Faith hitting pavement- Heavy loads

I'm not sure why I challenge myself to carry a million things upstairs when it time to go up. Perhaps I am to lazy to take more than one trip, ask for help or take unnecessary things that could stay downstairs.

So there I am a one women juggling act carrying more than it is safe to, more than my arms can handle and sometimes leaving a trail of socks and toys along the journey up.

Today as my feet hit the pavement ( or treadmill) I thought about something that Caleb said as I tried to do my daily juggling act.

He said " Mommy, you sure carry a lot of stuff." My immediate response was " your right son, I do carry a lot of stuff, because I am a mommy." Only I wasn't thinking about the things in my hand.

So if you are a mommy, and are like me, I am sure you also carry a lot of stuff too. But I have to ask you (myself) a question. The stuff you are carrying, is it because you are to prideful to ask for help? To lazy to take another trip? Or is it even your stuff.. burden to carry? Or perhaps it isn't really that important and the stuff can be left downstairs for another day?

Good questions to ask yourself, and perhaps after some pondering there are things that don't need to be carried.

Praying a lighter load for you... xoxoxoxo
Moni

Faith hitting pavement - choices

Tonight as my feet hit the pavement , I realized that when I hit the crossroads of life I have to be intentional about the choices I make.

This morning I woke up in a funk. As I crawled outta bed, barely cracking a smile wondering why night came to end I realized I had to make a choice.

Either let the funk run my day or let my God change the funk. It wasn't a easy start to my day. But, I was able to spend prayer time with two different ladies that made a world of a difference. Had I decided to crawl into the turtle shell of that Monday funk I would have misses out on the blessing.

When we choose to take the first step, God is in the next and in the next and in the next!

Choose wisely!

Hope. Prayer. Run

I said I wouldn't do it again, yet I find myself saying that every time after I complete one, and before I sign up for another. As some recall, I through out that should, a friends cd project get funded that I would run another half. Why was I so passionate about the cd? It wasn't because I love my friend, but I believed in the songs that were to be on that cd.

Songs that were written from a place of restoration, hope and healing. Songs that were going to bring hope to hurting hearts. . Project got funded and so it's time to lace up the shoes. It just so "happens" that the only run that fit in the schedule was the Long beach half. This also "happens " to be the first half marathon I ever did few years ago. It also "happens "to be the place where the Lord gave me the vision for "Runners for Grace" at mile five. Which in numerology means Grace.

So if you keep up with my blog you know that I don't run just because I enjoying It. Every marathon is ran for a purpose and every medal I get I don't keep. It's given away as well. This marathon is going to be no different. Runners for Grace was birthed after the passing of Gracie Arroz, a mighty warrior who was eternally healed from her battle with cancer.

Gracie will always be the driving force behind anyone who runs on our team, and our focus will always be to raise funds and awareness for those who are battling cancer. In that, my heart is also for ladies who have never taken a journey in training for a half marathon. Our team is for those who want to step out in faith, get healthy and accomplish the physical race that Paul talks about in 1Corinthians 9.  Because the spiritual aspect unfolds as you train in the physical. If you allow the Lord in your training , those scriptures will pierce your heart like never before.

Now before you cringe and think I am going to ask for money... I am not. Much like I did before, I am asking you , that you sponsor our team with prayer. Typically we pledge prayer hours and fundraising for pediatrics cancer , but this race I believe is for a group of special people. I (we) will be running on behalf of moms who are battling cancer.
In the next few days you will see how you can get involved with pledging prayer hours for these moms.... Or perhaps you want to step out in faith and run with us? We don't run to compete for time or the medal, we run to just simply finish well. We run to raise awareness, and run because those who are sick can not.
I love how God makes all things full circle. I believe this run was ordained for this time, this cd and how this project is going well beyond a half marathon pay back. It's my hope that we get many hours of prayer for ladies who find hope in the Lord that they will be healed.
If you know a mom who is battling cancer and would like her to be added to "operation pledge prayer 2014" please comment below so we can get people praying for her. Details to come!
Hopeful in prayer,
Moni

Faith Hitting Pavement: Unfailing God

I laced up shoes, with the question of why God? My husband got home for Shepard school last night with some news that just broke my heart.

Another person. Another illness. Another family. Why?

As I set out to run and my feet hit the pavement, I started to pray. As the cool gentle breeze hit my face and I allowed my thought to run faster than my legs, I started to go there. Where are you Lord?

And in that moment my ears were flooded and overwhelmed with the chorus of this song...

" I trust you, I trust you, you don't walk away. You are unfailing God, your loves unending, your word is eternal firm in the heavens it stands."

Then I was reminded of our Yahweh.. The great I AM. His love IS unfailing and although I will never understand His ways, I'm reminded that He is eternal. Destination heaven is home! Trying to understand a place that is not "home" will only leave us hopeless and discouraged.

His word is firm, His love is unending and He is unfailing. I trust you God!

