's how you score a win. You take a chance. Put yourself on the line. And when you hear the gun go off, run. And keep on running. Never hold back. Have faith. Stay the course. And ultimately, child of God, you win.

With Jesus, we always win.

Today's forget-me-not: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No. I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.