RUN !!

3 Comments
24Do 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.
 25Everyone 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.
 26Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air.
27No, 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.

During small group time at Bow Down this week several weeks ago we disected and discussed I Corinthians 9:24-27…. It was the splash of water in the face that I desperately needed!

My thoughts colored…

24Do you not know (I wonder if this was sarcastic? or a repremand, another translation says “Remember” Julie, you know this – this is a reminder, again) that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize(the goal, the purpose)? Run in such a way as to get the prize. (what is the purpose, to win, to get the prize – not to just go through the motions, not to just attend, to get the prize)

 25Everyone (not just some, everyone) who competes (in it to win, not on the sidelines, not slacking) in the games goes into strict (strict) training (intentional time devoted to the purpose of the race, and being prepared, being ready, intentional time side aside to focus, Have I trained well? Will I get hurt because of my lack of training?). They do it to get a crown that will not last (this world has nothing for me, or for them); but we (we, people with Christ’s purpose, not they, not focused on fading things, we, us) do it to get a crown that will last forever (temporal vs. eternal perspective eternal is way more valuable – am I focusing on training for here, and now, or eternity). 26Therefore I (I wonder if Paul is comparing himself to those he is writing to, it switches from “we” to “I” – leading me to believe that to those he is writing are doing the opposite of the following list? ) do not run like a man running aimlessly (why am I running, where am I running, what is my purpose, if I  am running, is it aimless? Am I exerting the full effort into aimless running in the wrong direction, going through the motions?  People looking on, do they know my purpose, my goal, or do they just wonder what the heck I am doing? What is her purpose, what’s the point, she is all worked up, and getting tired running in the wrong direction!!) ; I do not fight like a man beating the air(Same as above, trained, full effort going into futile works). 27No(NO!), I beat (not spoil, not pamper, not give into every whim) my body and make it my slave (Yikes! Full submission, ownership of my thoughts and actions) so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified (is this like “depart from me I never knew you” disqualified?) for the prize.

I have been digesting these verses for the last several weeks… I can’t get my mind off of them. Praise God!

I have not been living up to what I know that God wants be to be faithful to, I have as one woman said we can be “Focused on relieving temporal earthy pressures – and not living up to Christ’s purpose”. Yep! That describes it! 

How many of the decisions I make, or don’t make, are based on relieving these earthly pressures? I am working 2 part time jobs, plus other odd jobs or hours when they come up, running around all of creation from job to job, just to have just enough to just get by – yet I have not even typed out an action plan for my own vision. Aimless.

Yes, God has been faithful to provide – but how long will He sustain me, when I know that I am not in the center of His will?  Isn’t delayed obedience disobedience?

My mind is racing, I hope that these thoughts will continue to not only run through my mind – but make their way down to focused and purposeful feet.

Bleeding Tongue

Leave a comment

I am completely done with a post, and here I am writing another one about why I am not hitting “publish” on the last one.

 

I have things I want to write about  – I have things I want to get off my chest. I have rants that want to be ranted. I want open conversation. I want others to get involved and tell me that I am right, and I want others to tell me that I am wrong …I want to hash it out.

 

I wish I didn’t get riled up, and more so I wish I didn’t love it.

 

Why don’t I then just unload? Isn’t this my little area to do what I want with?

Can’t I be as bold or ugly or beautiful or cynical or as encouraging or as whatever as I want?

Am I afraid of rejection? Am I insecure? Do I realize that sometimes what I get riled up about doesn’t make a dang bit of difference?

Did I take a vow to only blog about sunshine and roses?

As I write I am reminded of scripture:

 

When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise. (Proverbs 10:19)

 

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. (Phil 4:8)

 

Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent. (Proverbs 17:28)

 

Still Biting my bleeding tongue,

Julie

 

[ht for the thoughts and bleeding tongue: Abraham Piper]

[ht for the definition of what “ht” means: http://christianmind.blogspot.com/2005/05/what-i-learned-from-ht.html ]

You IS a princess !

Leave a comment

Mary is about four, and last month she made me a memory I pray I never forget.

 

I only get to see Mary about once a month. One Monday night each month my role as After School Program Tutor expands to babysitter for the parenting classes that Urban Youth Impact offers to the mothers in the community. Instead of working on homework with the kids, or being in a disipline role, this Monday night each month is a chance for me to let my hair down, literally, and have fun with the kids.

 

Mary and her two sisters were playing with my hair, fighting over who gets how many rubber bands, pulling, tugging, and twisting my hair into an updo that has never, or will ever be seen again. My hair at this point is knotted and knarly, and I am trying to figure out a way to divide my head so that each girl has her own section to work on. I was not successful.

 

I am trying to control chaos in our little corner of the room, so I give Mary a rubber band and as she is standing right in front of me creating what must have been a masterpiece of my bangs. I whisper to her “Mary, I feel like a princess.”

 

Mary takes one step back away from me, and with an emphatic tone, and a sort of confused expresion on her face, and toothless smile, tells me “Ohh, but Miss Julie, you IS a princess”.

julie UNSCRIPTED

2 Comments

Well, Welcome to julieUNSCRIPTED – My “big-girl” blog.

I feel like I have just graduated from the world of inconsistent MySpace blogging to making a commitment to a real blog.

The first challenge I faced was what to call lil’ blog.

How could I communicate by a title who I am clearly, without offending, and without having to disclaim and explain myself, and do all of that in an itty bitty little title? It’s exhausting being me. I know.

julieUNSCRIPTED did not come easy, or without deep consideration, and annoyance.

Here’s a just few that didn’t make the cut.

Verbal Diarrhea.blogspot wordpress.com  – think about it, that’s funny, and happens it me often but that’s really gross for a blog name, – and who really knows how to spell diarrhea without looking it up on Google?

The Plight of the White Woman.blogspot wordpress.com – ok ok, I know I don’t have any actual “plights” in comparison to actual “plights”, but you who know me – know that I have hilarious plights, and I am indeed a White Woman. Not the most politically correct.

JesusJulie.blogspot wordpress.com  – I wish you could hear me laughing as I am trying to even type the explanation of this…Let’s just say it’s a long running joke with my dad as to what would be said if I was a co-host on the Howard Stern show. As my dad said, it would be my identifier of being the “token Christian” opinion on the show “Jesus Julie” – and it would also be the exclamation that would be said often. “Jesus – Julie!”

JulieStein.blogspot wordpress.com – boring… it’s my name, I know, but it’s boring…

Most of my life is unscripted, there are honestly moments in my day where I look at people and say “You can’t write this”. It’s unscripted. Ready for you to read.