Community and friendships

I sat there and with every dish she washed my hairs stood up on the back of my neck.
"You know this is killing me right?" She respond "I know where's you vacuum?"
Why are you being prideful?
You see I have been sick, and on top of that I gave up certain things in my diet which threw me in a tailspin of pure detox chaos . Struggling from a major migraine and know I was to have company over that night my friend Melissa showed up to help.
She came to clean my house and my pride went full throttle. I don't want her to see how dirty my house is. My rooms a mess and the floors well I just won't go there.
Well she didn't take no for an answer and when she left I sat on the couch and thanked god for the blessing.
You see it reminded me on how we do life. Jesus never intended our lives to be perfect . That all ended in the garden. Yet we walk and live like we are. Faking perfect families, perfect job and even perfect relationship.
But you know what I've learn? I've learned that being real, transparent and being vulnerable is so much easier. I spend less time trying to make it "perfect" and more time connecting with people.
Because Where there is humility and vulnerability there is no room for pride and when pride doesn't exist you know what happens?
People know how to help. And when that happens community is Established. Oh community, how great thou are. Community shows up to clean your house, community listens, community prays, community sees the need and does without you ever asking for it. Community is how God Intended life to be and is how you get perfect.
Here is something you should know about me. When we meet, we are friends. I want to know who you are. I might share to much, I am myself and maybe that might be to much for you but I'm real. I also suck at life sometimes, I have issues and struggles. I'm not afraid to share them with you because you to may be struggling with the same thing. And lets face it, it's much easier when you have someone on your side who knows how you feel.
This doesn't make me a good person or a saint. God has blessed me so much with His love and community that it would be a disservice to you not to share.
Can you imagine showing up to target one day to find out they are having a sale and everything is 50 percent off and not share that with any of your fellow target friends. No way I'd imagine you would leave that store call all your friends and tell them how much you have saved so that they can get in on the deal.
Friends it's the same way with God. He took my life of struggle and saved me from it and I love you and my friends not to share how God can make life easier. He won't make it perfect but He makes it easier and hopeful and He provides community to come along to help if you allow Him and yourself to be vulnerable.
I still have ways to go, I have to be intentional about reminding myself that just like I like to give and bless I have to be ok with receiving as well. Would you pray for me in that area? Thank you!
If you need prayer or need help on how to get connected or need a friend. Call me, text, Ig, fb , message me and all the other hundred social media ways to get ahold of me... !
#foreverfriends
Moni

God is good today

Its bitter sweet calling this day good! I mean what is good about them beating my savior, yet if this day didnt happen He wouldn't be my savior.

Being a mom I couldn't imagine how I could love someone else so much more that I would sacrifice my own son for their sins and saving.

Yet God who created the foundation of the earth did just that so that we could have a shot at this life and a chance for eternity.

We don't have credit cards anymore thank god. Debt free.... But there once was a time I did. You see I felt I needed stuff when perhaps I didn't have the funds. So I charged it, on a card to someone else's account, the creditor.

So each month sadly id make the minimum payment yet the balance would never go down. I got caught up in continual spending and finances charges that I was indebted to this creditor.
It wasn't until I married my husband who was much better with finances to help me get outta debt and I have to tell you it is the best feeling ever.

You see Jesus came into this world to pay a debt.He came to pay a debt that wasn't His , but a debt we could never pay. We could never pay off the price a sin.
The rad thing about the debt , He took is that He gives the choice to be pay Him back. How you ask?
By believing in Him, serving Him, loving Him, trusting Him and giving your life to Him.
On a day of pure brokenness I gave Him my life and asked Him to take my debt. He did, He has and hasn't charged interest and daily increase the credit limit of Grace He has given me!

God is good this Friday! 

Save by Grace and forever grateful! 

Mon

Touching our World

 Mrs Vargas ( Noah's TK teacher last year, last day of school)

I'll never forget the first time I walked him in the class for the first time and left him. Last year In TK. I cried for about a week...everyday or maybe it was two. Not totally sure, but what I am sure of is that I wasn't prepared to give him over to someone else.

Well we have definitely come along way in two short school years and I have to say we have been blessed with great teachers who have helped us with the transition. This week is teacher appreciation for our school and In honor of that I'd like to write an open letter to all teachers out there..

Mrs. Pruitt ( Noah's teacher this year, first day of school) 

Dear you,

You .... who should be our children's second teacher, but sometimes we get busy and put that burden of being their first on you. You see we should be our child's first teacher, but often you have to picked up where we have fallen short. Thank you

Thank you for showing up every morning ready to pour into our children, when perhaps you are depleted from your own. Thank you for your time outside the classroom preparing lessons, prepping projects and grading papers. Time you don't want to take away from the kids in your class but more than likely time away from your own family. 

As a mom here is what I want you to know...

 I take my child and I leave him with you, because I trust you. I trust that you will love him, care for him, teach him, giving him back to me at the end of the day  . Not only are you helping him academically, but you are helping , me raise him for society. I could not do it without you. Your calling is a high one, you are touching the world by teaching the next generation on how to live, work, and play. We see the fruit of your labor. Your labor isn't easy, and knowing you have to do it for at least 20 kids, makes me wonder how you do it?

I can imagine on some days you wonder if you are making a difference. Perhaps attitudes don't change, the test scores are not higher or that child will just not connect with you. Maybe today or tomorrow the fruit will not be revealed, but know that it is there.  And I know we don't say thank you enough for the things you have to put up with in the class. I do not take you for granted and Jesus , well he is pretty pleased with the care and love because He is clear in his word on how special the little ones are to him. 

Thank you for being a mom nurturing them, when they are missing us. Thank you for being a friend when they need someone to play with. Thank you for being a coach when they need that push.  Thank you for being their cheerleader, when they need that encouragement. Thank you for being their nurse when they fall on the playground. Thank you for being that disciplinarian when they need correction.  Thank you for being like Jesus and showing them love! Than, you for being there when we cannot! 

One day when my child graduates from high school, and Lord willing college, I will remember each one of you and know you all had a hand in it. I want you to know that I'm praying for you. I'm praying that God would bless you abundantly, because although its a job that should pay millions it pays dollars and cents. I'm praying that my God would keep you healthy, as you wipe boogies, He would give you patience with those challenged by bad behavior and praying that the joy of teaching never leaves you heart. 

Why? Because we need you, we need people like you who care enough about our children to be teachers! We need you because you touch and make a difference in this world because you called... Teacher!

Cant thank you enough,
A grateful Mom!

I give thanks for you making mention in my prayers..
Eph 1:16