5-mile Challenge!

Saturday night, the Ascent Interns set out to run our last challenge of the summer. Since it's been so hot (we've had heat warnings in Kansas City the last couple days) our run was moved from Friday afternoon at 2:00 p.m to Saturday night at 9:00 p.m.

The anticipation was building in the room as 2 of the staff set out at 8:40 to finalize our running route. When they returned, we all gathered in the driveway at Ryan's house to hear the details of the run and to pray before we left. And then at 9:10, we started off!

I had barely crossed the second driveway from Ryan's house, when the words to a song started playing over in my head with the beat of my footsteps.

"Your presence is all I am longing for, here in the secret place. Your nearness is all I am longing for, here in the quiet place."

As I kept running the peace of God was thick all around me. We were starting with a 3-mile route that I had run many times and words to songs kept finding their way into my mind. As I hit the 1.5 mile mark, Natalie (one of the volunteer staff) greeted me with a beautiful white flower. I gently grasped it, and turned to start the next leg of my run, as I did, the words from later in that same song from above entered my mind:

"I am my Beloved's and he is mine, so come into your garden and take delight in me. Delight in me. Delight in me."

I started thinking about all the ways I was like the flower I was holding. It had not yet fully bloomed, yet was white and beautiful. I felt like God was telling me that this flower was the way he saw me. I was slowly blooming, slowly opening and awakening to all he has in store for me, and I was beautiful before His eyes. When he looks at me, he delights in me.

And I kept running. Running past the Dollar General, running up Birchwood, nearing Ryan's house again.
- I remembered my first run in Kansas City of the summer. I could barely run that first 1.5 miles.
- I remembered our first challenge. 2 miles. I was exhausted by the end, and was certain I would never be able to run even the 3 mile run two weeks later.
- I remembered the 3 mile challenge. The ways God gave me peace and encouragement as I neared the last mile of the run. I remembered the joy and accomplishment I felt after that run.


And I kept running. After I passed Ryan's house on the way back, I knew the hardest part of the run was coming up. There were a couple of hills coming up, and soon our street lights would be gone. I would be running in the dark, and was soon turning onto a road where I knew there were potholes! Then again, words to a song came into my mind:

"When I am afraid I will trust in you. When I'm overcome I will cling on to the rock that is higher. He's higher. The rock that is higher than I."

And I kept running. I carefully made my way across the road with all the potholes, praying and singing in my head. I ran through a church parking lot and headed down the giant hill (thanking Jesus I wasn't going to have to run back up it later :-) ). As I ran down the hill there were white flat weed flowers lining the sidewalk. My hands hit a couple of them, and felt like the touch of those flowers were God encouraging me.

I started remembering how impossible this run seemed at the beginning of the summer, and I was overcome with praise! I was so joyful! So impressed with the strength and power of God. There was new meaning behind the verse "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!" I felt in that moment that God was telling me through this running challenge that he has plans for me that are BIG! That those things may seem impossible right now, but he can accomplish all things!

As I neared the end of the hill, I approached the tree covered road. We ran a stretch of about a mile in the complete dark. There were no lights on the road. I continued pressing into God's promise of protection, and actually enjoyed the sound of secedas all around me, and the beauty of the stars above me. Before I knew it, I saw the stoplights that told me I only had 0.3 miles left. I was amazed! I wasn't even out of breath!

I am newly convinced that God can choose to do anything through anyone. I never would have guessed that I could run 5 miles. It may not seem like that big of a feat to some people, but for me, that might as well have been a marathon. And God was faithful to the end. Hallelujah!

Now... Colorado mountains, here I come. :-)

Prayer Requests:

- Again, migraines. I haven't had any yet this week, but there will be all kinds of new variables in the mountains. Pray for God's protection and my humility to tell people what I need.
- For God to shower us with his love as we near the end of this internship- that we would continue to have open eyes to the ways God wants to speak to us.
- That we would be prepared to stand in awe of God in Colorado and that He would meet each of us in unique and impacting ways.
- That we would be prepared and ready to abide in His presence even when we return home and start this coming school year- that God's love would shine though us to those we come in contact with.

Thank you!

P.S. I wrote a song about this last run...


Running Song

Verse 1
In the stillness of the night
I run to see your face
And in the white moonlight
I see your peace and your radiant grace

Verse 2
Your breath fills up my lungs
Every step draws me closer still
To my Beloved one
And in his strength I will

Chorus
Be a flower, slowly blooming
Captivating the heart of my God.
White and lovely,
Radiating the perfection of His love

Verse 3
In the stillness of the night
Though my heart and feet are slow
You gently kiss my hand
And pull me into the unknown

Verse 4
Your love illuminates
Thought I can't see far ahead
So fix my eyes on you
Help me follow wherever I'm led

Chorus
So I'll be a flower, slowly blooming
Captivating the heart of my God
White and lovely,
Radiating the perfection of His love
Bridge
You are my protection
I am your reflection
So Lord shine your face on me