Doing Things His Way

Isaiah 55:9 states, "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts."

This was my morning devotion and it really hit me hard! It talked about every person having a dream. Something that they're believing for and like I mention yesterday, many times those things don't pan out just how you envision them. I know for me, I've spent many sleepless nights trying to figure out what to do next, where I can go, what's on the horizon, how I can re-invent myself. That's putting God in a box by me limiting what He can do for me and through me if I just put my faith in Him. That's an easy thing to say and a really tough thing to put into practice when you're thrust into "survival mode." I guess that's where the Lord wants me to be. Completely and totally dependent on Him for survival. Well, guess what - I'm there!

However, throughout my three year process of being separated and divorced, I've continuously prayed for wisdom and peace. My parents used to tell me, "Be careful what you pray for. You just may get it." As far as the wisdom part, I'm not real sure I'm on that train. But I HAVE been given a certain peace throughout this whole process - especially in the events of the last two months. God has been seriously stirring in the depths of my soul. I have this feeling deep down that He has something out there that's just around the corner. Something that is significant to my skill sets and something in which I can be a contributor and giver rather than the taker that I had been for so many years. As I've stated, I don't know what that is but I have a peace about it. I'm in HIS care and I know it. I have a long way to go but the Lord is guiding me there this time. I'm not blindly driving on my own like I once was. Never again! This time I will - "Preach the gospel at all times and when necessary use words."

Now off to meetings and training! I hate this cold weather! Please hurry back Spring!

Another Swim Day

Today was another early morning swim day. Get up at 4:30, get the girls going, off to the complex, then commence swimming. It's tough doing all of that that early I assure you. Even going to bed at 9:00 pm, it's still tough to wake up so early. At any rate, today's workout was an intense one. I decided last night that I wanted to do some long endurance sets with less sprints. I wanted to see how my body would do to the long continuous swimming without any sprint intervals with rest in between. I must say, my body responded a bit better than I had anticipated. I knew that I could do it; I just didn't know how arduous it would be on my aerobic levels. Needless to say, I was fine and felt relatively comfortable. That encouraged me.

My workout consisted of:
- 1000 yd. moderate swim
- 500 yd. kick/drill swim
- 500 yd. swim @ race pace
- 5 x 100 50 yd. sprints on 1:00
- 300 easy warm down

Also, my thoughts during my workout drifted toward my devotion that I had yesterday concerning praying for God to do big things in my life. Things that could be far beyond my control that would truly make himself known. I thought to myself that God is a God of increase. Where I am today is not where I'm supposed to stay. He has greater levels of favor and blessing in store for me. I have to dare to dream big and dare to keep a God-sized vision in front of me! I want to learn to take hold of every blessing that the Lord has in store for me - and I know there are many!

By the way, still no sign of Troy. I know he wants to jump back in to things and has mentioned it to me on a number of occasions, but I'm not pushing. He wants to "re-commit." However, I didn't realize we "un-committed" to begin with.